Busy being Yours

4. The Mystery Friend

You know why people hire planners for their events? Because planning one is too stressful and is a very hard task to do that's why they'd rather hand in the responsibility to others, to the professionals, rather than to deal with it on their own.

But it's a different case when it comes to Jason. It's always a different case with him. Ang isang Jason Andres kasi ay isa sa mga natatanging mga taong pinagpala ng Diyos ng talento when it comes to planning parties and such.

Birthday mo? Ask Jason.

Monthsary niyo ng jowa mo? Ask Jason.

Bored ka lang at may sarili kang bahay at nag-uumapaw na pera, just ask Jason.

Whatever the occasion may be, he'll surely plan and organize it! Napagusapan na nga namin one time ni Clem na kapag nagipit kaming pareho ay ipapa-apply namin si Jas sa funeral homes, for sure ay kayang-kaya din nitong mag-plano ng memorial service. Don't ask where that idea came from, halata namang kay Clem galing. She's more of the morbid one between the two of us.

But the point here is Jason is very good at it. The life of the party. Kahit nga 'di mo hingin basta't alam niya lang na may something worth celebrating sa buhay mo ay gagawan niya ng paraan para ipagdiwang ito. One time, PJ was too stressed with his parents to the point na wala itong ganang mag-celebrate ng sariling birthday niya. Alam niyo kung anong ginawa ni Jason? He bought a cake during our break time and gave it to Peej as his gift. Siyempre ay 'di niya lang basta-bastang binigay, bilang his middle name is extra (disregard the fact that it's actually Felipe, and that him and Lils share that name), ay dinamay niya pa kami nina Ai to sing a birthday song to him inside the cafeteria, where almost all of the students were watching.

Alam ko, nakakahiya. But hey, at least PJ forgot about the problem that he's been dealing with kasi napalitan na ng kahihiyan sa ginawa ni Jason.

He's really that good. Pero siyempre ay may downside din 'yun. Malamang, 'di naman siya perpekto. May annoying tendencies si Jason kapag nagpaplano ito, lalo na kapag hila-hila ka niya at tinuturing ka niyang right hand when he's planning such events.

Ilang oras na kaming naglilibot sa party section ng mall dahil sa pagiging indecisive nito. Marami raw kasing options, may pros and cons ang mga bagay-bagay. 'Di raw ito makapag-desisyon agad-agad... And that's where I came in handy.

"Ang sabi ni Lils ay black and white daw sana... because you know, Cosmo is black and Ena is white." Nakangusong saad ni Jason habang kunot-noong nakatitig sa mga balloon samples.

"Eh?"

"Bakit?" Tiningnan niya ako.

"I'm really tired after taking our final exams Jas, the fact that we're shopping for a black and white-themed party, it's already making me more depressed."

Tanging buntong hininga lang ang sagot niya para sa akin. Tila malalim ang iniisip niya habang tinititigan parin 'yung mga lobo.

"Anong party po ba ang pina-plano niyo, sir?" Pareho kaming napatingin sa saleslady na kanina pa nakabuntot sa aming dalawa.

Kung ako lang ang papipiliin, ayoko sana ng may sunod nang sunod sa aming dalawa. Tatawagin din naman namin siya kapag may kailangan kami.  Pero 'di ko rin naman masisisi si Ate, she's just doing her job.

"Someone gave birth," seryosong sagot ni Jason na 'di parin inaalis ang tingin sa mga lobo. "Nanganak 'yung pusa ng kaibigan namin, magpapa-party kami. Good for five people, I think?"

Hindi ko mapigilang matawa nang makitang unti-unting nalukot 'yung mukha ng babae. She's looking at the both of us as if we're both crazy. I feel bad for her.