MARCH 10, 2023・FRIDAY・9:51
Hamza and Gabbie bob their heads to the beat as the song reaches its end.
"Ayus no?" Gabbie asks.
"COOL, RIGHT?"
Hamza nods. "Asa to nimo nadiscover?"
"WHERE'D YOU FIND IT?"
"Ambot. Nigawas ra siya ug kalit. Naminaw man ko ato'g album ni Mitski unya nikalit ra siya ug play sunod."
"I DON'T KNOW. IT JUST CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. I WAS LISTENING TO A MITSKI ALBUM AND THEN THIS PLAYED AFTER."
"Nagapaminaw diay ka kang Mitski, Gab? Nindot kaayo na siya ug tingog live," Mariz says.
"GAB, YOU LISTEN TO MITSKI? SHE SOUNDS SO GOOD LIVE."
Gabbie's eyes widen. "Nakakita naka sa iya live?"
"YOU SAW HER LIVE."
"Oo. Tung sa Canada pa ko."
"YEAH. BACK WHEN I WAS IN CANADA."
"Sure Mariz ba."
"YOU'RE SHITTING ME."
"Lage! Sendan tika ug pictures unya naa sa akong laptop."
"I'M NOT! I'LL SEND YOU PICTURES LATER FROM MY LAPTOP."
"Sige daw! Maypaka Mariz! Isa gyud na sa akong life goals, makaadto ug concert niya."
"PLEASE! UGH, I'M SO JEALOUS! THAT'S LIKE, ONE OF MY LIFE GOALS, TO BE ABLE TO SEE HER LIVE."
Maya takes a handful of chichacorn¹ and munches on them. "Lami gud siya," she says pointing towards the snack.
"IT TASTES SO GOOD."
"No?" Mariz asks. "Wala pa ka katilaw ani?"
"RIGHT?"
"YOU HAVEN'T EATEN ONE OF THESE BEFORE?"
"Katilaw na. Pero dugay na to. Elementary pa yata ko ato."
"I HAVE. BUT IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. I THINK I WAS STILL IN ELEMENTARY."
"Paborito kaayo ni nako ay. Kada muuli si mama dinhe sa Pilipinas kay magpadala gyud ko sa iyaha. Naa gani to'y ikaisa nga gitago na gyud sa akong papa ang chichacorn para muundang lang ko ug kaon, kay kada-adlaw nako ato nagakaon." Mariz chuckles to herself.
"THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS FROM THE PHILIPPINES. EVERYTIME MAMA WENT BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES, I ALWAYS ASK HER TO BRING SOME FOR ME. THERE WAS EVEN THIS ONE TIME WHERE MY DAD HAD TO HIDE THE CHICHACORN FROM ME JUST SO I COULD STOP EATING."
"Unya? Nigana?" Gabbie ask.
"AND DID IT WORK?"
"Wala, kay nasakpan man nako kung asa nila ginatago." Mariz turns to look at Maya. "Hi."
"NOPE. I FOUND IT IMMEDIATELY."
She's is a bit taken aback. "Hi?"
"Kumusta man ka, bb gurl?"
"HOW ARE YOU, BB GURL?"
"Okay lang," she says, smiling.
"I'M OKAY."
"Sure?"
Maya nods.
"Okay." She eyes her for a bit. "Maayo."
"GOOD."
Maya puts intertwines her arm around Mariz's and leans against her shoulder.
"Tama bb ba, ginahuna-huna gihapon nako kung kinsa gyud ang nag-ingon kang Bianca about sa inyo ni Gab," Gabbie says.
"BY THE WAY, BB, I STILL KEEP THINKING WHO COULD HAVE TOLD BIANCA ABOUT YOU AND GAB."
"Bitaw. Naa ka laing giingnan Maya?" Hamza asks.
"YEAH. ARE YOU SURE YOU DIDN'T TELL ANYONE, MAYA?"
Maya shakes her head. "Wala. Si JR lang. Pero sure ko nga dili si JR ang nag-ingon. Sa ilahang grupo, si JR ang akong pinakamasaligan. Siya man ang murag pinaka-responsible sa ilahang tulo. So..."
"NOPE. JUST JR. BUT I'M SURE HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. IN THEIR GROUP OF FRIENDS, JR IS THE MOST TRUSTWORTHY. LIKE, HE'S THE RESPONSIBLE ONE OF THE THREE. SO..."
The other girls exchange worried looks.
"Gipangutana na nimo siya?" Mariz asks.
"DID YOU ASK HIM?"
"Oo. Nashock pud gani siya ug apil nga nakaabot kang Bianca." She shrugs as she takes another handful of chichacorn. "Ambot. Gikapoy nako ug huna-huna. Akong goal na lang gyud kay peace of mind. Gikapoy nakos drama."
"YEAH. HE WAS EVEN SHOCKED THAT IT REACHED BIANCA."
"I DON'T KNOW. I'M TIRED OF THINKING ABOUT THAT. MY GOAL NOW IS JUST...PEACE OF MIND. I'M TIRED OF DRAMA."
"Amen," Mariz says.
"Inshallah," Gabbie adds as she turns to Hamza. "Tama no? Inshallah."
"WAS THAT CORRECT? INSHALLAH?"
"Yes, Gab. Tama," Hamza replies, amused.
"YES, GAB. THAT'S RIGHT."
Behind Maya and Mariz, Gabbie spots Pamela by the vending machine at the entrance of the canteen, waiting for her paper cup to fill up.
"Pam!" Gabbie exclaims, waving at her.
The other girls also look in her direction.
Pamela sees them and weakly smiles.
Gabbie gestures for her to come to their table. "Ali Pam."
"COME HERE."
Hesitant at first, Pamela takes her cup of coffee and walks towards them. "Hi," she says as she approaches.
"Hi," Mariz greets. "Kumusta?"
"HOW ARE YOU?"
"Okay lang." She looks different. Her hair is tied back in a ponytail and lesser accessories than usual. She looks at the others and forces a faint smile to appear on her face.
"I'M OKAY."
"Maayo," Mariz replies.
"GOOD."
Maya takes the pack of chichacorn and offers some to Pamela. "Chichacorn?"
"Lingkod Pam," Hamza gestures, indicating the empty space beside her. "Diri oh." She shifts to the side a little and makes space for Pamela.
"TAKE A SEAT, PAM."
"RIGHT HERE."
"Erm..." She pauses to think. "Sorry. Next time na lang. Medyo nabusy man gud ko karon kay niapil kog committee para sa Student's Night karong foundation."
"SORRY. MAYBE NEXT TIME? I'M A BIT BUSY BECAUSE I JOINED THE COMMITTEE FOR STUDENT'S NIGHT THIS COMING FOUNDATION."
They all go quiet for a moment, just staring at each other.
Pamela forces out a strained smile. "Kamo? Kumusta? Mag-post namo ug video sa inyong channel?"
"AND YOU? HOW ARE YOU? DID YOU ALREADY POST THE INTERVIEW VIDEO FOR YOUR CHANNEL?"
The other girls look at each other, confused.
"Wala." Gabbie shakes her head. "Wala pami nagpost sa channel nato."
"NOPE."
"WE HAVEN'T POSTED A VIDEO YET FOR OUR (INCLUSIVE) CHANNEL."
"Ah okay. Sige. Good luck. Lakaw nako. Bye," Pamela says a bit too quickly. Without waiting for any response, she starts walking away, leaving the girls all puzzled and concerned.
"OH OKAY. WELL, GOOD LUCK. I HAVE TO GO."
Gabbie sighs and shakes her head. "Girls, mag movie mara ta sa balay ugma."
"GIRLS, LET'S HAVE A MOVIE NIGHT AT MY HOUSE TOMORROW."
They all look at Gabbie.
"Tama si Maya. Daghan kaayo tag drama gipagdaanan: exams, mga away. Need pud nato mag relax panagsa. Unsa man? G mo?"
"MAYA IS RIGHT. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH DRAMA RECENTLY: EXAMS, FEUDS. WE DESERVE TO RELAX SOMETIMES. WHAT DO YOU THINK? ARE YOU DOWN?"
"G ko," Mariz responds.
"I'M DOWN."
"Mananghid pa kong mama pero musugot man to siya," Maya says, putting some chichacorn in her mouth.
"I'D HAVE TO ASK MY MAMA BUT I'M SURE SHE'LL BE OKAY WITH IT."
"Ako pud mananghid pa pud ko. Kita lang man kaya? Wala'y laing tao?" Hamza asks.
"I'D HAVE TO ASK MY PARENTS AS WELL. WILL IT BE JUST US OR ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE?"
"Oo. Kita lang pero...erm...iinvite nako si Pamela. Okay lang?"
"IT WILL BE JUST US. BUT...ERM...I'LL TRY AND INVITE PAMELA. IS THAT OKAY?"
"Kung muadto to siya. Kakita ka atong ganiha?" Mariz says, opening her water bottle and taking a drink.
"WILL SHE EVEN GO? LIKE HAVE YOU SEEN HER?"
"Try lang gihapon nato," Gabbie suggests.
"IT'S STILL WORTH A SHOT."
Everybody nods in agreement.
A smile appears on Gabbie's face. "Okay, pamili na mo daan ug mga salida. Kanang naa na daan sa Netflix para dili nata maglisod ug pangita ha?"
"OKAY, MAKE YOUR LIST OF MOVIES TO WATCH IN ADVANCE ALREADY. MAYBE SOMETHING FROM NETFLIX SO THAT WE WON'T HAVE A HARD TIME CHOOSING WHAT TO WATCH."
"Unsa ba'y ayus nga horror sa Netflix?" Hamza asks.
"WHAT'S A GOOD HORROR MOVIE IN NETFLIX?"
"Horror?" Gabbie's voice suddenly carries a hint of worry. "Pwede kanang romcom lang?"
"CAN WE WATCH A ROMCOM INSTEAD."
"Horror ta uy," Mariz agrees. "Boring man kaayo nang romcom. Makabalo naka kung unsa ang ending."
"YEAH, WE SHOULD WATCH HORROR."
"ROMCOMS ARE SO BORING. YOU ALWAYS KNOW HOW THEY END."
Maya tucks some strands of hair behind her ear and stands up from her seat. "Palit sa ko'g lemonade. Naa mo'y ipapalit?"
"I'M GONNA GO BUY A LEMONADE. DDO YOU WANT ME TO GRAB SOMETHING FOR YOU?"
"Wala," Mariz says.
"I'M GOOD."
"Okay nako. Salamat Maya," Hamza says.
"I'M GOOD TOO. THANKS MAYA."
"Manglibre ka?" asks Gabbie.
"ARE YOU TREATING?"
Maya shakes her head. "Ugma na Gab. Ako bahala sa snacks."
"NOPE. MAYBE TOMORROW. SNACKS ARE ON ME."
Gabbie eyes light up. "Sure?"
"YOU SURE?"
Maya nods.
"Okay bantay ha? Wala nay bawiay."
"OKAY! I'M COUNTING ON THAT. NO TAKE-BACKS."
"Yes, bb gurl," Maya says as she walks toward the canteen.
"Romcom lang atong tan-awon guys, please. Or bahala'g dili romcom. Bahala'g lahi na nga genre. Fantasy? Action?"
"CAN WE JUST WATCH A ROMCOM, GUYS? PLEASE? OR IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A ROMCOM. JUST ANY GENRE THAT'S NOT HORROR. LIKE MAYBE FANTASY? OR ACTION?"
Mariz and Hamza laugh.
—
"Salamat te," Maya says as she pops a straw inside her lemonade.
"THANK YOU ATE."
On her way out, she sees Bianca, Hazel and their friends hanging out by the door and queuing up for the vending machine.
Maya panics, her mind immediately racing to find an escape route. But before she could take another step, someone calls her name.
"Uy. Maya!" It's Hazel.
"MAYA!"
Her heart races as she begins to realize that they're already making their way to her. She swallows and tries to compose herself as they inch closer.
"Hi," Bianca says.
"Hello," Maya replies, almost inaudible. She wipes her sweaty palms on her jeans and cautiously reaches for her phone, considering calling the other girls for backup in case things go south again. "Erm...Unsa man?" she mutters, her brain racing a million miles per second and a bit confused by their calm and cheery demeanor.
"ERM...WHAT IS IT?"
"Kuan ba..." She looks at her friends, biting her lip.
"SO ERM..."
Hazel nods.
She clears her throat. "Gusto lang ko mag-sorry sa imoha, Maya. About sa tanan. Katong gilaparo ka namo ug nagpakalat mi ug mga tsismis about sa imo. Of course, wala na ni'y meaning karon kay napasakitan na ka namo, dili na namo na mabawi. Pero...mali to among gibuhat. Makasabot mi kung dili mi nimo mapasaylo pero...kato...sorry."
"I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M SORRY MAYA. FOR EVERYTHING. FOR BEATING YOU UP AND FOR SPREADING RUMORS ABOUT YOU. OF COURSE, THIS DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING NOW. WE CAN'T TAKE BACK WHAT WE DID. BUT...WHAT WE DID WAS WRONG. WE'LL TOTALLY UNDERSTAND IF YOU WON'T FORGIVE US BUT...YEAH...SORRY."
"Prank ni?" She looks around anxiously, worried that someone might be recording them.
"IS THIS A PRANK?"
Bianca shakes her head.
Maya nods and ponders what Bianca just said. She also begins to feel a sense of relief. A weight lifting off her shoulders. Suddenly, a smile adorns her face. "Sorry pud, Bianca. Pramis. Atong time nga gikiss nako siya, wala gyud ko kabalo nga naa diay siya'y uyab."
"I'M ALSO SORRY, BIANCA. I SWEAR, AT THE TIME THAT I KISSED HIM, I DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD A GIRLFRIEND."
She rolls her eyes. "Okay lang. Wala naman pud mi ato niya."
"IT'S OKAY. WE ALREADY BROKE UP."
Maya looks at Hazel to confirm.
Hazel affirms her with a nod.
"Maayo," Maya says. "Deserve nimo ug mas tarong nga uyab."
"GOOD."
"YOU DESERVE SOMEONE BETTER."
Bianca weakly laughs. "Mao gyud. Sorry usab ha?"
"YEAH. I'M SO SORRY AGAIN."
"Okay na to."
"IT'S OKAY."
"Kung naa pa gani mu-tsismis o manglibak sa imo, ingna lang mi kay kabalo naman ka sa among skills," Hazel jokes.
"IF YOU HEAR SOMEONE GOSSIPING ABOUT YOU, LET US KNOW BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF. YOU KNOW OUR SKILLS."
"Okay," Maya chuckles.
"Tama diay, Bianca. Kinsa diay ang nag-ingon sa imo nga nag-kiss mi ni Gab?" Maya asks.
"BY THE WAY, BIANCA. WHO TOLD YOU ABOUT ME KISSING GAB?"
"Hmm...Wala ko kabalo actually. Spam account siya sa—"
"HMM...I DON'T KNOW ACTUALLY. IT WAS A SPAM ACCOUNT ON—"
"—Instagram?"
Both their eyes widen.
"Oo. Sa Instagram," Bianca says.
"YEAH. ON INSTAGRAM."
"Unsa iyahang username?"
"WHAT'S THEIR USERNAME?"
"Dili ko sure kay gi-delete na niya iyahang account pero...kuan—"
"I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE THEY DELETED THEIR ACCOUNT BUT...I THINK IT'S—"
"yourbfischeatingon_u?"
"Dili. Murag...kuan...heischeating_onu? Ambot. Dili sure. Kabalo lage ka?"
"NOPE. IT'S MORE LIKE...heischeating_onu? I DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT SURE. HOW DID YOU KNOW?"
"Nabiktima pud ko ana niya. Nagbuhat siguro siya ug lahi nga account."
"I THINK I'M A VICTIM OF THE SAME PERSON. MAYBE THEY MADE A NEW ACCOUNT OR SOMETHING."
"What the fuck?"
Maya nods in agreement and sighs.
"Unta maumod siya karon. Unta magabaan siya," Bianca says.
"I HOPE THEY FALL OVER RIGHT NOW, IMMEDIATELY. I HOPE KARMA CATCHES UP WITH THEM."
"Ang gaba niya kay happy ta karon. Happy man kaha ka?"
"THEY'RE KARMA IS THAT WE'RE HAPPY NOW. ARE YOU HAPPY?"
"Oo. Ikaw?"
"YES. YOU?"
"Oo."
"YUP."
"Maayo."
"GOOD."
"Ay Maya," Hazel interjects. "Mag-ask lang unta ko ba. Unsa ang pangalan atong baby face nimo nga amigo?"
"HEY MAYA."
"CAN I ASK WHAT THE NAME OF YOUR FRIEND WITH THE BABY FACE IS?"
Bianca laughs. "Tubaga na siya, Maya. Kay dugay na na siya sige'g isturya about ana niya."
"YEAH, TELL HER MAYA. SHE'S BEEN BANGING ON ABOUT YOUR FRIEND FOR A WHILE NOW."
"Baby face? Asa ato? Si Pamela?"
"BABY FACE? WHICH ONE? PAMELA?"
"Dili. Katong drummer ba. Makit-an nako siya. Kauban na sila sa imohang uyab. Uyab man to nimo tong sa instagram nimo no?"
"NO. THE DRUMMER. I ALWAYS SEE HIM WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND, I THINK. IS THAT YOUR BOYFRIEND? THE ONE FROM INSTAGRAM?"
Maya nods. "Si...si JR imohang pasabot?"
"DO...DO YOU MEAN JR?"
"Siguro?"
"MAYBE?"
Maya retrieves her phone and opens Instagram, quickly searching for JR's account. She scrolls through his posts until she finds a photo of his. She then shows it to Hazel.
"Kani siya?"
"THIS ONE?"
"Oo. Kana siya!" Hazel exclaims, her face lighting up. "Si baby face. Unsa iyang name?"
"YEAH. THAT'S HIM!"
"WHAT'S BABY FACE'S NAME?"
"JR. Jose Lao Jr."
"Jose Lao Jr.," she repeats with intensity. "Okay. Jose Lao Jr. Salamat, Maya."
"OKAY. JOSE LAO JR. THANKS, MAYA."
Maya nods. "Good luck," she says, amused at the thought of her and JR together.
---
1: CHICHACORN: Chichacorn is a semi-popped style of cornick that uses glutinous corn, which is treated with lime before frying. The name is a combination of the words chicharon (crispy pork rinds) and corn.
Source: https://www.aboutfilipinofood.com/chichacorn/