BZZZZZZZZZZZZT! BZZZZZZZZZZZZT!
“Hello?”
“Muppet, bangon na may guesting ka pa ngayon.” I heard my bestfriend say.
“Ugh. 5 more minutes.” I said.
“Anong 5 minutes? Sapak bet? Come on muppet. Get up. You’ll be late.” I have no choice. She wouldn’t leave me alone until I do what she says. “Why are you up so early anyway?” I asked. As far as I know, her shop doesn’t open til 8am. And it’s just 5:30 on my watch.
“Dude, I have siblings to take care of. Plus you know I have to para lang gisingin ka kasi if I don’t wake up early, di ka gigising and malelate ka nanaman sa trabaho mo.” she replied. Right, right. She does that every morning. “Maligo ka na ha? Call me when you’re on your way to work. Bye,
muppet!”
“Bye manager.” I said and hung up the phone. I went to the bathroom to take a bath and do all my rituals. Then I called her again. “Manager.”
“Oh? Bilis mo naman ata?”
“I’m having trouble with my polo. Di ko alam which one eh.” I said as I looked at my reflection in the mirror.
“What do you have in hand ba?” she asked.
“Uhm… blue long-sleeved, denim polo and the orange and blue checkered one you gave me.”
“Hmmm. Go with the denim then wear your khakis and loafers. That’ll work.” she said.
“Yun! Thanks, manager. The best ka talaga. I’ll call you again. Bye.” I started wearing my polo then my pants and shoes.
I’m Elmo Moses Magalona. I’m an actor. My bestfriend has become my alarm clock every morning since I started living alone. She’s my walking calendar, walking reminder and walking calculator. She sometimes play the role of my mom kasi daig niya pa mom ko when she scolds me. She is my manager kasi kabisado niya lahat ng schedule ng events, guestings, tapings and meetings ko. And she also plays the role of my cook. She cooks amazing dishes. Sa bagay, she owns a small cafe and she does all the work there. She’s my all-around bestfriend and I love her like a sister. We grew up together kasi eh. As in since diaper days bestfriends na kami. And I’m very clingy to her because she’s all I’ve got. My parents are still alive but they’re separated and both have a family of their own so I chose to just live on my own. Andyan naman si manager to take care of me eh.
“Manager, I’m on my way to the studio na.” I reported as I apply wax on my hair.
“Okay good. Sige na, muppet. I have to wake up Joey pa. See you later!” she hung up the phone and I went out of my unit as well.
*****
“Joey, wake up.” I said as I gently tap my sister’s shoulder. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. “Good morning baby.” I said and smiled at her.
“Good morning ate.” she greeted back as she hugged me. “I love you ate.”
“Love you too baby. Oh, go take a bath na then I’ll meet you downstairs ha?”
“Okay.” and she walked to the bathroom.
“Ate, yung sneakers ko? The blue one?” Jill asked.
“It’s inside the black shoebox. Diyan sa cabinet mo.” I answered.
“Okay! Thanks ate!”
“Ate nakita mo ba ID ko? I forgot where I put it last night.”
“It’s inside your polo pocket. Pinalagay ko na kay Aling Nena yan when she ironed your uniform.”
