Consigliere's Aviatrice

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AVIATRICE

Napatitig ako sa tatlong babaeng kasama ko. Napailing na lang ako nang nakitang medyo may tama na silang tatlo. As soon as I landed in the Philippines, they spared no time to invite me for a night out. And here we are, drinking in a club.

"Look at us!" Dinuro ako ni Kassidy, kasunod ay tinuro niya rin si Arianne at Fejia. "We're in a club but we're wearing business suits!" Humagalpak ito ng tawa.

Saka ko lang napansin na naka formal attire pala kaming lahat. We were wearing neutral colors and old-money-styled suits. Tanging si Kassidy lang ang naka two-inched above the knee skirt, the rest of us were in tight slacks.

"How's your work, girlies? Aside from Avi, of course. We all know she nearly died." Kassidy wheezed before chugging her drink.

"All is well, though puro reklamo ng mga engineers ang natatanggap ko dahil sa complex ng designs ko, wala pa rin naman silang magagawa." Arianne snorted before crossing her legs. Napalingon naman kami kay Fejia na nakakunot na ang noo.

"I received a call to organize a party last week, I clearly heard it was a party, kaya binonggahan ko ang designs. May mga balloons and confetti's and invitations, naka red carpet pa! Nagulat na lang ako sa mismong araw ng event, kabaong ang bumungad sa akin. Funeral pala, tangina." Kitang-kita ang inis sa mukha ni Fejia habang nagkukwento kaya hindi namin mapigilan matawa.

"Gaga ka, baka naman nabingi ka. Ang layo ng party sa funeral!" Iling-iling na wika ni Kassidy.

"I thought so too! But it turns out yung tumawag sa akin is anak sa labas nung namatay! She's got beef with her dead father kaya imbis funeral ginawang birthday party ang theme! Dinamay niya pa trabaho ko!" Bugnot nitong atugal bago lumaklak ng alak.

She looks pissed. Well, I can't blame Fejia. She takes her work professionally. Siya ang pinaka workaholic sa aming apat. She takes pleasure and satisfaction by organizing people's once-in-a-lifetime events.

"How about your love life?" Sa pagkakataong ito ay ako naman ang nagtanong. Arianne clapped her hands.

"Don't get me started! Oh my Gosh! I met this guy, he's a Civil Engineer. Akala ko green flag siya, since he's a good guy. Isang araw na-admit ako sa hospital kasi inatake ako ng anemia. He donated three bags of blood to me. I was thankful and all until one day, I caught him cheating with a girl." She paused for a while and hissed. "Syempre, I broke up with him! I don't tolerate cheaters!" She continued.

"Isang araw pumunta siya sa bahay ko asking me na ibalik sa kanya yung dugo na binigay niya sa akin. Like, hello? Paano ko ibabalik sa kanya? Timing may regla ako ng araw na yun. Kaya sinampal ko ang napkin ko sa mukha niya at sinabihan kong magbabayad ako sa punyetang dugo niya monthly!" Kulang na lang ay umusok ang ilong ni Arianne habang nagkukwento.

Unang bumunghalit ng tawa si Kassidy. "Gaga, ganyan talaga ang mga lalaki. Nice lang sila for a few weeks, after niyan end na yung free trial kaya lalabas na totoong ugali nila." Parang ulagang hinampas-hampas pa nito ang mesa kakatawa sa naging kwento ni Arianne.

"Mga red flag talaga yang mga engineer, Arianne. Hindi ka pa ba nadadala? What's with you and your obsession with engineers e mga amoy bakal at semento naman mga yan." Patutsada ni Fejia.

"Oh, look who's talking! Ikaw nga mga nagugustuhan mo mga gurang! What's with you being attracted to older guys?" Fejia rolled her eyes and faced her.