MARAHUYO

M- 26

Psalm 16:8
I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

*

"Ma, dinner tayo nina Papa tonight."

She frowned and moved closer to him, "Anak, sorry. I can't. You should've told me yesterday pa. Aalis ako tonight."

"Again?"

She nodded, "I'll be with your Ninang Dawn."

"Again? Ma, every night na lang po ba? Ni hindi ka na namin halos nakakasama mag-dinner."

She bit her lips. That is true. She goes out every night to drink with her friends, "What about tomorrow?"

"'Di pwede si Papa tomorrow night, ma. Hindi po ba pwedeng i-cancel mo muna 'yong pupuntahan ninyo nina Ninang? Ma, it's been a month since we last had dinner together."

"Anak, the next day. Promise."

He sighed as he could say that her mom has no intention of cancelling her appointment tonight. Disappointed, he walked away from her and went inside his room.

His parents' schedules never meet. The dinner he has been planning is long overdue but seems like the two don't like the idea of being together in a dinner again.

She left the house without Unique going out of his room to say goodbye. He must be really disappointed and sad.

Upon receiving a text from Vice that they are all complete and are only waiting for her, she entered the bar alone. She remembers being annoyed with the loud music the first time she entered here. Tonight, she could say that she got used to it.

Gabi-gabi ba naman dito, she told herself.

On the stairs, she could already hear Vice's resounding laughter and Dawn's voice, prolly telling another joke she saw on Twitter today. She shook her head as soon as she saw them already drinking.

"Nagsisimula na agad kayo?" she asked and occupied the seat beside Regine.

"Hindi, tinapon namin. Masama lasa, eh," Regine joked, "Bakit parang paganda ka nang paganda every night?"

"Ay, siguro okay na sila ni Aga. Ganyan daw ka-fresh kap--"

"We don't do that anymore."

"Ha?! Bakit? Aba, Lea. Sabi mo kagabi, gusto mo pa rin namang magka-anak. Paano ka magkaka-anak kung hindi kayo kikilos ni Aga? Ano? Mabubuntis ka by miracle? Gano'n ba gusto mo?" Regine scolded her and gave her a drink.

"Mabubuntis ako 'pag right time na."

"And when is the right time? 'Pag 80 years old ka na? Kapag naka-5 anak na si Unique tapos wala pa rin siyang kapatid?"

"Hoy, Lea, nasa Diyos ang awa pero nasa tao ang gawa. Huwag kang ano diyan."

"Ano ba kayo?" she rolled her eyes, annoyance was evident on her tone, "Kararating ko lang, ginigisa niyo na agad ako! 'Di naman ako sibuyas."

For a second, her friends went silent and after a while, they burst into laughter like crazy people which annoyed her even more.

"Ilang points ibibigay mo sa joke ni Lea, Vice?"

"Dahil maganda naman siya, tsaka first time niyang mag-joke tonight, sige 5 over 10."