POV of Tash
"So... what's our plan? Wala namang pasok bukas." Tanong ni Keyla habang nakaupo sa tabi ko. We were lounging in the living room, trying to shake off the heaviness of the week. Stress was practically dripping off our shoulders.
"Out of town?" offer ni Megan, habang ngumunguya ng fries at sabay scroll sa phone.
Classic Megs, calm on the outside, lowkey chaos inside. Yan si Megan.
"Actually. May bagong bukas na bar, sabi ni Josh. And guess what? He invited us to come with them." Ang laki ng ngiti ni Keyla, her excitement glowing like neon in a dark room.
"Josh naman pala." Sabay tukso ni Megs. Her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. At that, I saw the smile on Keyla's face falter a bit. Hindi talaga siya tinantanan ni Megs pagdating kay Josh. And to be fair, Josh had been courting Keyla for two months now.
"Alam ko namang matutuwa ka rin. Kasama si Matt. I know you've been talking lately sa IG. Sige, subukan mong i-deny." Balik ni Keyla, sabay inom ng juice.
Well. Keyla? Hindi yan nagpapatalo sa asaran.
"Y-yeah. Nagre-reply lang naman ako dahil nagme-message siya. That's it." Pagtatanggol ni Megs sa sarili, but I noticed the slight twitch in her lips. Na parang nagpipigil ng ngiti.
Oh, that's Megs. Idedeny niya yan hangga't kaya niyang ideny.
"Kahit nonsense 'yung message, magre-reply ka pa rin?" Diin ni Keyla.
"Of course. But that doesn't mean na may something. Magkaibigan lang kami ni Matt." Diin ni Megs.
Huminga ng malalim si Keyla. Kumukuha ng boses na sabihin ang hindi niya dapat sabihin. "Hindi pa ba 'interest' yung nag-date kayo ng ilang beses after years of not speaking?"
Megs' eyes widened sa sobrang gulat. "The hell! He said that?" Bulalas niya, napalunok at napatingin bigla kay Keyla. Wondering how Keyla knows it.
"Yup. Pero chill, hindi niya naman sinadyang sabihin na ikaw ang nag 'I love you'. Pero sis, akala ko ba 'just friends' lang?" Before the pillow could hit her, Keyla bolted off the couch. Natawa naman ako. Hindi talaga nagpapaawat ang dalawang 'to.
"Lambot talaga ng bibig ng lalaking 'yon. And you! You believed him?" Galit na sumbat ni Megs, her cheeks blazing red. Not from anger alone, but something more... revealing.
"Sorry, sis. Nabasa ko lang naman sa convo nila sa IG." Tawang-tawa si Keyla sa sariling pang gagas-trip.
"To make things clear." Huminga ng malalim si Megs at sinubukang pakalmahin ang sarili. "Yung date at I love you? It was part of a deal. I needed a favor, kailangan namin ng gitarista sa gig. Jerome had issues and couldn't make it. Then Matt agreed, pero may kapalit. I had no choice. Eh umabot pa ng ilang araw na wala si Jerome, kaya umabot din ng ilang araw 'yung acting-relationship na 'yon." Paliwanag niya, hingal na hingal. "Pero walang totoo 'dun. It's all deal. Hayup yun! Kulang ang kwentong pinagkakalat!" Pulang pula ang buong mukha ni Megs, hindi dahil sa kilig kundi dahil sa inis.
Keyla leaned in, grinning. Hindi parin tinatantanan si Megs. "If it's really just friendship, then bakit affected ka, sis?"
"No I'm not. Nililinis ko lang ang madumi mong utak." Balik ni Megs. Walang masama sa sinabi niya pero humagalpak parin ng tawa si Keyla.
