"KAPE tayo?"

Sabay namin nilingon ni Cloud si Mariot. Nagkape lang kami kaninang umaga bago kami pumasok, kape na naman ngayon na vacant time namin. Tinapunan ako ng tingin ni Cloud.

"Ano?" mahinahon na tanong ko. "Ako ba mag de-decide?"

I sighed when she nodded her head, habang si Mariot naman ay mukhang aso na nakatingin sa akin –nagmamakaawa na mapagbigyan.

We have nothing to do naman. We have a total of five hours of free time, then last class na. Dalawa lang sana kung wala lang laging emergency ang prof namin sa isang course na pinapasukan namin.

"Hindi pa tayo kumakain, kape na naman?" reklamo ko kay Mariot. Siya lang naman ang mahilig sa kape at pumunta sa iba' ibang kapehan malapit sa campus.

Mariot's face lit up in an instant. "May alam akong café, nag se-serve sila ng rice meal!"

I shrugged and started to pack my things. I can hear my stomach grumbling in hunger. Tinulungan na rin ako ni Cloud. Sa aming tatlo ako ang pinaka may maraming dala, kulang na lang lahat ng gamit namin sa bahay, dala ko na.

"Alam niyo..." Mariot started. Alam na agad namin ni Cloud ang kasunod.

"Yes, we know, Mariot. Kape lang katapat niyan." Cloud flatly looked at her.

Iginala ko ang paningin ko sa room namin. They're looking at us, some are hopeful, some look disappointed for some reason Cloud and I don't want to acknowledge.

"Inang 'to," Mariot grumbled.

"Sige na, sige na." Mahinang tinulak ni Cloud ang likod nito para makadaan kami. "Sagot ni Cri ang kape mo."

Mas lalong nalukot ang mukha ni Mariot sa narinig niya. I laughed. She knows how much I value my money. Hindi ako basta-basta naglalabas ng pera kahit sila pa ang pag gagastusin ko.

"Okay na ba sayo ang 3 in 1?" I chuckled when she made a face. "Arte mo naman! Akala mo hindi nag 3 in 1 sa bahay!" Natatawa na singhal ko sa kanya.

"Petsa de peligro ko ba? Hindi naman."

"Ayos..." I uttered while shaking my head.

Kapag si Mariot ang nasa circle of friends mo, bula lang talaga ang salitang 'tipid'.

"Ako na. Saan ba tayo?" Cloud asked.

Again, it's like Mariot saw a freaking angel when she heard the word 'Ako na', her face immediately lit up. Abot tenga pa ang ngiti nito. I cannot say I am not the same... isa rin kasi ako.

In my defense, nag-iipon ako. Si Mariot, buraot talaga.

Mariot clapped her hands like a kid. Lumapit ito sa akin at parang linta na lumingkis sa braso ko. Agad niyang pinakita sa akin ang café na gusto niyang puntahan.

"I found this place yesterday. Nadaanan ko lang. Hindi ako pumasok kasi gusto ko kasama ko kayo." Daldal nito sa kanila.

I snorted at that. "Hindi ka kamo pumasok kasi walang Cloud na manlilibri sayo"

Mariot hummed proudly. Hindi talaga itinanggi. She's navigating her phone, showing me the place through pictures. This is what I love about her, siya ang naghahanap ng lugar na matatambayan namin, she always make sure na pasok 'yon sa taste naming tatlo, and that they served our comfort foods. Kung maganda ang lugar at wala ang pagkain na gusto nila, hindi niya 'yon sasabihin sa amin ni Cloud.

"Hm, it's nearby. Good choice, Mariot." Cloud playfully patted her head.

Iniwan lang namin ang ibang gamit na dala ko sa sasakyan ni Cloud bago kami pumunta sa café. It's literally nearby our campus, kaya nilakad nalang namin.

I nudged Mariot. "This is nice..."

There are plants in every corner, open space rin ang café dahil nasa garahe lang ito ng bahay but the ambiance is serene, a perfect place for a student like us.

"Right? Wala rin silang Wifi rito." Mariot informed us. I pouted, ayon ang kailangan ko ngayon. Libreng internet connection.

"What? Why?" Kunot ang noo na tanong ni Cloud.

Mariot pointed at the signage. It says, 'Talk to each other. Pretend it's 1995.'

Then I have no choice but to listen to Mariot's never ending complaint? I'd rather not. Mag lo-load ako.

A staff guided us towards a vacant table before giving us the menu and sticky notes. This is kind of new to us, lalo na at hindi naman kami fan ng restaurant. We always go to fast food chains. Hindi kami sanay na pinagsisilbihan.

"Gagi, akala ko tayo o-order sa harap. Bakit may ganito?" tanong ni Mariot sa amin.

"Dude, ikaw ang nagdala sa amin dito. Hindi mo na-research?" Cloud asked.

"Just order, ano ba..." suway ko sa dalawa. "Cloud, naka plan ang sim mo 'no? Pa-hotspot ako."

Nilabas lang nito ang cellphone niya at inabot sa akin. Mariot pointed at the signage again, may balak talaga na yamutin kami sa mga reklamo niya. I showed her my phone screen, sa notes app, kung saan nakalagay ang to-do lists ko.

She waved her hand dismissively, of course, while glaring at me.

"I'll listen to you next time, okay? Kapag hindi na tungkol kay panot 'yang inirereklamo mo." I laughed.

Si Mariot ang mahilig mag reklamo sa mga pinapagawa sa amin ng mga prof namin, there are no more room for our complaints. At lahat yata ng mga prof namin may nicknames galing sa kanya.

I let them order. Alam naman nilang dalawa kung ano ang gusto ko. I stretched my arms before starting to edit my raw videos. Mabuti nalang at naisipan ko na ang cellphone ko ang gamitin ko na for filming. I also have a camera, pero madalas hindi maayos gamitin. Nakakasira lang ng ulo.

Mariot and Cloud are talking beside me, even though I am too focused on my phone, sinisigurado nila na kasama pa rin ako sa usapan.

May mga deadline ako na hinahabol sa ibang brand collabs, and some of them are paid content. Hindi ko lang talaga nabigyan ng lugar dahil sa sunod-sunod na peta sa school.

I always prioritize my studies above anything.

"Ilang video ang in-edit mo?" Mariot asked. "AirDrop mo sa akin yung iba, tulungan na kita."

I was about to answer when some students caught her attention, they occupied the table beside them. Silang tatlo palang ang tao kanina sa café kaya sobrang tahimik.

They were so loud that it wasn't hard for us not to notice them.

Cloud smiled and greeted one of them. Nagkatinginan lang kami ni Mariot.

I was about to continue editing my video when some of them went to me.

"Hi, Shion. Pwede mag pa-picture?" One of them asked. Ngumiti ako at tumango. Picture lang naman and we're not still eating pa.

"Yeah, sure..."

I saw how Mariot brows shot up. I smiled at her to assure her that it's fine. Naka ilang take lang sila ng picture.

"Ang ganda mo talaga..."

Nahihiya akong ngumiti sa kanila. I don't know how to respond.

"Thanks, you too," I uttered, shyly.

"I haven't seen you uploading new videos. Do you have some recos ba?"

I took a quick glance at my phone. I was currently editing a video for a makeup brand. Na-launched naman na 'to, so I guess it's safe.

I told them the brand and what they should get based on their skin types. We have different preferences, kaya maingat ako sa mga sina-suggest ko sa kanila. I thought we're already done but they asked too many questions, even the makeup I am wearing today.

Medyo na-conscious ako dahil hindi ko pa nakikita ang sarili ko sa salamin. Wala pa rin akong retouch.

I turned my phone off to entertain their questions fully. Nawala lang ang atensyon ko sa kanila nang kunin ni Mariot ang cellphone ko sa akin. Nang tumingin ako sa kanya, sumenyas lang ito na i-continue ang pag entertain ko sa kanila.

"Could you please stop hovering around her?"

Sabay lahat kaming lumingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses na 'yon. My lips parted a bit when I saw her face close up, again. She was so pretty, so how could I forget her?

My eyes went down to their table. May nakalapag na mga materials at bukas na rin ang dalawang laptop, mukhang para sa school project pa nila.

"Sandali lang. We're just going to ask her about–"

She cut her off. "Stop hovering over her and get your ass in here. Marami pa tayong gagawin."

My lips thinned. Ang sungit niya.

"Dude, we're just asking about products we should buy." The one with curled hair said.

"Makeup na naman? You bought them last time. Ilang mukha ba ang meron ka?" pabalang na tanong nito bago ito sumenyas na lumipat sa table nila.

I couldn't take my eyes off of them while they bicker about it. Sumunod din agad ang mga kasama nito sa kanya.

"I've already finished editing your video. Check mo na lang mamaya." Inabot ni Mariot ang cellphone sa akin.

"Salamat..." I playfully kissed her on her cheek.

"Tang ina, may laway! Ang gusto ko kape." Mariot sneered at me.

Sakto naman na dumating ang order namin. Tinuro ko sa kanya ang kape na in-order ni Cloud.

"Magiging 3 in 1 'yan, sige ka," pabiro na banta ko sa kanya.

"Stop it, you two. Kumain na kayo."

Cloud gently pushed our orders toward us, pero tinapik ni Mariot ang kamay nito. She gathered our orders in the middle and took a picture. Hinayaan lang namin siya ni Cloud, she'll tag us naman later para may ilagay rin kami sa stories namin.

While she's at it, kusang lumipat ang tingin ko sa kabilang table. They finally stopped bickering and started working. I stared at her. She's really pretty, and it's evident on her face that she's not wearing any makeup at all. Napaka kinis ng mukha nito at natural na mapula ang mga labi. She doesn't need any falsies or mascara to lift her eyelashes.

Hanggang sa makauwi ako, hindi na nawala sa utak ko ang magandang mukha niya. If only she could be my model...

Tumayo ako sa kama ko at lumapit sa vanity table ko. I stared at my bare face and sighed. Honestly, while thinking about her face makes me feel a bit insecure that I need someone to remind me that I am pretty too.

"Should I wear a bit of makeup or..." I bit my lower lip as I stared at my small organizer. Kung saan nakalagay ang mga makeup na gamit ko for everyday. "Pero late na..."

I decided to cover my pimple marks with a cute pimple patch before hitting the live button on my phone. As usual, some are asking how's my day, what products I used –my top and least favorite.

"Do you know KioJu? You reposted one of her videos." I read one comment. I smiled and answered, "I don't know her personally and it was the first time na lumabas siya sa fyp ko. I like her style. I want to try it."

My eyes widened a bit when they started bombarding my live with comments asking me to do a collaboration with her. Hindi naman na bago sa mga ito na hindi ako nakikipag collab. Well, there's one and it didn't work out, kaya hindi na rin ako sumubok ulit.

But... she looks nice. There's no harm in trying naman siguro...

"Tingnan natin..." I smiled before waving my hand. Ending my live.

I message my friends immediately.

Crimson Shion:
Should I try?

Mariot:
Context, my love!

Cloud:
If it's about the collab, try it.

Mariot:
Anong collab? Gago ka ba, Cloud? Hindi.

Cloud:
Mariot, there's no harm in trying naman. Besides, I can assure you na it's safe.

That made my brows furrowed. Mabilis akong nag reply.

Crimson Shion:
Kilala mo ba 'yung user KioJu, Cloud?

Mariot:
Ah, 'yung nirepost mo naman pala. Sige.

Cloud:
Just a hunch. Still not sure. And really, Mariot? Ang bilis naman magbago ng isip mo.

Mariot:
I'm straight. Pero mukhang kaya niya akong ibaligtad. So...? You get me?

Cloud:
🙄🙄🙄

Cloud:
You should try, Cri. Message her.

Mariot:
Yes, yes! Kapag pumayag siya isama mo ako ha?

Nag seen nalang ako sa group chat naming tatlo. I hugged my pillow as I visited her profile again, followed her, and sent a message.

Shion:
Hi, I'm Shion. Are you up for a collaboration?

☕️