APRIL 7, 2023・FRIDAY・17:56
JR is looking at himself in the mirror, checking to see if he looks decent in his white button-down shirt.
There's a knock on the door.
"Kinsa na?" JR asks as he adjusts his hair.
"WHO IS IT?"
"Si Angelo, pre."
"IT'S ANGELO, PRE."
With one last glance in the mirror, he opens the door.
"Hi, pre. Kumus—wow, asa ka?" Gelo asks. "Pogi lage ta karon?"
"HI, PRE. HOW A—WOW, WHAT'S THE OCCASION?"
"WHY ARE YOU DRESSING UP?"
JR, embarrassed, just smiles sheepishly.
"Kuan, muadto ko'g party."
"I'M GOING TO A PARTY."
"Aw." Gelo eyes him from head to foot. "Abi nako'g muadto ka'g lamay."
"OH."
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO A FUNERAL."
JR gives him a confused expression and looks at his clothes again. "Ngano diay? Panglamay akong gisuot?"
"WHY? DO I LOOK LIKE I'M GOING TO A FUNERAL?"
"Dili." Angelo smiles. "Murag guol man gud kaayo ka'g nawong."
"NO."
"IT'S JUST YOU LOOKS DEPRESSED."
"Aw," JR mutters, offended, as he sits down on the edge of his bed to put on his shoes.
"OH."
"Sayang, imbitahon unta tika ug dinner. Magparty man diay ka."
"I WAS HOPING TO INVITE YOU TO DINNER."
"Next time na lang," JR says.
"MAYBE NEXT TIME."
"Sige na lang ka ug next time, mangluod na gyud ko sa imo," Gelo kids.
"OKAY. NEXT TIME. IT DEFINITELY SHOULD HAPPEN."
JR finishes tying the shoelace on his right shoe. "Kato lang, pre?" he asks.
"IS THAT ALL?"
"Oo. Sunod ha? Sabay sa amoa ba. Dili man mi mamaak," he says.
"YEAH. NEXT TIME, OKAY? COME WITH US. WE WON'T BITE."
JR nods.
"Okay," he smiles as he walks away, leaving the door wide open.
"Paki-close sa—"
"PLEASE CLOSE THE—"
"Ay tama diay, JR." Gelo comes back. He looks at JR for a bit, his face full of sympathy. "Okay lang ka?"
"OH AND JR."
"ARE YOU OKAY?"
JR swallows. "Okay lang."
"YEAH."
"Okay. Kada makit-an man gud tika kay murag...ambot...murag wala pa yata tika nakit-an nga nagngisi."
"OKAY. BECAUSE EVERY TIME I SEE YOU...I DON'T KNOW...I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN YOU SMILE."
"Erm..." Uncertain on how he should reply, he shrugs in confusion instead. He gets up from his bed.
"Sorry. Pakialamero ra kaayo ko?" He shakes his head. "Mao gyud ni akong problema. Dili nako ma-control akong baba panagsa."
"SORRY. IT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS."
"I DO THIS A LOT. I JUST TALK WITHOUT THINKING THINGS THROUGH."
"Okay lang," JR says, forcing a smile.
"IT'S FINE."
Gelo smiles back. "Kato. Relax lang, pre. Dili pa mahuman ang kalibutan."
"BUT YEAH. JUST RELAX, PRE. IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD YET."
JR nods and checks his pockets for his wallet and his phone. He realizes he hasn't unplugged his phone yet and quickly hops on the bed to reach for it.
"Sige. Lakaw na ko, JR. Ingat sa party!" he says as he walks away, forgetting to close the door again.
"OKAY. I'M GONNA GO. HAVE FUN AT THE PARTY!"
"Pre!" JR exclaims. "Ang portahan!" JR waits a few seconds for him to come back.
"THE DOOR!"
He doesn't.
Frustrated, JR lets out a sigh and slides his phone into his pocket. While passing by the mirror, he catches a glimpse of his reflection once more. He pauses, inspecting himself, one last time before he heads out. He makes a few minor adjustments to his hair as his eyes slowly settle on his face. He stares at himself for a moment, his brain fizzing with so many possibilities of what could happen later. And, with a deep breath, he forces a huge smile on his face.