"Mag outing naman tayo guys. Kahit weekends lang, lahat naman tayo walang pasok ng weekends. Game?"
"May pasok kami ni Vince." Sabi ni Arvic kay Patrick.
"Kuya edi wag kang sumama. I'm sure sasama si Velasco. Right?"
Vince just hummed and avoided Arvic's look.
"Tara tara! Ay masaya 'yan! Gusto ko 'yan!" Excited naman si Pepper. "G na si Mands. We are kind of a buy one get one deal."
"Makakatanggi ba ako?" I laughed. "Game. Kailan ba?"
"This weekend na para siguradong tuloy."
Andrew is shaking his head. "Seryoso kayo? Mga gago talaga kayo! Game ako."
"Si Nico sure sasama 'yan. So si Kuya lang pala ang hindi sasama. It's okay, at least may magbabanatay ng cafe niyo ni Velasco."
Tumayo si Arvic and suddenly he is insisting on going. "Sinong magdadrive kung hindi ako sasama?"
"Vince and Andrew can drive or Nico whatever. Marami naman drivers dito so we can manage." Trisha is smiling now. Pinaglalaruan ang Kuya niya. "Mandy can go with Andrew and Patrick samin si Nico and Pepper. See we even have the car arrangement ready."
Arvic groaned and left. "Do whatever you want. Don't call me to drive."
Umiiling si Vince at nagkibit balikat naman si Trisha.
"What's up with the Zamora sibilings?" Bulong ni Pepper sa akin.
"I'm not sure." Bulong ko pabalik.
Friday night kami umalis papuntang La Union.
Si Arvic ang naabutan ko sa labas ng bahay ko kasama si Pepper.
"Akala ko hindi ka sasama?"
He rolled his eyes instead of answering.
Tumawa si Pepper. "Tinanong ko rin 'yan."
"Bakit hindi ka kay Andrew sumabay?" I teased.
"Because your love here needs someone who knows how to drive in case he want to rest." He retorted.
I bared my teeth and turned to reach him at the back to hit him.
"Arvic Z, 'yung love mo nananakit. Ouch!" Pepper yelled when I finally got him.
Pepper pointed at Arvic that is quiet but smiling and murmured, "Shhh. Wag kang maharot."
"Ikaw kasi!" I mouthed and returned to my seat.
"So bakit ka nga sumama? Akala ko ba bahala na kami?" Tanong ko ulit. Trip ko lang asarin si Arvic ngayon because he seem to be in a good mood. Kanina pa siya nakangiti.
"Vince is going why can't I? I need a break from work."
"Sinong mag mamanage sa shop niyo?"
"Kaya na nila 'yun. I'll just call for updates."
We met up with the others sa isang gas station. Chineck ng mga boys ang gulong at bumili ng mga kailangan sa byahe.
Lumabas ako ng kotse at nagstretch. Parang ang tagal na namin sa byahe kahit na 2 hours palang.
"Mandy! Pepper!" Nilapitan kami ni Trisha at may kasama siyang kaibigan.
"These are my friends, Camille and Ian. Guys this is Mandy and Pepper."
Tinignan ako ni Ian and I felt like I'm being judged. Then he said, "Fine. I can share Arvic with you."
I just stared before I realized what he is insinuating. "No, we're not.. we're not really - uhm, friends lang kami."
Ian laughed, "Girl! Joke lang 'yun. And you can have him. All of him. Kahit 'yung abs niya."
"Masyado ka kasing seryoso." Pinagtawanan ako ni Pepper. "That's why you need me. I'm the funny one in this friendship by the way."
"I like him more, Ian. Pwede bang magpalit ng kaibigan?"
"Aw Cams, hindi mo kayang mawala ako." Ian sort of leaned into Camille.
"See, 'yan ang friend. Ikaw madikitan lang kita diring diri ka na." Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Pepper.
"Naku ganyan ganyan si Ian pero masama rin ugali niyan sa amin. Sa friendship na 'to, kami ni Cams ang biktima."
Tinawag na kami ng mga boys nung tapos na sila. Andrew passed the key to Patrick. Nag thumbs up naman si Vince na okay pa siya.
Lahat sila marunong magdrive. I suddenly felt guilty about not knowing how to drive.
"Nakilala niyo na sila Ian?"
Tumango ako kay Arvic. "Yup. Muntik ko na ipagpalit si Pepper."
"You wish, girl." Pepper squeezed himself in the middle. "Sigurado ka ok ka lang? I can drive. Baka nangangawit ka or something?"
"Yup, sanay na ako."
"Uy wag kang mahiya. Sabihan mo lang ako para makapagpahinga ka rin." Pepper said before he returned to his seat.
Tumahimik rin ang byahe dahil nakaidlip si Pepper.
"Madalas ba kayong mag outing?" I asked.
"Bihira lang. Mas madalas ang tambay at inom."
"Curious lang ako, si Vince lang may girlfriend sainyo? Don't you date or something?"
Arvic turned to me briefly and chuckled, "Why?"
"It's just weird na wala kayong mga girlfriend. You know what I mean."
"Patrick and Andrew dated a few. May sinasama sila sa parties dati. Ewan ko anong nangyari. I didn't ask."
"Ahh."
"May type ka ba sa kanila? Mandy," He chuckled. "You could always tell me. Tutulungan pa kita."
"Alam mo babatukan kita kung hindi ka lang nagdadrive. Magdrive ka nalang nga."
Arvic opened the radio at minimal volume. "Hindi mo ako kailangan kausapin. I'm used to this. Matulog ka muna."
I pursed my lips and do as he says. Sa totoo lang wala na rin ako masabi at gusto kong pumikit.
Ginising ako ni Arvic sa second stop over. "Do you want something? Bibili ako. Comfort room is there."
Tumango lang ako at lumabas para mag CR. I checked the time and it's 4am already.
Arvic gave the key to Pepper. Sa kabilang car ay si Nico naman at si Ian. Last stop over na namin 'to at doon na kami magkikita kita.
Inabutan kami ng tinapay ni Arvic and we ate in silence. After eating Arvic closed his eyes to rest.
Pasimple ko siyang sinilip after some time when he's asleep already. Nakasandal siya with his arms crossed in front of him. Bakit pati pagtulog ay gwapo pa rin siya?
"Wag mo masyado titigan. Baka mainlove ka." Pepper said in a low voice. "Dangerous ground 'yan, sis."
"Sira ka." Sabi ko but I found myself smiling for no reason.
