*Current*

"Ning when is Giselle returning from LA?"

"I don't know Yej, they are still on code 1."

"Code 1?"

"Yes it's their best friend code, I have no idea what it is but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Karina."

"Oh okay, can you just update me Ning? If you need anything just call me, babe can't come until next week busy pa siya sa job site."

"Okay Yej, I think Somi and Yuqi are coming here today. I'll call you if there's an update. Thank you."

Maaga ako sinundo ni Rina from our house in Alabang, kaya ngayon ito, we are in her favorite brunch place having breakfast. Almost three years na din kaming regular customers dito. Yung mga staff kabisadong kabisado na yung orders namin tsaka ilan beses na din kami nabigyan ng freebies pag meron silang bago sa menu. Parang kami tuloy ni Rina yung naging tga taste test lalo sa mga new coffee drinks.

"Pup you know what? Come, come closer because I'm gonna tell you something very confidential."

"Ano yun?" Nag lean forward ako para marinig ko yung sasabihin ni Rina. "Dapat shareholders na tayo dito sa cafe."

"Baby pinalapit mo ako para lang dyan? Akala ko naman kung ano yung importante na sasabihin mo."

"Hahahaha I just thought of it, kasi with the amount of waffles you have consumed all these years and all the coffee we have been drinking here, shareholders na tayo Pup and I am not even joking."

"You have a point, yeah I agree with you. Teka lang sige tawagin ko na yung--" Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Rina at nagulat siya nung nagwave ako sa manager nitong cafe na nakatayo malapit samin. "Pup oh my god I'm just kidding, hey stop it, it's embarrassing!"

"Hihingi ako ng syrup ano ba problema mo baby?"

"Hahahahahaha you're annoying kilala kita, kayang kaya mo magsabi ng kung ano ano eh."

"Hahahaha ang cute mo, the look on your face it's so funny, natakot ka?"

"Hahaha eh kasi I know you, kaya mo sabihin sa manager yung sinabi ko about the shareholder thing."

"Sa susunod sige sasabihin ko na talaga. Finish your coffee na I want to watch a series in the condo."

"Is that the series na pinapanood niyo ni Gigi?"

"Yeah you should try watching it also, Euphoria. Malapit na yung final episode on Sunday that's why I can continue watching episode two na."

Euphoria, the series na sinimulan namin panoorin ni Giselle, Ning and Somi, nagkaron pa kami ng mini "viewing" party for episode one sa bedroom ko sa Alabang. Dinala ni Gigi yung projector niya at para kaming nag set up ng improvised theater sa kwarto ko. Hindi sumama yung ibang friends namin and si Rina nun kasi hindi nila feel manood. Kaya yun, kaming apat nalang yung nag hang out. Although Somi and I ended up being a double third wheel that day and it was horrible, na-outcast kami dun sa dalawa kaya nag bike and longboard nalang kami sa subdivision. Siyempre may basbas ni Rina yun and madalas ko na din naman nakaka hang out si Somi, lalo pag nag bbike kami nila Ryujin.

"Pup okay ka na ba, are you done?"

"Yes uwi na tayo?"

"No because we're going somewhere else. Hindi ka nakikinig talaga puro ka kasi games. We are going to BGC just to check on something. Ito yung dapat pupuntahan natin matagal na, we've talked about this even before."

"BGC? Bakit, may bibilin ka ba?"

"No! what have we been talking about recently?"

"Uhhh madami."

"Yung lagi natin topic before we go to sleep."

"Uhh yung boss mo na maganda na schoolmate pala namin dati?"

"Ah talaga ba maganda yung boss ko?"

"Hahahaha bakit ang sama mo tumingin tsaka ano gagawin mo dyan sa phone mo, ibabato mo sakin? Ibaba mo nga yan. Nagiging giant baby ka talaga bigla eh."

"The one that we've been talking about and we will be doing it together."

"Ah! You trying a new hairstyle, you coming with us to the US this coming holiday season uh and what else?"

"Hindi yan ano ba. The biggest one and it is important to us right now. A big step in our relationship."

"Yung robot vacuum?"

"Ano ba Pup, halika na nga sumama ka nalang, I notice you don't pay attention sa mga sinasabi ko."

"Huh hindi ah, I listen to everything you say, sa sobrang dami nga lang nakakalimutan ko yung iba, ang daldal mo kasi eh ang dami mong kwento masyado."

Nag take out pa ako ng isang iced latte before kami umalis sa cafe. Nakaka dalawang cup ng brewed coffee na ako plus this iced drink that I just bought. Ito yung isa sa mga pinagbabawalan ako ni Rina recently, masyado ako madami iniinom na caffeinated drinks.

More than two months na from the day I started working and I must say, sobrang nag eenjoy ako working for that company kasi interesting yung mga projects at ang dami kong natututunan na design approaches. May mga nagiging friends na din ako sa work and most of them came from a different university. Although may iilan ilan din na schoolmates ko kaso they are older than me kaya hindi ko sila masyado ka-close and nakakausap outside work.

It's a Sunday morning, hindi matraffic ngayon kaya before lunch nakarating na din kagad kami dito sa BGC. Nung tumingin ako sa labas nakita ko na nagppark na pala si Rina dito sa condo, I was too focused on my phone kaya hindi ko napansin kagad. "Is this for a new condo na, are we gonna meet with a broker?" Tanong ko sakanya habang hinihintay ko siya na maipark yung kotse. "No, we're just gonna check this unit on the 20th floor."

Ng makababa na kami sa kotse, inabot ni Rina yung kamay ko at sabay na kaming nagpunta sa elevator lobby. "Kaninong unit yung pupuntahan natin babe, sa ate mo?"

"No. Pup can you please stop playing, wag ka muna mag phone hindi na kita makausap kanina sa car. Kulang nalang iglue mo na sa face mo yan phone mo."

"Sige nga babe, iglue mo nga sa face ko tong phone ko."

"Sige later when we get home ittape ko na yan sa ulo mo."

"Hahahaha okay sige. Ito na, baby can you please keep this in your bag?" Kinuha ni Rina yung phone na inabot ko at tinago niya muna sa bag niya. Nakahawak lang ako sa arm niya habang naglalakad na kami sa hallway. "Rina what are we doing here, may mga nakatira na ata dito, sino dadalawin mo?"

"Yeah they are currently doing turnover of units that's why may mga nag mmove in na."

"Hindi ko gets anong ginagawa natin dito, bakit nasa upper floor tayo, mukang wala naman dito yung model unit."

"You just wait and see."

"Bumili ka ng condo without telling me?! Hala ang epal Karina!"

"Ssshh wag ka nga maingay Pup, may nakatira na ata dito sa floor na to. You are being too noisy nanaman."

"How did you know na na may nakatira eh parang ang konti lang ng units dito." Tinignan ko yung other side, isang pinto lang ang meron sa dulo, for sure ang lalaki ng area nung units na nasa floor na to. Malaki yung cut kaya hindi malalaman kung may tenant na ba na nagrereside."Pup can you hold this for me I just need to open the lock." Kinuha ko yung bag ni Rina at pinapanood ko siyang nag kkey-in ng code at may hawak din siyang susi.

"Baby trespassing ka, kanino ba to sa mommy mo?"

"Nope. Let's go inside I'll show you around."

The first thing I noticed once we got in, yung scent ng air freshener. Naglakad lang kami papasok ni Rina hanggang sa living room, the area is quite huge and the design is modern mid-century. When we walked from the foyer going to the other parts, I already figured na nagconsult ng lighting designer at interior designer tong may ari ng unit, the living room is very spacious,it has a high ceiling and it is well lighted just like the kitchen. Si Rina busy lang din tignan yung mga furnitures and she's like scanning the other areas. Tinitignan ko yung buo, this is definitely not the model unit.

"Babe ano ba gagawin natin dito, are we gonna steal something or perhaps rob someone?"

"Hahahahaha crazy, nakita mo naman I have a key and I know the code. Come, it's time to check the bedrooms."

"Baby ang bango talaga ng scent nung air freshener na gamit nila, it smells like the one that we have been looking for. Naalala mo pa yun?"

"Yeah yung matagal na natin hinahanap, the scent they are using at the new airport in Singapore."

"Parang ganito yung amoy nun, let's look for that again babe pag nagpunta tayo sa states. Medyo ganito amoy sa condo natin but it's still not the same, this one is better."

Pumasok kami ni Rina sa bedroom, the design is a crossover between modern mid-century and scandinavian. For sure girl yung may ari nitong bedroom na to. I can tell because it's too obvious with the layout, textures and furnishing. 

Ang laki ng kwarto and it has a king size bed, the design is neat, well balanced and it's not too shabby. We checked the bathroom, it's bigger than what I have in the condo pero same size nung bathroom sa bahay namin and it also has a bath tub.

Pumasok kami sa walk in closet, it is furnished pero walang laman na clothes or anything, puro mga closets, drawers, accent lights and display lang. Napatingin ako sa isang wall kung saan nakalagay yung mga shelves for bags and shoes. 

"Babe bakit andito yan picture natin?" Tinuro ko sakanya yung picture namin na mukang Unicef poster, the photo nung nawala ako nung nag hide and seek kami dati sa island. Yung pic namin from our first getaway with friends na nakasunog ako ng forest.

"Pup you know what, you are gorgeous and smart but sometimes you are so ing slow. That's the other reason why I call you my snail puppy."

"I'm not slow, bakit ba?"

"You still don't get it?" Lumapit sakin si Rina, ngayon niyayakap niya ako from behind at hinahalikan niya yung pisngi ko ng paulit ulit. "Hindi ako slow noh, gets ko na, akala mo ha."

"Okay what is it? Tell me." Tuloy lang siya sa ginagawa niya, nararamdaman ko yung lips niya sa cheek ko at unti unti ng bumababa sa leeg ko. Humarap ako sakanya and I kissed her on the lips.

"We're gonna move here tapos we are going to rent. But wait, we are going to rent, bakit? Sayang lang sa pera yun babe, dapat bumili nalang tayo."

"Hahaha what? You already have a condo and you're gonna transfer to a new one just for us to rent? Ano ba yan Pup."

"Ano nga sabihin mo na kasi. Dito ba tayo bibili pasok ba sa budget natin to, tsaka  dito mo ba talaga gusto ayaw mo sa Makati?"

"Is it okay with you if I prefer to live in this place?"

"Here in this condo? Okay lang naman kasi maganda yung location and malapit sa work natin but have you checked the selling price? This is a high-end condominium babe, we have to check if it is within our budget. Tsaka sure ka ayaw mo kung saan sila Ry, sa Rockwell sila nakakuha pero hindi pre-selling yung price na nakuha nila. Ayaw mo ba dun?"

"We do not need to get one."

"So pano?"

"Remember the graduation gift from dad that I was telling you before I started working?"

"Yeah you did mention it before."

"This is it, he gave this condominium to me as a gift."

"What? Ito mismo?"

"Yeah this exact unit, we can actually move in anytime."

"What?"

"We can start living here na."

"We? Baby pano yung condo ko? I need to talk to mom because she has to know, I can't just leave it like that, madami pa dapat iconsider tsaka pano yung mga gamit ko dun? Hindi ko pwede basta basta iwan yun."

"You might get mad at me kasi hindi ko sinabi sayo, but I've already talked to your mom and ate, nakapag paalam na ako sakanila last month pa. Your mom knows that you are going to move in with me."

"Seryoso ka, ano sabi nila?"

"They are allowing us, kasi sinabi ko din yung reason mo with the location of your current one and the other stuff that you have been complaining about. I asked tita kung okay lang sakanya if you are going to vacate the condo na, she agreed but she also said that you are the one to decide and we have to talk about this."

"Eh bakit hindi mo sinabi sakin?"

"Because this is my surprise for you."

"Fair enough."

Lumipat na kami sa isa pang bedroom. Kanina pa kami naglalakad kaya umupo muna kami sa kama. Sumandal ako sakanya and I rested my chin on her shoulder. She was combing my hair with her fingers and she kissed me on my temple. I think nassense ni Rina na hindi nag ssink in sakin yung nangyayari ngayon pati na din yung mga sinabi niya kanina.

"So are you ready to move here, how do you find it do you like our new place?"

"It's nice, it's a lovely house and obviously too expensive. Pero babe, hindi ba nakakahiya sa mom and dad mo?"

"Huh? I've been living in your place for almost three years now, your mom and ate accepted me, they allowed me to stay there and they didn't even let me pay for the monthly dues when I was in my last year of college. My family knows about that and they are very thankful. Bakit ka naman mahihiya? Ang tagal na natin Pup and dad even considered you when they were looking for a condo, even with the design they asked me kung ano yung mga gusto mo."

"Wait so pina-construct pa yung interior nito?"

"Yeah dad said it was bare when they bought it."

"Kailan ginawa yung interior bakit parang bagong bago pa? Baby grabe parang nahihiya talaga ako sa parents mo."

"I think two months ago when you started working, I also informed the designers what you like, pinag sama nila yung mga gusto natin pareho. Don't be shy, all of them are in favor of our relationship and they like you for me. They consider you as family and we're together matagal na, bakit ka mahihiya?"

"Oh my god baby we are taking a huge step in our relationship, pero sure ka okay lang sakanila pati sa mga ate mo?"

"Why what's wrong ba? What are you thinking? tell me what's bothering you."

"Wala lang eh kasi dad mo yung gumastos sa lahat, wala akong na-share tapos titira ako dito bigla. I thought tayo yung bibili."

"Pup it's a gift for me, you are my partner of course kasama ka dun, this is our house."

"Yeah sige. Pero naisip ko okay na din yan at least hindi joint tenancy." 

"Winter why are you so against us having a joint property?"

"Para pag nainis or nagalit ka sakin tapos ayaw mo na ako makita, mas madali para satin, walang hassle na kung ano anong legal processes like pag ibebenta yung property or what, papalayasin mo lang ako dito and then I'm gonna get my outta he- aray!!!" Nakatanggap nanaman ako ng palo galing kay Karina. "Baby ang sakit ikaw ang hilig mo talaga mamalo tsaka mangurot."

"I told you not to joke about that na, you might manifest it Winter I'm serious. You are not going anywhere dito ka lang sakin. We are going to stay here until we grow old, we will take care of each other."

"Okay I would love that, I'm gonna take care of you. Pero ang laki nitong condo baby parang pang family to eh. Three bedrooms, ilan square meters ba yung area nito?"

"This one is 280 square meters, mas malaki yung sa other unit, the one down the hallway.  I think they got half of the entire floor area."

"280 tapos tayong dalawa lang wala tayong kasama?"

"Wala, do you want us to have a helper?"

"No parang ayaw ko but we can get cleaners. So tayong dalawa lang dito?"

"Bakit sino pa ba gusto mo kasama dito Winter or do you want us to have kids para may kalaro ka?"

"Kids like totoong bata?"

"What the Pup, may nabibili bang robot kids? Siyempre yung totoo."

"Anong gagawin ko dun? I cannot take care of kids babe, pag nag poop yun baka tumakbo lang ako palabas."

"Hahahahaha oh my gosh wala magtiis ka, tayong dalawa lang talaga dito forever."

"How are you gonna get a kid?"

"I don't know, there's a lot of available process."

"Wala bang bata na pwede iturn on and off? Like pag makulit or nag ttantrums, you turn it off just like that."

"What the heck, are you for real?"

"Or if we have a kid gusto ko yung kamuka mo nung baby ka, with the pineapple hair and tiny hands."

"Epal ka Pup ayan ka nanaman, pangiinis mo nanaman yan."

"Ang cute kaya nun parang pineapple na maliit, tapos pag may ganun na tayo we will let it sleep in a pot."

"A pot? Like a clay pot?"

"Yeah, para kunyari nakatanim siya."

"Winter you are so weird. I'm sure you just want a playmate, and then what, I'm going to clean up after the two of you? Oh my god no way!"

"Wala, edi tayong dalawa lang talaga. Baby can we talk about the expenses?" 

"Don't you want to check our office, we have a separate room. You have your own art room."

"What, an art room?"

"Yeah, I told you this house was designed for the two of us."

"Babe I need to talk to your parents and I need to thank them especially your dad."

"Sure, you may visit them if you want."

Lumabas na kami sa bedroom para lumipat sa living room. For sure mag aadjust kami pag nag start na kaming tumira dito. The place is just perfect and beautiful. Pero sobrang maninibago ako, ang laki masyado tapos kaming dalawa lang yung titira. 

Tinawag ako ni Rina na tumabi sakanya sa cou