There was a conference where Leni, Kaka, and Risa were all invited to talk. The three of them were in a round table having their snacks before proceeding to the conference, the noise of the sound system and chitchatting of other people didn't quite reach them. Kaka watched as Leni carefully poured out half of her ketchup onto Risa's plate.
"Thanks, Lens." Risa smiled gratefully. As the other two began to eat, Kaka shook her head.
"Hindi ko talaga gets, Leni. Bakit single ka pa rin? Well, I know you said ayaw mo na after your late husband pero bakit ganyan ka?"
Leni blinked as she was about to eat her french fries, "Ano?"
"Lagi kang ganyan. Hindi ba dapat nakapila na mga tao sa'yo para i-date ka?"
"Ha? Anong lagi akong ganyan? Ano bang ginawa ko?"
"Ayan." Kaka pointed at the ketchup. "Nasa likod lang natin 'yung mga condiments pero binigay mo pa kay Risa 'yung sa'yo."
Leni frowned, then looked at Risa laughed. "Kaka, that's a normal thing to do naman. 'Diba, Ris?"
"I think tama naman kayo pareho," Risa gently picked out all of pickles in her burger. "Ibibigay ko rin naman 'yung ketchup ko kay Kaka if meron ako. Pero tama rin sya. Lens, you do this kind of thing a lot nga."
"What do you mean?"
Risa raised her eyebrows, "Ayan, tingnan mo ginagawa mo ngayon."
"I'm.." Leni stopped chewing in confusion, "Gusto mo ba nung pickles?"
"No, ayoko."
"See! Kaya nga I'm the one eating them, sayang."
Kaka leaned forward, "Exactly."
"Okay, teka lang ha." Leni wiped her hands off and crossed her arms. "'Yung pagkain ng pickles for someone hindi naman nakakabayani 'diba?"
Risa nodded. "Tama naman. Pero kasi Lens, the way you do these things.. I mean, para kang—"
"Masyado kang thoughtful," said Kaka. "As in malala talaga Lens."
Leni held up her pointing finger and reached quickly into her bag for a piece of tissue, "Oh, tissue," handing it to Kaka. "Mag ingat ka kumain, naka-puti ka pa naman,"
Kaka took the tissue and wiped off her shirt, "Ang kalat naman nito inumin ang rupok ng cup. Thanks, Lens."
"No worries. Need mo pa ba ng tissue? Or wet wipes? Alcohol?"
"Hindi, okay na. Pero," Kaka looking up triumphantly, "ayan, see? Naprove ko 'yung point ko. Para kang all in one na friend and jowa, hindi talagang malayo ma-fall sa'yo mga tao sa paligid mo,"
"Ha? Matulungin lang talaga ako 'no."
Risa sneakily got two french fries from Leni's plate, "Lens, remember that time nung nagpunta ka sa bahay ko just to open a jar for me? And it was midnight pa nga,"
"As I've said, matulungin lang ako."
"Midnight 'yun, Lens. Halos natutulog ka na pero nagdrive ka pa papunta sa'kin?"
