Kabanata 12.1 - Baby

Next week na yung wedding ni Ate so we're planning to throw a bridal's shower. Simple party lang with her friends, no boys allowed sana ang gusto niya pero mapilit ang friends niya kaya they invited guys, ganoon naman usually sa bridal's shower 'di ba? May guy na naka mask tas magsasayaw. Invited din ang friends ko para daw may kasama akong ka-edaran ko. Nakikita ko yung friendship namin sa friendship nila Ate.

They're so nice, I barely see them these days kasi focus ako sa studies ko and kung hindi man, maghapon akong nakakulong lang sa kwarto, reading some books and such that's why I can't remember them but I do know them, lalo na ngayon.

"Rouge Luxy, I know the owner, we can get discount!" suggest ni Ate Cora, friend ni Ate.

We are here in the living room, planning for my sister's bridal shower. Ate Laureen asked for my help dahil mukhang marami daw akong opinions, busy din kasi siya at hectic ang schedule niya kaya nangako akong tutulungan ko sila. We are picking right club or bar for this mini event, yep there's too many bars out there but I want something nice and classy. Ate Cora gave me the number of the owner so that I could call her to check the bar.

"You sure? If Morris found out about this, there's gonna be a world war three I swear!" Ate Merliah, who is preoccupied kanina joined the conversation. She looks a bit nervous and distracted, maybe Morris is her boyfriend.

"Duh, sis! Magpaalam kayo, they would understand it naman since wedding ni Dria and Froi," Ate Laureen said.

"Perks of being a single, walang magagalit," proud pang sambit ni Ate Cora at napatingin sa 'kin na nakaupo lang sa isang gilid, "Kaya ikaw Treia, '7wag ka munang magjojowa naku! Sakit lang sa ulo 'yang mga lalaking 'yan," dugtong niya, natawa nalang ako habang tumatango. I'm not planning to have a boyfriend pa, I don't know.

"Speaking of boyfriends, yung ex niyo pala invited. What can you say about it? Anong feels?" Ate Merliah gave them a smirk and winked before sipping on her wine. Ate Laureen and Ate Coralie's face become serious and their mood suddenly changed so I have to lighten up the atmosphere, I don't want to witness any wars here though their faces is really look funny.

"Uh, I'll check the bar tomorrow," I said, smiling at them. Ngumiti rin naman sila sa 'kin.

"Ako na bahala sa guys, I know some models," paalala ni Ate Laureen, I nodded.

"I'll go upstairs muna," paalam ko. I opened my phone and tried contacting Iris, I'll ask her to come with me, ayoko namang mag-isa pumunta sa bar na 'yon. Sadly, I can't reach her out so I just leave a message. Bukas ay mababasa niya naman 'yon.

7 PM nang bumaba ako dahil nag-text si Ate na dinner time na raw, my sister's friends are not here anymore. Baka umuwi na sila or pinauwi ni Ate, I wonder. I saw two helpers preparing food for us, kita ko naman si Papa sa kitchen, tinitikman ang luto niya. Na-excite akong kumain bigla lalo na't si Papa ang nagluto. When the food is ready, kumain ka agad kami.

"Two days before the wedding ay babiyahe na tayo papuntang Batanes to prepare na rin," paliwanag ni Ate habang nakain, I can see the excitement on her face, good for her.

Nang matapos kami kumain ay bumalik agad ako sa kwarto, I received a message from Iris saying she can't come because of some errands she's running. She's enrolled pala sa special class for culinary students, she's really dedicated to her passion.

I dialed the owner's number instead, I have to talk to her na para malaman kung nandoon ba siya sa bar niya bukas.

"This is Klaudia Luna, speaking," sambit nito mula sa kabilang linya.

"Uh, good evening. I'm Chantreia Fabregar—"

She cut me off.

"Oh, Ate Coralie told me about you already. Let's meet at the bar tomorrow, I'll send you the details," sambit nito.

"Right! Yeah, thanks," huli kong sabi bago ibaba ang call. She really send me the details, hindi naman kalayuan ang bar gaya ng inaakala ko. Bagong bukas yata kaya hindi pa masyadong kilala, maybe Ken knew this. I called her pero can't reach din so I decided to open my IG account and message them in our groupchat, baka sakaling may sumama sa 'kin.

@a_cosme: Can't bitch, business gathering.

Grace and Mads can't come also so I decided to come alone nalang when Isaiah suddenly message me.

@inicolaij: Why do you call me Isaiah?

What's with the question? Is it a big deal ba?

@treiaaafabregar: Because I want to?

@inikolaij: Everyone's calling me Nikolai and then there's you, calling me Isaiah.

@treiaaafabregar: Para maiba naman, para 'di mo rin ako malimutan. lol!

I joked.

@inikolaij: Then I should call you Chantreia or Sage or Chantreia Sage, para rin maiba, para hindi mo rin ako makalimutan.

What. The. Hell

@treiaaafabregar: NO WAY!! I'll sue you if you do!!

I waited for his reply, I really don't want to be called Chantreia or Sage, especially Chantreia Sage, no way! That's too long.

@inikolaij: What should I call you then? Baby? Babe? What?

Damn you, Isaiah! What the hell?!

@inikolaij: Baby

No, no way. What the hell is he saying? And why am I even smiling? Sinampal ko ng mahina ang pisngi ko to avoid myself from smiling, parang umiinit na rin ang pisngi ko, siguro dahil sa sampal 'yon, napalakas yata? I'm typing now when he suddenly replied—

@inikolaij: Shark

I didn't respond. Bullshit, he got me there!

@inikolai: Hey, I'm just joking.

I didn't reply, he continue typing..

@inikolai: U free tomorrow?

This time, nagreply na 'ko. Maybe I'll ask him nalang para may kasama ako, I don't want to go to places I'm not familiar with.

@treiaaafabregar: Nope, I'll go check some bar for my sister's bridal shower. Ikaw? Free ka tomorrow?

I'm waiting for his reply, bakit parang ang tagal naman niya—

@inikolaij: Nope, I'll go with you to check some bar for your sister's bridal shower.

My lips formed a smile, I can't help it. I don't know but his message makes me smile, am I this weird?

@treiaaafabregar: Okay, pick me up tomorrow, 4 PM.

@inikolaij: Alright, sleep well madame baby shark.

Damn you, how can I sleep well, huh? Pagkatapos nyang magsabi ng kung ano ano tonight, tingin niya ba makakatulog ako ng maayos? And why am I like this? Bullshit, what did you do to me Isaiah Nikolai?

I woke up 7 AM, inaantok pa 'o pero dahil mag wowork out ako ngayon ay bumangon na rin ako. I took a shower first then prepare my things, naglagay ako ng extra clothes, water and other stuffs sa duffle bag ko. Pagkatapos no'n ay nagpunta na agad ako sa gym na lagi kong pinupuntahan, may equipments naman sa bahay kaso mas prefer ko yung gym talaga kasi kapag sa bahay ay tinatamad ako.

May mga kakilala ako, they smiled at me pero hindi ko sila pinansin. Ayoko magpaka-plastik, 'no! Nag-start na 'ko sa warm up and did my work out routine, I saw Oly entering the gym so I immediately stop and waved at him, pumwesto naman siya malapit sa 'kin, I'm doing a butt exercise habang siya ay nag warm up na.

"Pumupunta ka rito because of the hot guys, 'no? I know you girl, alam ko na budhi mo," pagbibiro ko, natawa naman siya.

"Duh, girl? Wala ngang hottie, kung mayron man pinapak ko na 'yon," tugon nito kaya natawa rin ako, bulgaran lang yan magsalita pero alam kong 'di niya magagawa 'yon. Never.

"Sus, as if magagawa mo talaga," pang-aasar ko pa, pumunta naman ako sa treadmill para 'yon ang gamitin, sinundan niya naman ako.

"Tumpak, girl! Ganito lang ako magsalita pero pusong lalaki pa rin 'to.. na mahilig sa jumbo hotdog," dahil doon ay humalakhak ako, he never failed to make me laugh so hard, nag tinginan tuloy ang ibang tao sa'min kaya napatigil ako.