[p2] chapter 21

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part 2 :) this is not affiliated with the band munimuni

"Cheers mga gago" sambit ni Ysabelle habang sabay sabay naming ininom ang mga nasa baso namin. I just took a quick sip of mine and placed it back on the table.

We were at an unfamiliar bar. Chill lang naman ang place, it looked more of a cafe because everyone had their own group and space. Sabi ni Ysa, this was the new "tambayan" of the people in our school. Kung hindi para magcutting, others would do their homeworks here while playing billiards. Halos mapairap ako no'ng narinig ko 'yon, why was it a good idea to put up a bar just 1 street away from our campus?

"Ito na 'yon? Huling sama sama na'tin bago mag college?" Maria said. She sat infront of me kaya kita ko ang pagilaw ng kaniyang cellphone. It was obvious someone was chatting her. Pero why was she ignoring it?

"We'll still see each other pa naman. Kayo ni Ysabelle parehas ng school, habang kami ni Louise medyo magkalapit lang." ani Liana, which was true. I got accepted in Ateneo habang pumasa naman si Liana sa UPCAT. A fact that didn't even surprise me one bit.

Samantala, si Ysabelle naman at si Maria ay nakapasok sa De La Salle University. A bit far from us pero alam ko naman na we will make it work. Ang kinakatakutan ko lang ay baka sumabog ang La Salle sa pinagsamang ingay at taray nila. Magready kamo ang mga estudyante doon.

"Tangina naman 'o ang kulit ng lahi nito sira na ang gabi ko." bulyaw ni Maria, kulang nalang ay sirain niya ang cellphone niya sa sobrang inis. "'E kung i-mute mo siya, boba." singit naman ni Ysa.

I massaged my temples, aware na magkakasigawan nanaman silang dalawa. I swear to God the only times hindi magkaaway ang dalawang ito ay kapag may parehas silang hindi gusto. "What time will the band play?" I asked them, in attempt to prevent them from shouting and pulling each others' hair.

Si Liana ang sumagot. "Mga 8 daw."

Tumango ako. "Kamusta pala kayo ng kachat mo?" ibinaling sa akin ni Ysa ang atensyon. She took a sip of whatever she's drinking from her glass and looked at me, a small (evil) smile on her lips. Her black hair was sitting comfortably on her shoulders as she pushed her thin framed glasses back as it was falling to her nose.

"Okay." tipid kong sagot.

"Nagchchat parin kayo hanggang ngayon, te?" It was Maria's turn to ask. Tumingin na rin ako sa kaniya, the simple crop top looked good on her figure, siguro dahil volleyball player siya, at bumagay din ito sa pagkamorena niya. "Yes nga." irap ko. They always ask me that every week. Ganoon sila ka-invested sa chat-life ko.

"And you still don't know his name?" Si Liana. Undeniably, Liana was the most beautiful from us four. Siguro kaya laging nakapila ang mga lalaki sa kaniya, naghihintay, nagtatanong kung single ba siya, nagpapasimple habang nagsasabi ng mga cheesy pick up lines. Her milky white skin and chinita eyes made every boy she talked to fall in love with her.

Paano ba naman, ideal student na nga, president pa ng student council, maganda, ta's soft spoken pa?! It's so unfair!

"I know his name, si Yv-"

"Nope." putol ni Ysa. "Hindi counted 'yon uy sabi niya hindi yun ang pangalan na ginagamit niya. So basically, hindi mo alam ang identity niya."

"Gago, 3 months na kayo naguusap, umunsad naman kayo! Level up gano'n!" ani Maria.

I didn't even know why I was scared to show him who I was. Over the three months we've spent talking to each other, I am almost 100% sure na hindi siya masamang tao na may masamang balak. Halata naman 'e. I wasn't scared of the possibility of him being a kidnapper or a seriel killer, I am scared of myself and the possibility of me not living up to his expectations.

I am also scared of him and him not living up to my expectations.

Ayoko madisappoint. I like him as a person. I like him as a friend. I know his likes and his dislikes. Alam ko kung ilan sila sa pamilya nila, alam ko rin ang paborito niyang gamitin na markers kapag gumagawa siya ng plate. Alam ko na natatakot siyang mawala sa kaniya ang nanay niya dahil may history ito ng cancer.

I knew a lot. Pero what if everything is a lie?

"Alam ko ang iniisip mo, Louise" Liana said. Namumungay ang kaniyang mata, I think it means she drank a lot already. Tumingin ako kay Ysa na nakatingin na rin sa kaniya. When Liana gets drunk, she kalat posts. When I mean kalat posts, sobrang landi niya sa mga social media accounts niya.

Isang beses nga na-post niya sa main account niya ang mga pros and cons of dating her and when I tell you it's inappropriate, it really was. Sobrang kalat lang talaga niya!

Maria secretly got her cellphone which was on top of the table and placed it in her bag. Tinaas ko ang isang kilay ko so Liana could continue what she was saying. "Takot ka... na baka pagkakilala sa'yo, bigla siyang aayaw o kaya magreregret. Or vice versa 'di ko alam sa'yo."

I didn't talk back. Puta, Liana. Bakit ba kasi ganiyan ang utak mo?

Pansin ko ring hindi na nagsalita si Ysa at si Maria. Nung tumingin ako sa kanila, nakatanaw si Ysa sa malayo na parang may hinahanap habang si Maria ay galit na galit magtype sa kaniyang cellphone. I think I have an idea on who that is.

Before I could tease her, the lights dimmed. May nagsasalita na harap na may special guest daw sila ngayong gabi. Inangat ko ang bag ko para maghanap ng panali, kanina pa ako naiinitan.

Wala akong nakita. Tumingin ako sa gilid ko, "Ysa, mayr-"

"UY!" sigaw ni Ysa kasabay ng siguro lahat ng mura na alam niya. Her voice didn't reach others because everyone was in a state of shock din, some were clapping and whistling.

"Here to sing their new album, palakpakan naman diyan para sa Munimuni!"

My jaw dropped. Mabilis akong tumingin sa stage na nasa harapan. My friends were equally as shocked as me. Sobrang unexpected! As they sang the songs, pikit mata kong dinadamdam ang mga lyrics.

As Solomon ended, the song Banaag started.

And I was reminded of him.

Why was I reminded of him?

———————————————————

yves
Today 8:05 AM

do you want to meet up?
Sent 8:05 AM
Seen 8:05 AM

Sobra

okay
when?

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