Everything She Wanted

2.1 No to Fratboy

Three days na ang nakalipas after the UP fair gig and I was still not over it. Val and I were in the lanai their house having macarons and coffee.

Val is my BFSB, bestfriend since birth. We lived in the same village, grew up together, we went to the same schools from elementary up to med school. We graduated UST Medicine together and ngayon lang kami nagkahiwalay ng landas. She decided to immediately go into Dermatology residency right after passing the Physician Licensure Exams while I took a gap year to rest and to "look for myself". I was thinking of going into Surgery but unsure what subspecialty to take. And since surgery residency is going to eat away another 5 or 6 years of my life, I wanted to spend one year na magwawalwal.

Val patiently listened as I recounted every detail about our performance, how this year's host was witty without resulting in vulgar jokes, how the performers were all out and everyone was sucked into the Coachella vibe, and all the funny details in between.

Of course, hindi ko pwedeng hindi isumbong kay Val ang nangyari sa aking potential love affair, but it was quashed prematurely by an immature devil. I was loudly ranting about the Fratboy affair when suddenly the devil himself and his army walked in on us.

"You! How dare you show your face dito sa bahay nina Val when I am here!" I stood up and pointed a shaking finger at Jaxx before he could open his mouth to greet us.

"Good afternoon to you, too, Cara. It's nice to see you." He said chuckling, clearly unshaken from my outburst.

"Hi guys! I missed you all! Have some macarons bago yan maubos ni Cara." Val invited them. "Manang Rose, pa brew na lang po ulit ng coffee."

"Traitor!" I glared at Val, shifting my pointed finger at her. She laughed out loud and crossed her legs.

"Girl, don't be so overly dramatic kasi. I'm sure you'll meet that frat boy again. Malay mo, you'll find someone better than Fratboy. I mean, he should be at least 4 years younger than you and you don't want that immature kinda shit." She rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee.

"Sinong frat boy to? Kelan to?" tanong ni Ace habang pabaling-baling ang tingin samin tatlo ni Val and Ace. Seb's eyebrow was also raised but for him, having a macaron was more important than asking a question. Sana lahat sila ganyan na lang, parang Seb.

"Forget I even mentioned him. It's not worth talking about anymore kasi your friend over there " I said pertaining to Jaxx "just shut him down before may nangyari." I crossed my arms and glared at Jaxx who did not say anything. He just bit his macaron and smiled at me. The bastard actually smiled at me! I could feel my ears heat up and my blood simmer at his conceitedness. Nakakairita talaga!

"E bata naman sayo si Fratboy e. Mabuti na yung walang nangyari. You can do better than a college boy, Cars. Doktor ka na. What will your folks say if you get involved with a younger man without a degree, or worse, gasp! A lowly partying college fraternity boy?" Seb widened his eyes some more and theatrically placed his open palm on his chest, na para bang mayamang matronang naiskandalo.

"Oh, the tragedy! This is unthinkable!" sabat in Ace. Isa pa to. Gusto ko silang pag umpugin, silang tatlo nina Jaxx.

"Bwisit kayo sa buhay! Hindi kaya ganyan sina mommy and daddy!"

"Si Tito Matt, definitely hindi! He's a cool guy. Jock naman si tito e kaya he can relate. But your mom, whew!" Seb whistled and shook his head. He took a sip of his coffee but immediately spit it out.

"Aray puta, ang init ng kape! Hoooo!! Manang Rose, penge naman ng ice!" naluluha si Seb, while fanning his tongue.

"Bilis ng karma! Buti nga sayo!" Val laughed at Seb.

"Wow, thanks for the sympathy ha! You're such a gracious host." sarcastic na sabat ni Seb.

"Well, if you think that Fratboy is too young, then find me someone. It's been forever!"

"You desperate or something?" usisa ni Jaxx. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"Wag kang makialam dito, cockblocker. I don't need your help, thank you very much." I spat.

"I'm only a cockblocker if you had a cock." A smirk made its way to the already conceited expression on his face.

"Well, I have one. And I've got balls, too."

His face changed from smug to doubt and then back to being smug. It looked like he wanted to say something witty to shut me up. I could think of about five things he would say to shut me down.

"Aaaanywaaay..." Jaxx finally spoke, trying to change the topic. "It's the last night tonight ng UP fair. You guys want to hang out dun?"

"Val? May duty ka ba bukas?" I asked her.

"It's Sunday tomorrow, Cars. Closed ang derma clinic, so I'm free to partey tonight!! Wohoo!!" she exclaimed, raising her hands in the air.

"Yehaay!! Whoop whoop!" Ace and Seb joined her raising their hands in the air as well, "raising the roof".

"Si Chino kaya? Daanan na lang natin."

Chino was the sixth member of our barkada. He also lived in the same subdivision and he played rhythms sa band, and occasionally kapag absent ako, he subs as the bassist. But for the last few years, bihira naming syang makasama ksi he was studying law in Ateneo de Manila and he usually stays in his condo in Rockwell. Bihira na kaming mabuo kasi iba-iba professions namin.

Adulting at its finest. Ako lang ata ang napag-iwanan.

Jaxx and Ace were both businessmen kaya sila may hawak ng oras nila. Si Seb naman was a sous-chef and part-owner of the restaurant where he works. So we based our practices on his schedule. Scheduling the gigs was much easier as he can switch his work schedule around. The perks of being the part-owner.

"Teka tawagan ko. I told him to come here pero nagre-review daw sya for Recit on Monday." Val was looking through her phone book for Chino's number when he barged in.

"I'm here!! I'm here, finally. Hooo! Ayoko na mag-aral. Inom tayo mamaya! Last night na ng UP fair. Ilabas nyo naman ako... pagod na pagod na ako mag-aral guys... save me from the fires of hell.." tuluy-tuloy na pagbulalas ni Chino as he sank into space on the sofa beside Jaxx and laid his head on Jaxx's lap na nakatihaya, and nakabukas ang bibig. Jaxx dropped his half-eaten macaron into Chino's mouth, which he accepted gratefully. "Thanks pare."

"Dramatic much?" Val giggled.

"That's settled then, UP tayo in..." Ace looked at his watch "ngayon na! We have to beat the traffic. They'll be closing the rides and stalls in a few hours."