Chapter 09

September.

Time flies so fast it's already Ber-months.

After nung vacation nung June syempre balik na ulit sa trabaho. Madaming nabago sa workplace since nasama na samin si Sam.

Hindi na siya katulad ng dati na kaming tatlo lang lagi nila Jane at Jin ang kumakain sa labas pag trip namin. Ngayon, may karamay na ako.

Hindi na ako palaging thirdwheel sa dalawang yun.

It's amazing! New environment. Masasabi bang new environment yun e hindi naman ako naglipat ng kumpanya?

Lol.

Anyways, like what I said it's already September. First day of September to be exact.

September 1 at your service.

Any updates about Ms. Luna the well-known 'mysterios CEO' of Luna Corporation? No progress.

It's been so hectic for me these past few weeks since andaming pinapagawa sakin. Ito na yata yung real job.

"Hello."

"I'm busy." agad kong sagot sa di ko kilala na pumasok sa office ko.

"Busy, may pinapadagdag si Ms. Mendoza" she said then put the pile of papers on my desk.

"Seriously?" I complained.

"Stop complaining. You applied for the job." sabi niya at umalis na sa office ko.

Buti pa si Jane taga dala lang ng papers sakin. Feeling ko ako na may ari ng kumpanyang to. Feeling lang naman. Mas mukha pang secretary yung trabaho ni Jane kaysa sakin.

Fuck procrastination. 

Why do I even have this habit to procrastinate? I'm not even in college. I delayed this all paperworks because I love procrastinating.

"Dude, you okay?" I turn my gaze to Jin who just came.

"Do I look like one?" sarcasm within my voice.

"You procrastinate again?" he asked chuckling. "Tapos na tayong college, dala dala mo pa din yan?" dugtong niya, basically amused. He clapped his hands.

So I clap my hands too, ofcourse it's sarcastic. "Yeah, amusing right?" gatong ko sa pinagtatanong niya.

I let him see my middle finger then continued at what I am doing.

I can do this, fuck this shit.

* * *

"Mukha kang group leader ng research na di tinulungan sa pag gawa ng ka-groupmates." pagkomento ni Sam sa itsura ko.

Andito kami ngayong apat sa paborito kong Italian Restaurant. I fucking need a pasta.

As a reward, ofcourse. Natapos ko yung mga papers na yun.

"Mukha kang tae." sabi ko kay Sam sabay kain sa Lasagna na inorder ko.

"Sa harap talaga ng pagkain ah?" singit ni Jane.

"I'm sorry." I said while raising both of my hands, surrendering.

She hates it when you're being disrespectful infront of the food.

"Natapos mo lahat yun?" tanong ni Jin, changing the topic.

Dyan naman siya magaling e, magpalit.

Joke.

"Bow down, doofus." sabi ko sakanya habang nakangisi.

"I salute." sabi niya sabay pakita sakin ng middle finger. Agad namang pinalo ni Jane yung kamay niya. "Aw." daing ni Jin.

"Pug." bulong ko na narinig ni Jin dahil sumama yung tingin niya sakin, tinawanan ko lang siya.

Hindi siya makagawa ng kahit na ano that might disrespect the food infront of us.

* * *

"Rest." I smiled when I saw my bed, being there, attracting the heck out of me.

Binaba ko yung bag ko sa gilid ng kama ko bago ako nagpalit ng damit. Naglakad ako papuntang kitchen nang matapos akong makapagbihis.

Nagluto ako ng carbonara pagkatapos ay binuksan ko yung champagne na binili ko nung nakaraan lang.

Papuntang sala ay dala dala ko yung carbonara na niluto ko ang bote ng champagne. Binuksan ko yung tv na nasa harap ko matapos kong maupo.

Tatapusin ko na yung How to Get Away with Murder.

"Season 6, Episode 10." I said while clicking the remote control.

I'm done watching Money Heist and that shit needs a Season 5. I postponed Elite dahil trip ko lang. Di ko alam kung anong episode na ko dun.

I was peacefully watching when my phone suddenly rang. I paused what I'm watching then reach my phone.

Incoming call..
Jinger

Sinagot ko yung tawag, because why not? "What's up?" I asked. Pinlay ko ulit yung pinapanood ko habang umiinom ng champagne.

[Anong oras na?] he asked.

"Dude, the fuck? Don't you have a clock in your condo?" pinause ko ulit yung pinapanood ko dahil kay Jin.

He called just to ask me what time is it when he has a fucking phone and a clock at his home.

[Ofcourse I have a clock. I'm asking you what time is it because we're going to the bar tonight, remember?] pagkasabi niya non ay napatingin ako sa wall clock na binili ko.

"Anong oras ulit?" I ask as I put the plate at the sink then walk towards my room to change clothes. Again.

[22.] he answered. Napatingin naman ako sa digital clock na nasa ibabaw ng side table.

21:45 says the clock.

[Same bar pa din, bilisan mo nalang.] sabi niya sabay baba ng tawag. Agad ko namang hinagis yung cellphone ko sa kama tsaka hinanap yung wallet ko.

Where the fuck did I put it again?

Nang maalala ko ay kinuha ko agad yun tsaka kinuha ulit yung cellphone ko at lumabas na ng kwarto. Susi ng kotse, wallet at sarili ko lang ang dala ko palabas ng condo unit ko.

I just wore a shirt and a hoodie jacket for my top then a jogger for the bottom. It's the easiest clothes I can wear.

The easiest, the better.

* * *

Pagkarating ko ng Bar ay nakita kong kumaway si Jin sakin. Agad ko naman siyang nilapitan.

"San jogging mo tol?" sabi ni Jasper. Kaibigan namin ni Jin nung college.

"This is your Captain speaking." sabi ko sakanya na naging dahilan para mapalagay yung kamay niya sa batok niya at mapatingin sa paligid para tignan kung may nakarinig ba sa sinabi ko.

"Ang humble mo namang pilot." pang aasar ni Maximus na isa namang Architect kay Jasper.

"Long time no see mga brother!" agad namang umakbay si si Dave na cum laude graduate ng BSHM.

"Mama mo long time no see." pambabara ni Max.

"Naging Architect ka lang, ganyan ka na ah." sabi sakanya ni Dave.

"Ano pa tong si Jasper, imbes madaming magaganda na FA nakalimutan nang mang-reto." sabi ni Max kay Jasper habang nakaakbay at umiinom ng Jack Daniels.

"Tangina niyo, mga babaero." sabi ni Jasper sabay tanggal sa kamay ni Max. Lahat kami ay napa-woah dahil sa sinabi ni Jasper.

Sa aming lima, siya ang pinaka madaming babae nung college kami.

"Spoken from the true fuckboy here." sabi ni Dave sabay tawa ng malakas.

"Nagbago na ko mga ulol." sabi ni Jasper sabay inom sa alak na hawak niya.

"Sinabi ko din yan." sabi ni Max sabay tawa.

Napailing ako dahil sa mga katarantaduhan ng mga to.

"Musta ka naman, Mr. CEO" biglang tanong sakin ni Dave.

"I'm not a CEO." sabi ko sabay inom ng inalok na Jack Daniels ni Jin.

"Humble ka na din ba?" tanong ni Max sakin sabay tawa. Kanina pa to tawa ng tawa, may tama na yata to e.

"He's a secretary." sagot ni Jin. Napalingon silang tatlo kay Jin bago lumingon ulit sakin.

"Secretary? Gago, may kumpanya magulang mo nag apply ka labg para maging secretary?" di makapaniwalang sabi ni Max.

"Tell us, Civil Engineer. Where did he bump his head this time?" tanong ni Dave kay Jin.

"He's back at it again, Chef." sagot ni Jin kay Dave.

Bigla akong tinuro ni Max. "You and your fucking curiosity, CEO." sabi ni Max sabay iling.

I shove his hand pointing at me. "Secretary." I corrected him.

"Yeah, right." sabi niya sabay lingon kay Jin. "Musta kayo ng girlfriend mo, Civil Engineer?" tanong niya kay Jin.

"Staying strong, Architect." sabi ni Jin kay Max.

"Tangina mo, kadiri ka." sabi ni Max habang nandidiri kay Jin.

"Kailan ka kaya titino?" tanong ni Jasper.

"Shut up, Pilot. Tell me that when you already settle down with someone." sabi ni Max sabay inom ulit ng alak.

"Dude, is that M.D?" sabi ni Jasper sabay turo sa kung kanino.

Napalingon kami lahat sa tinuturo niya na papalapit samin.

Natahimik kaming lima nang makalapit siya samin.

"M.D!!" Maximus beamed then hugged her.

"You never changed, Architect." Genevieve chuckled then tapped Maximus back.

M.D Genevieve Salvador. The only girl in our group back in college.

"Why are you here, M.D?" Dave asked.

"It's my cousin's birthday." sagot niya kay Dave.

"Oh. Tell him or her our greetings." sabi ni Jasper.

"Yes, Captain." sabi niya kay Jasper sabay ngiti.

"Not that smile, M.D!!" Maximus joked.

"Oh, please." sabi ni Genevieve sabay tawa.

"Civil Engineer! Kamusta kayo ni Jane?" she asked smiling.

"Staying strong." ulit na sagot ni Jin.

Genevieve teasingly looked at her. "Back in college, I really thought you'll be a lonesome until you die." she said then laugh.

"I also thought you won't make it in Med School." sabi ni Jin.

"Hey!" sabi niya sabay hampas sa braso ni Jin. Jin just chuckled.

She turned her gaze towards me then smile. I smiled back.

"Congratulation, M.D" bati ko sabay inom ng alak na hawak ko.

"Thank you, Secretary." sabi niya sabay ngiti. Nanlaki naman ang mata ko dahil sa tinawag niya sakin. "I have my sources." sabi niya nang makita ang reaksyon ko.

"Nako, M.D!" biglang sabi Jasper.

"Just drink your Jack Daniels, Cap." sabi ni Genevieve kay Jasper.

Ipinagsawalang bahala ko nalang kung pano nalaman ni Genevieve na hindi ako CEO ngayon at nagpatuloy nalang sa pag-inom.

And by that, we stayed at the bar to do some catching up.