The Returning Ex

Prologue 1

"Hi, handsome."

I see the Viber notification pops up on my home screen.

Agnes.

I am about to tap on the message when I hear someone shouting.

"Hey, man! Wanna come over?"

I look to wherever the voice is coming from and I see Kyle, along with Paolo, Sandro, and Alex, flashing their brightest smile at me.

May plano na naman 'tong mga lokong 'to, sa isip-isip ko.

I keep the phone in my pocket.

"What's up?", I ask.

"Nothing, party, the usual.", sagot ni Kyle.

"What for?", I ask again.

I see Sandro raises his eyebrow. He goes towards me at inakbayan ako.

"Come on, pare! Anong what for? No classes tomorrow, no exams, no shit; so, party!"

"G?", tanong naman ni Alex.

Sinasabi na nga ba, may balak na naman mag-inom ang mga loko.

Napaisip ako. Gusto ko sana, but I've got lots to do tonight.

"I want to, but..."

"What but???", sabat ni Paolo. "No buts na pare. Come on, it's been ages since the last time we partied. Minsan na nga lang, aayaw ka pa."

I know. But,

"Not that I don't want to, bro. It's just that ang dami ko pang assignments and projects to do. Plus, my orgs.", katwiran ko naman.

Inalis ni Sandro ang akbay niya sa balikat ko, "Sure ka diyan, ha? Hindi ka sasama? Ikaw rin..."

"Sorry, bros. Can't e. You know naman why..."

For a few seconds, we become quiet.

They know why.

"Tsss. You're no fun pare!", basag ni Sandro sa katahimikan sabay suntok sa braso ko.

"I'll bet babae 'yang pinalit niyan sa'tin.", gatong naman ni Alex, sabay ngiti sa akin na para bang nang-aasar.

"Owww... I see. Ipakilala mo naman sa'min, bro. Itong brother natin iniiwan tayo sa ere e.", dagdag pa ni Kyle.

"What???", nangingiti kong tanong. "Anong babae? Wala!"

How I wish.

Ngiting ngiti ang mga loko. Nang-aasar talaga.

"Kunwari ka pa e. You can tell us, pare. Oks lang naman.", pang-aasar ni Paolo.

"You know what guys, dumidilim na. So, if you wanna get some girls pa, you better go.", depensa ko naman.

Hahaba na naman kasi ang usapan kapag pinatulan ko pa mga pang-aasar ng mga mokong na 'to.

"Sus! Changing the topic guys, o!", kantyaw ni Kyle sa akin.

Tumawa silang lahat, nang-asar pa ng kaunting oras, atsaka nagpaalam na para umalis.

Kyle tapped my shoulders, "It's okay bro, we understand."

"Basta, if ever you change your mind, pare... you know where to find us.", bilin ni Sandro.

I smile.

"Sure. Thanks."

I watch my friends, well, tropa, as they walk away from me. I feel bad for saying "no" to them. Paolo's right, it's been ages since we last partied – three, four months? I miss hanging out with the guys, too. Kaso wala e, we've become busy with acads and other school stuff. Pero, thinking about it, natatawa ako – nakaya ng mga mokong na 'yon na hindi mag-party for a long time?