pink skies // donny pangilinan

one

Billie

"Aray! Donny stop it! You're so annoying!" I pushed him away because he has been tickling me for the past minutes of our lunch time, alam niya naman na marami akong kiliti. He's so annoying.

"Okay, fine. I'll stop," he raises both of his arms in surrender then continued eating his lunch. By the way, we have ramen for today's lunch.

"Should I get more sushi?" Stella asked, "Get Billie a dozen of sushi, alam niyo naman, tababoy nito." Donny teased me, again. As usual, nothing new, I'm used to this bully. They all laugh, and I'm like freakin' annoyed with this boy. Nasanay na ako na palagi akong inaasar ni Donny na matakaw, which is true. Antakaw-takaw ko na nga, pero hindi naman ako tumataba.

"BJ, are you down for a sleepover this Friday?" Karina wiggled her brows at me, and yes, she called me BJ. My friends call me BJ because it's my initials, Billie Jade Cojuangco. My dad named me Billie because he wanted a baby boy, but it turns out that a baby girl came out.

"I'm still not sure, I haven't asked my dad yet but I'll let you know." I give her a smile and she nods, after a while Stella came back with a ton of sushi and I'm so done with my couch.

•••

Wednesday. 3pm. I have a training after classes. I'm a football player, started playing when I was six years old and then I continued training. In my first year as a football player, I was eight, I was a star player. Until now, I'm focused and determined to join the national team in the future.

After three hours training, our van arrived and then we stopped by at Jamba Juice to get some smoothie. Around 7pm, we got home ready for dinner.

I saw dad sitting on a chair in the dining table while he is on his laptop. "Hi dad," I walk to him and gave him a hug then he kisses my forehead. "How was your day BJ?" I sat on a chair next to his and put my bag down.

"It was okay, I ate too much sushi today and I was having a hard time working out." I complained, "That happens when you eat too much," he lectured crossing his arms then he got his attention back to his laptop. "Dad?" I called out, he hums in response.

"My friends and I are planning to have a sleepover this coming Friday. If it's okay, can I go?" I give him a hoping look, because really, I'm hoping that he would let me. "Okay, you can go. Also, I'm leaving on Saturday early in the morning for a business trip in Singapore. So, I guess I'm not seeing you this weekend." I'm happy that he let me go on Friday but I'm sad he's leaving me again, but then again, it is for our business.

"Hey, Bil. When I get back, we will have a Father-Daughter date. Okay?" he lifts my chin and then I nod. After a while, dinner arrived and then we started eating.

I'm used that dad always leave for a business trip together with my uncles and aunt, sometimes, he also let me go with them so I can travel as well. Last year was the year that I could say that I was a traveller. We went to Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Spain, Italy, Russia, Australia, Stockholm and Japan. Palagi akong absent that time because we always travel.

My mom, on the other hand, left us when I was four. I couldn't remember her face, dad doesn't want to listen any topic about her. He was hurt, he loved my mom. Until now, I haven't heard from her, I barely remember her name.

I'm in my room, I just finished doing my homework. Seryosong edukasyon para sa bayan hahaha. I used my laptop to open my Twitter when my phone goes off. I got a text from Donny.

i M E S S A G E

donny ahas 🐍
10:09 pm, Wednesday

bilbil

ahassss

i'm hungry

eh ano ngayon ?
duh u tell tita

tino won't go with
me kase

he's tired daw

ur the only option
i got

sooo im an option
ganun ??

ano ka sinuswerte

sige na pls 😭

bahala ka sa buhay
mo donato antonio

libre kita 😏

i'll be waiting outside

I got off my bed and change into more casual clothes, I'm wearing-sweatshirt from JB merch that says "Stadium," pairing it with leggings and white Nike Air Force shoes. I just comb my hair quickly and picked my phone then went downstairs. I texted dad that I'm going out for a while because I don't want to disturb him in his office.

As I got out, I can see his car waiting outside few blocks away from our house. I opened the door of the passenger's seat and sat down, "Ang bilis mo paglibre ko ha." he grinned and I laugh. "Ganyan talaga, I'm so broke kasi eh. Naubos na kasi yung allowance ko." I pouted and he teased me again dahil magastos ako sa pagkain.

"Saan tayo?" I asked, "You know, the usual." he focused himself on the road. "MCDONALD'S!!!" sabay naming sabi. Fun fact, it's our favorite fastfood chain dahil masaya dun, walang gaanung tao.

You see, Donny is my late night out buddy. He's an owl, I'm also an owl, so we get along a lot. There's a time when my insomnia attacked me, I tried calling my friends but he was the only one who answered my call. We went out at 1am on a school day then we got home around five in the morning, we ended up sleeping in class.

After we ordered, we settle down near the window because I love watching people and cars passing by. It was the usual thing for the both of us, Donny and I, to go out at night. Sa barkada, kami yung super close yung kahit anong gawin mo hindi mo kayang paghiwalayin. Palagi kaming magkasama, sa school man o sa gala pag-gabi. Minsan nga tinatanong ako ng mga pinsan ko kung hindi ba ako nagsasawa sa pagmumukha ni Donny, paano ako magsasawa eh ang pogi-pogi niya. What, no.

Billie, stop.

"BJ? Are you even listening to me?" A deep husky voice brought me back to reality, I was daydreaming again. "What was that again?" I ask as if I was paying attention. He shook his head and said, "I was asking if you want more gravy." I nod as a sign that I got the point.

"Yes, please." I checked my phone, "Wait, Dons may sakit ka ba?" I ask. "What?" his brows are almost colliding, "What do you mean?" he added. "It's not you, Donny doesn't care if I need more gravy or not."

"Shut up. I'm trying to be a good friend because lately inaaway kita." he shrugged and took a sip from his mcfloat, "So, ngayon mo lang na-realize? Simula nung bata pa tayo, inaaway mo talaga ako." I tie my hair up so I can start eating.

"No, not really." he grinned, "Mukha mo!" I threw the tissue to his face and we both started laughing. Typical night. The usual.

•••

new story wth hahahahah don't forget to vote and comment 💜