A Close Second

Fifty-fifth

Hello Hello!
I know there are a lot of these scenes that are in the original but I'm writing everything so I can justify their characters in the end! Hope you still like it though. 🥺
Here's Beatrice.

—
Courtney Beatrice Singson.

"Okay, everything's all set. I have 150 guests on RSVP na, and the whole GenX is reserved for you and your party."

Napakunot ako ng noo kay Greg na umupo sa tabi ko, holding an iPad in his hands. We were at Stellar, Tito Paul's newly opened café (more like Thea's since she's had more hands on this than Tito Paul had) and was currently hanging out with the others waiting for the afternoon to pass.

"What party?" tanong ko dito.
Hinampas naman ni Aya si Greg. "GREG!"
"Hindi ba natin sasabihin?" tanong niya kay Aya kaya naman nahampas ulit siya. "ARAY KO AH! Masakit na!"
"What do you mean 'my party'?" tanong ko sa kanila.
"Alam mo last year nung nag aarrange kami ng party niyan, hindi naman kami nahirapan itago sa kanya." Sabi ni Nico. "Anong parte ng 'surprise party ang hindi mo naiintindihan?"
Thea sighs as she sets down a plate of cookies. "Sometimes, I can't with you guys."

She sits down beside me habang nakatingin parin ako sa kanila, my cup of latte on my hand, awaiting their explanation. Nginitian lang ako nito.

"If you think I'm forgetting things because you're smiling..." I start habang binatukan ulit ni Aya si Greg who was holding the iPad sa ulo niya, making me chuckle.
"Hindi mo man lang ba pipigilan ang girlfriend mo?"
"Dala ko yung mga Arnis sticks ko, Ai." Nico offers. "Would you like them?"
"Hoy!"

Natawa ako sa kanila, completely forgetting what we were talking about. I don't even remember what we were talking about dahil tumatawa nalang ako. Dumating din yung mga drinks nila Aya kaya naman medyo kumalma sila ng kaunti.

It had been a week since the shoot and dinner. Mas maluwag na nga talaga ang schedule ko kaya  I had been able to sleep a lot more than the measly 2-3 hours (well, Andrew sleeping over was a big help) and relax since my classes were now down to a minimum because of our new schedule.

Since tri-sem ang XEI, we didn't have much of a break so the new school year offered a new schedule which Andrew had arranged for me to fit the dance lessons and the dance troup.

Mas maganda nga yun dahil nakakasama na ako sa mga hang-outs namin lately na hindi naman madalas nangyayari. We had different course loads kaya naman iba iba din ang schedules. Today was a blessing since free ang mga iba at makakapaghang-out kami.

"Sabi sayo si Bunso lang malakas e." Nico high-fives Aya which confused me.

Hindi na ako nakapagtanong dahil biglang may biglang dumating.

"Can someone explain to me why we have Civic Warfare as a subject in a Civil Engineering course?" Andrew says, sitting beside me and kissing the top of my head. "Sasabog ang utak ko sa history."
"Kung may utak." Nico snorts.
Tinignan ng boyfriend ko si Aya. "Why do you like him again?"
"For his personality?" Natatawang sabi ni Aya before sighing. "I know, ako din nasorpresa."
"Nakakasakit na kayo ah." Says Nico.

Natawa lang ako, snuggling into Keith Andrew, wrapped and arm across my shoulders and kissed my head once more. Si Laiza naman at si Jethro naupo sa may kabilang couch opposite us katabi ni Aya at Nico habang si Greg lumipat sa may bean bag, busy with his iPad. Thea sat back at the single-seater sofa, her sipping her own cup of matcha.

I smiled, sighing contentedly.

This was life.

"Ano ulit ang IG handle mo, Madam?" tanong ni Greg out of the blue.