Jeon Somi : I'm doing fine, ikaw ba?

 

Me : I just woke up, lol.

 

Jeon Somi : Well... gayak na! Attend our second class.

 

Jeon Somi : It's early pa pala for our first class so come here na.

 

Me : Okay, thank you!

 

Me : Let's talk about the research paper.

 

 

I turned off my phone and stood up from my bed. I did my stretching and went to my cabinet to find my uniform. I felt my stomach aching so I immediately thought of what to eat for breakfast. Wala naman masyadong laman ang refrigerator ko so eggs again...

 

I should do "grocery shopping".

 

It's 7:25 in the morning, and if by 8:30 ay wala pa ako, I'll just attend my second class which is the Special Topics in Financial Management. It's an easy subject for me so I think I can manage.

 

I saw one of my paintings and I realized I haven't done much these days because... I don't know, I always go out and I'm not always free. Aeri always invite me, ang dami rin niyang free time.

 

Speaking of Aeri, I should text her.

 

Me : Gigi, good morning.

 

Me : Where are you?

 

Me : Hello po, may pasok.

 

Gigi : babeeee, i can't stand up

 

Me : Why?

 

Gigi : masakit

 

Me : ???

 

Gigi : maging sad ka naman!

 

Me : Paano? I don't even know what happened.

 

Me : Oh, anong nangyari?

 

Gigi : its the time of the month

 

Gigi : nakakagutooom

 

Me : Ahh

 

Me : Rest for me. Tawagin mo Tita.

 

Gigi : bumangon ako 😗

 

Me : Okay, be careful.

 

Me : Don't attend classes muna.

 

Gigi : Lol, the prof doesn't care

 

Me : Right.

 

Gigi : ingat ka, mwua 😘

 

Me : What's with the emojis?

 

Me : Okay, you too.

 

After mixing the egg yolks and egg whites, pinch of salt, I the stove to low heat only and poured my mixture in the pan. No one's texting now so I focused. I don't like it too done or even soggy, just the softly set and slightly runny scrambled.

 

Why am I talking too much about scrambled eggs?

 

I went to the counter top to get a slice of bread then began to eat. I am not really a picky eater so I'd eat anything for breakfast, basta edible. Binilisan ko na dahil huling araw na rin naman ngayong linggo, I should be a productive student.

 

I went to the shower room and checked myself first in the mirror, nothing new. I went inside and opened the shower, warm water for now. 

 

Everytime I shower, I always plan what will be my plans for today. Usually I depend on Aeri on what to do after class. Wala na rin kasi gaano update sa AUDEX Organization kaya walang practices.

 

I turned it off and took my towel. I went to the sink and brushed my teeth, also used another towel to dry my hair. 

 

I went straight to my room and immediately dressed up. Good thing my slacks was still fitting me, also the white blouse. Kinuha ko na rin ang ID ko at dumeretso sa table malapit sa cabinet. I saw the three necklaces given to me, two from my Dad and one from Jimin.

 

Jimin, I haven't heard from her today. I suddenly remembered when Aeri was bugging me last night about her, I wish I have the answer to it too.

 

Ang alam ko maaga klase niya, or baka wala pala itong klase. I didn't receive any messages this morning as well so maybe she's busy. I got my car keys and my tote bag, I looked at the necklaces.

 

Okay, let's wear it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jimin calling...

 

What?

 

Nasa elevator na ako at pipindutin na sana ang ground floor button nang biglang nag-ring ang phone ko. Why would she call so sudden, it's 8:15 in the morning. Akala ko si Aeri ang tumatawag, Jimin's full of surprises.

 

I think I need to answer this, baka importante.

 

"Hello?" I started. The line was silent so I got worried. "Jimin."

 

"Hello! Hahaha, akala ko hindi mo sasagutin."

 

Phew.

 

"I thought something bad happen, notify me before calling." I said and fetched for my car keys.

 

"What? Kailangan pa ba magpaalam bago tumawag?" 

 

I went silent and did not reply. Natahimik din siya.

 

"Okay... I'm sorry, consent first."

 

I chuckled and I heard her too. I went inside my car and to the driver's seat. I started the engine and the AC. Hindi pa rin niya pinapatay ang tawag. I placed my phone on the stand and I heard a loud noise.

 

"Is everything alright?"

 

"Yeah, Ning's being clumsy lang- Hoy Vivian, yung bag mong mamahalin!" 

 

"Oo na, nakuha ko na! Sino katawagan mo- hello, hello? Ah- masakit ha!" I heard a slap sound and of course, Ning's loud voice.

 

I did not bother them but I can't stop smiling. I placed my hand on the steering wheel and started driving. The road was surprisingly not busy today kahit Friday. 

 

"Why did you call pala?" I asked

 

"Wala lang, nakakatamad mag-type."

 

Lol.

 

"Wala ka bang klase?"

 

"Vacant po, ikaw?"

 

I just nodded and continued driving. Hindi na muna ako nagsalita at hinayaan muna ito. Then suddenly, she requested for a FaceTime.

 

"I wanna see you. Can I?" she asked. I was contemplating but eventually I accepted the request.

 

"Bawal." I teased, nakita kong nagulat ito at nagkatitigan kami.

 

"You're wearing it."

 

"What?"

 

"The necklace I gave you?" she said, even pointing at the screen.

 

"Oo, bawal ba?" I asked back, nakita ko namang umiling ito.

 

"Kaya ko nga binili para suotin mo..." I heard her mumble, I just ignored it. "You're driving pala, sorry."

 

"It's fine." I said, it's no big deal.

 

"Focus ka muna diyan, let's end the call?" she's asking again, I'm starting to think she took the 'consent first' to the next level.

 

"Sure, catch up later."

 

"Thank you for answering my call po." she said and smiled, waving through the camera. "Ingat ka ha."

 

"I will, you too." I softly said and smiled too. The red light came so I saw her smile clearly before she ended the call.

 

Kinuha ko ang phone ko, nag-message pala si Papa. Good thing he did not called, he would've been worried if I didn't answer his call.

 

Papa<3: Anak, good morning, or good evening.

 

Papa<3: Bisita ka ngayon kay Mama ha.

 

Me : Sorry ngayon lang po, good morning.

 

Me : I'll try Dad, after my class.

 

Papa<3 : Hello, Minjeong! Anak kong maganda.

 

Me : 😭, Hi Papa.

 

Papa<3 : Sige anak, ingat ka papunta. I have work to do.

 

Papa<3 : Don't reply na.

 

I placed my phone again in front and started driving. I think I'm late for the second class but it's fine, mahalaga raw ay buhay. 

 

A notification popped up and Jimin sent a voice message which is odd. Agad ko itong binuksan at pinakinggan. It was Ning's voice again.

 

"Hello, nasa labas si Jimin ngayon at tinawag ang magiting na varsity player ng Lady Eagles, tapos iiwan niya lang na nakabukas phone niya? Hahaha. Tsaka grabe, chatmates pala kayo?! Hoy, mga bading! Hindi ako mang-ssnitch sa sinabi mo dati ha, hehe 'wag ka mag-alala. Alam mo ba katabi ko ngayon si Yeji pero tulog siya, ang bait niyang estudyante 'no? Share ko lang. Ako lang ata Atenean na parang hindi taga Ateneo, share ko lang ulit. Pero ito ha, parang may crush ata sa 'yo frenny ko, hulaan mo na lang kung sino- Ay gaga, nandito na siya, bye- Ning?! What the fu-"

 

Jimin : oh my god, don't mind her. i'll remove it!

 

Jimin : hahaha, be safe po :>

 

Jimin : let's see each other later!

 

Jimin : btw, ang pretty mo

 

Jimin : pogi pala hahaha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Glad you came, early bird." 

 

Somi sarcastically said and I chuckled. I placed my bag on the chair beside her and she's still staring. Now she's looking at her surroundings.

 

"Where's Aeri?"

 

"Ah, masama pakiramdam." I said and she nodded, "Time of the month."

 

"Oh, ouch." she said and I smiled. 

 

Umupo na ako at hinihintay ang professor namin, sana naman at hindi siya magaya sa akin na late rin. I learned from Somi that their first subject was the elective subject that I am taking, the arts one. I didn't know she was taking the same elective.

 

"... He was looking for you, maganda raw naipasa mo." she said and I just nodded, don't know what to say.

 

"I didn't know you were taking it too." 

 

"Hmm, you're always seating at the back. Usually nasa gilid ako so... we don't really see each other often." she explained.

 

"So, nakita mo na napahiya ako no'n?"

 

"What? Hahaha." I didn't answer back and she was still laughing. "If you are talking about the time you dozed off, yes I saw and heard you."

 

Damn.

 

"Pero ang galing mo ha, ang harsh lang ni Sir pero tama naman sagot mo."

 

I just nodded and thinking of what to say. I suddenly remembered our thesis, nakakahiya rin pala, I feel like she's doing most of the job. Kagrupo na rin namin si Aeri and I think she promised doing research about related literatures.

 

"The research, do you need anything?" I asked.

 

"Hmm, my Dad is unavailable as of now eh. Maybe we can contact other companies, we have an approved letter naman." she answered.

 

"Let's not rush." 

 

"Yes, I'm looking for related topics rin. Aeri was a big help with that as well, she messages me." she said, I nodded and thought of something.

 

"How about my Dad?" I said and she looked curious.

 

"Hmm? Enlighten me."

 

"He's in New York though, we can do zoom calls?" I asked again. I think she's not satisfied with what I said.

 

"He owns a company, Kim Financial..." I said and she nodded, surprised.

 

"You should've told me!" she said and chuckled, I shook my head.

 

"I hope it helps and yeah, I don't talk about it too much, sorry." I said and smiled, tumango lamang siya. 

 

"I figured, you're a very private person eh." she said, that word reminded me of someone. "Wala pa rin si Ma'am?"

 

I nodded and checked the time, its 8:50 in the morning and lunch time is still away. I suddenly remembered Aeri, siya lagi nagpapaalala sa akin na kakain na. I hope she's doing better.

 

"You owe me lunch, by the way."

 

Me : How are you?

 

Me : Take care, Aeri ganda

 

Me : Btw, kasama ko si Somi. I'll udpate you if may mga activities.

 

"She's here." I turned off my phone and looked at the door. She walked her way to the desk and placed her things on the table.

 

"She's gonna ask again about the Financial Research 1." Somi whispered and chuckled.

 

"You all take Financial Research 1, right class?" We all said yes and she opened her laptop and the projector. 

 

"Okay, Special Topics in FM. Using Derivatives to Manage Risk. What are the reasons to manage risks?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"So where do you want to eat? Cafeteria or SM?" I asked Somi who's fixing her bag, her wallet now in her hand.

 

"New environment please, we have two and a half hours naman." she said and smiled, I understand what she said.

 

"Okay, noted. Walk or drive?"

 

"Malapit lang naman diba? How about we walk na lang?" I agreed, siguro naman ay kaya ng katawan ko maglakad, I should rest myself from driving.

 

"Atleast we can walk and talk diba?" she continued, ngumiti lamang ako at naglakad na palabas, sumunod siya.

 

I saw students rushing to the canteen, others playing basketball and volleyball. As usual, maraming nakaupo sa may Botanical Garden. Different eyes were looking at us but I saw Somi being unbothered so I did the same. Nasa gate na kami ng campus.

 

We were both silent walking through the side lanes, wala rin naman kasi gaano pag-uusapan at wala