Hindi nila alam paano sila napunta dito.

At first, nagtetext lang si Alliana at Allister, just like the other days during their breaks. Sino nga namang mag aakala na magiging regular textmates sila during the break?

Parang kailan lang, halos araw araw sila kung magbangayan sa unit at hindi man lang nagpapansinan ng ilang araw pag magkagalit. Pero nang magkalayo sila for a few weeks, they find themselves talking to each other or sending random texts whenever they want.

Namimiss ba nila ang isa’t isa?

Nakakatawa. Nakakatuwa.

Alliana steps on the break, parks in front of a familiar house and waits. She stayed inside the car with the AC still on and the music on low volume. Nasaan siya? Nasa tapat siya ng bahay ng roommate niya— none other than makulit na Allister.

Bakit nga ba siya napunta dito? 

It was funny, actually.

Noong una, napunta lang sila sa usapan na malapit na ang pagbabalik ng pasukan. Just a random conversation that came up and maybe something piqued the curiosity of the other so they ended up asking about each other’s plans.

Alliana and Allister are at the stage of comfortability where teasing occurs more frequently now than before. May mga times kung saan nangungulit lang si Allister out of nowhere at may ibang pagkakataon naman na kung saan pinagtitripan lang ni Alliana ang roommate. Ganoon din naman minsan si Allister sa kanya, ika niya.

Kung iisipin, it hasn’t been long since they felt more comfortable in each other’s presence. Simula nang madevelop ang pagkakaibigan nila, para bang bumukas ang maraming opportunities para kilalanin pa nila lalo ang isa’t isa.

Para bang nabuksan ang isip at puso nilang dalawa sa posibilidad na maging importante sila sa bawat isa.

What started it off? Was it the time where they looked out for each other as roommates? Or was it the time where they both realized that they’re good to (for) each other?

After that night at the memorial park and after their own Paskuhan at the rooftop, hindi man nila sabihin nang malakas pero alam nila sa sarili nila na inaabangan nila ang paparating na taon at kung ano man ang hatid nito para sa kanila.

Will it be interesting or will it turn their worlds upside down?

Who knows?

Pero so far, sa ilang linggong lumipas, they unexpectedly checked up on each other. It’s not that they wait for the other to reach out, but when it happens, it makes their days more interesting than usual.

Parang noong magkasama lang sila sa sa unit nila in Manila. Hindi man laging maganda ang kinalalabasan pero makakasiguro ka na may kakaibang magaganap.

Madalas matuwa si Alliana kapag nakakakuha siya ng reaksyon mula sa roommate kaya kahit maayos ang usapan nila, it sometimes ends up to Alliana teasing Allister just for fun.

To be fair, Allister is just so fun to tease so she couldn’t help it.

It’s funny to her when Allister’s face changes to a grumpy expression, or better yet— the pouty face look. Allister sulks easily— and a lot! Ang sarap kurutin sa pisngi.

Hindi naman din nagpapatalo si Allister pagdating sa kalokohan. Siya pa ba ang magba-back out sa ganyang kantsawan? 

Naalala niya nga na naiinis si Alliana sa kanya nang ‘di niya alam kung anong nagawa niya. She could be clueless sometimes kahit na she’s also sensitive to what’s happening around her. It’s a weird combination but that’s what makes her what she is.

But all is good now. Everything is just playful banter and nothing more. It’s something they are getting accustomed to. It’s like learning to get into the same wavelength with someone familiar.

Alliana was busy checking IG stories on her phone when she heard a faint knock on the car window on the passenger’s side. She saw Allister trying to peek, with a duffel bag slung on her shoulder and a paper bag held on her other hand, sporting a dorky smile.

Binuksan ni Alliana ang bintana at tiningnan ang isa habang nakataas ang isang kilay— nagpipigil ng ngiti.

“What are you so smiley about?” Tukso niya.

Yumuko si Allister at dumungaw para tumingin sa kanya.

“Excited lang ako.”
 

“Because?” Taunting her more. 

I’m here? We’re going back home.

“Wala! Para kasi tayong magro-road trip!” Umiwas ng tingin si Allister. “Alam mo, ang dami mong tanong. Pasakayin mo na kaya ako?”

Tumawa nang mahina si Alliana at binuksan ang mga pinto ng sasakyan para makasakay ang kasama nito.

She’s so defensive at times.

When Allister got settled down with her stuff and seat belt, she looked at Alliana and the girl was already looking back at her.

“Tara, ‘road trip’?” Sumenyas si Alliana with air quotes at nakakalokong ngiti.

Hindi naman talaga ito road trip. Babyahe lang talaga sila pabalik sa dorm nila sa Manila, with some stopovers along the way. Hindi alam ni Allister kung bakit naisip niya na parang road trip ito. Mapaglaro lang siguro ang imahinasyon niya, as usual.

Wala namang kaso kay Alliana ‘yun. Kung anong trip niya, sinasakyan na lang nito. Kung isip niyang road trip ‘to, eh di buti na lang siya ang kasama. Dahil sigurado siyang hindi siya madidismaya. 

Before Allister, she was just stuck in a monotonous cycle of trying to get out of the hole of darkness and loneliness. This girl beside her is nothing but a fresh breath of air and a glimmer of light amidst the dark.

Wala nang nagawa si Allister kung ‘di umirap habang ‘di mapigilan ang pagngiti ng mga labi.

“Tara, road trip!”

And they were off to a different adventure.

Interestingly enough, hindi magulo si Allister kapag nagmamaneho si Alliana. Hindi niya rin pinakikialaman ang playlist nito, kahit pa paborito niyang pakinggan ‘yung chopsuey niyang playlist tuwing bumabyahe siya kung saan.

Natutuwa pa nga si Alliana kasi kumportable lang si Allister na magkuwento ng kung anong mga naganap sa kanya o mga nalaman niya over the term break. She wouldn’t be bored while driving nor would need a coffee break during their travel.

Sa totoo lang, hindi naman nila kailangang gawin ‘to. Alliana could’ve gone back to Manila on her own or with the help of her driver. Allister could’ve been fine as well commuting back via train or asking her parents for a ride.

Napag usapan lang nila at one point nang matanong ni Allister kung kailan siya babalik sa dorm.

“Kailan ka pala babalik sa dorm?”

“I’m thinking that one Sunday before the classes start. I don’t want to go back the day before class.”

“Ay talaga? Pareho pala tayo. Pinapalayas na kasi ako dito. Sawa na raw sila sa akin.”

Alliana stifled a laugh at the TMI pero halata sa tono niya na malaki ang ngiti nito.

“Baka na-aannoy mo na sila to the fullest.”

“Ewan ko ba! ‘Pag wala ako dito, miss ako lagi tapos ngayon, gusto na ‘ko pabalikin sa Manila.”

“Ang kalat mo raw kasi sabi ni Tita!” Singit ng isang tao mula sa linya ni Allister, na pinatulan naman ng kausap.

“Napakachismosa mo, Cyril! D’un ka nga!--- Sorry, may mga asungot dito. Ano nga ulit yung pinag uusapan natin?”

“Going back to the dorm.”

“Ah oo. Baka Sunday din ako babalik para ‘di hassle masyado. Pareho na tayong nasa dorm n’on.”

May saglit na pananahimik sa magkabilang linya. 

“Gusto mo ba sabay tayo pauwi?” Malinaw na tanong ni Alliana.

“Ano yun, parang road trip?”

She chuckled. “I doubt it’s a road trip but whatever floats your boat.”

“Hello, mas malapit ka kaya sa Manila tapos isasabay mo ko? Bored ka ba?”

“Arki, we’re both from the East. You’re just… a few kilometers further.”

“Eh.. okay lang naman. So meet tayo halfway?”

“I’ll just go to you. I’ll bring the car and pick you up at around three.” So I’d have a reason to leave the house early.

“Ang aga naman… Sabihin mo nga Iani— gusto mo ‘ko makita agad ‘no?”

“Don’t be too full of yourself, Allister. I’m just being practical here.”

Practical ba ang dumaan pa ng Rizal galing Pasig para pumunta ng Manila?

“Alam mo, patola ka. Pero pwede bang mga 5pm? May errands pa ‘ko hehe”

“Fine. 5pm on the dot. Baka gabihin tayo.”

The car stopped for a while due to the cars ahead. Hindi naman traffic considering it’s a Sunday at unti unti na ring nakabalik ang lahat sa regular routine nila from the holidays kaya kaunti lang ang tao.

Medyo matagal silang nakahinto kaya tahimik lang ang dalawa na naghihintay. Alliana was tapping her finger on the steering wheel, along with the beat from the radio’s music. Napatingin siya sa paper bag na kita mula sa rear view mirror.

“Anong dala mo?”

Nabaling ang tingin ni Allister mula sa bintana papunta sa katabi at kung saan ito nakatingin.

“Ah. Pa