Somewhere Between Friends

Chapter 3: When it's time to eat

Walang subject bago maglunch, kung kaya't napagpasyahan ni Cameron na tumambay mag-isa muna sa isang cafe sa loob ng school. Anton was meeting with their other classmates tungkol sa isang group project. Messy had to get a paper she and Cam were assigned for.

"Cammie~, here you go." Abot ni Messy sa papel and then she sat down in front of Cameron. Hindi niya na namalayan na andito na pala ito. Nagbabasa kasi sya sa kindle na dala. "Sorry medyo natagalan." Pahabol na sabi nito.

She's been asking for these documents since last week, since due na ito ipasa this week. Not that she's strict about it, gusto niya lang early i-remind para hindi masyadong malate magsimula. May tiwala naman sya sa gawa ni Messy since the girl is known for being a reader and lagi naman matataas ang ratings nito sa written assignments. For sure, compiling their works together would be the most that she will do.

"Yay! Thanks." Nilagay niya naman ang papel sa ilalim ng dalang laptop. "Also can you please send me the e-copy of this."

"Sure, pero mamayang gabi ko pa masisend, I forgot to upload it online for easy access. Nasa PC."

"Right, that's fine. Mamayang gabi ko pa naman planong i-compile." Nginisihan niya naman ito. Akmang babalik na sya sa pagbabasa nang magsalita si ulit si Messy.

"Louise really was so cool last Saturday." Natuloy na kasi yung napag-usapan nilang hangout. Cameron knew Louise would be the life of the party. Kaya naman ay natutuwa siyang mukhang nagustahan ito ng mga kaibigan.

"I know, grabe that girl must have been awake, when God showered fun."

"Hindi lang fun, also riches. Also pretty, also perfect."

Natawa naman sya sa sinabi nito. "I did not expect her to be that Villaluz. Top 1 Forbes richest Filipino Family."

"Me, too." Pagsang-ayon ni Messy sa kanya. "Who would've expected that an heiress would be so free like that. Daig pa ata ang mga punto ko sa Tagalog. She's so down to earth."

That's true. Hindi nakakaintimidate si Louise. She was in with whatever they'd do. Minsan ay ito pa ang nagsasuggest ng mga bagay na dapat nilang gawin after nilang umalis ng Bowling Alley. Even though the next place they went to was very expensive, Louise did not actually insist on paying alone. Talagang siniguro nitong maging comfortable ang mga bagong kaibigan sa kanya. And she did not want to seem arrogant, flaunting her endless money in their face.

"Speaking of–"

Sabay silang napatingin sa pinto ng cafe noong pumasok si Louise. Well, may naunang pumasok dito isang lalaking kaedaran rin nila. Walang masyadong tao sa cafe kung kaya't mabilis din silang nakita ni Louise. Pasimpleng kumaway ito sa kanila, na sya naman binalik nila. Pagkatapos ay saka na ulit kinausap ang lalaking kasama.

"That's her twin daw, Eric." Sabi ni Messy. Cam didn't know Louise is a twin.

Inaya nilang tumabay si Louise kanina ngunit sinabi nito'y may kailangan syang gawin. This could have been it. Hindi nila mapigilan makinig sa napag-uusapan ng dalawa. They are apparently talking about lunch boxes. Na s'ya namang nagpaalala sa kanya ng sarili niyang lunchbox.

Shit. Nakalimutang hablutin ni Cameron ang baong hinanda ni Sandra kaninang umaga. She grimaced at her mistake. Her mom makes a big deal out of it all the time. Kasi may isang beses na sinadya niyang hindi kunin ang lunch box niya when she wanted to not eat lunch, some guy on the internet said fasting is good for the gut and brain. Kaya tinry niya.

Louise and Eric were arguing hanggang makalabas na sila ng cafe. From what they heard, like her, naiwan rin ng lalaki ang lunchbox kung kaya't pinipilit siya ng kambal na manlibre ng full meal sa cafeteria. HIndi pinapansin nong una, pero sa huli'y nanalo ang kulit ni Louise. That was actually so cute. Masaya sigurong magkaroon ng kapatid na kasing ederan niya lang. Ang nakababatang kapatid kasi ni Cameron ay nasa Grade School palang.