Althea's POV
"Ano kamusta? Ano ng real score mo kay Jade?"
Classic Batchi. Mga tanungan talaga nito minsan, ang sarap makasamid eh.
We're currently having early dinner here in Runner's Kitchen. 4 p.m pa lang, umalis na kami ni Batchi sa office para makapag-hangout naman kami kasama si Wila.
Madami-dami na ding tao dahil Friday ngayon at pagabi na din. Isa pa, every Friday din kasi, may naka-schedule na live band dito. Minsan UDD, Silent Sanctuary, PnE at ibang indie bands. Pero ngayong gabi, UDD ang naka-schedule kaya ngayon din kami nag-decide na magkita-kita. Paborito kasi naming tatlo ang bandang ito.
Noon, kumakanta-kanta din ako dito minsan kaya kilala ako ng mga loyal customers namin lalo na noong kami pa ni Cathlyn. Madalas, kasama kong tumugtog ang mainstay band dito. Kapag nandito kami ni Cathlyn, kahit walang schedule na band, kinakantahan ko pa din siya.
But I don't feel like singing anymore since she left me. Parang nawalan na din ako ng gana sa music after we broke up. It's like she took my passion away the moment she step out of my life and she still has it, up until now.
After three years, ngayon na lang ulit ako nakakain dito sa restaurant na isa ako sa mga nag mamay-ari. Nitong mga nakaraang buwan kasi ay ginugol ko lahat ng oras ko sa preparation ng kasal ni Ms. Pearl.
"Baliw! Anong sinasabi mo jan? Friendship lang ang habol ko dun 'no!" Sagot ko sa kanya bago sumubo nitong Tahini Quinoa super bowl. Na miss ko din ang mga healthy food dito sa resto.
"Kaibigan? Mukha mo, tsong! Wag ako. Wag kami ni Wila."
"Parang hindi ka naman nasanay sa kaibigan mong 'yan, Batchi. In denial queen yan eh." Sagot naman ni Wila at nag-apir pa talaga.
"Akala ko ba early dinner 'to? Bakit parang naging Chika Minute yata?" I said to them sarcastically but both of them just laughed at me. Minsan talaga lakas maka-tag team ng dalawang 'to eh.
"Aminin na lang kasi, tsong. Lalong napaghahalataan eh."
"Aminin? Eh wala naman nga akong aaminin."
"Talaga? Di man magka-girlfriend for ten years?"
"Alam mo, Batchi, puro ka kalokohan. Ikaw sumagot ng pagkain mo ah." Sagot ko sa kanya at tinuro ang kinakain niyang Chicken Malunggay Pesto at isang Matipuno smoothie.
"Hoy tsong! Kasasabi mo lang kanina, libre mo 'to." Batchi answered while pointing her fork at me.
"O, eh di binabawi ko na." I mocked then gave her my signature smirk.
"Ay grabe. Nagpakilala siya. Nagpakita ng totoong kulay dahil lang sa pag-dedeny niya kay Jade."
"Kayo nga, tumigil na nga kayo. Ikaw Batchi, lakas mong maka-order, aasa ka lang pala sa libre." Wila rebutted then raise her well-maintained eyebrow.
Sa aming tatlo, siya yung prangka talaga magsalita. Kapag may gusto siyang sabihin sa'yo, hindi siya magdadalawang-isip na sabihin iyon. Kaya madalas din kaming mag-away nito dahil sa pagiging tactless nito minsan.
"Hoy Wila! Kanina lang magkakampi tayo ah. Anong nangyari sa frienship natin?"
"Naririndi na kasi yung tenga ko sa boses mo. Ang payatot mo pero para ka namang nakalunok ng mega phone sa lakas ng boses mo." Seryosong sabi ni Wila habang hinihilot pa ang sintido. I can't help but to burst a hearty laugh dahil sa sinabi ni Wila.
"Savage." I commented, teasing her more.
"Ulol mo, tsong. Ang sabihin mo, tiklop ka kay Jade. Hindi pa man nagiging kayo, kailangan mo na mag-move on dahil mas straight pa yun sa buhok mo." She said in a monotonous tone and I pursed my lips as I think of a great comeback but to my luck, I was stupefied.
Tignan mo 'tong si Batchi. Nagbibiruan lang, namemersonal na.
"Ano? Wala kang maisip na comeback? Totoo kasi eh." She added but I just shrugged my shoulders to cover my disappointment. Wila went inside her office - which is mine actually - to sign some papers.
"Well, wala naman akong balak din ituloy kung ano man 'tong nararamdaman ko kay Jade. After what happened dun sa wedding, I've decided. Wala naman akong balak guluhin ang masayang relasyon nila ni David." I almost sounded too bitter at my last statement.
"Mabuti naman. Akala ko mag-aalaga na naman kami ni Wila ng batang iyakin eh."
Aba. Gusto mo ng ganyan ah. I thought as I put down my fork and looked at Batchi as if testing her.
"Ganyanan? Sure ka jan?" I asked her with intensity while crossing my arms.
"Bring it on." She said and we are now in staring contest but nothing serious. We both know we are just goofing around.
I actually miss this. It's making me easier to move on because of these two idiots. Kung wala siguro silang dalawa sa buhay ko, baka sirang-sira ko. Baka nga patay na din ako.
"Na miss ko 'to."
"Mas miss ka namin."
"Group hug!" Wila shouted making us look at her. Dahil sa kadramahan namin ni Batchi, hindi na namin namalayan na pabalik na pala siya sa table namin.
"Ang drama niyong pareho. Kutusan ko kayong dalawa eh." She said as soon as she reached our table. Batchi and I stood up while standing and we hugged each other.
Nasa ganoon kaming posisyon ng may biglang nagsalita sa likod namin.
"Ms. Luna?" As soon as I heard that voice my body stiffened and my heart's starting to race. Dahil nakatalikod ako, hindi ko kaagad makikita yung nagsasalita unless umikot ako.
But I know that voice. Alam kong problema ang dala ng may-ari ng boses na yun.
"Mr. Limjoco? Long time!" Batchi stepped away from our group and walked straight to the man behind us. Wila remained standing and I didn't bother to look back.
Please be alone. I hope she's not with him.
"Oh yes. Sorry hindi na kami nakabalik dun sa office niyo. Busy na din kasi masyado. What are you doing here? Kasama mo ba si Althea?"
"Ah oo. Kasama ko siya. Pati na din yung isa naming friend, actually." I heard Batchi answered. The moment I made sure na wala si Jade I immediately turn around to face them.
But as if on cue, Jade's walking graciously to our direction with a smile on her face. My heart skyrocketed and my mind goes to overdrive as soon as I laid my eyes on her.
Jesus! I'm just starting to move on and you show up looking so divine effortlessly? Is that even fair?
"And by the way, you remember Jade, right?"
Of course. How can I forget her?
"Hi guys." She sweetly said and waved her right hand cutely. She then snaked her left arm to David's right which made me swallow and look away instead.
Batchi probably sense my uneasiness as to why she breaks the awkward silence, me being awkwardly silent rather.
"Hi Ms. Tanchingco! Uhm, ito nga pala si Wila, yung sinabi ko sa'yo na kaibigan naming isa." Sabi ni Batchi sabay hila sa kamay ni Wila.
Wila knew everything about what I feel for Jade pero hindi pa niya ito nakikita ng personal kaya naman hindi nito alam ang nangyayari.
"Hi guys! So kayo pala yun?" Wila suddenly asked that made me and Batchi to look at her with disbelief. I can see Jade and David's confused reaction from my peripheral view.
As if reading my mind, Wila continued talking. "I mean yung relatives ni Pearl. High school friend ko kasi siya and ako mismo nagrecommend sa kanya na kunin si Althea as her wedding coordinator nung nagkita kami sa BGC." Wila revered without glancing at me. I saw Batchi shook her head while I let out a sigh of relief.
"Yes, of course. Nabanggit na din samin ni Pearl yun bago kami magpunta noon sa office niyo. And you know what? To be honest, her wedding was magnificent. Everyone's asking who's the one behind the concept and were proud to say it's Althea's. Right babe?" David proudly announced and I can feel my heart flutter. It's really satisfying if someone admire your hard work.
"Uhm, yes. Even my bestfriend Sally wanted to get married right away the moment we entered the church. You're really good at your job, Althea. Keep it up." Jade said and I can really sense her utmost sincerely and there she goes again - she's staring at me with her brown expressive eyes that never fail to make me shiver every single time.
I had to restrain myself my jumping because of overjoy. I don't wanna look stupid in front of her that's why all I did was to gave her my eye-disappearing smile.
"Salamat sa inyo. It was also a pleasure working with Ms. Pearl. She knows want she wants and is really cooperative. Everything went beyond what we all expected because of Ms. Pearl and of course, my whole team." I humbly said to them. It was such a great experience working with Ms. Pearl. Hindi siya maarte at napaka-down to earth kahit na nasa mataas na sosyalidad. Kahit ang napangasawa nito na kapatid ni Jade, ay mabait din at considerate.
"Yup! Althea's right. It was such a fun experience working with Ms. Pearl and her husband. Althea made sure na magiging maganda talaga ang wedding ng kapatid mo, Ms. Tangchingco. Sa sobrang ganda nga, hindi mo aakalain na kababalik lang niya sa trabaho." Batchi said without hesitation. I almost got flattered on what she said pero mukhang na sobrahan ata.
"What do you mean kababalik lang? I thought 4 years na kayo sa business?" David asked while exchanging looks between me and Batchi, which I raise my right eyebrow at the latter as if saying, "lusutan mo yan."
"Uhm, hindi kasi ano- Uh, ano ba-" She stuttered miserably and starting to get fidgety.
Really Batchi? Sa tingin mo mukha kang convincing niyan? I looked at her wide-eyed but she just scratch the nape. I saw her nudge Wila as if motioning her to continue her dialogue.
David just continue to stare at us while waiting for our answer. I can see Jade's trying to suppress a smile by biting her lower lip. I don't know if she can sense what's going on as she looked at me intently.
"Ano kasi Mr. Limjoco, nagbakasyon yan si Althea. Kababalik lang niyan a week before magkita kami ni Pearl. Mabuti nga nakabalik na siya nun kung hindi, hindi sana magiging maganda yung wedding niya." Wila laughed so did David and Jade. I just smiled but resume gazing at Batchi who's now acting cool.
"So, let's have some drinks together? I-celebrate natin ang magandang kasal ni Pearl." Wila added and completely diverting the conversation. She's really good at this. Magaling gumawa ng palusot sa mga awkward situation.
"Don't worry, our drinks are on the house tonight. Kaibigan ko kasi yung may-ari." Wila proudly declared and gave them a wink. Hindi na ko pumalag kasi okay lang din naman sakin.
"Really? How cool is that? Buti na lang dito namin naisipan kumain ni Jade." David said with a huge smile on his face. I can see Jade pursed her lips as if wanting to say something but before she could do it, Wila walked them in to one of our VIP rooms. Wila looked back and I just gave her a nod while I place my arms on Batchi's shoulders. I felt her stood up straight and body stiffened.
"Tsong, pasensya na. Hindi ko naman sinasadya-" Even before she could finish, I cut her off with my sudden burst of laughter.
"If you could just see your face now, Batch." I said in between laughter. She's looking at me incredulously as if laughing is illegal.
"What? You're not gonna get mad at me now?"
"What? Why? I mean there's nothing to get mad at." I answered as I wipe the brimming tears on my eyes from laughing.
"Jusko! Akala ko sasakalin mo na ko. I was actually preparing myself for your wrath. Geez!" She said and she dramatically wiped the sweats on her forehead.
"OA mo. Ganon ba ko sa'yo? And besides, hang out natin 'to. Masaya lang dapat tayo." I said as I pressed my body on her side. I can feel her body relax compared earlier.
She then looked at me with her wicked smile. "You're in a good mood because she's here, ano?"
"Hahahaha! Baliw! Good mood naman ako kanina pa ah? Ikaw lang 'tong tensyonado."
"Yeah right, Althea. Convince me more." I just shook my head as an answer but without wiping off my smile. Ayaw talaga magpatalo nito.
"Halika na nga. Baka hinahanap na nila tayo." I said to her then walked straight to the VIP booths. I felt Batchi trailed behind me and snaked her arms around my shoulders. She gave me a tap on my arm as if giving me an assurance. I ignored her but remained smiling.
'Wag naman po sanang magpakalasing ulit ng todo si Jade. I mentally prayed but I can't help but to get excited knowing Jade's here and I get to bond with her.
Such a great timing to hangout, indeed.