JENNIE POV

"Mukhang ang lalim ng iniiisip mo..."

Gising na pala si Irene mula sa kanyang pag-idlip.

"Masaya lang ako... i'm thinking about my lover."

"How does it feel to have a girlfriend?" She asked.

"I am so happy with what I have right now, Irene."

"Tinamaan ka talaga, no?" She giggles.

"Uhuh!" I confidently said. "I'm so inlove with her."

"I'm so happy for you." Kita ko naman iyon sa kanya, lumapit siya sa'kin at yumakap. "Prayer reveal, sis!"

"Bruha!" Parehas kaming tumawa, kumuha rin siya ng wine. Inubos namin ang oras sa kwentuhan bago mag ready para sa event. I'm excited to see Krystal, ano na kaya ang lagay ng birthday girl? At syempre, ng girlfriend ko. Iniisip ko pa lang maraming tao ang makakapanood sa kanya ay napapangiti na ako...

"I've heard na maraming bisita ngayon..."

"Kumpara nung isang taon?" I asked.

"Oo, sis! Alam mo naman 'yan si Krystal. Taon-taon, lumalaki ang connection." Ani Irene. "Time flies so fast. I wonder kung kasama niya pa rin tayong mag celebrate next year."

"Huh?" Gulat kong tanong.

"We're graduating, right? She mentioned before na susunod na siya sa Ate niya sa States after getting the degree here... at ako, mag-aasawa na talaga..."

Bigla na naman akong nalungkot.

Oo nga pala. She will leave us later on.

Muntik ko nang makalimutan 'yon.

"Mag-aasawa talaga?" I chuckled. "Eh, hindi mo nga gusto kung sino yung taong pakakasalan mo. Unless, you're giving her a chance. Bagay naman kayo, sis..."

"Bagay kami?" Aniya at tinaasan ako ng kilay.

"I think so, parehas kayong varsity, e. At 'diba, kapag varsity, mahaba ang pasensya, sinasagad ang sarili kahit sobra na ang pagod?" I said. "Baka lang..."

"Sira! Hindi naman ganoon iyon but I might give her a chance kung wala na talaga akong choice, Jennie."

"Sa'yo na rin galing na mabait naman siya, naumay ka lang talaga." I sarcastically said. "Bakit kaya..."

"Spare me your sermon, please." 

"Pero umamin ka sa'kin na may nagugustuhan ka, baka gusto mong sabihin sa akin kung sino 'yon?"

"Hindi ko nga sasabihin ang pangalan niya sa'yo."

Baka nakilala na naman niya sa dating app.

"Unbelievable... what's meron with her ba?"

"Basta, sis..." I can confirm na it's a "her." "Alam mo ba, we secretly exchange message, na para bang may pinagtataguan. We talked for like a week lang, Jen. Magiging kumplikado ang sitwasyon kapag sinabi ko. Tsaka kilala mo ako, 'pag may gusto naman ako, madalas infatuation lang 'yon at pinagsasawaan ko rin."

Ano kaya ang ibig sabihin niya roon?

"Sabagay, hindi ka na talaga nag bago. Para ka lang nag window shopping at pag dating ng cashier, hindi na babayaran... puro takaw tingin lang ba." I teases.

"I don't want to hear your sermon pero masama pa rin ang loob ko, Jennie."

"It will take time, Irene. Mag liwaliw ka muna hangga't hindi ka pa ikinakasal. Be happy..."

She rolled her eyes and sipped on her wine. "I'm trying, pero kung ito na talaga ang kapalaran ko, wala naman akong magagawa." She bitterly said.

"It was announced pa lang naman, 'diba? Malay mo naman, hindi matuloy?"

"Knowing my parents, imposible."

"Pero posible sa side ng pamilya ni Wendy..." She raised an eyebrow and think about what i've said.

"We'll see what's gonna happen next. I'm trying to get back on track, ang hirap mawala sa focus but yeah, i'll just go with the flow..." Ininom namin ang natirang laman ng wine glass at nag prepare na.

Inabot kami ng isang oras sa pag-aayos, I smirked when I saw Irene wore a wig, itim na itim iyon at may full bangs, dark make up suits her so well, may kahabaan ang kanyang hikaw at nag lagay pa ng kulay silver na glitters sa mukha. Bagay talaga sa kanya ang ganitong look, at binagayan pa lalo nito ang suot niyang strapless bodysuit with her high heels.

"What's with the wig?" I asked. "Halloween ba ito o birthday party?"

"I just don't want people to recognize me. At ilang araw na lang naman, halloween na. Advance lang ako mag-isip." She rolled her eyes. 

"Ayaw mong makilala ka ng tao o may iniiwasan ka lang? Is she even invited?" I chuckled. "By the way, you look pretty."

"I know." Aniya at umismid pa. "Thanks but who?" Inosente niyang tanong habang inaayos ang hikaw.

"Wendy."

"I don't know, Jen. We're not in talking terms after I rejected her, siya na nga itong unang lumayo sa'kin."

"Pero napapansin ko na madalas siyang nakadikit sa'yo... kung siya ang iniiwasan mo, anong meron?"

"I don't know... wala akong idea. Casual lang naman kami 'pag nag-uusap. But yeah, i've heard from Krys that she invited her," She shrugged it off and looked at herself in front of the mirror. "Perfect," she whispers and pouted her lips then slowly covered nang tingnan niya ako.

"What?" I asked.

"You look like a rockstar." Para pa siyang naiiyak at kinuhaan ako ng litrato. "You're so cool." Simple lang naman ang suot at ayos ko ngayong gabi pero kailangang ko mag maganda para sa girlfriend ko.

And to look presentable as possible.

"Really?"

"Oo, para na kayong kambal ng girlfriend mo."

"Dahil pinag-usapan namin ang isusuot."

Umakto siyang nasusuka kaya tinawanan ko na lang.

"I miss the y Jennie, you're so into plaid clothes nowadays..." she fixed my hair at pinagpatuloy lang ang pag kuha ng litrato sa'kin. "Pero ganda lang naman ang puhunan natin dito. We don't need to show our skin to be y." 

"Says the one who's revealing too much of her skin..." Irene really invented backless fit. She confidently smirked and winks at me. Niyaya ko na lamang siya na mag picture naman kaming dalawa.

Simple lang ang suot ko para ngayong gabi.

I'm wearing a one shoulder unlined bralette and a straight jeans, I paired it with cropped leather jacket that I took from Jisoo's closet. As for my foot wear, I decided to wear a buckle boots then I sprayed my favorite perfume on the back of my neck and a bit on my wrist.

And to complete the look, I let my hair roll down on my shoulder and put a make up that will highlight and compliment my cat eyes. I also wore a nose bridge accessory and a not so sensual red lipstick.

"Krystal texted me pala, nasa kabilang room lang sila." Ani Irene. "Let's meet her whenever you're ready."

"Sure, i'll just text Jisoo..."

"Clingy naman!"

"Whatever." I faked a laugh and took my phone. Nag text na pala siya sa'kin asking kung nasaan ako. She told me earlier na susunduin niya raw ako sa kwarto.

From: Jisoo

Wru, irog

To: Jisoo

Room pa. We'll see Krystal muna.

Nasa kabilang kwarto lang siya.

Where are you, rockstar

From: Jisoo

Coming to get you... he he

To: Jisoo

Okay, i miss you already :-(

From: Jisoo

Clingy naman, miss ma'am

I miss you... Paakyat na 'ko :*

To: Jisoo

Heh!

Ingat.

From: Jisoo

:D

Pag labas namin ng room, maingat na kumatok si Irene sa kwarto nila Krystal. Someone opened the door at si Seulgi ang bumungad sa'min. She looks surprised, "Uh, hi?" I smiled at her but my friend, Irene, just nodded her head and walked directly inside the living room.

May hawak siyang camera at casual ang kasuotan, akma lamang sa kung ano ang gaganapin ngayon. Tinapik ko ang kanyang balikat bago sumunod kay Irene, at nang sundan ko ito ay nakita ko na ang kaibigan namin na inaayusan ng glam team niya.

"Happy birthday, babe." Binati ko ito at bumeso, ganoon rin ang ginawa ni Irene at pinuri pa ang kanyang itsura ngayon. Mukhang pinaghandaan niya talaga ang kaarawan niya. I saw her sister in front of the glass door, may kausap ito sa telepono.

"Thank you, girls. You look lovely... excited na 'ko." We held hands and giggled, then greeted her again.

"Ikaw rin, lalo ka na. Ikaw ang pinaka-maganda..." I said. "Let's have fun tonight, birthday girl!"

"I know. Thank you for being here..." Aniya na may halong pabebe sa boses at pinaypayan pa ang sarili gamit ang kamay. "Where's my gift?" She sipped on her coffee and fixed her bath robe before crossing her legs. Nasa tapat siya ngayon ng vanity mirror at hinihintay ang sagot namin.

Irene looks at me, "Well..." I took the envelope from my jacket and gave it to Krystal. Nag taka pa siya nung una hanggang sa buksan niya ito at tiningnan.

"A what?" Gulat niyang sambit nang mabasa iyon.

"A plane ticket to Europe..." Irene said. "Parang hindi ka naman masaya? Babawiin na lang ba namin?" Pang-aasar nito at tumawa ng mahina.

"Oh, my god!" Hindi siya makapaniwala at muling yumakap sa'min. Pansin kong nangingilid ang luha niya. 

"Huwag kang umiyak! Ang make up mo..." I handed her a tissue at maingat niyang pinunasan 'yon. "You always said na gusto mong mag travel alone. Kaya we decided na iyan na lang ang ibigay sa'yo..." I said.

"Ah," she pouted her lips. "Hindi talaga kayo nakakalimot! Thank you so much for this..." 

"You're welcome... We also paid the transport and your accomodation when you get there. So, enjoy..."

Irene and I hugged her tight, tumagal iyon ng ilang segundo. I saw Seulgi in my peripheral vision and she's taking a photo of us. Nag peace sign na lang ako ro'n but I signalled her something, and that's about my friends. She already know what I mean.

Ngumiti na lamang ito ng tipid at nag picture muli.

"Let's wait for the team that will handle the photo op of my party. Let's take a picture pag dating nila dito."

Mabilis na lumapit si Irene sa Ate ni Krystal at binati ito nang matapos itong makipag-usap sa telepono. I will catch up with her later na lang sa party. We are not close rin naman kasi, pero sila ni Irene, sobra.

"What about Seulgi?" I asked Krystal.

"Ah, you know how much she loves her camera but she will be with me for the rest of the night, babe."

"So you're saying it's like a date? A birthday date?"

"Hindi naman pwede na ikaw lang ang masaya sa lovelife ngayong gabi, Jen." She smirks.

"What the hell is happening?"

"We talked yesterday bago sumundo sa airport..."

"And?"

"I told her that I like her." She seriously said.

"You told her that you like her?"

"I know, right? Hindi rin ako makapaniwala."

"Sandali, anong sabi niya?" 

"Wala naman siyang sinabi, ang akala niya pa nga nagbibiro lang ako." She chuckles, "Pero nilinaw ko naman sa kanya lahat, kung hindi niya 'ko gusto, it's fine with me. Gusto ko lang na maging aware siya..."

"Girl? How was the talk?" Curious kong tanong.

"Good! Kasi kung hindi, edi wala siya rito, 'diba?"

"Right!" I nodded my head. "Pero alam mo naman kung sino ang gusto niya, 'diba?"

"Yeah, we talked about it rin naman. Sabi ko, kung gusto niya ang kaibigan natin, she can do whatever she wants. Hindi na nga ako nagulat nung sinabi niya sa'kin na alam niya na yung sitwasyon ni Irene."

"And that's because of Wendy, right?"

"Yes, Wendy told her about it."

"And?" I asked.

"Wala, wala rin naman daw siyang magagawa. Ang sabi ko pa, pwede ko siyang tulungan but looking at the situation, imposible nga 'yon." She plainly said.

"Ang martyr mo naman."

"I'm being honest lang, Going back, we made sure na walang magbabago sa nabuo naming friendship. We can hangout pa rin every time... Sa totoo lang, I like her around, babe. I like her because she's a good company."

"I can see that." May nag bago na nga sa kanya lately.

"She always photographs our moments when we're together, she always take pictures of me whenever i'm at my happiest at alam mo naman na hindi ako mahilig sa gano'n. Yung kinukuhaan ako ng litrato ng walang paalam sa'kin, to think na napapangiti niya 'ko 'pag may hawak siyang camera. I don't even smile kapag mayroon akong photoshoot." 

That is so true. "You sound inlove..."

"Really? That's what I really feel for her lang talaga."

"You don't sound like the usual Krystal." I grinned.

"I guess i'm just enjoying the moment right now..."

"Because you're going to leave soon rin naman."

"Mismo." Sarkastiko siyang tumawa. "Ayoko nang tumira sa Pinas. I just want to graduate." Nag kibit balikat na lang ako at niyakap siya. People around me seems thinking about their future already. 

I don't want to pressure myself pero sana, hopefully ako rin. Malaman ko na kung ano talagang gusto ko.

Mayroon nang nabubuo sa isip ko pero hindi pa ako sigurado.

Naputol ang aming pag-uusap nang mapansin si Seulgi sa gilid namin, she's with someone who looks familiar. Krystal stand up from her chair and welcomed the woman in front of us. "You're here."

"Happy birthday, Krys." May hawak itong camera at bag na may lamang equipments, mayroon din siyang mga kasama— na mukhang propesyonal na.

"Thank you. Have you seen the venue na ba?"

"Yes, kagagaling lang namin do'n..." Oh, no.

Huwag niyang sabihing ito ang photographer niya?

"By the way... Jen, this is Lisa. My photographer..."

Siya yung babae sa Rodics, the woman who talked to Jisoo, yung gusto raw siyang kuhanin bilang model.

"And Lisa, this is Jennie." Pagpapakilala ni Krystal.

The woman genuinely smiles at me, inabot niya ang kamay niya sa'kin at naghihintay na kamayan ko 'to. We shaked our hands at hindi niya inalis ang tingin sa mata ko. "We've met before na, sa Maginhawa..."

"I remember that!" Sambit ni Krystal. "But sorry, my bestfriend is already taken, e. So she's off limits." she added at siya pa ang nag tanggal ng kamay namin.

"I know, i've met her gilfriend there too, Krys." The woman answered. "I wonder where's her girlfriend right now."

"And why are you wondering kung naasan ang girlfriend ko?" Masungit kong tanong sa kanya.

"I think you already know the reason why, Miss Jennie."

The hell?

"Nako, tol! Knowing my bestfriend, hindi mo siya makukumbinsi na maging model." Seulgi knows about it? "Baka nga pakyuhan ka lang non, e. Kaya sigurado ako na hindi siya papayag if ever man..." Pumagitna pa sa'min si Seulgi at para bang may pinipigilan na away. 

"Gano'n ba? Mas maganda siguro kung personal ko siyang kausapin para alukin na maging model ko."

"Huwag ka nang umasa na makakausap mo siya."

Parehas niyang itinaas ang kanyang kamay nang marinig ang sinabi ko, signalling her defeat, ngumisi pa siya dahilan para mairita ako kaya mabilis ko siyang tinalikuran.

I heard a loud gasped, probably from my friend or Seulgi. Nag paalam na lang ako kay Krystal na mamaya na lang kami mag pakuha ng litrato.

I saw the look from her face, "Selosa," she mouthed.

Umirap ako sa kawalan at humalukipkip, naiirita ako sa babaeng 'yon at hindi talaga maganda ang pakiramdam ko sa kanya. Sakto namang katatapos lang makipag-usap ni Irene sa Ate ni Krystal, she was about to talk to our friend pero sinenyasan siya nito na umalis at mukhang hindi niya naintindihan. 

Sumunod na lang siya palabas ng kwarto, confused on what's happening. "May nararamdaman akong kakaiba. Care to explain, Jennie?"

"That woman is so annoying. But 'wag na lang natin pag-usapan, we still have a party to attend, Irene..."

"The short-haired girl? She's cute kaya..."

"Tumigil ka!"

"Okay, Jen. Kumalma ka."

"Hmm,"

Sooner or later, when Jisoo becomes successful in her career, there's a hundred possibilities that she will receive an offer or deal from people, especially in the music industry. Ibig sabihin, mas makikilala siya at marami pang hahanga sa kanya. I suddenly feel anxious. I know it's not going to be easy but I wouldn't want it any other way. That's her dream.

"Oh, iyan na pala ang magpapakalma sa'yo..." Irene said na ikinataka ko. "If you will excuse me, mauuna na 'ko sa roof top longue to catch up with my other friends. Mag kita na lang tayo there." Bumeso siya sa'kin bago umalis. 

Napagtanto ko lang ang sinabi niya nang kumaway siya sa taong papunta sa direksyon ko, at nakangiti.

"Hi?" My girlfriend greeted me and widen her arms to hug me, I immediately wrapped my arms around her waist and leaned closer to her. "Sinong umaway sa'yo? Bakit ganyan ang mukha mo, irog?" She asks.

"Hmm, wala naman. What took you so long?" I asks.

"Sakto lang naman ang dating ko." She caressed my back and looks at me from head to toe. "Ang angas naman ng girlfriend ko!" Pag puri niya nang makita ang suot ko ngayon. All of my thoughts and worries washed away whe she gave me a soft kiss on my forehead and leaned in more closer to kiss my lips.

"Ang ganda mo..." She whispers. "Ang bango pa."

"Of course!"

"Nakakagigil ka!" Kita nga ang gigil sa mukha niya.

Umirap ako at ngumisi.

 

I'm inlove with what she's wearing right now, halos parehas kami ng suot. Ang nag iba lang ay full leather jacket ang kanya at sa loob no'n ay itim na vintage shirt, ang sapatos naman nito ay puting sneakers o chuck taylor na palagi niyang suot. She casually flips her hair that falls perfectly on her shoulder then smiles at me. I fixed her top by tucking it inside her ripped jeans, slowly sliding my hand on her back pocket.

"Why aren't you wearing any make up?"

"I want to try a new look." She whispers, pouting her lips. "Gusto ko nga sanang itanong sa'yo kung ano ba ang bagay sa akin."

"Tinatanong pa ba 'yan?"

"Huh?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong.

"Edi ako." Sambit ko at itinuro ang sarili.

"Ikaw, ah!" Aniya at tumawa.

"Let's go to our room... we'll see what kind of make up will suit you."

"Okay."

"Where is your signature pie