Chapter Text
Si Aiah at si Maloi, sa canteen.
Leaching 'to: Why Filipinos should care about polystyrene plastic
She was staring at the blinking cursor on her screen, trying to figure out how to write an interesting lede for her Science Reporting class. She decided to write her Science Reporting article on polystyrene plastics, leaching, and high temperatures. Naalala niya kasi yung tinuro sa kanila sa Env Sci 1 class niya na masama pala sa katawan pag nag-leach yung plastic sa pagkain. She'd already interviewed her Environment and Society professor for it, along with a few figures from the food and beverage industry. Pero parang hindi niya maharap ngayon.
Well, at least may headline na. Sana makalusot.
"Jho, gusto mong siomai at fries?"
The eight of them were at the canteen across their college for merienda and to get a headstart on their assignments. Simula nung maging mag-kabarkada sila, thanks to a summer elective they all took by chance, naging routine na nila ang mag-merienda at tulungan ang isa't isa sa assignments nila. Mas madali na ngayon na major subjects at electives na sila, dahil madalas sila-sila rin naman ang magkakaklase.
Gwen and Stacey were helping Sheena with her paper para doon sa mema prof na nang-power trip kay Aiah last year (hinala pa rin nilang lahat na inis yung prof kay Aiah dahil crush siya nung mga boys sa class nila). Maloi had her earphones on while editing her assignment for the Music in Broadcast Media elective that they all decided to take, Aiah was going through her readings for her Marketing and Promotion for Broadcast Media elective, and Mikha was catching a nap, sleeping soundly on the pillow Aiah insisted she start carrying with her starting their third year. Lalo pa kasing naging antukin yung kaibigan nila sa bigat ng schedule nila at sa demands ng training niya sa volleyball team. Ultimo sa lobby ng college nila, masandal lang si Mikha nang kaunti sa backpack niya, tulog na kaagad.
She stared back at her laptop screen and tried to write at least one sentence, a task now made more difficult by Colet waving a hand near her face.
"Hello po, gusto niyo po ba ng fries at siomai?"
From the opposite side of the long table, she could see Gwen, Stacey, and Sheena look up at the two of them. She swears she heard Sheena say, "Luh, may 'po' talaga?"
Aiah had a small smirk on her face, but only highlighted a few sentences on the page she was reading.
"Uh, sige," Jhoanna replied. She then turned to Colet with a pout on her face and her eyes wide and bright. "Pwede bang bilhan mo na rin ako ng Coke? Please?"
"Coke na naman, kaya ka nagkakasakit eh."
"Wow, nanay 'yan?"
Stacey cackled loudly at her own comment, making the rest of the girls chuckle lightly.
Jhoanna just looked up at Colet once more and gave her a pout, bottom lip jutting out. When Colet rolled her eyes, she knew she emerged victorious. 'Di siya matitiis talaga.
"Fine. Sige na, bibili na ng Coke. Bibili na rin ako ng tubig, inumin mo 'yun ah!"
She felt Aiah's eyes on her once more, but when she looked back at the girl, Aiah was just writing on her Post-It notes and sticking it to her readings.
"Ate Colet, sasama na ako sa 'yo," Sheena said, closing the book she was reading. "'Di ko na maintindihan yung binabasa ko eh." The three girls stood up, wallets in tow.
"Fries and siomai lang talaga?"
"Oo."
"Okay, sige."
"GCash ko na lang mamaya."
"'Wag na, magkano lang naman 'yun."
"Libre kita lunch bukas."
"Sige."
Colet's smile reached her eyes. Grabe 'rin yung ngiti ng best friend niya, parang sikat ng araw.
After a few minutes, the food arrived at their table. Jhoanna managed to at least cobble up a few paragraphs. Pwede naman niyang i-edit yun later. Colet took the chair next to her and started serving her their food and drinks. She also nudged Maloi, who was still replaying her track for their assignment, making the girl take out her earphones.
"Maloi, okay na 'yan, pakinggan mo na lang ulit mamaya."
"Coming from you talaga?" Maloi chuckled. "Mas perfectionist ka pa sa 'kin eh!"
Colet only shook her head. She took Jho's can of Coke and wiped the top with some tissue before cracking it open and handing it to her. She also prepped the chili garlic and soy sauce dip for both of their siomai orders, and when she was done, she just slid Jho's order to her. She also opened Sheena's water bottle and handed it to the younger girl.
"Jho, kain na tayo," Colet said, smiling at her.
"Na para bang silang dalawa lang yung nasa hapag," Jhoanna heard Gwen murmur.
"Sana all may nag-aalaga," Maloi chimed in, prompting Stacey to give her a high-five.
"Si Shee rin naman," Jhoanna pointed out. Ang weird talaga nitong mga 'to.
"Ay 'di ako kasama diyan," Sheena replied, with a small laugh.
Aiah woke up Mikha so that she could also have a bit of merienda before heading into her training session, prompting Maloi, Stacey, Sheena, and Gwen to turn their attention towards the couple. The red-haired girl blinked sleepily a few times before registering where she was and who she was with. "Wake up na, babi," Stacey said, imitating their ate. "I got you food."
"Babi!"
"Babi wuvwuv!"
"Shut up," Mikha only muttered, making Stacey cackle again.
"Papamukha pa talagang single ako!"
"Ama namin, nasaan ang sa amin?"
"Nandito lang daw sa malapit yung sa 'yo, Maloi," Colet murmured. "Tawagin nga natin—"
"Ay lumalaban si Ate Colet oh!"
Jhoanna nudged her best friend before she and Maloi started teasing each other. "Ate Colet, lalamig na talaga yung pagkain." She held up a fry to the older girl's lips and Colet took a bite without saying another word. She rolled her eyes once she heard the rest of the girls giggling.
"Player number two: Jholet!"
Colet looked at Stacey in disbelief. "Anong Jholet?!"
"Ship name niyo beh. Ship ko kayo!"
Colet made a face in response.
Jhoanna raised her eyebrow at her. "Wow, lugi ka pa sa akin?"
Colet stuck her tongue out. "Oo, ambilis kaya maubos ng chips sa bahay dahil sa 'yo."
"Grabe 'ka, ang liliit lang naman nun! Pinapalitan ko naman kaagad! Ikaw nga, ang hirap gisingin, muntik na tayo ma-late!"
"Ate Jho, buti hindi kayo pinapatawag ng admin sa dorm niyo 'no?" Sheena joked.
Jhoanna pointed her thumb at Colet. "Muntik na kaya, dahil kay Ate Colet. Ang lakas kaya ng sigaw niya nung nakakita siya ng malaking ipis sa dorm."
"Sabi kasing iligpit nang maayos yung gamit."
"Maayos gamit ko kaya. Naglilinis din naman tayo, baka nga galing pa sa kabila 'yun eh. Anyway, sinong nagpapatay sa akin ng ipis?"
Colet shushed her immediately. Basag ang image niya sa college nila pag nalaman nilang muntik nang ipatawag ng admin ng dorm nila sina Jhoanna at Colet sa lakas ng tili ni Colet nung may malaking ipis na lumanding sa study desk niya. Muntik pa nga niyang mabuhusan ng tubig yung laptop niya.
"Ah, bahay-bahayan," Gwen mumbled. Sheena and Mikha gave her a high-five.
While they were eating, Jhoanna was surprised when Colet's thumb brushed near her lip.
"Para ka talagang bata kumain minsan," Colet said, wiping it off.
Unfortunately, that gave Stacey everything she needed to start teasing them. She then turned to Gwen and started wiping at her face with her thumb. "Baby, teka lang, punasan ko rin 'yung face mo kahit wala akong nakikitang dumi." The rest of the girls cackled while Colet rolled her eyes at them.
"Sira."
The afternoon passed by with the eight of them exchanging stories about their classes, their respective orgs, and college gossip.
Mikha eventually had to leave for training, while Sheena, Gwen, and Stacey decided to leave early to beat the traffic as they lived closer to SM North. That left Jhoanna and Colet with Aiah and Maloi.
Colet stood up again to buy dinner for her and Jho. She was at the tail end of a still-growing line. Marami silang kapwa estudyante na bumibili na lang din sa canteen para di na magluto. Once Colet was out of earshot and Maloi finished what she was writing, Aiah closed her notebook and looked at Jhoanna.
"Jho."
"Yes, Ate Aiah?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Are you and Colet… dating? Nililigawan ka na ba niya?"
Nothing could have prepared Jhoanna for that question. "Ha? Paano mo naman nasabi 'yun?"
"I know you guys have been friends since high school, pero parang mas naging close pa kayo lately," Aiah explained, making sure to keep her voice down so Colet couldn't hear them. "You spend more time with her than you do with your other friends. Halos lahat ng classes mo, kayo magkaklase. You always go out together. May lakad kayo na kayong dalawa lang na hindi naman namin alam. Nakikita na lang namin after."
"Eh best friend ko 'yan. Roommates din naman kami."
"Maalaga siya sa 'yo."
"Ganun din siya kay Sheena," Jhoanna retorted.
"Atecco, hindi 'to debate team," Maloi said, chuckling lightly. "BFF ko 'rin naman 'yang si Cols, pero iba talaga alaga niya sa 'yo."
"Maasikaso naman siya talaga. Kahit naman kay Ate Aiah. Actually, sa lahat naman sa atin."
"True, but she dotes on you. Yung alaga niya sa amin, parang kapatid."
"Yung sa 'yo, parang iba," Maloi continued, amused. "Wala ba talagang feelings on either end?"
That made Jhoanna pause.
She looked up and when she met Colet's eyes, the other girl just smiled. Colet mouthed, "Extra rice?" and Jhoanna waved her off. When she looked back at her friends, they were giving her knowing looks. Jhoanna was starting to feel the heat from this whole line of questioning. "Ganyan lang naman talaga siya," Jhoanna said. "Close naman kasi kami."
"Pero ikaw, Jho? Gusto mo ba?"
"Na ano?"
"Na 'di lang kayo friends," Aiah added.
Mabait siya, maalaga, matalino, maganda, creative, kalog, lagi pa siyang pinagtatanggol at inaalagan. Her traitorous brain started whispering the things she already knew about her best friend. Pero best friend nga. Siyempre ganun, matagal na silang magkakilala. Parang kapamilya na rin ang turing sa kanya ng pamilya ni Colet at ganun din naman ang pamilya niya kay Colet. Colet's always been there for her, para siyang may ate na lagi niyang masasandalan. Hindi ba normal lang naman na ganun na sila ka-pamilyar sa isa't isa?
"Hindi ba pwedeng ganun lang talaga pag mag-best friend?"
Someone from Colet's org sidled up to her and started talking. Jhoanna watched as the two of them carried on a conversation. The girl—what is her name?—even slapped Colet on the shoulder after a while, the two of them laughing over some joke Jhoanna couldn't even hear.
Ang close ni ate masyado ha.
She missed her two friends exchanging a knowing look.
"Friends daw."
"Best friends nga."