It has been a week and ang mga Marites work harder than Dispatch catching kpop idols dating.

Do you know the etymology ng Marites? 

Mars, ano ang latest?

See? Everyday, they seek something to talk about.

It’s as if lifeline nila ang mag chismis about the lives of other people. And if they can’t gossip, para silang mawawalan ng buhay. So they make up stories. And that’s how stupid rumours start. 

My being a “” is nothing new. Pero parang nag evolve? Naging witch ako na ginayuma si Yuyu? What kind of nonsense is that? 

It’s honestly so ridiculous that I can’t believe some people are gossiping about that. Or even believing in it? Witch? Gayuma? Ano ako? Anong century na ba tayo?

I’m not Romilda Vane who gave a box full of love potions to Harry Potter. I certainly do not need some type of potion para magustuhan ako ni Yuyu. She simply just likes me for who I am.

I don’t know kung matatawa ako or maiinis sa kalokohan nila. Ang creative din kasi, I’ll give them that.

Feel ko naman mas lalala yung mga Marites dahil palagi kong kasama si Yuyu. Like there isn’t a day we aren’t together. So there’s nothing more I can do but ignore.

Buti na lang Yuyu doesn’t mind as much din. She’s good at being oblivious. Hindi rin naman kasi totoo ang mga pinagsasabi nila. She knows me well enough. My friends know me well enough.

Anyway, we’ve figured out a schedule na din sa paghatid at sundo namin sa isa’t isa. 

Mondays and Wednesdays, I drive since our classes match naman. We end at the same time so okay na yun. Walang hintayan.

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, Yuyu drives. Third year na kasi ako so I’m a bit busy with my thesis classes on Thursdays and Fridays. Si Yuyu na rin minsan magdadala ng car ko those days. 

Inanticipate na namin yung pagod ko for my thesis reading and research so Yuyu insisted on driving na rin. 

“Sure ka you want to drive on Thursdays? Diba mas maaga kang matatapos?” 

“Yes, Yuyu. Now, stop asking or babawiin ko offer ko.” 

“Fine.”

“Plus magjojoin naman ako ng orgs and Thursdays usually yung meetings so okay lang talaga. Ikaw, sure ka ayaw mong sumama sa akin sa PDT?” 

“No, Yuyu. I don’t think kakayanin ng workload ko this year. Ayokong mapagod. Plus, ayoko ng attention.” 

On Tuesdays naman, she has her dad’s car so it all works out.

Siya pa yung excited at first kasi may driver ulit siya but it turns out siya maging driver ko. 

Pero I guess bawi na rin kasi ako palagi nagdadrive when she didn’t have her license yet. All throughout senior year ko sa high school, ako nag drive sa aming dalawa everyday. 

Yuyu is driving today since it’s Thursday. Parang yesterday lang, I taught her how to drive. Pero she looks super cool doing it especially with the windows down, the wind blowing her hair. 

One hand on the steering wheel, the other nakasandal sa opened window. Naka sunglasses pa siya. 

Parang model lang ng Mazda. Zoom zoom. 

Sabi pa niya mas bagay sa kanya yung car ko. It’s a red Mazda3 sedan and she said it’s y. And y cars should have y drivers. Okay, I didn’t want to argue.

Napasandal ako sa seat ko and closed my eyes. Advanced na yung stress ko for my thesis class later. I’m not looking forward to it at all.

I was doing the readings kagabi and I honestly think it’s torture how they give us such a hard time. Di naman ako tamad. I’m actually a very good student and I’ve never graduated off the podium since elementary. 

Hindi rin ako overachiever. As long as I pass all my classes then I’m good.

Pero I can’t help but complain. 

Studying = student dying. 

Napansin ko na lang yung kamay ni Yuyu sa batok ko, squeezing the back of my neck. 

“Ayos ka lang?” 

I opened my eyes and just nodded at her. “Just a little tired.”

“Inumin mo na lang tea mo.” She pointed at the tumbler in the cup holder. I reached for it and opened the lid at inamoy ko na rin. It’s soothing. Especially since Yuyu brews it fresh in the morning. 

This time, she brewed me green tea. My other favourite. Pampawala ng stress and helps boost my energy. 

I took a sip and mumbled my thanks to her. 

Binalik na kamay niya sa steering wheel. Malapit na rin kami sa school. 

Tinuro ko sa kanya yung parking spot na gusto ko. The one near Giddy’s and Malvar gate. 

It’s inconspicuous and away from prying eyes. 

Yung red kong car napaka attention grabbing pa naman. I don’t know why Daddy got me a red one honestly. 

And since Yuyu is driving my car today, better na lang to not attract the Marites’ attention. Panibagong chismis na naman yan. Ano kaya this time? I paid Yuyu to be my driver? 

Natawa na lang ako sa sarili ko.

“Bakit ka tumatawa mag-isa dyan?” Curious niyang tanong as she parked the car. 

She has always been cool and has this very chill aura, pero she looks even cooler now, reversing the car.

Pero I think mas cool siya if she’s dressed in her own clothes and not in her uniform. Maganda rin manamit si Yuyu eh. 

“Wala.” I grabbed our bags from the back seat. “Let’s go na.” 

***

“So, how’s the second week of uni, RJ?” Tanong ni Giselle habang sumusubo ng fries. “Stress you out yet?” 

I handed Giselle a napkin when I noticed the ketchup drip on the table. Nag nod lang siya in appreciation. 

Before sumagot si Yuyu, she drank the rest of her cola ng mabilis, napaubo tuloy. Nag spill pa yung drink sa uniform niya.

“Slow down, beb. May humahabol ba sayo?” I said while wiping her chin before handing her the napkin to wipe her uniform down. 

“Such a baby talaga.” Giselle smirked, amused. 

Nag peace sign lang siya sa akin before turning towards Giselle. “Okay naman. So far, not that stressful pero feel ko next week, oo. Start na din kami sa group projects namin soon.” 

“Where are your friends nga ba?” Tanong ni Lia without looking up from her phone. “You don’t want to eat with them ba?” 

“Pinapalayas mo ba ako dito, Lia?” Pabirong tanong niya kay Lia. Sinamaan lang siya ng tingin. Ang sweet ni Lia na minsan mo lang siya makikitang naiinis pero kasi si Yuyu mapang-asar. 

Pag siya naman inaasar ng Conyo Twins, nag whiwhine lang. 

“Whatever. I’m just asking naman. Masama ba?” 

“Joke lang, di mabiro. Starting next week sasabay na ako sa kanila kasi magiging busy na din kami. And I think dadating na yung isa namin kagrupo and sabi ni Ma’am help na lang daw namin siya i-catch up.” 

“You know, if you need help, I think you can ask Bal naman,” sabi ko.

Nanlaki mga mata niya when she realized what I said. 

“That’s right. He’s in the same department as you, diba?” Tumango lang si Yuyu when Giselle followed up. “Hit him up, then.” 

“Oo nga. Nasaan na ba yun? Bakit di yun nagpapakita?” 

“Busy lang yata.”

Lia chuckled, finally looking up from her phone. “Yeah, too busy playing computer games at Prince. I swear, the kambals are so magkaiba.” 

“He’s smart naman.” Pag defend ko. “Just text him kung kailangan mo ng tulong. Di ka naman matitiis nun.” 

“Yung isang kambal saan din yun? Bakit ayaw nilang magpakita sa akin?” 

“Her schedule is entirely different from ours, RJ.” Sinagot naman ni Lia. Napa “ah” lang naman si Yuyu at nagligpit na ng gamit niya. “Maybe you’ll see both of them mamaya sa PDT open house. You want to sali diba?”