A Close Second

Forty Third

Annyeong! I'm so glad I'm halfway.
Happy 11th of September
Hello darling, this one is for you
---

"Hi, Mr. Castro?"

Nilapitan namin yung lalaking nakayukod sa may hood ng isang sasakyan, obviously tinkering inside it. Keith Andrew flanked me from behind as I went and approached the man.

"Yes, pero madalas tinatawag yun sa tatay ko. My name's Troy." He says, pinunasan niya ang mga maduming kamay niya gamit ang isang pamunas na nandun sa tabi niya. "Anong maipaglilingkod ko sa inyo, miss?"

We're running an errand today for the wedding planning. Hati hati kami ng mga gagawin, which meant the other couples had their other tasks and I had Keith Andrew with me. Joke was on Thea since she didn't know that Andrew and I are in a relationship and was willing to ditch being third wheel to Nico and Aya or Jethro and Laiza.

I looked at Andrew for a bit, before going back to the guy. I held out a hand to the waiting guy.

"Hi, I'm Courtney Beatrice Singson. It's so nice to meet you." I tell him.
He looks at his hand, which was albeit covered by grease. "Maybe later."
"The one behind me is Keith Andrew Medrano."
"Sup." He says and the guy behind me just nods. "So... What do I owe you guys with the pleasure of meeting you two? Teka lang, dun nalang tayo sa loob ng bahay."

Sinarado niya ang hood ng sasakyan niya, saka naman nagsimulang maglakad. We kept up with him as he walked.

"Pinadala ako ni Miss Thea Estudillo." Sabi ni Beatrice sa kaniya.
"Ah. Yes." Troy says. "Nakausap ko na nga siya, and she says she'll send someone to meet me."

Medyo nagulat si Beatrice dun, saka natingin sa akin sandali before taking a seat na inoffer ni Troy sa may sala ng bahay nito. It was simple, suburban and nothing fancy. He excuses himself to go to, and tells us to make ourselves at home.

Ngumiti si Beatrice, smoothing her dress as she sat down, looking divine with her peach sundress na suot niya along with beige flats. She had her hair down, which was slowly growing into the shoulder-length hair she had before.

Bumalik si Troy kasama ang isang babae, na may hawak na isang tray na may mga baso at mga in can na drinks, as well us homemade na cupcakes.

"Kapatid ko nga pala, si Aliyah." Sabi nito.

I looked at her, recognizing her immediately.

"Kilala kita. You go to NVH, am I right? 2-Emerald. Aliyah Castro."
The girl looked surprised, but she nods shyly. "Hello po, Madam."
"Congratulations nga pala dun sa investigatory project ninyo. I saw the proposals."
"Nanood po kayo?"
Beatrice smiles. "Yeah. Kasama ko sila Mikki noon." Sabi nito.

The girl smiles at me, saka naman nagpaalam to retreat to their kitchens. Naramdaman ko naman na Nakatingin si Andrew sa akin so I look back at him, finding him looking at me curiously.

"Stare much?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
"How do you remember every single one person in school?" Tanong nito sa akin.
I chuckled lowly. "I don't. Trust me, hindi ko kilala lahat. It just so happens that I was watching their presentation and I was at awe at the girl."

Tony comes in, offering us our refreshments to which we politely accepted. Keith Andrew moves to open a can of Sprite for me and pouring it on a glass knowing that I preferred the drink to anything else.

This jerk just knows kung paano ako pakiligin ng tahimik.

"Sooo... Back to business, ipinadala kami ni Thea." I address the guy who sat infront of us while I hold the cold glass of soda in my lap. "I hope this is a good time to talk."
Nginitian ako ni Troy. "Nakausap ko na nga siya. Okay lang naman sa akin, but I don't really think na ako ang hinahanap ninyo. I do parties, as in remixing and everything, I guess ordinary DJ lang, okay lang naman sa akin, I just think I'm better off doing something else though."