Stranded

5

D

Wow and wow! I just can't believe I'm staring at this girl right now.. The last time I saw her, she was on her short shorts and crop top sleeveless..

Fuck, enough with that Deanna.. Parang ang pervert naman ng nasa isip ko, yun talaga yung naalala ko sa kanya, yung suot niya non..

Pero... It's just unbelievable, nabanggit lang siya ni Ponggay kagabi out of nowhere and here Jema is, in front of us..

And I don't know what to say right now... I'm out of words..

"Deans, wala kang sasabihin? Titignan mo lang si Jema?" oh, please, Ponggay..

I cleared my throat first..

"Ahhh, Jema.. F-funny seeing you h-here.."

Oh, man! Come on.. Bakit ba ko nauutal..

"You suck, Deanna.. Is that how you greet the girl from 5 years ago?" god, ate Bea..

"Ponggay is right.. You're really pretty, Jema. The stranded girl.." Argh, ate Mads, wag mong takutin..

Mas lalo akong walang masabi dahil sa mga kaibigan ko. Di na maintindihan yung itsura ni Jema. Parang gusto na lang niyang lamunin ng lupa..

Magsasalita na sana ako pero may biglang nag ring na phone sa table nila.

I think someone is calling..

Kinuha ni Jema yung phone.. So, it's hers..

"Excuse, guys.. I just need to answer this.."

Tumango lang kami..

Medyo lumayo siya samin.. Sinundan ko na lang siya ng tingin.

"Kayla, okay na ba yung mga pinapaayos kong report sayo?" ate Maddie asked Kayla.

Ate Mads naman.. Its weekend, bakit ba tinatanong niya si Kayla ng work related..

Si Kayla halatang uneasy na eh.. Ako din siguro ganito yung mararamdaman. Ang strikto ng datingan ni ate Mads..

Sabagay ganito naman talaga si ate Mads.. Seryoso pagdating sa trabaho, kahit naman nung college pa kami, pagdating sa academics seryoso talaga siya. Pero mabait naman to at kalog pag magkakasama kami.

"Ah, yes po, ma'am. Okay na po lahat."

"Dapat lang.. Kasi next kong ipapaayos sa inyo yung budget natin for our company summer trip."

"Yes po, ma'am.."

Bumalik na si Jema..

"Ah, guys, nice meeting you all. But we have to go na.." wow, agad, Jema?

"Bes? Why? Anong meron?" Kayla asked.

"Brian called.. He needs a ride right now. Nasiraan daw siya ng kotse.."

Brian? Who's Brian?

"Guys, I'm really sorry. Its an emergency.." I don't know what to say.. Nakatingin lang talaga ako kay Jema.

Aalis na siya, di man lang kami nakapag usap. Funny, bakit naman ako kakausapin ni Jema? Catching up? Eh sino ba ko?

Di naman kami magkaibigan o ano..

We were just two unlucky people got stranded in an island because of our wrong decisions.

Jema and I are not connected in anyway..

I am just a stranger that she got stranded with in an island.

"Its okay, Jema.. Nice meeting you.." Bea said.

I just nod at her..

Then, they went out..

Parang nagmamadali pa si Jema..

"So, order na tayo ng coffee natin, guys?" ate Maddie.

"Java chip lang sakin, ate Mads.." Ponggay.

My eyes are still glued at the door of this coffee shop..

"I think, Deanna needs and deserves an iced white chocolate mocha with extra whipped cream.. Right, buddy?" ate Bea said and put her arm on my shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah.. Please.." yun lang ang nasagot ko.

"What a fucking treat, Bea.. But, all right.. I think, she really needs it.." akala ko aawayin pa ni ate Mads si ate Bea eh.

But, hey.. Minsan lang magkasundo tong dalawa na to pagdating sakin.

Si ate Bea kasi may pagkakunsintidor sakin, ayaw niyang nadedeprive ako sa anumang bagay, mapa pagkain pa yan o ano pero in moderation naman. Lagi niyang sinasabi na everyone deserves a treat once in a while, that we cannot deprive ourselves of everything that makes us happy.

For ate Bea there is no such thing as 'prohibited', 'not allowed', or 'forbidden'.. We just have to limit ourselves. Dahil sabi nga nila, masama ang sobra..

Dapat bibili lang kami ng maiinom dito then we will go out and stroll..

But they decided to sit and stay for awhile..

This drink is really good..

Hindi ko na maalala kung kailan ba ko huling uminom ng kape..

"Masarap ba, Deans? Thank me!" ate Bea..

"Anong nangyari sayo kanina? Napipi ka ata?" Yeah, right, Ponggay..

"You like, Jema! Hahaha.." oh jeez, ate Bea..

Basta babae talaga ganito iniisip nito..

"Oh, save that, Bea! My god, seriously? Ipupush mo si Deanna dun? Enough of that stupidity.." ate Maddie.

Okay, a war is about to start...

"Enough, guys.. Wag kayong mag away, okay? We're here to unwind, to relax. Please, guys, give it a break.." I need to stop them from bickering.

"You better stop, Bea. Ayan ka na naman.." ano ba naman to..

"What, Mads? Wala naman akong ginagawang masama.."

"Ayan na naman eh! Narinig ko na yan, Bea! Just please, for once, save Deanna from this.. Itigil mo yan ngayon pa lang.."

"I said stop! Tama na kasi!" di ko na kayang pakinggan sila..

Tumayo na ko at iniwan sila.. Basta na lang ako lumabas. Bahala na kung saan ako dalhin ng mga paa ko.

"Deans! Deans! Hey, Deans.. Hey..." okay, same scenario.

Magbabangayan yung dalawa, mag wawalkout ako, and Ponggay will follow me..

Hinawakan niya ko sa kamay para pigilan ako sa paglalakad.

I'm tired of this.. Kailan ba kami babalik sa normal?

"Deans, please.. Concern lang si ate Maddie sayo.. Please, wag kang umalis. Let's not ruin this day.."

Tinignan ko lang si Ponggay..

Kanina lang ang saya saya niya kahit inaasar namin siya, kahit pinagtutulungan na namin siya.

Pero ngayon, ang lungkot lungkot na ng mga mata niya...

Kailan ko ba huling nakitang malungkot ang mga mata na to? Ang tagal tagal na..

Ako na naman ang dahilan..

Hanggang kailan ko gagawin to sa mga kaibigan ko?

"Hindi naman totoo na hindi ka isasama ni ate Maddie. Nakakatuwa lang talaga asarin ka. Dahil sa'yo mas buhay at masaya ang lahat. Please don't be sad, Pongs. We cannot afford a Ponggay-less summer vacation trip.. It will be lonely without you."

Then, tears run down her face.. But, she smiled.

Ponggay is my best friend..