So Close

XIII

Mabilis na nakakababa sina Deanna at Jema sa parking.

Naglalakad sila papunta sa kotse ni Deanna ng magsimula ito ng convo.

"Mahilig ka ba sa ice cream?" Deanna asked.

"Yeah! Vanilla favorite ko. Simple pero bagay sa kahit anong toppings." Sagot ni Jema.

Napangiti naman si Deanna and asked, "Anong favorite brand mo ng ice cream?"

"Ahm, nothing in particular... Basta okay yung flavor like mint - pwedeng chocolate mint or mint oreo..." Jema answered.

"Ben and Jerry's? Baskin Robbins? Haagen-Dazs?" Deanna suggested.

"Ang bigatin naman ng mga brands na yan! Pero masarap!" Jema laughed.

"Quality ice cream kasi meron sila..." Deanna explained.

"Would I assume na ice cream addict ka din?" Jema asked.

Tumango lang si Deanna.

Napangiti naman si Jema and said, "Well, eh di you tried Carmen's Best, Papa Diddi's, and Sebastian's Ice Cream?"

"Aba syempre naman!" Deanna exclaimed.

"Eh kasi mga foreign brands binangit mo kanina kala ko tuloy... I mean maybe medyo conyo ka eh..." Jema commented.

"Ako conyo? Hindi ahh!" Deanna denied.

Jema laughed. Saktong pagdating nila sa harap ng kotse ni Deanna. Agad naman binuksan Deanna ang passenger's seat.

"Thank you!" Sabi ni Jema.

Mabilis namang sumakay si Deanna sa driver's side at binuhay ang makina.

"So saan ba tong ice cream shop?" Jema asked.

"It's along Katipunan. Local ice cream shop and wala sa nabangit mo pero organic and masarap talaga mga flavors nila." Pagmamalaki ni Deanna.

Sinimulan namang paandarin ni Deanna ang kotse nya.

"That's good. Malapit na sa amin yun." Jema commented.

"Taga saan ka ba?" Deanna asked.

"Marikina lang." Jema replied.

"Malapit na nga sayo yun." Deanna reacted.

Nagkatinginan sila at napangiti lang.

Deanna turned on the car stereo and opened Spotify.

"May playlist ka ba?" Deanna asked.

"Ahm, meron! Search ko lang then shuffle na lang natin." Sagot ni Jema while she keyed in her name to look for her playlist.

"Found it." Jema said then clicked shuffle.

Mahinang pagstrum ng gitara, malumanay na pagkanta - Stephen Speaks.

The music echoed inside Deanna's car.

I look at her and have to smile

As we go driving for a while

Her hair blowing in the open window of my car

And as we go I see the lights

I watch them glimmer in her eyes

In the darkness of the evening

Napangiti naman si Deanna sa narinig.

"Good choice of music..." Deanna commented while they cruise along C5.

"Chill lang pero may dating diba?" Jema replied.

And I've got all that I need

Right here in the passenger seat