Work Text:
It’s January 27.
Syempre, I know na the school’s buzzing with excitement kasi kahit ako, excited din naman. I exited my car, knowing full well it’s going to be a long day, and honestly? I’m all here for it.
It’s 8:30 am, medyo maaga pa considering na 10 am naman madalas ang classes nila pero meron nang magbestfriend na nakaabang sa parking. That’s Mikha Lim, leaning against her daily bike ,- specifically a 800cc MV Agusta Brutale, habang kausap ang kanyang bestfriend na si Colet Vergara, who’s more into 4 wheeled motors, so she’s always seen driving her daily, a BMW M4. Occasionally, you’d see them switch bikes or cars but that’s not the point.
The point is they’re both waiting for one person, Aiah Arceta.
Masyadong seryoso na naguusap ang mag bestfriend na hindi nila napansin na dumating na pala ang kotse nito. They’re too engrossed na they only looked up when they hear a car door getting closed shut.
Here she is.
They quickly fall into their routine. Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro na sinalubong nila ang dalaga. Mabilis din na binigay ni Mikha ang hawak nyang bouquet of sunflowers, habang si Colet naman binigay ang kanyang regalong chocolates for the birthday girl.
“Hi, pretty! Today’s your day. What do you think we should do? Where should we celebrate?” tanong ni Mikha, habang nakangiti sa dalaga. “Mikhs, ‘diba nagusap na tayo kanina? We’re celebrating out with our friends, nakapagpareserve na din tayo, ‘diba?”, si Colet na ang sumagot.
“Yes, babes. We’re going out but we’re dressing up this time ‘cos this is my birthday dinner” sagot ni Aiah, habang nakangiti.
Aiah. She’s just the epitome of a queen bee, minus the bad stereotypes of it. She’s got the influence, the power, the brain, and emphasis on, - She’s got the visuals. Calling her pretty would be an understatement. Medyo nakakatawa lang kasi may dalawa syang kasama lagi, na opposite nya sa personality, kasi madalas naka poker face, and rumored pa nga na manliligaw nya daw sila. It also intensified, lalo pa na if you ask the two girls anything about her because they’ll just drown you with compliments.
Pero mas siguradong nakakalunod yung charm na meron sya. She’s charming, kind, and sweet. She’s so approachable and can be a friend to anyone, and she has a close friend group that all equally adored her as she was who they call, the sunshine of their group, or sometimes “Mama Mary” by Sheena, when she's not wearing her those cute eyeglasses. Safe to say, everyone just adores her.
“Where’s our friends?”, Aiah asked, while they’re walking to their class. As they passed by their hallways, students greets them, and Aiah being Aiah, greets back.
“Andito kami ni Mikha, pero iba hanap mo? Pero nasa building na nila sila, may requirements pa daw na gagawin”, Colet replied, with her poker face on.
“You’re so grumpy in the morning, pero you’re still so cute. Kulang ka lang sa kiss, eh” Aiah replied back, quickly kissing Colet on her cheeks playfully.
“Huy, Ba’t sya meron? Ako din?”, Mikha quickly asked too, getting a quick peck on her cheeks from her too.
My phone vibrated, and when I saw the notif, I smiled, it read, “I forgot to give you a kiss too, here’s a big one, MWA! (kiss emojis)”.
Morning quickly went by for the trio. The three of them are in the same department, with them taking business, majoring in management so they’re fortunately blockmates.
They’re now walking towards the Food Hall, where they’ll meet some of their friends for lunch. Medyo crowded yung hall, pero fortunately, meron silang unofficial designated table, na somehow wala lagging umuupo so it’s always vacant for them, kaya mabilis nilang nakita yung iba nilang mga kaibigan.
“Kayo pa lang, girls?”, tanong ni Aiah kay Stacey and Sheena.
“Yes ‘teh, di ata makakasabay sila Bebe kasi busy daw sila today, mauna na daw tayo”, sagot naman ni Sheena, the bunso of their group. Stacey and Sheena are both in business too, they’re marketing majors though, kaya sila naman madalas magkasama.
“That’s too bad. I’ll deliver food for them later then, para di sila magutom”, Mikha replied.
“Bait naman nyan ni Mikhs, pero order na tayo, si Colet oorder na ata eh”, Stacey replied, while getting up to line up for her orders.
After nila kumain, they decided to stay for a bit while they wait for their afternoon classes.
Of course, ‘di kumpleto ang araw kung walang Stacey-Sheena daily bardagulan. And ang topic for today? “nonchalant na jowa or oa na jowa”. Both Mikha and Colet are tuning them out, while Aiah’s just watching them both smiling.
“Nonchalant na jowa? ‘di pwede sakin yun please, baka ikamatay ko kung di ako papansinin sa isang oras, please”, that’s Stacey.
“’teh, oa ka na nga, oa pa jowa mo? Magaaway kayo nun?”, and that’s Sheena.
“Shee, isipin mo kasi di ka papansinin for a day? Di maguupdate? Oa na kung oa, pero dun nga tayo sa OA”
“’teh, siguro sakin bagay, pero sayo? Pero sige oo nga, oa nga pala-“ Sheena was cutted off by Colet.
“Parehas kayo may jowa, please, bakit nyo pa pinagtatalunan yan?”
“’teh Colet, kasi nonchalant ka eh, kaya di ‘to big deal sayo” Stacey said jokingly while faking a crying face.
“Me? Nonchalant? Hin-“, this time it’s Aiah who cuts her off. “You are nonchalant kinda, but no worries, you are a different kind of nonchalant na I like”, she said smiling.
“Ayun naman pala” Sheena teasingly replied, she looked at Mikha and goes, “’teh mikhs, palag?”.
“Okay I’m nonchalant too, but not what you’ve read about? I just keeping stuff to myself, I can be sweet, ‘diba Aiah?”, Mikha looking at her, asking for support.
“Yes, of course, I love that about you”, Aiah replied, smiling.
Mikha leaned in for a hug, which Aiah reciprocated. Colet’s just watching them with her porker face on. They remained quite clingy after it though, while they listen to Stacey and Sheena banter.
But one could tell, she’s going to be annoyed soon. She fished out her phone and sent a quick text to her beau, “Awat na kaka cling, tignan mo maiinis na si Colet. Sige ka, ikaw magsusuyo”.
Again, the afternoon slowly dragged, and it’s 4 pm, tapos na finally ang klase. Nasa parking na silang lahat, with all their friends, getting the details right for Aiah’s birthday dinner.
“Okay, final ha, we’ll group up syempre per sasakyan ganon, and we’ll see each other later sa resto”, Jho, their friend said.
“Okay, guys, see you later”, Aiah replied.
“Jho, syempre you ride with me and Ate Maloi. Si Shee and Gwen in Gwennie’s car, and Ate Aiah please iwan mo muna kotse mo, you ride with Ate Colet. Mikhs, solo ka sa bike mo”, Stacey quickly grouped them up.
Mikha frowning, “Hey, wala sakin sasabay? Love of my life? Aiah? Shee? Wait, not even Jho? Wala pa akong naisa-”, she asked looking around.
“Mikhs, you know I can’t ride your bike. Mataas masyado, and we’re all wearing dresses today. What about you drive your car next time?, Aiah softly cuts her off. Mikha frowns at that.
“Okay, sorry sorry. Use your bike then, but I’m riding with Colet, ha”, she apologizes.
They then went on separate ways, but before Mikha could turn on her bike, who's still hasn't removed the frown on her face, she felt her phone vibrate, she reads the notif and she finally smiled as she sent a text too.
“Baby, mas safe ako dito sa kotse diba? Don’t frown. Mag-iingat ka, ha?”
“I guess. Pero okay, sige, I get it. Ingat, I’ll see you later, loml.”
Evening came and all of them are dressed quite fancy. They’re in dresses, except of course, for Mikha, who’s in trousers (guess why?).
Hinihintay na lang nila dumating si Aiah, na sundo ni Colet.
Yung mga naunang nakarating are now seated in one big table, big enough for all 8 of them.
Soon enough they came, and they started to chat and eat. As they were almost done with dinner, Mikha looked at Colet, then she looked at Maloi, who’s seated beside her. “Let’s do it na?”, she whispered to her, as she also gives a signal to Colet.
Colet, sneakingly gets up the table while they’re all busy chatting, with Mikha following her suit.
“HA—HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU… HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…” Mikha started singing while holding balloons, as she enters the room exclusive for them that night.
All of the looked up to see Colet, holding a small cake, with a lit sparkling candle, smiling and singing loudly as she looked at the birthday girl.
Everyone stood up and began taking videos while singing happy birthday to Aiah.
Aiah, one hand over her mouth, as she stood there shocked. She knows somethings up, and it’s pretty cliché to get surprised with balloons but she thoughts that’s out of the equation now. Afterall, she’s just quite contented with her birthday dinner with friends.
Colet stepped forward and showed Aiah the cake.
“Make a wish, love”.
Aiah closed her eyes, muttered her wishes, and blew her candle.
“Thank you everyone, you didn’t have to but still, I’m very grateful for this”, she said, almost crying.
Maloi came up to her and dabbed the tears on her eyes, “Ate Aiah, let’s take pictures na. We’ve got you gifts too, para you can open it after”.
They happily took pictures, and as Maloi suggested, she opened her gifts one by one. She’s got a yoga mat and muscle rollers from Gwen and Sheena, a new pair of personalized tumbler and a cap from Jho and Stacey. Of course, being art buddies, she gets new art supplies from Maloi. The two bestfriends got her a picture. She looked at them both, puzzled.
“Picture? Babes?”, she asked the two. It’s a picture of a bookcase. She showed the girls the pic and they’re puzzled too, maybe except for Maloi, who was smiling.
“Ugh, Cole, ang tagal mag explain. Colet got two of your favorite book series. While I got you the bookcase.” Mikha interjected. Aiah looks at her and then began to get teary eyed, as she starts to cry, for real this time.
“What? It’s just a bookcase from Ikea? Don’t cry. Coleee, patahanin mo dali.”, Mikha somehow panicking seeing her cry.
Colet immediately went to Aiah, who then hugs Colet tightly.
After a while, “You know what, wait. Magpupunas lang ako”, Aiah started.
“I’ve been looking all over for that series, that two, and it’s sold out everywhere. And of course, I told Colet how frustrated I was. That’s why I cried because she remember-“
“Of course, she’ll remember, she’s head over h-“, that’s Mikha but she’s cutted off by Maloi, who puts her hands over her mouth. “ssshh, let her speak”.
“Right, she’s head over heels for me, started last, uh, for about how many months now, right? Honestly, I’m head over heels for her too, if anyone is curious. So what better way to thank her, to make us official, and on my birthdate?” AIah said, smiling.
Colet looked wide-eyed, clearly surprised. “Love, ‘di nam-“, Aiah cuts her off too, “No. I’m sure it’s the time and I’ve been meaning to say yes to you anyway”.
Everyone squealed at them, as Aiah and Colet hugs. It was a bit blurry what happened that night but all we know is that everything went well.
And as for Mikha? She’s here showing heart eyes to me.
Aiah and Colet. They’ve always been into each other. We, our friend group, knows that. This girl, this silly girl, and who’s looking at me lovingly, through these eyeglasses.
Through these bayonetta eyeglasses.
She's been making Colet slightly annoyed with her antics. Imagine your bestfriend, who’s also bestfriend with your nililigawan, somehow always manages gets in the way between you too, who wouldn’t get annoyed? Pero guess what? Nauna pa ‘syang nagkajowa, and that’s me.
Hi, It’s me, Maloi.
“Oh, Uwi na tayo pero asan yung big bike mo? Kaninong motor yan?”.
“I have a vespa too dba?, also, why would I let my girl ride a death trap while all dressed up”. Of course, she’ll help me adjust the helmet on my head, and holds my hand to assist me as I sit sideways her scooter.
“Death trap pala, eh meron ka naman palang scooter, bat ‘di ‘to yung gamit mo lagi?”
“To reach the school faster, so I can see you agad. Ikaw eh, you continue to refuse na ako magsundo sayo”
“I know you like the rides, you big baby. Besides we’re from opposite directions please. ‘Di mo ko masusundo sundo pero pwede mo naman akong ihatid”
“Always ready ako, ang motor, at helmet, basta wag umulan”
She hugs her waist as soon as the scooter starts.
Earlier…
“Baby, una na kami ha, we have a lot to do pa nila Jho”
“Okay baby, update me for anything, okay?”
Maloi kisses Mikha on her cheeks, as she bids her goodbye. They have to edit some of their school works, that’s why her, Jho, and Gwen are going to their rooms first.
“Yikes, softie”, that’s Colet for you.
“Maka-softie ewan ko na lang pag sinagot ka na ni Aiah. Yiieee namumula oh iniisip kaagad”
Colet brushes her off, ‘cos she can’t control her smile too.
“Pero Colet, bagay talaga kayo, cute cute ni aiah, ha”
“Inuunahan mo pa nga ako eh, lagi kang clingy sa kanya, hilig magpacute”
“Hey, she’s my bestfriend too? I can be clingy, and you are my bestfriend too, in fact ikaw lang di clingy sakin”
“Sumbong kita kay Maloi, inaagaw mo akin”
“Wow, sayo talaga? And ano? Kahit magsumbong ka pa. I’m sooo in love with my best girl, the love of my life. Feel ko nga mas naiinlove pa ako lalo, you know, dahil sa glasses nya”
“Susumbong talaga kita, kasi dati pala ‘di mo sya gusto”
“Hoy, that’s not what I said-“
“Oo na! Wait, I have a question. Serious na, would it be okay if I asked her later? To make it official? Answer quietly naman”
“Cole, as your bestie, bestie nyo both, kahit ngayon agad, go mo na”
“Parang nagmamadali ka na naman eh”
“That’s not what mea— oh here’s the birthday girl, ayusin mo Cole, ha”