E
It was a Tuesday and Julie and I are on our way to Sheldon's restaurant. It our usual boy's night out but ever since Julie and I got back together, the guys have always wanted her to come with us every Tuesday.
"Ayan na sila." ani Rich when they saw us walking inside the closed restaurant. Kapag Tuesday kasi ay close ito para lang sa barkada. Di, Sheldon's wife, is also here with us. Magkasundo na sila ni Julie simula nung una ko siyang sinama dito.
"Hi, Julie!" bati ni Di sa kanya. They kissed each other's cheek at saka pa nagyakap.
"Hi, Di kamusta?" ani Julie.
"I'm good." ngiti niya. "Ikaw? Okay ka na?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. Kailangan eh."
"Don't worry. Andito naman kami for you."
"Ano dude? Musta?" sabi ko pagkakita kay Matthew. He's been MIA for the last 2 weeks at kahit chat sa group namin ay wala siyang paramdam.
"Tangina pare I survived Thailand!" aniya saka pa umapir saken.
"Nasa Thailand ka ng di namin alam?!" gulat na tanong ko. Humalakhak siya saka ko siya binatukan. "Pasalubong ko?!"
"Yan nga rason ba't di ako nagsabi sa inyo. Panigurado manghihingi kayo."
"Kaibigan ka talaga eh." ani Dave sabay batok din kay Matthew.
"Aray!" aniya.
"Wag na tayo umasa sa lokong yan. Kuripot pa sa pinakakuripot yang taong yan eh." ani Rich.
"Si JR pala?" tanong ni Dave.
"Papunta pa lang daw. Galing dun sa bahay ni Marti sa Cavite." sagot naman ni Sheldon. "Onga pala. Jules, okay na daw sabi ni Rocky. Nakausap mo na ba siya?"
"Ah oo. Tumawag ako sa kanya kanina and we talked about Ebe's talent fee. Nakausap ko na din yung mom ng client namin and okay na lahat. Thanks, Don."
"You're welcome. Basta may baby shower na ko sayo ha." ngisi niya.
"Oo naman. Sagot ko na yun."
"Nako, nakakahiya naman Jules." ani Di.
"Wala yun no. It's the least I can do." sagot niya.
Dumating na si JR kasama ang girlfriend niyang si Marti after an hour. Binati na sila ng lahat and we all gathered around the table to have a nice dinner.
"Guys may announcement pala ako." JR said as he stood up. We all stared at him and he smiled like an elementary kid who won his first science quiz bee. "Marti and I are getting married."
Nagulat ang lahat and everyone just fell silent. JR, getting married? Sa aming lahat, he was the guy who can't settle for one girl. He never liked the concept of having a family and settling down. He never liked commitment. The fact that he has Marti for a girlfriend is already shocking for us. And now this?!
"Tangina seryoso ka ba?" Matthew broke the silence.
"Dude mukha bang joke?"
"Oo mukha mo joke." ani Dave. "Marti, umoo ka sa kanya?!"
Marti giggled as she nods at his question. Umoo nga.
"Ba't ayaw niyo maniwala?" pagtataka ni JR.
"Dude gusto mo ba talagang sagutin ko yang tanong mo?" ani Rich. "Kaharap si Marti?" he added. JR's eyes grew wide and he then shook his head.
"Congrats na lang sana oh." sabi na lang niya.
"Pero kailangan mo masagot dude." Sheldon said. We all looked at him and waited for him to continue. Sa aming apat, Sheldon was the first in everything. He was the first to have his own business, the first to have a serious relationship, first to get married, and the most matured in the group. He was our dad in certain situations and our older brother in the next.
