Hindi mawari ni Seulgi kung tama pa ba itong gagawin niya. All she wants to do is divert Joy’s attention to Wendy, para matapos na ang kalbaryo niya. Usually, during Saturdays, she and Joy go on late night drives. And this time, she made a lame excuse that she’d help Wendy unpack and settle in their condo. She felt really bad na magsinungaling sa best friend niya. Pero ano ba naman yung isa compared sa mas matagal na niyang tinatagong sikreto?

Mahal niya lang naman yung best friend niya na pinagkatiwala sa kanya ng pinsan niya.

Kinuha ni Seulgi ang susi ng kotse niya at magpapaalam na sana kay Wendy, ngunit nakita niya ang pinsan na knocked out na sa kama. Must be the jetlag, she thought.

Halos thirty minutes to eleven na nang makarating siya sa gate ng subdivision nila Joy. It felt weird to her na hindi si Joy ang susunduin niya this time but Ate Irene.

She immediately spotted Ate Irene. Naka-casual sweater and jeans lang ito. If she didn’t fall in love with Joy, maybe, just maybe, she would be head over heels for her best friend’s ate.

Sino ba namang hindi? Ate Irene is just so pretty. Halos lahat ng commercial sa tv, puro Irene Bae ang makikita. No wonder, pantasya ng kahit sinong lalaki si ate.

“Hop in.” Binuksan ni Seulgi yung window ng shotgun seat. Napansin niya na parang nilalamig si Ate Irene. Bago pa sila lumarga, ay binuksan niya ang glove compartment para kumuha ng instant hot packs dito saka nilagay sa lap ng ate ng best friend niya.

“Thanks.” Sa tingin ni Irene, masyadong obvious na nilalamig siya. Nakita niya pa na hininaan ni Seulgi yung aircon ng kotse. “What is it that you cannot ask over the phone?” Tanong niya dito. She wants to badly know. Of all things she hates, is wasting precious time.

To be honest, nagulat din si Irene nang biglang magmessage sa kanya si Seulgi asking for a favor. Naintriga talaga siya on why it can’t be discussed over chat or a phone call because Seulgi particularly insisted to say it to her personally. Her first impression was baka Seulgi would ask her to prepare something for Joy.

” You’re much more persistent than Joy, you know.” Napatawa ng konti si Seulgi habang nagda-drive.

“I don’t have all night, Kang!” Medyo mataas na tonong sambit ni Irene. “You better start talking. Is this about Joy? Are you finally asking her out?” Hula niya. To think, the two have been a blind item for so long. Everybody thinks they are dating dahil sa sobrang chummy and affectionate nila. It isn’t actually a secret when they are all over each other in the campus and everyone’s second guessing about it.

“Fine. I have a favor to ask you.” Napabuntong-hininga si Seulgi, ready to blurt it all out.

“Magpapatulong ka ba kay Joy? Why don’t you just date already? Everyone’s asking kung kayo ba.” Irene impatiently cut in. She just hates being in the dark. Time is money. She learned it the hard way.

“Actually, it’s the other way around.” Sagot ni Seulgi na parang nag-aalangan pa rin.

“What do you mean?” May pagtatakang tanong ni Irene.

“I want Joy to hate me. And for that to happen, you have to pretend to be my girlfriend.” Maikling paliwanag ni Seulgi. There’s just not any other way to say it.  

May malaking question mark sa utak ni Irene. She has never seen Seulgi this serious. The Seulgi she knows, laging mapang-asar, funny and carefree. “Why would you want to do that?”

Tahimik lang si Seulgi. Maybe this is a mistake after all. And dragging Ate Irene would be an utter mess. Babawiin na sana ni Seulgi yung sinabi niya. But then -

“Are you sure we need to do this?” Tanong ni Irene.

“I think this is the only way to resolve the problem. Dibs ng pinsan ko si Joy.” Kaswal na sagot ni Seulgi habang inaabangan mag-green ang traffic light.

“You do note na in love sayo ang kapatid ko?” Tumingin si Irene sa driver. “And as far as I can see, you feel the same way for her. So why the ruckus?” Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay.

“Okay, Marga. Here’s the thing.” Tumingin din si Seulgi sa mga mata ni Irene. This time, she knows needs to explain, itong ate ng best friend niya ay masyadong maraming tanong. “My cousin had dibs on Joy since we were kids. Technically, siya ang nauna.”

“Eh ano ngayon kung siya nauna? From what I suppose, kindergarten love affair lang naman yun.” Trying to think logically, parang may sapak yung kausap ni Irene in her defense.

“She made me promise, di ko siya tataluhin when she went abroad. She told me to take care of Joy no matter what.” Naririnig na ni Seulgi yung busina sa likod niya. May mga ilang segundo na rin pala na nag-green ito. She hurriedly shifted the gear and went o