Chapter 38

Friendship

"Alex, where are you going?" Mom asked, I was hurrying to change my clothes.

"Gotta meet Bella and Philippe!" I answered.

"At this time?" My father ask in surprised.

Tumango naman ako sa kanila, "yes, I set the time tapos ako pa ata itong male-late." Nangangarag na akong kumilos ng mabilis. Sinuot ko na rin naman ang sapatos ko at nagmamadaling tumungo sa pinto pero tinawag ulit ako ng mga magulang ko bago ako tuluyang makalabas.

"Alex, I can drive you." Dad said.

"Really? Pwede po? But if it's not, okay lang din naman po."

"Bakit naman hindi, Alex?" natatawa pang tugon ni Dad. "C'mon, hop on the car."

Dali-dali rin naman akong lumabas ng bahay at tumungo sa sasakyan. Para akong sabik na bata na gusting-gusto na makarating sa kanyang favourite place. Bella and Pee shooter are on their way, nagtataka ang dalawa kung bakit may biglang pagyaya ako sa kanilang dalawa. I didn't tell the reason basta ang sinabi ko na lang ay pumunta silang dalawa.

Dad started the engine, panay din ang tingin ko sa orasan sa phone ko habang nasa biyahe.

"You know I can buy you a new phone, hindi iyong nagtitiis ka sa basag na screen." Ani Dad. Napansin pala niya iyon, at sino ba naman kasing hindi mapupukaw ang atensyon noon kung buong screen ang basag.

"I know you can Dad but you don't have to." I said. "I don't need a new just to feed my wants, okay pa naman ito Dad and you don't need to spare some money just because you thought your daughter needed a new phone. Maging wais tayo, Dad." I chuckles after those lines.

He giggled and put his hands on my hair at saka ginulo iyon. I shoved his hands away dahil kumulot ang ibang parte nito. I really tried so hard not to mess with my hair dahil nagiging dry na ito but keribells, pretty pa rin ang lola niyo.

"I'm really proud of you, Alex." He mumbled.

Napataas naman ako ng kilay sa sinabi ni Dad, "what makes you proud of me, Dad? Meron ba?" natatawa ko pang tanong sa kanya.

"There's a lot of it, if you just know, Alex." He smiled and it was so sincere. Natunaw ang puso ko sa sinabi niya, and hearing from him ay iba talaga ang mararamdaman mo. Parents know what's best for us kaya sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na sobrang lapit ng loob ko sa mga magulang ko. As seeing nowadays, some usually take advantage of their parents but they don't find that their losing their time just to give you something you can hail to be proud of.

It doesn't take us long when we reach the Sassy Café. Ang sabi ni Dad ay hihintayin na lang daw niya kami matapos para hindi na ako gumastos ng pamasahe pauwi. He stayed inside the car reading a book. Diretsyo rin naman ako sa Sassy Café, pagkapasok ko pa lamang sa loob ay bumungad na kaagad sa akin ang amoy ng kape. Tila nanapak dahil nabuhayan talaga ako at nataranta kung paano sasabihin sa dalawa ng punto ng pagkikita namin ngayon.

"Alex!" Bella called me while waving her hands to get my attention.

Dali-dali din naman akong naglakad papunta sa table kung nasaan si Bella.

"Where's Philippe?" I asked.

"Restroom." Sagot ni Bella sa akin, "Ay ayan na pala siya!" aniya nang makitang pabalik na ito sa table namin. "Mag-order ka na doon, akin the usual lang." hinarap naman ako ni Bella, "how about you, Alex? Anong gusto mo? Don't worry treat ko ito, hindi ako talkshit kaya paghandaan mo 'yang pag-uusapan natin ha!" tatawa-tawa pa nitong sabi sa akin.

I winced, "kung anong kay Bella, 'yon na rin akin."

"Okay, Corned Beef on a friend rice—on evening? Duh!"

"'Wag ka nang maarte, bakla ka talaga!" hahabulin pa sana siya ng palo ni Bella pero nakaiwas naman ito, "and coffee jelly, don't forget!" she added.

Tumuloy naman si Pee shooter papunta sa counter para sa order namin. Nanatili naman kaming dalawa ni Bella and she already tempted me to speak about what we are going to talk about. But I hesitated not to spill any hanggat hindi pa nakakaupo si Pee shooter. I also told her that my Dad is waiting on us outside, nataranta at nahiya naman siya bigla dahil naisip pa niyang magtagal kami hanggang alas y dies pero dahil kasama ko ang magulang ko, we'll do it faster na lang daw.

Ilang saglit lang din naman ay bumalik na si Pee shooter dala ang number of order namin.

"So, anong pag-uusapan natin?" Pee shooter started.

"Can I ask first?" aniko at saka tumango sila sa akin, giving way to start the questioning. "Anong nangyayari ngayon sa drama club? Are you guys doing good?"

Nagkatinginan naman ang dalawa at sabay na binalik ang tingin sa akin, just like what they usually do, "we were doing fine, and actually Mia were participating than the other days. Mas nagiging bida-bida na rin siya ngayon dahil nakuha niya ang lead role."

"The Juliet?" I asked in surprise.

Bella nodded, "yes and she was so proud that her acting skills will be good for this play. Sobrang yabang and our adviser doesn't notice it but atleast she's doing good at hindi sakit sa ulo."

"Good to know that," I nodded to them, "and I'm very glad that the drama club were doing good too."

"Ikaw, ano na bang balak mo? I heard the cheerios are looking for a new member, baka gustuhin mong magpahagis sa kanila sa ere?" Pee shooter said and laughed. Sinuntok naman siya ni Bella at aakalain mong babae kung umaray. "But anyway, seryoso ako sa part nang naghahanap ang cheerios ng new member nila... but I think hindi ka fit doon."

"Ang judger mo naman!" I retorted, "hindi man ako babagay doon atleast, I know now where I belong—" I stopped realizing where I am heading mabuti na lang ay saktong dumating ang mga order namin kaya nawala ang atensyon nila sa sinasabi ko.

We started to eat our food. Hindi naman weird ang order namin ni Bella dahil kung makatingin si Pee shooter ay akala mo may kung anong hinalo sa pagkain namin. Hinayaan namin siyang panoorin kami kung paano sarap na sarap kumain.

"So, what are you saying earlier, Alex?" Bella said, lagot na.

"Hmm... ano 'yon?" pagkukunyari ko pang walang alam.

"Maang-maangan lang bes?" Pee shooter said, "Iyong sabi mong where you belong, ano ka isang network station?"

"Nagjo-joke ka ba right now, Philippe? Cause I can hire some people to give you an applause," inirapan naman niya ako and I couldn't resist the fact na manghinayang sa kanya. He shouldn't stay like that, alam kong my magtutuwid din sa kanya. "But anyway... here is the point why I happen to get you guys here..."

"Just go, I'm listening..." Bella said while eating her dinner.

"I joined the Decathlon Team." I announced. I was waiting for their initial reaction to burst out, show their exagge faces but nothing came out of their faces instead they did nod and eat their food. "What?! Anong tango lang? I was expecting more from your reaction... are you mad?"

As what I'm expecting, hindi iyon ang nakita ko sa kanila.

They laughed instead of getting mad.

"Are you expecting us to get mad?!" Bella asked.

I nodded. "Yes...

"Baliw ka na girl." Pee shooter added, "Bakit naman kami magagalit sayo, you're just joining a new club."

"Philippines is right." Bella said, "why would we bother ourselves to be mad at you? Sino nagsabi na kapag sumali ka sa ibang club, magagalit kami? Who told you that? We were actually hoping that you would end up into that club and you are in it. We're happy for you, bakit mo naman naisip 'yon?"

Napahinga naman ako ng malalim. I wasn't really expecting this kind of reaction from them. Nakakagaan ng pakiramdam yet nakakaguilty dahil ako lang pala ang nag-iisip ng gano'ng bagay sa kanila.

"I just thought that if I join another club, you wouldn't be friend with me again. That's just a childish thinking but I don't want to ruin our friendship guys. I didn't tell you earlier because I know you would say something that because I'm not in the Drama Club anymore, I got the chance to be on the Decathlon team... parang ang sama kasi ng dating ko sa inyo."

Pee shooter smirks, "you really think of that? No, walang masama sa akin iyon, masaya ako na may bagong club kang napasukan kasi deserve mo iyon and your potential—that Ma'am Salve said you don't, has to grow and I think on your new club, you will do good..."

"Thank you guys..." isang ngiti ang lumabas sa labi ko. "I never exactly thought of happening this scenario but you guys make my heart melt so much. I don't deserved it."

"You do." Bella said and reach for my hand. "Kaya pala kanina habang papunta kami sa school bus, we thought we saw you hiding!"

I giggled when she says that, "Actually... ako nga iyon."

"Baliw ka, bakit mo kami tinataguan?!" Pee shooter reacted. "Maybe you are new into this friendship but don't think na ile-left out ka naming dalawa ni Bella. Hindi kami ganoon. And we didn't friend you because of your blonde hair, it is because we thought we could use a friend like you—a friend we can have forever..."

"That was sweet, Philippe." I smiles.

"Stop, calling me that." Saway nito sa akin, but I just chuckles. "Or if you wanted to, whatever. I won't stop you..."

"What if you would find someone... Philippe? Like a girl?"

He glare on me, "walang ganyanan, Alex. I don't want you to bugaw-bugaw me into any girls, hindi mo magugustuhan at baka patulan ko sila kaagad—I mean like patol, suntok-suntok!"

"Ang harass mo talaga!" ani Bella, "pero ako rin, gusto ko rin dumami lahi mo, Philippines."

"Then stop calling me like I'm an archipelago."

Bella chuckles, "okay... I will if you ligaw-ligaw a girl na."

"Gonna segue this again guys," aniko at automatic silang lumingon sa akin. "Thank you again for giving this night, to talk about this matter. Hindi na sayang ang pag-practice ko kanina." Ngiwi ko pa sa kanilang dalawa. "But I'm gonna excuse myself now and I gotta go, you know naman na naghihintay ang father ko sa labas..."

"That's okay! Oh, give him this velvet cupcake for staying." Pag-abot ni Bella mula sa bag niya, "para sayo talaga 'yan dahil nagbake ako kaninang pag-uwi ko for the three of us but now, just give it to your father, okay?"

Tumango naman ako, "yes, thank you Bella. Thank you Philippe."

I hugged the both of them before leaving the café. Nakakahiya sa kanilang dalawa dahil kailangan kong umalis kaagad at ako pa ang nagyaya sa kanilang dalawa but on the other note ay naiintindihan naman nila dahil naghihintay din si Dad sa sasakyan. They really understand the situation at natutuwa naman ako dahil iba ang inaasahan ko sa pinakita nila sa akin.

They treat me better.

They show they really care.

Maybe, they were really the friends I'm looking for.

Before heading back to the car, someone call on my phone. It is an unknown number. I hesitated to answer it but maybe it is an emergency call, so I answered it. Nagtaka pa ako dahil ang groggy lamang ng linya at walang nagsasalita.

"Hello? Who's this?" nakailang ulit na rin akong tanong pero walang sumasagot, "if you don't answer—I'll hang up the call."

"No." he answered and stopped me for a moment. "Don't hang up on me."

"My parents want to have you on dinner, tomorrow—"

Magsasalita pa sana ako ng bigla nitong ibaba ang tawag. Natulala ako ng panandalian at hindi ko alam ang ire-react ko. Si Korg nga ba talaga ang tumawag sa akin? Hindi ako makapaniwala. Tulala akong pumunta sa sasakyan at napansin din pala iyon ni Dad. Nakita niya rin kasi akong may kausap sa phone.

"Who's that?" he asked.

"It is Korg..." aniko at lingon sa kanya, "he ask me to join a dinner with his parents."

"Do we get invited too?"

I shrugged off, "I don't know... he hanged up the call right after." I shook my head to get my senses back, "sige na Dad, umuwi na tayo... and oh, Bella gave this to you!" inabot ko naman sa kanya iyong velvet cupcake at halos matuwa naman siya ng makita iyon.

And on the way home, my head couldn't clear the thought that maybe Korg is coming back to me... or it was just me. Gosh, paano ba naging ganito kagulo ang sitwasyon? I hope one day, everything will be just fine.