"So basically, this is your reward girls", their manager informed the girls as they boarded the minibus, "you have a day tour of Bohol's famous landmarks then late afternoon until evening is your free time. So, Enjoy!" Their manager added.
Maloi excitedly stood up and tried to find Mikha. The smile turned to a sour frown when she saw Mikha being pulled by Aiah.
Maloi let out a sigh of disappointment as she pulled out her airpods. She tried to find a vacant seat when she saw Colet sitting alone, almost at the back end of the minibus. As she approached the girl, she saw Colet trying to listen to something. She immediately paired her airpods to the other girl's phone.
"Ano papakinggan mo?" Maloi asked a surprised Colet who immediately curled her lips and replied, "Wala" as she moves her phone away.
"Grabe naman to" Maloi protested, "Parang wala tayong pinag Samahan niyan Nicollete" Maloi added as she looked at the other girl from head to toe.
She heard Colet respond and call her full name as well but her focus was on Mikha who was approaching them after hearing the commotion.
"Wow, tawagan ng full names ah," Mikha joked yet Maloi got triggered by it.
"Tigil tigilan mo nga ako Mikhaela Janna, mainit pa dugo ko sa iyo!" Maloi snapped at the newcomer as she bit her tongue.
"Lintek Maria Loi Yves, muntik ka nang mahalata, muntik na!" She screamed to herself under the heavy breath as she mockingly raised her fist towards Mikha, face snarling and all.
"Hoy, wag mong awayin si Mikha!" Aiah tried to defend Mikha by jokingly hugging her as the other girls laughed.
Maloi just rolled her eyes as she pretended to smile while dying inside.
"Lintek na kabaklaan to, ang sakit pala. Lord sana di nalang ako naging bakla." Maloi whispered a prayer as she tried her best to distract herself. As she averted her gaze from Mikha, she saw Colet smiling. Unconsciously, this made her smile too, it isn't everyday that Colet smiles casually.
"Na miss mo no?" Maloi tried to asked the other girl as she opened her airpods and puts them on her ears.
"Ang alin?" Colet responded casually which caught Maloi by surprise. Usually, either this girl is super pissed or super angry, no in-betweens.
"Eto," Maloi replied as she looks out the beautiful scenery outside of the window, "yung probinsya mo." Maloi Added as she looks at Colet and smiled.
She watched as Colet let out a faint smile and nodded and answered, "Sobra"
"Ano yung pinaka na mimiss mo?" Maloi asked again as they watched the scenery change every now and then.
She heard Colet reply but she looked over her shoulder and saw Aiah and Mikha having a giggle on something and it made her heart break a little bit.
"...Ako pa din yung batang gusgusin na madalas madapa" Maloi caught the last part of Colet's answer.
"Wow sikat!" Maloi murmured in protest when Mikha tried to hug Aiah who shrugged of the other girl's attempt.
Maloi immediately looked at Colet when she taught, she said it a little bit to loud for her comfort but to her surprised, she saw Colet still pensive.
"Tsaka syempre, yung luto ni Mama, yung Halang-halang ni Mama" Colet opened and Maloi saw how hard Colet was trying to hold her tears, "at ang pagkain ng Calamay pagkatapos nun." Colet added with a smile.
Maloi was half listening to Colet while trying to look at Mikha who started to smile sweetly.
"Alam mo," Maloi paused as she looked at Colet, Mikha's smile still lingering in her head, "Maganda ka pag nakangiti." Maloi let her intrusive thoughts out and realized she said it out loud, she immediately looked at Colet and calmly caressed Colet's face.
