Dati, di ko alam kung ano ba talagang feeling ng butterflies in the stomach. Never kong na-experience kay Bogs yun. Right after the flash mob event ni Seul, I just knew, eto na nga yung sinasabi nila. Usually, dapat mahihiya ako at magpapalamon sa lupa kung magpapa-event ng ganito yung ex ko. Pero right now, yung hiya ko natabunan lang. Nakangiti lang ako habang kinikilig. This, so far, has been the grandest anyone has gone far in courting me. I never knew na all-out pala manligaw itong si Seulgi. So much for being lowkey.

Mukhang binigyan kami ng time to ourselves ng tropa after all the ruckus. When we went on and inside her car, parang casual pa din naman. I like her like that. She is completely acting normal.

“I hope I didn’t come on too strong. Sana di ka napilitan.” Medyo nahihiyang sabi ni Seul habang binubuhay niya yung engine ng kotse niya. “If you didn’t like it, I won’t do it next time.”

Tinignan ko yung rose bouquet sa lap ko. Di naman sa first time kong nakatanggap ng ganito, pero this one’s memorable. These flowers made me feel butterflies in my stomach. Napangiti ako nang di ko namamalayan. “Seul, thank you. And hindi ako napilitan. It was really nice.” Pakli ko.

“Oh, really? Buti na lang pala at pinsan ko si Ate Sunny. I coerced her into helping me. Yung isa niyang class, yun na yung practicum nila. Pansin mo bang mas todo bigay pa sila sakin?” Tumawa siya. Her eyes were smiling as well. Hindi ko alam na ganito pala ka-cute si Seulgi. Gusto kong kagatin yung pisngi niya.

I must resist the urge.

“That explains it. But I really enjoyed yung pa-event mo.” I complimented her, trying to mask what I’m feeling. This earned me another yet cutely shy smile from her. Ano ba ito? Parang di lang butterflies ang meron ako, buong jungle na ata.

We kept quiet though yung music from my playlist was running. Halos two weeks na rin kaming ganito ang setup since nawala si Jennie sa stops ng paghahatid. I suspect she’s not telling me much about sa napapansin kong closeness nila ni Lisa. Even with Yeri’s curiosity, I’m intrigued. Mukhang may mas alam pa siya sa akin. To think, na ako ang best friend ni Jennie.

“About this weekend. Do you think we should swing by Cavite for our HUMA project? I’m thinking maybe, Aguinaldo Shrine.” She asked me as her eyes were focused on the road.

“Sounds okay. Are we sleeping over at the hotel again?” I asked.

“Uhm, yeah. Sorry, about that. I had to go and see the progress of my marketing team.” Napakamot siya sa ulo. It seems like she’s really into their business now. Parang kailan lang, she’s always late. I really thought she’s always giving half-assed reasons when she’s explaining why though. Pero now, I can see that’s she is really stepping out of her comfort zone.

“It’s no biggie.” I said. Seulgi has a habit of overthinking things. I can sense she’s stressed with everything on her plate. And as for me, I can only try my best not to make the burden heavier for her. It isn’t so bad naman to sleepover at their hotel. “The view is nice and perfect for reviewing. I can do that while you work.”

We arrived at my gate. Thirty minutes swung by so fast. I took off my seatbelt and before I can go out, I kissed her on the cheek. I quickly opened the door and before I went out I said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

—-

Joy is at the airport waiting for Sungjae. It will be the first time she’ll see him again after the three-month-training nito from abroad. Member kasi ng national team si Sungjae for bowling. They really didn’t break up like what her friends know. Cool off lang sila. Literal na space ang binigay sa kanya ni Seungjae.

When they talked about it before Sungjae went abroad, Joy insisted na magbreak na lang sila. Pero mapilit si Sungjae. He told his girlfriend na pag-isipan na lang muna ito, hence the cool off phase and that they can talk about it pag nakauwi na siya.

Now that Seulgi’s closer to Irene, Joy figured na dun din naman ang punta nun. Lalo na noong nakita niya yung flash mob event, she felt how her little hope shattered to pieces. She knew, Seulgi would never see her the same way as Irene. Seulgi just doesn’t see her that way.

“Joyiiiiie