Losing You's a Thing That I Dread

Chapter 3: Archie

Thursday, 12:05 PM

Cafeteria food usually sucks, but today they have lasagna, a family favorite - well, it used to be. This won’t beat his Mom’s, but it will do.

ARCHIE: They have lasagna! You’re missing out, Z. 

Z: Is it as good as Mom’s?

“My dad is evil,” Gino said as if it’s a well-known fact. “But he’s been nice to Poch so far.”

“Gino, he’s your dad. You know him better than we do,” Archie said, before digging in. “Mmmm!”

“Man, what are you trying to say?”

“Well, one. This lasagna’s surprisingly good,” he said before taking another forkful. “And two, it’s time to check on Poch,” he said matter of factly.

Gino quietly contemplated Archie’s suggestion for a few seconds and then reached over his plate with a spoon, “Okay, let me try.”

Archie grabbed his plate making sure it’s far from his friend’s reach, “What the hell? Get your own!”

“Parang ang sarap niyan!” Archie knew that irritating voice, and he tried to rein in his temper. 

“Kenji, andami na nating in-order.” Sanya nudged her friend with her elbow. “Would you mind if we…” Sabay turo sa empty seats.

“No, not at all!” Gino said enthusiastically - like a golden retriever. 

But him? He remembered this old chick flick that his Mom and sister dragged him and his Dad to watch during movie night several years ago.

You can’t sit with us.

There’s something about these two that he just couldn’t figure out. But that’s not today’s problem. 

There was a question he’s been dying to ask them from the moment they got there, but Kenji’s smart (Sanya too, obviously) and he’ll probably put two and two together and run his mouth.

“Parang pang-tatlong tao yang order niyo ah,” Gino commented while the two were getting settled. But he’s already bored of the conversation that has barely started and was almost zoning out when -

“- muna si Roxy, kasi there was a problem with the prints,” Sanya explained.

His ears perked up, and his heart started beating a little bit faster. “Problem? What’s wrong?” 

Shit. Can you be more obvious?

“Nagka-technical issues kasi so na-delay yung prints for more than an hour,” she said. “Then they had to prioritize the documents needed by Principal Perino, then the proposed shirt design…” Sanya kept droning about things he didn’t really care about, and he began to lose his patience, when he felt someone kick him on the shin.

Motherfucker! That hurts!

He looked at the most likely culprit ( Yep - it’s Gino ) questioningly, and was about to avenge his possibly bruised shin, when his tormentor asked, “So where is Roxy now?”

Fuck yes, Gino! I’ll get you all the lasagna you want!

“Nagpaiwan siya sa office beside the Printing Press,” Kenji shared.

Printing Press. Gotcha!

“Oo nga eh. Sabi ko let’s take a break muna, pero sabi ni Roxy baka masingitan pa daw kami,” Sanya said. “So we just got her lunch, and we’ll take it to the auditorium na lang later.”

Or the auditorium.

“Sakto! Archie, aren't you heading to the bookstore? The one beside the audi?” Gino asked him, wide-eyed.