Love in Bangketa

44

"Congratulations, Xynnah! We are so proud of you!"

"Anak, congratulations. Pasensiya na kung late ako nang kaunti,"

My friends and family enveloped me in a warm hug. I couldn't believe that I was able to surpass the whole four years in College.

Never have I thought nga na makakapag college pa ako.

"Thank you so much, Mommy and Daddy!" Inabot sa'kin ni Mommy si Queenie and let me play with her. Ang laki-laki na ng kapatid ko. Parang kahapon lang, payapa siyang nags sleep sa crib niya, ngayon, super spoiled na kay Mommy, hays!

"Hi, Queenie! How are you, my little munchkin sister?" I pinched her cheek na kinailing naman niya.

"Atye! No no pinch my chweeks! It churts!"

I laughed at her cute reaction. "I'm sorry. Never gonna do it again," I sarcastically said and kissed her cheek. Pero, pininch ko naman ulit.

"I dwon't yab you, Ate Chaynah!"

I stuck my tongue out. "You do," Kinuha ulit siya ni Mommy when someone called me behind my back. I saw Yuan holding a bouquet of white roses, while he was smiling from ear to ear.

"Congratulations to my most sungit crush," He smiled warmly. I rolled my eyes at him at tinanggap ang flowers sa kaniya.

"Congratulations to you as well, Yuan. I'm so glad that we already parted ways, y'know? Hindi ko kayang bumubuntot ka sa'kin sa loob ng apat na taon!" Humalakhak ako.

He grinned. "But, still, at least, we survived it, I guess?"

Yuan graduated as Magna Cum Laude. So far, he was the student who got the highest GWA in our batch. He may always look like to joke around, but when I say he's intelligent, he really is intelligent.

"All thanks to you, though. I think, I wouldn't be able to make it if not because of your help,"

Yuan scoffed. "Totoo ba 'yan? Are you really thanking me?"

Hinampas ko siya sa braso niya. "You're so mean! Hindi naman ako gano'n ka ungrateful!"

"I don't mind helping you at all... kung lagi lang naman kitang makikita kapalit no'n," Aniya.

"Stop joking around, asshole. Tara, dinner daw sa house. Sama ka?"

Sumakay ako sa kotse ni Yuan dahil nauna na rin ang parents ko sa house nila Mommy. We have decided to have dinner there because maraming pinaluto si Mommy. Sabi ko nga kay Daddy na sana kami-kami na lang, but my Mommy didn't want to.

While we were in his car, his phone kept on beeping. Sa hula ko, puro 'yon pang congratulate kay Yuan. He deserves it. Kahit mukhang hindi siya nage-effort, alam kong may ability siya to do it.

"Are the notifications bothering you?" He asked nang makita kong naka silent mode na ang phone niya. Pero, kahit na gano'n, kada minuto, bagong message ang nagp-pop up sa notification niya.

He's really friendly, pero annoying. Duh!

"Not really. Why would it bother me? It's not my business,"

"Syempre, hindi lang naman ako ang nandito sa loob ng kotse," He rolled his eyes. Sa apat na taong magkakilala kami ni Yuan, na adapt niya na rin sa'kin ang pangs-snob ko. Tsk, gaya-gaya. He has no originality talaga.

Ilang seconds pa nang manahimik kaming dalawa when I started to speak. "May nago-offer na sa'yong big companies, 'no?"

He raised his eyebrow. "And, you asked... what for? Gusto mong sumama sa'kin?"