GETTING TO KNOW MS. ANGER | MaColet

29 JABILEE

YVES

Dumaan pa kami sa MACcosmetics dahil kay Stacey. Sa dami ng mga shades ng lipstick na tinitignan niya, parang wala siyang planong matapos anytime soon. Kami namang mga kasama niya, nagsimula nang mawalan ng pasensya. 

Pagkatapos ng matagal-tagal na pagpili ni Stacey, finally, tapos na rin siya. Nag-decide kaming maglakad-lakad pa sa park.

We found a quiet spot by the benches, and for a while, we just watched people pass by—couples holding hands, kids running around, and some old folks feeding pigeons. It felt peaceful, almost nostalgic. Parang ang tagal na rin since I last felt this kind of serenity.

Then, pumasok rin kami ng museum. There was this unspoken connection I had with the paintings. Every stroke, every color, it felt like a story waiting to be heard. My friends? Well, they weren’t as enthusiastic, pero still, nandiyan sila, nakiki-appreciate. Even Uyab, who I thought would get bored the fastest, seemed interested in some of the abstract pieces, kahit pa pilit niyang pinapakita na hindi siya masyadong impressed.

"Gutom na ako" reklamo ni Sheena, habang palabas kami ng museum.

Naglalakad na kami papuntang parking lot.

"Same." sagot ni Jho, habang ini-stretch yung arms niya.

"Kapal mo. Porke libre ni Ate Aiah" singhal ni Stacey, kay Jho.

Napairap na lang si Jho. “Libre or not, gutom is gutom. Besides, si Sheena ang nauna!”

"Saan niyo ba gusto kumain?" tanong ni Ate Aiah, eyeing the two complainers.

"Kahit saan ate Aiah." mabilis na sagot ni Sheena.

Then Ate Aiah’s gaze shifted to Uyab, who was quietly walking beside me. "Nico? Any recommendations?" she asked, making the rest of us turn to her, waiting for her answer.

Nakita ko yung awkward look sa mukha niya, clearly caught off guard, kaya lumingon siya sa akin, her eyes practically begging for help.

I couldn’t help but smile at her expression. "Meron tayong nadaanan na Jollibee kanina, diba?" I suggested, glancing around at the others.

"Right." Jho nodded, remembering.

"Let’s go there! Miss ko na yung burger nila." sabi ni Stacey, at bago pa man kami makapagsalita, hinila na niya si Jho papunta sa kotse ni Jho.

Passenger princess kasi yan ni Jho kahit lagi silang nagbabarda.

"Nag-crave bigla ako sa fries" dagdag ni Sheena, at pumunta na rin sa direksyon ng kotse niya.

Ayokong driver yan si Sheena, sa totoo lang. Parang may sampung buhay pag nagmamaneho.

Kami naman ni Uyab were walking towards the back of the parking lot, kung saan nakapark ang kotse ni Ate Aiah. Since wala kaming parehas na dalang kotse, nakikisabay kami.

"Nang-aasar ka talaga." narinig kong bulong ni Uyab mula sa tabi ko, kaya napalingon ako sa kanya.

"Huh?" I asked her, genuinely clueless.

"Jollibee? Seriously?" Nakakunot ang noo niya, halatang hindi impressed sa suggestion ko.

I laughed while shaking my head. "Bakit ba? Matagal na rin akong hindi nakakakain sa Jollibee. Parang last time was in the car..."

"Ewan ko sa’yo." she muttered before walking faster, leaving me behind.

Pagpasok namin sa kotse, sumakay siya sa likod at ako naman ay sa tabi ni Ate Aiah sa passenger seat. Ayaw ni Ate Aiah na parehas kaming nasa likod dahil mukhang driver daw namin siya pag ganun.