Luke
"Let's get tattoos."
I stared at Kate. "Huh?"
We were at a fast food restaurant midway between our condominium buildings. I was reading and she had been researching what rules we could break.
"Tattoos! Tara?"
"Kasi? Having a tattoo doesn't mean we broke rules."
"It does for me! Ayaw ng parents ko eh, so? Let's go!"
I rolled my eyes. "Eh paano naman ako? That doesn't apply to me."
"Yeah but it's step one to a new Luke! And! I think it will make you more pogi!"
I laughed. Ganyan talaga si Kate, she could talk me into anything. Kapag nag-please na yan, wala na, bibigay na ako.
This is what I missed.
Our last relationships were the longest we both had, almost two years before the final split. That meant, although we still get to see each other and hang out, there were very few moments that it was just me with Kate.
Dati, si Kate pa yung wingman ko because I really didn't know how to meet women. Kate would either strike up a conversation with whoever I found cute and then introduce me, or she'd coach me on what to do.
"Nakakamiss ka kasama, alam mo? Sana naman sa next relationship natin, lumabas pa din tayo kahit tayo lang," I said to her.
"Oo nga eh. Sana yung next boyfriend ko, hindi na seloso sayo."
I frowned. "Sometimes, I wonder kung may nagawa ba ako para magselos siya ng ganun sa akin."
"Seloso talaga yun, and with you mas matindi kasi close friends tayo dati pa. Yung ex mo ba never nagselos sa akin?"
"Nagselos din. Pero alam niyang walang mararating yung pagseselos niya so wala, she doesn't bring it up na."
"Hay. Anyway! Ano! Tara! Tattoo!"
*
We met up again the following day.
She went to a different tattoo artist because she wanted hers placed on her butt cheek and preferred to have it done by a female professional.
"I did it! Pero kingina mahapdi! And I got two pala! Yiiiiii!"
"Saan?! Can I see?"
She nodded then started unbuttoning her top.
"Kate! Anong - anong ginagawa mo?" I gulped.
"Showing you the tat!" She dropped he blouse, turned sideways and showed the artwork on the underside of her ... umm... you know... just below her bra.
"It's my name in baybayin."
It was very nice and made her look sexy. I gulped. "Eh yung isa?"
"Sa may top ng left butt cheek. Maliit na red heart."
I was tempted to ask to see it, but hindi yata ako tatagal if she does. This was a first for me - to think of Kate as...
I shook my head and, to diffuse the tension, I said, "Parang care bear! May heart sa pwet."
"Luke naman eh! Where's yours?"
I blushed and then raised my left sleeve to show her my bicep.
"Saturn? But why -" she looked at my arm.
Then she hit me.
"Hindi naman totoong tattoo yan! It's chipping off already!"
Busted.
"Sorry na! I couldn't go through with it! Takot ako eh. Tapos, sabi ng Uncle ko na doctor, hindi na ako makakapag-donate ng dugo agad... alam mo naman na regular ako nagbibigay sa Red Cross... so..."
Kate rolled her eyes. "Hay nako. O fine. Dapat may kapalit."
"Ha? Sige. Ano?"
She looked at me and then said the most horrible thing ever. "Late ka pumasok bukas."
"ANOOOOO? Ayoko nga. Ayoko. Ayoko."
"Dali! Kahit five minutes lang."
"FIVE MINUTES?!?!"
I hated tardiness. I was always the earliest to anything and one of the things I liked about Kate is that she was the same.
"Dali na! Do this para we can do the next activity at the same time."
I grudgingly agreed and clocked late the next day at the office.
"How many minutes?" She asked when I saw her after work.
"One."
Kate beamed happily.
"Worst. Day. Ever." I complained.
She patted my head and kissed my forehead. "Proud of you, you rebel you."
But when we parted after dinner, she sent a message, "I'm so sorry about your tardiness, buti nalang walang deduction. But I'm sorry, Luke! Thank you for doing this with me but I'm sorry!"
I laughed and replied, "Ang hirap pala maging pasaway. Anyway, what's our next plan?"
