The Girlfriend App

17: A Day w/ Rans!

Sunday passed by quickly, and a new week has begun.

Monday rolls in, chirping even more arrogantly than usual. It has brought a different kind of nervousness to me, sending chills across my spine.

I feel like something is yet to happen, but I still don't know what or why.

"Oh, Coleen! Ayos ka lang? May problema ba?" Tanong ni Rans, at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

I always imagined how it would feel like to have a sister, and she exhibits that aura of being a great sibling.

Bagay sila ni Abby, tbh. A person like Rans would match her really well.

Absent naman ngayon si Brei — tumawag siya kaninang umaga, pagkatapos daw nung meet-up namin last Saturday, nagkaroon siya ng lagnat at sipon. And she's also experiencing migraines kaya ayon, hindi na siya pumasok.

"Okay lang ako." Matamlay na sagot ko.

Rans joined me in for lunch today because Abby asked her if she could, because I didn't have anyone to be with for the day. Buti na lang pumayag siya at sinamahan ako.

"Are you forced to be with me?" I asked, quietly.

I didn't really have much friends because they would always use me to be closer to Abby at sa buong banda na rin — and I'm so thankful that I have Brei with me.

Naa-appreciate ko rin si Ella, but sometimes I could also speculate some things get her all fizzy about some certain subjects.

"Feel ko, you could've been with your friends eh."

Nanlaki naman yung mata ni Rans, "Uy hindi ah! Ano ka ba, I love hanging out with you kaya. Yun nga lang, busy ako nitong mga nakaraang araw kaya sorry talaga. Pero no, 'di ko 'to ginagawa bilang favor, I'm doing this genuinely."

My mood suddenly lightens up a little bit, while I sat straight in my seat. "Really? Thank you! The best ka talaga." Ngumiti ako at niyakap siya.

"And besides, ampepeke kaya ng iilan sa mga kaibigan ko. Kaya I'd rather spend my day with you." She cheekily whispered to me, while pulling out of the hug.

Okay, now that made me feel better.

"So, bakit mo naman sila kaibigan?" Natatawang tanong ko.

She ponders for a bit, then answered. "Actually, hindi ko rin alam eh. May iba namang mababait, pero yung iba?"

She rolled her eyes, "Nakakainis lang talaga!"

I laughed even more, and she smiles. Rans pinches my cheek, while saying, "Ayan, ngumiti ka na rin! 'Yan ang dahilan kung bakit nahulog si Gabb para sayo."

Napangiti naman ako don, pero maya maya pa ay nakaramdam na naman ako ng lungkot.

Alam ko namang isang robot lang si Gabb eh. Pano kung kunin siya agad agad sa piling ko?

I sighed.

"Nako, kailangan mo na yatang bumalik. May pasok ka pa eh. Sabay na lang tayo mamaya, hintayin mo ako dito ha?" She smiled and pinched my cheek again.

I nodded. "Sure!"

Nakatulala lang ako sa buong klase. Wala naman akong iniisip pero ewan ko ba, hindi ko kayang magfocus ngayon.

Nang tumunog ang bell, nagmamadali akong nag-ayos ng mga gamit ko at lumabas na agad.

I feel tired. Drained.

Hindi ko maintindihan yung nararamdaman ko.

Pumunta na lang ako sa kung saan kami nagkita ni Rans kanina. And surprisingly, nandoon na siya agad.

"Tara?"

"Hmm? Saan tayo pupunta?"

"I texted Abby na punta muna tayo sa café, para may time ulit tayo sa isa't isa." She winked.

Pumunta kami agad sa café kung saan kami madalas tumambay nina Abby.

"Hello, hehe! Ano pong order niyo?" A waitress with the name Alice — I checked her nametag — asked us with a giant grin on her face.

Oh, so siya yung tinutukoy ni Sheki? Hmm, yun pala ah.

Rans smiles at her and then replied, "Uhm, two blueberry cupcakes tapos two caramel macchiatos!"

Alice nodded and then jots down the order.

"Sure! Will be served right away!"

And with that saying, she skips happily to the counter.

"Alam mo ba?" Tanong ko kay Rans, wiggling my eyebrows.

"Ang alin?" Nagtatakang tanong niya.

"Crush ni Sheki." I winked, while she finally hits realization.

"Hala, oo nga 'no! Teka, tawagan natin si Sheki." She laughed.

Kinuha niya yung phone niya para tawagan si Sheki, ni-loudspeaker niya para marinig ko rin.

"Hello?"

"Oh, Sheki! Ba't napatawag ka?" Seryosong sabi ni Rans. Pinipigilan ko namang tumawa dito sa gilid.

"Loko! Ikaw yung tumawag dito, baliw!"

Bigla naman siyang binabaan ng tawag ni Sheki kaya tawang tawa kaming dalawa.

"Teka, tatawagan ko ulit." Natatawang sabi niya, napailing na lang ako.

Maya maya pa ay sinagot ulit ni Sheki yung tawag.

"Oh? Bakla ka, ano na naman ba?"

"Nandito kami ni Coleen sa café! Nakita namin yung crush mo, si Alice!" Bigla naman siyang sumigaw mula sa kabilang linya.

"Oh, maganda 'di ba? Sabi ko sa inyo eh!"

"Dapat niyaya niyo ako, tapos libre niyo na rin ako! Charot!"

"Don't say something embarassing about me please I'll try to ask her out next time I'm gonna go there."

"Gosh, now I can't stop talking about her! Lipad na kaya ako dyan?"

Iilan lang yan sa mga sinabi ni Sheki nang malaman niyang andito kami sa café. She's whipped for this woman named Alice.

Pagkatapos naming kumain, hinatid na ako ni Rans pauwi.

"Thank you for today."

"You're welcome bb, just text me if you need something, okay? Or kung wala ka pa ring makakasama bukas." She smiled, tumango lang ako at pumasok na sa loob.

As long as I have Abby, Gabb and our friends... wala naman sigurong mangyayaring masama, right?