White Lies

Nevermind

"Thanks for this Yani, sorry kung short notice." Aga chuckled as he gave his buddy a high five.

"Ano ka ba Ariel, sabi ko naman sayo one call away lang ako eh." Bayani replied as he buckles himself on the passenger seat.

"Coffee." Aga offered as he handed him the take out paper cup.

"Uy thank you. Nagkape na ko pero sige, Starbucks yan eh."

Bayani took a sip and smiled.

"Saan ba lakad natin at biglaan?"

"May gusto lang akong icheck na place sa Batangas. As in ocular lang." Aga replied as he maneuvered the car to the highway.

"Layo ah. Bibili ka ng lupa. Ang yaman mo talaga. Iniisip ko tuloy kung ano habol mo sa akin at kinaibigan mo ko eh. Maliban sa magkamukha lang tayo eh mayaman ka lang talaga sa akin." Bayani chuckled.

"Yan gusto ko sayo eh, kaya talaga kita sinama. Namili ako yung hindi ako mababagot sa byahe. Ang hirap kaya nung driver ka, ang haba na ng byahe tapos tahimik lang kasama mo. Nakakaantok."

"Bakit may naisakay ka na ba na hindi nagsasalita?" Bayani inquired.

"Meron!" Aga chuckled.

"Ano yun, para kang nagdrive ng karo ng patay, yung sakay mo di mo makausap." Bayani laughed.

Aga's face falls as she remembers Lea during their drive home.

Bayani sensed Aga's change of mood so he decided to change the topic.

"Magpa music naman tayo, okay lang? Kasi hindi ko maiinom tong kape ko kung pagdadaldalin mo lang ako." Bayani deadpanned.

"O-o sige okay. Bluetooth mo na lang phone mo sa stereo." Aga suggested.

"Wala ko Spotify eh. Sorry. I am foor lang. Haha. "

"Siraulo. Eto connect mo phone ko." Aga unlocked his phone and handed to Bayani.

"Thank you."

A beep from the car speakers was heard as the phone connects via Bluetooth.

"Iba talaga pag hindi gawang China no? Pag konek walang "Da vlu tuf devais siz konekted zuksesfuly", yung speakers namin sa bahay ganun eh. Ayun sira na agad." Bayani said as he busy fiddles on Aga's phone.

"Ah. Alam ko na ireregalo ko sayo pasko." Aga said as he laughs.

"Sobra naman to nakakahiya. Gusto ko ung JLB ha."

"JBL." Aga chuckles.

"Pareho na din yun. Tatlong letters lang eh. Ano gusto mo music?" Bayani asked.

"Ikaw bahala. Ikaw may gusto mag-music eh."

"Okay sige, sa luma tayo." Bayani said as he decides which playlist to pick on Spotify. When suddenly an incoming call displayed the screen and beeping sound came blasting on the speakers.

"Calling.. Lea. Ay tumatawag oh Lea. Sinong Lea? Lea Salonga?" said Bayani as he reads the screen.

Aga was startled. He is undecided if he will answer the call or not. It has been two days since he drove her home from Tagaytay.

"Sagutin ko?" Bayani asked.

"What? No- Yani!" Aga exclaimed but too late, Bayani already swiped the answer buttton.

"Hello?"

Aga was torn between driving the car and composing himself as Lea's voice enveloped the entire car. Aga glared at Bayani as he holds up the phone near Aga and drinks his coffee as if he is watching a movie.

"Umm.. Yes, hi- hello Lea." Aga cursed himself internally.

"Ags, nasa Manila ka ba? I just want to ask if free ka today for.. coffee?"

"Ha. Ano kasi, nasa South ako ngayon may appointment ako today."

"How about tomorrow?"

"Negative ako. May taping ako bukas."

There a pregnant pause on the other line. Aga glanced at the phone if the call was dropped.

"Aga, are you avoiding me?"

"Ha? No, no- sandali." Aga maneuvered to the right side of the expressway.

He can't talk with her about this on speakers for Bayani to hear. He stopped on the bay side of the road as he turned on the hazard lights.

Aga snatched the phone and disconnected it on Bluetooth.

"Hello Lea. Oo sorry, nagd-drive kasi ako." Aga explained.

"Driving ka pala eh, sana hindi mo sinagot yung call, naistorbo pa kita."

"Si Yani kasi, anyway nagstop na ko sa gilid, ano ulit yun?"

"Nevermind. Happy trip."

The line went dead.

Aga cursed.

"Ikaw kasi!" Aga said.

"Oh bakit ako?" Bayani asked innocently.

"Dapat kasi hindi mo na sinagot."

"Gago ka ba? Lea Salonga yun, hindi mo sasagutin tawag? Crush na crush ko kaya yun." Bayani replied as he take back the phone. "Drive ka na."

Aga chuckles as he proceed to drive again.

"Hindi ka papasa dun. Mataas kaya standards nun."

"Ahhh... kaya pala hindi ka rin pumasa." Bayani deadpanned.

"Ha-ha ako hindi pasado? Sinasabi mo?"

"Ehhh kung pumasa ka sa kanya, eh di sana hindi ka pa rin single. Eh di sana siya kasama mo ngayon. Eh di sana hindi ka umiiwas makipagkita kasi natatakot ka na kaya nag-iinvite siya magkape kasi para bastedin ka. Di ba? Di ba? Ano sabihin mo mali ako."

"Tsss.. Ewan ko sayo. Dami mo alam." Aga said.

"Hah- lamang ka lang sa akin ng konti sa itsura pero mas matalino ako sayo no. Wala lang akong jowa ngayon liligawan ko yan si Ms. Lea eh."

"Edi ikaw na!"

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😅

#WhiteLies