untouchable

14

You're bright and early as per usual. You're just now waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. Apparently, a celebrity would be joining this morning's H2H effort.

You have fond memories of Montalban as you and your family always go to Wawa Dam for an affordable summer getaway. You also used to hike at Mt. Pamitinan and Mt. Binacayan with college and work friends. Rizal has a great balance between country and city. Your family almost relocated to the province when you were young, but your parents didn't push through for reasons you still know nothing about.

The team would be complete again today until the MDA in Makati.

A singsong "good morning" stole your attention away and see a chirpy Jillian. You didn't know she's arrived. How the young woman always seem energetic every morning is beyond you. You wish that her youthful spirit never dies. You couldn't help the chuckle the bubbled in your throat.

"Ganda ng gising ah," you said in jest.

Jill shrugged with a smile. "Si Jake Ejercito pala kasi 'yung sasama sa 'tin today, e."

Your face contorted in realization. "Ooh, siya pala. Nice, nice. Mga Gwapo for Leni-Kiko," you replied. "Mae-excite mga friends ko nito. Kaso medyo delikado rin kasi baka hindi na sila makapagsalita sa kilig." You then went on to text your friends to inform them of this new fact.

Jill on the other hand is a bit disappointed. She was trying to make you jealous but apparently, you don't care enough. You didn't even view her IG story last night. You were there and she tagged you! You were in her Close Friends list and you didn't even view her story. She obviously wanted you to see it, that was her sort of shooting her shot.

Before she could stop herself, she spills, "Nakalimutan mo na naman ba password mo sa Instagram?"

You hummed, still busy chatting your friends, but full attention is on Jill. "Hindi ko sure, hehe. Siguro? Pero bakit?"

Jill rolled her eyes, which escaped your notice as you're still focused on your phone. "Wala naman," she replied, saying it with more spite than intended.

The tone finally made you look at the younger woman, brows furrowed in curiosity. "Did I... miss anything?" When Jill only shook her head no, you asked again. "Ano bang meron sa Instagram?"

Ang manhid ha, Jill thought as she only shook her head no at your question. She despises how she's desperate for a crumb of your attention. She despises how pathetic she is. Blame her foolish delusional lovesick heart.

Your eyes narrowed in suspicion, but before you could prod further, your friends immediately enveloped Jill in a hug as soon as they arrived. This at least lifted Jill's mood. They talked to her as if you weren't there, which you don't mind at all.

"Namiss ka namin, bebe ghorl!" Shein gushes.

"Missed you too, Ate Shein." Jill replied and sank on the hug your friend provided.

"Ako hindi mo namiss?" JD joked.

"S'yempre namiss din kita, Kuya JD. Ikaw pa ba? Lakas mo kaya sa 'kin!"

"Korique." JD said.

You only chortled beside them with a shake of your head. They're still ignoring you as they continued to converse amongst themselves.

A few more minutes and Shein finally actually acknowledges you.

"Ay nand'yan ka pala beh? Akala ko kasi may statwa lang sa gilid." Shein joked.

Jillian looks away.

You scoffed at that. "Okay lang, sanay naman na ako."

"Oo, bato ka kasi 'no." JD said with a hidden attack on his remark.