Coffee and Tears (ON-GOING)

CAT 23

Naiiritang minasahe ni Jolie yung magkabila niyang sentido habang nakaawang naman yung mga labi nila Luna at Dane. Nakatulala si Renz; nakacrossed arms si Pia samantalang wala namang reaksyong mababasa sa mukha ni Alys.

God, I really miss my girls!
Gusto ko silang yakapin isa-isa dahil ilang araw ding kaming hindi nagkita dahil puyat sa kani-kaniyang shoot at pag-eedit ng film.

I only had Luna on my side. Namiss ko yung pagmamaldita ni Jolie at yung mga sermon niya. Namimiss ko yung daily routine namin na may nagmemake-up, may nag-aayos ng buhok, may kumakanta, may nanonood ng dance steps at may nagkukwento sa bagong novel na binabasa niya...

"Since when?"

Jolie asked. Mukha siyang kalmadong bulkan na naghihintay sumabog. Isang maling salita ko lang alam kong masasampal nila ako. So I kept telling myself to choose the right words and explain everything from minor to major details para maintindihan nila bakit rumupok ulit ako sa lalaking kinaaayawan nila.

"Four days ago."

I answered in my most audible voice.
Buti na lang nakikisama ang langit sa akin dahil halos lumabas lahat ng kaklase namin para kumain nung tumuntong na ang break time. They all looked stressed, tired and exhausted like us.

Sinong hindi? Talagang sineryoso namin yung filmfest entries namin kasi sinabi ni Ma'am Daniela na kapag nakasali daw kami sa top 3, no need for us to take the finals for her subject. At least mababawasan yung iri-review namin kung sakaling makasali kami don.

There are still lots of requirements to comply. May dalawang travelogue pa. We are scheduled to do the beach travel sa Bataan on February next year and as for mountain climbing, we will have it on March. Doms settled the plan already para tipid sa oras.

It's freaking second day of December. I was scheduled to take PNUAT tomorrow and my squad insisted to accompany me dahil mag-i-Intramuros daw kami after. They are literally the most supportive friends kaya naman nahihirapan akong tumanggi kasi nag-usap na kami ni Oliver na siya yung makakasama ko sa araw na iyon.

After naming magkaayos during our shoot, tinanong niya ako kung kailan ang exam ko dahil gusto niya daw bumawi dahil last time, he was absent during my UPCAT. He even said na dapat daw kasama ko ang happy pill ko at lucky charm ko para sure na sure na makakapasa ako. The picture of him smiling while saying those things were still vivid on my memory.

I still remember how my heart beats fast on that moment; it's too good to be true.

"Gosh? Nag-uusap pala kayo nung nagshoot tayo sa bahay nila ng hindi ko man lang napapansin?"

Luna asked feeling betrayed.
I silently nodded at her.

"What the hell?? Akala ko ba sobrang busy niyo? To think na nasa group niyo lahat ng boys kaya parang kinda, sakit daw sa ulo sabi mo Luna, right?"

Jolie shot back. Tumango naman si Luna habang sinisipsip yung coffeegelly niya.

"Yeah. Hindi ko alam na..."

She said then looked at me na hindi alam kung itutuloy niya pa ba yung sasabihin niya.

"Iba talaga Ji pag love mo no? You make time kahit na mawalan ka ng me time."

Banat naman ni Pia na iiling-iling  saka kinagat yung burger niya. Sa squad ko, hindi siya kasing-vocal ni Jolie sa pagsasabing ayaw niya kay Oliver for me pero ramdam kong mas malalim ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw niya dito.

"Well ako naman, I just hope that this time, it will last. Sana mapanindigan niya yang paglalandian niyo. Because I don't want to see you crying again because of him."