The Rank - IV

Chapter 4

"Rice!" Sigaw ko kay Rice habang naglalakad sya palabas ng gym. But this girl isn't stopping kaya mas nagmadali ako to grab her arm. "Teka." And i spun her around. "Hindi pa tayo tapos maglaro."

And for the first time i see madness through her eyes. "We are done Solana."

"Done? But we aren't breaking up." I joked.

Sometimes i hate myself for making joke in the middle of — ano nga ba to?

Huminga ng malalim si Rice. "Yes because we are not girlfriends, only friends right?"

"Yeah." Titig na titig ako sa kanya. There are many emotions flashes through her eyes.  "Bakit ka kasi umalis?"

Rice is quiet for a second as she thought for a moment. "Bawal ba?”

Natawa ako. "Pagkatapos mo akong sikmuraan, magwawalk out ka lang?"

Rice look suddenly guilty. "I'm sorry, i didn't mean to do that."

"It's okay." I assure her. It's a contact sport. So.. "You are surprisingly strong hu."

"Hindi naman." Sus pahumble pa tong si Rice. Halos pitik nga lang ang ginawa nya sakin pero grab yong sakit eh. "How about coffee? Or lunch? Para mkabawi ako sayo."

"But how about me?" Biglang sumulpot si Sophia sa tabi ko. "Kahit third wheel okay ako —"

I look at my bes friend. "Third wheel?" I chuckle. "Coffee lang, hindi date."

But Sophia smirks at me. "Sure thing girls."

"Tara?" Pag-aaya ni Rice samin. "My treat."

Bago umalis ay nag quick shower muna kami.

At hindi kami sa coffee shop dinala ni Rice kundi sa isang dining restaurant.

We all know that Rice is rich, her family is very powerful. Presidente ba naman ng Pilipinas ang Mommy nya at sila din ang nagmamay-ari mga oil and gas company sa Saudi at iba pang panig ng mundo.

And yet Rice remain simple, ni wala nga syang suot na jewelry. Earrings lang.

We are eating now.

Kain lang kami ng kain dahil napakasarap ng pagkain.

"I have a question." Biglang tanong ni Sophia directly to Rice.

Rice wipes her lips before speaking. "What?"

"Why Rice?" Curious si Sophia.

Natawa si Rice. "Ilang beses mo na ba ako tinanong about dyan."

Sophia shrug her shoulder. "Hindi mo naman sinasagot eh. Puro ka ngiti."

"It's not Rice kasi, but Rais. Ikaw lang ang tumawag saking Rice kaya lahat sila ginaya ka." Umiikot ang mata ni Rice habang nagsasalita. "Again, it's Rais, not Rice."

And i thought about it. "Rais means leader."

"Yes." Rais agreed.

Now we will call her Rais.

"May balak ka din bang pumasok sa politics like your mother?" I couldn't help but ask. Curious lang since hindi basta bastang tao si Rais.

"Oh no." Rais chuckle with a shake of her head. "Hindi ko pinangarap na pumasok sa kahit anong posisyon sa politika." Hiniwa nya ang steak sa plato nya. "Besides it's my eldest sister responsibility."

"Oh, Miranda!" Parang naexcite si Sophia. "Your sister is so freaking beautiful!"

I agreed.

Miranda is like a living Goddess. Her beauty is unreal.