Would You Mind? ✓

WYM? 15

Friday came, Uno was torn between cooking the surprise for Dos or just putting to waste every cent of his money with the party needs he bought simply 'cause he hadn't moved on from the latter's close to I-am-over-you line of, 'it is what it is.'

"It was as if she just took a piss, and voila, she's moved on," he babbled, slumping at the carpet by the living room while staring at the pastel-colored balloons he was to inflate. "Are kids nowadays really like her?" He clucked his tongue with anger evident on his glowered face.

He had wasted more or less an hour holding gazes with the eyeless balloons, had tired his lungs for breathing almost erratically for being pissed with the celebrant for a cause he, himself, wasn't aware of.

A minute later, his phone rang, displaying his mother's picture on the screen.

"Ma?" was how he boringly dawned a supposedly hyped talk with his equally hyped mother on the other line, who was squealing had he not spoken.

"Where's the energy, son? Is there a problem? I'll listen. Come on, tell-"

"Nah, there's none," he replied. "Just didn't have a good sleep. Is there anything you need? Like a birthday surprise errand I should run?" He rolled his eyes to the moon with fingers crossed, hoping there was none.

But she did utter otherwise. "Yes. The reason why I called. Because you see, we all are busy here cooking all the dishes for Dos' party. And your dad is at work in place of your absence-"

He sighed, causing his mother to shut. "Ma, you didn't have to give me a lengthy explanation just to make me run the errand for you. I asked, didn't I? I'd do it with or without you going chatty on me."

She laughed out loud. "You know what, Anak, you have to loosen up a bit! You're too serious and uptight! Twenty-two ka pa lang, but I think I'm speaking with a golden ager!"

Uno clicked his tongue. "Ma, what errand do I have to run?" he said firmly, pissed.

His mother let out another annoying cackle which made him disconnect the call. Minutes later, he received a text message from his mom containing what she wanted him to buy.

You know, except the two of us, no one's allowed to touch your Papa's liquor collection, right? So, go and buy some drinks at the mall—both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. I'll pay you when we get to your flat later tonight to celebrate Dos' day. I love you, sweetie. Tc.

Ps. If you come across a prepossessing man, grab the chance! Boyfriend him and bring him to the party so we can meet him!

"Myghad! As sure as I am gay, I didn't genetically have this woman's thinking!" he exclaimed, walking to the restroom to freshen up before going to the mall.

Lucky for him, it was a Friday morning--lessened yet were the people roaming around the mall to buy their necessities.

"May bibilhin pa po kayo, Sir?" asked the lady at the counter.

He would've said yes and would've rushed himself to the beverages area to grab Dos few bottles of Strawberry flavored Mogu-mogu, had the lady's lecherous manner of staring didn't cause him to cringe.

"Wala na," he said, unable to hold the lady's gaze.

The lady tucked her free-falling strands of hair behind her ears. "Sure ka na, Sir, ha? Pero kung hindi, sabihin mo lang. I can wait for you naman po."

He chose to ignore her, perhaps opted to wait for the bagger to finish packing the box of liquors he bought so he could head off.

A few moments after, he was free from the undressing eyes of the lady. Thirsty as he may, he decided to grab a quencher at Starbucks.