Lipad-Alapaap (Girlhood Series #3)

2

"Alli, ano thoughts mo sa Leo men?"

Allison and I, together with Jennie, decided to go to Tagaytay the next day to eat bulalo. Ang paalam ko sa nanay ko, nag-aaya lang mag-breakfast sina Allison pero 'di ko sinabing sa Tagaytay.

It was six in the morning when they fetched me in front of our house. Tulog pa ang mga tao sa bahay, kaya through text message na lang ako nagsabi sa Mommy ko.

"Leo men. Hmm..." nag-isip pa si Allison ng sasabihin habang nakadungaw sa labas ng bintana. "Mabibilis ma-attach, pero mabilis din ma-detach. They are fun to be with, too. Nature 'yon ng mga Leo. I mean, just look at yourself!"

"I've dated a Leo when we were in 9th grade. That guy has an overflowing amount of pride in his body. Hindi pa marunong mag-compromise saka mang-validate ng feelings," Jennie added.

"Ah, walking red flag pala ang mga Leo men." napatango ako. "Okay lang 'yan, favorite color ko naman red."

"Bakit? May type kang Leo?" pang-aasar ni Alli sa'kin.

Hindi ko naman maiwasang mapangiti nang tanungin ako no'n ni Allison. "Remember that guy I've matched with on Bumble?"

"Teh, sino ro'n? Marami kang naka-match sa Bumble. 'Wag mo 'kong gawing Madam Rudy Baldwin."

I giggled as I bit my lip. "That EJ guy... From Bulacan."

"Shuta, sis! Akala ko ba hard pass kasi malayo?! Ba't napapatanong ka na about Leo men?!"

"Sis! Ka-age kasi natin! Grade 10 lang din! Tapos fan pa ng Eraserheads! Gwapo pa!"

"Huh? May gwapong Leo?" nagtatakang tanong ni Jennie. "Pa-sight nga. Ano IG?"

I told them EJ's username. Allison and Jennie immediately opened their Instagram and stalked Esteban's account. Agad namang nakatanggap 'yung nanahimik na lalaki ng panlalait kay Jennie na nakaupo sa shotgun seat.

"Sis! Are you fucking kidding me?! You would settle for this?! Come on! You know yourself you deserve better!" Jennie looked at me, then rolled her eyes.

"Huh, bakit? Gwapo naman ah? Moreno! BBC kapag ganito! Tangkad ni kuya, e." kinikilig pa si Allison habang tinitignan pictures ni Esteban.

"Bakit naman lait na lait mo agad, Jennie?" natatawang tanong ko.

"Hindi ko siya gusto for you. Remember Jacob? 'Yung huling boy na nagpaiyak kay Alli? Gano'n na gano'n nararamdaman ko sa lalaki na 'to." Jennie sounded so infuriated. "Tapos ano? Tama ako, 'di ba? That fucking Jacob cheated on our best friend!"

Jennie was the most intuitive among us three. Whenever she feels something off, something is really off. Ang kaso naman kasi, parang magkaiba si Jacob at si Esteban. We've known Jacob since 7th grade and there were rumors that he's a heartbreaker. Meanwhile, Esteban, we knew nothing about him. And it would be harsh if we would judge him immediately based on his social media account.

"Hindi pa naman natin siya kilala. One day pa lang din kami nag-uusap," I defended.

"Oo nga. Try muna ni Gianna, ta's saka natin laitin kung kalait-lait ba talaga," Allison added.

"Sige! Ipagtanggol niyo pa!"

We've arrived at Tagaytay around 7 in the morning. One hour lang ang biyahe since naswertehan kami na walang traffic sa dinaraanan namin, ta's taga South lang din naman kasi kami kaya saglit lang talaga. Agad na um-order ng Bulalo si Jennie para sa'ming apat — including the driver.

"Someone's looking at you, Gigi," Jennie whispered. "5 o'clock."

I slowly turned my head to the direction she was pertaining to and my breathing suddenly stopped when I saw the guy I bailed at BGC before! Pakiramdam ko pa nga ay nanlaki 'yung mga mata ko!