TWENTY EIGHT
The iPhone vibrated to life, instantly sending a lightning strike to my chest. How a simple text message could have such a powerful impact on me was beyond my comprehension, napa-iling na lang ako, laughing at myself for the total love fool that I've willingly become.
Isang tunay na master speed-texter si Keith Kato pero hindi ko inasahang magrereply siya ng ganito kabilis, lalo na't ini-imagine ko pa siyang nakikipagbalitaktakan kina Scary Dad at sa kambal at the moment about, well, God-knows-what.
But what the heck, who was I to complain?
A little too enthusiastically, I unlocked Key's phone, at pagkabukas ko nito, kaagad kong pinagsisihan ang pagiging assuming ko. Because the message wasn't a reply from my own number, it was a new text from some Choco Malt Drink. And it didn't take a genius to figure out who might that be, lalo na't sa tindi ng bromance ng dalawa, mage-effort talagang mag-isip si Keith Kato ng espesyal na contact name para lang kay Milo.
Choco Malt Drink: Mayday mayday may dumating na Mango Float!!
Your base is under attack. I repeat, your base is under attack.
Me: WTH are you talking about
Choco Malt Drink: Si Graham sini-sweetheart moves si Pring shet!
Well, well, well... look what we have here. Sinasabi ko na nga ba't kung anong kamalisyosohan ang tumatakbo sa isip nitong si Milo eh, heto at magsusumbong pa sana kay Key!
Me: Hoy Milo, it's me. What's this, espiya ka na ba ni Keith Kato ngayon?
Choco Malt Drink: Shet weirdo! Bakit mo nirerefer ang sarili mo in third person???
Me: Si Ellie 'to. Nasakin phone ni Key.
Choco Malt Drink: Ay hehehe, uh... hi Pring
Choco Malt Drink: PRING!!! Sorry! Pero alam mo naman, brovaries over ovaries! Nakadetect kasi ang anti-epal radar ko ng isang threatening life form sa katauhan ni Mango Float.
Choco Malt Drink: Aba teka nga sandali bakit pala magkasama nanaman kayo ni KitKat?! Tae clingy OA na guys ha.
Me: Pwede ba... nagkapalit lang kami ng phone.
Choco Malt Drink: Woooh shet! Chance! Eh di kinalkal mo na nyan? Ano may porn ba? Pasend naman
I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. Busted. Well, okay, naisip ko pa lang naman na kalkalin 'yung phone ni Key, my conscience was still pretty much unblemished since I haven't acted upon my thoughts... yet.
Me: Alam mo 'yung nakakadiri? Ikaw yun eh. And of course not! Hindi ako mangangalkal kasi hindi ako mapagsamantalang tulad mo.
Choco Malt Drink: Sus deny pa! Liar liar pants on fire!
Me: Lul
Choco Malt Drink: Ay Pring may sesend ako sayo :)))
Nasa "Kung porn yan Milo I swear" na 'yung reply na nata-type ko pero nakatanggap nanaman ako ng message mula sa kanya. I stopped typing and went on with reading his text:
Choco Malt Drink: Bwisit na Graham na yan kasi inagaw yung shining moment ko kanina! Di pa ako tapos magbuhos ng damdamin eh! D:< Pero Pring thanks talaga ha, medyo nawala yung jumbo tinik na dumudurog sa modelicious heart ko. Kaya heto ang reward ko sayo... huwag ka masyado kiligin!
