Forgetting Samuel

Kabanata 54

Kabanata 54
Secrets

"What? That instant?!"

Tina couldn't believe her eyes when Ady flashed them the diamond ring Samuel gave her, back in Pintados.

"You know what, I should be the one to get Maxi's bouquet, e! Ako dapat ang ikakasal!" ngawa pa ni Tina na siya na lamang hindi nakakamove on sa magkakaibigan.

Natawa si Gigi at saka inakbayan ang kaibigan, "Ikakasal ka rin, if you work hard enough to get Ady's bouquet." pang-aalo naman nito na ikinasinggit ng mga mata ni Tina.

"Are you sure?" she asked and looked at Daiah for confirmation, "You, two, wouldn't go your ways to snatch the bouquet?"

Napairap si Daiah sa kaibigan, "May jowa ako?" she snapped that fake angered Tina, like a suddenly touched bull.

"Bakit ka galit?!" Tina shouted that made Daiah chuckle.

"I am not." giit naman ni Daiah at saka napailing.

Napanguso na lamang si Tina sa dalaga, na siyang ikinatawa muli ni Daiah.

The girls were back at the famous diner in Baltazar, kung saan nalaman ni Ady na ikakasal na si Maxelle. Ang diner kung saan sila tambay noong college days, gumagawa ng thesis and all that.

The ever famous Jug&Betty's.

"Waitress!" Gigi called out again, para sa isa pang set ng milkshakes for the girls.

"Wait, I got this crazy idea!" bigla ay sambit ni Maxelle na kanina pa busy sa kaniyang cellphone.

Matagal na simula noong nakauwi si Maxelle mula sa kanilang honeymoon, pero hindi pa rin matigil sa isang tabi kapag nahihiwalay sa kaniyang asawa, na animo'y bagong kasal pa rin.

Ady raised an eyebrow sipping on the remains of her strawberry milkshake bago tuluyang salansanin ng waitress pagkaabot sa kanila. She really loved strawberry milkshakes. Especially, one from Jug&Betty's.

She mentally noted to herself na dadalhin niya si Samuel dito balang-araw. Naalala niyang never pa silang dalawa nakapunta dito, kahit noon. At saka recently lang rin naman sila nagkabalikan. Dapat itong madiscover ni Samuel. For him to satisfy her strawberry milkshake cravings.

"What idea?" Gigi asked curious.

Nagtinginan agad sila Daiah at Tina na magkatabi at silently nag-aaway. Kahit kailan, walang araw na hindi sila nag-away kapag nag-uusap, o nagbabatuhan ng mga linya. Not that it was issue among their circle.

Their's is a friendly fight naman.

The so-called cats, when Ady was the crime bitch dog. Maxelle was the rabbit, and Gigi had always been the tortoise, which solely because of this Aesop's Fable that they acted out in College.

It was an audition for Theater, para sa grade. Because of Maxi's hastiness (and Gigi's patience) Gigi was the one to get the role, and the characters just stuck on their names.

Daiah on the other hand stopped in third year at nag-ship sa Journalism, dahil ito naman talaga ang kaniyang forte. Napilitan lang siyang sumama sa Business Management dahil nandoon si Ady noon, and her mother Venice thought writing is too mediocre for a Caballero like her.

In the end, Daiah pursued what she really wanted, kaya nahuli siya sa paggraduate. Her mother was furious, but eventually, she showed her what she got. Despite all the pressure, nakuha niya ang highest position, and there she is now. Successful and all.

"Everytime na babalik tayo dito sa Jugs&Betty's, is for one reason." ani Maxelle at ipinalibot ss buong booth nila ang kaniyang tingin, meeting each pair of eyes staring intently at her.