This is War (War Series #3)

Chapter 12

#war3wp

Chapter 12

Family

How do you become a good girlfriend? 

I always think about dating because I always dream about being in love and being in a relationship. I'd always imagine myself being one of the best girlfriends anyone can find. But now that I finally got myself a relationship, I don't know what I should do next. 

Para akong nagkaro'n ng block. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang mga iniisip kong magiging ako noon kapag nagkaro'n na ako ng boyfriend. It's like all my ideals vanished into thin air. Is there a manual on how I can be an effective partner? 

When I ask Adonijah how his past relationships worked out, he just tells me a simple and concise answer. 

"Just be yourself," is what he tells me, his attention still on the TV in front of us because he's playing a video game with Asiel. 

We're at Hiel's house. Because his dad is always at work, we always choose to go here whenever we hang out. Minsan, sa bahay namin. Since the boys want to play video games today, we pick Hiel's house.

 Napabuntonghininga ako. Just be yourself. I know that. But how can I be my girlfriend self?

"Hiel," I call. 

Nasa sofa si Hiel, nakasandal at nagbabasa ng isang libro. Tulad nina Adonijah, naka-uniporme pa siya ng St. Agatha Univeristy.

Hiel raises his mysterious gaze to me when I call his name. He smiles a little. "Relationships are different, Hanani," he says, looking at his book again. "It depends on the people who are involved in it. You're partners. You figure things out together."

Magkatabi si Adonijah at Asiel sa gitna ng couch. Nakaupo naman sa carpet si Ida Mishal, nasa coffee table ang laptop at nag-e-edit ng videos niya ro'n. Katabi ni Adonijah si Jadon at Hiel samantalang nakatabi naman ako kay Asiel.

"Stop pressuring yourself, Han," natatawang sabi ni Adonijah at sinulyapan ako. "It's just like friendship but with a little more affection."

"What are you talking about? Pa'no naman maa-identify kung sino ang girlfriend mo sa kaibigan mo lang?" nagtatakang tanong ko. 

Napamura si Asiel nang matalo niya si Adonijah. Adonijah groans and asks for a rematch.

"Ang ibig sabihin lang ni Adonijah, you should treat him with care because he's important to you—just like your friends—but with more affection," ani Hiel. 

"You got it!" ani Adonijah kay Hiel at tumawa. 

"I've never been a girlfriend before!" I say.

"One game. Five hundred peso for anyone who wins," ani Asiel kay Adonijah.

"Meron yata ako sa bulsa ko," ani Adonijah na agad na sinubukang humugot ng kung ano sa bulsa niya pero paglabas ng kamay ay nakataas na ang middle finger kay Asiel. 

I sigh and I plop on the sofa.

"Wala namang criteria ang pagiging girlfriend. Just don't be toxic," ani Adonijah, nagkikibit-balikat. "Don't get angry for random reasons. Be there for each other. Be loyal. Give the love you can give. Everything else will follow."

"Don't stress about it," ani Ida Mishal na nag-e-edit pa rin ng videos niya. Tiningnan niya ako at pumangalumbaba siya sa coffee table, her bangs covering her eyebrows. 

"What do you think, Asiel?" I ask Asiel who is focused on the game. It looks like they're having a rematch. 

When I ask him, his attention shifts on me, and his smirk shows up. "I don't know," Asiel tells me, grinning after. "I've never been a girlfriend before."