Pixie Girl

the picture

I'm so stressed out yesterday kaya tinext ko si Anna at Elirine para lumabas ngayong Saturday. They are my high school friends and God knows how much I missed them. They are the only friends I made back in high school and I really love both of them. Anna is like my alter ego and Elirine is my spirit animal. Thankfully, they are both available.

Nagkita-kita kami sa isang coffee shop. As usual. Kapag may isang gustong maglabas ng sama ng loob sa amin, sa isang coffee shop ang meeting place.

"Kumusta, Margarette?" bungad na tanong ni Eli pagdating ko. Siya pa lang ang nandito nang dumating ako.

As usual, she looks so pretty. One thing I like most about her is that she's quiet, but she knows when to speak up for herself. And she might not be the most upright person I know, but she always make sure to keep it real even for herself.

"I'm not okay," I said honestly sabay irap sa kaniya. "Kayo pa rin ba ni Eli?" pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

"Oo," sagot niya, proud. At sa mga mata pa lang niya, makikita mong in love na in love talaga siya.

"Mabuti naman," sabi ko. Remembering all their dramas during high school, ewan ko na lang kung hindi sila magtagal.

Natawa siya. "Bakit? Wala kang tiwala na magtatagal kami?"

"Wala," sagot ko, but I'm just kidding.

Umirap siya. "Hay. Grabe ka talaga sa'kin."

"E si Daryl? Kumusta na? Nagkakausap pa ba kayo?" tanong ko.

"Oo naman. Magka-chat pa rin kami at mukha namang nakapag-adjust na siya sa buhay niya ro'n. iyon pa ba!"

Tumango-tango ako. It feels weird thinking about all my classmates in high school who I never really got to be close to. I just hope they are doing just fine. And it feels weird thinking about the truth that all I did during high school was studying. Hindi ko rin naman masisisi ang school namin kung bakit wala kaming school spirit kaya aral at bahay lang inatupag ko. At least I got to have friends before I graduated.

"Hindi ka na talaga naglalagay ng eye liner ngayon. Bakit?" tanong ni Eli, parang batang nagtatanong bakit siya iniwan ng nanay niya.

"Hindi talaga bagay sa'kin ang gano'n," sabi ko. Totoo naman. Madalas akong naka-eyeliner noong high school hanggang sa ma-realize kong mas lalo akong nagmumukhang mature dahil do'n.

"Alam mo ikaw lang nagsabi niyan. Cool mo nga noon. Saka bagay sa'yo maging rockstar," sabi niya. Napailing ako. Ito na naman siya at ipinagpipilitan ang pangarap niya para sa'kin na maging rocktar.

"Baka itakwil ako ng tatay ko kapag nagrockstar ako," natatawa kong sabi.

Natawa rin siya. Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay dumating si Anna. At tulad ni Elirine, maganda pa rin siya... at mahinhin.

"Hi! Long time no see," bati niya. "How's life?"

"Great," sabi ni Eli tapos tumingin sa akin. Buntong-hininga lang ang naging sagot ko.

"Ano bang nangyari sa'yo?" tanong ni Anna.

"Mukhang mahaba-habang sama ng loob to ah," natatawa komento naman ni Eli.

Um-order muna kami ng makakain at maiinom bago ako magsimula na maglabas ng sama ng loob. I told them everything that happened in the past few weeks. I told them how I met Zach and how I really felt about him. I told them how pissed I was at Mich and they just listened.

After some time, si Eli ang unang nagcomment.

"Kung may new found friends na siya, huwag mo na kausapin. Kung lalapitan ka lang niya para may makausap kapag hindi available ang mga bago niyang kaibigan, make an excuse."