Her train of thought stops when someone taps her shoulder.

“Oh, you smoke?” Tanong ni Giselle nang maabutan siya nito sa sa meet up place na napagkasunduan nila.

“Ngayon lang ulit.” Sagot niya at tuluyang pinupos ang dulo ng sigarilyo sa ashtray na nasa harap niya. Giselle obviously hates the smell. Nakangiwi lang naman ito.

Umupo na ito sa harap niya at pinagmasdan siya. Umiwas siya ng tingin. Ayaw niya yung nakikita sa mga mata nito.

Awa.

“Ang payat mo na. Kumakain ka pa ba?”

She chuckles. Yung may pait. “Please endure kung pangit ako ngayon. Andami kasing ganap.”

Though she intends to joke, Giselle isn't buying it. She has no reaction whatsoever. Kahit naman di sila ganun kaclose, she cares about the girl. They are only acquainted dahil sa best friend niya, but somehow she is there sa maraming pagkakataon. Nasaksihan niya lahat.

“My condolences pala, Minjeong. You’ve endured so much these days.” Concerned nitong turan.

“Thank you. I’m getting by I guess.” She retains her gaze at the table, afraid she’ll break down again.

Giselle was hesitant for a second. Tinatantiya kung itatanong ba niya. “Hindi pa daw kayo nag uusap?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know, Selle. Di ko pa yata kaya.”

“You know you’ll have to talk sooner or later. You can’t just keep running away.”

“I know.”

“She really wants to talk to you. She said y