Free the real feels (Completed)

Chapter 21

3 and a half years later

Napataas ang dalawang kilay ko nang bumungad sa akin ang dalawang babae pagkabukas ng pinto, not that I'm expecting someone else though.

I make a quick glance at our clock, it's just 8 in the morning.

I slightly furrowed my brows when she squinted my eyes on me.

"Bakit mo ako pinaniningkitan?" tanong ko bago lumayo sa pinto at dumeretso na sa loob.

I heard their footsteps at my back. Wala akong ideya kung bakit nila ako pinuntahan dito sa condo. I live at the condominium na pagmamay-ari nila Chain, nila tito. May kalayuan ito sa university na pinapasukan ko. My initial plan was to find a simple apartment near the university but I never really thought that Chain already arranged things that year.

Basta pagkapunta ko rito ay nakahand na ang pag-enroll ko at may titirahan na ako then the next few days, I got my first ever car. Tinukso ko pa nga siya na hindi ako matitiis but he just rolled his eyes on me. I was confused at first because he's the type of person who would remind me about my decisions, I guess he knew too well that I won't be able to handle adjusting with a heavy heart.

Right there, I decided siya na ang paborito kong pinsan. Sorry kuya Chase.

This is not too big, ayos na sa dalawang tao while Chain live in his penthouse here.

Bumaling ako sa dalawang bisita ko  pagkaupo ko sa sala, humalukipkip ang isa sa akin.

"Weren't you going to ask where are we going? And you look puyat!"

"Huh?" Liningon ko si Ariha na tahimik lang na nakaupo sa single sofa sa kanan ko. She gave me a small smile and shrugged.

"Wala akong maalalang aalis tayo," segunda ko.

Zallistine folded her arms at naiinis na napaupo sa harapan ko, "Obviously, this is a surprise." Pinalobo niya ang pisngi niya at marahas na bumuntong hininga, "Can you make kilos na so we can go? You two are parehas, don't you want to make most of the weekends?" sunod-sunod na litanya niya.

I sided my lips bago kami sabay na nagkatinginan ni Ariha.

"You always say that every saturday," mahinahong saad sa kanya ni Ariha. That's true, parating ayan ang dahilan niya kapag bigla na lang kaming hihilain sa mall. Tuwing busy lang kami, hindi.

They lived at one condo kaya naman walang takas si Ariha, pero ako rin kahit nasa ibang building ako hindi niya ako tatantanan. I chuckled, ayos lang naman. She never really asked kung gusto namin sumama, alam niya naman daw na hi-hindi kami. Kaya para hindi raw siya nagmumukhang mamimilit, she will assumed it immediately. She's that honest para ikwento pa iyon sa amin.

"Are you making tawa on me? What's funny? Do I look like a clown?" she frustratedly said.

I shook my head and stand-up bago nagbihis, like before hindi naman nagbago ang style ko.

"Thankfully, You didn't gamit your thesis as reason!" dinig ko pang asik niya pagkalabas. Hindi ko na lang pinansin iyon.

They are both wearing dress na umaabot hanggang tuhod nila, Ariha is just using flats while Zallistine is using a wedge sandals. Ako naka sneakers.

Lumabas kami habang nagdaldal nang kung ano-ano si Zallistine tungkol sa mga kinaiinisan niya sa school namin, we first saw each other at the university. Pamilyar pa nga ang mukha niya sa akin until we became close friends when they joined Chain's organization.

Pagkabukas ng elevator, sinalubong kami ng pagtaas ng kilay ng pinsan ko. He folded his arms, "Saan punta niyo mga babae? We have a meeting," sambit niya.

Tumingin kami kay Zallistine. Her lips parted, "Why look at me like I'm masama? And meeting? You said it's lunes pa!" naiinis niyang pinasok ang elevator na pinigilan ni Chain sa pagsara. Buti na lang at siya lang ang sakay.

"Well, I take it back. Surprise we have meeting," He mocked. 

Zallistine blew air in her cheeks at kunot lang ang noo. Nagkibit balikat na lang kami ni Ariha at dumeretso sa kanya-kanyang sasakyan papuntang farm. I don't know if I will laugh dahil hindi natuloy ang pag-alis namin o maawa sa kanya. I did the first one.

--

"And please include the sponsors for the opening," pahabol ni Chain.

I quickly wrote it in my notebook, ako kasi ang secretary. Maliit lang naman ang grupo namin, una ay volunteers lang kami minsan tuwing may event na magaganap sa lugar na ito but later on Chain decided to have an own group under his flower farm kung nasaan kami ngayon.

Compare to the first time I went here, punong-puno ng iba't ibang halaman sa paligid but this was rather called a flower farm kahit hindi lang naman bulaklak ang nandidito. I guess that's because iyon ung pinaka-nagpasikat dito.

"Sige na magsilayas na kayo mga babae," he dismissed. Napakataray talaga nitong pinsan ko, hindi ko alam kung bakit.

Nagsi-paalaman naman ang iba. We are called to organize a small event, hindi kami propesyunal na organizer but since it's a small event sa amin inasa because they know the profit we'll receive will be used for our next project.

Lumabas kami ng greenhouse at sumunod kay Chain, makikikain kami ng tanghalian. Alam niya na iyon, lagi namang ganito ang nangyayari. I chuckled, he doesn't have a choice.

"You have extra ingredients? I'll cook!" Zallistine announced, siya na ang nauna pumasok sa bahay dito ni Chain.

"I don't know, aalis na ako. I have work," sagot niya. "Anyway mga babae, dadatnan ko 'tong maayos ha!" taas-kilay na paalala nito.

Though he didn't need to remind us. Naglakad ako papasok sa loob at agad na naupo sa sofa, I opened my phone and found the app to play. Whenever my course is starting to get stressful, naglalaro na lang ako sa phone. In that way, it doesn't need to consume me. I still breakdown and always misses the hug I used to get before.

"Reese! Help me here," rinig kong tawag ni Zallistine sa may kusina ni Chain.

Lumingon ako kay Ariha, she sheepishly smiled at me at inangat ang ginagawa niyang digital design.

Bahagya akong sumimangot, "Palusot lang ata yan ah," sabi ko sa kanya. Sinilip ko pa bahagya ang disenyo.

Tumawa siya, "Tinutulungan ko siya minsan magluto sa condo, ikaw hindi."

I pursed my lips and nodded that make her giggled. Tinatamad akong pinuntahan si Zallistine, napaharap siya sa akin at agad na humalukipkip. I arched my brows, confused.

"Not because you alam na how to cook, hindi ka na magluluto. Practice makes perfect!" asik niya.

"Psh," I responded. Well, I know how to cook now thanks to her. Magaling magturo si Zallistine pero sandamakmak na kaartehan din ang lalabas sa bibig niya.

"Ano ba pinaglalaban natin?" tanong ko pa.

Umawang ang labi niya, "You're masama,"

I laughed a bit, "Nagugutom na ako, let's just cook."

"Whatever, Mrs. Savedes." She smirked.

Nag-init ata ang pisngi ko kaya napatikhim ako at dumeretso na lamang sa lababo habang naghihiwa na siya ng bawang at sibuyas. Hindi na ako umimik at kinuha na lang patatas na babalatan.

"Now you're tahimik again, hah! I know what to use na against you," she proudly announced.

Nagkibit-balikat ako, "Sige lang future cousin-in-law," I smiled. Wala akong narinig na kahit ano sa kanya, hindi ko na rin siya nilingon. Ilang saglit ay nakabawi na siya.

"Ugh, you are nakakairita!"

Napangisi lang ako. Ang OA niya rin minsan o mas tamang sabihing madalas.