Pahiya onte si Joy nang buksan niya ang pinto ng shotgun seat ng kotse ni Seulgi. Nakita niya na nakaupo dito si Wendy. Siguro force of habit lang.

“Oh, were you supposed to sit here?” Worried na tanong ni Wendy at akmang aalis na sana.

“No worries, Wendy. You can have it.” Sagot ni Joy at dali-daling sumakay sa likod.

“Lagot ka, Wendy! Baka umiyak yan si Joy. Trono niya yan eh.” Habit talaga ni Seulgi ang mang-asar at mambuyo. This is just how she is.

“Pampam yan si Seulgi. Really, Wendy. It just slipped off my mind you’re here. Sanay lang ako na dyan umuupo.” Nginitian ni Joy si Wendy na mukhang sobrang guilty. With Wendy around, mamimiss niya yung times na silang dalawa lang ni Seulgi. But she’s happy though. At least hindi na mag-isa si Seulgi knowing her parents are always away.

“May inaantay ba tayo?” Tanong ni Wendy. Nasa labas lang sila ng gate ng bahay nila Joy.

“Oo nga. Bat di pa tayo lumalarga? Male-late tayo niyan.” Tinaas ni Joy ang kilay niya at ginulo ang buhok ni Seulgi.

And just on cue biglang bumukas ang pinto sa tabi ni Joy.

“Sorry, ako na lang pala hinihintay.” Pinaurong ni Irene si Joy at sumakay sa tabi nito.

“Ate?” Shocked na natunganga si Joy. Hindi niya nakita ang ate niya kanina at breakfast so she assumed na umalis na ito kanina.

“Ayaw magstart ng kotse ko.” Kaswal na sagot ni Irene. “Hi, Wendy! Welcome back!” Bati niya sa pinsan ng fake jowa niya. At this point, she doesn’t know how Seulgi would break the news of their fake relationship to Joy. Hindi rin nila napag-usapan iyon kagabi. All she knew was that they were just driving home with speakers blaring loud. None of them spoke a word after.

“How’d you know na sasabay si ate?” Tanong ni Joy kay Seulgi.

“She texted me.” Tipid na sagot ni Seulgi as she shrugged and stepped on the gas.

“Wow ha, textmates na kayo?” Tinignan niya ng maigi ang kanyang ate to pry more.

“Something like that.” Irene shrugged pero on the inside she’s panicking. Mala-Enola Holmes talaga itong kapatid niya. Every time na bubuksan ni Joy ang bibig, kinakabahan si Irene. Hindi niya alam kung anong isasagot. “Anyway, anong course mo, Wendy?”

“AB Comms. It’s a good thing most of my units are credited. So I’m a sophomore just like Seulgi and Joy.” Saad ni Wendy.

“Parehas ni Joy? At least you won’t be alone.” Irene knew Wendy’s around Seulgi and Joy’s age. Kilala naman niya ito when they were kids since her parents, Seulgi’s and Wendy’s are friends.

“Uhm, Ate Irene. Ikaw? Anong course mo?” Nahihiyang tanong ni Wendy. There’s just too much she doesn’t know. And if this is the people around Seulgi, she better start knowing them as well.

“BS Bio. I’m a junior.” Sagot ni Irene. She can feel how her anxiousness is the same as Wendy’s. Para silang pumasok sa mundong exclusive only to Joy and Seulgi.

“Graduate na tayo Wendy, sila ni Seulgi nag-aaral pa rin.” Sabat ni Joy na nakatutok pa rin sa phone. She’s been checking who’s who that’s already in campus.

“Mapangahas yang si Seulgi eh. Gusto gayahin parents niya maging lawyer.” Sabi ni Wendy habang tinitignan ng maigi ang pinsan.

“Bat ba? Kinuwestyon ko ba yung pangarap mo maging Korina Sanchez na puro maligno ang scoop? Parehas kayo nitong si Joy eh, gusto maging favorite word ang diumano.” Atake ni Seulgi sa pinsan.

No one could ever top Seulgi’s pambubuyo, that’s for sure, Irene thought to herself. Kahit sino hindi mananalo sa pambabara niya. Irene thinks Seulgi will be a very good lawyer in the future.

“Oo na. Panalo ka na. Ikaw na magaling Attorney Kang!” Wala ng choice si Joy kung hindi magparaya. Mukhang inaatake na naman ng topak itong best friend niya. “Di ka na naman nakainom ng gamot mo, ‘no?”

—-

“Irene, sabay ka ba uli later?” Sigaw ni Seulgi sa fake jowa niya. Mukhang nagmamadali ito kaya nauna sa kanila pagkapark na pagkapark niya ng kotse.

“No, I’m good. Thanks, Seul!” Lumingon si Irene just for the courtesy pero talagang late na siya.

“Teka nga. What’s with you?” Joy pulled Seulgi aside na parang aambahan. “Why aren’t you calling Ate Irene, Ate Irene?”

“I told you, popormahan ko ‘yang ate mo. And calling my future girlfr