Chapter 56
"Guian, pahiram naman ako ng phone," said Mitch. We're now sitting here beside the fountain. Elf already had her new look. We've strolled her around Town Square, but instead of making her happy, it feels like Guian was the happiest of all. Iba talaga ang pagmamahal ng isang magulang sa kaniyang anak, pagbibiro namin. And he would pout with that.
Pumuwesto si Mitch sa harapan namin at tinawag ang aming atensyon. She immediately clicked the button of the camera and there, the photo happened. I wasn't informed that we're taking a group picture. This woman! I looked like a rotten potato with that.
"Thanks, Mitch. I'm so touched," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Ito 'yung mga pictures na dapat sinu-zoom." She laughed so hard she couldn't press her fingers to zoom the picture. But when she had gotten some strength, she started to pick on me. Malakas ang kutob ko na ang mukha ko na naman ang magiging laman ng panibagong memes nila. Geez.
"Upload mo 'to, ah," utos niya.
"Siyempre naman. Nakakahiya naman sa'yo kapag hindi, eh," aniya.
"Huwag na nga. Ako na lang." Mitch opened Guian's instagram account and posted the photo. When she was done, I saw her editing the picture again. Laking pagtataka ko kung bakit niya pa iyon ginagawa. This time, she zoomed in Guian's face and made it as the photo's main highlight.
"For what?" I asked.
I saw her opening G's viber account. She selected the photo and put the caption: See that smile? That only exists when you're not around. -Delos Reyes
"Wait. No!" pagpigil ko sa kaniya.
Ngisi lamang ang una niyang tugon. "I haven't made any bad decisions lately. I'm bored," she said right after sending the photo. Then, she grinned like a witch. I'm mean, but man, she's a hustler on this matter.
"That was a very uncivil move," I commented.
"Screw the etiquette," tumatawang aniya. "Jack Barakat once said, 'Do what makes you happy. Think later'," she said, air-quoting. "Bukas na ako magsisi."
She turned off the phone and took the sim out of it.
"Makikisalpak ka ba?" naguguluhang tanong ni Guian sa kaniya. We all stared at her.
"Nope. Actually . . ." Hinagis niya ang sim sa fountain. Napanganga ako sa ginawa niyang 'yun. "Ay, nalaglag," she said innocently. We were all gaping. What in the mad world is she thinking?
"Mitch!" I gasped, looking at the water. It slowly drowned the sim card and I was left with my dropped jaw.
"Mitch," James sneered.
There was no sign of anger on Guian's face, just plain disarray.
"Change your number, Guian. Sinumpa yata 'yung sim card mo. Ang dami kasing papansin na text ng text sa'yo." She was pertaining to Jasmine.
Natahimik si Guian. Lumunok ito at tumingin na lamang sa malayo. "Okay lang. Kabisado ko naman number niya." He laughed. Because of this, Mitch gave him a blow in the head. "I'm kidding, okay? Kalma lang, Mitch."
"Good." She crossed her arms. "We're gonna have to find some cure on this, because being stupid is sick," she told us.
Elf went to his side and cunningly cuddled Guian's ankle. What a sweet dog! She knows how to comfort someone. He cupped the pup into his arms and smelled it like it was a newborn baby.
"Hiramin ko muna si Elf," aniya. Lumingon ito kay Nick.
He immediately dissented. "If you don't want to be beaten to death, then, don't." His glance sharpened. "You can have anything in my life and I won't mind, but not my dog."
