Since this morning, Trey can't help but be excited for this particular road trip with his friends. It's their first time to go on a trip together, especially with Thea's friends—Margaux and Erica. It has always been the three of them. Now, their circle got bigger and Trey couldn't be more stoked about it.
When he read Erica's message a while ago, he hastened his pace to Thea's building lobby, knowing that Erica is waiting for him. Waking up at the sweet voice of Erica in the morning made him extra bubbly today. It's as if he drank coffee with his energy even if he didn't.
Pagdating ni Trey sa building lobby ni Thea, nadatnan niyang kumakaripas ng takbo si Erica papunta sa lugar na hindi alam ni Trey. Thea was quick to inform him though, "Iihi lang daw si Erica. Pwede ka na mauna sa kotse."
Tumango naman si Trey. "Ito ba yung bag ni Erica? I can get it for her already."
"Yes, please. Thank you, Trey!" Thea said sweetly. When it comes to these women, it's such a wonderful feeling to be a gentleman. Sometimes, he tends to forget how kind his SHS blockmates were. To be very honest, they're all good people. Definitely up for keeps.
Nauna na si Trey sa kotse saka nilagay ang mga bag nila ni Erica sa trunk. His friends greeted him when he opened the trunk. "Good morning!"
"Good morning! Nandito na pala kayo," he noticed when he saw Alvin and Margaux sitting comfortably inside.
"Dinaanan ko na kanina," sagot ni Nico.
When their bags are settled, Trey closed the trunk and jumped in the car. "Ang daya. Bakit sila lang ang dinaanan mo?"
Nagkatinginan silang tatlo. "Malapit lang naman kayo kay Thea. Walking distance lang. Eh silang dalawa, magko-commute pa 'yang mga 'yan," Nico explained.
Trey shrugged at Nico's explanation that made sense. After a few minutes, Thea also jumped in the car while Erica was tailing her at the back. Erica opened the door at the backseat. Binungad ni Trey ang malawak niyang ngiti sa dalaga.
He briefly jumped out of the car to make way for her. "Para katabi mo si Margaux," he briefly explained. "At saka para makita ni Nico yung likod." Trey was indeed a tall guy.
Erica wasn't exactly her usual bubbly self. Parang may nangyari kanina na hindi alam ni Trey. Kaninang umaga naman, ang saya pa nilang dalawa eh. Ngayon, medyo nakakunot na ang noo ni Erica. He wonders if he did something or something happened without him knowing.
When everyone was settled down in the car, Nico stepped on the accelerator and started to drive. Doon na rin sila nagsimulang magkwentuhan. "Kamusta pala internship niyo? Magkwento naman kayo!" Alvin prompted.
"Ang saya, guys! Sobrang nakaka-miss yung laboratory," Thea wistfully said. Tono pa lang ng boses ni Thea, halatang miss na nito yung laboratory.
"Buti pa kayo nakapag-laboratory in person," Erica commented. Sa kanilang anim, only Thea and Nico had face-to-face internship. So Trey understands how Erica was feeling. He also lost the opportunity to experience on-the-job training for his course because of the pandemic.
"You also had internship, right?" he asked. She nodded. "Paano yun?"
"Online lang," Erica responded. "Madalas mga webinars tapos may ipapagawa sa amin."
Trey was lost in Erica's story that he didn't notice the looks and malicious smiles his friends were having. Can you even blame him? Erica looked and sounded invested in her online internship. Besides, he also feels the same way.
"Ako rin. Nasasayangan akong hindi kami nakapag-face-to-face man lang. Yun pa naman yung pinakahinihintay ko."
"Pasali naman kami sa usapan niyo," singit ni Margaux.
Erica shot a glare at her friend, which made Thea laugh. "Nako, tigil-tigilan niyo kami ni Trey, ha!" suway sa kanila ni Erica. "Nakakahiya sa tao," she said softly. "It's never gonna happen."
Nagkatinginan silang dalawa sa sinabi ni Erica. What does she mean?
"Aray, par!" Alvin exclaimed. He handed him a band-aid from the emergency first aid kit of Nico in his car. "Ito, band-aid."
Trey recovered from the shock immediately, thanks to Alvin's teasing. He swatted the band-aid he was offering and playfully said, "Ewan ko sa 'yo!"
Patawa-tawa lang si Trey ngayon pero hindi mawala sa isipan niya yung sinabi ni Erica kanina. What's never gonna happen? Them?
Trey would like to think otherwise.
* * *
You can read Erica's side of this scene at my Tumblr blog. This was originally featured as a ficlet in Ficlet Fridays S03E03. You may go to amstories.tumblr.com and search for the ficlet code: S03E03.
If you can't find it, go to amstories.tumblr.com/tagged/S03E03.
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