Aika did not want to admit it, but she envies Fresia for being so lucky with men. She just broke up with Richard and now she has Bullet, the ruggedly handsome interior designer who cooks food as yummy as he is.

Fresia's the youngest among the four of them. Lampas na sa kalendaryo ang edad ni Mona. Si Brandi naman, malapit nang sumunod. She's just a year older than Fresia, pero pakiramdam niya ay mas matanda pa siya sa 26.

At least, ang mga kaibigan niya, nagkaroon na ng mga karelasyon. None of the three were virgins anymore. Siya na lamang ang bukod tanging hindi pinagpala. It's not that she's desperate to lose it. On the contrary, she wants to save her virginity for the guy who will take her to the altar and marry her. But the plan was to get married at 25!

Ngayon, isang taon na ang nakalilipas ay wala pa rin siyang magustuhan. May mga nanliligaw naman sa kanya, pero hindi niya matipuhan ang mga ito. Palaging may kulang. Palaging may mali. It's like the only way she could finally fall in love is to create her own guy, her own version of perfection.

She blames all the male fictional characters for being so dreamy and romantic, and for raising her standards to the roof.

Bullet could have been perfect, pero as usual, nakahanap na naman siya ng mali rito. Okay na rin siguro. Kung nagkataong nagkagusto siya kay Bullet, baka mag-away pa sila ni Fresia. Pakiramdam kasi niya ay magkakatuluyan ang dalawa. The way their stories are going, posibleng magkagustuhan ang mga ito.

Fortunately, Fresia told them that Bullet has some guy friends who'll go with them to Fresia's hometown. Ikakasal na kasi ang pinsan nitong si Izzy. Fresia was invited to the wedding but so was Richard. Richard will be bringing a date and Fresia would have suffered the embarrassment had it not been for their great idea to make her bring Bullet along as her date.

Ayos na sana kaso ay nag-inarte itong si Mona at bigla-biglang gustong isama si Felix na crush na crush nito. Felix would have been perfect also. Ang kaso ay nakaka-intimidate ang boses nito. Parang palaging galit.

So when Fresia told them that there's another guy, Mickey, she was ecstatic. Sa isip niya, sigurado siyang gwapo rin ito. Fresia usually attracts attractive men, with a few exceptions, like her douchebag ex.

--

Friday. Aika already packed her stuff and was just waiting for Brandi to pick her up. Tuloy na raw sila. Napilitan tuloy mag-leave sina Brandi at Mona dahil sabi ni Fresia ay pumayag nang sumama si Felix.

Naihabilin na niya ang alagang pusa sa mommy niya kahapon pa. Elmo doesn't like it there. Puro aso kasi. Kaso ay wala naman siyang ibang mapaghahabilinan. Nang paalis na siya ng bahay kahapon ay masamang-masama ang tingin nito sa kanya, parang nang-aakusa dahil iniwanan niya ito sa pamilya ng mommy niya.

But without Elmo around, packing became easier. Since they won't be crashing the wedding like they hoped, she only brought a few change of clothes. Magha-hiking daw sila Sabado ng gabi kaya nagdala na rin siya ng gadgets. She's not used to hiking because she'd rather stay indoors. Puro gadgets tuloy ang dala niya, her two phones, a powerbank, her tablet, and a polaroid camera.

Nang dumating si Brandi ay agad niyang inikot ang buong bahay nang madalian para masigurado uling wala siyang naiwang appliance na nakasaksak. Sayang ang mga libro niyang ilang taon niyang inipon kung masusunog lang ang mga iyon.

Once she made sure that everything is fine, she hopped inside Brandi's car and went over to Fresia's house.

Nang makarating sila ay nandoon na si Bullet, Felix, at 'yong isang lalaking hindi pa nila kilala.

Yumakap sa kanila si Fresia at hinila sila nito palapit sa tatlong lalaki para ipakilala ang bagong mukha.

"Mickey, these are my friends, Brandi and Aika. Friends, this is Mickey."

Tipid na ngiti at kaway ang ibinigay nito sa kanila.

Mickey sounds like a child's name... which is not the best way to describe the guy with the glorious mane in front of them. His hair frames his face perfectly. She doesn't even like facial hair on guys but it looks good on him. He gives off a different vibe. Kung si Bullet, confident and loud at si Felix naman ay intimidating and louder, ito namang si Mickey ay tahimik at misteryoso.

Napansin yata nitong kanina pa siya nakatingin dito dahil binigyan ulit siya nito ng isang matipid na ngiti.

Instead of smiling back, she did this really awkward thing of pretending to look at something else.

She diverted her attention to Fresia who suddenly pulled them aside. She was saying something about seats, but she didn't hear it. Tumango na lamang siya para kunwari ay naintindihan niya ang sinabi nito.

When Mona arrived, agad itong lumapit kay Fresia at pinanggigilan ang braso ng kaibigan. "He's actually here!" she heard her friend say.

"Sabi ko naman sa 'yo, di ba? Wala ka kasing tiwala sa 'kin, e."

--

Matapos ilagay ng mga lalaki ang mga gamit sa loob ng kotse ay binuksan agad ni Brandi ang pinakahuling pintuan at itinulak siya papasok.

"Hey, I want to sit somewhere else!" she hissed at her friend.

Dumila lamang ito at saka humila ng isa pang tao.

"Sit here with us," nakangiti nitong sabi sa taong hinila nito. Nang yumuko ito para pumasok ay saka lamang niya ito nakilala. Shit! She's sitting with Mickey! Okay, Aika, hinga!

Brandi slid next to Mickey. Pinagitnaan nila ang lalaki. Mona took the seat next to Felix, sa gitna ng sasakyan. Sina Fresia at Bullet naman ang nasa unahan.

Agad na dinaldal ni Brandi si Mickey. Hindi pa man nagsisimula ang byahe ay nakatalikod na ang lalaki sa kanya. Feeling left out, she took her phone and earphones out. Mabuti pang manuod na lamang siya ng KDrama. Who'd be interested in her when there's Brandi around? And why would she want Mickey to be interested in her? Hindi naman niya ito type.

After justifying the situation, she focused on the series she's watching. At dahil nasa climax na siya ng story, mabilis na naglaho ang mga tao sa paligid niya. She's already in her own little space, inside her own little bubble.

--

Aika was already on her next series when they arrived at Fresia's hometown. Tumigil muna sila sa isang kainan dahil wala raw silang kakainin sa bahay ng tiyahin nito, kung saan sila pansamantalang tutuloy.

Since Fresia can't eat seafood and Brandi's not in the mood for Pinoy cuisines, napagkasunduan nilang sa isang steakhouse na lang kumain. Fresia, as usual, ordered the most. May blackhole talaga sa tiyan nito.

Siya naman ang pinakamaliit kumain sa kanilang apat... except for desserts. She has a separate tummy for sweets. But since she can't eat too much, 'yong pinakang-kakaunti ang serving ang in-order niya. Sa dessert na lamang siya bumawi. She got the biggest slice of sans rival cake.

Matapos nilang kumain ay tinungo naman nila ang isang tindahan sa hindi kalayuan. Pagkapasok nila roon ay nag-designate si Fresia ng mga bagay na dapat billhin ng bawat isa. Si Brandi ang nakatoka sa mga toiletries. Sila ni Mona sa pagkain. Mickey, Bullet, and Felix will take care of the drinks and other stuff. Si Fresia na ang bahala sa iba pa.

Kanya-kanya silang basket at kanya-kanya rin ng niri-raid na aisle. Sa kanya ang lahat ng instant at canned, pero nang mapadaan siya sa section na puro chocolates ay hindi siya kaagad nakaalis.

She took handful after handful of chocolates and dumped them all on her basket. Nasa dalawang libo na yata ang halaga ng mga iyon nang maisipan niyang tumigil. On her way to the canned goods section, nakasalubong niya si Mickey.

He looked at her basket with amusement.

"I like chocolates," she told him, feeling like she needs to explain herself.

Tumango lamang ito, tipid na ngumiti, at saka siya nilampasan. She turned around and shook her head. He's weird.

Nang sa wakas ay makarating siya sa dapat puntahan ay kumuha siya ng maraming de-lata at noodles. Hindi kasi niya alam ang gusto ng mga ito. Kumuha na rin siya ng mga chichiria, nuts, biscuits... basically everything she would eat.

Nang magkita-kita sila sa counter ay ang basket niya ang may pinakamaraming laman.

"Beh, ilang linggo kang mag-i-stay do'n?" kunot-noong tanong ni Mona sa kanya.

"I don't know what you'll like so kumuha na lang ako ng kahit ano," paliwanag niya.

"Gusto mo bang pare-pareho tayong magka-diabetes?" Pumay-awang si Brandi. "Maawa ka naman sa katawan ni Mona!"

"O! Ako na naman, ha!"

"But seriously Aiks, don't buy them all," Fresia told her. "Baka masira lahat ng ngipin mo."

She wanted to protest, but in the end, she followed their advice. Iyong mga paborito lamang niyang tsokolate ang kinuha niya. Masakit man sa puso ay iniwanan niya ang basket na may laman pang mga tsokolate.

They waited for Mickey outside the store. Nagpahuli kasi ito kahit kaunti lamang ang dala nito. When he finally got out, they all went back inside the car and Bullet drove off to their destination.

--

Nag-inuman sila kaagad pagdating sa bahay. Pagkatapos maitabi ang mga gamit at mga pinamili, kanya-kanyang bukas na ng chichiria at alak ang mga kasama. Paikot silang naupo sa carpeted floor ng sala. Inilatag nila sa gitna ang mga alak at pulutan saka sila nagsimulang mag-inuman.

Si Fresia ang ginawa nilang tanggera para hindi ito masyadong makainom. Masama kasi itong malasing. Pero tuwing si Bullet ang tatagayan nito ay pinipilit ito ng lalaking uminom din. They already warned Bullet that Fresia can't drink too much, but he won't listen. To be fair, hindi rin naman nila masabi ang rason dahil sinasamaan sila ng tingin ni Fresia. Patitigilin kasi ito ng mga lalaking uminom kapag nalaman ng mga ito na nagsusuka ang kaibigan nila.

So... Fresia got drunk.

Mabilis na nakapagtago si Mona sa likod ng sofa. Si Brandi naman, sa likod ni Mickey. Tatakbo sana siya papuntang kusina nang bigla itong bumaling sa gawi niya. Hindi siya kaagad nakakilos nang lumapit ito sa kanya.

Fresia has a huge grin on her face. Hinawakan siya nito sa tigkabilang pisngi at akmang hahalikan nang bigla itong hilahin ni Bullet.

"You want a kiss? Kiss me," anito.

Agad siyang lumayo nang halikan ni Fresia si Bullet. All of them waited in silent panic. Nang maglayo ang mukha ng dalawa... bigla siyang napasigaw nang sukahan ni Fresia ang kaawa-awang lalaki. Even his hair got some!

Then, Fresia passed out.

"I'll clean her up," naduduwal na anunsyo ni Mona. She picked Fresia up and took her to the bathroom.

Mabilis na umakyat ng second floor si Brandi dahil ayaw nitong maglinis. Felix disappeared as quickly. Si Bullet naman ay inis na hinubad ang t-shirt at saka lumabas ng bahay. He'll probably throw his shirt away.

She was left alone to clean Fresia's mess. Simangot na simangot siyang nagpunta sa kusina para maghanap ng panlinis.

Nakakita siya ng mop sa utility cabinet. Kumpleto rin sa panlinis ang tiyahin ni Fresia. Nasa cupboard na lahat. Nilagyan niya ng tubig at sabon ang timba at saka binuhat patungong sala. Winalis muna niya ang dumi saka iyon itinapon sa labas. The carpet was ruined. It needs to be washed. She had a feeling that she'll clean that too.

She rolled the carpet and was about to take it to the washing room when Mickey suddenly appeared and took it from her hands.

"Ako na," sabi nito.

He left with the carpet while she was left to clean the rest of the mess. She scrubbed the floor clean then mopped it. Thankfully, there's no hint of Fresia's disaster anymore when she was done with it. She also used the scented spray to get rid of the bad smell.

Si Mona naman ay natapos na ring linisan ang kaibigan nila. Bullet, who looks sticky and angry, was finally able to take his well-deserved bath. Mickey came back and helped Mona take Fresia upstairs. Itinabi naman niya ang mga ginamit at saka siya uminom ng tubig.

She stayed beside the refrigerator to rest.

"Here."

Napatingin siya sa kanan nang may magsalita. Mickey was standing there with his arm outstretched, may inaabot na malaking plastic sa kanya.

"Ano 'yan?"

But he didn't need to answer that. Aninag niya ang laman ng puting plastic. May naka-staple doon na resibo. Napakahaba ng nakalista.

Ngumiti ito. Tipid na ngiti. Medyo cute itong ngumiti, pakonti-konti. "Chocolates," he answered.

"Uhm... thanks."

Kinuha niya iyon. He probably bought the chocolates she left in the basket at the store. Now that she saw them inside a plastic bag, they do seem to be too much. But why did he buy them?

"Can I take one?" he asked.

Alangan siyang tumango. "Uh... sure?"

Kumuha ito ng isang bar ng tsokolate. "Thanks. You need to pay for the rest."

Napanganga siya,muntik nang mabitawan ang hawak. What did he just say?!