Irene

“Which one did you enjoy the most?” Joy asked out of the blue. “The three-day vacation with Seulgi, or the one with your fam?”

I don’t need to think twice, “With Seulgi, of course. Boring kaya if you go to the same places over and over again.”

I took a sip sa inorder kong smoothie. The second semester starts tomorrow, kakauwi lang namin kahapon kaya naman nag-aya agad na makipagkita si Joy. Pauwi pa lang si Jennie mamayang hapon, Solar was still out of town at bukas pa yata mismo ang uwi.

“You’d do it again?” Makahulugang tanong niya.

“I don’t know.” 

“Now, it makes me curious tuloy sa kung anong mga pinuntahan at ginawa niyo. Should I ask her?” umamba siyang kunin yung phone niya na agad kong inagaw.

“Don’t you dare! Whatever happened there, sa amin na lang ‘yon.” I rolled my eyes.

“Now, mas lalo akong naccurious, Rene. You, being furious na malaman ko kung anong nangyare, doesn’t help at all.” She smirked.

“Sasabunutan talaga kita. It’s just the last time I’d spend a few days with her. We just made the most out of it.”

“So, start na bukas? What’s your excuse? Research? Jen’s with Lisa, so how?”

“Magkaiba kami ni Jen. Hindi dahil kaya niyang pagsabayin ang landi, kaya ko na rin, okay? Let’s settle with that.” Joy’s still not convinced. 

Well, kahit ako naman. I am doubting myself kung kaya ko talagang iwasan si Seulgi— but I need to.

“Sana kayanin. Kakaltukan kita kapag rumupok ka” She jokingly said.

“Akala ko ba you’ll help me? Akala ko ba you’re tired of me being all clingy sa supposedly bestfriend ko lang?”

“But I didn’t tell you to straight up avoid her and expect your feelings to fade in an instant, Rene. What you need is to tell her what you really feel.” Bigla niya akong pinitik sa noo. 

I did, Joy. I told her twice already. And I got nothing but silence on the second time.

“Ouch! There’s no need for that naman?” I hissed. 

“Need mo ‘yon! Baka lang may maalog.” Inirapan niya ako. “But seriously, tell her before ka umiwas. Malay mo it’s mutual pala.” 

Mutual? I doubt it.

Mukhang parehong lang naman ang trato niya sa akin and how she treats her other friends. Just a bit more special lang, I guess?

True to that. I tried so hard to avoid Seulgi within the campus. Mabuti na lang at ina-update ni Lisa si Jennie on where they were going kaya nakakaiwas agad ako. Lagi kong hinihila si Joy, para hindi obvious.

And with what I’m doing. Lagi nang binobomba ni Seulgi ng messages yung phone ko.

Seulgi:

Where are you?

Bakit wala kayo ni Joy?

Seulgi:

Is everything okay?

Seulgi:

Do you need help?

“Until when natin gagawin ‘to?” Joy asked. 

Nasa Tagpuan kami ngayon, eating our lunch. Magkakasamang naglunch sila Jennie somewhere inside the uni kaya hinila ko na naman si Joy.

“Until like I feel like my feelings are not too intense anymore.” 

“Girl, bakit parang feeling ko hindi ‘yan mangyayari?” She laughed.

“Gago ka.”

“Lutong no’n ah? Kay Solar mo ‘yan natutunan ‘no?” I rolled my eyes. “Pero define intense muna, need ko malinawan.” 

“I just…. I want to claim her so bad, Joy. And that’s not good ‘di ba? Kasi hindi pwede.” 

Joy almost choked sa kinakain niyang pasta.

“Ang lala naman pala ng intense na ‘yan.” Sabi niya nang makabawi siya. “You need to cool down nga. Should I set you up with people I know?”

“Cool down, tapos irereto mo ako?”

“Just to divert your attention lang naman. Malay mo you’ll gain a friend pa.”

“I’ve had enough of friends, Joy. Tignan mo nga ‘tong gusto ko, bestfriends kami.”

Natawa siya nang malakas sa sinabi ko.

“Gaga.” Tinuktukan niya ako ng tinidor.

“Joo?” Sabay kaming napalingon ni Joy, kahit hindi naman Joo ang pangalan niya.

“Thought Ate’s joking na nandito ka. It’s true pala.” Nakangiting sabi niya.

“Should we leave na ba?” Bulong ni Joy. “I understand if it’s still awkward to you. Halika na.” Aya niya pa.

“It’s okay. We got to talk naman na. We’re fine.” Bulong ko pabalik.

“Can I sit with you guys?” Nakangiting tanong ulit nung bagong dating. “Is it okay with you, Joy?” Baling niya kay Joy at tumango lang si Joy.

“How are you pala? How’s your vacation sa Hokkaido?” Of course, alam niya. 

Nasa iisang circle ba naman ang mga pamilya namin. I just knew na my Mom already spilled everything na ginawa namin sa Mom niya. They remained friends even after nung break-up namin. Naging sobrang close kasi nila. Guess they can’t take each other out of their system. Sobrang vibes kasi nila in all aspects, lalo pa sa business. Binibiro pa ni Tita si Mommy na they still want me for his son.

“Boring. Si Mommy na lang naman ang nage-enjoy doon.”

“I’ll try to recommend a few new places to Tita then, so you won’t get bored for your next vacation. We’ll have a dinner this coming Friday, you’re coming, right?” 

Dinner? This coming Friday? Huh? Bakit wala akong alam?

“Wala pang nasasabi sa akin.” Joy was eyeing me. I mouthed “I have no idea.”

“Baka sasabihin pa lang. Mom won’t stop talking about it since yesterday e. I thought you knew na.” 

My phone beeped after that.

Mi bebe:

Ate, dinner on Friday.

Hindi siya sa bahay tho. They didn’t tell me lang where.

Hindi sinabi kasi it’ll be with them? 

Mom, ano na naman ba ‘to?

We got to talk about a lot of things. I think nakapag warm up na rin si Joy sa kaniya. They were laughing with each other na nga kanina. We talked about research din. He said na if ever we need a reference na wala sa uni namin at mayroon sa kanila, since it’s a business school, we should tell him agad and he’ll help us.

“I didn’t think na I’d enjoy his company ha. He matured so much, for a second I thought he’s a different person.” Seryosong sabi ni Joy habang tinitignan namin siya na magdrive palabas ng parking spot.

He rolled down his window and waved before he drove away. Apparently, half day lang ang class niya. And he’s on his way papunta sa company nila. He offered us a ride, pero I refused. Kahit pa gustong-gusto na ni Joy na sumakay kanina.

“Next time na lang.” Sabi ko when he offered. 

“Rene, mainit kaya if maglalakad tayo pabalik.” Reklamo ni Joy.

“We’ll take a cab na lang.” Pinanlakihan ko ng mata si Joy. “You can go ahead, baka Tita’s expecting you to be early.” Baling ko doon sa isa.

We took a cab pagbalik sa uni. And I wasn’t expecting Seulgi, standing outside our room for our first period ng afternoon class.

I saw Jen peeking sa bintana, she gestured my phone.

Damn. I forgot to check my phone on our way back.

12 mes