"Inday Sophia! Kakabasa ko lang nung last update mo, parang ang bongga naman nung banggaan scene! Kaso buti na lang hindi sila nagkatitigan. Ang baduy na noon kung sakali! Commonly used! Tapos may slow motion pa? Yuck!"
Listening to Ryan's frank remarks never gets boring and is quite refreshing. These last few days ay hindi namin nakausap nang matino ang gagang 'to kaya kahit laitin niya ang plot ko, edi go. Busy kasi. I don't know if she's taking her course too seriously o may iba 'tong inaatupag. You know, love life.
Napangiwi kunwari si Jian. "Ang arte nito, oh! Ikaw kaya dyan ang magsulat! Pa-shoutout ka na lang kay Sof para makakuha ka kaagad ng readers. Daming fans nito, eh. Partida, 'di pa 'yan nagfe-face reveal, ha!"
"Hindi naman ganoon karami, Jian. You're thinking too highly of me."
Pat made face and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. 'Di pa siya contented sa two million followers niya."
"They just like my works, that's why they follow me. Hindi nila ako gusto as a person since hindi naman nila ako kilala."
Earl clicked his tongue. "Hay nako, mamsh hayaan mo na ang Sophia dahil humble talaga ang lola niyo!" he exclaimed. "Mabalik tayo, ano bang bet mong scene Ry? Gusto mo 'yung nagkabanggaan lang tas chugchug-an na, ganern?"
Halo maibuga naming lahat ang iniinom naming milktea dahil sa sinabi ni Earl. Binato pa siya ni Pat ng crumpled tissue. "What the shit, Earl! Ang ingay mo, please. Susungalngalin kita dyan, eh!"
"Oh yes bet ko yarn! Choke me na rin, please."
I sighed. "Medyo mababatukan na kita dyan, Earlina, ha! 'Wag dito, sister. Public place. Baka masita pa tayo. Ayoko ng dirty fame."
"Sus, ang aarte! Akala niyo naman mga inosente, green-minded din kayo, mga chaka! Stressed na ang bangs ko, hay nako!" pabulong-bulong pang sambit ni Earl.
Binatukan ko siya nang mahina. "Heard you, bitch."
Sandali pa kaming halos magkapikunan doon sa milktea shop. Medyo maingay kami but the good thing is may sari-sariling mini room dito for privacy. Though walang soundproof walls, okay na rin. Curtains lang naman kasi ang entrance.
"Maiba tayo! Nabalitaan niyo na ba 'yung kay Nate? 'Yung natanggap daw siya sa auditions?" tanong ni Pat. She was consecutively putting fries on her mouth.
We all nodded to answer. "Ay weh, talaga? Alam niyo na?" tanong niya ulit.
"Paulit-ulit ka, girl?" pang-aasar ni Jian.
I swallowed the fries in my mouth before raising my hand. "Ako, alam ko na nung sleep over pa rin natin. Remember when you girls were teasing the shit out of me sa kwarto? 'Yon. Kaya ako sumisigaw kasi sinabi niya sa akin."
Ryan nodded. Of course, she was the next one to know. That time when we're supposed to eat together. Monday. Then these guys, Jian, Ryan and Earl probably heard about it when I called them while I was on Starbucks. This week lang 'yon. Chris probably knew it before Ryan pala.
"Ha? Hindi mo man lang sinabi sa amin noong pumasok ka sa kwarto?" tila nagtatampong tanong Jian. Pat and Earl were also pouting.
I crossed my arms and smiled sweetly. "Sa sofa ko kayo pinatulog, remember?"
"May mga bet ba kayo doon? Hm, aminin na mga bakla, may tinatagong harot din kayo!" pag-iiba sa usapan ni Earl.
Jian grimaced. "Nah. Ayaw ko ng sikat na jowabels, hate lang ang aabutin ko sa mga fans noon. You know naman na sikat na sikat ang mga ganyang grupo sa Pilipinas ngayon."
"Basta ako, wala akong interest sa mga lalaki ngayon. Pass ako dyan. Support ko na lang si Nate as a friend."
I raised a brow. "Pucha, anyare na sa 'basta-gwapo-crush-ko-agad' Ryan na nakilala ko? For the first time in forever!"
"Baka may nagugustuhan na kasi, dzai. Use your kokote nga." irap ni Earl.
"Sorry, studies first."
Napangiwi kaming lahat kay Ryan at sabay-sabay nagsabing, "Mama mo, studies first."
"Mga pakshet kayo, oo nga! Ayaw maniwala, amp. Ikaw ba, Sof? Hindi ka studies first, alam ko 'yan! Baka may nagugustuhan ka na dyan sa grupong 'yan, ha!"
I unconsciously smiled. Naalala ko kasi bigla 'yung guy na nakabanggaan ko. Siya 'yung unang pumasok sa isip ko. Akala ko nga 'di ko na makilala, but surprisingly, kasama pa siya ni Shin sa training.
"Luh, siya! Nagtanong lang kami, napangiti na agad." tudyo ni Pat. Heto, porque may jowa, lakas mang-asar. "Hoy ikaw, ha. Sino 'yan? Harot mo dzai!"
They were all staring at me, waiting for me to answer while Earl was chanting something underneath his breath. Ano naman kayang sinasabi nito?
"'Yung ano... 'yung si.. ih ano ba keshe!"
Mahina akong binatukan ni Ryan kaya medyo napa-'ow!' ako. Sadista, ampota. "Ang harot, ang harot. Hampasin kita ng upuan dyan, eh."
See? She's a sadist!
"'Kala mo talaga hindi siya naging maharot dati." I muttered while massaging my head. "Medyo mahahampas na kita ng pinto dyan, Ryan."
Mahinang hinampas ni Pat ang lamesa. "Hoy, sino nga! Sophia 'wag ko kaming kinekeme sa pagdaldal at pagkilig mo, ha!"
"Si ano nga!"
Natatawa ako sa hitsura nila. They look like puppies who are waiting for food to be served. In this case, they're a bunch of tsismosas who want to listen to a tsismis. Earl was still chanting inaudibly and his fingers were crossed.
"'Yong katabi ni Shin sa picture! Gwapo, eh. Actually, nakasalubong ko siya sa campus noong araw na nagrelease ng picture! Tapos nagkabanggaan kami. Doon ko nakuha 'yung scene idea para sa story ko!" kinikilig kong sabi.
Napabagsak ang mga balikat nila at napabukas pa ang mga bibig. They were all looking at me as if they're questioning me. They look... disappointed? Luh, ba't nadismaya 'tong mga siraulong 'to?
"LUBOG ANG BARKO, AMPOKE!"
Bigla kong natampal ng malakas ang bibig ni Earl dahil sa lakas ng boses niya. Sakto, dumating na si Chris at Shin kung saan mang lupalop ng mundo sila galing.
"Lakas ng boses mo, Earlito! Ampoke pa more!" tatawa-tawang sabi ni Chris na unang pumasok sa mini-room.
Shin came in next. Umusod ang mga kaibigan ko at pinaupo siya sa tabi ko. "What the hell are you guys talking about? Anong barko ang lumubog?"
"'Yung titanic, lumubog." nakangiwi kong sagot. Napaka-tsismoso naman nito.
Ngumiti ng plastik ang siraulo. "Ang mature mo talaga, 'no?"
I heard our friends sigh kaya napalingon ako sa kanila. Chris looks confused while Ryan was shaking her head. The others were just checking their phones. Anong nangyari sa mga 'to? Anong nakita nila sa phone?
"Mas tragic pa sa Titanic." Jian groaned.
I ignored her statement. Inabot ko na lang kay Shin at Chris ang menu kahit alam kong ang oorder-in nila pareho ay fruit tea. Well, malay niyo nag-iba.
Lahat naman nag-iiba. Ajuju.
I was scrolling on my phone when their orders arrived. Biglang napadaan sa newsfeed ko ang picture na pinost ng label nina Shin. 'Yung group picture nilang trainees at manager.
"Hoy, Shin! Pakilala mo ako rito sa guy na 'to, ha? Ha?" ngiting-ngiti kong sabi. Syempre, papayag 'yan. Ako pa, batas ako 'no!
Nagulat ata siya dahil sa biglaan kong pagsalita kaya nasamid siya. "Hamburger. Gusto mo 'yang si Dylan? Is that why you asked me who he was the last time?"
Kunot na kunot ang noo niya kaya napasimangot ko. "Ay hindi, hindi ko gusto! Mahal ko! Leche!"
"Mahal agad?!"
I rolled my eyes. "For pete's sake, that's sarcasm, Nathaniel. Malamang, type ko! I won't ask you to introduce him to me if I don't like him. Ass."
"Napakasakit, kuya Eddie!"
Napatingin kaming lahat kay Pat na mukhang constipated. She smiled shyly and showed us her hand. "Nasugok sa table, hehe."
"So ano, ipapakilala mo ba ako?" Humarap ulit ako at bumulong kay Shin, ignoring Pat's whines.
He gently shook his cup and stared at it, as if napakalalim ng iniisip. "Why do you like that guy? He's a playboy, Ploy."
"Luh, 'di ka sure." Sabi ko habang nakangiwi. I mentally rolled my eyes, too. Ipapakilala lang naman ako. "Hindi mo pa gaano kakilala, judger ampota."
He made face. "Why do you think would he go to our school just to find me, huh?"
"Bakit nga ulit tayo nagkita-kita rito?" tanong bigla ni Chris habang ngumunguya ng fries. Hinampas pa siya ni Pat dahil hindi naman sa kanya 'yung fries.
"Kasi Wednesday?" tanong ni Shin.
I crossed my arms. "And on Wednesdays we wear pink?" patanong kong sagot.
"Funny."
Sabay-sabay bumuntong-hininga ang mga kasama namin, probably annoyed because we're constantly arguing about something nonsensical.
Napabuntong-hininga na lang din ako. "Don't we usuall meet here on Wednesdays to, you know, catch up?"
"Yeah, right." Chris made face. "Ngayon, para marinig ang pagsasagutan niyo ni Nate? Nice catch up."
Bumungisngis si Earl. "Sana all sinasagot- ow, shutanginers!"
"Medyo galit ka na nyan?" patungkol ko kay Chris. Hindi naman kasi pikon 'to unlike his best bud. Isang pang-aasar mo lang e-English-in ka na. Feeling Wattpad character ampotek.
"Ano 'yon, Sof? Nang-aaway ka? Gusto mo bang hindi kita ipag-drawing in the near future?"
Sabi ko na nga ba, gagamitin niya 'yung pang-blackmail niya sakin na 'yon, eh! This freak!
"Joke lang, Chrissy boy! Hihihi."
Our Wednesday catch up ended the way it's supposed to end. Kwentuhan, tawanan at asaran na may kasamang pikunan ang nangyari. And of course, a day won't be complete without Shin and I arguing and Earl dissing everyone.
We ended up staying for one more hour bago umuwi ng mga 5 PM. Ryan, Shin and I went straight home sa subdivision na tinitirhan namin while the rest went to their condo.
"Hay."
Tahimik lang kami on the way, but Ryan's constant sighing and shaking of head while looking at her phone bothered us kaya nagsenyasan kami ni Shin kung sinong magsasalita.
"Something bothering you, Ryan?"
After giving us a brief glance, she then glanced back at her phone at bumuntong-hininga ulit. "Yeah."
"Uyy." ako naman ang nagsalita. "Baka ang pinoproblema mo lovelife, ah! Nako, Ryan! Medyo hindi ka na nagsasabi sa amin tungkol sa buhay mo!"
From the mirror, I saw her roll her eyes. Medyo ma-attitude 'to, ah. "Yeah, about lovelife. Pero hindi lovelife ko. Sa iba." She said and glanced at us before wearing her earphones.
Napabalik ang tingin ko sa harap at napasandal. Si Shin naman ay napatango nang bahagya. Sabi ko nga medyo seryoso at affected nga siya. Baka close friend niya sa block nila.
"Bye Sof! See you tomorrow! Though hindi tayo makakapag-usap nang matagal, hihi!" bumeso sa akin si Ryan bago bumaba.
She looked more lively than earlier. Kanina kasi ay nakabusangot na ang mukha niya na aakalain mong pasan niya ang buong mundo. Maybe they resolved their issue through chat. And maybe her playlist calmed her a little.
I waved as she got off the car. "Bye, ingat!"
"Kayo ang mag-ingat! Ayan na lang ang bahay namin, oh!" she gestured their house. "Kayo magda-drive pa. Bye! Thanks sa paghatid, Natty boy!"
Ngumiwi si Shin at pekeng ngumiti. "Natty boy, amp. You're nicknames are getting cornier, Ryan. Sige, bye na."
"Say that again and I will tell-"
"Bye, Ryan. See you tomorrow. I'll make sure to bring some utensils tomorrow so I can throw something to you."
Ngumisi si Ryan at kumindat. "So sweet of you, Natty boy." atsaka isinara ang pinto ng kotse.
Silence filled the car as I tried to understand what they were talking about but to no avail. As the car engine started, I faked a cough.
"Medyo hindi ako naka-relate, ah." I said, laughing. Lumingon ako at nakita ang seryosong mukha ni Shin habang nagda-drive. "But you know what? Natty boy, seems like a nice nickname."
He groaned. "Ugh, I'd prefer Shin over that Natty boy that Ryan made just to embarass me."
"Really? You think Shin is good?" kulang na lang ay magningning na ang mga mata ko pero agad 'yong nawala.
"Nope, i just said it's better."
Umirap na lang ako at pinanood ang view sa labas habang naghahanap siya ng mapagpa-parking-an saglit. "Dumbass."
Nang tumigil ay lumabas na ako ng sasakyan niya at isinara ang pinto nang walang paalam. He opened the car window and smiled sarcastically.
"You're welcome for the ride, ha?"
I chuckled. "Thanks, Wednesday driver!" kumaway-kaway pa ako dahil paandar na 'yong kotse niya.
"Next Wednesday, you're walking home alone, you ungrateful woman!"
The next day, maaga kaming nakapagpahatid ni Kuya Caleb sa school. Caleb or Chatri is my older brother, 4th year Engineering student in the same school I attend. Wala pa masyadong tao ng ganitong oras pero dahil maaga ang meet-up ni Chatri at ng Student Council, nadamay ako kasi magkasabay kaming nagpapahatid sa umaga.
We saw an arrogant looking guy coming our way. Nakapamulsa ang isang kamay niya at cool na cool na naglalakad habang hinahawi ang buhok na nasa gitna ang hati. Feelingero 'to, alam na gwapo siya at ready umikot ng campus para ipakita sa lahat.
"Here goes the ever humble student execom chairman!" nakipag-bro fist si Chatri sa lalaki at may pa-brotherly hug pa. Mapapatanong na lang ako ng 'Am I a joke to you?' dahil medyo naging invisible ako.
"Yo, Caleb. Aga natin, ah." tinanguan niya si Chatri at maangas na pinagkrus ang mga kamay.
My brother sighed. "Yeah. And oh, before I totally run late, ikaw na ang bahala rito sa kapatid kong 'to, ah? Magsisimula na yata ang meeting.
Chatri came running off to the student council room. I have no idea of what's going on, ngayon ko lang nalaman na may meeting pala siya kaya maaga kaming nagpahatid. He left me with Shin.
"Ikaw? 'Di ka ba kasama sa meeting na 'yon? It's too early for you to be here."
He let out a frustrated sigh and clicked his tongue continuously. "Sabi nila kailangan ako but when I came here? Ang sabi nila, president lang daw atsaka secretary."
"Anong gagawin natin ng isang oras?"
He just shrugged and started walking towards the direction of the canteen. "Kain na lang tayo."
"I already ate cereal!" I protested. Kahit pa tutol ako ay hindi ko alam kung bakit nakasunod pa rin ako sa kanya.
His walking pace slowed down and parang slow-motion siyang humarap sa akin. "If you don't want to eat, why are you following me?"
"Ugh, leche!"
After almost half an hour of eating and chatting, we finally finished our tapsilog and a glass of strawberry milkshake. Well, my own preference. Si Shin kasi ay nag-water lang.
"You should eat rice every morning, Ploy." he suddenly said while we're walking on the campus grounds. "Kahit kaunti na lang ang kainin mo sa tanghali at gabi, basta madami sa umaga."
I grimaced. "I'm used to cereals. Ayaw ko ng kanin sa umaga, ang bigat sa tiyan."
"But you had 2 rounds of my fried rice and sizzling hotdog last time and it was morning, 'too." he argued. "Do you need me to go to your house every morning para ipagluto ka?"
Yeah, I did ate rice that time... But to think that I was just really hungry.. And I'm not hungry kapag may pasok..
Quite a tempting offer, pero masarap din naman magluto si daddy! I just really don't feel like eating in the morning. Mukhang nasanay na rin naman sina mommy at daddy na ganoon ako. Si kuya na lang ang triggered lagi. Perks of being a med student in the future.
"Thanks, but no thanks." I said, shaking my head.
But he was really persistent about me eating heavy breakfast everyday.
"It's not for me, it's for the sake of your health, Ploy. Buti nga pinipilit pa kita." he muttered. "What should I do to make you eat?"
"Hmm.." kunwari'y nag-iisip ako. Talagang nakahawak pa ako sa baba ko at nakatingin sa taas. "Maybe if you introduced me to that Dylan guy you're friends with, kakain ako."
His expression became stoic as he shot me a sideward glance. I know it because I can partly see the side of his face.
"Gusto mo talaga si Dylan, 'no?" he asked and chuckled sarcastically. "Uh huh. Enough para kumain ka once I introduced him to you."
I sighed. "C'mon, Shiiin! Kahit hindi naman introduce like paghaharapin mo kami tapos 'Dylan ito si Sophia, blah blah!' Kahit ipakita mo lang ang picture ko and lowkey say my name!"
I know I'm being bossy here pero may masama ba roon? I just wanna ask for his help since mas close silang dalawa nung tao.
Umiiling-iling siya at parang malalim na nag-iisip. "Will.. introducing him to you make you eat heavy breakfast from now on? Consistency, Ploy, consistency."
"Yes! Oo na!"
He sighed. "Fine."
Sa sobrang saya ko ay nayakap ko siya ng mahigpit. On the other hand, he was being OA and pretending that I'm strangling him with my hug. "Thank you, Nathaniel!"
"Yeah, right. Now, get off me before I change my mind."
I smiled evilly. "I can change my mind, too, my friend."
"Try me, Sophia. Try me."
Yare, first name ko na ang gamit. Napikon, ampota.
Umirap na lang ako atsaka tumingin sa relo ko, realizing that it's only fifteen minutes before my first class in our morning period.
"Malapit na pala magstart ang first class ko, sige! Bye, Shin! See you mamaya!" kumaway na ako at nagmadaling naglakad.
"Hey, Ploy!"
Napalingon ulit ako sa kung saan ko siya iniwan. "What? May nakalimutan ka bang sabihin? It's a prank ba? Sabihin mo lang para mabigwasan na kita!"
"Tsk, it's not that." Mabilis siyang naglakad at tumigil sa harapan ko. I tapped my foot impatienly habang may kinakalkal pa siya sa bag niya. "Here. Read this first then this. Sige, bye."
May inabot siya sa aking isang papel na mukhang scratch at isang maliit na envelope. After noon ay siya na ang naunang umalis, naiwan ako sa gitna ng campus. Napatingin ako sa binigay niya na scratch.
I asked myself, "Bakit may Thai script dito?"
#
yay, 3k words ulit! btw, i have a request.
kahit hindi mo nagugustuhan ang flow nitong story, 'yung plot, 'yung way of typing and delivering ko and everything, sabihin (i-comment) mo "happy birthday john paulo nase" 'pag nagkita mo 'to. salamat! *u*
yes, i updated on sept 14, 2020. happy birthday pinuno!