Life Series #1: Onto Better Things

Chapter 11

*Beep* *beep* *beep*

"Ughhhhh!" I irritably murmured and opened my eyes. It was Saturday and I was planning to sleep the whole day pero kanina pa nag-iingay phone ko. Kinuha ko ito sa side table ko para patayin. When I was about to turn it off bigla itong umilaw indicating a new message. I unlocked it unwillingly.

A bunch of messages from my friends in our group chat welcomed me.

France: Good morning sa lahat except kay Tin na sinungaling

Anna: May pa rant pa pero bibigay din pala

Nicolai: Miss Marupok 2020 yan eh

Carol: Hoy, Tin! Gumising ka! Pupunta kami dyan

Alex: Breakfast kami dyan, bruha ka napakalandi mo

Nicolai: Busog na yang si Tin. Kinain lahat ng sinabi tungkol sa boss niya eh

Anna: Office romance pala ang gusto

Napasapo ako ng noo. That Nicolai! Hindi talaga siya nag-aksaya ng panahon para ikuwento sa mga kaibigan namin ang nakita nila ni Gyeom sa resto.

Bumangon ako. I knew I didn't have a choice. Kahit anong sabihin ko pupunta pa rin sila dito. I love that we live close by each other but there are times I dread it, like today. Pagod ako sa trabaho lalo na't hindi ako umuuwi agad dahil sa routine namin ni Mark. I wanted to rest but here I am making my way to the CR to shower.

After showering and dressing up, agad akong bumaba. I knew my friends were already there. I can hear their laughter from our kitchen. I took a deep breath before going in. I knew they will bombard me with questions and I wasn't wrong. The moment I entered the kitchen, agad silang tumingin sakin.

"Akala ko ba hate mo yung Mark?"

"Tukmol pala ah."

"Ilang beses na kayong nag-date?"

"Kayo na?"

Instead of answering their questions, dumiretso ako kay Nicolai na nakatayo sa may gilid ng ref namin at kumakain ng tinapay. Binatukan ko siya ng malakas.

"Aray naman, Tin! Papatulan na talaga kita kahit babae ka!"

Tinignan ko siya ng masama. "Kapag huhulihin ang mga chismoso, sure ako na mauuna ka sa kulungan."

"Parang kasalanan ko pa. Ikaw nga dyan ang nagtatago sa amin!" Hinihimas niya ang ulo niya kung saan ko siya binatukan.

"Hindi ko naman kasi tinatago!"

"Eh ano lang? Kung hindi ka pa nakita ni Nicolai, hindi pa namin malalaman?" France asked me. She was toasting bread for all of us. They are this comfortable in our house. We're so close that we can go in each other's houses with freewill.

"Wala naman kasi dapat ikuwento. We're just friends," pagpapaliwanag ko sa kanila.

"Pero nagdi-date?" Sabat naman ni Carol who was spreading strawberry jam on the toast made by Frances.

"Hindi date 'yun!"

"Hmm. Let's see. Dinner in a cozy resto? Check," Anna said. Nagsulat pa siya ng check sign sa hangin.

"Silang dalawa lang?" Alex asked the others.

"Check!" Sabay-sabay pa talaga silang nagsabi.