Reaching Out

Chapter 20 - Snaps!

Sabay ng graduation ang SUB at SEU kaya hindi nakapunta sa grad ko sila Aleli. AT hindi rin ako nakapunta sa kanila. Kaya nakapagdecide kami na magkita-kita na lang next day. Where?

SNAPS SPORTS BAR!

Matagal ko nang gusto pumunta dun. Jon and Kevin went there once at sabi nya na-enjoy naman daw nila. So, that got me excited!

We decided to meet at Snaps na lang since I'll be coming from Bulacan. Kevin offered to drive me pero I told him that Kuya already offered since he has a job interview for one of the best group of companies in the Philippines. I'm so proud of him!

"Okay, let's say na Kuya will drive you GOING there. Pero paano ka uuwi?" Kevin asked. Naghahanap talaga sya ng butas para sya yung maghatid sakin. Hahaha ang cute cute!

"I'll think of something, love." I kissed him on his left cheek tsaka ako bumalik sa pag aayos.

"Will Ken be there?" tanong ulit nya.

Ken and Kevin... They became friends after that inuman sesh two years ago. They sorted out their differences and agreed that they'll have a truce LOL. Anyway, Ken finally accepted the fact that friendship is the most that I can give him. I do love him, but not the same way as I did before. All those regrets that I felt before, nagsisi ako na naramdaman ko yun. I am lucky na kay Ken ko binigay lahat yun kasi he's not a bad person naman. He's a great guy, actually. Hindi nga lang kami nagkasundo sa mga gusto namin and that's why we broke up.

"Yes, Ken will be there. I told you. Everyone's gonna be there." Sagot ko sa kanya.

"Good. Ibibilin kita sa kanya." sabi naman ni Kevin tsaka lumabas ng kwarto ko.

Haynako. Nung una silang nagkita halos magpatayan sila ngayon tag team na sila sa pagbabantay sakin. Kaloka. Kala mo dalawa jowa ko.

Kuya Brian and I left at exactly 1 pm, kaya by 3 pm sure na nandun na ko. Honestly, I was worried na wala kaming mapwestuhan dun but Kathy and Aleli assured me na may booked table na kami. Gosh, I am so excited!

When we arrived, Kuya reached out for an envelope sa may glove compartment and gave it to me. Tiningnan ko lang sya.

"Open it." utos ni Kuya, na sinunod ko naman.

Nung binuksan ko, nakita ko yung laman. Black card. Tiningnan ko sya ulit tsaka ko niyakap.

"Thank you Kuya! Grabe, I never thought I'll have one of this." sabi ko na may ngiti sa mga labi ko.

"That's from Mom." sabi ni Kuya. "Iniwan nya yan sakin just before she left for New York." tuloy nya.

Mom is one of the most prominent fashion experts in the world. I'm so lucky, right? She tried her hand at designing a line for a clothing brand before. It was successful, but hindi yun yung calling nya sabi ni Mom. So she just continued what she does best. And now, meron na syang sarili nyang company na nagrerevolve around fashion. She also sometimes guest judges on shows like Top Model or Project Runway. Grabe, right? Mom said na after grad I don't have to find work right away. She and I both want for me to study fashion para ako na magmana ng company sa kanya. Since si Kuya kasi walang interes sa fashion. Ayun, kaya afford ni Mom yung bigyan ako ng Black card haha.

When I got off the car, umalis agad si Kuya kasi daw baka malate sya. I went inside and found Ken and Adrian playing foosball. Tapos sila Aleli and Kathy naman along with our other friends from SEU nasa booth na may Messi uniform. DO you like Messi? HAHAHAHA! Nilapitan ko sila and everyone hugged me, sinasabi na namiss daw nila ko, etc. I felt the same way!

"Sorry, umorder na kami ng drinks namin. Pero etong food for eveyone to. There's the bar if you want something." sabi ni Aleli sakin habang ngumangata ng fries.

"Ah. Okay. Sige wait lang ha." sabi ko sa kanila. Tumayo ako tsaka pumunta sa bar. Medyo matao dun pero may space naman para sakin.

Pagdating ko sa bar, lumapit agad yung bartender sakin.

"I'll have a Manhattan, please." sabi ko sa kanya at umupo ako sa bar stool sa harap ko to wait for the cocktail.

Nung binigay nya sakin yung inorder ko, inabot ko naman sa kanya yung card na binigay ni Mom. Swiped. Paid. Let's start the party!

Bumalik ako sa booth namin nila Aleli to find na nandun na din si Ken at Adrian.

Yung mga inorder pala nila na food sandamakmak! Nachos, Mozzarella sticks, fries, onion rings, tacos, etc. AT yung pinaka nakakuha ng atensyon ko...

"Guys, guys, wait! I thought nakalimutan nyo na! If it's Tan, then there must be..." sabi ko.

"SUSHI!!" sabay sabay namin sigaw kaya medyo nagtinginan samin yung ibang guests kaya nagtawanan na lang kami.

"I can't believe you guys started without me!" may narinig akong nagsalita as I was picking out some sushi. Napatingin ako at nabitawan ko yung caterpillar roll na kinuha ko with my chopsticks.

"AJ..." yun na lang yung nasabi ko habang tinitingnan ko yung lalaking nakangiti sakin.