Nakabusangot si Rook habang naglalakad papunta sa paboritong parking spot nilang magkakaibigan. Laway na laway na siya sa nuggets pero heto at nablackmail siya ni Mallory Tamad na kumuha ng lunch.

"Nasa parking si Mama. Pupuntahan ko sana pero may ise-send pa pala akong file sa class mayor namin-" pero wala namang nakabukas na laptop. "-tapos chance mo din 'to, Rook..."

"Chance na ano?" Rook frowned. Chance ba na mag-order si Ross ng spicy fried chicken dahil ito din ang gusto ng traidor na Mal at Claude?

"Chance na... makapagood-shot ka kay Mama."

Medyo nabother si Rook sa misteryosong ngiti nito pero nagkaroon din siya ng ideyaㅡ Oo nga naman! Ito na ang pagkakataon niyang magpabango sa future mother-in-law niya. Sinabi nga niya kay Carter na dapat tadhana ang maglalapit sa kanila pero... wala namang masama kung igagalaw niya ito ng onti, 'di ba?

Kaya naman sinunod niya ang hiling ni Mal at nainis siya nang marealize na sobrang layo nito sa tinambayan nila. Gagong 'yon, tinamad lang siguro. May pagoodshot-goodshot pang nalalaman!

He continued cursing Mallory in his mind until his phone vibrated. He glanced at it, annoyed, but the name instantly melt him.

Mabilis pa sa alas-kuwatro niyang binuksan ang phone at pangiti-ngiti na.

August 17, 2021 | 8:51 am

Carter
Good morning to you too. If I was to pick between nuggets and fried chicken, I'll choose wings.

Mahinang napahagikhik si Rook doon. One of his professors who passed by gave him a strange look, but later shook his head, realizing how his student changes moods very easily.

rookiemoonster
halaaaaa
wala naman yan sa choices carter
cheating ka!!
pero since ikaw naman, hehe, oki
hindi pwedeng marefuse si bossmam
iz a nono
iz a breaking of rules
iz can result in getting head chop off
iz a crime
iz a death note
btw napanood mo ba yung death note, carter?

Carter
Wings lang 'yong sagot, naka-essay ka na. Why are you so hyper this early in the morning, anyway? No class?
And what television show is that?

rookiemoonster
hehehehe nagintro lang si miss tapos umalis
perst day naman daw wag na masyadong hassle
pero lumabas na ang results sa quiz namin yesterday so i'm vv happehhh
isa lang mali ko hihi tapos yung bonus pa na pangalan
nakalimutan ko spelling ng friedrich
ayyyieee
omg another piece of information for u carter
pero wag mo kong tawaging fried rook ha 😭😭 freed yan yung pronounce
so ako ay free tapos rich pa 😌
KAYA HAHAHAHAHAHHA
wag ka na maghanap hanap carter
AT WAIT ANONG ANONG TV SHOW YAN HINDI MO ALAM ANG DEATH NOTE????????????????
MAY ANIME TAPOS MAY LAYB AKSYON????

Carter
Replied to 'perst day naman daw wag na masyadong hassle':
She's a pretty chill professor then. But sometimes they're the type of teachers Natalie is afraid of most. Chill lang daw ngayon tapos bukas may hundred points quiz na.

Replied to 'isa lang mali ko hihi tapos yung bonus pa na pangalan':
Congrats...? That means you scored perfect then.
Also yes, I don't know that show. Ano ang anime?

rookiemoonster
😃
what
u dont know anime

Carter
Is that some shortcut for animation? Since you're talking about shows, I believe they must be animated. So... cartoons?

rookiemoonster
animated nga
perooo hindi iba din yung cartoons
ito anoo yung sa japan
huhuhu
u uncultured waifu
y u dun know the blessings of gods
the peak of humanity's culture
the wondrous stories of love friendship war and crime
😭😭😭😭😭

Carter
I'm sorry I don't know that.
Ah, I searched it just now. I believe I once saw Kuya watch one of these. Hindi ko alam kung ano 'yon pero umiyak siya kasi namatay daw si... I forgot the name but it was some girl.

rookiemoonster
waaaaa basta yun yun
ah alam ko na!!
if magkita tayo carter
i'll let you watch one of my fave anime ^^
read • 9:15 am

Carter was about to reply and stopped when someone knocked on her window. Isang 'Alright' ang mabilis niyang ni-send kay Rook bago binuksan ang pintuan. Ngunit bago pa siya makapagsalita ay tila nakalimutan na niya kung paano gamitin ang dila.

"Hello, hello, Tita!" the boy was looking at his phone, typing fast. "Sandali lang po, hehe, nagtext yung prof. Kukunin ko po sana ang blessing niyo for... to...day..."

Humina ang boses ni Rook nang i-angat niya ang tingin at nakipagtitigan sa mga matang matagal na niya gustong makita. Umawang ang labi niya at tila nawalan ng lakas ang kamay niyang hawak-hawak ang phone.

Nandito sa harap niya ang taong matagal na niyang inaasam na makita ㅡ ang mukhang hinabol-habol niya sa Tagaytay, ang boses na nagpapatulog sa kaniya sa gabi, ang taong ginugulo bawat panaginip niya sa pinakamagandang paraan.

Unconsciously, his hand went to his thundering heart, as if placing it there would stop the emotions circling in him. Dahil dito... sa harap niya... na ilang metro lang ang pagitan ay ang pinakamagandang babae na nakita niya.

Ilang segundo pa sila nagtitigan bago sabay na namula ang kanilang mukha. Carter couldn't hold his intent stare so she raised the lunchbox, hiding her flushing face. While Rook couldn't handle her reaction that he had to whip his head to the side, hide the uncontrollably wide smile on his face, as he willed his flaming cheeks to go down.

Walang malay ang dalawa na sampung kotse mula sa kanila ay nagtatago ang nakangising si Mallory para kuhanan sila ng picture.

Claude hummed. "Si bossmam pala si Carter?"

"Kapatid mo... bossmam... si Donut..." Ross frowned. "Hala."

Hindi pinansin ni Mallory ang dalawa. Basta't masaya siya sa nagawa at nakuha.

Kung aawayin siya ni Rook mamaya dahil sa tadhana-tadhana, e'di magpapalit na lang siya ng pangalan.

ㅡ

HAHAHHAHA see you tomorrow :P