"Kung ikaw ba? Matatanggap mo ba 'ko?"
She wanted to slap herself for asking that. It was one of those times she hates the most; when she couldn't stop herself from asking the things na sa totoo lang ay mukhang alam na niya ang sagot. She knows, most of the time ay puro ang masasakit na sagot ang nakukuha niya but why wouldn't she get tired of being slapped with the reality na walang gustong tumanggap sa kakulangan niya?
She's scared of how Vice might handle the question, but her preference of wanting to hear his answer brims over.
She's scared of getting rejected again, pero umaasa siya. She's hoping na sa pagkakataong ito, baka naman may taong kaya ng mag-take ng risk. She's hoping that Vice would finally be that someone who can accept her dearths.
"Ikaw pa ba? Kaibigan kita kaya kahit ano pang kulang sa 'yo, tanggap kita."
Boom.
She then immediately regretted everything upon hearing his answer.
Kaibigan. Tinanggap nga siya, pero kalakip noon ang pagka-friend-zoned. Mukhang mas masakit pa 'yon kesa sa naging takbo ng relasyon nila ng dating asawa.
Everything that happened that night was full of pretension. Her, pretending to be talking a lot, smiling and laughing when in fact, her mind was stucked with Vice's answer. Why does it bother her a lot?
"Anak?"
Halos mapamura si Karylle sa sobrang sakit ng ulo. Masarap uminom, but hell... pagsisisihan mo talaga kinaumagahan. Hindi niya magawang tumayo agad upang mapagbuksan ng pinto ang ina. Her hand went up to her temple, trying to ease the pain.
"Ana Karylle? It's already 12 noon. May Showtime ka diba?" paalala ng ina.
"I can't go to Showtime today. Sakit ng ulo koooo!" sigaw niya pabalik since hindi nga siya makatayo dahil sa sakit ng ulo at hilo.
"Walwal pa moreee!"
Natawa si Karylle. How can her mom be updated with millennial's terms?
"Bumaba ka na. Kumain ka na,"
"Susunod po ako,"
Hindi na siya muling nakarinig ng sagot mula sa ina. She remained lying on her bed while massaging her temple. Her eyes on the ceiling, naalala niya kung paano siya alalayan ni Vice last night. He even brought her home. Hindi na niya inasahan pa sila Iza at Diana. Maging ang mga ito ay bagsak dahil sa alak so Vice decided to just call their boyfriends to pick them up.
Isang ngiti ang namutawi sa kaniyang labi.
Ayun naman pala eh.
Aarte pa ba siya?
He cares for her, dahil kung hindi, malamang ay iiwanan at pababayaan na lamang siya nito.
Pero huy! Gising! Kaibigan ka lang daw.
"Tatlong taon na, K! Hopia ka parin." nakanguso nitong sabi sa sarili habang dahan-dahang umuupo. "Ka-babae mong tao ikaw 'tong hopia. Kahiya ka girl,"
It was year 2013 when she finally admitted to herself that there was a part of her na umaasang they could be real. Mali para sa part niya dahil that time ay in a relationship siya with Yael, pero hindi niya mapanlabanan lalo na't noong mga panahon na 'yon ay panay bitaw ni Vice ng mga pick up lines that made her fall for him even more.
Flashback
"May posibilidad bang magustuhan mo si Karylle?" Vhong asked Vice during Sine Mo To; It's Showtime segment.
