“Sigurado ka mixed greens salad lang kakainin mo?” Tanong ni Seulgi sa kasama habang inaabot yung card niya sa cashier. Kapag kinompare mo yung order ni Irene sa order niya, parang wala pang one-eighth yung na-occupy nito sa tray.

“Yun lang talaga. Thank you.” Hinawakan naman ni Irene yung plastic cutlery dahil mukhang hindi na kasya sa tray. Besides, eto lang ang matutulong niya since nilibre na siya ni Seulgi.

It didn’t take them long para makahanap ng vacant table. By this time, nasanay na rin si Seulgi sa mga tingin ng tao sa kanila. She doesn’t want to stress on things she cannot control. Lalo na at maganda naman ang result ng pagiging close nila Joy at Wendy. This doesn’t equate to stressing over at all.

“Irene,” tawag ni Seulgi sa katapat niya na mukhang less excited na kumain ng damo. “You really don’t eat with anyone else?” Tanong niya. Yung Salisbury steak with rice, extra rice, sampung crinkles at iced tea ay talagang napakarami compared sa damo at mineral water ni Irene.

“I don’t actually eat here at the cafeteria. I usually would just takeout food and eat it while I review.” Sagot ni Irene.

Seulgi really hates eating alone. When she decided na hindi na siya sasabay kila Wendy at Joy, nabahala talaga siya. Nakakahiya man aminin, pero eating with Irene would be a good resolve. “Ako, hindi ako nakakakain mag-isa.” Sabay subo ng pagkain.

“Kasi?” Halos makalahati na ni Irene yung salad niya, pero talagang nagugutom pa siya.

“Nakakatamad lang. Parang nakakawalang gana kapag mag-isa kakain.” Pagpapaliwanag ni Seulgi pagkatapos lumagok ng iced tea.

“So magana ka kumain kasi may kasabay kang maganda?” Irene seems unimpressed with the food she’s eating. Part ng diet ito kaya naman wala siyang magawa.

Seulgi shrugged playfully. Naubos na niya agad yung kanin at naglalagay na siya ng extra rice. “When I was young, I would always eat alone. Palaging wala yung parents ko because they work until late. That’s the reason I don’t want to feel like that anymore. Kaya kahit siguro mga tambay sa kanto aayain ko kumain basta may kasabay lang ako.”

Irene never thought Seulgi would open up to her like this. Si Seulgi yung nakilala niya bilang mapang-asar at parang laro-laro lang ang lahat, would talk to her this seriously. More and more lately, she is seeing how different her fake-girlfriend is. She never thought Seulgi is hiding behind that façade. “Kapag wala kang kasabay, just let me know. Sasamahan kita.”

“Okay, sabi mo yan ha!” Patuloy na kumain si Seulgi.

“Oo, basta libre mo.” Sabi naman ni Irene at sabay silang napatawa.

“Excuse me.” Sabi ng isang lalake na biglang sumulpot sa gitna nila.

Umirap ang mata ni Irene. Can’t this guy see that she and Seulgi are having fun with their conversation. Akala pa naman niya matatahimik na siya lalo na at alam na ng buong campus that she and Seulgi are a thing. “If you’re trying to get my number, you can now get lost.” Diss niya sa lalake.

“I’m not really trying to hit on you by any chance.” Saad ng lalake. Instead, he turned his head towards Seulgi. “You’re Seulgi Isabelle Kang, right?”

Tumango lang si Seulgi habang nilulunok yung last na subo niya ng kanin.

“JB Lim.” Pagpapakilala nito at inabot ang kamay ni Seulgi f