After The Credits

Chapter 7 Three Idiots in a Car Karl's POV

It was an average school day in October. Karl was seated next to Joan in class, as usual. The duo was now joined by Joan's latest friend, Chomskie. The bell rang, signaling them to get out of the classroom.

The three walked down the stairs of the building they were in before Joan spoke.

"Karl, by the way, I got a message from Sir Ludwig kanina."

"Sir Ludwig?" Karl asked.

"Our org moderator, hello? Anyway, we're in charge of picking up some stuff for the ASF event next week. Yun lang, medyo malayo yung pick-up location. May kotse ka?"

"Wala, ginagamit ko lang kotse ng tatay ko pero nag-out-of-town siya para sa trabaho niya kaya 'di natin magagamit yung kotse niya."

"May kotse naman ako." Chomskie added.

"Sure ka, Chomskie? Kahit 'di ka member ng ASF?" Karl replied.

"Okay lang, it will be fun. Parang road trip." He smiled.

"Nag-offer na siya, Karl. Just accept the offer." Joan said.

"Anyway, let's go tomorrow after class?" She added.

"G naman ako." Chomskie replied.

"Same." Karl nodded.

"Okay, I'll see you both then. May next class pa ako, I have to go na. Bye!" Joan said, walking away.

The next day, the three of them walked to Chomskie's car together after class.

"Karl, ikaw na lang mag-drive, ha." Chomskie said, passing Karl the keys.

"Huh, bakit ako?" He protested.

"We'll get there faster if it's you. Alam mo naman yung sinasabi nila, gays can't drive."

Chomskie... kung alam mo lang, bading din ako...

"Sus, tamad ka lang." Karl protested further.

"He's already letting us use his car, Karl. Least we can do is drive for him." Joan said.

"Edi ikaw na lang magmaneho!" Karl rebutted.

"Gays can't drive." Joan replied with a teasing smile.

Karl reluctantly entered the car and took the driver's seat. The ride went well for the most part. The trio sang along to songs on the radio with some playful banter here and there.

"Hey, Karl, I saw this meme about how pressing the gas and breaks together will make the car take a screenshot. What do you think?" Joan asked with a chuckle.

"Tara, try natin." Karl joked in return.

"Putangina, gusto niyo bang sirain kotse ko? Kayo magbabayad 'pag kailangan tong i-repair!" Chomskie yelled from the backseat.

Karl and Joan just laughed at him. A bit too much, perhaps, because next thing Karl knew, Chomskie was yelling again.

"Hoy, Karl, mag-left ka rito!"

"Shet!" Karl yelled, scrambling to turn the wheel.

"Can you NOT scream like that! Masyado pa akong bata para atakihin sa puso!" Joan said, half screaming and half laughing.

Karl and Chomskie couldn't help but laugh too.

"Ang layo naman ng tindahan na 'to. Bilisan kaya natin." Karl said, picking up speed on the highway.

"Basta 'wag kang mabangga, ha... 'Pag nabangga tayo, aba sasabunutan talaga kita, pota." Chomskie said, still laughing from earlier.

Joan gripped her seatbelt and protested as the car continued to pick up speed.

"Karl, kakasabi ko lang... I'm too young to get a heart attack. Please slow down." Her hands continued tightening their grip on the seatbelt.

Karl let out a laugh as she held her seatbelt.

"Sabi ko sa'yo, eh, ikaw dapat yung nag-drive." He teased.

It didn't take much longer until they reached their destination. Joan finally let go of her seatbelt as they slowed down and began parking, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

"Shuta ka talaga, Almasen. We could have died!" She yelled.

"Pero namatay ba tayo? Parang hindi, 'di ba?" He joked.

"Kalma lang, Joan. Tama naman si Karl, buhay pa tayo, oh." Chomskie said, joining in.

"That still took YEARS off my life." She argued.

"Ang OA mo naman, sinundan ko naman yung speed limits." Karl laughed.

"Those speed limits are too high." Joan rolled her eyes.

The car finally stopped and Joan wasted no time getting out.

"I'm driving on the way back." She said, pointing a finger at Karl.

Karl laughed as he followed Joan into the store with Chomskie.

"Sabi ko sa inyo, it will be fun." Chomskie smiled.

Joan glared at him in protest, but failed to hold the stare and started laughing. Karl just looked at the two and smiled.

Na-miss ko talagang masanay na may kasamang mga kaibigan.