Song: IDGAF- Dua Lipa

Friend Request

Kinaumagahan pagkagising ko ay nagulat nalang ako nang malaman ko na nabalitaan nila Mommy ang nangyari sa club kagabi. I don't know who the hell told them that!

Hindi pwedeng si Troy at Jeya dahil hindi na naman sila nanatili pa rito pagkatapos nila akong ihatid. And they don't have my parents number for goodness sake!

"Kelsey! Hindi ko akalain na magagawa mo 'yon!" ani Mommy. Disappointment is very evident on her face. Umiling siya at hinilot ang kanyang sentido.

Binaling ko ang tingin kay Daddy. Mataman siyang nakatingin sa akin tila ba hinihintay akong magpaliwanag.

"I didn't do anything!" sabi ko.

"Kung hindi pa tumawag si Benjamin, baka hindi ko pa nalaman na may nangyari palang ganoon kagabi. He said he's sorry for what happened last night."

Sorry? As if that's sincere! For all I know, he's only saying sorry para lang inisin ako lalo! And how dare him to call my parents? Close ba sila?

Because of what he did, mas lalo lang lumala ang pagkainis ko sakanya!

"He said you shouted at him at the club. Buti nalang rin at mabait iyong si Benjamin at hindi ka pinatulan."

I wanted to laugh at that moment. At bakit parang kasalanan ko pa? Kung sana maganda lang ang pakikitungo namin sa isa't isa, edi sana hindi ako magagalit sakanya ng husto! At tsaka, siya kaya itong nauna! Kung wala lang siyang paakbay-akbay diyan, edi sana hindi ako sasabog sa galit nang gabing iyon!

It's all his fault and not mine!

"Mom, I wouldn't shout at him if he didn't do anything!" I reasoned out.

"Ano ba kasi iyong ginawa niya?" tanong nito.

Hindi agad ako nakasagot. Should I tell him that he hooked his arms around my shoulders? 'Yun naman kasi talaga ang rason kung bakit ako nagalit sakanya. If he didn't do that at kung hindi lang talaga mainit ang dugo ko sakanya, baka hindi ko siya sisigawan ng ganoon kagabi.

"That's not important right now, Mom. Hindi po ako ang may kasalanan."

Bumuka ang bibig ni Mommy, mukhang handa nang ipagtanggol si Benjamin pero buti nalang at biglang nagsalita si Daddy.

"Hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit kayo magkaaway nitong si Benjamin. I get that you two didn't get a nice introduction, but I still don't get why you can't even try and be on good terms."

Ngumuso ako. I tried, okay? I tried to look at him without making my blood boil. Pero hindi ko talaga maiwasan! Every time I look at him, I always remember his attitude towards me during the business party! Hindi ko talaga makalimutan iyon!

"I don't want to be friends with someone annoying."

"Benjamin is a nice guy!" pagtanggol ni Mommy dito.

I can't help but groan at that. I don't get why my Mom is so keen with him. He's nothing special. At hindi ba nila napapansin kung paano ako tratuhin ng isang 'yon kahit na kaharap sila? He keeps on annoying me even when we're in front of my parents!

"But you can at least pretend that he doesn't annoy you. Madali lang naman iyon, anak. Baka sa sobrang inis niyo sa isa't isa, masira pa ang pagkakaibigan namin nila Francisco at Barbara!" My mother looks alarmed.

Masira agad? Grabe naman 'yon! And also, I think Tito Francisco and Tita Barbara understands why Benjamin and I can't be on good terms. Siguro alam nilang ganoon talaga ang ugali ng isang 'yon.

"Your friendship won't break, Mom, if that's what you're worried about. Baka po kasi hindi nadaanan ng adolescent period ang isang 'yon kaya hindi pa nagmamature-"

"Kelsey!" pag-saway ni Mommy sa akin.

Tinikom ko naman ang bibig ko at ngumuso. "I'm sorry! It's not my fault that I can't say anything good about him!"

My Daddy sighed, mukhang frustrated na sa nangyayaring ito.

"Alam mo, anak, mas mabuti pang humingi ka rin ng tawad sakanya. The guy apologized already. Ganoon na rin ang gawin mo para maging okay na ang lahat."

"Your father's right. Baka napagsabihan na rin iyon ni Barbara. Gusto mo ba ako na ang tumawag sakanya?"

My eyes widened. Oh hell no! I'm not going to talk to him over the phone!

Mabilis akong umiling. My mother's forehead creased. "No need, Mom. I'll look for some other ways to contact him."

Mukha namang nakumbinsi ko si Mommy doon. Pero ang totoo talaga ay wala akong alam kung paano ko makakausap ang isang 'yon.

Bukod sa wala naman akong cellphone number niya, we're not friends on Facebook! And I don't think I will ever send a friend request to that guy!

Pinakiusapan na ako nila Mommy na gawin na nga iyong sinasabi nila sa akin. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang sundin iyon. I went up to my room at agad na inisip ang dapat kong gawin.

I think I can still send a message to him even though we're not friends on Facebook, right? Nasa sakanya na 'yun kung i-aaccept niya ba iyong message request ko o hindi. After all, I don't care if he'll accept it or not. Hindi ko naman gagawin 'to kung hindi lang sinabi sa akin nila Mommy, e.

Kahit na labag sa kalooban ay pinilit ko parin ang sarili ko na kuhanin ang laptop sa aking bedside table at tsaka nag-log in sa aking Facebook.

Muntikan ko na nga palang mabisita ang profile niya dati. When I'm finally logged in, I searched his name. I typed "Benjamin Donovan" pero maraming accounts ang lumabas.

Wow! May mga poser!

Sa lahat ata ng mga accounts na nakita ko, puro picture niya ang gamit. Kaya hindi ko alam kung ano ba rito ang tunay. I bit the inside of my cheeks.

Baka kung mag-message ako sa isa sa mga fake accounts na 'to, may mangyari pang hindi kanaais nais. I was slowly losing hope on finding his real account when I remember something.

Binisita ko nga pala ang Facebook profile ni Tita Barbara dati. At naalala kong may isa siyang post na nakatag si Benjamin. Kaya sa halip na umasa sa mga pekeng accounts na 'to, pumunta ako sa profile ni Tita Barbara.

And there! I saw Benjamin's real account. Kasama pala sa pangalan niya dito sa Facebook ang second name niya. No wonder why I can't find his real account.

Tumaas ang kilay ko nang makita ko ang profile picture niya. I think this is from Masasa Beach! The place is very familiar!

At talaga nga naman ang lalaki! Nakatopless pa sa profile picture niya! Para bang nanghihikayat na i-add siya ng mga sexy girls!

Ugh! As if!

And I hate that I find the place familiar because my profile picture is also taken from Masasa Beach! I rolled my eyes.

Labag sa loob kong pinindot ang message button. Sa unang sentence palang, nangangapa na ako para sa sasabihin ko.

What should I be sorry about though? That I shouted at him? Dapat lang sakanya 'yun noh! Pero mukhang hindi kasi mapapanatag si Mommy hangga't hindi niya nalalaman na nagsorry na ba ako sa isang 'to.

I breathed hard before I type my message.

Me:

I'm sorry.

I could just send this, right? Pero bakit hindi ko magawang pindotin ang enter? I feel like I wanted to add more to that. I typed my reply again.

Me:

Hey. I just want to let you know that I didn't regret shouting at you last night. But because my parents told me that you called and apologize... they forced me to do the same. So... I'm sorry. First, for reacting that way. And second, for being such a whiny person. I hope this will reach you.

Nakahinga na ako ng maluwag nang pinindot ko ang enter.

"Okay, Kelsey... You already did it. Makakahinga ka na ng maluwag." I told myself. Binasa ko naman muli ang sinend kong message bago magpasyahang mag-log out na.

Ngunit bago ko naman magawa iyon ay may nag pop up na notification sa akin. I checked it to see that it was a notification from Benjamin!

Benjamin Antonio Donovan accepted your message request.

Mamaya maya pa ang nakita kong nagsend rin siya ng message sa akin. I don't know why I was rushing to open that message though. Ano bang pakialam ko doon?!

But still... I opened it.

Benjamin:

Looks scripted.

I scoff insultingly. At talaga nga namang ang dami niya paring oras para mang-inis ano? At anong scripted siya dyan?! That came from my heart kahit sobrang labag sa loob ko!

Me:

You know... It isn't that hard to accept someone's apology, right? No need to say that it looks scripted to you. Wala naman akong pake.

I rolled my eyes then I pressed enter. Benjamin was quick enough to reply.

Benjamin:

Oh, really? It's a good thing that a girl like you knows how to apologize.

Me:

I wouldn't bother to apologize to a man like you if only my parents didn't force me to.

Benjamin:

😏

At talaga nga namang kahit sa chat ngumingisi parin siya! Seriously? Can't he stop smirking so much? Baka mamaya mapagkalaman siyang may diperensya nang dahil sa kakangisi niya. Kada oras nalang ata siya nakangisi. I don't think that's even normal.

Buong akala ko nung una ay hindi na masusundan pa ang message niyang iyon. His last reply is obviously a conversation ender. Pero laking gulat ko nang magpop up na naman ang pangalan niya sa screen.

Benjamin:

Nag-message ka na lang rin, di mo pa ako inadd. Hindi mo pa sinagad.

I can't help but laugh at that. Talaga nga naman! Hindi lang pala nakakainis ang isang 'to. Makapal rin pala ang mukha niya.

Me:

Bakit? Required bang maging friend ka?

Benjamin:

Not really. But don't you want to see my Facebook posts on your timeline?

Me:

No thanks. Baka puro kabaduyan lang ang makita ko.

Ang kapal naman ng mukha niyang isipin na gusto kong makita kung ano ang mga pinagpopost niya dyan sa Facebook niya! Pakialam ko doon! Baka maalibadbaran lang ako kapag nakita ko mga post niya.

Benjamin:

You have such a big mouth, Ms. Sanchez.

Me:

And I don't have time for your stupid little jokes, Mr. Donovan.

Benjamin:

Don't have time huh? Then, why are you still replying to my messages? Can't help but reply? Still want to talk to me?

My mouth parted. "Ang kapal nga naman talaga ng isang 'to. As if!" I rolled my eyes.

Nangapa pa ako sa isasagot nang dahil doon. He has a point. Wala nga akong oras para sakanya pero nagrereply parin ako sa mga message niya! Ugh! What the hell, Kelsey!

I typed my reply again.

Me:

It's because you're annoying me.

Stupid reply. Stupid stupid stupid! I bet he probably smirked when he read that. It was plainly stupid. I admit that.

Benjamin:

Weird. Girls find me attractive. You're the only one who finds me annoying. Is that a good thing?

I cringed at that. Oh so full of himself!

Me:

Bahala ka diyan. Ewan ko sa'yo!

I clicked the 'x' button. Wala na talaga akong oras pa para sakanya. Totoo na 'to! Wala na talaga!

Before I could finally log off my account, he sent me a message again. What is it that he wants now huh?!

Benjamin:

It was nice talking to you, Kelsey.

Tumaas ang kilay ko nang mabasa ko iyon. I immediately felt that my heart started to pump so fast. Weird! Why is my heart pumping so much blood?

At anong nice siya diyan?! Our conversation wasn't even nice! Kaya ano 'yang pinagsasabi niya diyan!

I groaned and decided not to reply anymore. Wala na nga kasi akong oras pa para sakanya di ba?! Dapat lang na hindi na ako mag-reply pa!

We got no time for a Benjamin Antonio Donovan!

I turned my laptop off. Sinara ko ito at huminga ng malalim. Why did my heart pump that hard when I read his reply?! Wala lang naman iyon! That was just a normal reply? I don't understand. That's so weird.

Nagulat naman ako nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko. Hudyat na meron akong bagong dating na notification. Kinuha ko ang aking cellphone at tiningnan kung ano iyon.

Laking gulat ko nang makita ko kung ano iyon. My eyes widened.

Benjamin Antonio Donovan sent you a friend request.

Did I read that right? Is this freaking serious?!