Arid Trials

Simula

Hot

"Did you know that when you wear skinny clothes, you'll look ten times hotter?"

I adjusted my seat inside the SB to listen carefully to my friends.

"If you are a natural beauty, you won't need those kind of clothes to look sexy." Sabi ni Lily.

"With a substance." I added.

"With a substance. You got it."

Umirap si Natasha dahil sa pango-ngontra namin sa kanya.

"Why? Are you confident enough to tell everyone that you're pretty?" She fired.

"I am." I confidently said. Tinaas ni Camille ang palad sa akin at nakipag-high five. Tumawa si Lily at inirapan ulit ako ni Natasha.

These are my friends here in Chicago, USA. My family migrated when I was 12, and I lived here ever since. Now I'm on my last year of college as an architecture student. That is just the basics about me. And the complex ones? I'd rather not tell.

"This mall seems so cheap, bakit ang hina ng aircon nila?" Bulong ng katabi kong si Katrina. Kaming dalawa lang ang pinay sa grupo at siya lang din ang halos nakakasundo ko.

"What? This is an elite class. Kendal Jenner used to shop here. What's your prob, Kat?" Si Natasha.

"Oh." Katrina groaned in frustration. "Your attitude makes me want to puke. Please," inirapan niya rin ito kaya natahimik kami sa mesa dahil sa tensyon mula sa dalawa. Cat fights are very often within our group. Especially if Natasha is present. We are all friends, alright? But she's just whipping sometimes and Katrina, the oldest in our group just won't tolerate that.

"O...kay. It's seven and I think my mom's looking for me." Camile awkwardly breaks the tension. Chill lang akong humihigop sa kape habang pinagmamasdan ang mga kaibigan. Lily is texting, not giving a single fuck. Camile is trying to escape the situation. Natasha is bitching with Katrina at ang katabi ko naman, ganoon din.

"It's really hot these days. That even an elite mall can't cool us down, right Tash?" Sabi ko kay Natasha. Tinantanan niya ng tingin sa Katrina at bumaling ang matataray na mata sa akin. Seriously, this girl needs to fix her attitude. Kaya siya pina-plastik ng tatlo dito, eh.

She sighs and then gave up. "Okay. I'm sorry. I just can't stand that you're insulting my favorite place. I invited you here to chill, not to comment on everything, 'kay?" Sabi niya kay Kat.

Kat just shrugged and gave her a small smile. But I know that she's still pissed with her attitude. I can almost hear her say 'Okay, bitch.'

Naramdaman kong nag-vibrate ang phone ko sa I pulled it out from my pocket.

Dad:

It's seven. Go home.

Umirap ako nang mabasa ang text message niya.

Me:

I'm with the girls. Do u want some take out?

Dad:

I want my daughter home bfore eight. Or I will throw your plates out.

Nanlamig ako agad dahil sa nabasa. "Shit!" I panicked and quickly gathered my things from the table.

"Eira, what's wrong?" Lily looked up from her phone to look at me.

"Dad wants me home. ASAP. Or my plates will be dead tomorrow morning."