Solar asked some files about sa water bills nung isang malaking client na hawak namin. I was on my way sa auditing when I saw Yeri watching something familiar. Instead of telling her to stop watching k-drama habang work hours, I stopped sa likod niya and join her sa panunuod. This is the same show na pinapanuod niya every Friday.

Last time she laughed out loud and since naka earphones siya she didn’t notice that she’s making loud noises sa loob ng bus.

“cute siya no?”

Natawa pa ako nung finally she realized na baka nakakabulahaw siya and she instantly looked around to offer apologies pero since ako lang ang nakatingin sa kanya, she mouthed me a gentle “sorry” while covering her blushed face.

A distant voice added “lalo na ‘pag naka smile.”

Kaya she tried to keep her laughs to herself and smiled instead.

I mean, everyone looks good wearing their smiles… there’s just something different with her.

Something different that makes the situation auto apology accepted.

“sus… aminin mo na kasi, nacu-cutan ka na”

If I were to describe her smile? It was near nostalgic and magical. As if I were a child again.

Tasting sweets, the first time.

Wanting to play under the scorching sun.

Waving birds and planes bye.

And the world was no more than a huge place to have fun.

“Oo. cute nga…” I heard myself said.

Grinning.

The exact part came in and hindi ko na rin mapigilan ang sarili na hindi matawa. Kaya naman pala grabe yung tawa niya sa part na ‘to. Watching the scene while noting the title of the show in my mind. Maybe, I can watch it later.

“Grabe lang, he’s so cute!!!” so I looked slightly down and saw Yeri na medyo nakatingala sa akin.

He?!

“who’s he?” nasabi ko nalang.

“si Ji-Pyeong”

Oh…

I thought… 

I was thinking about…

Akala ko naman si…

All this time…?

I said oo?

Sabi niya sa akin last friday… she’s contemplating kung bababa ba siya or what the moment na hindi ako sumakay sa bus. She even tried to follow me pero I’m out of sight, so she said “sige, sa next bus nalang ako” to herself.

She whispered something like “buti na lang dumating ka ulit” with an innocent smile that made me turned away from her and busied myself sa traffic lights outside the window.

I’ve bought some lollipops bago pumila sa terminal. I saw her eyeing yung pack na binili ko last time. I offered her some pero umiling lang siya saka bumalik sa panunuod.

Fridays…

I watched Start-Up too. Its good. Maybe we can talk about it for today. Our conversation always goes with some brief greetings and kamustahan then the two of us will fell into the pit of both wanted to ask and wanted to be asked. Kaya hindi na siguro nadadagdagan at hanggang doon nalang. Pareho kaming nagpapakiramdaman.

Minsan, she’ll make fun of the last encounters gaya nung pagtulog ko and yung paglagpas sa bababaan.

Yung hindi ko pagbabayad ng fare that according to her make her broke that day since she went all the way to wait for someone like me. Very consistent at her excuses, I see.

Last Friday, bago ako bumaba… we shared a good laugh doon sa birong deal na ginawa niya. I never back down sa mga deal especially kung alam kong mananalo ako. That’s my thing. I love playing games and deals.

I almost smile recalling her arrogant “sige… pag ikaw nakatulog sa byahe pauwi for three weeks… you’ll grant me a wish.”

My chest tightened a little sa narinig ko.

She even murmured “sabihin mo lang kung lugi ka, I’ll make it two” and then smirked.

I am a bit insulted pero mas nanaig yung challenged so I stared at her and flatly said “you’ll regret challenging me.”

May isang buntis na tumapik sa balikat ko. “miss, excuse me” pertaining dun sa unoccupied space sa tabi ko.

Right, priority…

Pero she’s with… 1,2…5 people?!

May mauupuan pa kaya ako pagdating nung bus?

I wonder how it feels to be priority.

The bus arrived and umusad na din yung pila. Masyado ata akong napunta sa likod ng next batch. Pagminalas pa, baka ma cut-off ako.

Kainis naman.

Magpabuntis na kaya ako?

Just kidding…

Nakita kong may ibang nakaupo sa seat na palagi niyang pwesto.

Minata ko lang yung seat…

Where’s she?

Napatingin sa akin yung nakaupo kaya napausog siya sa may window part ng labag sa loob niya.

Naupo na ako.

I breathed heavily.

I never know I would actually feel disappointed to see her seat empty.

As if we own it.

As if it were our little world.

As if seeing someone sitting on it is an unforgivable crime.

This day feels emptier than this bus compact and full of unknown faces but...

Isa lang…

Bakit naman sa dami ng mukha dito

Yung sayo pa ang hinahanap ko?

Bakit naman kahit anong pilit kong hanapin…

wala ka pa rin?

“s'an tayo maglulunch?” Joy asked habang nag-uunat.

Sumilip si Wendy from her cubicle “what do you like? Japanese? Mexican?”

Hindi ako sumagot. I was busy typing like a mad person para matapos ko yung spread sheets kahit na bukas pa ang due nito.

“ikaw?” baling niya kay joy “Korean? Chinese?”

“ ba yan?” sagot ni Joy and I swear, that made me stop from typing. Confused ako kung sisipain ko siya sa shin niya o tatapakan ko yung toes niya.

May notif sa phone ko.

“resto kasi.” Inis na sabi ni Wendy habang nakatakip ang tenga.

“ahh, kala ko eh, di ko trip Japanese… umay”

“Last month pa tayo huling kumain sa Jap-“

“sa ”

My eyes widened sa notif na naka display sa screen.

Seulgi Kang sent you a friend request

Tapos may message sa message requests ko…

Nakatulog ka last Friday noh?

Wendy’s cheek turned pink “Joy!!! Ano ba!”

Kang… that’s her surname?

I mean… why does it sound cute to me?

Rather… why does everything about her sounds cute to me?

I quickly checked her profile. Totally ignoring the spread sheets, I badly wanted to finish seconds ago.

Totally forgetting about the shin I wanted to break or toes that I swore to crush a while ago.

Siya nga ‘to

I smiled like a kid.

Siya nga 'to!

My heart swelled…

“ako Korean” sabi ko out of happiness.

Para akong teenager. Stalking my newfound crush.

Crush…

I never felt so swooned like this before.

Why in the earth I am so swooned?

“see… Korean gusto niya”

“Park Sooyoung!” chorus naming sabi ni Wendy

Uy, hi!

Hindi ah, baka ikaw

Hello, lunch nyo na ata? kain ka muna.

Ang hirap hanapin ng FB mo btw huhu

I can hear her hu hu. I think I’m crazy.

                                                           Paano mo ‘to nahanap?

I stalked you 😈

       Seriously?

Sikret walang clue

I’m just taking chances sa chat just to check kung ikaw nga ‘to

“how did she even know?” asking myself.

“ano yun?” “ang alin” sagot ng dalawa.

“pinapagalitan mo ko ‘pag kumakain ako ng may phone tapos ikaw din?” sabi ni joy.

“I’m checking for time” I lied.

“yeah? Your watch said hi.”

Muntik pa akong masamid

“hayaan mo na, I never saw her smile habang may ka chat so baka….”

“get laid. ASAP” was all Joy said pero muntik ko tusukin ng chopsticks yung eyeballs niya.

Wendy said “Korean pala ang nais” habang busy sa grill.

She teased me?

Wendy teased me?

Nahahawa na talaga ‘to kay Joy.

“Mas bet ‘ko Canadian” nonchalant na sabi ni Joy while munching.

And I can’t tell kung sinong mas pula.

Yung fresh meat na kakasalang palang

Or yung mukha ni Wendy drinking red tea.

                                               Thanks for taking the chance.

   Seulgi Kang

No prob, Joohyun Bae :D

Teka jeep n q

That message she sent with my name made me blush. Lighter than Wendy’s cheek.

Why did I blurt Irene kasi as my name?

Stop watching k-drama! Lol

How did you know??!

Jk. Wrong guess!

I typed… ingat ka…

I erased it

I typed… take care…

I erased it…

I typed… see you sa Friday… But that would lowkey mean I don’t wanna talk to her until friday.

Of course I wanna talk to her. 

I erased everything and decided na wag na mag reply.

is it rude if I don’