Arra
"Popong!!!!!" I yelled into the phone. "I need help!"
It was all grunts and groans for a little while before he finally said, "What's up?"
"Nag-blue screen yung laptop ko!"
It was the dreaded blue screen that no one wanted to see at work. This meant that your work that day and in pretty much your entire tenure was gone.
He groaned again. "Wala ng pag-asa yan. Work ba yan?"
"No but all my photos are here!"
"Pfft. You'll live."
"Pong! Ugh. Nevermind. Bye."
I dropped the call and stared at my laptop for what seemed like an eternity. I didn't want to touch or press anything, hoping that if I stared at it something will be saved.
I was sniffling, trying to keep my tears at bay, when my phone rang again. It was Pong. "What?!"
"What's your unit number?"
"Huh?"
"I'm here at your lobby. I don't know your unit number."
Grateful, I immediately told him and was watching at the peephole for him to arrive. He didn't even get to knock when I threw the door opened and hugged him. "Eeeewwww you stink."
"Uwi na lang ako."
"No, no. Come in, dito ka na maligo."
He chuckled then settled at the desk as soon as he saw my laptop. "Oh your gold coins are in my bag. Get the whole bag na since I owe you for pissing you off earlier."
I smiled at him and dug through his stuff, found my chocolates while he was typing away.
"Could you order us breakfast? I'm starving."
I nodded. "I'll go out quickly. That's faster."
Luckily, there was no line at the drive through and I was in and out in half an hour. When I got back, Pong was walking around my place. "Nice flat."
"Yeah, thanks. How's my computer?"
He was quiet and when I turned to face him, he was frowning.
"Oh no." I slumped at my chair about to start crying again.
"I fixed it na. Even found photos of your ex."
My eyes widened. To check if he was telling the truth, I ran to my workspace and logged in. Everything was there. "I cannot believe this."
"Some of your more recent updates were corrupted. I can't save it. Everything else should be fine, I think. I tweaked some things in this, too, so you should be good for awhile." He was already starting to dig into the breakfast meal I got him. "What's so important in there anyway?"
I whispered. "Lolo's photos are still here."
I lost my grandfather just before I entered high school. He was sick for a bit and we went to visit him in the province. He passed on while we were there.
I was his favorite and he was mine, too, so I took it particularly hard. I would stay in my room and just read.
One day, while doing homework, my old walkie talkie just suddenly sounded. "Hey, R. Over. Pick up. Over. R. Over. R. Over."
"Pong. What is it?"
"You have to say over."
I rolled my eyes. "Over. Over."
"What's your question? Over."
"Pong!!!!"
"You didn't say over." He chuckled then said. "Sorry na. Don't be mad. I just wanted to check if you were okay."
He explained that my mom told his mom what happened and that everyone was thinking of us.
"I'm just sad."
"That's okay. Be as sad as long as you want. I'll be happy for you and me muna."
I smiled at that. "Does that work?"
"I don't know. Let's try. Nothing to lose anyway."
"I have to go back to my homework na."
"Okay. Good night, Arra. I hope you smile again soon. Over."
"Good night, Pong."
"You didn't say over."
"Over."
I saw Pong now watching me. "You still miss him?"
I nodded. "Happy but missing him."
Pong held my forearm and patted it. "I'm sure he's happy watching you — his favorite apo can now... buy breakfast!"
I rolled my eyes. "Thank you, Pong. I owe you 5 gold coins."
"5 lang????"
"Yep."
"It's at least ten gold coins. I had to see your ex-boyfriend's photo pop up. Alam mo, sa tingin ko yun ang cause kaya muntik masira yung computer mo eh."
"Fine. I owe you. Thank you, Pong."
