EMPTINESS
“GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.” Adrian said, stretching out his arms. Humihikab-hikab pa siyang pumasok sa pinto.
“Youʼre late, Adi.” I complained.
“Heʼs always special. Tsk.” Marcus commented, sarcastically.
“Tayong apat lang ba talaga ang mag-uusap ngayon?” tanong naman ni Andy na komportableng nakahiga sa kama ko ngayon.
I called them for a meeting—I messaged them secretly so the three noisy men would not be able to come. Mga nagpuyat na naman sa video games ang mga ʼyon.
Tumango ako kay Andy. “Buti na lang.” malakas siyang bumuntong hininga. Parang ginusto rin niyang wala muna ʼyung tatlo ngayon. Makukulit kasi ʼyung mga ʼyon. Si Primo, medyo matino pa at marunong naman sumeryoso. Pero ʼpag kasama si Andy at Seven, walang makakaawat sa kanila.
“So anong plano ng ating birthday boy?” tanong ni Adi.
Adrian is very good at leadership. ʼYun nga lang kapag kami ang kasama niya, nahahawa siya sa kalokohan. Sa iba, maaga siyang dumarating. Ganoʼn din naman siya sa amin-well, dati ʼyon. Ngayon nahawa na siya sa katamaran ng iba dʼyan. Hindi ko sasabihin na Jonathan Smith ang pangalan niya.
I crossed my arms. “Hindi ko pa birthday, Adi.” paalala ko.
“Lapit na pala ng araw mo ʼno?” Andy muttered.
With that said, I glared at him. Using the wrong words in my territory, arenʼt we? “Do you really need to make it sound awful?”
Malakas siyang humalakhak. “Kaarawan pala. Sorry, my bad.”
“By the way,” bumalik ako sa pagiging seryoso, at ganoon din sila. “I plan to celebrate my birthday together with my celebration for winning the V-fair.”
“Ay oo nga ʼno?” Adrian seemed to recall something when he snapped his fingers. “We need to party. Also for surviving exam season.” he added. He wonʼt ran out of ideas.
“We need it to be grand since itʼll be three celebrations in one.” Andyʼs face lit up, full of enthusiasm.
Tumango ako kasabay ni Adrian. Si Marcus naman ay tahimik lang sa tabi. He was probably bored. I really canʼt read his mood sometimes, huh?
“Marcus, any feedbacks?” baling sa kaniya ni Adrian.
“Sounds good.” he nodded once and thatʼs it.
Sheesh, that was cold.
“Understandable since little Zachary hates parties.” Adrian said. Heʼs the one who knows Marcus best among us.
“I donʼt really hate it. I only come to parties when Iʼm with my closest friends.” he mumbled as he sulked at my the corner of the bed.
Andy then played with Marcusʼ hair gently for a second, then ruins the style. “Youʼre such a sweet guy.”
I was thinking of making reservations at Resto de Estrell. Si Andy ang pinakamalapit kay Bliss na kakilala ko. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ko sinama sa meeting na ʼto si Andy. Iʼve known Bliss Lopez, but not personally. We often eat at Sunshineʼs breakfast restaurant, which her family owns too.
“By the way, Andy,” I glanced at him. “You know Bliss Lopez, right?”
Umiwas ng tingin si Andy at mahinang sumagot, “Yeah.”
“His ex.” biglang sabi ni Adi.
“Shut the fuck up, Scottsdale.”
“Oh... Sorry.” Bigla akong nahiya sa pagtatanong. Hindi ko naman kasi alam. Hindi niya naman kami sinabihan na nagkarelasyon pala siya. We know heʼs single.
