Bea glances at her watch for nth time and lets out a deep sigh, wondering how much longer she has to wait. Being patient, especially waiting alone inside a car, is not really her thing and she's starting to get irritated to be honest.
Maki's car is coding that day so she called Bea to ask if she can fetch her at work since they live in the same house and the former doesn't like commuting. Wala naman choice si Bea and besides, this is the only way that she can make up to her friend after everything that she has done for her.
She takes another deep breath. She was a complete mess three years ago and it was Maki who stayed by her side when all of her friends were shunning her for what she had done.
Parang ang tagal na ng panahon ang nakalipas mula noon. She briefly glances at her hand. The tiny scars are still visible but they don't even hurt anymore.
It doesn't even hurt anymore. Her heart, that is.
She remembers the painful memories clearly as if they were just yesterday but her feelings are no longer the same. Maybe that's what heartbreak can do to you. One minute you're in love, the next minute you resent the person so much you don't even want to think about them.
Marami na din ang nangyari mula nang gabing iyon. Mga pangyayari sa buhay niya na ayaw na niyang maalala. Thirdy giving her the silent treatment for weeks before revealing to her and their friends that he knew about the cheating and her betrayal. Everyone siding with Thirdy except for Therese who gave her the benefit of the doubt but ended up also being disappointed when she did confirm that she pursued her best friend's girlfriend because she's in love with her.
All of it didn't matter in the end and truthfully, she lost all her will to care.
It was only a matter of time before she graduated from college and she was out of the country before her dad can even pressure her into taking over their family business. Two years that she stayed away. Leaving behind her life after college and wanting desperately to start again far away from all the things that will make her remember that her life was a mess.
Two years that she lived alone in California before finally having the courage to come back home.
Tanging si Maki lang ang sinabihan niya na nakabalik na siya at ito lang ang palagi niyang nakakasama nitong mga nakaraang buwan na nandito siya sa Pilipinas.
Speaking of Maki. Her friend finally decides to show herself as she steps out of her office building with her co-workers in tow. She watches as she hugs and kisses her friends goodbye one by one as if they'd never see each other again. Bea had to shake her head because it was typical Maki to be this clingy and sweet to everyone.
"What took you so long?" bungad niya pagkasakay ng kaibigan sa passenger seat ng kotse niya.
"Sorry naman. We had to extend our meeting since may mga unexpected changes na gustong ipagawa yung clients sa amin. Sakit sa ulo." Maki explains as she settles in her seat.
Bea wastes no time pulling out of the parking lot as soon as Maki is inside the car. Ayaw niyang maabutan pa sila ng rush hour dahil gusto na niyang makauwi agad. One of the things that she definitely didn't miss living in Manila is the incredible traffic.
"Why are you even staying at that low-paying job if puro sakit sa ulo naman binibigay sayo?" she wonders out loud.
Maki only gives her a shrug as if the answer was obvious, "I love my job. I love the people I work with. It's that simple."
Bea can't help but snort at that, earning her a glare from her passenger.
"Palibhasa wala kang trabaho kaya ganyan ka mag-isip. Sa bagay, who needs work when your dad is the CEO of a multi-national company? Ikaw na talaga."
It's her turn to glare at Maki, "Pwede ba, stop rubbing that in my face. My unemployment has nothing to do with my dad. I'm actively looking but no one's hiring an inexperienced Management Econ graduate."
"Ang sabihin mo maarte ka lang. You can get a job at your dad's company anytime you want but you're letting your pride get in the way."
Bea had to roll her eyes, "Are you done lecturing me, Mom?"
"Ang sinasabi ko lang, dapat simulan mo nang ayusin na ulit yang buhay mo. Ilang months ka nang nakabalik pero hanggang ngayon hindi pa din alam ng parents mo na nandito ka na. Seriously, what's your plan?"
Hindi nakasagot si Bea. She's not sure what to answer.
Biglang tumahimik si Maki and she glances at her for a second to see what's going on. She only finds her friend staring at her as if she's about to say something that Bea will not like.
"Don't tell me you're still caught up in the past that you can't get yourself to start with your life here again?"
Bea did not expect that Maki would bring that up. They've been so good at not talking about it since she came back that she almost thought that she had forgotten that it even happened.
And she really doesn't want to go there. She wants to avoid the subject as much as possible. It was all in the past and it's something that they should no longer talk about.
"That's not it. I'm completely over it, Maks. Matagal na 'kong naka-move on. I just need to figure things out first before I do anything else. I need time."
Maki regards her as if she's not convinced. She sighs before giving Bea a gentle pat on the shoulder.
"If you say so, Beatriz. If you say so."
***
"Hey, eat first before you go. I cooked breakfast."
Bea carefully places the plates on the table as Maki runs around the house in a rush. Since wala naman siyang trabaho at nakikitira siya sa kaibigan pansamantala, she might as well do the house chores from time to time.
"Cant. I have to go. We have to prepare early for our client presentation later."
She takes the box of orange juice from the fridge and fills a glass. She's learned how to cook since she lived alone in the states and she's actually proud of herself for managing to prepare a decent looking breakfast. Kahit pa pritong itlog at Spam lang yun with matching garlic rice.
"You sure? Minsan lang ako maka-perfect ng sunny side up oh."
Pinanood lang niya si Maki habang aligaga ito sa pag-aayos ng bag at mga documents na dadalhin niya sa opisina. Apparently, today is the day that one of their prospective clients will decide whether they will get the services of the advertising company that Maki is working for so she doesn't want to mess it up.
"Yup. Besides, Banana says she'll bring us breakfast at work so we can eat while we're getting ready." Maki hurriedly gives her a goodbye kiss on the cheek before rushing to the door with all her stuff. "I'll see you later. Behave ka lang ha."
"Yeah, mom." Bea answers with sarcasm. It irks her to no end when Maki tries to act like she's her mom and treats her like a kid.
She ends up eating the egg but had to spit it out because it turned out to be too salty. She takes a big gulp of the orange juice and throws away the remainder of the eggs.
Okay, so she did learn how to cook but it doesn't mean that she's actually good at it. It was a good thing that Maki didn't get to eat it because Bea just knew that her friend will make fun of her about it. At least Maki has a co-worker who can cook breakfast for them while she has a feeling that she will end up getting take-out food again.
"Banana who?" She scowls at the ridiculousness of the name.
***
