"BAHAY-BAHAYAN NA TAYO!" aya ng kararating lang na Khiazel habang nakangiti. Natigilan siya at napatingin sa mga kaibigan na tahimik lang. "Problema niyo?"

Nagkibit-balikat si Vhanelie at tinuro ang dalawa — si Marianne Eve at Mary Khoney — na naka-cross ang braso. "Nag-away," sagot niya na nakangisi.

"Sino kaya mananalo?" Nene asked with a small, playful grin playing on her face. "Sino ang unang susuko sa awayang ito?"

"Not me," both of them answered in unison. They stared at each other with wide eyes and ... "Jinx!" both said in unison again. "Jinx again!" in unison ... again.

While the two play jinx, their friends stared at them with curiosity. Of course, gusto nilang malaman kung sino ang mananalo sa nilalaro nilang dalawa.

And the result was? No one. No one won the game because of them surrendered with a laugh. And just like that, they reconciled. Yeap, just like that.

"Oh, tapos na?" tanong ni Vhanelie sa kanilang dalawa. "Laro na tayo," aya nito at ngumiti. "Bahay-bahayan? May stock na ako ng lulutuin dito!"

Nagsi-ngisian silang lahat at sabay na naglakad sa bakuran nina Khoney at Zyndy. May tatlong bahay-bahayan na nakatayo at doon nagsipunta ang magka-grupo.

Marianne Eve was with Khiazel and Nene. Khoney was with her sister, Kulit, and Marianne Eve's sister, Ericka. And ... Vhanelie was with Zhel Ann and Vince Louise, their friend that finally showed up after being MIA for days.

Ang bahay nina Vhanelie ay nagbi-benta ng mga inasal na dahon at ang mga pera nila ay pakete ng mga kendi. Ang pinakamaliit na halaga ay ang pakete ng prutos na kulay orange. It was twenty pesos in their play. And often times, they use the leaves of mahogany tree as their money. Kung ano ang malaki, iyon ang isang libo.

Sa bahay nina Vhanelie sila bumibili minsan ng ulam nila at kailangan pa nila minsan manguha ng dahon ng mahogany para may pambili sila.

Pare-parehas lang ng disenyo ang tatlong bahay. Big enough to accomodate the three person that lived in there. And did I mention that it was made of sacks? Yes. Yes, it was.

"Mama!" Marianne Eve called for Khiazel, which is their Mom in their game, who immediately turned to her 'daughter'. "Gusto ko bumili ng asal na baboy." Plead with a pouty lips.

Khiazel, being the kuripot mother, gave Yan a tansan — which is known as ten pesos for them — and huffed. "Oh, ayan! Bili ka na do'n sa pangit na taga-asal," masungit na sabi niya. "At hingi ka nalang din ng itlog sa kapitbahay natin na si —" she stopped abruptly and turned to Khoney's house "— It! Ano gani imo ngalan?"

Agad namang sumagot si Khoney, who has the nickname of Bait. "Chay Bait lang!"

"Okay!" ‘Tsaka niya binalik ang atensyon kay Marianne Eve. "Hingi ka ng kanin do’n kina Chay Bait dahil wala na tayo! Inubos na yata ng kapatid mo," she said in which Marianne returned with a nod.

Patalon na pumunta si Marianne Eve sa direksyon ng asalan nina Vhanelie. Vince Louise was the one grilling the leaves — meat.

"Ay, mega!" Marianne greeted happily. "Isang inasal na baboy," she ordered. "Hindi lang kahang, ah?"

Tumango si Vince bilang sagot at nagsimulang mag-luto ng baboy na dahon.

"Ba’t hindi ka nakapunta dito noong mga nagdaang araw?" tanong ni Marianne Eve.

Vince sighed exasperatedly. "Alam mo naman, malayo bahay namin dito. Kag isa pa, init katama. Kaya ayon, ngayon lang," he replied.

Napatango naman si Marianne bilang sagot at nagpatuloy sila sa pag-uusap.

Meanwhile, on the house of Zyndy and friends, chaos erupted. Halos lahat sila ay nagtatalo kung sino ang magluluto ng itlog. Sunny side up, at that. Nagtuturuan sila kung sino ang magluluto dahil, unang una, takot silang matalsikan ng mainit na mantika.

"Dali na, ikaw na." Pilit na binibigay ni Ericka kay Kulit ang spatula habang lumalayo sa DIY pan — sila mismo gumawa dahil takot pagalitan ng mga Nanay kapag ang sa bahay nila ang ginamit — kung nasaan ang itlog.

"Nakakaawang itlog, malapit ng masunog," komento ni Khiazel nang makita niya ang gawa ng mga kaibigan. "Ano ‘yan? Ako na nga!" presinta niya at kinuha ang spatula sa kamay ni Ericka at siya mismo ang nagluto.

And truth with her words, it was burnt already. The backside was, and thankfully, the front isn't, so it’s still edible to eat. At nang tikman na nila ang lasa, it lacks of flavor.

"Las’ay!" komento ni Bait.

"Ay," Kulit giggled. "Hindi ko nalagyan ng asin, sorry!"

All of them face palmed. "Talk about inconvenience," all of them muttered.

"Dabi, akon nalang na," Nene presented and took the blanched fried egg from their hold then ate it wholly. "Masarap naman."

Napatingin lang sila sa kaniya nang hindi makapaniwala. "What? I'm saying fact," she told them and grinned. "The burnt part gave it a taste." And with that, she exited with a grin.

Nagtinginan naman ang mga naiwan at napailing sa kaibigan. "Buangit gid," all of them muttered and laughed.

****