Remnants of Our Drowned Love

Chapter 7

I played the mini windmill with my fingers, pasalubong ng kaibigan ni Henry galing Ilocos.

"Cute 'no?"

I nodded. "Thank you, how was your vacation?"

"Fun! Ang ganda do'n grabe fresh air!" Yeri jumped on me in excitement, I positioned her on my lap as I listen to her interesting vacation in Ilocos.

Yeri is a sweetheart, she's soft most of the time, always considerate of the people around her, we became close after we tried dating — in which we realized we should be friends nalang. She's too busy travelling and I'm busy with work but I really like her kindness.

"I'm going to rest muna siguro, for a week? We're going back to Boracay, eh, is everyone okay here?" She sling her arms around my neck and played with that mini windmill. "You okay? Don't tell me hindi ka lumalabas ng opisina mo."

"Lumalabas ako, I've been attending parties these days, also got invited on my friend's beach wedding."

"Beach wedding gahhh so ideal you have to go there with a date! Not me though."

Kumunot ang noo ko, if I know she'll be home I would ask her instead but I'm fine going with Olie, I could imagine Olie walking barefooted wearing her maxi dress.

"Tara na nga, they're waiting." I tapped her legs upang tumayo na ito, I'm here nga pala para sunduin siya.

Si Henry ang unang bumungad sa amin nang makarating kami sa restau, he have this playful grin I hate, mas nakakainis 'yung magkamuka sila ni Kuya.

"Getting rid of Asia's Next Top Bottom eh?"

Hindi ko ito pinansin, pinaghila ko nalang si Yeri ng upuan. "Hoy babae, pinsan ko nanaman target mo, ah, takot ka naman sa commitment." Pang-aasar niya rin sa kaibigan niya.

Yeri snickers, "Binanggit mo 'yung commitment, diba allergic ka do'n, baka bigla nalang bumula bibig mo rito."

"Puta, foul 'yon, ah."

I shook my head as they banter. Baka sila magkatuluyan sa huli kaka-away nila.

"Here, try this Rue, masarap 'to." Itinapat niya ito sa akin, because she insist, I ate it without knowing what it was.

The consequences of me eating kalamares just got me stranded at home, great. Nilagnat ako kinagabihan at hindi nakapasok sa trabaho, I've been absent for two days. I just got really sick after eating food I'm allergic with.

Gaga ka, Yeri.

"Read your emails," Olie rasped over the line. Ang sexy sana ng boses kaya lang—ugh nahilot ko nalang ang sintido ko.

"Could you please cover up for me?"

"Not my job."

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

"You've been MIA for two days leaving me with these paper works Without. A. Word. Did you fucking hired me as your secretary or your substitute?"

"That's why I'm asking you a favor," I groaned. "I'm sorry, I'll hang up now."

"Why are you hiding from this woman ba? She's been looking for you, what am I gonna say to her?"

"...sino?" Inisip ko kaagad kung sino, wala naman akong pinagtataguan.

"You don't know who you fuck seriously? Go to work!" Olie hang the phone up, fuming mad. For the record, Freya was the last one I fucked hindi naman ako hahanapin no'n lalo na't nasa NYC siya. Naitungkod ko nalang ang kamay ko sa counter habang kinakalma ang sarili.