Tahimik lang ang lahat, this is how Seulgi prefers it. But this is sounding too quiet to her. Nag-aalala siya na baka lamunin lang silang dalawa ng katahimikan, that this awkwardness would just be permanent. She thinks she needs to something about this, lalo na kung pangangatawanan niya na wala siyang naaalala sa ginawa niya kagabi.

Naka-ikot na sila at lahat sa grounds ng JYPU pero wala pa ring imik si Irene. Nakikiramdam pa rin siya. She just looks out the window, trying to distract herself. It’s not actually that easy to endure feeling like this. Every time she looks at Seulgi, she would just remember kissing those sweet lips. Hindi niya nga mapag-tanto kung bakit matamis pa rin yung halik sa kanya kagabi knowing that they’ve been drinking bitter alcohol up until the dead of the night.

Nakarating na sila sa drive-thru ng Mcdo nang magsalita si Seulgi. There still two cars in front of them. “Anong order mo?”

“I’ll just have whatever you’re having.” Tipid na sagot ni Irene. Simula pa lang kagabi sa sobrang daming pizza na inorder ng mag-pinsan, sirang-sira na yung diet niya. There’s nothing wrong with this since she’s partially quitting modelling. She doesn’t have anything lined up in the next couple weeks, so she’s good to go.

Napatingin na lang si Seulgi kay Irene. Last time na kumain sila sa cafeteria, she saw how strict her fake-girlfriend’s diet is. Remembering how unenthusiastically Irene ate the salad last time, hindi niya mapigilan na magtanong. “Are you sure?”

“Oo nga.” Sagot ni Irene, she’s not sure kung sarcastic ba yung tanong ni Seulgi sa kanya. Inirapan niya ang fake-girlfriend bago uli tumingin dito. “I said, I’ll just have whatever you’re having.” She really doesn’t like repeating herself much.

“Sigurado ka? Kasi oorder ako ng two-piece mushroom pepper steak and egg rice bowl with coffee float tapos isang big mac.” Sabi ni Seulgi saka niya inabante yung kotse.

Napa-kunot naman yung noo ni Irene sa narinig niya. That sounds like a meal she’d have for the whole day. I mean imagine the carbs. “On second thought, yes, but without the big mac, please?”

Umabante na uli sila and it was their turn to order. Irene heard Seulgi order a bunch of stuff. Halos umabot sa dalawang libo yung binayaran ni Seulgi sa cashier window para sa kanilang anim.

Pagkakuha ni Seulgi ng dalawang paper bags, iniabot niya ito kay Irene and in the process, accidentally niyang nahawakan yung kamay ni Irene. Hindi niya alam kung anong bagong feeling ito pero parang nakuryente siya. When they finally got all they ordered at nakapagsettle na sila, nag-drive na uli siya. Something is telling her, this is a big mess she’s in.

Another five minutes or so, nabasag na lang ang nakabibinging katahimikan nang mag-ring ang phone ni Seulgi. Kinuha niya ito sa kanyang bulsa habang nagfo-focus pa rin sa manibela saka niya ito iniabot kay Irene. “Pasagot naman.”

Halos hindi alam ni Irene kung paano uli makikitungo kay Seulgi. Sa tuwing titingin siya sa mukha ng fake-girlfriend ay naaalala niya pa rin kung paano ito nagtapat sa kanya. Ngayon pa lang na kinuha niya yung phone, halos hindi na naman siya magkamayaw dahil nagkadampi ang mga kamay nila.

Nakita ni Irene yung caller id bago niya ito sagutin. “Oh Joy, gising na kayo?” Tanong niya sa kapatid.

“Ate?” Hindi na naman makapaniwala si Joy. If she remembers correctly, never nagpapahawak sa iba si Seulgi ng phone. She guesses, this is one of the changes Seulgi has simula nang magka-jowa ito uli.

Nilagay naman ni Irene sa loudspeaker yung tawag para marinig din ni Seulgi. “Pauwi na kami dyan. Kadadaan lang naming sa Mcdo. I got your favorite caramel coffee float.”

“Okay!” Tanging nasagot ni Joy. That sounded like a good treat dahil parang bi