Arvic left a message on my messenger.
"It was nice seeing you."
Sineen ko lang 'yun at hindi nireplyan. The chances of seeing him again is zero kaya hindi ko akalain na makikita ko siya ulit.
Pepper kept asking me to go out pero nagkakataon na busy ako o tinatamad ako. Pinuntahan ako ni Pepper sa office para siguradong hindi ako makakatas. This time he doesn't take no for an answer.
"Nakakapagod kaya magtrabaho. Gusto ko na nga lang umuwi pero hinila mo pa ako dito." Reklamo ko.
"Mag freelance ka nalang kasi. Tignan mo ako," He raised his hands for emphasis. "Chill lang. Pwede ka rin mag artista, ako ang manager mo."
"Ever since college naman kasi marami ka nang raket. And you know I need a stable income. Hindi ako kasing yaman mo."
"Ayaw mo naman kasing sumama sa raket ko. Pwede kita irefer. Marami akong friendships sa modelling agency."
Ngumuso lang ako. Wala nanaman sa akin ang atensyon ni Pepper. Iniikot niya ang mga mata sa bar.
I sip on my sangria. Infairness I like it here. Hindi masyadong malakas ang music. Kung gusto mong magchill at magkwentuhan lang this is definitely the right place. Location is in a rooftop of a hotel. How come I didn't know this place exist? Trust Pepper to know a place like this. He is like my walking google pagdating sa mga bars.
Pepper elbowed me. "Mands!"
"Ano?" Irita ko sa pagsiko niya.
"Si Arvic ba 'yun?"
Sinundan ko ang tinuturo niya. I squinted and saw Arvic at the bar counter talking to the guy behind the bar counter. They are talking casually like they know each other.
Arvic is sipping on his beer while the guy is wiping glasses.
What are the chances that this is his go-to bar? Humarap ako kay Pepper. "Did you know?"
"Know what?"
Tumagilid ang ulo ko at tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"I didn't know. I swear." Then he laughed. "Destiny? Pwede." He said suggestively.
I rolled my eyes and ignored him.
"Ayaw mo?"
"Mukha bang gusto ko?"
"Alam mo hindi kita maintindihan. Single ka naman at tsaka magandang chance 'to para makalimutan 'yang ex mo, noh."
"Pepper, I won't use anyone to forget." Now I'm irritated.
Sa dinami dami ng tao bakit si Arvic pa? Bakit 'yung taong hindi ko nireplyan sa messenger pa? Pwede naman na si Nico, Andrew or anyone!
A waiter suddenly placed two mixed drink in front of us. Umiling kami pareho, "You got the wrong table. Hindi kami umorder niyan."
The waiter just smiled and pointed at the counter where Arvic is. The bartender salute to us and smiled.
"Ganda mo talaga." Tukso sa akin ni Pepper.
Pinauna kong uminom si Pepper in case there's something wrong with the drink pero nung wala naman nangyari sa kanya at hindi siya nahilo tinikman ko rin 'yung akin. Hindi ako mahilig uminom pero masarap 'to ha.
'Yung tipong hindi mo malalasahan masyado 'yung alcohol pero alam mong malakas ang tama.
"Ang sarap nito, Mands! Humingi ka pa. Dali daanin mo sa ganda." Sabi ni Pepper.
