The Warmth of Success

Prologue

"Hoy, natutulog ka?"

Bakit may bubuyog nanaman sa kwarto ko? Ang aga pa ha!

"What the hell." sinamaan ko siya ng tingin

"Ah tulog ka pala, sige tulog kana ulet." Brielle laughed

Malakas kong ihinagis ang unan sakanya. Pano ba 'to nakapasok dito? 

"Aray! Bumangon kana nga dyan, tanghali na oh. 'Di ka ba napapagod matulog?" masungit na tanong ni Brielle

"Gaga, bakit naman ako mapapagod? Mag-mamarathon ba ako sa panaginip ko?" sagot ko habang nagkukusot ng mata

"Exactly! That's my point! You aced it!" pumalakpak siya at sinabayan pa ng malakas na tawa

"Ewan ko sayo." suplada kong sagot

I offered a morning prayer before getting out of my bed. Naligo at nag-toothbrush na ako bago lumabas ng banyo. Brielle is sitting at my bed while scrolling through her phone.

"Ang bagal ha." Pagpaparinig niya

"Eto na po ma'am, binibilisan na po" I answered her while choosing my clothes

Bri has been my bestfriend since Grade 7. Nagkakilala kami sa social media but we never thought na magiging magkaklase kami until now, in our last year of highschool.

"Saan ba kase tayo pupunta? Ang hirap mamili ng outfit ha" tanong ko

"Hoy, tinext kita kagabi, sabi ko pupunta tayo sa mall. Magd-date tayo tutal wala ka namang jowa." sagot niya

"Excuse me? Bakit ikaw, may jowa ka?" depensa ko

"Oo! Di nga lang niya alam na kami na pala hahaha!!" pagbibiro niya

I rolled my eyes and focused on my outfit. I just wore a white tube top partnered with a high waisted mom jeans. Naglagay din ako ng belt, earrings at necklace just to add accessories. Magsusuot nalang ako ng rubber shoes since sa mall lang naman daw.

"Saan tayo kakain? Gutom na'ko." I asked her

"Kahit saan. Hanap nalang tayo don" she answered while still scrolling through her phone

I did light makeup on my face. I also blowdried my hair. Hinayaan ko nalang siyang nakalugay since my hair has soft natural curls at its end. I sprayed perfume and grabbed my bag.

"I'm done, let's go." I informed her

We got into her car and drove off to the mall. She got her license recently kaya 'di ko alam kung safe ba siya magmaneho or what. When we arrived at the mall, we immediately searched for a place to eat.

"Im craving for pizza, dito tayo!" she pointed at Yellow Cab

"Hahanap na ako ng upuan, ikaw nalang um-order."

"Okay, what's yours ba?" she asked

"Kung anong oorderin mo, yun nalang den." I said while giving her my money

I searched for our seat. Konti lang ang available ng tables because today is Saturday kaya sobrang daming tao. Thank God may umalis na customers kaya makakaupo agad kami.

"Thank you po" the woman lended her seat since tapos na sila

I scrolled through my phone while waiting for Bri. I lifted my gaze to see if tapos na ba siya pero imbis na si Brielle ang mahanap ko, I found this cute guy sa kabilang table.

"Hay, sa wakas naka-order na din ako. Antayin nalang naten, is-serve daw nila maya-maya." Bri said

Hindi ko siya masyadong napansin kase I am busy looking at the man across our table. He is with a young boy and a lady. Siguro mga nasa twenties yung babae.

"Huy ace, wala ka bang balak kumain?" she questioned me with her brow up

"B-bri! Andyan kana pala! Oo eto na, kakain na" I started eating

Hala, napatagal ata yung titig ko, hindi ko namalayan na dumating na pala yung inorder niya. The guy suddenly stood up, sumunod na din yung mga kasama niya. Tapos na siguro sila kumain.

"Bakit parang nakakita ka ng anghel kanina? May crush ka noh? Ikaw ha! Malandi ka, bat 'di mo sinasabi saken na may crush kana? Tita oh, yung anak niyo humaharot na." She laughed

"Hoy hindi ah! Crush agad? Eh ngayon ko lang siya nakita dito, I don't even know him!" I defended myself

"So, you want to "get to know" him?" she teased me

"No ha! Hay ewan ko sayo, kumain kana lang" I rolled my eyes and continued eating

We arranged our plates before we leave para naman 'di masyadong mahirapan yung mga nagliligpit ng tables dito. We went out and searched for some shops.

May gusto daw si Brielle na damit kaya sumunod nalang ako sakanya. My phone beeped while we were walking, tiningnan ko iyon and saw a text from my brother. I was about to open it when suddenly I bumped into someone.

"Shit! Sorry, I didn't see you. I'm so--" naputol ang sinasabi ko nang iniangat ko ang aking paningin

Holy sh--- eto yung lalaki kanina sa resto!! Omg, is this destiny?

"It's okay. Next time, don't text while walking" he sarcastically said

"U-uh, okay." I stuttered

Nilagpasan niya na ako while I'm here, still shocked! Ang sungit naman pero infairness, ang pogi! Ano kayang name niya?

"Hello? Ace? Are you there? Yoohoo?" Brielle asked worriedly

"Oh my god, bri! I bumped into that guy! Yung lalaki sa resto! Ang pogi niya, ang tangkad pa! Crush ko nga ata siya! Omg, do you know him?" I asked hoping na kilala niya

"Pano ko makikilala kung 'di ko siya nakita? Duh?" she rolled her eyes

I tried looking around to see if nandyan pa yung guy. Luckily, hindi pa sila nakakalayo.

"Ayun! There he is!" I pointed

"Asan? Ah yung nakasweater? Teka 'di ko masight yung mukha" she acted like she is holding binoculars in her hands

Nakatalikod yung lalaki samin that is why hindi namin makita yung face niya. We tried sneaking behind them just so Brielle could see him.

"Hoy, ang creepy naman ng ginagawa natin. Pwede na ata tayong mag-apply sa mga spy agencies." I whispered

"Shut up, Ace. I'm trying to focus here" kumunot ang noo niya

We got really close to the guy's position kaya ewan ko na lang kung hindi pa makita ni Brielle yung face niya. I just hope na hindi kami napapansin nung handsome guy. Ang awkward kaya kapag nakita niya kami, baka isipin niyang stalkers kami!

"Oh ayan na Bri, I'm sure you can see na his face." I lowered my voice so that he couldn't hear us

"What the fu--- no way, is that him? Are you sure? Sure na sure?" her face can show nervousness

"Sure pa sa sure! Why? You know him?" I asked

"U-uh, yes, kinda." she looked away

"Oh! That's great! Who is he? What's his name? Why do you know him?" sunod-sunod kong tanong

"He is-- That's my---" she scratched her head

"What?" I asked, confused

"He's my suitor, ace."