Cass' POV
"I'm not going to do this without my coffee..." I hushed Tony before he even opened his mouth, slamming back the door to his face.
Currently, we are staying in a small studio apartment, with two bunk beds. It was a bit cramped, to live with four people, giving me a bed space vibes back in college. But for its price, it was comfortable enough.
I checked my phone, it was about past nine in the morning, and I still haven't got my beauty sleep. I was up all night having tutorial classes back in the Philippines-- a very terrible sideline that I had agree to. Six more minutes before I remove my clay mask, I woke the girls up. But more particularly towards lover girl. "Hey, Romeo is by the door. Gising na!" I opened the lights and pulled both of their covers, earning dissatisfied groans. Lou, rubbed her eyes, grabbing her phone.
"Monica, hoy!! Si Tonyo! Ang iyong panty nasa sampayan pa! Bahala ka!" She immediately got up, hurriedly claiming all the clothes hanging on the balcony, dumping them all by the bed.
I grabbed my towel, and a set of clothes. Monica ran past me. I thought she would already greet Tony but instead, she reached the toilet first. "Hoy, ako muna! Lalagpas ang oras ng babad ng mukha ko!" I pound on the door.
"Mabilis lang naman! Doon ka muna mag-hilamos sa may lababo!" she suggested, but Lou is already by the kitchen sink.
"Dalian mo!"
"Teka lang, sandale!"
I take a deep breath. Ang stress, momshie!
I took a peek by the door hole and saw Tony frantically pacing in front of the door. As soon as the toilet door opened, Lou took over. "Patae muna ako," before shutting the door.
Monica dumped all the mess inside the laundry. Wait... "Nakablush on ka?"
She answered in an almost whisper voice, "konting liptint lang."
"Haaa??"
She opened the front door and Tony was still waiting. "Hi. Sorry... We-- I overslept again."
"No worries. I hope you slept well," Tony placed his phone on the front pocket, looking around the place, squinting his eyes. "You decided to stay here?"
"Yeah...?"
"Here? Instead of the hotel?"
"Yes! It was quite a bargain! Lou was good at negotiating," Monica answered.
"It's not that I am doubting your friends' skills but, seriously, you could have stayed in my unit. It's much bigger than this," Tony's displeasure is too visible and Monica was contemplating. "But... I respect your decisions! What is a few miles, if I have a Ferrari!"
Hoo! Hangin.
"So, uhm... Are you all ready?" Tony looked towards my direction. I raised an eyebrow for his obvious question, "except for Cass." I just shrugged. I almost forgot about the 'small celebration at his vacation house with some few close friends' pang nalalaman. Well, I never really thought I would be invited or if I really am.
Lou joined in, from the bathroom, "You know how long we take..."
"But we have to meet a few of my friends at brunch," Tony checked his watch. "Can you just get ready in the car, please?" He looked over the three of us.
"I still need to use my bath salt." I replied.
"You can bring them to the villa. You can even use the jacuzzi all you want," Tony suggested, pausing for a bit, maybe figuring out where to put an insignificant person who only wants a proper bath. "Deal?"
"I want coffee as down payment."
Tony checked his phone, "we can drop by Starbucks. I'll give John a call."
Sosyalen talaga. Kagigil.
My phone alarmed. I used the sink to rinse off the mask.
---
"Cass, hurry up! Andoon na sa kotse ang sapatos mo! Dinala na ni Monica," I hear the switches turning off, while I was still roaming in the bathroom.
I straightened the creases of my dress, from the bathroom mirror, "hoyy, alin doon? Baka di bagay sa suot ko."
"Bagay yan," Lou replied tying the laces of her shoes, not even trying to look at me. "Okay ka na ba?"
"Teka, yung eye patch ko sa ref," I opened the freezer, and grab the ice cold container. "Done." I still felt restless, even after grabbing my bag, as if I'm forgetting something. Lou was about to lock the door. "Aling sapatos nga ang dinala ni Monica?" I pulled Lou's bag to make her stop.
"Di ko nakita, sinupot nya na," and the door clicked. "Nakailang kape ka ba kagabi?"
"Dalwang can lang."
We arrived at the parking, a flashy red car by the front of the building.
"Okay. Tara na, Lou. Balik na tayo." I pulled her arm to go back to the apartment, and noticed I'm still wearing the fluffy indoor slippers. Kung nasa pinas kami, baka nahabol na ako ng walis tambo ng mama ko.
"Hoy, luka," Lou replied and pulled me back.
"Dadalwa naman upuan nyan, san tayo sa bubong?" I eyed the car, and "there goes the roof." The roof folded.
"Taray, may patransformer," Lou snickered a laugh.
"You can place your bags in the compartment," Tony lifted the trunk.
"Pati ako lagay nyo nalang din sa compartment," I rolled my eyes, walking towards them.
"Cass," Monica shushed me.
Lou placed her bag. "Where do we--," Lou was doing weird gestures finding the right word. I put my backpack as well, then Tony closed the trunk.
"This is a four seater," he folded the driver's seat and showed the 4 inches seat at the back.
"Ah," Lou responded.
I smiled, pulling my long fitted dress. "Bakit ako nagdress?" Monica and Lou were wearing jeans, with their tees.
"Gusto mo sa passenge--" I sat on the back seat before Monica finished. I'm thankful for the slit on the side for letting me sit down with ease.
"Okay na kami dito," I replied. Tony was just confused as we talked, so I added, "You won't even know we're here."
There goes his billion-dollar-worth or more, dejected look on his face. "I was in a rush a while ago... I'm sorry if it is not to your liking." Monica hold unto his arm to assure him it is okay.
I am not even-- Di ko naman sya inaaway, a.
"Someone's excited to see Monica," Lou teased.
'Not to your liking..?' "Di naman araw-araw nakakasakay sa sports car. We are not everyday Ferarri. We're very much thankful. Let's go!"
Tony adjusted the other seat for Lou, with a worried expression, mouthing to Monica, "is she being sarcastic or--" as if I cannot see him.
"Well..." Monica replied.
"I'm not, okay? I just talked that way. And it's hard to express myself sometimes so I putak putak like that sometimes. Chill." I placed the sling bag to my lap. Parang habang tumatagal, nagiging katulad na ako ng mother ko.
"Also, she needs coffee," Lou added, and I added a snap. For no reason. And I thought it was a cool sound effect. And now I am contemplating. Ha-ha.
Tony smiled raising his eyebrow, "right. I almost forgot." He waited for Monica to get in and closed the door.
"Don't you dare forget!" He just chuckled. I stopped my lips from curving upward. I still dislike him. Both Monica and Lou were giving me the look of a parent when it sees their child making friends. I mouthed a, "tonies are not friends." The Ferrari's engine roared in its world class famously unique refined throaty rumble. I would lie if my heart didn't skip a bit for the car. "But this is good," I told them. Monica and Lou just grinned at each other before facing the front.
"Also... The A/C is broken," Tony flicked the A/C. Isn't it convenient to wear a tank top, scarf, shades and thick skin?
"Great." Anyway, I think we, are still adjusting to the climate.
On the first few miles, we were going slow. Maybe, like 20 mph? Even the grandpa with his old truck overtaken us. Can he even drive? Well, I expected to catch all the air through my nostrils and absorb the pollution in my pores right after I just had my skin care, so this is not bad for a change of pace. I placed the eye mask under my eyes, while the girls does their make up.
"I see," I covered my face with my beanie.
"See what?" Lou asked.
"I see our driver getting distracted. Ready na ako mamatay," I replied.
"Luka talaga 'to."
"'Nica, feel free to connect your phone here."
"Isn't it broken like your A/C?" Monica retorted back.
"Ouch. The only broken here is my Ferrari's dignity."
"And A/C..."
"Yeah, and the A/C..."
I lifted my beanie and poked Lou as hard as I can, mouthing a, "are they flirting?"
She used her hand to cover her mouth in case someone might see us on the mirrors, "ha??"
"Ano yun???" I mouthed back eyeing on the front seat.
"Obvious naman," Lou mouthed in a loud whisper. "We. Are. Not. Here."
Then, it suddenly hit me. I forgot to bring the new waterproof eyeliner I bought. Kastress naman kasi. Akala ko talaga di kami kasama, di ako prepared! I internally screamed pulling the beanie to my face.
"Cass," I lifted the beanie covering my eye to preserve the soothing effect of the eye patch. Although I don't know if it works. "Dinala ko yung bapor mo," Monica turned to point the invisible bag hidden in the trunk, then returned to putting her mascara. "In case na gusto mo na magpalit."
"Maya na pag nakapag kilay na ako."
"Eyeliner?"
"Awa na, pahiram. Wala na akong muta."
After Monica had finished preparing, probably. We went sonic, like how it is supposed to be. Muntik na ako malunod sa hangin like how I want it... I'm kidding!
"Mom, say 'hi'."
"Hey~ children with no freedom." I could see that air with my eyes closed. Then somebody moaned 'daddy' followed by squeals and the chants.
"Ahem, anyway, I'm hosting a party by the riverside. Wanna come along?"
"Shut up, Maier!"
"Let's go? I want to see my daddy~"
"Keep it low, man."
"Keep what low? His pants?"
"This is why you're still the one for me, Jon--"
"Bailey will take me. Right, compadre?"
"Hell, no."
"Excellente!"
Why are there a group of dancing gorillas in tutus and ballet shoes in the back of my mind?
"Yeah, come on. Drop by. With all means, for me." The smug!
"It's their bond," Monica implied.
"Hm?" James Bond, bobo Tonyo.
Napataas naman ako ng beanie sa mata. Bakit ba, gusto ko lang makichicka.
"Talking about you." She smiled at him, and he looked very much pleased. Probably with himself.
"Only good things, I hope?" Lou and I shared a suppressed laugh. Monica didn't.
"Hahahaha, where?"
He got flustered at her comeback, but immediately retaliate to a sheepish amused smile. "This. There," he tapped the wheel, and the road ahead. "Here," and his face.
---
'Pulling up for coffee,' I typed on my phone, featuring my perfectly snatched eyes (a good liner day), and some people running in the background, 'Starbucks and the full bladders.'
"Hey, Monica, I'll just pick up this--," his phone's screen was flickering as it rings, "Uhh, where did they go?"
"In a rush to take an Inxtagrammable picture in the Starbucks mirror." I take one more look on the picture before posting in my story. I changed into the shoes that Monica brought.
"Really?"
"No," I looked at him dead in the eye, shoving back my slippers in the bag. They had to pee, Tony.
"Well, just-- Use this," he gave his card holder to me.
Starbucks was at the second slot. "Do you want anything?"
"I'll have a Grande Cold Brew with 3 pumps white mocha, vanilla sweet cream cold foam, and caramel drizzle--"
"Sure." Definitely not.
I stride towards the cafe, watching as my reflection on the windows gets nearer. These platform sneakers earns an 'okay' match for this dress. Not bad. The bells chimed as I push it open. I was greeted by the strong scent of roasted coffee beans and a hint of baked goods. A calming jazz plays in the background, as I fall in line and gazed up at the menus. Grande, Teavanna Grande. Espresso. Frappuccino. Smoothies.
"Oh, hey, Cass." I turn my head to the source, and yes, she was talking to me.
"Hi." Sino nga ito? I smiled in the midst of confusion. It's not that I don't remember her, I do remember her face. But my brain is farting 'Ex girlfriend! Ex girlfriend!,' instead of her effing name! It is probably my mom's genes, that is caving in for the drama. Mama talaga! "Ma-Maddie...!" of the parking lot, and the food park. I was too overjoyed. I almost snapped my fingers on both hand, and pointed at her. But I restrained my hand. This is awkward.
"Are you meeting someone?" She gently shake the pink drink in her hand, before taking a sip.
Someone coughed beside her hinting a slight, "Bailey," if I heard that right. Maddie gave him a push. "Hi," he waved and smiled showing all of his teeth, "I'm Dom, short for Dominic." I waved back awkwardly.
"I'm with my friends," I figured it was too bland, as they seem to be waiting for more answers, "We're just here to get some survival juice."
"Welcome to Starbucks. What can I get started for you today?"
"Oh, I would recommend this drink," she leaned in closer, she smells sweet and nice. "It is a secret blend I learned from a friend." She winked. I laughed unexpectedly. Why is she winking?
"Venti sized Strawberry Frappuccino with three scoops of vanilla bean, four pumps of white mocha and three pumps of cinnamon dolce," she ordered.
"Make it four," I added, "please." I can't remember what Tony had said but it might be the same thing.
Dom moved on my opposite side, and rested his arms on the counter, "So, uhm, you and Bailey?" He raised his eyebrow at me and bite his straw.
"We what?"
"Told you that anything you wear looks good on you," Lou came with Monica. Thank God.
"And those three inches bapor," Monica would pat herself in the back if she could.
"Monica, Lou, Maddie and Dom," I introduced in the shortest way possible with the hand gestures referring to who is who.
"Di ba sya yung--"
"Ah, si ano ni ano--"
I looked at them intently as they try to converse in the most discreet way they can think of as of the moment.
"--the girl who helped you with the make up problem, Crazy right?" Lou try to save the situation and Monica nodded in agreement.
"Hi," Maddie greeted them warmly.
"Hey," Dom reached out for a handshake to the other two, to which they obliged. He paused holding on Lou's hand a bit longer, reading her shirt print, "Had my patience tested... hm..."
"It was negative," Lou responded pulling her hand away with a cheeky smile.
"Did you order yet?" Monica asked.
"Yeah, I take Maddie's suggestion," my left eye twitched.
My coffee, gone!
"Why is my Cold Brew in a different color?" Tony holds his cup up, narrowing his eyes on the label. Please, look at the road while driving.
"Yeah," I sipped my drink silently.
"Cool! It's in a Venti size! I didn't know you prefer this over coffee," I almost choked myself to what he said. "So, let me see the picture." He extended his hand to Monica, to which she just hold unto.
"What picture?" Monica turns her head towards him with a confused smile.
"You know the one you would post on Inxtagram, I hope you show me first before the world," he holds her hand, gently rubbing her fingers.
"What picture... Hmm... Oh, wait, here," Monica pulled her hand away momentarily to access her phone, earning a huff of dismay from the poor lover boy. "Look at Lou, slaying in her statement tee."
He just hummed to hide his frustrations. "And this is me in a bathroom mirror selfie. They had a nice mirror."
"Send it to me," he craned his neck looking at Monica's phone.
"I think I should be offended but surprisingly, I'm not," Lou joined in. Monica shushed her. "Oh, I forgot, we're not even here. Go on," Lou said in a loud whisper.
"With all due respect, Monica... please, don't distract the driver." Kung gusto nyo, saka na kayo magharutan pag kayo nalang. Mandadamay pa itong dalawang pulgas na ito. Ang kati.
She only replied with a cute insincere, "Oops."