Friends

Jennifer.

I knocked on his door before entering. I need to get something from him. Besides, hindi ako kagaya n'ya na walang modo para pumasok na lang ng basta-basta.

"Kuya," I called.

He opened the door at bumungad sa akin ang nakatopless n'yang katawan. His abs were radiating, if I'm one of those girls na nagkakandarapa, I will take pictures of him. Kaso hindi, nakakadiri! Ang hilig n'ya talagang maghubad.

"I have to borrow your phone," I said, directly to the point of this conversation.

"And what are you going to do with it?"

"I won't destroy it or anything. I just need to get Yoj's number."

His expression suddenly changed from sleepy to angry. His brows met at the center of his temple.

"May gusto ka ba kay Yoj?!" inis n'yang tanong.

I rolled my eyes. "Of course not. What makes you think that I like him? Because I asked for his number?" I said, stating the obvious.

"Hoy, Yelo. I already warned you that you shouldn't fall in love with those five guys!" he said, gritting in anger.

I remained calm and stared at him with my black pearl eyes. He was really getting the wrong idea. I don't even like Yoj.

"Wag kang tumahimik d'yan, magsalita ka!"

I sighed. "The campus president likes him so I need to get his number for her." I replied.

Natigilan s'ya sa sagot and he calmed himself like nothing happened. He gave me his phone without saying anything. "O ayan. Akala ko naman ano na," he said in relief.

I copied Yoj's number and sent it to Jehna, still using kuya's phone.

"I'm done, thanks," I said as I returned his phone.

"Anong ginawa mo?"

"Ginamit ko ang cellphone mo, bakit?"

"What? May iphone ka, bakit hindi iyon gamitin mo? Para ka namang lumang tao, your phone is useless."

"Alam mo naman siguro ang rason ko, kuya," I replied, coldly.

The reason why I don't want anyone to get my cell phone number. Not even my relatives or so-called classmates.

"I know, but matagal na yun okay? It was all in the past, Jen you have to move on sometimes." He said casually to me like he already moved on with his ex-girlfriend. "Gets? Nakikinig ka ba?"

"I am. Akala mo naman nakamove-on na kay Jiemie," I whispered, enough for him to hear me. Pinariringan ko s'ya okay?

"What did you just say?"

"Nothing. Pag nagreply sabihin mo sa akin," paalala ko.

"O nagreply!" ang bilis ha.

From: +63123******

Thank you friend, hehehe. Bakit gamit mo ang number ni Kyn? Wala ka bang cp?

May number pala sya ng kuya ko?

"So your number is on Jehna's contact list then. That was... surprising," malamig kong tugon.

His eyes widen as he heard Jehna's name. "Ano? Si Jehna? Kapatid ni Jiemie?"

Ah, yeah right, they're siblings alright.

"Maybe he got my number from Jiemie's lists. Kita mo nga naman, hindi nya pa rin pala dinidelete number ko," he chuckled. "Hindi pa sya nakakamove-on sa akin," presko nyang tugon.

'Ibibigay ko ba ang number ko o hindi?'

"Ibigay mo. It's your chance kapatid, mag bagong buhay ka na!" sabi ni kuya bago kinuha ang kanyang phone mula sa kamay ko.

Napalakas na naman ba isip ko?

"Wait, kuya I'm not done yet." I reprimanded.

"Alam ko na may load ka palagi. Sayang yun kapag di mo ginamit, goodnight," he banged his door in front of my face.

Chance? I went back to my room and took my unused phone in the drawer. Tama si kuya, wala itong kwenta kaya... sisirain ko na!

That's a joke. I'm going to save Jehna's phone number.

Calling Card
Jehna #09123******

O ayan save na. Itetext ko na lang sya.

To: Jehna Mendez
Here's my number

Sabay sent.

Nagreply naman sya agad.

From: Jehna Mendez
Okay my friend, thank you talaga :)

My friend? Magkaibigan ba kami? My phone suddenly rang, cutting my train of thoughts. Jehna's name plastered on the screen.

What does she want from me now?

Jehna Calling....

Di muna ako nagsalita. I waited for her to speak first before me.

📞 "Hello. Good evening, Jen," she greeted.

"Likewise."

📞 "Woah, ang lamig ng boses mo. Ang sarap pakinggan."

"Tumigil ka nga, ano bang kailangan mo?"

📞 "Aaahh. Wala naman, sinisigurado ko lang na sa'yo talaga itong number."

"Ngayong alam mo na, ibababa ko na," I said and almost hang up the call.

📞 "T-Teka. Teka, gusto ko lang magthank you," kanina pa sya thank you ng thank you, ah? "Thank you, ha. Bye."

Binaba ko na rin. Ramdam ko sa boses nya ang kasiyahan. It feels different when you make someone smile or happy by doing small things.

*BZZZT BZZZT*

My phone vibrated and thought it was Jehna... again. Tiningnan ko yung message.

From: +63948*******
Hi, Jen. Ako to si Jiemie.

Bakit sya may number ko? Yan na nga bang sinasabi ko, e.

To: +63948*******
Hello.

From: +63948*******
Pakisave ha. Hehe, friends na tau. Salamat nga pala sa advice mo kanina o anuman tawag mo dun. Thank you :D

Magkapatid nga talaga sila, puro sila thank you. I saved her number in case of something happen.

To: Jiemie Mendez
Okay.

I went to sleep before they decided to call me.

***

*tootoootoootootoot*

Nagising ako ng de oras dahil sa ingay ng aking alarm clock, it was already 5AM. Bumangon ako at narealize na Sabado pala ngayon. I was at the urge of taking a bath.

Naghilamos muna ako ng mukha at nagsipilyo bago bumaba sa kusina. Nadatnan ko si yaya Linda na nagluluto ng agahan ng ganito kaaga.

"Good morning, Jen. Aga mo hija ha, hindi pa ako tapos magluto, e," she greeted.

"It's fine, manang. I accidentally woke up because of my alarm," I roamed my eyes around the kitchen. "Where's mommy?"

"Ayun tulog pa rin, gabi na kasi iyon nakauwi."

"Ganun po ba. Pakisabi na lang po na magjojogging ako kasama si Libra," I said, wearing my rubber shoes.

Libra is my labrador dog.

"Oo sige, be careful, hija." Paalala ni manang.

I went outside, it's been a while since I have taken my dog for a walk. Bonding namin ito dati noong nasa ibang bahay pa kami.

Nagjogging ako while holding the leash of Libra's chain. Kaso biglang tumakbo ng mabilis si Libra kaya mas hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa tali dahilan para madala ako.

"Libra. Stop, Libra!

"Aw! Aw! Aw!" she keeps barking like seeing thieves.

"Lib... ra," nahinto ako sa pagtakbo at nahinto sa isang bench.

Nakita ko si Jam and Jhanny, nakaupo kasama ang mga aso nilang maliliit.

"Aw aw aw!"

"Sssh. Libra," dahil sa kanyang tahol napalingon yung dalawa sa akin.

"Heh? Jen! Oy, JEN! Halika, samahan mo kami," yaya ni Jam.

Lumapit ako kaso bigla na lang tumakbo si Libra papunta dun sa dalawang aso. Ang isa chiuaua, the other one is a bulldog! Parang malalaglag ang kanyang pisngi ng de oras. -___-.

"Sige, tatayo na lang ako," I said, although the bench was still open for a seat.

"Dito ka na," Jhanny said, tapping the space beside her. "Upo na."

And so I did.

"Hindi ko inaasahan na magkikita tayo rito?" Jam chuckled.

"Same goes for me," tipid kong sagot.

"Ang laki ng aso mo, ang pogi," panggigigil ni Jhanny.

"It's a she."

Her eyes widen and tried to hide her shyness of what she had just said.

"So-Sorry," dispensa nito sabay kamot ng ulo.

"Haha, Jhanny talaga." Si Jam.

Napatitig naman kami dun sa tatlong aso, ang sweet nila. Puro kasi sila babae at isa pa para silang matagal na magkakilala.

"First time pa nga lang nagkita, ang sweet na," si Jhanny.

"Buti pa sila. Ahaha," buti pa ano? "Buti pa yung mga aso natin magkaibigan. Hey, Jen," bumaling sya sa akin.

"Bakit?"

Si Jhanny ayun sumali sa paglalaro nung mga aso.

"Thank you, ha. Thank you talaga," nakangiti nyang sabi.

"It's fine or whatsoever."

Ang dami atang masaya ngayong panahon?

"Pwede ba kong magpakilala ng personal sayo? Ulit?" what does she mean? "Hmm. Eh kasi, sa classroom parang di mo kami kilala ni Jhanny. You always give us that cold look of yours, though we knew that it is your normal expression but the truth is, me and Jhanny really wanted to be your friend."

Those words stupefy me. I always thought that everyone hates me since elementary. Assej is the only person who can talk to me like I'm normal-which is I am. Kaya s'ya lang ang palagi kong kasama sa school ever since. People don't go around messing with me, is it because of my brother's influence?

Jhanny decided to come to us after playing with dogs.

"I've heard rumors about you Jen. Nanununtok ka daw kapag iniistorbo. If you're annoyed, you slapped everyone. Warshock ka daw sabi ng iba, even though you have nothing against them."

Is that really how they see me? I didn't even slapped or hurt anyone...

"Ganun din ba kayo?" I asked, without a hint of disgrace of whatever the rumors' opinion behind my back.

"WE AREN'T!" sabay nilang sabi.

"We don't believe those shits and lies. Ibang Jen ang kilala namin sa classroom. Tahimik, cold, snob, walang pake, may sariling mundo," si Jhanny.

"Pero kahit ganun, honest ka. Di ka naman talaga nakakasakit ng tao, sinasabi mo lang kung ano ang sa tingin mo ay tama at kung ano ang dapat sabihin." si Jam.

"THAT'S WHY WE WANT YOU TO BE OUR FRIEND!" they said in synch.

Friend. Kailan pa ako huling nagkaroon ng kaibigan?

"So friends?" Jhanny reached her hand to me, probably expecting for a handshake.

I stared at it. Having friends... the thought itself makes my heart skipped a beat.

"Of course," I replied, accepting it.

"Ayos! May kaibigan na tayong malamig este kaibigan na natin si Jen!" Jam smiled.

They're both happy. I was more flattered but my face has the same expression. Being happy without a hint of happiness on my face, I didn't smile.

Assej suddenly came in the scenario, not holding any dogs with her-she's allergic to dogs. Maliban na lang kung malinis ang balahibo ng aso mo.

"O, guys. Andito pala kayo?" Gulat n'yang tanong at bumaling sa akin. "You too insan? Bakit mo sila kasama?" sunod-sunod n'yang tanong.

"Guess what, Jhanessa, pumayag si Jen na maging friends kami. Diba, Jen?" si Jam.

"Oooh!" Assej made her unbelievable expression.

"What? Bawal na ba akong makipagkaibigan?"

"H-Hindi naman. M-Masaya lang akong masaya para sayooooooo!!!" niyakap nya kami bigla. "Waah! Sorry, natutuwa lang ako kasi.. kasi kinaibigan nyo na rin sa wakas si Jen. May kaibigan na si Jen!" she cried.

'Iyakin talaga'

"Teka! Groufie tayo," nilabas ni Assej iphone nya.

But before we took photos of today's moment. We hugged our dogs first and include them in the picture.

"Say Friends... achoo!"

CLICK!!

The camera captured me, dala-dala ang aso ko kaso hindi ako nakangiti. Si Jhanny na nakangiti, si Jam na dinilaan ng aso nya at si Assej na napayuko dahil sa pag-atsing.

"Nakakatawa naman yan," si Jam.

Assej was planning to delete the picture but I refused so in the end, hindi nya yun dinelete. Jam, and Jhanny went home, as well as Assej and I.

Habang naglalakad nilalayo ko si Libra sa kanya.

"Masaya bang magkaroon ng kaibigan insan?"

"It's good... I think."

"You are not alone anymore," she said.

"I was never alone. I have you, remember?"

"I'm different okay? Hindi mo ako kaibigan. Pinsan mo ako, you forgot?" She laughed.

"It feels nice to have friends."

"Hindi halata sayo e, you weren't even smiling when we took pictures. Smile ka kaya paminsan-minsan?"

"I can't, I forgot how."

"Ano ka ba. Walang tao ang nakakalimutan ngumiti. Maybe you'll smile if there's a good reason."

"Hope so."

"Teka, may number ka ba nila?"

Number? Ako ba dapat humingi?

"Wala."

"Naku, insan, buti na lang at nanghingi sila sa akin kanina bago umalis. I gave them your number okay? Please don't get mad at me, they're our friends after all. Baka itext ka nila mamaya."

She was right. Later that night, I received four messages from different numbers.

From: +63920*******
Jhanny to, pakisave na rin pala, Jen :>

From: +63912*******
Hello, Jen. Ako to si Jam, isave mo ha. Thank you <3

From: Jiemie Mendez
Good morning Jen :)

From: Jehna Mendez
Have a nice day sayo :0

Natapos ko nang basahin lahat ng messages.

I will never forget this feeling because I never experienced what it was like to have friends. And now, I have more than two. I'll treasure them for sure. They are my friends after all.

——