"Mag-bless kayo, ha," dad said while driving on the way to F.C.
I was in the middle seat on the right side.
"Opo," I said.
"Opo," ate Trina said. She was seated on the left side.
"Yes," Gelo said, my little brother. His name was 'Angelo.' He was seated between me and our sister.
Mom was sitting in the shotgun seat.
It was Thursday, and we missed the F.C., so we thought of going there.
In just a few minutes, we were already there on the way to its parking lot, and we saw a Limousine driving in front of us, so we assumed that that was the Calvin company.
As we parked, we saw a black Ford, which is the car of family Clarixe, so we assumed that the Clarixe company was already waiting for us.
Clarixe was a subdivision where we lived, its main branch was located in Quezon City.
"Good morning, Mr. Fernando," Mr. Calvin offered a hand shake while smiling.
My dad took it while smiling back, "good morning, Mr. Calvin."
Later on, we were introduced by my dad.
"Ang gaganda naman, mga artistahin," Mrs. Calvin said while smiling.
"'A, thank you po," ate Trina vowed a bit with her hands holding together.
"Thank you po," I also vowed a bit.
"This is my son, Stephen. And the youngest, France," Mr. Calvin introduced his sons.
Stephen, the brother, was handsome. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt with a gold chain necklace partnered with black pants.
While they were talking, I turned on my phone to send a message to Loren, my childhood best friend, on iMessage.
: nakakita ako ng gwapo
She was the daughter of the owner of Clarixe, an only child. Her name was actually Loreña. Loren was just her nickname.
mommy pinky 🎀: Palagi naman.
I let out a little chuckle.
I made that her nickname in our chat inbox on iMessage, because she was a pink girl. 'mommy pinky 🎀' was just for humor.
mommy pinky 🎀: Malapit na kayo?
: nasa parking lot na
mommy pinky 🎀: Ay, weh?
: mukha ba 'kong nakikipag-biruan?
mommy pinky 🎀: Hahaha, punta na kayo dito.
: nag-uusap-usap pa sila
mommy pinky 🎀: Tungkol saan?
: malay ko, a kid shouldn't meddle to an adult's conversation
mommy pinky 🎀: Wow, nakakapag-English ka na pala.
: Malamang
mommy pinky 🎀: Wow, tumatalino na.
: ikaw lang naman hindi
She reacted 'like' to it.
Later on, we were already inside the building.
We were on the 9th floor. Our parents were in the meeting room, and we were outside of it, sitting in the metallic blue chairs that were aligned on the wall.
"How old are you?" France asked Gelo, "6," Gelo said, "I'm 7," France happily said, "okay," Gelo said.
Gelo seemed bored and zoning out while being with France. I mean, he had always been like that, introverted and didn't like talking to people. He was awkward, quiet, and nonchalant.
While watching France, he seemed to be the total opposite of Gelo.
"Kanina pa kayo nandito noong pagpunta namin?" Ate Trina asked Loren.
"No," Loren shook her head. "Kararating lang rin namin no'n."
"Okay," ate Trina nodded.
Ate Trina was 19 years old, upcoming 2nd year college in Ateneo De Manila University, taking a program of Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
"Gosh, nasa same school ulit tayo this school year," Loren told me, "kaya nga, 'e, pero hindi na tayo magkaklase," I said, "mh," Loren nodded with her lips pouted.
Loren and I were classmates in Elementary at Clover Leaf Academy, and pagdating nang junior high school, I studied here in BGC, in International School Manila, kasi nagkaroon ng problem sa business nila mom and dad noon na hindi ko alam; basta, problema na nila 'yon hehe. That's why my parents, Gelo, and I lived here while ate Trina was in her dormitory nearby Ateneo De Manila University, and yung sa bahay namin sa Clarixe, sa Quezon City, mga katulong na namin ang bahala doon, pumupunta kami doon kada weekend except for ate Trina, so nagkikita pa rin kami ni Loren; tuwing vacation umuuwi sa 'min si ate Trina. Nawala na yung problema sa F.C. noong grade-9 ako, pero I still continued studying here sa BGC, but now that I was turning grade-11, I will go back to studying in my hometown.
"Ate Frascia, what's the meaning of F.C.?" France said, "Feeling Close," I said.
"Baliw," Loren chuckled.
"It's Fernando Construction," Gelo told France, "what?" France said, "Fernando Construction," Gelo repeated, "Fenando Coraction?" France said, "Fernando Construction," Gelo emphasized, "what? Fenando Cotraction?" France said, "Fer-nan-do Construction," Gelo higher his voice, "ahh, Fernando Costraction," France said, "Fernando Construction," Gelo calmed his voice, "Fernando Costraction," France said.
Gelo sighed, "Feeling Close."
"Yeah, it's Feeling Close, like what ate Frascia said," France said, "yeah," Gelo nodded.
I chuckled, and Loren giggled. I looked at ate Trina let out a little laugh.
"Tulog ako mamaya sa inyo, swimming tayo," Loren told me, "sige, anong oras ka pupunta?" I said, "gabi, chat na lang kita kapag papunta na 'ko," she said, "okay," I nodded.
Ate Trina talked, "approach niyo 'to, si ano," she turned her sights to Stephen, "anong pangalan mo? Stephen, tama?"
"Opo," Stephen said, "ilang taon ka na?" Ate Trina said, "16," he said.
"Magka-batch pala kayo ng kapatid ko. Magsi-sixteen na siya sa Tuesday," she said, referring to me. "Kailan ka nag-fifteen?"
"Last year po," he said.
"Ahh, last year. Kailan ka magse-seventeen?" She said.
"September 13 po," he said, "'wag ka nang magpo," she chuckled, "'a, okay," he chuckled.
"Kausapin niyo 'yan, 'o. Ka-batch niyo lang," ate Trina told me and Loren, referring to Stephen.
"Hi, Stephen," Loren offered a handshake. "Loren."
He took it, "hi, Loren."
"Frascia," I offered too, "hi, Frascia," he shook my hand.
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^_^
