With You in the Middle of Nowhere

12

"You should! When's the next date ba? Ikaw ah! Grabe kana kung lumandi, eh no? Sana all,"

She's scanning for clothes this time. I glanced at my phone, it was 05:42 in the afternoon.

"Talkshit! Wala ka pa bang boyfriend? I assume meron na kaya ka naging sobrang busy. Dati kasi ay may time ka naman para pumunta sa class ko, sabay pa tayong kumakain."

I was fixing my bed and scanned for some clothes too.

"I-I was really busy... sorry na. Babawi ako! Nakakaguilty naman, eh!" she hugged me from behind and pouted.

Tumawa ako at niyakap siya pabalik. "Ayos lang 'yon, no! Pero kailangan ba talagang pumunta tayo sa bahay ng blockmate mo? Hindi ba mas ayos kapag dito lang ako sa bahay, magpapahinga?'

Ngumiwi siya at hinampas ang balikat ko!Kailangan manakit? "Hoy, of course! Hindi nalang rin ako pupunta. They just invited me kasi. I thought kusa kang sumama without informing me kaya ayon! Ayaw ko rin namang maging KJ. But if you want, 'wag na tayong sumipot doon,"

Umiling ako. "Sasama na tayo, minsan lang naman 'to. Makikikain nalang tapos uwi kaagad. Iinom ka?"

"Oo naman! Ako pa talaga tinanong mo?"

Nagtawanan kami. We took a shower, siya ang nauna ako naman ang sumunod nang natapos ako sa mga hugasin. Saglit lang akong sisipot tsaka ako sisibat. I have some stock of paintings pa naman. I only have four or five hours of sleep everyday. Coffee was my new water, but I didn't let myself forget to hydrate.

I was wearing my shoes when suddenly my phone beeped. It was a text from Chris.

Chris: done with work. can I call?

I bit my lower lip and typed a reply.

Me: aalis kami somewhere with my blockmates and shena's. pwede mamaya? saglit lang naman kami don

He immediately replied.

Chris: where?

Chris: pwede ba akong sumama

I giggled at his double reply. Wth.

"Shen, pwede ba raw sumama si Chris?"

Nilingon ako ni Shena habang nag iispray siya ng pabango.

"Gagawin niya naman do'n? It's not like he's at the same level with us," she shrugged.

I glanced at my phone.

Chris: just kidding. mag ingat kayo and update me. i missed you

Me: of course! i missed you too :((

Chris: date this weekend

"Oh my gosh!" pinulot ko ang selpon ko nang nagulat ako at nahulog ito dahil sa reply niya!

"Ang landi ng mga ngitian ni ate! May label?"

I pouted but still smiling.

Me: sure!!

I was smiling the whole ride with Shena. Date? Saan naman kami magde-date? I was thankful that I've still got remaining stocks of my paintings, hindi pa naibenta lahat kaya wala pa munang gagawin.

"We're here. Lakarin nalang natin yung sa kanila Isidore, malapit lang naman 'yon." aniya pagkatapos hinubad ang seat belt at lumabas.

"Ba't lalakarin pa? Walang mapagparkehan?"

Nakagat niya ang labi at may kung ano-anong bulong na diko naririnig. Nabaliw pa ata.

"B-Basta. Bilisan mo diyan bes!" reklamo niya pa habang nagmamadaling magtype sa cell phone niya.