decoding the boys ✔️

51 | welcome to the family

"So I got news pala," Anjo announced habang kumakain kami ng brunch dito sa Maginhawa.

It's Sunday. Wala kaming klase. After finishing my chores, Ahron picked me up and we went straight to Maginhawa for our weekly hang out.

All heads turned to her as she dropped the bomb.

"Apparently, the ex is back in town and he's asking for Javee," she said with distaste.

Now, all eyes shifted to me. Complete ang girls ngayon. Lhyle wasn't with us dahil may kino-cover 'tong photoshoot.

I shrugged. If I heard that about two years ago, I would've cared. But so many things happened already. Wala na akong pakialam sa kanya.

"Ex, you mean Dela Costa?" Maxxie clarified.

"May iba pa bang ex si Javee?" Anjo shrugged.

"Ano daw kailangan niya? Makikipagbalikan? After ilang years, seriously?"

"I don't know. Hinanap niya lang. Sabi ko nga 'wag siyang asshole, e. He doesn't get to even ask."

I kept my quiet all throughout the conversation. Hinahayaan ko lang silang mag-usap. I really didn't care about Rohann anymore. It's been almost three years, I think. Wala na siya sa puso at isipan ko. If he's around, no one gives a fuck. As long as he doesn't go parading around me.

"Babe, you okay?" Hiromi asked me, concern featured in her doe eyes.

I beamed at her. "Of course." I turned to the girls. "Don't mind him, guys. Let bygones be bygones. I have someone else na."

At this, halos kuminang ang mga mata ni Anjo. "Aba syempre. May makakatalo pa ba kay Fafa Racel?"

"Amen," I agreed and we all laughed.

"So, what's the deal na ba talaga? What's the real score?" Ahron asked me after she sipped from her smoothie.

"Nothing official pa. Actually, 'di pa namin napag-uusapan nang matino," simple kong sagot.

"But you're in love with him?" Hiromi asked quietly while she fiddled with her drink.

A fond smile curled in my lips and I said confidently, "So much."

"Whoo! Ako na lang ba ang walang love life dito? Javee has Racel. Ahron has Justin. Si Maxx, wala naman balak," whined Anjo. "Napag-iiwanan ako, mga bes!"

"Hey, wala din naman si Hiro, a?" natatawang wika ni Maxxie habang nag-protesta naman si Ahron sa pagkaka-link niya with Justin.

"That's what you think! Nakita ko pinsan niya nung isang linggo. She said may nagugustuhan daw 'tong si H, 'di man lang nagkukwento e!" Anjo answered Maxxie.

Hiromi went beet red all of the sudden. "H-ha?"

"Uyy. Sino 'yan, a?" biro ko.

"W-wala. Don't ask. He's got someone else na rin kasi."

Bigla naman akong nalungkot sa sinabi niyang 'yon. Bumagsak ang ngiti sa mukha ni Hiro, as if what she said hurt her deeply. Whoever that guy was, mukhang hindi lang simpleng crush ang nararamdaman niya for him.

Ayoko siyang saktan so I didn't press for more details.

"Ay gano'n? Party na lang tayo, girl. Makakalimutan mo rin 'yan!" Anjo told Hiromi. "Hanap tayo fafa!"

"Spoken like a true play girl," Maxxie joked, rolling her eyes.

I chuckled, listening as they teased each other to and fro. Light lang din kasi ang atmosphere dito sa Antiteasis. It's quaint and all but it's a true spot for barkada chill outs.