November 20, 2018

Coffee Indulgence, P.Noval St.

You were having a 3-hour vacant period. Tumambay ka muna sa labas ng school. Although, gusto mo sanang sa may Lovers' Lane na lang dahil maraming puno, ang dami talagang mga naglalandian ngayon dun, and you didn't want to look lonesome kahit na ba wala kang pakialam. Sila Joy and Wendy may pasok pa until 5PM. Samantalang si Jisoo, nasa UST Hospital for her annual medical check-up. So ngayon, mag-isa ka pa rin, pero umiinom ka ng kape.

You were occupied observing the interiors of the cafe you were at. Last year mo na dito sa UST, at nakakadama ka ng kalungkutan ngayon. You were sure you'd miss this. Mami-miss mo 'yung ingay niyo dito, 'yung tawanan; 'yung biglaang ayaan na kainan sa Mang Tootz na sikat na sikat na at dinarayo pa ng mga tao; 'yung cravings niyo ng Korean food at diretsong pagpunta sa Santorini; At kapag feeling fancy, sa may Starbucks naman kapag may bakanteng pwesto.

Mami-miss mo 'yung tirik ng araw kapag PE sa soccer field; 'yung pagtambay sa tapat ng Main Building para gumawa ng video project para sa elective niyo.

Mami-miss mo 'yung inuman niyo sa Four Monkeys tsaka sa Tapsi, tapos mukha kang tanga sa 8AM class mo dahil ang sakit ng ulo mo sa hangover. Tapos may isa pa kayong bar na pinupuntahan before e, you forgot the name already, pero you heard from Jisoo na lang na ni-raid na pala. Paano na lang kung nasama kayo sa raid? 'E di sikat na kayo ngayon?

You were checking your phone, 4,10 PM na, you checked your messenger and wala pang reply galing sa mga kaibigan mo. And then you saw your draft that had been sitting on it for three days now. You still didn't know how to message Joohyun. You were so elated nang malaman mo ang pangalan niya. You didn't know, but you felt like her name suited her perfectly. You liked how it rolled through your tongue. Like a prayer you would gladly recite. You searched for her name on Facebook. Good thing her photo was a close-up one. An old one, perhaps. Since brown yung buhok niya dito. Unless she dyed her hair days ago from black to this one. She looked really gorgeous, if you might add. You didn't want to text the emergency contact na nasa ID niya. 'Cause you know na hindi siya ang sasagot. And dahil hopia ka at gustong mong maging masokista, you wanted to hear straight from her. Kaya ito ka ngayon, anxious at kinakabahan sa magiging reply niya.

[DRAFT]

Hi, Bae Joohyun. You left your wallet at MOA. Binigay ng janitor samin before we left the aisle. Sorry I had to open your wallet. Had to know kanino 'to.

Ah, bahala na. Inisip mo na lang gusto mo nang ibalik ito sa kanya. You weren't planning on keeping it any longer. And she must have been damn worried dahil may mga IDs and credit cards na nasa loob.

You pondered on sending it already. Okay naman na siguro, 'di ba? Sana i-accept niya 'yung message.

[SENT]

Hi, Bae Joohyun. You left your wallet at MOA. Binigay ng janitor samin before we left the aisle.  Sorry I had to open your wallet. Had to know kanino 'to.

What if hindi niya mapansin 'yung message mo? What if basahin niya pero she wouldn't even care? What if isipin niya na bogus ka? Pero sa mukha mong 'yan? Ang cute mo kaya sa profile picture mo, Pero what i- OMG. She replied! Now what to do, Kang Seulgi??

[Bae Joohyun]

Heyy!!! Arctic Girl! Of course, I remember you! Oh my gosh, thank goodness you found my wallet! I have been trying to contact MOA's admin, but they said their janitor gave it to someone. I was worried it fell into the wrong hands. Thank God it's you who kept it. :)

Kang Seul, isn't it?

Shunga, hindi ka nakapagpakilala.

Okay. Una sa lahat, she called you Arctic Girl, again. And paying homage to your favorite band would be you lifetime agenda. OA na kung OA, pero magpapaka-alila ka kay Alex Turner should that one a million chance happen. At pangalawa sa lahat, She called you Kang Seul, too. Gets naman na 'yon ang pangalan mo sa Facebook, but her calling you like she was your friend already, made you feel really giddy. At dahil dyan, hopia monggo ka na naman. Bumili ka na ng Tipas Hopia at magsimula ka nang magbenta.

Ah, bahala na. You were not going to do anything. After mo ibalik itong wallet niya, you wouldn't message ever again. You wouldn't even add her as a friend. The only reason you were doing this was because of goodwill.

Right. Good job, Kang Seulgi.

Hi, Joohyun! Yes, it's Kang Seulgi, actually. And oo nga e, Prada pa naman 'yung wallet mo-

Wait, delete delete

Hi, Joohyun! Yes, it's Kang Seulgi, actually. I was supposed to message you afterwards but I got sidetracked with school. Sorry about that. Anyway, how would you like this delivered to you? Grab or..?

typing

....

She waited for a moment, too strong kaya yung message niya?

Actually...

Can I pick it up personally? I am not too confident with having it delivered.

My cards and IDs are there so it's kind of a vulnerability pa at the moment.

Is that okay lang with you? Sorry if it's too much of a hassle. :(((

Grabe. Ang cute ng sad face niya sa dulo. Ano na, Kang. And Lord, makikipagkita siya. Mukhang di mo ata kaya! But you have to get your act together. Artehan mo na lang, best actress ka naman sa play niyo nung high school, 'di ba?

No worries! It's fine by me. :)

Thank you! Is Monday next week okay with you? I'll drop by quickly lang to UST. Since I know you're busy and all.

Monday was fine. Perfect even, dahil wala kayong klase because of the annual arts exhibit this year. Busy lahat ang seniors and juniors ng CFAD organizing it. and this was the culmination of all the theses ng mga 4th year Fine Arts Students, kabilang na kayo. Of course, bukod sa mga theses, may iba pang main highlights ang featured. You would be there early to support Wendy sa kanyang project she named, The Catalyst of AgriFuture. Iba din talaga itong kaibigan niyo, sa kanya ka natutong mag-appreciate ng material conservation, at ibang level ang passion niya sa mga community intitiatives. She expressed before na after graduation, she wanted to work in organization that caters to the marginalized. Out of the four of you, alam niyong siya talaga ang magtatayo ng bandila ng CFAD baatch niyo sa outside world.

Ang taray ng friend mo, 'di ba? Palibhasa, her parents were products of NGO scholarships, and from then on, nag-ugat ang success ng Son Design Innustries sa pagtulong sa mga mahihirap.

Napansin mo na may nakaharang sa peripheral mo. Sinundan mo ito ng tingin at nakita mong natayo si Jisoo sa harap mo, Naka-civilian pala siya.

"Uy. Tapos ka na sa check-up?" Tanong mo habang pumwesto siya sa tapat mo at umupo.

"Yeah, di ako pumasok ngayon for that, ang haba ng pila, sis!"

"E bakit kasi ngayon mo lang inasikaso, alam mo namang dagsa yan pag mga ganitong quarter e"

"Nakakatamad"

"Tsk, Aigooo, Ano pa nga ba." Tinuro mo yung menu board sa my gilid niyo, "umorder kana? Sabay mo ko, ubos na yung akin e."

"Sige, caffe latte?" Kabisado niyo na actually ang mga gusto ng bawat isa, kaya tipid oras kapag umoorder kayo,

"As usual, libre mo ko"

Umikot ang mga mata ni Jisoo as if alam niyang yun ang sasabihin mo, "Ano pa nga ba. E bakit parang natatae ka kanina, yung mukha mo parang di mo maintindihan,"

"Ha?"

"You have a problem ba?"

Wa-wala naman. It's just that," pinakita mo yung screen mo kay Jisoo, "I reached out to Bae Joohyun. Isosoli ko kasi yung wallet niya diba?"

Tumili ng malakas si Jisoo, "OMG! Anong sabi?" Binasa niya ang inyong short conversation, "Shet pupunta siya dito? Kasama jowa niya?"

"Hindi ko alam,"

"Hmm, dalian mo na lang yung pag-abot sa kanya. Monday, no?" Tumango ka, "Keri lang yan, busy naman tayo sa Monday, saglit mo lang yan iaabot"

May point naman si Jisoo, tipong "Hi! Thank you," and "Bye! You're welcome" lang ang magiging usapan niyo sa Monday.

"I-chat ko na?"

"Go na, order lang ako" Sabay alis ni Jisoo papuntang counter.

Monday sounds great. See you at 2PM? Sa may P.Noval entrance ka na lang mag-park malapit.

Coolio. See you, Seulgi. Thanks again. ;)

++++

November 23, 2018

Beato Angelico Building, UST

College of Fine Arts and Design Annual Exhibit 2018

Theme: Indie, Shine! 

This is how I show my love
I made it in my mind because
I blame it on my A.D.D. baby
This is how an angel cries
I blame it on my own sick pride
Blame it on my A.D.D. baby

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