The Second Time Around (The Starving Squad #1)

Chapter 24: Official

Fresia was excited to tell Mona the news, but she had to wait until she's alone to do it. Kaya tinawagan niya ang kaibigan nang nasa boutique na siya. She stayed in her office during the call because her employees are giving her weird looks. Masyado na yatang malaki ang ngiti niya. Usually kasi ay masama ang mood niya tuwing Lunes ng umaga dahil walang masarap na pagkain sa bahay. Pero dahil kagagaling niya ng Pampanga ay sagana siya sa masarap na pagkain. Her fridge was full with food.

Nakapagbaon pa siya ng adobo at fried rice kaya masaya kahit ang tanghalian niya.

"Pa'no naging kayo? Umamin sya sa 'yo?"

"Uhm... medyo. Para kasing mutual confession tapos nagkasundo kaming kami na."

"Oh... and then you had sex?"

"Mona!"

Humagalpak ito ng tawa. "Joke lang! E, kasi naman 'yong sa movies, hindi pa sila pero nagchu-chukchakan na. Malay ko ba kung gano'n din kayo."

"We're not like that."

"Hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwalang palagi kayong magkatabing matulog tapos walang nangyayari sa inyo. Wala talaga o nahihiya ka lang magkwento?"

She sighed. Mona couldn't let it go. "Wala talaga."

"I applaud his self-control."

"Bakit 'yong kanya lang?"

"Ay... nagpipigil ka rin ba?" Tumawa ito. "O, sige. I applaud yours too."

Mabuti na lamang at hindi silang dalawa magkaharap kundi ay baka nakailang sapak na ito sa kanya.

"It's too early for that."

"It's never too early for that. You're both adults. If you both want it, you can have it."

"Mas gusto nyang matulog," nakanguso niyang sabi.

Tumawa na naman si Mona. "Beh, wala ka yatang appeal! Akitin mo kasi!"

"Gaga! Ayoko nga!"

Baka sabihin pa ni Bullet, sabik na sabik siya rito. Nakailang initiate na nga siya ng halik. Para siya palagi ang gustong-gusto noon. It's no wonder na pabalik-balik si Mari sa pad nito. He must be good in bed. She'll know. Someday. If she's lucky.

"Ayokong madaliin 'yon. 'Yon nga lang pagiging official namin, parang nabibilisan ako, e. I mean, I don't even know his birthday."

"E, di itanong mo!"

"Hindi man lang nya 'ko niligawan."

"Pwede ka naman nyang ligawan kahit kayo na. Kung iniisip mo na hindi mo pa sya lubusang kilala, well, friend, it takes a lifetime to know a person fully. Because people change. What he is now may be different from what he will be tomorrow or the next day," Mona lectured. "You like him and he likes you. You're comfortable around each other. You make each other happy. Isn't that enough?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "Three years with Richard wasn't enough for me to love him."

"Bakit gagawin mong basehan si Richard? In the first place, hindi mo naman talaga sya ginusto. You tried, but you can't love him because he's not the right guy for you."

"And Bullet is?"

"I hope so. Magkasama ba kayo nitong weekend?"

"Oo." She told her about Bullet's grandmother. Inisa-isa rin niyang i-describe ang mga pagkaing kinain niya roon. Inggit na inggit si Mona sa kanya. Gusto nitong sumama sa kanya next week. Uuwi kasi ulit si Bullet at isasama siya nito.

"I'm sure Aiks and Brandi would go kung hindi sila busy. Saka isama nyo rin sina Felix at Mickey, ha."

She rolled her eyes. "Ayun. Kaya naman pala. Gusto mo lang makita si Felix, e."