"Ate Res, do you know where ate Chacey is?" I'm on my way to the kitchen to prepare some snacks because Quuen will be here to chillin' with me in the leisure room. I stopped in the counter and wait for ate Reshia's reply.
She's a part timer here. Some of the maids take day offs during weekends so my parents decided to take a part timer for the weekend. I think she's a graduating student that's why she took the opportunity.
"I saw her in your leisure room earlier. She said she have an appointment today so maybe she left already."
"What about Dhaley? Is he there too?" I sliced the cake that I took from the ref. I took a lot of it since Quuen and I like chocolate cake so much.
"May date daw, narinig ko." She chuckles while saying that. Napatingin ako sa kanya, I'm amused too!
"Seryoso?"
"Yep! Naunahan ka pa!" Nakaharap na siya sakin ngayon habang may ngisi sa mga labi. Tapos na siyang magpunas ng mga plato.
Inirapan ko siya at tumawa nalang sa sinabi niya. "I can't believe it. My brother, seriously?" Napailing-iling ako sa ideyang iyon. Umakto namang naintindihan ni ate Res ang ibig kong sabihin.
Ate Chacey and I didn't even experience dating. We either study or do our hobbies, no boys. But our Dhale is what? Dating? May gatas pa nga iyon sa labi! Ano kayang magiging reaksyon ng parents ko sa relasyon ni Dhaley.
"Mom and Dad knew about this?" Ibinalik ko ang natirang cake sa ref at kumuha ng dalawang avocado para gawing shake.
"Nagpaalam nga sa kanila kanina, sa sala." Inilahad niya sa akin ang dalawang baso na lalagyan ko ng shake. Dahan-dahan kong nilagay ang avocado shake sa dalawang baso at nilagyan ko ng dagdag na crashed ice.
"And? What did they say?" Tinulungan ako ni Ate Res na linisan ang mga kalat sa counter pagkatapos kong gawin ang snacks namin ni Quuen. Nagpatulong narin ako sa kanya sa pagdala ng mga ito patungong leisure room.
"They were taken aback but they seemed okay about it." She said with a trace of wander from her face.
They were okay about it? That's odd. I thought they wanted us to focus in our studies and not engage in that relationship thing. Since we were kids, we were taught to excel in our studies so I really thought we shouldn't be in a relationship. Okay lang naman sakin iyon dahil di rin naman ako interesado.
Pero baka nga naman di ipinagbabawal nila Daddy yun. Di rin kasi nagkarelasyon si Ate Chacey kaya ganun talaga maiisip ko.
No one is inside when we entered the leisure room, Ate Chacey left already. Sa maliit na mesa sa sala ko inilagay ang mga snacks namin ni Quuen. Dito narin ako magbabasa, total magki-kwento rin naman yun about sa after party, panigurado.
"Weird talaga ng theme itong leisure room niyo. Para kayong mga bata nito." Ate Res commented as she put the shake on the table. She can't get over with our choice of colors for our leisure room. Palagi nalang niyang sinasabi yun pag papasok siya rito.
"Obviously, you're not into pink and blue."
"Whatever, labas na ako may gagawin pa ako."
"Thanks," tumango lang ito at lumabas na ng pintuan. Kinuha ko ang cellphone at tinext si Quuen.
"Nice to see you too, pinkyblue." The door opened again and Quuen enters the room, obviously sluggish. What happened this time? She's not usually like this after a hangover, it's the first time.
"I thought I would end up eating all of this. And, hi to you too." I walk towards the mini library while she sat on the sofa.
"Nah, I don't want you to just eat these delicious snacks alone. I have to eat my shares." I think she just smirked when she said that. I can feel it even when I'm not looking at her. "Last Witness", here it is. I got it from the racks and walk back to the sala.
Quuen is drinking her avocado shake. She's obviously still not in the mood. I sat beside her and open the book to start my reading session. She's not yet in the mood to talk so I'll just read until she opens up.
"Bakit di mo gustong sumama sa mga party?" I took a look at her face, she's got a problem, obviously.
I sighed and closed the book I was reading. "What's the matter?" I get my shake and drink it while watching her reactions. She's in deep thoughts as if trying to weigh if she should tell me what's bothering her or not. Her face lit up a moment later.
"Ah! I heard something not so interesting at the party!" She exclaimed and was now eager to talk. I lifted my right brow as she looked at me excitedly.
"Why would you tell me a not interesting rumor?"
She rolled her eyes at me, "That's what makes it interesting. Well, it's not a rumor but a fact." Kumakain siya ng cake habang sinasabi yun.
"Would it benefit me? If not then don't say it, just tell me how did it go." I seriously said. I can feel that it's someone's issue so I don't want to hear it. I would end up judging people and that's the thing I don't want to do. I study human behaviours but I don't have the right to judge them. It's their life, I shouldn't be nosy about their business.
Tiningnan niya ako na parang sinayang ko yung excitement niyang mag share ng impormasyong narinig niya. Bumuntong hininga siya at itinuon ang atensyon sa kinakain. Bilib talaga ako sa isang 'to, kahit wala sa mood ay nagagawa paring kumain ng marami.
"It went well, as usual." Patango-tangong sabi niya.
"You're making it look like it didn't though." I leaned my back at the backrest of the sofa, this position is better while waiting for her to talk about her night out. Having a friend is like building your patience. You wait 'till they are ready to tell you their struggles and share their burdens with you.
Quuen sighed in the middle of eating! So rude. I kicked her slightly in her leg to get back to her senses.
"Stop sighing, you're eating." I muttered. She looked at me, senses are back. "Sorry," nag peace sign pa siya pagkasabi nun. She eat the last piece of cake and finish her shake. Nanganalahati pa sa akin pero sa kanya wala na. Tumingin siya sa akin ng matapos siya sa pagkain.
"You remember my childhood friend?" She mumbled.
"That frog Prince?" She chuckles at my endearment of her childhood friend. She got a crush on him before. I think they became a thing in high school if I remembered it clearly.
"Hmm. He was there last night." Tumihaya din siya sa sofa at nasa akin parin ang tingin. "He became more handsome, you know that? I think he's dating someone from Jizzy's group."
"You're glad about it." I point out.
She smiled, "Of course! So glad." She's not bluffing though. I just can't understand one thing.
"Then what was your deal?"
"I'm jealous that he found someone already."
"You had plans to get him back?"
"No. It's obviously common sense to let your ex-girl slash childhood girlfriend meet someone first." Walang bahid ng biro ang mukha niya. Seriously? The midterm took my friend's rationality.
"I'm gonna slap you so you'd wake up from your nonsense."
Her brows furrowed at my unexpected reply. She should not be shocked at my remarked if she knows what she's talking about. She stared at me as if she would understand what I meant.
I slap her face twice like waking her up from her deep sleep.
"You seemed to forget that you're a psych student, Quuen." I muttered. Now, I'm slightly disappointed with my friend's choice of thoughts. Do we really tend to become selfish when it comes to love? I know and I can feel that she still has a thing for her childhood friend. I don't know why they broke up though.
"You can't just stop love to operate. Obviously you can't dictate someone to refrain from dating, not even telling them to wait until you could find one for yourself. Their world doesn't revolve just around you. They have their own life, they have the right to decide for their own happiness too. You can't be selfish for your own gain." Nakapangalumbaba niya akong tiningnan. She looked like a defeated plaintiff.
"I think my mind isn't working well." Realization hit her.
"I know," I smiled to lighten her mood. She's now light to look at. I patted her to at least console her. We are quiet for a while, I think she's thinking about her actions.
She looked at me in disbelief as realizations drown her. "I was really crazy, right? I was crazy because of that! What the hell!" I chuckles at her late realization. She looked like she's disgusted with her self.
A sudden opening of the door interrupts us. Dhaley, fresh from shower, walk in.
"You're both here! Hi Ate Quuen." He waved at Quuen before looking at me.
"Dinner's ready." Simpleng sabi niya at tumalikod na agad.
"Gabi na?" Tanong ni Quuen sa paalis na kapatid ko.
"Obviously," natatawang sagot nito.
Tumayo na kami ni Quuen at tinulungan naman niya akong dalhin ang mga pinagkainan namin. "You should just eat here." I told her when we got out of the room. Alam naman ng mga magulang niya na nandito siya, it became our routine after hell week.
"Good evening, tita." Quuen bowed a bit to greet my mom. Tumango lang si mommy at iminuwestra niya ang dining area. "Lagay lang namin sa sink, 'my." Sabi ko sa kanya sabay muwestra sa dinadala namin.
May katulong na nakakita sa amin at tinangka pang tulungan kami pero pinigilan namin. Kaya naman namin 'to.
Pagkatapos ilagay sa hugasan ay dumiretso agad kami sa dining area. Nakaupo na silang lahat, kami nalang ni Quuen ang hinihintay.
Habang kumakain ay nasulyapan ko si Dhaley, kahit ngumunguya ito ay gwapo parin. A sudden memory came to me.
"You are dating, Dhale?" Casual na tanong ko. Si Ate Chacey ay napatingin sa akin, nagtatanong. Di niya rin alam!
"Ah! Yeah, he told us just today." Natutuwang sabi ni Daddy. Si Dhaley naman ay parang normal lang sa kanya iyon.
"Diba gusto mo si Shainia? Di na ba?" Pagmamaangang tanong ni Ate Chace rito. Si Quuen naman ay natawa lang. We all knew that fact. He admitted it when we were in second year college and he's in his last year in senior high.
"Nakakahiya kayo!" Nakangiwing sabi niya sa amin. Natawa lang din kaming lahat sa kanya.
"And it's okay for you Dad?" Tanong ko ulit nang humupa ang tawanan.
"As long as it would not be a distraction, why not? After all, he's a boy." Mom replied.
"Okay lang sa amin ni ate?"
"Why? You have someone?" Humagikhik si Quuen sa tabi ko.
"No! I was thinking if Ate Chacey could date, she's at the right age!" Agarang sagot ko para di nila pansinin ang pagsipol ni Quuen.
"She could, of course. But it all depends on your sister."
"Why put me in the hot seat? I think Quuen has something to say about yours." Ate Chacey casually said. Nakatingin na sila ngayon kay Quuen, who's now uneasy. Tumingin siya sakin bago nagsalita.
"There's nothing naman..for now." She mumbled the last two words. Pinagsasabi na naman nito? Nakangiting tumingin ang dalawang kapatid ko sakin, parang nagsasabing di sila naniniwala. Perks of being observant. Ano naman kayang napansin nila.Tumahimik nalang ako pagkatapos nun, Quuen did the same.
Naiba na ang usapan hanggang matapos kaming kumain. Naghintay pa kami ng ilang minuto bago nagpaalam na umalis si Quuen. Malapit lang naman yung bahay nila kaya pwede lang na lakarin. Hinatid ko na dahil matatakutin din kahit tumatanda na.
"I remembered!" Sabi niya bigla nang palapit na kami sa bahay nila. "What happened to the both of you yesterday?"
"Who?"
"I saw you with Kein yesterday, in the coffee shop." Taas baba ang kilay na sabi niya.
"You're being nosy again, night." Tumalikod na ako pagkasabi nun, nasa harap na kasi kami ng bahay nila.
"Damot mo! I'll investigate nalang." Natatawa pa ito habang pumasok sa gate ng bahay nila. Baliw talaga.
"Bahala ka din sa buhay mo, bye!" I ran back to our house, smiling.