REIVEN'S POV**
Pagkarating ko sa studio, halos nagulat pa manager ko and iba kong kasama kasi maaga ako dumating.
"What? I don't look like a ghost do I?" tanong ko nang mapansin na lahat sila nakatingin sakin.
"Girl, ano nakain mo?"
"Aga ah!"
"Sure ka ba si Rei ka?"
Natawa nalang ako brushed off their shocked faces bago dumiretso sa changing room para makastart na ako.
As possible kasi, I want na makauwi agad mamaya.
"Ganun ka ba kadalas maging late?" tanong ni Danielle na tahimik na sumunod sakin dito sa room.
Wala pa yung makeup artist ko kaya nakatunganga lang din kami rito.
Now I know what waiting feels like. And it sucks.
Buti nalang ako yung iniintay. Medyo worth it naman.
"I don't know. Not like I care," tugon ko habang nakatuon ang pansin sa cellphone.
I can't help but giggle dahil sa convo namin ngayon ni West.
It's her day off sabi nya. Iba ngayon bantay sa flower boutique nya, she get to stay home or even go anywhere.
"Oh, oh, oh. Hulaan ko, si West kausap mo. Grabe ngiti oh! abot tenga," biro naman ni Danielle na di ko nalang pinansin.
Maya maya ay bigla ako nagka idea kaya i put my phone away bago hinila si Danielle.
"Aray! bakit?" gulat nitong saad sa bigla kong paghila.
"Do you know how to make brownies?" I eagerly asked.
"Oo, dali lang. Bakit? papagawa ka? May bayad-"
"Stupid. Teach me.'
"Omg," she said at agad ako kinapitan sa balikat making me frown.
She then shaked my shoulders hardly.
"Kung anong alien ka man, ibalik mo bestfriend ko!" she said still shaking me.
"What the hell is wrong with you!?"
"Kasi! You're not acting like you do!" she said before finally letting me go.
I sighed heavily bago napasapo sa noo.
"Friendship anniversary namin mamaya ni West. 13th year, I wanna do some effort."
"Ma effort ka naman dati pa ah? Hindi pa ba enough yung time na dinala mo sya sa Disneyland? Had the whole park closed for her?"
I placed my hand on my chin, trying to recall that year.
At saglit nag isip.
I made an "ahhh" sound nang maalala ko na.
Napasimangot naman ako sabay kamot sa ulo bago hinarap si Danielle.
"I wanna do something simple but something she'll like."
"But why brownies talaga? Kasi since you're a total beginner...I don't think you even cook," she said habang nakangiwi.
"FYI, i do cook. Di lang lagi."
"Of course! you almost burned your house down dahil sa pritong itlog," she said laughing dahilan para pektusan ko sya.
"Aray! oo na! pero bakit nga brownies? cookies are easier for someone like you."
"West loves brownies."
Pagkasabi ko nun di na sya umangal.
Finally, after a long wait, dumating na makeup artist and I can finally get ready and makaka start na ng shooting mamaya.
Danielle was just quietly watching sa gilid. May times na she'd pull out her own phone and take pictures.
May times na napapagalitan sya ng staff. Akala mo kasi nanunuod ng basketball kung mag cheer kada pose ko.
We were shooting for the new cover magazine kaya nakakailang takes din.
Not because pangit ako or what, ako yung nagrereklamo kasi pangit lighting.
My face will be on magzine covers which will be shipped internationally too, ayoko mag mukhang espasol na maputla.
After long and gruesome hours, it's finally 2 pm and tapos na shoot.
We can go home na but dumiretso muna kami ng mall to buy ingredients sa pagawa ng brownies.
"Okay, Rei, Listen. Bibili ka lang ng kailangan, okay? Hindi buong grocery bibilhin mo."
Danielle reminded which I just nodded to. She said sa kabila sya para bumili ng ibang ingredients, she just gave me a list to buy some things.
Basically i have to get:
Powder sugar
Flour
Cocoa powder
And some chocolate chips.
I already knew where to go kaya di na ako nahirapan maghanap.
After 10 minutes, we met by the ice cream aisle.
Malayo pa si Danielle kitang kita ko na agad pangungunot ng noo nito. I was confused kasi tama naman binili ko.
"Rei! Ano yan?!"
"The things on the list?"
"I know! But what the heck?!"
"....What's wrong?" I asked confusedly.
"Bakit isang sakong harina?! Ano ba papakainin mo? Buong subdivision nyo? And the cocoa powder.... Sabi ko cocoa powder hindi milo!" she said habang hawak hawak ulo nya.
Napakamot nalang ako ng ulo and watch her take away the cart I was pushing.
Sinunod ko naman utos nya, tapos mali mali parin.
After getting all the things, which in the end si Danielle na rin kumuha, dumiretso na kami sa bahay.
West is currently not home, she said she's out with some friends.
I saw it as an opportunity na kaya di ko na sinayang.
"Okay, ako mag open ng oven, but make sure you watch para naman di ka clueless," Danielle said na tinanguan ko nalang.
She helped me fix my apron and put a hairnet on me since di raw maganda na magkakabuhok yung brownies.
I mean, obviously. Who would like to chew on hair?
Nung una, pinakita nya muna sakin pano mag measure ng ingredients na tama. She told me na magkaiba ang pang measure ng wet and dry ingredients.
Honestly, ang dami nya sinabi na halos kalahati ay pumasok sa kabilang tenga ko pero lumabas din sa kabila.
Ang importante ay naalala ko mga bagay about pagkakasunod sunod ng ingredients and other.
Mahabahabang bardagulanndin nangyari samin, but at some point natapos din.
Im currently looking at the results. It's already past 5 pm and it's a good thing na tapos na.
West could be home any minute na.
"Ang hideous tignan... But si West naman pagbibigyan mo, Im sure magugusthan nya yan," Danielle said as she fix the things we used.
Ako naman, nilalagay na yung brownies sa container na nakita ko lang din kanina.
It's a cute container with a bunny design. West loves bunnies, I actually call her a bunny sometimes because of her two large front tooths.
It actually suit her well and she looks cute with them, especially when she smiles.
Nang matapos na lahat, di na nagpahatid sakin si Danielle.
I gave her a hug before she left as a thankyou.
Nilagay ko muna sa fridge yung brownies and went up my room para mag bihis and after that, I waited quietly sa living room.
2 hours has passed and di parin umuuwi si West.
I don't wanna message her since baka busy sya so I just kept on waiting.
When the clock struck 7 pm, wala pa rin sya. I know I had to message her na.
In the convo with West:
Reiven: panot, anong oras ka uuwi?
West: fyi i still have my hair.
Reiven: oo na, what time will you be home?
West: oh, about that. U okay being home alone? Im staying over kela art.
Reiven: oh, sorry sa istorbo. sige, ingat
West: Rei, naman.
West: tell me lang if di mo kaya mag isa, uuwi ako.
Reiven: no tnx, im 23, kaya ko na sarili ko. enjoy:)
West: hays.
I disappointedly looked at my phone na nasa convo parin namin ni West.
I just sighed heavily then grabbed the remote to turn off the tv.
Saglit akong napatingin sa paligid. Well, it was a waste of time decorating everything.
I bit my lip nang maramdaman kong naiiyak na ako.
Did she forget our anniversary? Probably yes.
Di rin naman ako makareklamo since it was her boyfriend. Knowing West, willing naman talaga sya umuwi for me incase.
But, ayaw kong maka istorbo sakanila ng bf nya. And ayoko rin na ako pa mismo magpapaalala sakanya ano meron ngayon.
Di ko maiwasan mag tampo.
I took all the balloons down and all the other decorations bago ito dalhin sa storage room.
Thankfully, nalagay ko sa ref yung brownies.
After cleaning up, what was supposed to be a surprise, i grabbed my phone and sent a message sa mga kaibigan ko.
Three little monkeys.
Reiven: hey
Aiden: yoww, rei! Sup sup sup?
Danielle: musta pa surprise mo?
Danielle: did she like it???
Reiven: change topic, xylo? my treat don't worry
Danielle: aw, anyareee?
Aiden: mamaya mo na tanong yan! arat!
Reiven: great, see you there:)
Danielle: ay sakto! sasama ko kaibigan ko ah!
Aiden: chix ba yan?
Danielle: she's pretty, but kay rei sya interested
Aiden: lugi!
Reiven: I'm not interested
Danielle: oo na, ipapakilala lang kita
After reading that, I just sent a like message before umakyat sa kwarto ko para mag bihis.
I found the box that I was supposed to give kay West.
After magbihis, I went infront of her bedroom door bago isinabit sa may door knob yung ibibigay ko.
She's busy with her boyfriend. So, I'll busy myself with girls tonight nalang din.
I thought about the friend Danielle mentioned.
Won't hurt to have some fun tonight right? After all, I'm single.
But somehow, si West talaga hinahanap ko.
I shookt my thoughts away bago lumabas ng bahay. When i made sure na nakalock na lahat, I got into my car an prepared to leave.
I checked my phone one last time.
There was a message notif from West, but I ignored it and started to drive off.
I'll try not to think about her tonight.
**