The finals week ended and we're all exhausted. We felt drained. Pati si Lisha na hindi nag-aaral, nastress at tuluyan ng naging loka-loka.
"Linamnam ulam. Linamnam ulam..." Kanina niya pa yan kinakanta kahit sa McDo kami kumakain ng lunch ngayon.
Morning kasi yung schedule ng mga ABM, TVL at GAS. Sa hapon naman ang exams ng STEM at HUMSS.
Nakayuko akong kumakain ng french fries dahil sa kahihiyang ginagawa ni Lisha. Pinagtitinginan kasi siya ng mga crew at ng ibang mga kumakain dahil ang lakas talaga ng boses niya. Tapos tuwing sinasabi niya na yung Jollibee, bigla siyang tatawa tapos uulitin niya ulit mula sa simula yung jingle.
Epekto na siguro yan ng debit and credit. Natrauma sa balance sheet.
"Nag-aya pala si Mike. Sabay daw tayo sa kanilang magdinner mamaya after their exams." Jean informed us.
"Close na kayo?" malisyosang tanong ni Roselle sa kanya. Jean immediately did her signature eye roll.
"Si Clark ba yun?" may tinuro siyang random guy sa likod ni Roselle.
Roselle fell for Jean's trick and she quickly scanned the place. "Ha? Asan?"
We laughed at her. "Akala ko ba you hate him?" Lisha teased. "The more you hate, the more you love na ba?"
Nag-asaran sila ng nag-asaran. Napikon si Roselle so she mentioned Harley, Lisha's secret crush. Nakatingin naman ako sa entrance ng fast food restaurant. Napakunot ang noo ko nang may makitang isang pamilyar na mukha.
Papasok sa loob ng McDo si Irish kasama ang lalaking hindi ko kilala. Napansin yata ni Jean yung tinitignan ko kaya napatingin din siya. I can see the surprise in her face. It didn't take long for Lisha and Roselle to notice Irish and her companion too.
Sabay silang napasinghap.
Hindi ko alam kung tatawagin ba namin siya o aalis nalang kami. But she saw us already at agad lumiwanag ang mukha niya. She dragged the guy beside her to our table.
"Hi girls!" she greeted with enthusiasm. Unlike the last time I saw her, she looks so much better now. Bumalik na ang glow sa mukha niya.
"Hi Irish!" Jean stood up to kiss her on her cheek. Ganun din ang ginawa ko. Gulat parin si Lisha at Roselle na nakatulala lang sa lalaking kasama ni Irish. The guy went stiff and looked like he'd rather be somewhere else.
Hinila ito ni Irish. "This is Theodore Yapchengco. You can call him Theo." Her hand went down to hold his hand tightly. "He's my fiance."
Naglalagan ang mga panga nilang tatlo. I already know her soon-to-be-husband is in the Philippines, hindi ko lang inasahan na makikilala namin siya ngayon. "Nice to finally meet you guys. I heard a lot of good stories about you from Shane. I thought she was just making things up." Theo chuckled.
"Theo!" ungot ni Irish bago siya kinurot sa braso. "I told you they're real a thousand times before."
"Oo nga. I just didn't actually think you'll find girl friends. You've been hanging out with your..."
Pinanlakihan siya ng mata ni Irish. Like telling him not to continue talking.
An awkward minute of silence passed.
"Can we sit with you?"
Tumango lang kami kay Irish. Theo grabbed additional two chairs from the next table. Malaki yung mesang pinili namin kaya kasya kaming anim.
Dahil tapos na kaming kumain at ang rude naman kung mauuna kaming umalis, Roselle and Lisha took that chance to order food again. Nauna pa sila sa counter dahil nagbabangayan pa si Theo at Irish kung anong kakainin.
They don't seem like lovers to me... they're more like best friends.
××××××
Suho as Theodore.
