It was a Saturday afternoon and the gang had decided to meet up at their usual spot, a quaint little coffee shop in Greenbelt. Maloi, Sheena, and Gian were gathered around a small round table, plotting their next move in their ongoing, self-assigned mission: *spying on Nick Wilde, Dug, Unicorn, and McWolf*.
"Okay, okay, guys. So ano na ang next target natin? Sino kaya sa kanila ang may secret na sweet moment next?" Maloi started, stirring her iced latte with a dramatic flair. She was always the first to initiate these kinds of discussions. "May feeling ako na may mangyayari soon. *May kutob ako*, I swear!"
"Same, girl! I can feel it in my bones," Sheena replied, bouncing a little in her seat as she scrolled through her phone. "Pero parang si 'Dug' at 'Nick Wilde' ang dapat natin i-monitor closely. You saw how they looked at each other last time di ba? *Parang may something something*!"
Gian, sitting quietly but listening intently, just nodded. He wasn't as vocal as the others, but he was always up for a good chismis moment. Plus, it was hard to say no when Maloi and Sheena dragged him into these crazy plans.
Maloi leaned in closer to the group, lowering her voice dramatically. "Okay, so here's what I think. We need to divide and conquer. *Sheena, you and I can take Dug and Nick Wilde*, while Gian, ikaw sa McWolf and Unicorn. But let's stay in constant communication, ha? Kailangan nakatutok tayo sa bawat move nila."
Sheena nodded eagerly. "Game! I'm ready. I've been sharpening my TikTok dancing and stalking skills, so this should be fun."
As they continued to brainstorm and giggle over their silly yet serious plans, a notification popped up on their group chat. It was from JR.
**JR:** "Guys, I can't make it today. May emergency ako."
"*Ha?*" Maloi frowned at her phone. "Anong emergency ni JR? This better not be about his dog again. Last time 'emergency' daw, pero naubusan lang pala ng dog food si Cooper." She shook her head, still annoyed at how JR bailed last time.
"Or baka may date siya..." Sheena mused, eyes widening at her own suggestion. "I mean, diba napansin mo yung mga ibang posts niya lately? Ang daming cryptic quotes and song lyrics. Hmm... may nagiging *suspicious* ako."
"Doubtful," Maloi said, waving it off. "Sino naman kaya liligawan ni JR? *Hindi nga niya pinapansin yung mga nagme-message sa kanya*. Iba siguro yung emergency."
With JR out of the picture, the trio shrugged it off. They decided to stroll around the mall while discussing their next steps. They passed by their usual spots, window-shopping while keeping their eyes peeled for any potential *chismis-worthy* sightings.
"I swear, wala na yatang mas masarap sa buhay ko kundi itong ginagawa natin," Sheena declared while examining a pair of shoes displayed in the store window. "It's like we're secret agents but with no pressure. Just pure fun and chismis!"
"True, true. Para tayong *Detective Conan*, pero mas fun," Maloi agreed, laughing.
As they walked past a café, something caught Gian's attention. "Wait... *parang kilala ko 'to*," he said, stopping in his tracks.
Maloi and Sheena immediately followed his gaze and spotted the one person they least expected.
It was JR.
And not only JR, but JR with... a girl.
And not just *any* girl—a girl dressed head to toe in pink. From her fluffy sweater down to her matching pink shoes. The only thing missing was a pink halo and fairy wings.
"OH. MY. GOD." Sheena whispered-shouted, eyes almost popping out of her head. "Sino yan?! *And bakit hindi niya sinabi sa atin?!*"
Maloi was equally stunned. "Wait. Is this his emergency?! *Ang kapal! Di siya nagparamdam tapos may ka-date pala siya?*"
Gian, the ever-silent one, just stared. "So... *emergency* pala ang tawag sa date ngayon?"
They immediately hid behind the nearest pillar, their eyes glued to JR and his mystery girl. They couldn't get a clear view of the girl's face, but they could see JR smiling—no, not just smiling, he was glowing. And then, they saw it.
JR leaned in and kissed the girl's cheek.
Maloi gasped dramatically, clutching Sheena's arm for support. "*Nag-cheek kiss siya! Cheek kiss! JR kissed a girl! Tapos... may girlfriend siya?!*"
"Girl, *chismis of the year* 'to!" Sheena said, covering her mouth to stop herself from squealing.
Gian was still speechless, though a small smirk was creeping onto his face. JR had always been the loudest and most affectionate friend, but to see him with a girl? That was something new.
As if on autopilot, the three of them decided to follow JR and his mystery girl around the mall. It wasn't even a question—they were *The Chizmozas*, after all.
They trailed behind JR as he held the girl's hand while they walked through the mall. Every now and then, JR would lean in and whisper something to the girl, making her giggle like a schoolgirl in love.
"*Grabe, parang ibang tao si JR ngayon.* Hindi ko siya nakikita na ganito ever," Maloi whispered, still in shock.
"Same! *Parang nanalo siya sa lottery of love,*" Sheena added. "And the way they're holding hands, uy! He's a changed man!"
They followed JR and the girl into a small restaurant where they watched, eyes wide with excitement, as JR fed the girl with his food. He even wiped a bit of sauce from her chin, like some cheesy romcom scene.
"Okay, *ang harot na talaga nila*," Maloi said, though her face was full of kilig. "But seriously... who is she?! *Sino yan?!*"
"We need to see her face," Sheena said, determined. "We're not leaving this mall until we know who JR's mystery girl is."
Their opportunity finally came when JR walked the girl to the parking area. The three friends stayed a few steps behind, hiding behind parked cars and columns, still trying to catch a glimpse of her face.
Just as JR was about to hug her goodbye, the girl turned slightly—almost giving them a full view of her face. But before they could get a good look—
"*Uy!* Sheena, Gian, Maloi! It's been a while ah!" a loud voice suddenly echoed through the parking lot.
It was Cole.
The three of them froze, their cover blown. Cole walked up to them, his usual charming grin plastered on his face, completely unaware that he'd just ruined their entire operation.
"*Uy, fist bump muna!*" Cole said, holding out his fist, which each of them reluctantly bumped, their eyes darting back and forth between him and JR.
"*Bwisit! Di tuloy namin nakita!*" Maloi muttered under her breath, shooting daggers at Cole.
"Huh? Sino?" Cole asked, clearly confused as he looked from one disappointed face to another.
"*Yung babae! Chismis na naging bato pa!*" Sheena replied, rolling her eyes dramatically.
Cole frowned, still not getting it, as he turned to Gian, hoping for some clarification. Gian, ever the quiet one, just shrugged in response. No help there.
Suddenly, the sound of laughter echoed through the parking lot.
It was JR.
He had spotted them. And he was laughing—*hard*. The kind of laugh that makes you bend over and hold your stomach.
"*HAHAHAHAHAHA! Alam niyo, ang bibilis ninyong manghuli pero mas mabilis pa rin akong umiwas!*" JR teased, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. He was still doubled over, laughing at the absurdity of it all.
The three of them could only stand there, arms crossed and pouting, as JR continued to laugh at their failed attempt to uncover his secret.
The mystery girl was gone, and with her, the biggest piece of chismis they had ever chased.
But knowing *The Chizmozas*, they weren't going to give up that easily.
There was always next time.
