"Dude, ano'ng naisipan mo at nagyaya kang mag-inom out of nowhere? Do you have any good news to share with us?" tanong ni Parker habang nginingisian si Waki.
Naroroon sila ngayon sa isang high-end bar at nakaupo sa leathered couch na nakapaikot sa bilog na mesa na may mga bote ng beer, maliit na timba ng yelo at samut-saring mga pulutan.
"O baka naman maglalabas ka lang ng sama ng loob sa amin, 'di kaya?" sabat ni Harvey.
Umiling-iling si Waki. "No. All I want to do is have a drink with you guys. Ilang buwan na rin tayong hindi nagkita-kita," palusot niya.
Parker and Harvey looked at each other and grinned as if Waki had made a joke.
"C'mon, dude, don't lie to us. Kapag ganitong nagyayaya kang mag-inom, there is undoubtedly something you want to tell us. Noon, sa tuwing gusto mong makipag-inom sa amin, isa lang ang dahilan..." Harvey paused for a second, "si Stella."
Parker sat back and relaxed. "Sakit pa rin ba siya ng ulo mo hanggang ngayon?"
Tinawanan na lang ni Waki ang pasaring ng mga kaibigan. Noon pa man ay kinakantyaw na talaga siya ng mga ito... lalo na pagdating sa kanilang dalawa ni Stella.
"Stella and I have never dated, and you both know that," depensa niya sa sarili. "Ilang taon na tayong college graduate, pero hindi pa rin nagbabago na si Stella pa rin ang pinang-aasar n'yo sa akin. Ikaw Harvey, engaged ka na. Ikaw naman Parker, apat na buwan nang kasal. Kaya puwede ba, tigil-tigilan n'yo na ako kay Stella—"
"Ikaw, dude, kailan mo balak magpakasal o magpa-engage? Wala na kaming nagiging balita sa dating life mo. Huwag mong i-reason out sa amin na busy ka kaya ka walang love life?" saad ni Parker.
Natigilan si Waki. His mind immediately went to Harika and how things had changed. He just missed her.
Tinungga niya ang bote ng kanyang beer. "I thought I had her, but she left me," he admitted.
His two friends slid and sat close to him as they both became more interested. "Sino 'yan, dude? I-kuwento mo na!" hindi makapaghintay na banggit ni Harvey.
"Kilala ba namin kung sino ang babaeng tinutukoy mo? Ka-batch ba natin o katrabaho mo ngayon?" usisa ni Parker at intrigang hinihintay ang sagot ni Waki.
Tumango si Waki. His friends have surrounded him in his seat. "Yes, ka-batch natin. Hindi maaaring hindi n'yo siya kilala. She's the congressman's granddaughter. Harika Levantine."
Parker put his hand over his mouth to hide his surprised face. "Si Miss Popular pala."
Hindi makapaniwala si Harvey. "Harika did not even like you back then. Kailan pa kayo nagsimulang mag-date?"
Waki wasn't sure how he would explain what had happened to them in the last few weeks, especially when Harika lost her sight and he became the one who cared for her the most.
"I wouldn't say we're dating, but we do more than that. Guys, kababata ko si Harika, hindi man niya naipakikita 'yon noon sa eskwelahan, pero alam kong may naipahihiwatig siyang hindi lang ako ang may gusto sa pagitan naming dalawa."
Harvey drank the beer from his mug. "So, you two were in a situationship?" he asked, confirming while nibbling on an ice cube in his mouth.
Waki brows furrowed in confusion. "Haven't heard that word."
"Dude, it's a relationship without a label or a commitment; basically, a situationship is much more than just being friends with benefits."
Mas naliwanagan si Waki sa paliwanag ng kaibigan. They never forget the drinks on the table in between conversations. Naubos ang laman ng mga bote ng beer, natutunaw ang yelo at nababawasan ang mga pulutan.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Sun in Her Eyes
Mystery / Thriller"You radiate comfort in my eyes." After a chandelier crash, granddaughter of an influential congressman Harika Levantine lost her vision following the death of him. When she became sightless, everyone around her turned fake, suspicious and traitorou...
