SAUDADE: A Warrior In Every Inch

53- Thrill

One by one, they all came to my condo. Hindi pa ako nakakaligo o nakakapagpalit ng damit dahil naka pantulog pa ako but they are all here!

May dalang alak si Ronna at kasabay niya si Lauren at Kuya Ace. Sumunod si Kuya Freude na may dalang alak din! At si Kuya Lourde na may bouquet!

"Congrats, I am so proud." Yakap ni Kuya Lourde. Ang bango bango niya at papasok na siguro sa trabaho tapos ako amoy laway!

"Di talaga ako nag duda sa utak ninyong dalawa!" Batok sa amin ni Ronna.

"Alam kong may announcement pero di ko tinignan, uminom ako magdamag tapos nag off ako ng notifications." Kwento ni Karlos na halatang may hangover. "Sabi ko kasi sa sarili ko, kung pasado edi alak! Kung bagsak edi laklak!"

"Architect Valbuena. Sarap pakinggan. May arkitekto na tayo tapos may gwapo pang Engineer." Tawa ni Kuya Freude na inasar naman ni Engr. Rosallosa.

Hindi naman kasi ako aware na kagabi pang twelve a.m naglabas ng results. I was sleeping already at that time and Karlos was drinking alone. Wala kaming alam.

"This will open doors on both of you, firms will be desperate to grab on your resume's." Sabi ni Ate. "Both of you did a great job."

Ngumiti ako kay Karlos na pangisi ngising kumakain ng cake na dala ni Lauren. I told you, career over love is not that bad at all.

Di pa rin ako makapaniwala sa results, my siblings left for their work but my friends stayed. Inuulan namin ng parinig si Karlos na manlibre dahil top one.

"Unli wings lang!"

"Samgyup naman!"

"Kahit sa hepa lane lang oh." Biro oh.

"Mag ready na kayo mga animal, mag bu-buffet tayo." Malakas niyang sabi, nag talunan naman kami. Highschool pa niya pinangako iyan e! Na kapag nag top one siya sa kahit ano ay mag papa buffet siya!

We made reservations sa Vikings and his family is coming over to celebrate. Andoon ang mga Kuya niya, his parents are there too kaya naman parang sasabog ang mesa namin dahil reunion.

"Itong si Ronna na lang ang hindi pa lumalabas ang resulta?" Tanong ng isa niyang Kuya.

"Kuya, naku, kapag ako sumampa sa top ten. Buffet din!"

"Lord, sana topnotcher siya." Sabay sabay naming dasal dahil makunat itong si Ronna! Minsan lang manlibre!

Iyong araw na din iyon, magkakasama kaming apat dahil hindi natapos agad ang celebration. After ng buffet ay nag conrad pa kami para mag kape. Talking about our plans dahil tumatanda na talaga kami, uunahin na ang career over reunions and shit.

"Guess what?"

"Ano?" Kumunot ang noo ko kay Kuya Freude. May inilabas siya g invitation, he slides it on the table. I grab and unfold it. It's their wedding date! I am one of the bridesmaids!

"See you on Germany."

"Wow, winter na doon sa December, ah!" I feel excited. This will be my first time attending a winter wedding. I scan the list kung sino pa ang invited and my throat closes a bit when I spot Seth's name on the groomsmen.

"Oh, he wasn't returning my calls and emails. I think he won't come."

"What if he does?"

"Do you want him out of the list?" Tanong ni Kuya. Umiling ako, as much as I don't want to see him ay ayaw ko namang masira ang line up dahil lang sa akin. Seth is his bestfriend since college, ang ex ay ex na dapat.

There will also be bachelorette party for Ate Sophie before she marries my brother. I am invited as well as Ronna and Lauren! Si Karlos naman ay invited ni Kuya Freude sa sarili niyang stag party! Oh, this will be fun!