Nakapag catch up kami ni Mommy about sa mga pinagkakaabalahan namin lately. We went to La Casas Filipinas de Acuzar tonight in Quezon City -- some kind of a fancy resto and my Mom knows the owner kaya dinala niya ako dito.

 

She was pretty reluctant pa 'cause it's a Wednesday night at may pasok ako tomorrow which is Thursday but I told her naman na okay lang since nagawa ko na yung papers ko for this week and other acad related stuff. Ayoko rin kasi ng natatambakan ng workloads.

 

At isa pa, kinailangan ko na rin matapos lahat para ang iintindihin ko na lang is yung audition ko for The Jammer's Club this coming Friday. Parang gusto ko na ngang mag backout but at the same time naging invested na rin ako sa pag sali sa org ni Lia.

 

It's going to be held sa isang auditorium sa campus on Firday night para sigurado na wala nang classes ang lahat. Even si Karina ay gumawa ng requirements niya nang advanced dahil manonood daw siya bukas to support me and Ning. Pero syempre, mas sisigaw daw siya para sa akin. Kilig.

 

Habang kumakain, tinanong ako ni Mom about my studies and I didn't want to give her a generic answer like "Okay lang".

 

Instead, kinwento ko sa kanya ever detail about my subjects at kung saan ako nahihirapan. Mostly sa isa kong subject that involves accounting. Hindi naman ganon kahirap yung ibang subjects at kinakaya ko naman. May pagka bright din naman ako kahit papano.

 

Yun nga lang, need ko talaga laging mag advanced reading at mag practice ng mga problem sets doon sa accounting subjects ko.

 

Natatawa si Mommy, reminiscing her college life sa campus, "I was just like you back then. Iniiwasan ko lahat ng subjects na may numbers. It was your dad who was really good at Math. I guess hindi mo 'yon namana sa kanya."

 

I chuckled lightly, I guess hindi nga. So sa nanay ko pala ako nagmana ng pangagngamote sa Math. She told me na si Dad daw ang nagtututor sa kanya dati at talagang hopeless siya.

 

Talking about my Dad like this with my Mom is not really awkward anymore. Lahat kami ay natanggap na yung fact na we will never be whole again.

 

And that's okay. It's just how it is. But I know Mom understands why I'm guarded when it comes to Dad. We're cordial with each other, just like kung paano si Mom sa kanya, and that's about it. We will never have that father-daughter bond that most people have.

 

We fell into a lighter conversation after that.

 

I asked her how Bell'e Buono is doing and she said it's doing better than expected given na kaka open lang nito. She's getting interviewed left and right sa mga food articles at nafifeature din siya sa vlogs ng mga food vloggers on youtube.

 

Those things are really good sa exposure ng restaurant kaya rin siguro mas nagiging successful yung business. Game na game din kasi lagi si Mommy na magpa interview and to show people around. Magaling siyang makipag usap sa tao and very charming, just like me. Ay!

 

"Ma, look at these pala," I fished my phone out of my purse, "Minju took these on your opening day. I forgot to show them to you."

 

Pinakita ko sa kanya yung mga kuha ni Minju at tuwang tuwa si Mommy because they're really good shots.

 

"I'm going to text that lady tonight to thank her. These are amazing," Mom gushed then continued, "You have a class with her tomorrow, right? Papadalhan ko siya ng something to thank her. Ikaw na lang magbigay. Is that okay, honey?"

 

I nodded, "Yes, Ma. No problem po."

 

"By the way, you have that audition on Friday right? Do you need anything? I can send our grand piano sa venue if you like," she joked pero alam kong she's half serious sa sinabi niya.

 

Napatawa ako, sobrang supportive naman ni Mommy at talagang babalakin niyang ipadala sa truck yung piano.

 

"May enough equipment and instruments naman don, Mom. It's okay." I reassured her.

 

We stayed pa for a while dahil dumating yung owner ng resto at nagchikahan muna sila ni Mommy kaya I had the chance to text Karina while waiting.

 

Me: *photo attachments* hehehe

 

Karina: >.< I'm hungry now

 

Me: haha what do you want?

 

Karina: You \(^.^)/

 

Kung hindi lang masakit sa paa yung suot kong heels tonight, nasipa ko nanaman siguro yung ilalim ng table.

 

Me: eeeehhhh!! naman kasi

 

Karina: What? Hahahaha. It's true

 

Me: ate sobrang pa-fall mo poH

 

Karina: Haha shut up. And isn't that the purpose? Ma-fall tayo sa isa't isa +_+

 

Jusko, Karina. Tigil tigilan mo ako ng kalandian mo! Naiihi nanaman ako wala akong dalang arinola sinasabi ko sayo.

 

Me: kinikilig ako..

 

Karina: As you should, baby :*

 

Bumalik na si mom sa table at nagyaya nang umuwi. I told Karina I'd call her na lang later when I get home.

 

So far, okay na okay naman kami ni Karina. Halos 3 weeks na rin kaming nasa dating stage and we're both enjoying how we are right now. Never din kami nag hold back sa isa't isa. We go on dates kapag hindi kami masyadong busy sa acads.

 

Pareho kaming nageexert ng effort and time to be with each other and to get to know each other more. Nakakapanatag ng loob at it gives us both confidence that things will work out between us.

 

Tsaka grabe, hindi pa rin talaga nagwewear off yung kilig na nararamdaman ko kapag kausap at kasama ko siya. I think I have the same effect on her naman. Mutual feelings. Hihi

 

Ang saya lang na sobrang smooth sailing kami for the past weeks at walang nagiging conflict. Ganito siguro talaga kapag may good communication at walang ibang umeepal.

 

Although nandyan pa rin at the back of my mind yung worry ko na baka bigla na lang umeksena itong si Yeji pero sabi naman ni Karina, over na siya doon sa isa. Naniniwala naman ako kaya hindi na rin ako nagdedwell on it.

 

Actually, parang si Karina pa nga ang sobrang selosa kahit wala naman reason for her to be  jealous.

 

There was this one time sa FN 1 na naging magkagrupo kami ni Minju at sakin dumidikit yung isa bilang mahiyain siya sa ibang hindi niya kakilala.

 

Grabe lang yung tingin ni Karina sa amin kapag nagkakadikit kami tuwing mag uusap usap about sa strategy ng aming group for the activity. Even si Minju ay napansin yung pagtingin ni Karina.

 

"Okay lang ba si Karina? Why does she keep looking at us?" worried na tanong ni Minju sa tabi ko.

 

"Ah oo. Ano, banlag kasi yata si Karina. Akala mo lang satin nakatingin pero hindi talaga." Walang kwenta kong excuse. Karina tama na kasi kakatingin. Huhu

 

Parang nag isip pa si Minju at tinignan ako, trying to gauge if I was joking. She shrugged it off in the end, "Ah okay."

 

Jusko! Naging banlag pa tuloy si Karina sa paningin ni Minju. Patay ako sa baby ko. Bakit naman kasi siya tingin nang tingin. At kung titingin man, sana yung subtle manlang! Titig kung titig eh.

 

Sa tingin ko naman ay wala talagang gusto sa akin si Minju. I think she's just really comfortable sa akin in general.

 

Ayoko rin naman kasing maging awkward kami kung sakali ngang gusto niya ako. After all, she's become one of my best friends na rin sa University at marami kaming subjects together.

 

Minsan rin ay nagkikita kami sa resto because her dad works there kaya dun siya tumatambay kapag walang class. Nageexperiment pa rin siya sa kanyang foodtography agenda. Gumawa na nga siya ng sort of blog niya on the internet.

 

I told Karina about dun sa pagtitig niya dun sa isa and nag sorry naman siya for acting like that.

 

"Sorry if I act weird when you get close to Minju." She looked apologetic.

 

I held her hand, "Hey. Okay lang. But wala naman talaga yung sa kanya. We're just friends."

 

She looked down, parang nahihiya. May moments talaga si Karina na sobrang confident niya at intimidating pero may rare times na she just looks like a sad little puppy. Katulad ngayon.

 

"I can't help it. I still think she likes you but that's out of your control. But I won't act weird na," she pouted. I could k-k-kiss her right now. Aaah! Hindi pa pwede.

 

I let out a small chuckle, "I like that you're jealous," she gave me a confused look. "Wait! I mean, I don't like that you feel that way but I guess gusto ko na medyo possessive ka sa akin.."

 

She laughed openly at pinisil yung cheeks ko, "How can I not be possessive? You're so charming people might steal you away from me."

 

Hindi pa nga officially kami ni Karina pero bakit parang nasa honeymoon phase na kami?! Kulang na lang talaga sa amin ay label. Pero like we said, no rush. I'm happy with the way we are ngayon.

 

We got home not long after and I went straight to shower but not before mag goodnight kay Mommy. Tinawagan ko rin agad si Karina. Parang every night ay hindi nawawala samin yung mag usap sa phone kahit pa nga simpleng goodnight lang.

 

"Hi" Karina said, parang maingay sa background niya. Nasa labas ba siya?

 

Kinabit ko yung earphones at nahiga na, "Hello? Are you out?" tanong ko. Wala naman kasi siyang nabanggit na aalis siya tonight.

 

"Yeah, actually biglaan lang. I think may problems si Jaehyun and his girlfriend. Sorry hindi ko nasabi agad," she said sa kabilang linya. Parang tumahimik na yung paligid at muffled yung sound ng boses niya. Nagpunta siguro sa toilet to talk to me.

 

"It's okay. Uhm, anong oras ka uuwi? May classess ka pa tomorrow.." medyo worried ako kasi baka mapagod siya at hindi makapasok bukas. Past 9pm na rin kasi.

 

"I told them that nga. Sabi nila ihahatid na lang ako later. Hindi naman ako magtatagal."

 

Tumango tango, "Ahh, okay. Uhm, sige. Ingat ka ha."

 

"Wait.. wag mo muna ibaba. Are you mad? Sorry hindi ko nasabi and masyado nang gabi for me to be out," she sounded worried.

 

I smiled to myself, I like how she's considerate with my feelings. Wala naman akong ikakagalit kung tutuusin. And besides, she's with her friends kaya I don't really mind.

 

I'm mostly worried na baka mahirapan siyang makauwi or lasing yung maghahatid sa kanya.

 

"Don't be sorry, Karina. Ano ka ba. It's okay. I'm just worried. Do you want me to pick you up? Mag iinom ka ba?"

 

"No i'm not gonna drink. Pumayag lang ako to come here kasi I wanna comfort yung friend namin," I heard her cough, "You don't have to pick me up. I don't wanna cause you hassle."

 

Okay lang naman sa akin if it means she's safe.

 

I sighed, "Okay lang naman. I'll call you ulit later ha? Go back na with your friends.."

 

"Okay.. Go rest ka na ha?"

 

Ayoko na masyadong mag alala at malaki naman na si Karina. Kasama din naman niya yung mga kaibigan niya including Giselle. I guess lumalabas lang yung pagiging overly protective and worried person ko.

 

Nanood na lang muna ako ng videos ng performances ni Taeyeon ng UR in preparation for the audition. Hindi ko naman namalayan na naka idlip ako bigla sa panonood.

 

Nagising lang ako when I heard my phone ringing.

 

Giselle calling...

 

Napatigil ako bigla. May nangyari ba? Bakit hindi si Karina ang tumatawag?