The Spaces In Between

[43] Every Time The Bell Rings (And Other Christmas Stories)

FINALLY AFTER FOUR MONTHS!!!

I'm so sorry for the wait! Nasa practicum kasi ako nung September to November 19 kaya puro ficlets lang ang nagawa ko the past few months. Now I'm back!!!

I can't promise na magiging weekly ang updates ng TSIB. Susubukan ko po once matapos na ang graduation requirements ko.

Guys, thank you for staying. Seryoso. At dahil dyan... you have a 16,706 words of update (this AN not included)!!!! Ito na ata ang pinakamahabang chapter ever! Naloka ako huhuhu

Sana magustuhan niyo! Maraming salamat sa paghihintay!!!

Chapter 43: Every Time The Bell Rings (And Other Christmas Stories)

DECEMBER 21. 11:30PM

Si Roldan na ata ang pinakakalmadong tao kilala ko. He rarely gets mad, laging nakangiti at.. chill lang. Parang never nga siyang nagkaproblema eh! Ang positive and light lang lagi ng aura niya, at super approachable and social pa. Malakas nga lang siyang mang-asar (example: So married!) pero hindi siya pikon. Similar sila ni Andreau sa aspect na 'yon, pero sana mabawasan ang pagkapikon ni Andreau minsan. Hay.

Kaso.. 'di ba sabi nila na ibang klaseng magalit ang mga taong chill? (I don't know where I got that, must be from Kesh)

Applicable rin pala 'yong kay Dan.

Mas malala pala siyang magalit kesa kay Andreau.

*

"What the fucking fuck!?! Is she even fucking serious!?"

Nagkatinginan na lang kami nina Mars at Kesh sabay inom ng hot peppermint choco drinks. Pinabayaan lang naming migrant si Dan sa kinauupuan niya, na halos maubos na ang isang pack ng cigarettes. Dumating siya rito sa Café Feliz almost 20 minutes ago, galit na galit, and walang tigil siya sa pagrarant since then.

"Dan, kalma ka lang, okay?" inagaw na ni Mars ang kaha kay Dan at nilagay sa bag niya. Kanina pa kasi kami inuubo ni Kesh, and he's in the middle of ranting so nakakahiyang magsabi ng Dan please ayaw pa naming mamatay dahil sa usok ok?? "Baka joke lang ni Ninna 'yon. You know your sister. Baka social experiment—"

"Tanginang social experiment naman yan oh!" he angrily cut her off, slamming his right hand on the desk. Napatili pa nga ako sa gulat! My god, he's more than mad. First time kong makitang furious si Roldan del Rosario and damn, parang ibang tao siya. As in. "This isn't fucking funny! Magpapakasal siya for a fucking social experiment? Would you do that for an experiment, Kesh?" he asked Kesh suddenly. Still shocked, my roommate could only shook her head in reply.

Ano bang pinuputok ng butse ni Roldan at halos maging factory na siya sa kaka-yosi?

Oh. It's not a big deal. His twin sister's getting married. That's all.

I'm just kidding! Of course this is a big deal! Kesh and I didn't know na may boyfriend pala si Ninna nung nameet naming siya last year! Well, hindi naman naming siya tinanong pero.. grabe. Nagulat talaga kami sa balita ni Roldan. According to him, he had this crazy work week tapos pagkauwi niya kanina sa condo niya, tumambad sa kanya ang wedding invitations. At first he thought it was just Ninna's prank, since first time malelate si Dan sa pagbalik sa California this Christmas dahil kasama namin siyang magpa-Pasko kina Ms. Marisse sa Baguio. Tinawagan niya agad si Ninna, and she confirmed na Do you think I'm joking about this wedding, Dan? C'mon, you're smarter than that and.. the rest is history.

A very furious history, that is.

"Can you just chill for a moment?" comment ni Kesh kay Dan nang tumigil na ito sa pagrarant. Nilunod na lang niya ang sarili sa lumamig niyang latte. "Isang beses ko pa lang namimeet si Ninna ha, and I didn't know she's in a relationship—"