Sailing Against the Tides (CS #1)

Chapter 2

SATT•C#2

Livy

"Do you know that the youngest picture of you is also the oldest?"

'Yan ang tanong ni Louise habang nakatingin sa baby picture niya. And cute niya noon. Super chubby. Sarap kutus-kutusin at panggigilan hanggang sa umiyak at hanapin ang nanay niya. Ngayon, ang payat na niya.

"Do you know that even if you baliktad the world, gutumin pa din si Karen?" Tinaasan ni Gale ng kilay si Karen na may nginunguya pero susubo pa sana ng isa pang marshmallow.

She stopped and raised a finger, waving it over Gale's face.

"Pero you're still slim although you eat a lot," tumabi si Louise kay Karen at nakikain na rin sa kinakain nito.

"Fast metabolism tawag dun, sis," Karen smirked.

"Malay ko ba. Baka nagti-tea ka," Louise fired back.

"Titi?" Tumigil si Gale sa pagpho-phone at tinignan sila.

"Gagang 'to. Tea 'yung sinasabi nila!" I handed her the cup of ice cream I filled.

"Ah," she nodded and looked at me, taking the ice cream. "Thanks."

Kumain na siya noon. I also started eating some. It's lunch and I went here with Gale to my condo to eat with them. Nag-text sa amin si Gale na nagluto siya kaya puntahan daw namin sila. So Louise and I did. We ate buttered shrimps awhile ago. Kumakain na kami ngayon ng desert.

Napatingin ako kay Karen nang humagikhik siya. Pati 'yung iba, napunta sa kanya ang tingin. She was typing something on her phone. Nakangiti pa. Kulang na lang maihi siya.

"May bagong kalandian 'si Ren," proklama ni Ali.

"Gusto ko 'yan! Humaharot, nakaka-proud ang bata," bruhang Gale, kulang na lang haplusin niya ang pepe ni Karen para i-congratulate 'to.

"Jusko Karen, pang-ilan mo na 'yan. Kapag ikaw nasaktan na naman, 'wag na 'wag kang iiyak sa harap ko!" Sigaw ni Ali na pumuntang kusina para kumuha ata ng iinumin. "Hahampasin talaga kita!"

I took a sip on my lemon drink. Ngumuso lang si Karen at may binulong bago inatupag ang phone.

"Ika-lima pa lang naman," she defensively replied.

"Punyeta ka. Two or more is many!" Gigil na sambit ni Gale.

Karen scoffed. "Please! 'Wag mo 'kong sinesermonan patungkol jan kung iba-ibang lalaki kalaplap mo bawat bar night out natin!"

"Landi-landi lang 'yon at malinaw 'yon sa kanila," Gale looked at her nails. "At least I'm not the one who keeps on crying after getting her heart broken."

"Oo na! Ako na marupok!" Binato ni Karen sa kanya ang unan na nadampot niya sa tabi. "Kapag ikaw talaga nahulog at nasaktan, pagtatawanan muna kita ng mga bente."

"Manigas ka diyan, Ren," Gale scoffed. "Hindi ako mahuhulog sa kahit sino jan."

She sounded so confident. As if she doesn't really have any interest on getting into a serious relationship.

"Oh my. Are you going to be a madre?" Louise gasped.

Gale raised her middle finger. I wonder what type of man could tame this lady. Who the heck is bold enough to win her?