"COLBERTO, my man! I'm so proud of you. Naka-move on ka na kay Olivia. Balik salaula ka na uli!"
Napailing na lamang si Cole sa bungad ni Yuan nang tawagan siya nito sa umagang iyon. Bahagyang nag-loading sa utak niya ang sinabi nito, literal kasing ginising siya ng tawag nito.
"What the fuck do you want?" banas niyang sita rito.
"Who's that girl with you in that video?"
"Video?" Groggy siyang bumangon.
"Yes, from a week ago daw. Tapos siya rin daw iyong babaeng kasama mo rin sa nag-trending na video from a few years ago? That hot dance video? When was that again?"
"Ah. Okay," sagot niya lang sa kapatid.
"Sino iyon?"
"None of your fucking business. Ang aga-aga mong makitsismis, tarantado ka."
"So, she's one of those? Gaya ng sabi ni Clay?"
"Anong— She... She's not like that, okay?"
"Wow, defensive. So, what's her name?"
"Goodbye."
"Wait, wait!" pigil ni Yuan. "Her name is Goodbye? Ano apelyido?"
"Mabilaukan ka sana sa kape mo." Gigil niyang pinindot ang end call button.
Nagmumurang tumuloy sa banyo si Cole saka bumaba sa kusina at nagsalang ng kape sa coffee maker. Umupo siya sa breakfast nook habang hinihintay iyon, nag-browse sa kanyang cellphone. Tumigil siya sa pangalan ni Tiare sa kanyang contacts.
Had it been a week already? Parang noong isang gabi lang niya ito nakilala. He could still feel her soft skin, taste her delicious mouth, and smell her sweet scent. That woman was sexually haunting him and he had been restless ever since. Para siyang nakatikim ng malakas na droga na hindi na nawala sa kanyang sistema.
O, may hard-on na agad siya ngayon.
Kumakain na siya ng overnight oatmeal nang nagpasya siyang tawagan si Tiare. Nagri-ring ang kabilang linya nang napatingin siya sa mason jar.
Natawa si Cole, lalong nag-init ang katawan. He remembered lapping this woman's pussy with oatmeal smeared all over it. That was the best breakfast.
"Hello?" sagot ng tinawagan niya.
He gulped. Suddenly, he was out of words. Natotorpe ba tawag sa ganoon? Hindi pa siya nakakaramdam ng ganoon sa kahit na sinong babae.
"Good morning," bati pa ng babae.
Shit. Hindi nga pala niya ibinigay dito ang kanyang contact number, baka akalain nitong spam call lang iyon.
"Ah, y-yes. Hello, good morning."
"C-cole?"
She recognized his voice! Napangiti si Cole sa tono ng boses ni Tiare. She sounded pleasantly surprised and happy.
"Yes, it's me." Awkward siyang tumawa. "Hi."
"Y-you called." Tiare's laugh also sounded awkward but sweet.
He tried to relax. "Is it too early? Did I wake you up?"
"No, no. I woke up an hour ago. I just went for a walk. N-napatawag ka?"
"Yeah. Sorry, ngayon lang."
"You don't have to apologize. And you don't have to call me just to be nice because I gave you my number."
