Crazy Rich Bea (JiBea fanfic)

Chapter 2

Jia and Bea are your usual ordinary couple. They go on dates. They hangout with their common friends. They rant to each other about work. They do chores together. They fight. They make-up. They make-out... a lot. They make love.

And, like many other couples, one of them stays at the other person's apartment way more than in their own. In their case, it's Bea who's staying way too much at Jia's when in fact, Bea's apartment was actually bigger and in a better neighborhood. Jia's apartment was more homey (Bea's word, not hers) and nearer the university where they work.

Their usual bonding is just sitting together, checking paper of their students, with Friends in the background.

Tonight though, the TV was on mute, and from the kitchen, Jia can hear Bea sharing her funny story from Chicago to Kobe. Well, until she heard Bea shout: "Holy cow! No way!"

"Yes way!" Kobe's voice was loud from Bea's phone— a good old iPhone 6s which Jia always teases her about. Bea's excuse was always: a phone's purpose is for calling and texting, and her phone was still doing it's purpose.

Bea is the simplest person that Jia has ever met. Unlike most people their age who are living in the material world, Bea seldom buys luxury things for herself. Their friends sometimes tease Bea that she's stingy, but Jia knows that she's actually not. She really just buy things that she actually needs. Well, the things THEY need and what matters most. Because Bea generously shares many things to Jia. Not that anyone's counting.

Bea has only two luxuries in life: food (since Bea practically lives with Jia, you'll always find Jia's fridge full) and basketball games. Bea is a big fan and she makes sure that she always get to watch live. It was through one of these games when Jia met Kobe.

Kobe is Bea's cousin, and probably the only relative of Bea who Jia actually met. Kobe studied in California for college and he used to visit them at New York to watch basketball.

"Babe! Look!" Bea called. Jia put down her apron and went to the living room. She waved at Kobe in the screen who's with her girlfriend Ponggay, a big stone shining brightly!

"Oh my God, congrats, you two!" Jia excitedly said. "When's the wedding?"

"Thanks, Jia! Wouldn't have happened if you didn't give me sound advice. Kasi kung si Ate Bea lang, naku, walang kwenta," Kobe teased. Jia really admire the closeness of Bea and Kobe. It was Kobe's older brother who's the same age as Bea but Bea said that the love of sports really made Kobe and her closer.

Jia kissed Bea in the cheeks to ease her pout. "Naku tama lang 'yan, mahirap na, baka mauntog si Ponggay," Bea teased back. She's right though. Ponggay was a good catch, Jia thought. Not to discredit Kobe because he's really good-looking, funny, and smart.

"So sa June 'yung wedding, and we're saving a seat for you too Ate Jia ha," Ponggay said. "Sinakto talaga naming school vacation dyan kasi Ate Bea will be part of the entourage."

"Wow, thank you! But I'll check muna kung kaya ng sched ha saka ng budget," Jia replied. Jia hasn't been to the Philippines since she was 12. And even with budget airlines, the tickets are really expensive... especially for a simple-living professor like her.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure that my private plane will be available to bring you here," Kobe grinned and Jia laughed. Having a private plane is a common weird-ass jokes that everyone used. Pero bakit si Jia lang natawa sa kanilang apat?

***

It was a few weeks later when Bea and Jia discussed the specifics about Kobe's wedding. "So, nagpaalam ka na ba sa department because I already filed my leave?"

In the two years that they've been together, Bea has went home a few times. But this trip is where she's most excited about because she said she gets to take Jia to her favorite places in Manila. Jia finds it heartbreaking to shatter Bea's happiness.

"Uhmmm, babe, sorry kasi baka hindi ako makasama sa kasal ni Kobe," Jia started. And true enough, Bea immediately pouted. "I don't think I can shoulder the expenses. I had to help Ate Jessica with her mortgage and medyo malaki nabawas sa savings ko. Parang I need to work in the summer para makamove forward."

"I'll pay for us," Bea offered. "We'll live by isaw and kwek-kwek. Tapos let's bawi the kain nalang sa kasal ni Kobe. We'll bring tupperware tapos magbaon tayo para may pagkain pa tayo for a week."

Jia laughed. "I'd really love too, but Babe..."

"No buts!" Bea declared. "Plus, wala naman tayong babayaran because Kobe's sending his plane, remember?"

Jia laughed again. Plus, Bea delivered the joke as if it's real. Deadpan.

"Fine. Sige na nga. Pero magtitipid tayo ha? Saka 'wag na natin sabihin sa department na uuwi tayo para wala nang humingi ng pasalubong saten," Jia joked.

Bea went to hug Jia. "Yes! I'm really excited! Plus, Babe, remember 'yung sinasabi mong naging classmate mo nung college na Pinay who's been asking you to come over for so long?"

"Si Mich?"

"Yes! I'm sure she'd be glad!"

Now Jia feels her excitement growing. Mich was one of her closest friends in college and she has been bugging her to visit her in the Philippines. "I'd finally get to try balut!"

"I'm pretty sure you'll cry for the baby duck."

"Go to Intramuros!"

"We'll ride kalesa."

"And oh my God, the beaches!"

"We should go to Bora. Many beaches are claiming to be better than Boracay, but it's still the best for me."

"And oh my God, I'm going to finally meet your family!"

Bea looked taken aback but Jia doesn't seem to notice. "Oh, right. My family."