Dinner starts at 7pm for Alli's housewarming party. Pero 11am pa lang nasa bahay na niya si JV. He promised to help her in the preparations. May mga dala na itong party stuff na gagamitin nila mamaya.
Alli didn't expect him to really do it. Parang nabanggit lang naman niya rito nung nakaraan na she needed to prepare a lot of things and clean the house, saka nagprisinta na itong tulungan siya. Eventhough the team said not to prepare food, she still wants to. It's something to impress them.
JV arrived at her doorstep exactly 11am. Naka-shorts, tshirt and slippers lang ito. He helped her clean the house. Sinamahan din siya nitong mag-grocery. By 3pm they started preparing the food for dinner.
She may have been not so good in the kitchen, but JV helped her. Hindi niya alam how did he learned to cook but he is doing good at it.
"All of us liked homecooked meals. Madalas man kaming kumain sa labas, we still love it if it's home made. We eat best at it. So somehow we learned how to cook," kwento ni JV as he was marinating the meats for the barbeque later.
"Oohhh. So your telling me the wives of Warrior five are good cooks? Parang wala naman sa mukha ni Elai at Terrenz."
Natawa si JV. "Unfortunately, you're a good observant. They can't even fry a single egg. Elai is the worst. Terrenz can do hotdogs siguro pero mas magaling pa yun magmartilyo kesa humawak ng sandok. Wallen is ok. But not great. Complicated food makes her cry. Don't tell them I told you. It's their pride."
Alli giggled. "Buti na lang andito ka. I would end up buying food na lang din for dinner."
Alli admit that she can't cook. Gusto man niyang magpa-impress kay JV pero baka lalo lang siya mapahiya. She grew up without a mom. Her father treated her like a princess. She's not used to house work. Kahit sa probinsya lang sila mayaman, her father made sure she had everything.
"Wag ka mag-alala, hindi ko sasabihin sa kanilang hindi ikaw ang nagprepare nito," JV said teasingly.
"Tumulong naman ako ah," she said pouting. "I helped you in the grocery and washed the ingredients. I just don't know what were preparing."
Napahalakhak si JV. "Kanina ko pa minamarinate 'to hindi mo pa alam kung para san 'to?"
"Bakit ano ba yan?"
"Really?"
Alli just looked at JV then looked at what he is doing. She looked back at him again then speak shyly. "Adobo?"
JV laughed harder. Alli pouted. She acted like a kid almost crying.
"Apaka naman nito! Kung makatawa," she said.
"Sorry," JV said in between laughters. "You're probably worst than Elai I guess. Elai will be thrilled."
"Hindi ah! Kaya ko naman mag-fry ng eggs!" She said.
"Like how?" JV teases her more.
"Gusto mo ng demonstrations?" Hamon ni Alli.
JV just shrugged his shoulders. With a purse lips, kinuha ni Alli ang fry pan sa shelves and took one egg from the fridge. Napasunod ng tingin sa kaniya si JV. She put the pan on the stove and switched on the fire. Sinagad niya ang apoy to the highest knob. Mabilis na lumapit si JV sa kalan, hinawakan ang kamay niya and switched off the fire.
"I've seen enough. Baka masunog pa ang bahay mo," anito na natatawa habang pinigilan na siya.
"I'll show you," pamimilit niya.
"Stop it. Itlog lang lulutuin mo para kang magpipressure cooker ng buto-buto sa lakas ng apoy," turan ni JV with a sarcastic smile.
Alli pouted even harder. But she smiled later on. Sabay pa silang natawa ni JV. Pagkuwa'y they stopped and as if a silent force passed by. They looked at each other with meaningful stares.
JV looked at Alli with blank unexpressive eyes. Alli can't figure out what does it mean. He's giving her mixed signals. And it's really hard for her to understand what JV is imposing at her.
Alli stared at JV bashfully. Obvious sa tingin nito ang awkwardness towards JV. But JV like that she is transparent at what she is feeling. Her stares shows awkward admiration, hesitation and trying to be platonic. It gives JV the edge he needed.
Si Alli ang unang umiwas ng tingin. She looked at the marinated meat na iniwan na nila.
"S-so what do we do with that?" she asked controlling herself not to stammer.
Nilingon din ni JV ang tinuro nito. "We chill it for an hour. Then we will barbeque it later. " sagot ni JV. Nilapitan na niyo ang meat. Tinakpan iyon at ito na mismo ang naglagay sa fridge. Humarap na ito sa kaniya.
"Let's set up upstairs first bago natin lutuin yung iba," ani JV. They plan to have the party sa rooftop. Pinaalam na iyon ni Alli sa landlord. At dahil wala namang ibang tenant pa sa building na iyon, punayag na rin ang owner na magpa-house warming party na siya.
Tumango na lang siya saka sumunod kay JV. They headed upstairs, brought some of the party stuff and set the space up. Quarter to 7 tapos na sila lahat sa lahat ng preparation. They freshen up. JV had brought some clothes pamalit sa napagpawisang suot nito kanina. She let her used her bathroom. Naligo ito and cleaned himself up. She did the same thing. At 7pm, dumating ang una nilang bisita. It was Elai, Thor and Matt. JV opened the door for the three. Malapad ang ngiti ni Thor at Matt nang si JV ang nagbukas ng pinto.
"I never thought you're this fast," pang-aasar ni Matt sa kaibigan.
"Di ba kami nakakaistorbo? Mukhang bagong paligo ka pa, brad?" Puna ni Thor sa basang buhok ni JV.
"Mga loko-loko! I need to freshen up. Amoy usok ako ng barbeque," he explained.
The two excitedly high five and giggled.
"Kaya pala hindi mahagilap kanina pa. Nagkakabit pala ng fence sa bahay ni Alli," turan pa ni Thor.
"Andito na pala si JV eh," bungad ni Wallen na sumulpot na rin kasabay si Terrenz, Red at asawa nitong si Buboy.
"What were you doing, bro? Kanina pa ko tawag ng tawag sayo," ani Red.
"Hindi niyo ba napansin yung bakod sa labas? Busy sa pagkakabit 'tong kaibigan natin." Ani Matt.
Red and Buboy understood kung ano ang tinutukoy ni Matt.
"Totoo ba? Ginamitan ba ng concrete yan?" ani Buboy.
"With aesthetic pa!" turan ni Thor.
"Shut it! Get in! Mga siraulo kayo. Please lang behave yourself," ani JV. He might be embarassed sa panunukso ng mga kaibigan but he is smiling.
"Wait," pigil ni Terrenz. Humarap kay Matt. "Aguimatt, sure ka ba? Ok ka lang ba, baka mabore ka sa loob?" She said as if teasing Matt dahil ito na lang ang mananatiling single sa grupo.
"Don't worry, Katrenza, masaya ako para sa mga kaibigan ko," Matt winked.
"Bakit hindi pa kayo pumasok?" Sumulpot na si Alli nang medyo natagalan na sa pagsundo ni JV sa mga bisita niya.
"Hello, Alli. May pascreening pa ata tong guard mo dito, ayaw pa kami papasukin," bati ni Elai na may halong pang -aasar pa din kay JV.
"Magsipasok na nga kayo. And wag na masyadong makulit," ani JV na may simpleng pangmamata sa mga kaibigan.
Everybody got in. They bought gifts for Alli and some food.
"Nice place, simple but very private. I like it," puna ni Terrenz sa bahay niya.
"It's really not much. But I can live in it comfortably," she replied.
"By the way, Alli," singit ni Buboy. "This is my wife, Wallen."
"Oh hi!" Magiliw na bati ni Wallen. Alli smiled back genuinely.
Like the other two ladies of Warrior Five, Wallen was also sophisticatedly beautiful. She may be married to Buboy but she still look exceptionally young. Bumagay pa rito ang little bump sa tiyan nito. Kahit buntis, her face is fresh and glowing. She looks genuinely happy.
"Yeah, you fit to be a beauty queen. It's a no fair game kapag ikaw ang kalaban. Tanggap na naming mas maganda ka saming tatlo," turan pa ni Wallen.
Nahihiyang napatawa siya sa sinabi ni Wallen.
"My beauty queen days are over. Hayaan na natin yun sa younger selves natin. We're just looking forward to aging gracefully," aniya. Ayaw na niyang pinupuri siya ng iba because of her looks.
"Correct!" sang-ayon ni Elai. "Atleast maganda tayo kahit tumatanda."
"Babe, we're not old. 27 pa lang kami. Let's not count ages, ok?" Thor pouted.
Umirap lang si Elai.
"Anyway, you've seen this place. Let's all move to the original venue. Masikip dito," turan na ni JV.
"Yeah, dun na lang tayo sa rooftop," sabi naman ni Alli.
Everybody headed out to the rooftop. It was a fun and friendly evening. Alli got the chance to know more from then Warrior Five. She is really amuse of how close their bond is. Even their wives is closer together. Infact, may pagkailang on her side since hindi niya sure why would they accomodate her as part of the team. Napapansin niya ang mga pasimpleng panunukso ng mga ito sa kanila ni JV, but she doesn't want to overthink. JV might be showing some different kind of treatment and care towards her but nahihiya siyang tanggapin na it was nothing more than friendship.
She was put on the spotlight all night. Tila kinilala talaga siya ng Warrior Five in a whole deeper level. They ask her about her life and somewhat some of their past nung nasa university pa sila. She's happy to reply on all their queries.
They also played games na nauuwi lang din sa asaran. The atmosphere as a whole is wholesome and very friendly. Walang awkwardness na naganap. Kahit na mostly lovers ang kasama nila, the bond was more of sister and brotherhood.
At the end of the night, she learned a lot about everyone. Red and Terrenz had just been married. She had heard about their love story during college but it was surprising to know na ito pa rin ang nagkatuluyan sa haba ng panahong nagkahiwalay ito.
Buboy was the first one to get married. Nagpakasal ito kay Wallen when they graduated college thinking that Wallen is pregnant. Wallen came from an old fashioned provincial family with a strict father na katiwala sa lupain nila Buboy.
Thor and Elai are childhood best friends. They might have grown together and treated each other as brother and sisters but they only realized their love when one almost lost the other.
JV and Matt remains single all through the years. The last two sought-after-bachelor available for grab. Pero parehong mailap ang dalawa. Matt is the same as her age. Being the intelligent he is kaya naging kabatch ito ng apat.
And now, pasimpleng tinutukso siya ng mga ito kay JV. She just smile at it kagaya ng reaction ni JV.
It was past 10pm nag mag-umpisa ng magpaalam isa-isa ang mga kaibigan ni JV. Nauna ang buntis na si Wallen at Buboy.
"Nagagalit na yung anak ko. Panay na ang tadyak sa tiyan ng nanay niya," paliwanag ni Buboy. Wallen laughed habang tinitiis ang paghilab ng tiyan. Medyo maselan ang pagbubuntis nito.
"Sige na. Limang buwan pa lang yang inaanak ko, baka lumabas na. Naiingayan ka na ba baby?" Ani naman ni Terrenz na siyang umaalalay kay Wallen. Umakto pa itong hinihimas ang tiyan ni Wallen at kinakausap ito na parang bata.
"Sumabay na tayo, Sweets. Sabay tayong pumunta dito remember?" Ani Red.
"We also have to go, Elai. Maaga pa kami tomorrow. We'll visit Mama's grave tomorrow?"
"Yeah," sang-ayon ni Elai sa tanong ni Thor.
"Byahe kayong Siargao bukas?" Tanong ni Matt. Doon nakalibing ang mama ni Thor.
"Balikan lang. Mag-chopper na lang kami," ani Thor.
"Somebody has to help Alli clean up," ani Wallen amidst ng pananakit ng tiyan.
"Kaya na ni JV yan," sagot ni Red na tinapik pa sa balikat ang katabing si JV. May halong panunukso na naman ito.
"Ok lang. I can manage," mabilis na apila ni Alli. Nahihiya na siya kay JV. He was helping him throughout the day, ayaw na niyang samantalahin iyon.
JV looked at her. Tila pinipigilan siya nitong tumanggi.
"You know if you say no, hindi mag-aalisan yang mga yan hangga't hindi nalilinis dito. So you choose if its just me or ang buong tropa?" anito.
"That's right," ani naman ni Matt. "Besides, I believe JV will also insists."
Mabilis na inambaan ito nito ni JV. Eto ang pinakamakulit sa mga nanunukso sa kanila.
"You'll be staying too. We need extra hand," turan ni JV. Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Matt. Pero tila wala itong magawa.
Nagtatawanang isa-isa ng nag-alisan ang magkakaibigan. Naiwan si JV at Matt sa bahay ni Alli to help on the clean up. Alli went back to her unit para doon na maglinis habang sa rooftop naman nag-ayos ang dalawang lalaki.
"Balak mo pa talaga akong gawing third wheel," panunukso pa rin ni Matt kay JV nang silang dalawa na lang ang nasa rooftop.
"Gago! Buong gabi ka ng third wheel kong di mo pa nahahalata. Kahit kanino ka pa samin sumama, third wheeler ka pa rin," pabirong sagot ni JV sa kaibigan.
Napahalakhak si Matt sa sinabi ng kaibigan. He isn't affected. Kahit pa siya na lang ang tila single sa mga kaibigan, he isn't pressured. Masaya siya para sa mga ito.
"But kidding aside," napasandal si Matt sa railings at hinarap si JV na nagliligpit ng mga kalat sa mesang ginamit nila. "Was it the same? Hindi ba nawala? Baka nachachallenge ka lang ngayon kasi wala kang chance before."
Napatigil si JV sa ginagawa. Nilingon ang kaibigan. Lumapit dito saka itinukod naman ang braso sa railings.
"You know what I felt when I saw her again sa office ni Elai? It felt like I'm bursting inside. I was dumbfounded. Hindi ako makapaniwala. I mean I didn't know I'd see her again. I didn't even know that I still look forward in seeing her again. It's as if a sleeping giant woken up inside of me," amin niya.
"That deep?" Matt knows na crush ni JV si Alli college pa lang but he never thought na ganun iyon kalalim. Especially ito rin ang lumayo nun sa junior nila. He thought it was just a simple infatuation and physically attracted lang ang kaibigan sa magandang muse ng varsity team. "Hindi ko alam na super torpe pala ang tropa ko."
"Ewan ko. But it was stronger this time. Probably she's more beautiful this time. For now, I'm just happy seeing her again."
"Hmmmm... mukhang malabo ka pa sa part ng happily ever after pero na-eexcite ako sa ideang papasok ka na sa whipped era. Just so you know, kahit kaibigan kita, I'd be disappointed if you hurt Alli."
"Masyado kang advance mag-isip. Hindi ko pa nga alam san ako kukuha ng lakas ng loob na ligawan, nasa hiwalayan ka na agad," matalim ang tingin na binato ni JV kay Matt.
"Pinapauna ko lang. The woman is so pure para maging palipasan lang ng isang Julio Vicencio. Isa pa, you waited all these years for your chance tapos maglolokohan lang kayo? Aksyado ka, brad!" turan ni Matt.
"Come to think of it," sabi ni JV. "Oo nga no? I've been waiting all these years. Siguro hindi lang ako basta attracted sa kaniya. It's more than that, di kaya?"
"Bakit ako ang tinatanong mo? Feelings mo yan! But for real, trademark na ng tropa ang One Life, One Person," deklara ni Matt.
"One Life, one person?"
"Red has been inlove with Terrenz ever since he laid eyes on her. Buboy married Wallen the very first chance he got nang walang ibang niligawan. And you know how Elai And Thor goes. Tapos ngayon, ikaw naman ngayon. Did you get attracted to any other girl simula ng nagkagusto ka kay Alli years ago? One Life, One Person."
Napangiti si JV sa realization na sinabi ni Matt. He is indeed witty in his special way.
"Eh bakit ikaw? Wala ka namang sineseryoso. And don't tell me about that starlet na kinahuhumalingan mo. You know na hindi approved kila Katrenza yun."
Napailing si Matt. "This isn't about me. Kaya wag mong baliktarin yung usapan."
Napangiti na lang si JV sa tinuran ng kaibigan. Napabuntong hininga siya saka napatingin sa malayo.
"But let's not rush things this time. I wanna be sure with my feelings. At kung gusto ko na ba talaga magka-lovelife. Anyway, so far hindi pa naman tayo naiingit sa tropa di ba?"
"Ako ok pa, ewan ko sayo," natatawang sabi ni Matt. "Baka pag nanganak si Wallen, bigla kang magmadali."
Inambaan ni JV si Matt ng suntok na tatawa-tawang sinalag naman ni Matt. Akmang inabutan ni Alli.
"I thought we're cleaning up na? Hindi pa kayo tapos?" reklamo ni Alli. She's tired now at medyo palalim na rin ang gabi. She just want to clean up now.
Mabilis na napakilos ang dalawa. "Eto kasi nag-aaya pang lumabas after here," panunukso pa ni Matt.
Pinalakihan ito ni JV ng mata.
"Lalabas pa kayo?" there was a hint of strictness sa boses ni Alli. Tila ito nanay na magagalit sa anak kapag aalis ng dis oras ng gabi. Sabay na napalingon ang dalawa sa kaniya. "Anong oras na! Kung gusto niyo pa mag-inom, ikukuha ko kayo ng beer."
"No, Alli. I'm just kidding!" mabilis ding bawi ni Matt. Tuluyang nahampas na ni JV ang kaibigan.
"Start cleaning up. Madadamay pa ko sa kalokohan mo!"
Napapangiti na lang si Alli habang tinitignan ang dalawa na inumpisahan na ulit ang paglilinis. Pagkuwa'y tumulong na rin siya.