"Niko! Pare!"
"Jake!" Niko waved back.
Ina glanced from the screen to Jake and back. Her mouth was agape and she had a confused expression on her face. "Teka...sandali...magkakilala kayo?" Ina asked Jake who had moved away to watch TV. Jake just nodded but was concentrating on what he was watching.
Riki, on the other hand, was quietly giggling while watching her friend. It had been three days since they last saw each other. And it was the only time Ina actually got through to Riki's phone.
"REGINA MIKELA MENDOZA!" Ina screamed again. Jake threw her an angry look and shushed her.
"Ano po yun, Miss Minchin or is it Sister Eva?" Riki laughed.
"Consuelo!"
"Shh!" Riki's eyes widedened.
"Bakit? Pangalan mo yan no? Maria Regina Mikela Consuelo C. Mendoza"
"Fine. Bakit po Madam Maria Katrina Gisella Esperanza San Victores?"
Both Niko and Jake looked at their respective partners with curiosity and amusement.
"So, bukingan ng buong pangalan?"
"You started it..." Riki retorted.
"Fine. Sorry na...pero, nasaan ka? Hindi yan apartment mo e..."
"Diba na-lift na yung ECQ nung isang araw?"
"O...pero ayaw ko pa rin bumiyahe pabalik sa atin...wala na ngang masakyan, may mga checkpoints pa..."
"...nung na-lift na yung ban, nag-empake na ako para lumipat..."
"Lumipat? Bakit? Saan?"
"...ang galing din ng timing ng pagkasira yung aircon sa apartment ko...di pa ako makatawag ng taga-ayos dahil sa quarantine..."
"So, saan ka lumipat?"
"Dito sa condo ni Niko..." Riki replied. Niko left her outside while he used the bathroom. "...thank you for showing me his videos..." Riki said.
"Teka...what? Wait...wait..." Ina was trying to piece together the information she had received in the past 48 or so hours. "...boyfriend mo na si Niko?"
"Oo...last last week lang..."
"Ay iba sya! Nagmamadali, Neng? May hinahabol ka ba?"
"...well, if I remember it right, sabi mo sasagutin mo si Jake after pa nung lockdown, anong nangyari?" Riki shot back.
