Too Much of Everything

Chapter 1

"Baby back ribs and lemonade lang sa akin, Era."

I'm here at Bigby's with my friend Era. Every once in a while nagkikita and nagkakamustahan kami. We were college friends, siya yung unang-una kung naging kaibigan when I was a freshy.

"Eee. Nakakainis talaga yung Kate na yun, Yu. "

I rolled my eyes. "What is it this time, huh?"

Since college may issue na talaga itong kaibigan ko sa bestfriend ng boyfriend niya. Well, I can't blame her. Way back nung nag recollection kami, imagine he addressed Era as a friend lang? Hahaha. Buti pa yung Kate na yun ni-mention niya at sa kanya pa binigay yung kandila.

I was taken a back then, paano nalang itung isang to? Nah, nag-away talaga sila nun at ako ang naiipit. Imagine that was our college recollection and supposed to be after that we'll be all at least in peace, pero sila I was sure as hell na world war ang mangyayari after.

"You know what Er, lumang tugtugin na yang issue niyo. Maghanap naman kayo ng bagong LQ topic please?"

She pouted.

"One day, iiwanan ko talaga yun! Super insensitive ng lalaking yun." Himutok niya.

"Bakit di nalang ngayon?" I burst out laughing. As a mater of fact, magiging masaya ako for her if they'll call it quits.

Bakit? Kaibigan ko naman din yung boyfriend niya, pero since day 1, nung nabalitaan ko 2 months palang ata silang mag-on nalaman ni Era na yung boyfriend niya at yung isang kaibigan namin, nasa circle of friends lang namin, may something.

My Gosh! Dun ko lang na time nakitang parang shunga itong friend ko. Sanay kasi akong merry and happy lang siya.

Kaya simula palang ng relationship nila, sira na sa akin si boy. Kaya lang, in love na si bruha, ayun kahit niloko na siya abay tinanggap parin niya at 4 years na sila now ha, yun nga lang, ang daming issue nila sa buhay. May fear na si Era pag babaeng friend ng boyfriend niya. Sa bagay, nakakapanic talaga. Hahahah

"One of these days." Her eyes piercing.

"I doubt it. 4 years mo na yang sinasabi."

"Hmmmp. Excuse me nga, cr lang ako."

Tumawa lang ako. Nako talaga, I can't wait na maghiwalay sila. Sorry not sorry pero para sa friend ko, I want the best for them. And he's not the best, neither better.

I was browsing my phone when I saw in the corner of my eyes na parang may tumitingin sa akin, then I saw a not so chinky eyes with double eyelids, a pointed nose and a set of white teeth.

Wait a minute, kepeng mainit.

I stared all over his face and I was in awe.

No, please.

"Hoy!"

I was pulled back to my senses when Era snapped her fingers in front of me.

"Holy maw! Ano ba? Wag ka namang manggulat, bruha ka talaga. "

"Hindi ko kasalanan na para kang tangang gulat na gulat. Sino ba tinitignan mo diyan?" She asked.

Yeah right, where was he? I roamed my eyes only to see him smiling at me. Crap.

"You, sit down. Just fucking sit down and don't you dare talk."I stressed to her.

"Wait?what?" Nalilito niyang tanong.

"Ssssh!"

"Hi, Yu."

Automatically my face turned red. Omy goodness. I composed myself and face him.

"Oh hi!" I awkwardly smiled at him.

It's been what? 8 years. Gosh.

"Sino ka?" Tanong ni bruha.

"Ah.. Si. Kael. Ano, uhm. Kaibigan ko. Ah si Era pala, Kael, kaibigan ko din."

Shit happens.

"Nice to meet you." He said to Era. "Mind if I sit down?"

What?? Adik to ang daming available table nakikisiksik siya dito. Huh. Anong kadramahan meron siya.

"Ah yeah, sure." Ngiti ni Era at tinuro pa ang sofa na inuupuan ko..

Nako Era, kung alam mo lang.

Alam niya pala, nakalimutan niya lang ata. Di talaga to nakikinig pag nag dadrama ako sa buhay ko dati.

Buti nalang dumating na yung order namin.

Medyo na break ang awkward atmosphere. Ewan ko kung awkward din sa kanya, maka smile naman to wagas parang walang nangyari 8 years ago.

"Ah e, naka order na kami, mag order ka narin lang." Sabi ko sa kanya. Halatang para akong timang kinakabahan sa harap niya.

Teka, bat ako kakabahan di naman ako may atraso sa kanya. Err.

"It's ok, may hinihintay lang ako dito. I'll eat later, kakamustahin lang sana kita, Yu. It's been a long time." He said calmly habang nakatutok sa mata ko.

Teka, okay lang naman ako, di ba obvious? Ang ganda ko kaya.

"Ah e. Hehehe. Kita mo okay lang ako, oh. In fairness ha, kilala mo pa pala ako?"

Umubo si Era. "Sorry!" Sabay sabi niya.

I eyed here. Later friend, sasakalin kita medyo epal ka e.

"How could I forget, Yu."

Yeah, how could you forget, Kael.

How could you.

"Sino yun?" Yung ang tanong agad ni Era pagkaalis pa lang ni Kael sa table namin.

"Old people." Boring kong sagot.

Pinitik niya ang noo ko.

"Aray! Era!??" Masakit yun ha.

"Old people ka diyan. My eyes are clear as crystals and he doesn't look old to me. Ang gwapo kaya nun, Yu. Sino ba kasi yun?" Sabay lingon niya sa table nila Kael.

I rolled my eyes.

"Stop looking at him. Mapagkamalan kang may gusto dun bruha ka. Hayaan mo na nga yun. Wala talaga.. old acquaintances. That's it." I said calmly, trying to hide anything na magiging curious pa siya, sana wag na siyang ma-curious.

"Ang daya mo, lahat ng issues ko alam mo, ikaw naman diyan ayaw mag share! Unfair nito oh!" She pouted and continue eating her food.

Na konsensya naman ako pero wala ata akong gana na mag kwento sa kanya. Na kwento ko na kaya sa kanya dati. It's either bingi siya or makakalimutan. Alin man dun, bahala siya. I was done sharing. Hahaha

"Problema mo yan di ka kasi nakikinig! Palibhasa puro kadramahan kasi ng buhay mo ang concern mo. I already shared it to you no, bingi ka or matanda kana, nalimutan mo! Haha" I laughed at her.

"Hmmp. Di ko matandaan e. Di nga? Kael... hmmm.." she gazed at me looking so much like a puzzle finder.

"Oh stop it! I tell you, nothing much! It was a long time ago and I'm over it, I bet he's over it and lastly we're very much over it, so you better be over it. Hmmkay???" I assured her that I'm totally over it.

Yes. I was over it.

Was over it.

A long time ago.