Halfway Down There

Chapter 06

"Do you really want us to go?"

Nilingon ako ni Louis. I nodded eagerly with my eyebrows raised. Tumawa si Stefano kahit na siya ay abala sa pagtetext ng kung sino. Giorgio, on the other hand, walked behind us in silence. I smiled and gave him a small wave. Sinabayan ko siya sa paglalakad kaya kaming dalawa na ngayon ang nasa likuran nina Stefano at Louis.

"Milan is way more beautiful than what I've seen on the internet," I started a conversation with Giorgio. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa akin at napatingin din sa paligid naming puno ng lights.

"You haven't been here for a long time," aniya.

"Oh, yup!" sabay baling ko sa kanya. "Even with its flaws, I'd still adore it. Not the same way as my first time, but still, I'll always appreciate your country."

He chuckled with no emotions. "How nice of you to label it as mine."

"You're a citizen. Prego," (You're welcome) ngiti ko sa kanya.

I didn't say more because the sights often take me away from reality. We continued to walk towards the bistro's location Louis was talking about minutes ago. Our pathway was paved so elegantly that I had to post a story on Insta. The number of viewers immediately increased as soon as I posted.

I was taking selfies and boomerangs when Euna's message popped up. Napasinghap ako sa gulat nang mabasa 'yon.

Euna: where are you???

Euna: sabi mo uuwi ka na? smh

Ivory: hihi, totoo naman but I met them by coincidence. Want mo bang pumunta rito?

Euna: otw

Patanong akong sinulyapan ni Stefano dahil sa hagikgik ko. I showed him Euna's reply to my story and then he shook his head. Sumilip din si Louis. I eyed them both as they showed a playful disapproval of Euna's presence. Narating na namin ang bistro malapit sa bar na pupuntahan namin madali pagkatapos ng kainan, agad akong nilapitan ng isang waiter. Hindi pa dumarating si Euna kaya naghintay muna kami.

Gulat pa ako sa biglaan niyang desisyon na sumama sa amin. Unlike Rosette who refused and bluntly said that she's not in the mood for tonight.

"Ciao! I have arrived." Euna winked at us. "What's our order?"

"You came late so you shut up," sabi ni Stefano sa kanya.

"Parang 'di ako naging crush, ah," patagong sinabi ni Euna. I laughed, knowing Stefano did not understand a thing she just spat.

I held my chin up to call a waiter and order something for all of us after I have asked the rest which dessert they prefer. Hawak din nila ang menu, kanina pa naghahanap ng masasarap. I grabbed a glass in my left hand while the other tried to mute my phone since the notifications were crazy. It was placed on the side of my pochette when the screen lit up. Lahat galing sa Insta kaya na-curious ako kung sino-sino pa ang pwedeng mag-chat sa akin.

sadi122_: Gosh, glow up so much

sadi122_: Ivy, reactivated acc ko

sadi122_: Gandaa huhu, visit kita soon

The smile I had grew bigger. It has been two months, I think, since we had our last conversation. Nakiki-catch up din naman ako sa mga kaibigan ko sa Pilipinas, but the ones I'm closer with are actually the ones I rarely have conversations with. Despite no communication, though, it all still feels the same way. The closeness never faded. I've wondered how that is possible.