#SquadGoals

Chapter 75 - Meeting

July 2017

Somewhere in Quezon City

"Okay, kamusta na ang plano natin?" A man turned to look at everyone in the room. "Is everything in order? Or do I have to step in? We don't have enough time. We have to make this happen before the year ends."

An excited chatter broke out.

Somebody in the room shouted, "We have everything under control! Ako mismo ang nag-aasikaso ng mga kailangan natin. Don't worry."

"Teka. desidido na ba talaga kayo?" Another voice chimed in. "Baka malintikan tayo niyan kapag nalaman nila ang plano natin."

"Kaya nga dapat walang magi-ispluk ng mga nangyayari dito," said the person who slowly made her way into the room. "Hindi dapat sila makahalata kaya umayos kayo. Sisiguraduhin ko na hindi invited ang bibigay sa inyo. 'Wag ako."

The first person laughed nervously. "Nako, kami pa ba? Expert kami diyan, Mama Ten. Ipinapangako ko na wala akong babanggitin sa kanila kapag nagkita kami next week."

"Weh? Ang daldal mo kaya!"

Others nodded and murmured their agreement.

"Grabe kayo sa akin! Wala ba kayong bilib sa akin? Hindi niya naitatanong...ako ang nawawalang kapatid ni Richard Faulkerson Jr."

The second person threw a folder at him.

"Ay, sorry!" He held his hands up in surrender. "Hindi ko sinasadya. Dumulas sa kamay ko."

"Tigil tigilan mo ako, Sam ha . Alam ko kung saan ka nakatira. Baka gusto mong ipadala ko kay ano iyung mga ano mo..."

An uncomfortable silence immediately settled around them, but it was just as quickly broken by a loud snore.

Everyone turned in just in time to see Jose Manalo shaking off sleep and straightening.

"Did I miss anything? Napag-usapan na ba iyung pinalagay ko sa agenda?"

The third person, Wally Bayola, gave out a short laugh. "Wala pa, Jose. Hinihintay ka namin."

"Buti naman!" He rubbed his hands together before addressing everyone. "Okay, kailangan talaga nating i-discuss ang bagay na ito dahil hindi matutuloy ang kasal without this."

"Huh?" Mama Ten crossed her arm over her chest. "Iyung singsing ba iyan? Kasi nakabili na si RJ...ay oops."

"OMG!" Jerald jumped to his feet and immediately made his way towards her. "May picture ka ba, 'Ma? Malaki ba? O maliit? Hindi kasi sa akin nagsasabi si Papi Alden kaya hindi ako makasagap ng tsismis."

"Tse." She waved him off. "Pwede ba mamaya na iyan? Pag-usapan muna natin iyung sinasabi ni Jose."

His shoulder slumped. "Okay, fine. Mamaya ko na lang aalamin."

"So? Pwede ko na bang ituloy?"

"Go na, Kuya Jose!"

"Okay, ganito kasi iyun." He took a deep breath. "Alam niyo ba, nung bata ako, pangarap ko talaga na mapabilang sa mga ganito eh. Hindi niyo alam kung gaano ako kasaya dahil isinama niyo ako dito. Kaya gusto kong – "

"Teka. Hindi ko maintindihan," Wally said, interrputing him. "Ano ba talaga iyung kailangan mo? Ang dami mo pa kasing paligoy-ligoy. Diretsuhin mo na!"

Jose scratched his head with an irritated look his face. "Pigilan niyo ako at sasapakin ko iyung kalbo. Sinisira iyung diskarte ko eh."

A few people snickered, Jerald being one of them.

"Anyway, ito na. Sasabihin ko na iyung kailangan ko. Basta maging open-minded lang kayo, okay?"

"Eh ano nga iyun?" Wally asked impatiently. "Bakit hindi mo pa sabihin?"

"Ano kasi...TF iyung hinahanap ko. Nakakahiya pero dahil dabarkads naman tayo dito, sinabi ko na." A sheepish smile tugged at his lips. "Syempre, hindi naman pwedeng libre ang lahat ng ito no. Nage-effort rin tayo...lalo naman ako no."

Sam cleared his throat and then checked his watch. "Oh shoot! I have to go. Next time na lang natin pag-usapan ito."

"Ay! Sabay na ako sa'yo." Jerald quickly gathered his things. "May meeting kami ni Val para sa movie namin. See you!"

"Ako rin!" Mama Ten pulled out her phone and then tapped a few buttons. "Nag-text na si RJ. Hinahanap na ako. Tuloy na lang natin ito next time."

People quickly trickled out of the room until Jose was the only one left. He hadn't even realized it until one of the waiters informed him that he had to vacate the room.

"'Di bale, iibahin ko na lang ang tactic ko next time," he murmured to himself as he got up. "Dapat siguro magdala ako ng props para mas kapani-paniwalwa..." 

***

A/N: 

This is a short (and random) piece that I wrote sometime last year. I just didn't get a chance to publish it. Hehe. It's been a long time since I wrote anything, right? Sorry about that. I've been a little busy. :( 

Anyway, the next chapter will be the last one. 

Thank you so much for reading! Let me know what you think. My twitter handle is @thenataliagrace! :) 

- Brie 

P.S. I'm planning to update Litost soon. Just wait for it. Hehe.