Dominika (Pale As Dead I) | COMPLETED

𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝

d e e
july 14, saturday, 2 p.m.

I waited for Gwen and Helen inside Fully Booked in ATC. We had decided last night that today would be a good day to hang out together. We had not done so in ages. The last time we had gone out was when I bought the Naruto manga I had brought with me on our first day in Miwako.

Tapos ko na yung Volume 51 ng Naruto, so I was searching for 52.

Yesterday, nakausap na namin ang PAD para sa tulong nila sa project namin. I could not help but think that we were really lucky. I got to spend time with a very famous band, and mas madali na lang ang lahat. Even Gwen was lucky kasi sabi nga ni Paris, hindi naman papayag si Kuya Warren na mahuli ang kapatid niya. We had started calling them 'kuya' na kasi nakakahiyang tawagin sila sa name lang nila when talking to them in person. They were still older than us.

Shishi and I had never had a proper conversation though. I attempted to have one with him, kasi kailangan talaga dahil I needed his decision kung aling kanta ba talaga yung gusto niya as he had three in his list. When I asked him, he got mad, saying I should not be atat kasi hindi pa naman daw bukas yung pasahan. Wala siyang point sa sinabi niyang yun kasi kaya kami nandoon ay para i-iron out yung details, but hindi na lang ako nagreklamo.

The plan was kapag walang practice or gig ang PAD, that was when they would help us. So kailangang mag-practice din ako nang mag-isa para naman hindi nakakahiya sa kanila. Baka kasi maabala sila nang sobra. Sobrang busy pa naman nila.

And my application form was already submitted. So starting from yesterday's date, I was an official cosplayer na for OT.

"Dee!"

I turned around, and my smile automatically surfaced when I saw my best friends.

"Okay, kayo na ang laging sabay," sabi ko, faking my pagtatampo.

"Hindi kaya! We just met sa entrance," Gwen said.

"So kapag may date bukas, kailangan kulot na agad today?" I teased while I caressed a tress of Gwen's hair.

Tumigil si Helen sa pag-browse ng mga manga at nag-smirk sa amin. Napatingin din sa kanya si Gwen, but hinampas niya ako agad sa braso.

"Gaga. Wavy talaga hair ko," Gwen said, and turned to the shelves as well. "Did they restock or what?"

"Customer service rep ba ako?" Helen asked sarcastically, kaya hinampas din siya ni Gwen sa braso.

Hindi rin kami nagtagal sa bookstore kasi we did not find anything interesting to buy. Wala rin ang hinahanap ko. Kaya we went to a café na lang.

"So kailan mo sasakalin yung crush mong salbahe, babe?" Helen asked, and took a bite from her cookie.

"He's not my crush nga," I insisted.

"Kaya pala parang ang happy mo masyado kahapon."

"Kasi full package na siyang maka-partner. Aren't you happy na si Paris ang partner mo? Guaranteed na hindi ka babagsak."

She made a sour face. "I can pass on my own, thank you very much. Nakakainis kasi siyang kausap, alam niyo yun? I don't know. Every time he opens his mouth, naiinis ako."

I almost spat out my drink. "Baka ikaw ang may crush sa kanya!"

"Eww, no. Hindi ko siya type. And magmumukha kaming magtatay."

Biglang tumawa si Gwen. She was on her phone since we had sat. I would bet na si Kyo ang kausap niya. I did not mind kasi she looked happy, but Helen had been glaring at Gwen's phone kanina pa. Ayaw kasi ni Helen ng distraction kapag na-focused na kami sa kwentuhan.