Never shall we sink

CHAPTER 5: THE COMEBACK

What are you doing...? Are you here...? Like for good?! My eyes still in shock and still wide open while I'm talking to her.

She is very beautiful, maputi, makinis, and still huge, Maddie, my best friend Maddie is here in front of me.

Yes, for good. While she was walking towards me. Aren't you happy to see me? She said in her not so loud "bedroom voice" not breaking the eye contact. WHAT IS HAPPENING?!

I gulped a hugh lump of saliva stuck on my throat. Si-sira, s-syempre namiss kita. *nervous laugh Ikaw pa ba, BEST FRIEND. I put emaphasis on the BEST FRIEND. She then smiled, again without breaking the eye contact and then......hugged me, causing her head to face my bedside table.

Volleyball. She whispered, and binitawan ko sya. Nilingon ko kung saan sya nakataingin. Nakatingin sya dun sa keychain namin ni Jhoana. Jhoana, naalala nanaman kita. Kamusta ka na? Nasaan ka na kaya ngayon? Ah yes, I still play. You?

Yes! OMG! This is so exciting. Her mood shifted from that bedroom-voice-lady to a child-wanting-to-play-volleyball

I slightly shifted away from her, Im not used to this kind of space. Uhm, nga pala, saang school ka pala papasok? I asked her.

Ateneo, your mom already told me na dun ka den papasok. Sabay na lang tayo punta ng exam.

We can use my car! And then eat afterwards.

She smiled at me, Is the famous Bea De Leon is asking me out?!

I just stared at her, in shock. What did you just said?

Hahahahaha. Im just kidding. Lumapit sya saakin. Im so happy I'm back here at the Philippines. You know nung lumapag kami dito nila mom, I immediately said sakanila na I want to visit you. But syempre sabi nila magpahinga muna kami and ayun saka ko naisip na isurprise ka na lang. Hahaha. I asked my mom for tita's number and texted her.

I'm still in shock kung ano ng sinabi nya kanina. Date?

Bea? Are you okay?

Uhm, yeah. What were you saying?

I said Manang is calling us, she said she made sandwiches. Just like old times.

Oh, okay. Lets go.

Kriiiiiiiiing. Kriiiiiiiiiiing. 4am.

I groaned. Oo nga pala. I'll do my morning run today. Kinda preparation para sa try outs next day.

I went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and changed to my workout clothes and running shoes and went downstairs.

Good morning Maam Bea. Manang, she's up early para mag prep ng breakfast namin. Ngayon kasi yung entrance exam sa Ateneo.

Good morning den po. Takbo lang po ako.

Ingat po kayo Maam.

I just smiled and stepped outside. I took a deep breath and streched a little and started jogging at first.

Maddie is back, she's a little bit different. Hindi naman sya ganon before. Madalas nirereject nya yung mga physical contact namin before. Maybe because bata pa kami nun, and now nag matured na? Kaya alam na nya na wala lang yun? Also, is she gay? Like bisexual or anything? Bat parang gano n yung vibe ko sakanya?

My jog slowly turning into a run.

What if may gusto sya saakin, diba yun yung sabi saakin ni Ponggay? Pappi daw, tska pwedeng magkagusto daw yung mga babae. Maybe she picked up a lot of the culture sa ibang bansa, like liberated or somethin'