BKS #1 (Dream)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Anelle!"

I am at my friend's house, Riley. We are hanging out because after a month or two, ngayon palang kami nagkita-kita! Lahat kami ay busy sa mga kanya-kanyang buhay. I am now a registered nurse, though I'm still studying because I wanted to be a doctor. I am currently in my second year in med school. Riley, on the other hand, is well on her way in her career as an architect. My friends Ace and Kiara are busy too, both working as certified public accountants.

Ngayon lang kami nagka-time dahil wala kaming pasok ngayong araw. I am done with my readings kaya pwede marami pa akong oras. They always consider my schedule because I'm still in school.

"How are you guys?"

"Mamamatay na!" pilyong sagot ni Ace.

"Okay! Iinom natin yan!" we all raised our wine glass. "Cheers!"

"Uy! Bawal uminom ang nag-aaral! Mga estudyante talaga!" Kara teased.

"Excuse me?! Kapag kayo nagkasakit, hindi ko kayo gagamutin!" I shot back.

"Mygod! Anelle! Are you happy pa ba? Puro aral ka nalang!" Ace opened the topic.

"Of course I'm happy! Malapit ko ng matupad pangarap ko kaya sinong hindi masaya doon 'di ba?"

"Right, let's say you have academic life and also social life pero hindi ka ba nakaka-feel na parang may kulang?" he added.

Kumunot naman ang noo ko. "Anong kulang naman sa buhay ko?"

"Sex."

I rolled my eyes. Kapag si Riley talaga ang kausap!

"I mean, love life! Typo!" humalakhak ang babae. "Do you want me to set you up on a dating app to find a guy?"

Agad akong umiling.

I don't need men! Bakit ko pa hihilingin na magkaroon ng problema sa buhay ko? Dagdag isipin lang yan. Sobrang peaceful nga ng buhay ko. Acads, friends and family lang tapos guguluhin ko pa?

"I'm fine with my life!"

"Ay hindi!"

Riley grabbed my phone and positioned it to my face for the Face ID to unlock. She quickly downloaded a dating app

"Riley! Stop it!" I stopped her.

"Gaga! Try lang naman! Malay mo nandito na pala forever mo 'di ba? Huwag mo lang din seryosohin!"

"Right, Anelle! Minsan lang tayo mabuhay kaya lumandi ka!"

"But-"

Ilang pagtatalo pa ang nangyari sa aming magkakaibigan. It was 1 vs 3! They were all consistent that I needed a love life! Kara even said she'd introduce me to one of her coworkers! Mygod! Ano ba 'tong mga kaibigan ko na 'to?

But in the back of my mind, I thought... there's probably no harm in trying, right?

"Account created!" pinakita niya sa akin ang account ko sa dating app na dinownload niya!

"Turuan kita ah! Swipe swipe ka lang tapos kapag may nakita kang bet mo, heart mo lang din tapos kapag nag-match kayo, edi go!" she gave my phone back.

I looked at my profile.

Anelle Villegas, 25
She/Her
RN
hmu, finding kasama sa paskuhan

"Mygod Riley! "Finding kasama sa paskuhan?! You are so jejemon! Also, June palang! December pa ang paskuhan!"I complained.

"Oh bakit?! Para may kasama ka sa paskuhan ng school n'yo duh! Maganda nga yon e! Concert together first meet!" she chuckled.

The picture she used was one from Kara's 24th birthday. I was wearing a stunning crimson red bodycon dress, sitting on a white sofa aboard a yacht, looking fierce at the camera. The dress matched perfectly with the white yacht and the sofa.

I kept swiping and swiping, but I still couldn't find anyone I liked.

Eventually, I gave up and put my phone away. We just vibed for the night—singing, dancing, and drinking. It was one of the best nights I'd had in a long time.

Nang matapos ang inuman namin ay nagpaalam na ako sa kanilang uuwi na. I have classes pa tomorrow and may mga work pa sila! Si Riley at Kiara ang pinakalasing sa amin.

"Updatan mo ako kapag nakahanap ka ng pogi ha Anelle ha!" malakas na sambit ni Kara.

Namumula pa ang mukha!

Hawak siya ni Ace dahil she couldn't even support her weight sa sobrang kalasingan! On the other hand, Riley was just smirking at me. The three of them were standing on her door.

"Halika na, hahatid kita sa baba. Nag-book na ba ng ride?" saad sa akin ni Riley.

"Take care, Anelle ha! Hindi na kasi kita maihahatid kasi medyo naka-inom din ako. Delikads tayo sis." ani Ace. I just nooded at him. "Patutulugin ko na muna 'to, update ka kapag naka-uwi ka na ha!"

Riley walked me to the entrance of the building.

"Paano kung may naka-match ako? Sinong mag-f-first move? Ako?" I suddenly asked.

"Depende! Kung gusto mo ikaw mag-first, edi ikaw. Pero may mga lalaki pa rin naman dyan na sila ang nag-f-first move." she answered.

Dahan-dahan anong tumango.

We are just talking hanggang sa dumating na ang car na binook ko.

"Ingat ka, Anelle." she hugged me first bago siya kumatok sa bintana ng passenger seat. "Kuya! Paki-uwi 'tong kaibigan ko nang maayos! Walang labis, walang kulang! Kapag may nangyari dito, ikaw ang hindi ko pauuwiin sa bahay n'yo! Kidding!" she threatened. 

"Riley!" Natawa nalang ang driver sa aming dalawa.

When I got home, I just took a bath dahil feeling ko ang dumi dumi ko! After kong maligo ay nagpalit lang ako ng damit at humiga na. I got my flash cards na ginawa ko kanina at sinagutan yon mentally para siguraduhin kung nandito pa ba sa isip ko ang inaral ko.

I always do this before I go to sleep.

I opened my phone para i-update silang naka-uwi na ako.

pukerat

Anelie Vine Villegas:
Bitch naka-uwi na ako

Riley Castillo:
wow

Ace Dela Cruz:
buti naman

Anelie Vine Villegas:
Kamusta na si kara? Buhay pa ba?

Ace Dela Cruz:
malapit na sila mag-meet ni san pedro

Natawa ako sa reply ni Ace. Binaba ko na ang phone ko at nag-start na mag-review.

While reviewing, my phone suddenly beeps. My eyes widened when I saw the notification. It was from the dating app.

pukerat

Anelie Vine Villegas:
May nag-like ng acc ko ko ss dating app

Riley Castillo:
pogi ba

Anelie Vine Villegas:
Hindi ko pa nakikita!

Riley Castillo:
TIGNAN MO NA

I rolled my eyes at my phone. Mas excited pa siya sa akin! I clicked the notification immediately.

Gray Takahasi liked you.

I checked out his profile. He was standing on a road in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a place I'm very familiar with. Palagi kasi kaming nandoon ng mga kaibigan ko. He is wearing a gray sweatpants and a hoodie in a candid shot, looking off into the distance, unaware the photo was being taken.

He looked like a soft guy. He had fair skin, thick eyebrows, a sharp nose, and a slightly messy curtain mullet.

Gray Takahashi, 26
He/Him
Civil Engineer
date to marry