Friends For Keeps Novels & Stories

"May balita ba kayo sa reunion ng batch natin?" Napatingin ako kay Jea. Tumingin din ito sa akin habang nakakunot ang noo. Nagkibit-balikat ako. Wala akong idea lalo na't naka deactivate account ko sa F******k matagal na—yung main account ko. May isa pa akong F******k account pero private and may 10 friends lang. Four—my siblings, two friends–Jea and Cristel, and four cousins. Walang pamangkin because I don't accept their friend requests pero may convo naman kami. And I don't think it's needed lalo na't my group chat naman. "No idea." Simpleng sagot ko, at inubos ang natirang milktea.

I forgot that I have a friend and we've never heard each other for a week. ***

Ang sabi nga sa kasabihan, 'keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer. Si Timothy pa mismo ang naghatid sa mag-ina sa bahay nila. Heilena asked him a favor if he could stay para may makasama si Tinsley na kalaro bukod sa lolo at lola nito at hindi naman umangal si Timothy. He willingly stayed. Napapabilib talaga niya si Heilena sa patience nito sa anak nila. Imagine, ngayon lang sila nagkakilala. Nakikita niya talaga kay Timothy ang attachment nito sa anak nilang si Tinsley. He really want to spend his time with her.

Ang isa-isa ang sandalan at pahinga ng bawat isa sa amin. “And then if you can remember. Keep smillin’, keep shinin’ Knowing you can always count on me for sure. That’s what friends are for. For good times and bad times. I’ll be on your side forever more. That’s what friends are for.” Hindi na kami makatugon sa pagkanta dahil mga hikbi na lamang ang tanging lumalabas sa mga bibig namin habang yakap ang isa’t-isa.

Kay Justin pa lang, alam kong hindi nagto-tolerate ang asawa ko ng taong masama ang ugali. “Wow! That’s awesome. Congratulations uli. I’m excited to meet your baby. You must be thinking about names already.” Marami pa kaming napag-usapan habang kumakain at namalayan ko na lang na halos maubos na namin ang in-order ni Val. Justin’s friends are really funny. They are an epitome of class, but at the same time, they are just normal people like me. Sila ’yong tipo na kapag business, seryoso ang usapan. But with friends and family, they are laidback. They laugh more often and throw jokes here and there. Tingin ko nga, past-time nila ang mag-asaran. They are lucky to have each other.

Ayoko naman mangyari yo'n dahil ayokong mawalan ng kaibigan si Wyatt. Sa loob ng isang linggo ay naging masaya naman ang samahan naming lima. Maituturing ko na rin silang kaibigan dahil kaibigan at malapit sila kay Wyatt. Mabait din sila sa'kin at hindi ako nakararamdam ng pagka-out of place tuwing magkakasama kami dahil lagi nila akong dinadamay sa usapan nila.

Walang sabi-sabing lumapit nalang ulit si Fanzell sa girlfriend niyang si Gab. Isinama ni Dad si Gab para na rin tumulong sakanya mamaya. They'll do some check-ups and other medical stuffs daw para sa mga tao dun sa island. Dad is so thoughtful. That's why we love him big time. May kasama din kami na isang dentist doctor. She's Gab's close friend and kilala din siya ni Dad because her Uncle was Dad's college buddy. Gab calls her Terry and pinakilala na din niya kami sakanya. And in fairness, ang ganda niya. Halatang may lahi pero angat din ang pinoy features niya. At ang gandang combination nun.

"So what do you have in mind?" "I don't want anyone knowing about what we have. Discretion is key. It's conflict of interest lalo na't nasa team kita. On that floor, I am your Team Manager." "And when we're here?" "Two people equally passionate about each other. Does that work?" I started feeling her feet against my groins, caressing it teasingly. "That works." "I guess you can call it, FWB." "Friends with benefits?" She nodded as she sexily suck some of the contents of the bone marrow.

Siguradong mas matutuwa si Mama sa akin n’on. “Si Koen,” kung nalulukot lang ang mga kilay siguradong lukot na lukot na ang kay Stefan ngayon ng marinig niya ang boses ni Koen. “Did that guy have your number?!” “Bakit ba? I told you, we were friends for four years. Malamang naman, mayroon akong number niya.” hinarap ko siya at binigyan ko siya ng mapanuksong tingin, “are you jealous?”

Sabi ni Khe dahil first time ni Max na magpaalam sa kaniya na aalis para makipag bonding sa mga kaibigan niya. “Hmm… I keep in touch with them pero hindi na kami gaya no’ng una na palaging lumalabas. We have our own priorities dahil may mga pamilya na kami.” "I see. Kaya pala." “You meet some of them. Hindi mo na tanda?” “I only meet Clymenus no’ng wedding natin saka yung Jed tapos hindi pa sila nagtagal. Are they really your friends?” paniniguro ni Khe.