Chapter Text
“tanginang pagmemedtech ‘to!”
“wala pa nga jho kakaupo palang natin sa first class natin”
“ay”
New semester, new faces. Jhoanna, a medtech student in her second year and second semester. Along with her best friend Stacey who she never want to be ever separated with.
“bat kasi ayaw sumabay nila Colet at Maloi mag-enroll satin!” Stacey said while she was finding something in her bag.
“pangit daw kasi yung sched na pinipili MO di kaya ng mga sleeping schedule nila” Jhoanna answered.
“ah ganon? sana pangit na prof yung mapunta sa kanila” Stacey said while crossing her fingers.
“sana sana” they both did a prayer sign.
Since they were the first people in the room, they watched the people enter the area one by one or even the ones coming in with their friends, Jhoanna and Stacey judged them silently.
They saw a few familiar faces who were their classmates before, but most of them are new faces.
“excuse me, is someone sitting here?”
A girl with her two friends asked Jhoanna if someone is sitting beside her since she placed her bag on the chair.
“uhmm wala naman! sorry sorry” Jhoanna then immediately took her bag and had a “sino tong mga ‘to” look at Stacey.
“thank you!” the girl smiled and sat beside Jhoanna, her friends also sat on the next two chairs beside the girl.
Jhoanna looked around the room and noticed that all of the seats are almost occupied except the row behind them, she wondered why these three girls wanted to seat infront instead.
A few more minutes later their professor finally arrived.
“im Ms. Cervantes and I will be your prof for this class parasitology. So… who wants to introduce theirselves first?”
“me po miss!”
With no hesitation, the girl who sat beside Jhoanna raised her hand right away. Jhoanna is usually the one who is suppose to be like this im class, a competitive student but for a moment she didn’t know why she hesitated for the first time.
And with that, her impression of the girl beside her is going to be some top student material and Jhoanna is not threatened.
“my name’s Maraiah Queen L. Arceta but you can call me Aiah and im from…”
As Jhoanna is listening to the girl whose name is Aiah, she somehow found herself got mesmerized with this girl’s beauty.
How come she didn’t see this kind of beauty before in their whole university?
“hoy sis kanina ka pa tintawag ni miss!” Jhoanna finally snapped back to really when Stacey gave her an elbow.
“huh? bakit?”
“mukhang kanina ka pang tulala miss robles ah ano meron?”
Jhoanna tried her best to just look straight infront but she can’t help notice in her peripheral vision that the girl beside her, Aiah, is also looking at her smiling. And she’s somehow starting to feel some nervousness.
“ay ano daw po kasi miss ready na daw po kasi siyang maging class president ulit” Stacey answered for Jhoanna and some of their classmates who already know her before cheered for her.
“wow talaga lang ha Miss Robles? sige stand up and introduce yourself nga muna to your classmates”
Jhoanna just got flustered, not sure if its Stacey’s remark or because of…
Aiah— who she just made eye contact with.
“uhmm good morning everyone my name is Jhoanna Christine B. Robles…”
Jhoanna can’t function well at the moment because of this developing crush she has with Aiah, but she still did well introducing herself and surprisingly got half of the class cheering and applauding for her.
Even Aiah.
When Jhoanna went back to her seat she gave Stacey a look.
“anong look yan sis mukha kang manyakis”
She can’t wait for lunch time to share this good news perhaps.
…
“AIAH ARCETA??? TEH MAS STRAIGHT PA YAN SA LONDON BRIDGE!”
Its lunch time and the four of them are gathered in their school’s cafeteria, Jhoanna, Stacey, Maloi and Colet.
“bat london bridge—“
“ay totoo Jho straight yang si Arceta na yan! saka balita ko fresh from the wound yan si ate mo sa naging kafling niya daw” It was Colet speaking. “bago ka magtanong kung ano source ko naging kaklase ko kasi yan last sem”
Jhoanna just frowned in disbelief. “kayo naman! kala niyo talaga jojowain ko yun eh noh! potential crush lang naman siya ah!”
“teka guys nasa london bridge parin ako bakit london bridge?” it was Stacey who asked with a hint of seriousness in her face. The two, Maloi and Colet, just burst out laughing while it made Jhoanna think about it as well.
But before maloi could give an answer, someone approached them and tapped on Jhoanna’s shoulder and her friends three just sat there frozen.
“teka lang kasi…” Jhoanna said with her mouth full.
It was Aiah. Jhoanna’s eyes grew big.
“hi! you’re Jhoanna Robles right?”
Jhoanna nodded as an answer.
“and you’re running for class president?”
Jhoanna nodded once again.
“that’s nice! you seem to have a great potential even my friends told me… if you want I can be your vice president”
Jhoanna felt something got stuck in her throat and her friends hurriedly assist her to with some water, Aiah was also worried for her.
“next time kasi chew your food ha don’t stuff it in your mouth” Aiah said like she’s a mom scolding her kid, Maloi and Colet only looked at each with that look, and Stacey as well. “pero you look cute with your cheeks looking like that”
Jhonna just shyly looked away as she can’t form anything to say.
“okay alis na ako ha? see you later sa class nalang and ikaw din Stacey” Aiah excused herself.
They waited until Aiah is now out of their sight before they started squealing for Jhoanna.
“TANGINA SIS HINAHAROT KANA AGAD NI LONDON BRIDGE???”
“LAKAS MO TALAGA ROBLES!!”
Jhoanna while wearing that smug look on her face, jokingly brushed her hair and said “mga sis ako lang to ano ba kayo! hello! Jhoanna Robles? no. 1 sa puso ng masa at crush ng bayan!”
“hep hep hep guys fact check muna tayo ha, straight nga daw si girlie aba! aba!” Stacey said and just like that she then ruined Jhoanna’s fantasies.
After that, they just continued eating their lunch and had another topic.
…
Jhoanna won the class president votings by majority. Aiah on the other hand won as vice president.
Its funny to think that they still do these kind of things now that they’re in college but its still necessary to have an organized system inside the classroom.
It was the end of their last subject, Jhoanna is waiting for Stacey who is fixing her things.
“ang bagal naman pano tayo magiging fastest uni leaver nito!”
“saglit lang sis ha! hinahanap ko airpods ko!”
Almost all of their classmates left the room except them and…
Aiah and her friends. Jhoanna tried not to look at their direction but in her peripheral vision she can see that Aiah is approaching them.
“hi Jhoanna! uhm can I get your socials?”
Jhoanna swear her heart almost jumped out of her chest with that question and the proximity of her and Aiah right now.
“ikaw ha! bakit naman sis? gusto mo ba ng kachat?” Jhoanna mentally slap her face with what just she said, Stacey felt some second hand embarrassment with that.
“joke lang eto naman!” Jhoanna took it back right away before things get awkward. “fb? messenger? ig?”
“messenger would be okay na I guess just for communication purposes lang and para makagawa na din tayo ng class group chat”
“okay sige…”
Aiah then handed her phone over to Jhoanna who’s hand is slightly shaking but shes not making it obvious. Jhoanna looked for the messenger app then typed her name.
“ayan Jhoanna Robles, add friend mo narin ako” then she gave Aiah’s phone back.
“okay ayan I sent a hi message! saka the add friend thing? hmmm pag-isipan ko!”
Stacey left out a huff because she was trying to held her laugh and Jhoanna could only hit her subtly. “grabe ka naman okay sige ikaw bahala mapride din ako sa mga ganyan eh”
“yeah me too I don’t like sending friend requests sa mga tao unless ako yung may kailangan or other agendas ganon” Jhoanna agreed because it looks like their are on the same page.
“mahilig ka pala sa games ha wala lang nakita ko lang sa mga apps mo” Jhoanna is definitely not trying to make the conversation longer but she just want to bring this up.
And its because she loves to play games too.
“yup! and im good! play with me sometime okay? and bye na pala we have to go na… see you guys bukas” Aiah said it not so quickly and then bid bye to them with her friends.
Now Jhoanna and Stacey are the only ones left in their classroom.
“grabe pangalawang beses ka nang inapproach ngayon ha!” Stacey said while getting her bag and finally ready to leave.
“crush kasi ako nun feel ko!” theres Jhoanna’s smug face again and her fake hair brushing.
“sus wag ka masyadong madala sis ganyan lang talaga mga straight! mga friendly saka… pafall!”
Jhoanna only rolled her eyes as they are now walking out of the classroom.
Stacey was already talking about something else but Jhoanna’s mind is still on the interactions she had with Aiah today where Aiah herself initiated. She do not want to put meaning into Aiah’s act of friendliness anyway, either way here comes Stacey reminding her that the girl is off limits.
Nevertheless, shes just going to enjoy this silly little thing she feels towards Aiah.
A crush.
——
A week has passed since the first day of a new semester, countless “introduce yourselves” has also passed. Its their first ever lab class in parasitology and its the only major subject they have for this semester that has a laboratory component.
Jhoanna and Stacey arrived early as usual so they can get their preferred seats (front seats). A few minutes later Aiah and her friends arrived altogether.
But Aiah was nowhere to be found. This is the first time ever so far and its only the second week of the semester anyway.
The room’s loudness is intensifying as the students keeps on adding up until the seats are finally all occupied except for one.
Their professor arrived just in time but Aiah is still nowhere to be found.
“guys I will be flashing on screen your group mates for the rest of the semester and I want you to sit with them, that will serve your seat plan as well” their professor then flashed their surnames on screen with a corresponding group number. Thankfully it was a randomized selection not alphabetical.
GROUP 1
…
…
Arceta
…
Apuli
…
…
Robles
If it was alphabetical then Jhoanna wouldn’t be on the same group as Aiah.
“Now go to your groups and sit with them and it doesn’t have to be how your names were ordered, you can sit wherever you want as long as you are with your groups” their professor said as the classroom gets rowdy because of the students switching places from here and there.
Jhoanna sat beside Gwen who is one of Aiah’s close friend. They know each other because Gwen was a classmate of hers way back 1st year second semester in some minor subject. She noticed that Gwen placed her bag to an empty seat beside her and she thought its probably for Aiah.
Now they were asked to write their group members names in a piece of paper, Jhoanna initiated for their group instead and now making her as automatically as their “leader”.
She has to write it in alphabetical order and as she was about to write Aiah’s name, Aiah arrived into the classroom like she was summoned.
“I’m sorry miss for being late…” she inspected the whole room and she noticed right away that it was not a “sit beside your friends” sitting arrangement.
“Okay lang pero sana di na maulit-ulit ha? Miss…?”
“Arceta po”
“Arceta yes. And anyway kaninong group nga pala si Miss Arceta class? Anyone?”
Jhoanna looked at Gwen as she was expecting her to call her friend instead but failed, Gwen just looked back at Jhoanna and gestured her that she should just call her instead.
“sakin po. Sakin po si Arceta!” Jhoanna raised her hand nonchalantly then she heard a faint “yieeee” from the back to where she assumed it was just her friend Stacey.
And then Jhoanna realized what she just said.
“naks sige sayo na teh” Gwen said like a whisper to Jhoanna.
“I mean samin po si Arceta…” Jhoanna then cleared her throat as she continued writing the names of her group mates.
“Mariah Queen J. Arceta. Wow you know my full name ha saka middle initial?” Aiah commented as she was already seated beside Gwen, who is just quiet between them.
“siyempre naman! nakikinig kasi ako sa mga introduce yourself ng mga kaklase ko” Jhoanna answered in the most chill girl possible while she is still writing their names.
“Jhoanna Christine B. Robles? Anong B mo?”
Jhoanna was caught off guard with Aiah’s question. She does not even know Aiah’s middle name just the initial but she’s curious to know, then there’s Aiah asking her middle name like she’s just asking her what’s her favourite color.
“hmmm hulaan mo!” Jhoanna playfully said.
Jhoanna thinks there’s just something special about a person asking your middle name is.
“ano ba yan papaisipin mo pa ako!” Aiah complained, Jhoanna just laughs it off.
“yes sir you have to earn it!” Jhoanna said as she stood up to pass their group’s names in a paper to their professor. The group behind them also requested Jhoanna if she could pass their paper for them and Jhoanna happily accepted the request.
Jhoanna is a born leader. She always initiates first, she always offers help and she is selfless. That’s why her classmates has been consistently choosing her as their class president for 4 consecutive semester so far. Even way back in her high school or elementary days she already possess the leadership spirit.
“that’s all muna for today class groupings lang muna for lab and bukas na tayo sa lecture time magsstart ng lesson” their professor said which received a few “yes!” responses then she just left after that.
Students are starting to leave the room, Jhoanna looked at her friend Stacey who is sitting at the back which she assumed she belonged to the last group, fix her things.
“tagal pa ng next class tara tambay muna sa library tas ml or codm tayo” Gwen spoked to Aiah which Jhoanna overheard obviously.
“woah ml? Codm? Among user ids niyo add ko kayo!” Jhoanna excitingly said plus she thinks that she’s not being “feeling close” because she also thought she’s already acquainted enough with Gwen, however to Aiah she’s not sure.
“huh Hindi ba friend na ata kita last year pa? saka minsan ka lang mag-online ha pansin ko din” Gwen said.
Yup, Jhoanna and Gwen are indeed acquainted enough.
“ay oonga pala Gwen you’re right! Eh ikaw Aiah? ano sayo dali” Jhoanna’s phone are already ready to take note of Aiah’s user ids from either of those games.
Fun fact: its been months Jhoanna has played to any of these games.
“hmmm hulaan mo nalang! You have to earn it Jhoanna.”
Jhoanna felt something ticklish and funny inside of her. It must be kilig. She can’t believe Aiah is acting all playful like this towards her. She brushed her hair as she try to suppress her smile.
“ano tara na guys? San tayo tatambay!” then the other one friend of Aiah and Gwen joined them.
She slowly excused herself to them as they are talking of something else already and just went to Stacey who is just sitting with both of her hands holding her chin.
“parang nag-eenjoy ka dun ah sige lang go lang iwan mo na ko”
“tanginamo talaga tara na nga canteen na kayo!”
----
“huh bat may ml saka codm kana ulit sa phone mo?” Colet said as she was looking through Jhoanna’s phone.
All four of them are currently staying at Jhoanna’s dorm since classes are over for the day, they just stopped by for a bit to eat dinner then will go home afterwards.
Sheena who is Jhoanna’s roommate does not mind about it all plus she’s still in her class and is also close with them.
“bakit naman hindi? gamer girl kaya ako!”
“ang tagal kong nagmakaawa sayo noon ah na install mo na ulit ml saka codm pero ayaw mo kasi wala ka ng storage? ano naman dinilete mo?”
“yung candy crush kong level 500 plus na, block blast saka wordscapes ko na level 150 plus na” Jhoanna dramatically said as she flops down to her bed.
“parang di parin sapat for ml saka codm pero bakit? bat ka nagbabalik bigla?” Colet still can’t believe what Jhoanna just did.
“hayst yang crush niya kasi narinig niyang naglalaro yan” Stacey answered for Jhoanna and she can only give colet a big smile.
Colet jumped at Jhoanna’s bed when she saw Aiah’s name in the notification bar.
“HALA SPEAKING OF NAGCHAT SIYA SAYO JUST NOW!!”
All of them gathered at Jhoanna’s bed as Jhoanna checked Aiah’s message.
Aiah Arceta: MaraiahQueen27 my name in ml and codm.
Aiah Arceta: sorry if its too lame I’m not good at making creative game names.
“ang bantot naman! Jho sure kana na crush mo yan?” Maloi commented and the three of them laughed.
“nagsalita ang may number parin sa ig username niya!” Jhoanna fought back.
Jhoanna Robles: ok!
Jhoanna Robles: add ko later XD
“naksssss ang landi!” Stacey then pushed Jhoanna lightly while she just side eyed her. “Saka bat di kayo friend sa fb?”
“wala eh mapride kami both jan wait nalang kayo”
Aiah Arceta: you’re forgetting something, don’t you think?
“huh gago ano yan ha? may utang kana agad sa kanya? modus mo yan no para di ka niya makalimutan-“ Jhoanna shut Maloi with a pillow.
Jhoanna can’t help but smile. The three of them thinks shes going crazy already.
Jhoanna Robles: Burgos.
——
A month has passed. Jhoanna and Aiah’s friendship grew along with their now combined friend group.
They would play ml and codm in their free time. Sometimes, Jhoanna and Aiah plays as a duo.
Its a Monday and they don’t have classes every Monday, its basically their free day aside from the weekends.
And Jhoanna woke up to Aiah’s message.
Aiah Arceta: tara samahan mo ako sa internet cafe!
Aiah Arceta: tambay narin tayo dun ng lang hours then lunch at the same time
Even though their friendship status is good, Jhoanna can’t help but still feel a bit shy and awkward around Aiah because of her feelings for her, which is just a little secret of her and her friends despite the merging of their friend group.
Jhoanna Robles: okay tara! What time?
Jhoanna can play games and does play games. Roblox? You can trust her with that. League of legends? Not really, plus lots of other shooting related games. Now she’s thinking of what kind of game they would play.
Aiah Arceta: 10:30 punta na me sa tnc
Aiah Arceta: hope you play valorant pala ha
Oh Jhoanna’s doomed. Although she did tried playing valorant but only because Colet begged her to play which was only for a month last year. She’s not afraid to admit that her skills hasn’t fully developed for this game.
Jhoanna Robles: ofc ako pa!
Jhoanna Robles: sige see u later sis
10:30 is still 3 hours away, Jhoanna still has time to practice herself being composed around Aiah.
…
Jhoanna arrived first but she has to wait for Aiah. Now that Aiah has arrived, they paid at the cashier at the same time and logged in their computers at the same time as well.
“I’m so happy because finally! I have someone who can I invite here anytime I mean Gwen and Mikha only play mobile games, although they can play valorant naman saka si Colet… we’re not that close pa” Aiah started the conversation now that they are sat at their computers.
“okay lang yan saka tambay kami ni Colet dito noon… feel ko pag nalaman niya na nandito tayo now baka next time sasama na yun satin” Aiah just giggled at what Jhoanna said. Speaking of Colet, shes thinking if she should use Colet’s valorant account or her account who she hasn’t been played in months.
“I think Colet’s cool. Don’t you think Jhoanna?”
That made Jhoanna stopped her thinking process. ano ba pinagsasabi nito?
“I’m sorry for that remark pero before going back to that, do you like girls?”
Jhoanna is quite nervous with Aiah’s question. akala ko ba straight to’ bat may paganito siyang mga tanong?
“oo naman kasi ang maganda ay para sa mga maganda only” Jhoanna even got to tell a joke and now this is her chance to ask her about it back. “eh ikaw? do you like girls ba Aiah?”
There was a few seconds of silence between them before Aiah answered Jhoanna’s question.
“I can like girls I mean I’ve always liked girls” and Jhoanna got her answer, Aiah saw Jhoanna nodding as a respond in her peripheral vision.
As Jhoanna put the pieces together, she felt some weird feeling in her chest that she wants to avoid thinking about it from now on.
“so about Colet… I think she-“
“ano pala name mo Aiah ako na mag-aadd sayo!” please Aiah switch topic na tayo.
Jhoanna decided to use her own account instead.
…
They stayed at the internet cafe for about almost 6 hours and had their lunch there at the same time. Jhoanna and Aiah did have a great time especially Aiah who keeps laughing at Jhoanna the whole time.
Aiah loves to play agents that are duelist such as Reyna and Jett but her choices are not limited to them, while Jhoanna consistently only played Gekko the whole time.
[FOR THOSE WHO DON’T PLAY VALO: duelists are expected to be the team’s top fraggers, who will carry the team; meanwhile gekko, an initiator, usually functions like a support, who gives the team information about where the enemies are]
After their time at the internet cafe they went home together, rode a jeep together but Jhoanna’s place was much closer so she has to go down first, then they bid their byes and see you tomorrow talk.
When arrived Jhoanna at their condo, she went straight ahead to her bed then flops down with a half satisfied and half broken heart, forgetting that shes still wearing her outside clothes.
Aiah Arceta: I had a great time Jhoanna!
Aiah Arceta: til next time okay?
Jhoanna decides to reply to that later.
colet panget: tara rank sa ml now na
colet panget: HOY!!!
“oh nandito kana pala baks! kamusta date niyo ni Aiah?” It was Sheena her roommate who is actually also in their circle of friend. Jhoanna didn’t answer immediately instead she just frustratingly wiped her face with her hands. “ano? basted kana ba agad?”
“gaga!” that made Jhoanna sat up on her bed. “tangina kasi feel ko bet niya ata si Colet eh…”
“omg putangina congrats!” Jhoanna’s brows just furrowed. “I mean congrats sa part na di pala saya straight pero condolence sayo kasi si Colet pala ang tipo hayst”
Jhoanna does not know what she would do next, she feels helpless.
“ano na gagawin ko ngayon? hanap na ng iba? feel ko din kasi type din ni Colet yang si Aiah eh pero ayaw niya lang aminin kasi diba… dahil sakin”
Sheena sat at Jhoanna’s bed. “ang gagawin mo ngayon ay.. wala!”
“huh?”
“wala as in wala like tuloy parin ang kabadingan mo ganon!”
Jhoanna’s overthinking starts now.
——
After that day, Jhoanna tried to observe every Aiah and Colet interactions that happens infront of her although it burns her eyes a bit.
But looking at their closeness nothing has ever changed, Jhoanna had another hypotheses that maybe something is already happening privately between them which felt like throwing daggers at her heart.
“huy Jhoanna kain na! ang lalim ng iniisip mo ha” it was Maloi.
All of them are currently at Jhoanna and Sheena’s condo, having lunch.
Aiah and Colet are sitting beside each other, what a sight for sore eyes to Jhoanna.
“teka lang guys bili lang ako ng coke sa baba” Jhoanna said then she stood up and get her wallet.
“sama ako!” Colet quickly stood up. “baka kasi mapano ka pa sa baba Jho—“
“ako din sama ako!”
ay putangina naman oh.
Jhoanna glanced at Sheena who is trying to hold back her laugh.
“sige tara na!”
…
The elevator way down was silent and Jhoanna was at the middle of them. Even when they were walking to the convenience store, Jhoanna was just there in the middle of them. Colet was telling some funny stories to Jhoanna along the way, Aiah is just there quiet beside them.
It kind of confuses Jhoanna why Colet’s presence does not affects Aiah in some way or maybe shes just good at playing it cool?
“Jho ako na magdala ng ice” Colet offered and she quickly grabbed it from the counter.
“geh—“
“ako na sa coke” Aiah on the other hand quickly grabbed the coke from the counter as well.
edi magpasikat kayo dalawa sa isat-isa.
“okay sige, lets go!”
…
Jhoanna tried so hard to not think about it. The fact that they are not classmates with Colet already helps a lot.
But most of the time it really stresses her out.
“nasan sila?” Jhoanna asked Aiah because apparently its only the two of them sitting on a bench at their University’s park.
“may chineck lang sa bookstore kasi may bagong lanyard daw ayun” Aiah answered.
“ay ano ba yan sinama nalang sana tayo pero okay na to tinatamad din ako maglakad eh”
basta kasama ka aiah.
“so… do you like someone right now Jho?”
Jhoanna was caught off guard with Aiah’s question and it was a dead atmosphere anyway, maybe Aiah was trying to strike up a conversation.
“oo naman” Jhoanna smiled avoiding Aiah’s eyes. “bakit mo pala natanong?”
“ikaw lang kasi yung di talaga machika about sa mga ganyan eh… im just curious”
siyempre ikaw kasi yung crush ko gaga!
“eh ikaw? do you like someone right now?” The question felt like Jhoanna is setting up her own death bed.
“yes.”
putangina help me please baka mahimatay ako bigla pag sinabi niyang si Colet pala.
“hmmmm kilala ko ba to?”
sige lang Jhoanna saktan mo pa sarili mo
“kilalang kilala mo.”
Jhoanna finally have the courage to look at Aiah’s eyes after avoiding it for a while now.
“okay tell me Aiah”
Aiah’s eyes grew big its like she didn’t expect that Jhoanna would say something like that.
“I’m looking at her right now”
Jhoanna just furrowed her eyebrows with what just Aiah said.
“HOY! NANDYAN LANG PALA KAYO DALAWA HA!”
When Jhoanna looked behind her its like she finally got her answer.
It was Colet who were calling them.
——
Its their parasitology lecture time and Jhoanna is busy taking notes. On Jhoanna’s left side their classmate, Ysobel, keeps on asking her stuffs that she doesnt mind anyway.
“Jho mamaya laro tayo 5 man sa codm ha kasama sila Jarren”
Although it lowkey iritates her because shes trying to pay attention to the lesson but Ysobel keeps on telling her things.
“yeah yeah sige lang go—“
“Jho, diba tatambay tayo sa comp shop mamaya after class?” now it was Aiah. even Ysobel looked at Aiah’s side. Jhoanna didnt expect Aiah’s entrance like that.
“ehhh Jho lagi mo naman kasama yang sila Aiah, kami naman oh! kahit mamaya lang?”
“Jho you promised kagabi diba?” now its Aiah and her pleading eyes.
Jhoanna feels dizzy, she can’t concentrate to the lesson anymore and she just want to take notes.
“Jhoannaaaa—“
“mamaya na please nagnonotes pa ako oh” that made Ysobel shut up and didnt disturb Jhoanna throughout the class anymore.
At the end of the class, Jhoanna told Ysobel that she has other plans after class and that she dont think if she can play codm with them later, Ysobel understands.
Aiah heard all of that and she just smiled to herself.
And, no, Jhoanna and Aiah didn’t talked about having computer shop plans for today, Aiah only made that up.
…
“bat mo pala ginawa yun?”
“diba sabi mo samin lowkey pet peeve mo yun edi ayun you’re welcome!” Jhoanna just laughed at Aiah’s answer.
“HAHAHAHAHAHA SIRAULO KA TALAGA” Jhoanna still cant stop laughing. “true naman pero thanks! nasa comp shop tuloy tayo ngayon”
Yep. They made their computer shop plans real.
“pag ako nakita nun dito or nung iba niya pang tropa ano gagawin kong alibi ha???”
“edi sabihin mong nagdadate tayo ngayon”
Jhoanna felt an electricity rushing in her veins. Another way to describe kilig.
“baliw ka talaga” Jhoanna tried her best to bite down her smile.
Atleast for 3 hours she forgot about the Aiah and Colet thing.
——
Its their first ever practicals for this semester, midterms is just around the corner that’s why.
Everyone is preparing theirselves, wearing their hairnets, gloves and of course the most important thing: lab gown.
“shit! fuck!”
Jhoanna heard Aiah cursed as she is looking through her bag. It also caught Stacey, Gwen and Mikha’s attention.
“bakit?”
“naiwan ko lab gown ko!” Aiah kept looking through her bag like shes expecting that her lab gown would just magically appear there.
That moment, Jhoanna have a crazy idea. She lend Aiah her lab gown without any thought and hesitation.
“oh eto”
“huh? no Jhoanna this is yours its okay magpapaminus nalang ako—“
“hihiram ako kina Maloi ng lab gown” Jhoanna didnt let Aiah speak anymore instead she just wrapped her lab gown around Aiah’s shoulders then she started running.
Its very necessary to wear lab gowns during a laboratory class at all times. Especially in practicals, not having one will either be a deduction to your practical score or an endless scolding from your professor.
“diba nasa 2nd floor yung class nila Maloi now?” Mikha commented and Stacey nodded as an answer. “tas ang tagal pa naman ng elev sa building na to”
Jhoanna didnt use the elevator, she used the stairs.
That time she didn’t know what shes thinking, her mind is just pure blank and but at the same time recalling some names of parasite for their practicals.
“okay class pila na kayo in alphabetical order and sabay-sabay kayong papasok lahat and sabay-sabay ding magtatake, yung mga wala pa just leave a space for them”
Aiah is starting to panic because Jhoanna hasn’t comeback yet. She feels guily.
“ready na ba ang lahat? start walking inside na”
It didnt take them a lot of time to settle inside since its already alphabetical, whats taking them long is the professor setting up her projector.
“please… please Jhoanna be on time” Aiah closed her eyes as she hoped and prayed.
“as im preparing the projector kuha na kayo ng 1 whole sheet of yellow paper”
Aiah has it of course shes a girlscout.
“penge nga” it was Gwen who is sitting beside her.
“san naka upo si jho? lagyan ko na din ng paper yung table niya” Aiah asked.
“uhmm sa tabi ata ni Rivera? siya last sa R diba?” Aiah got it noted and went to that Rivera girlie.
When Aiah came back to her seat, she heard— they all heard a loud bang on their classroom’s door.
Without looking, Aiah know’s its Jhoanna.
“miss Robles buti nakahabol ka pa! bilis go na to your seat”
Aiah can’t help but smile, well, throughout the practicals she was just smiling. She was even called out once for smiling but Aiah just said that it was because the questions were too easy.
Aiah wouldn’t forget this day.
——
“ay naisip ko lang bigla, sino kaya naglagay ng yellow paper sa table ko? si Rivera kaya? sabi kona ngaba crush ako nun eh!”
They just bid bye to their other friends but they still decided to stick together because Aiah said she wants to do something but only with Jhoanna.
“hmmm parang di naman si Rivera, pero tama ka kung sino man naglagay nun.. for sure crush ka nun!” Then Aiah held Jhoanna’s right arm and clinged to it. “Jhoanna… thank you talaga! like thank you! I dont know how to thank you enough!” Aiah said with sincerity and while clinging to Jhoanna’s arm.
“huy ikaw ha kanina ka pa nagtthankyou okay na nga teh!”
“no! gusto kong bumawi sayo just tell me, ano libre kita sa tnc ng good for 1 week?”
Jhoanna was shocked with Aiah’s offer. “hala grabe 1 week talaga? oa na yun ha! okay na sakin kahit for 1 day ganon!”
“ay hindi Jho parang kulang parin! kung pwede lang na bilhin ko nalang yung tnc for you—“
“Aiah its okay! you’re welcome na kasi kanina pa, okay sige ganito nalang libre mo nalang ako sa tnc for 3 days ganon ikaw na bahala kung ilang hours”
Aiah liked that idea then immediately lead Jhoanna to the computer shop.
“weh ngayon na agad?”
“oo naman saka kakatapos lang ng pracs natin we deserve to unwind naman!”
Jhoanna smiled at the thought of this side of Aiah. Before they became this close she thought shes just all acads-no-distractions-please-girlie, but Aiah is actually more of a spontaneous girl.
When they finally found a seat, well actually it was just Jhoanna, she waited there for a few minutes and then Aiah came with two cup noodles on her hands.
“ang lamig kaya dito sa comp shop saka mamaya pa tayo kakain later and op! bawal magreklamo na oa to ha”
Jhoanna just smiled and accept her defeat. “okay okay! ayan go bilis login kana”
While Aiah is typing her login details she got an idea.
“gusto mo ba magpalit ng names sa valo?” Aiah hopes Jhoanna likes her silly idea.
“okay go! may naisip ka ba?”
“gusto mo sniper saka wifey?” Jhoanna just nodded and at the same time these names feels familiar but she can’t recall where. “akin ang sniper—“
“sniper me!”
They both said sniper at the same time.
“ahhh so sinasabi mo bang panget aim ko kaya wifey lang dapat ako?” Jhoanna jokingly sulked and that made Aiah laugh.
“okay sure sige ikaw na si sniper di ko na aagawin” Aiah said and she saw Jhoanna immediately typed ‘sniper’. “ako na ang wifey mo Jho”
sniper #jho
wifey #aiah
Then Jhoanna remembers where the names came from, it was from a song and currently is some trend for couples in tiktok.
ah what are you trying to do with me Aiah?
…
Before Jhoanna fell asleep that night she received a chat from Stacey.
stacey girls its going down: hoy alam mo ba
stacey girls its going down: si london bridge naglagay ng papel mo kanina
stacey girls its going down: goodnight 😘
——
Jhoanna completely forgot to think about the Colet and Aiah thing, well it still does crosses her mind sometimes but most of the time she don’t get any interactions of them together anymore.
Its like it didnt even existed in the first place. Maybe Jhoanna was just over analyzing things in the first place or maybe not.
She doesn’t just want to stress about it anymore.
“alam mo bang parang may internal bad blood daw si Colet at Aiah” Sheena said while shes combing her hair. Jhoanna closed the book that she was reading.
“huh? internal bad blood? sino naman nagsabi?”
“kutob lang ni stacey pero parang nafefeel ko na din sa totoo lang”
Jhoanna knows Stacey is good at hunches but why would she think Colet and Aiah has some fight?
“random lang pero wag kang kiligin ha… what if lang na… gusto ka rin pala ni Aiah?”
“parang ang imposible naman yan” Jhoanna said as she is trying to stop a smile.
“kutob ko lang din saka hindi ba lagi kayong magkasama sa tnc? oh ayan sign na yan bading!”
If Jhoanna always praises Stacey’s hunches meanwhile she wants to choke Sheena with her hunches.
Because the last time she trusted Sheena’s hunches things didn’t went well.
“ayoko na baka ma kathryn bernardo 2.0 nanaman ako ha”
Long story short, she got rejected in the most painful way by her first ever girl crush.
“sis trust me” Sheena gave Jhoanna the most assuring look. “kasi delulu tayo eh”
“pakyu ka”
——
They just got through their midterms and Sheena suggested they should celebrate. And its a perfect day to celebrate since its their last day of exams and its only a half day.
Drinks at their condo. Jhoanna just agreed and shes not even a big drinker, shes a “ilang-shots-lang-ako-ha” type of girl.
Since its going to be Jhoanna and Sheena’s place that they are going to be using, Stacey, Aiah and Gwen are incharge of the drinks while Colet, Maloi and Mikha are on food.
Its 5pm thats their call time but they just got completed by 6.
Dinner first so they got a little something in their tummy, the food department bought a 2 big boxes of pizza.
And here comes the exciting part… the drinking part.
“hala guys sorry 4 lang yung shot glass na meron kami kaya tig dalawang tao nalang tayo each—“
“sus ang oa kahit isang shot glass pa yan g lang!” Gwen said and everybody but Jhoanna cheered. Jhoanna is lowkey a laway conscious.
“Jho itabi mo muna yang pagiging laway conscious mo ha” Maloi joked.
Its not like Jhoanna’s going to hyperventilate if she shared a glass with someone, shes going to be fine.
So the first four shots was the four oldest and then the four youngest. After the first shot, Sheena had a silly.
Then the second shots were reversed, four youngest then the four oldest.
This kind of shots diplomacy were only effective until their 4th shot. So far everyone is still on their right minds, Jhoanna avoided a shot because she only wants to drink light today, Aiah’s shots were always full, Maloi and Gwen shots doesnt even seem close to half yet they act like its a full shot.
Among all 8 of them, Aiah looks like a strong drinker, Colet comes second.
“may pinagdadaanan ata crush mo” Colet whispered to Jhoanna and Jhoanna elbowed her.
weh baka crush mo din yan- Jhoanna only thought.
Aiah saw that little interaction and she gave herself a half shot without anyone noticing.
“guys ang boring lang kung puro shot lang tayo… lagyan natin ng konting challenge!” everybody looks excited about it. “lahat tayo magtatanong ng something at magsshot kung wala masagot also dapat honest ha kasi God is watching!”
“para ba tong never have I ever din?” it was Mikha and Sheena nodded. “okay go nice yan start tayo kay Aiah”
“sige hmmmm never have i ever liked a tropa!”
Colet, Stacey, Gwen goes I have. Mikha looks undecided but just went for never, along with Jhoanna, Maloi and Sheena.
Aiah is also i have.
So all the ones who answered never will have to take a shot.
“weh Jho never ka nagkagusto sa tropa mo?” Mikha asked.
“nope!”
Someone was sad from that answer, or maybe not just a someone.
Next is Colet. “okay ako na! uhmmm yes or no, may gustong someone ngayon!”
Everybody answered yes, no one’s taking a shot.
Maloi. “eto ha para maiba, grade reveal sa histology noon or shot!” then Maloi took a shot, means thats already her answer.
“pakyu Maloi” Colet took a shot and everybody went ‘ohhhhh’
“i got a B” everybody was impressed at Aiah.
“sorry guys” Mikha just laughed and took a shot.
“C lang ako eh” Gwen answered.
“hala gaga same!!!!” Stacey said.
“mga tangina niyo proud D+ here!” everybody’s cheer was extra loud on Sheena’s answer.
While everyone is all hyped up they paused for a bit and looked at Jhoanna to answer.
“B+”
Then everyone was more hyped than ever. Aiah on the other hand was impressed and her world’s starts to spin literally.
Now its Gwen’s turn “eto para maiba din… if sino dito sa mga tao dito ang sa tingin niyong crush material, shot o sagot!” then she took a shot.
“hayst mga ate turing ko sainyo eh” Sheena then took a shot.
“kadiri kayo!” It was Stacey then she took a shot.
“mga panget!” Mikha, then she took a shot.
“ayoko na muna magshot nahihilo na ako slight kaya si Jho nalang sasabihin ko!” it was Maloi then Sheena agreed, Gwen and Mikha also cheered for that answer, Jhoanna just rolled her eyes at them. The others are just quiet.
“yup! si Jho—“
“si jhoanna! di lang crush material! crush ko din” Colet was cutted off by Aiah’s sudden answer, an answer that sort of shocked anyone. Jhoanna felt like she was deaf after that.
teka lasing naba ako? totoo ba tong naririnig ko?
“Jhoanna… akin ka lang ha?” whats more shocking is the sight of Aiah clinging into Jhoanna with her loving eyes. “jhoanna please akin ka lang— BLUUEH”
“GUYS SI AIAH SUSUKA PAKI ESCORT SA CR PLEASE!!!” Sheena shouted and that alerted Gwen and Mikha escorting to the CR.
Jhoanna is just there sitting, frozen.
“Jho?” Stacey tried approaching her. “nahihilo ka narin ba—“
Jhoanna then stood up. “oo, magpapahangin nalang muna ako sa labas”
Stacey was about to follow her but Maloi stopped her.
But no one was able to stop Colet from following Jhoanna.
…
“jho san ka pupunta” Colet tried to lower her voice as they are in the hallways walking towards the elevator.
“magpapahangin lang” Jhoanna answered while walking.
“Jho ako din…”
“edi tara magpahangin ng sabay…” Jhoanna stopped right infront of the elevator and she didnt pressed any down button yet because she realized something.
Her hunches might be right after all this time.
“Jho ako din, gusto kita”
Nope. Jhoanna’s hunches were wrong and she didn’t expect to know it this way.
“huh?” Jhoanna faced Colet. “akala ko si Aiah gusto mo? hindi?”
“huh tangina si Aiah? bat naman si Aiah?” even Colet was confused by what Jhoanna said. “saka… actually akala ko may something na kayo kasi lagi kayong magkasama diba halos di na mapaghiwalay… hindi pa pala… o magiging kayo ba?”
Jhoanna saw that faint smile at Colet’s lips, Jhoanna feels helpless.
“Colet…”
“I know Jhoanna, you like Aiah, oo I get it wag mo na sabihin yung word na yun baka umiyak lang ako dito” Colet’s voice cracked but shes fighting so hard to not cry infront of Jhoanna. “di ko pa sinisimulan yung laban alam kong talo na agad ako”
Jhoanna hugged Colet, Colet hugged her tighter.
“kailan pa?”
“since first year second semester, sinubukan kong pigilan pero nung naging crush mo si kathryn bernardo at nabasted ka, sorry sa mini throwback, parang dahil dun tinuloy ko nalang yung nararamdaman ko sayo”
Colet felt that Jhoanna wants to let go of that hug but she hugged Jhoanna more tighter.
“wag muna Jho please baka maiyak ako pag makita ko mukha mo”
Jhoanna just listened to Colet’s request since its the least she can do.
“after this night… sana walang magbabago satin jho…”
“hindi, I promise. goods parin tayo”
Now Colet wants to seriously cry because Jhoanna is being Jhoanna. The most understanding person she knows.
The elevator opens, they both broke their hug. Jhoanna goes in the elevator. Well even though nobody pushed the button somebody went down to their floor.
“bumalik ka nalang muna dun baka lahat na sila nagsusukaha na”
They both just laughed before the elevator closes.