The Next Stage (COMPLETED)

FORTY EIGHT: Starting Anew

Julia

It's already quarter to twelve in the midnight, yet we're still alive.

"You know what? I missed you both." Sabi ni Caitlyn samin ni Hana.

"Although, we see each other almost everyday, iba parin na magkaroon tayo ng oras para sa isa't isa." Sabi naman ni Hana. She cuddle the pillow beside me.

"Yep. Lalo ka na, Juls. Sobra ka naming na-miss." Malungkot na sabi ni Caitlyn.

I smiled. "Ako rin naman. Kung wala lang akong hinahabol, baka matagal na natin 'tong nagawa." Tumawa sila parehas. Hinampas din nila ako ng unan na hawak nila.

"Pero maiba tayo, to make this night  fun and a memorable one...let's play a game." Sabi ni Caitlyn. She raised her eyebrows, seems like she's excited about her 'game'.

"Let's go!" Sigaw ni Hana. Tinulak tulak niya rin ako kaya I made a face on her. Grabeng excitement 'yan.

"Tada!" Sabi ni Caitlyn. Mayroon siyang hawak na isang box na maraming candies. Are we gonna eat these hanggang magka-toothache kami?

"These candies are called Bean Bozzled and it's also famous online kasi ginagawa nila itong challenge, and many people failed doing this game." Kinuha ko sa kaniya yung box and then I find out kung ano bang meron doon.

"Kung sino yung makakain ng hindi kaaya-aya na flavor, of course may consequence." I nodded, it's quite interesting.

Binuksan ni Caitlyn yung box then kinuha yung parang roulette para malaman kung anong flavor yung kakainin namin.

The first one that is chosen is spilled milk or coconut. Let's just hope for the best to come.

"One, two, three...eat!" Sabi ni Hana. Sabay sabay namin itong kinain. Tinignan ko sila parehas. Mukhang okay, ah?

"Heck!" I exclaimed, only to realize that I ate the wrong one. They are both laughing at me. It's gross, swear.

"So what's the consequence?" I asked after I gulped the bottled water beside me.

"Since dare is too boring for me, and siguro kay Hana narin?" Tanong ni Caitlyn. Hana just nodded.

"And I also think that it's too extreme, we're gonna ask questions nalang." Sabi niya.

I nodded, ready for what questions they're gonna throw at me.

And I know that for the past seven months, ang daming nangyari sakin and some of them were hidden for them.

"Are you committed in a relationship...again?" Biglang tanong ni Hana saakin. Napangiti ako. Ang bigat agad, ah?

"Honestly? Not yet." I simply said. They nodded in unison, wala man lang conviction.

"Not yet pero may ine-entertain na?" Tanong naman ni Caitlyn.

I laughed. "That's the last question for now. I'm not considering it as like that. He's special, yes. But I can't see being committed to him in the future yet."

Seven months seems so long, but it is not enough for me to gain my love for him yet.

He's with me since I considered him as a friend, he became an instrument for healing my wounds again.

"Hmm. Babalikan ka namin mamaya, ah." Sabi ni Hana, then they laughed again.

We ate our second candy. This time, si Hana naman yung tatanungin namin.

"May boyfriend ka na ba?" Tanong ko. Tumawa lang si Hana. Since the day that I met her up until now, I haven't seen her being inlove or kahit crush man lang.