Fragments

Maloi stood in front of her coffee machine, mindlessly waiting for it to finish brewing. She needed a cup; maybe another, and another, and definitely another later. She had managed to get some sleep last night, but only after summoning every ounce of willpower not to reply to Colet’s message.

She left it on read, yet her mind kept spinning, trying to come up with explanations for the sudden invitation.

For the past two years since their separation, their conversations had revolved solely around the twins. They argued a lot after that night, but never once did they touch on the reasons why it happened. Their exchanges were strictly about the setup, the kids' needs, and their future. Nothing else. Not once did Colet attempt to reopen old wounds. It seems like everything was left at that, that specific night when they fell apart.

Until yesterday—right before Maloi stormed out of her condo unit.

"Eh, tangina naman, bakit mo ‘ko hiniwalayan kung apektado pala mga anak natin?!"

Colet’s voice, thick with frustration, pain, and regret, still rang in Maloi’s ears. That single outburst had stunned her into silence, made her turn her back on her ex-wife, and walk out. Her resolve had been unwavering; there was no hope of fixing what was broken. She had made the right decision two years ago.

Or so she thought.

Then came last night’s message, throwing her into complete confusion. This was the first time in two years that Colet had asked her to join them. The first non-transactional message. The first ‘please’.

And that only unsettled Maloi further.

Why the sudden shift? Was Colet that unstable right now? Spiraling in different directions, grasping at anything?

It was too early for this. She needed coffee first. And some morning peace.

A knock on the door yanked her from her thoughts. Agitated, she made her way to it, already annoyed at whoever dared to show up this early.

Without bothering to check the peephole, she swung the door open—

And found herself staring at the last person she expected to see.

Colet.

Every alarm in Maloi’s head blared at once. What the fuck?

“Hi, Loi. Good morning...” Colet began.

"Hey? Maloi?"

Maloi stood frozen, as if her brain had short-circuited, struggling to process what was happening in front of her. Colet was still standing there, right outside her door, clutching what looked like a paper bag from Denny’s.

"Colet?" It was Maloi’s mom—Mama Marga.

"Hala, ma! Nandito pala kayo? Mano po," Colet greeted, stepping forward as Marga approached, accepting her hand. To Maloi’s surprise, her mother suddenly pulled Colet into a hug.

"Anak, long time no see. Hindi ka na ulit nag-message sa’min ng papa Louie mo. Kamusta ka na?" Marga asked warmly as she pulled away.

Maloi could only stare at them—her mom and her ex-wife—watching what looked like a mother embracing her long-lost favorite child after a long time apart.

"Okay naman po, Ma. Gano’n pa rin. Dito rin si pa?" Colet asked her former mother-in-law.

Putek, makatawag ng 'Ma' at 'Pa' akala mo naman kami pa rin. Maloi internally cursed.

"Kahapon pa kami rito. One week kami para makasama naman namin ang kambal. Uwi na rin kami sa Batangas sa Friday," Marga shared enthusiastically.

"Ay, tara nga rito! Pumasok ka," Marga invited. "Loi, kunin mo 'tong dala ni Colet."

Ay, wow. Nautusan pa 'ko. Ma, sino talaga anak mo sa’min? Hindi mo na anak 'yan. Hiwalay na kami n’yan.

Colet handed Maloi the paper bag. "Breakfast from Denny’s. Kinuha ko 'yung favorite mo at ng kambal. Sobra naman 'yan, so enough na rin for Ma and Pa. May ice cream din d’yan for later."

"ICE CREAM?!"

Two excited voices screamed from inside the house. Coco and Letlet came running toward the door, their just-woke-up expressions still evident on their faces. Without hesitation, they clung to Colet’s legs as if she were the branches of a tree.

"Hey, you two! Good morning," Colet greeted, kneeling down as the twins released her legs to wrap their little arms around her. She hugged them back, planting kisses on their cheeks, making them giggle. They eagerly returned the affection, squeezing their other mother in a tight embrace.

Maloi watched them, a mix of irritation and warmth washing over her. Ang cute nila… pero tangina, bakit nandito 'to nang ganito kaaga? She still hadn’t said a single word since opening the door.

"Ice cream, Mama? You bought us ice cream?" Letlet asked, eyes wide with excitement.

"Yes, baby. Pero later pa 'yon, ha? It’s too early for that. I got you both your favorite—strawberry!" Colet grinned.

Both kids raised their hands triumphantly, looking like the happiest children in the world at that moment.

"Maloi, natutulala ka," her mother whispered. "Ihain mo na 'yan dun, sakto wala pa tayong nalulutong agahan."

Maloi moved on autopilot, heading to the kitchen to prepare the breakfast Colet had brought. As she pulled the ice cream from the bag to put it in the fridge, she saw another tub aside from the twin’s strawberry flavored one.

Matcha. Her favorite.

Colet had bought Maloi her own ice cream—one the twins never liked and that Colet only ever pretended to enjoy because of her. She stared at the tub, unsure what to make of it.

"Colet, anak!"

The voice snapped Maloi out of her thoughts.

It was her father—Papa Louie—who adored Colet so much. That thought used to bring warmth to Maloi’s heart. She still feels it now, but this time, with apparent irritation. Pati ba naman tatay niya, na mahirap makuha ang loob at lalong mahirap pakisamahan, kuhang kuha ni Colet.

"Pa! You look good! Poging-pogi," Colet teased her former father-in-law as she walked toward him, meeting his open arms for an embrace.

"Ako ay hindi mo yata tinetext?" Papa Louie asked.

Nagkakausap pa ang parents niya at si Colet? Bakit hindi man lang sinabi sa kanya ng mga magulang niya?

"Medyo ‘di lang po okay lately," Colet answered absentmindedly. Maloi noticed it was unintentional; Colet's mind and mouth had gotten ahead of her.

"Bakit, may problema ka ba?" Louie inquired, genuine concern evident on his face. Maloi knew that look so well; she had been comforted by it countless times before. Her father might be quiet, reserved, and intimidating, but he had a heart of gold. And that love, clearly, still extended to Colet despite everything that had happened.

"Ah, wala po, pa. . Trabaho lang. Nag-sabbatical leave na po ako. Muntik pang magpa-party ‘yong office kasi first time kong magbakasyon. Matagal na nila akong kinukulit na magpahinga," Colet admitted.

"Kasi naman, anak, sobra-sobra na ‘yong ambag mo sa firm na ‘yon. At kailan ka pa ba huling nagpahinga?" Louie pressed.

"Malamang sa malamang, hindi na niya maalala," Mama Marga interjected, side-eyeing Maloi, clearly trying, or subtly forcing her to join the conversation.

"Ga’no ka katagal naka-sabbatical?" Maloi finally spoke, feeling the weight of her mother’s gaze.

"Ah, indefinitely for now. I think I earned it naman since I won them huge cases. And ngayon lang ako magbabakasyon. That’s why I’m here—hope that’s okay, Loi."

"Ah, oo naman, okay lang. Para sa mga bata," Maloi replied loud enough for her parents to hear. 

The truth was, their arrangement was clear—weekends were for Colet, weekdays were for Maloi. It worked perfectly; Colet had heavier workdays during the week, while Maloi had more flexibility with her paintings and business with Stacey. This had been their setup for the past two years, and not once had Maloi seen Colet’s shadow on a weekday. The latter never did visit out of the blue nor asked for weekdays with the kids.

"That’s good, Lucky," Papa Louie said. "Dapat hindi mo pinagbabawalan si Colet makita ang mga anak n’yo anytime she wants and needs to. Tandaan n’yong dalawa, kayo lang ang naghiwalay. Hindi dapat nadadamay ang kambal.”

Colet and Maloi exchanged glances, holding each other's gaze for mere seconds before Colet answered, "Ay, yes po, pa. Hindi naman po ako pinagbabawalan ni Lucky."

Nakakakilig pa rin marinig na tinatawag syang ‘Lucky’ ni Colet. Nakakapanghina ng tuhod. Ito na, ito na ‘yong karupukan n’yang hindi n’ya napipigilan. Oh, Lord, have mercy. Nasa harap kami ng mga magulang ko.

"Mama, Mommy, eat na? I’m hungry! I can smell the danggit!" Coco exclaimed, pulling Colet towards the dining table. Letlet nudged Maloi forward as well.

Maloi hadn’t even noticed that her mother had finished setting the table. For sure, she had also seen the tub of matcha ice cream na s’ya lang naman ang may gusto. Her mom will definitely tease her every chance she’ll get throughout the day.

The six of them ate breakfast as if this was their usual morning routine, as if the past two years hadn’t happened. Louie continued asking Colet about work, her plans, and how she is planning to spend her well-deserved break. Marga busied herself helping the twins with their food.

And Maloi?

She sat there, still dumbfounded. She chimed in from time to time, but mostly, she remained quiet; trying to make sense of this sudden shift in Colet’s demeanor.

Colet. Ginagawa mo rito? Ginagawa sa’kin? My God.

“Ma, madalas n’yo bang nakakausap si Colet simula nung nangyari ‘yon?” Maloi asks her mother.

Now, they are all gathered at the condo’s swimming pool area, having promised the kids a swim day. Currently, the twins are splashing around in the water, carefully watched over by Colet and her their lolo. Meanwhile, Maloi and her mother sit on the farthest side of the pool, out of the two other adult’s earshot.

“Buuin mo ‘yang tanong mo, Lucky. Since mangyari ang ano?” Marga challenges her ever so hard-headed daughter.

“Ma naman. Hays,” Maloi sighs before correcting herself. “Since naghiwalay kami—exactly two years ago last Sunday.”

“Ah, okay. Noong una, syempre hindi. Nagalit kami ng papa mo sa kanya kasi sabi mo, nag-cheat siya sa’yo. Galit na galit papa mo noon. Nakita mo naman ‘yon, di ba? Kulang na lang sugurin niya si Colet sa opisina kung hindi ko lang napigilan,” Marga recalls.

“So paano n’yo siya biglang nakakausap na ulit?” Maloi asks, impatience creeping into her tone.

“’Yong tatlong itlog,” Marga replies, dead serious.

“Huh?”

“Itlog. ‘Yong tatlong itlog ni Colet.” Marga clarifies, still completely serious.

Maloi stares at her, even more confused. “Ma, ano ba? Anong itlog?”

Marga bursts into laughter, amused by her daughter’s baffled expression. “Mikha, Jhoanna, at Gwen—‘yong tatlong itlog ni Colet. Tawag namin ‘yon sa kanila ng papa mo. Si Colet ‘yung inahin.” She laughs again at her own joke.

“Ma naman, seryoso na. Paanong sila Mikha?”

Marga exhales, her tone shifting into something more serious. “Alam mo, anak, kung bakit we believe na mabuti namang tao si Colet? Even after what happened between you two? Dahil ‘yon sa mga kaibigan niya.”

Maloi listens intently as her mother continues.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Lucky, ha? We will always believe and stand by you as long hindi ikaw ang nasa mali. Kaya nga nagalit rin kami noong una.” Marga pauses here to grab a towel to wipe at Maloi’s now sweating forehead.

“Tapos, hindi man lang siya nagpaliwanag sa amin pagkatapos noon. Hindi man lang siya nagpakita. Pero ang totoo, wala naman pala talaga siyang kinausap kahit sino after mo siyang palayasin,” Marga says.

Maloi steals a glance at Colet, who is smiling ear to ear as she watches their twins racing each other in the pool.

“Doon pumasok ‘yong tatlong itlog. One day, nagulat na lang kami ng papa mo—biglang dumalaw sina Mikha, Jhoanna, at Gwen sa bahay.”

“Ha? Bakit sila?” Maloi asks, bewildered.

“’Yan din ang tanong namin. Sinong kaibigan ang pupunta sa magulang ng ex-wife para lang ipagtanggol siya? Pero kahit sila, hindi pala hinarap ni Colet. Nagsend lang daw ng ano ‘yon? ‘Yong sa internet?”

“Email, ma? In-email lang sila?” Maloi clarifies.

“Oo, ‘yun nga. Nagpaliwanag daw sa kanila pero hindi sila inutusan puntahan kami. Kusang-loob nilang ginawa ‘yon kasi gusto nilang kahit papaano, maliwanagan kami sa totoong nangyari. Maging boses ni Colet. Grabe ‘yong tatlo. Mas namangha kami ng papa mo kaysa sa magalit.”

Maloi stays silent, absorbing this new piece of information. She never knew what Mikha, Jhoanna, and Gwen did for Colet. But she understands them. She knows full well that Colet would do the same; she will go through hell and back for the other three. 

“Ikaw kasi noon, saradong-sarado isip mo. Kaya hindi na rin namin nausisa pa. Galit na galit ka, ayaw ka namin pangunahan. So we took your word for it. Kanino ba naman kami maniniwala kundi sa’yo?”

Maloi swallows hard. “So, anong sinabi ng tatlo para mabago isip niyo?”

“Pinakita nila sa amin ‘yong nakita mo. Di ba, binigay mo raw kay Aiah kasi ayaw mo na makita ulit? Mga pictures, mga messages.”

Maloi’s breath hitches. She only looked at those once before handing them over to Aiah, unable to bear seeing them again. It just hurt too much. 

“Si Jhoanna, ang galing magpaliwanag. Nalatag niya sa amin lahat ng hindi malinaw. Para kaming nanood ng documentary sa TV habang nagsasalita siya.”

Maloi recalls how Jhoanna, more than anyone, had tried so hard to convince her to take a deeper look into the materials. Jho even offered to use her connections as a reporter to investigate the accusations reduced in papers inside a manila folder.

But Maloi refused.

Dapat ba, nakinig man lang s’ya kay Jho kahit isang beses lang?

Marga continues, “Naguluhan kami kung sino ang paniniwalaan—ikaw ba o si Colet? Hindi naman kami agad naniwala sa tatlo. Sinabi namin, we’ll take it with a grain of salt. Salamat sa pagpapaliwanag. Pero we’ll keep on standby, until Colet talks to us herself.”

“Okay…” Maloi whispers.

“’Yong papa mo ang unang nag-text kay Colet. Mahaba ‘yon. Alam mo naman papa mo, tipid sa salita. Pero ang tagal n’yang tinatype ‘yon noon,” Marga takes this second to adjust her seat.

“Sinabi ng papa mo na galit kami s’yempre, pero bukas ang pinto namin kung handa na siyang kausapin kami.”

“Sumagot siya?” Maloi asks.

“Oo, message lang din. Humingi ng sorry. Tapos, hindi ko maalala kung paano nagsimula, pero mula noon, paminsan-minsan na siyang nagmemessage, nangangamusta. Iniisip namin, siguro kapag nalulungkot siya o mag-isa. Parang dumalas pa nga nitong huli,” Marga says. “Pero hindi pa rin namin napag-usapan ‘yong nangyari.”

Maloi quietly processes this. If Colet has been messaging her parents more frequently than before, then something might have shifted: she might really be spiraling.

Marga straightens and looks at her daughter intently. “Anak, matanong nga kita—galit ka pa rin ba?”

Few minutes of space and silence passed. Until Maloi decided not to allow her mind to come up with an answer; but this time, she lets her heart take control.

“Oo, ma. Pero hindi na gaya ng dati. Siguro, mas nangingibabaw lang ‘yong sakit.”

Marga nods, waiting for her daughter to continue.

“Hindi kasi madali. Sobrang nasaktan ako, ma. Nawala ako sa sarili ko.”

Marga listens patiently.

“Siya rin naman kasi, wala siyang ginawa pagkatapos. Parang walang nangyari. Bumalik siya sa dati, sa work; ang kaibahan lang, hindi na siya umuuwi sa amin. Iniisip ko noon, baka nagkatuluyan sila nung babae.”

She almost lets a tear fall but stops herself. She notices the curious look on her mother’s face, obviously asking if this is the case, nagkatuluyan ba sila ng babae nya ; Maloi just shakes her head in response.

She leaves it at that, steering the conversation away from that woman, “pero lately, parang may iba. Mabigat. Hindi na siya gaya noon na nakikipagbangayan sa akin. Parang pagod na pagod siya.”

Maloi glances at Colet, now struggling to fix Coco’s shorts while Lelet laughs at them.

“Ramdam din namin, anak. Malungkot siya. Mabigat. Wala siyang pamilya ngayon. Kaya kahit papaano, we try to be there for her when she reaches out. Hindi lang namin masabi sa’yo kasi syempre, nagi-guilty kami,” Marga admits.

Maloi suddenly feels the same.. guilty. 

“Nagulat ka ‘no? Biglang sumulpot ‘yan dito?”

“Oo, ma. Tapos kagabi, nag-message pa siya. Inaaya akong sumama sa Boracay kasama ‘yong kambal.”

“Sumama ka.” Plain as day. 

Caught off guard and somehow panicking, Maloi says “Ma? Seryoso? Hiwalay na kami.”

“Oh, eh kung ganon naman pala, bakit hindi ka pa rin makapagdesisyon kung sasama ka o hindi?”

Huli ka balbon. Nadale ka dun, Lucky. 

Ibig sabihin lang naman nito, there’s a part of her that wants to come. She wants to know what is happening to her ex-lover. She still cares, obviously. Civil care? Let’s leave it at that. For now. 

Gulo mo, Maloi. Takte ka naman kasi, Colet.

As if summoned by that, Colet appears beside her holding Mallet in her arms, while Nicoloi hangs on in a piggyback.

“Loi, gutom na raw sila,” she says.

Shet, narinig niya ba pinag-uusapan namin?!

"Ah, eh, ano. Sige. Tara, balik na tayo sa taas," Maloi says.

"Letlet, dito ka kay Lola," Marga tells her as she stands up to take Mallet from Colet. The two, along with the twins, start making their way back to the building. Nicoloi still clinging on Colet’s back. 

She glances back at Maloi and asks "Need mo ba ng tulong sa mga gamit?"

Before Maloi can respond, Louie answers for her. "Ako na, Colet. Akyat na kayo ro’n." waving at them to continue walking. 

As they gather the things—most of which belong to the kids—Louie turns to Maloi. 

"Parang narinig ko usapan n’yo ng Mama mo kanina."

"Hala, Pa. Narinig din ba ni Colet?"

"Hindi. Sure ako. Sa ingay ba naman ng kambal? Ni ayaw pa kumawala sa kanya,” Louie assures her.

Then, without hesitation, he gets straight to the point. "So, anak, gaya ng tanong ng Mama mo pero mas didiretsuhin ko—wala na ba talaga?"

The man wastes no time and doesn’t dance around the topic. Maloi, once again, wills her heart to answer before her mind does.

"I honestly don’t know, pa," she admits, exhaling. "Unlike before, I was so sure na wala na. But lately... I just don’t know anymore."

Louie nods knowingly. "Hindi ko na itatanong kung bakit. Hindi ko rin sasabihin kung ano ang dapat mong maramdaman o gawin. Pero sa Boracay, doon mo malalaman ang sagot."

He looks at her meaningfully before adding, "Sumama ka. Pakiramdaman mo—wag ka mag isip—kung ano ang sagot.”

With everything that happened today, all thanks to you-know-who, Maloi almost forgot she had a dinner planned with the girls. It’s almost 5 PM when she remembers, and they’re supposed to meet at 6 PM in BGC.

Colet is still lounging on the sofa, the twins cuddled in each arm, watching a movie. Mama Marga is already cooking dinner, while Papa Louie is helping her chop vegetables.

“Shit! Nakalimutan ko!” Maloi exclaims, grabbing hard the water she was taking from the fridge.

“Mommy, language! No bad words!” Coco and Letlet say in unison. Colet can’t help but smile at this.

“Anong nakalimutan mo?” Louie asks.

“I have dinner with the girls. Since you're here to watch the twins, tapos everyone is free, we set one tonight” she answers, leaving them all watching as she rushes to her room to get ready.

Twenty minutes later, Maloi comes out of her room, freshly showered and looking cutesy in her outfit. She’s going for a comfy, casual look: a yellow tight top, wide-legged jeans, and her favorite red Puma Speedcats. Of course, her signature Bayonetta glasses completed the look. 

“Hala, late na ‘ko. Alis na ‘ko, ma, pa. Book lang ako Grab. Sana meron agad,” Maloi says as she scrambles on phone.

“Coco, Letlet. Alis muna si mommy, ha? Dinner lang with your titas,” she tells her kids, who nod without breaking their focus from the movie.

Then Colet..

“Loi, hatid na kita.”

Alarm bells. Colet is offering to drive her dinner. Nakakarami ka na today, sinasabi ko sa’yo Cols.

“Wala ka nang mabu-book n’yan. Rush hour na. Saan ba kayo magkikita?” Colet continues.

Still hesitating, Maloi says “D’yan lang naman sa BGC.”

“Oh, tawid lang pala from Makati eh. Tara na, hatid na kita.” Colet proclaims as though this is a usual thing they do for each other.

“Sure ka?” Maloi ask, but Colet is already saying her goobyes to the twins, who are now hugging her.

“I’ll pick you two up this weekend, ha? Don’t give lolo and lola headaches, less kulit. I have to go. Hatid ko lang si mommy.” She kisses them both and leaves them to their movie.

Colet walks past Maloi, heading towards her parents. Both sporting amused and smiling faces. Nagmano s’ya sa dalawa promising to message them regularly. 

Next thing Maloi hears is Colet saying: “Lucky, tara na?”

Awkward.

The entire drive to BGC is painfully awkward. They didn’t talk at all. 

And it’s all because of the habit that Colet apparently hasn’t shaken off yet.

When Maloi settled into the passenger seat, Colet leaned over to fasten the seatbelt for her—something she used to do for her ex-wife whenever they drove together.

And then... she kissed her on the cheek.

Putangina.

Putangina.

Putangina.

What the hell, Colet? Anong kabobohan 'yon? 

Gagi, the fuck???

She cursed herself internally for panicking and muttered, “Ay, shet! I’m sorry. Habit lang, habit!” She scrambled for her car keys, started the car, and began driving.

Maloi was stunned. It was as if she’d been struck by lightning in the middle of nowhere. She didn’t say anything, just stared straight ahead.

In the middle of the quiet, awkward drive, Maloi silently prays that the three girls aren’t waiting outside the restaurant for her. She hopes for a slight traffic delay—just a few minutes—so they won’t see who dropped her off.

But of all the times for BGC traffic to cooperate, it had to be now. The roads are unusually clear, and from a distance, Maloi already spots the three figures standing outside.

Aiah. Stacey. Sheena.

She groans, prompting Colet to finally speak.

"Okay ka lang?"

"Ah, yes. Kita mo ‘yong tatlo? Naghihintay sa labas. Makikita ka. Buong gabi na akong bunot nito," she tells Colet.

"Gusto mo ba ikot ko konti? Drop kita sa kabilang side?"

"Wag na, malalayo ka pa. Tsaka, we’re here na rin," Maloi replies.

"Okay," Colet says, now pulling into the drop-off area in front of the building. She can already see the three girls sporting mischievous smirks, clearly recognizing her car.

Ugh, makikita nanaman ako ng tatlong ‘to. Walang akong energy maasar today. I did something stupid just minutes ago.

Colet stops the car. Just as Maloi is about to step out, she glances at Colet first and says, "Thank you sa paghatid. And thank you… for today.”

"Thank you rin, Loi. For allowing me to… do these," Colet replies, smiling.

As Maloi opens the car door, she’s met with a chorus from outside.

"Muling ibalik ang tamis ng pag-ibig… Muling pagbigyan ang pusong nagmamahal," the three girls sing teasingly as she steps out.

"Tigilan nyo ko," Maloi exclaims, already resigned to what is bound to be a long night of annoyance.

"Ganda ka?" Sheena quips. Maloi rolls her eyes at this.

"Hi, Cols," Aiah and Stacey chime in unison, leaning down to see Colet through the still-open car door.

"Hi, guys. Long time no see," Colet jokes, though it’s the truth. She hasn’t seen Maloi’s best friends in who knows how long.

"Uh.. bye, alis na ko. Nice seeing you three," Colet says just as the door closes.

Pero hindi pa tapos ang tatlo. Sheena taps on the window, prompting Colet to roll it down.

"Ate Colet, bakit mo hinatid si Ate Maloi? Kayo na ba ulit?" Sheena asks in faux innocence.

Anak ng putanesca, Sheena Mae!

"Sheena, oh my God, magtigil ka," Maloi groans, dragging Sheena away from Colet’s car. She catches a glimpse of a small—cute—smile on Colet’s face.

"Sige na, Col. Bye. Ingat ka."

"Bye," Colet says before driving off.

Behind her, Maloi hears the chuckles of her friends. Hanggang saan kakayanin ng pasensya niya ngayong gabi?

“So, bakit ka hinatid ni Colet papunta rito?”

Without an ounce of hesitation, Aiah throws the question out to the group just as the staff finishes serving their food.

Maloi had hoped they wouldn’t bring it up. Ano siya, sinuswerte? The moment they sat down, the conversation revolved around the restaurant—how Stacey had grown to love the food and ambiance.

Then, of course, the inevitable happened.

“Maloi?” Aiah calls her back from her thoughts.

“Uh, kasi nasa bahay siya kanina to visit the twins. She spent the day with them tapos nag-offer na ihatid na ko. Muntik ko na nga ‘tong makalimutan, actually. Kesa ma-late pa ‘ko lalo,” she explains.

“She visited on a weekday? Hindi ba never naman ‘yon nagparamdam sa’yo kapag hindi niya turn sa twins?” Stacey inquires.

“Sinurprise ka?” Sheena adds, a knowing smile plastered on her face.

“Kanina ka pa, bebe, ah. Hindi gano’n. Pero bigla na lang siyang dumating kaninang umaga, yes,” Maloi admits.

“Hmmm...” Aiah hums in response.

Aiah, Maloi, Stacey, and Sheena all met through Mikha, Colet, Jhoanna, and Gwen. It was as if the four of them got tangled in the lives of those four—always ending up tying up loose ends. Simple lang. They became best friends after their worlds collided. It was natural, automatic. Since their lovers were best friends, they became their own little circle as well.

"Okay, I know you want to hear it. Something changed recently... and it’s been bugging me a lot," Maloi begins.

The three immediately perk up, straighten their postures, and ready themselves to eat while Maloi spills her thoughts.

She starts explaining how she first noticed the shift—how Colet had suddenly stopped arguing with her every time they saw each other, how she would just back down and walk away with heavy footsteps. Then there was the sadness. Maloi tells them she can feel the weight Colet carries, even when the latter tries so hard to look okay, especially when the twins are around.

"I don’t know how or when it started, but at some point, I just realized that something was wrong," she continues. “Tapos yesterday, I went to her unit kasi hindi s’ya mahagilap ni Annie.”

Aiah interrupts, "Wait, she was unreachable? I know Mikhs had to go to her at the bar. Bub told me she got Cols home safely, though she said she looked completely wasted and hurt," Aiah shares with the group. "And yeah, I know about the drunk messaging bit too."

“Nagdrunk message sa’yo sis? Omg. That is not a Colet thing to do,” Stacey adds.

“Anong sabi? Anong laman ng drunk message?” Sheena pries.

“Wag mo na itanong, basta typical drunk message,” Maloi replies dismissively.

“Nag I miss you ba, nag I love you?” Sheena presses on.

Aiah, laughing, stops Sheena’s antics. "Stop it, bebe, or she might stop talking altogether. So, how did Annie suddenly lose track of her, and why were you the one who went to her unit?"

“Tumawag sa’kin si Annie no’g umaga, hindi nga raw nila ma-contact. I said puntahan ko sa unit n’ya since nasa labas naman ako that time. Inabutan ko s’ya do’n na tulog, nilalagnat.” Maloi said.

“Ohh, naparami inom ah. Nilagnat eh. Classic Colet,” Aiah mutters.

“So, inaalagaan mo siya? Of course, you did,” Stacey says knowingly. She knows Maloi is such a caring person that, at times, it backfires on her.

"Yeah. Then when she woke up, we had a huge fight. The kind that felt just like the night we broke up," Maloi concludes before turning her attention to her food, giving her friends time to process everything.

She looks up when the table falls silent—something that never happens when the four of them are together.

"Why are you all looking at each other?" she asks.

“Ah kasi sis. Magkakasama ‘yung apat last night. That’s probably the reason for the sudden turn ni Colet,” Stacey tells her.

“Ah, gets.” Maloi says.

A call for help. That’s the first thing that comes to Maloi’s mind. Colet must have needed her three best friends to talk her down because she was, without a doubt, spiraling. Maloi pieces it all together—the past weeks of mixed signals and quiet observations, all leading to this moment.

“So, nachika na sa inyo ng mga jowa n’yo kung anong problema ni Colet?” she inquires.

All three of them lift their right hands, as if to say, guilty as charged.

Among the eight of them, it’s an unspoken rule—whatever you tell one, you’ve basically told their partner too. It keeps them accountable to each other, more than it earns them a bad reputation for sharing.

Maloi looks at her friends, expecting an answer, but they only smile at her. Finally, Aiah speaks.

"We think you already know what the problem is. You just need to hear it said out loud."

"Okay..." Maloi says, her voice carrying a quiet resolve, as if she’s finally ready to accept what’s being laid out for her—without resistance.

“There’s more. Colet is asking me to join her and the twins in Boracay… and I’m thinking of going,” Maloi confesses.

“Woahhh,” the trio exclaims in unison.

“My parents said I should go,” she adds.

“Woaaahhhhh,” they exaggerate their reaction.

“Ano ba?!” Maloi exclaims in annoyance.

Sheena breaks the ice, “Okay, okay, seryoso na. Coming from me ah—seryoso na, Ate Maloi. What made you think of going?”

“Yeah, if your two-years-ago self hears you, magagalit ‘yon for sure,” Aiah says.

“Mapapa-‘Who are you, and what have you done to Maloi?’ level,” Stacey adds. “Nagiging marupok ka na ba ulit? We know how you can be down bad when it comes to Colet.”

“Hindi ko rin talaga alam. Gulong-gulo na ‘ko, honestly. My mind says ‘of course not,’ but when I stop for a second and let my heart decide—it tells me to go.”

“Wooooooaaaaahhhhhhh,” the trio reacts again.

Maloi rolls her eyes and looks at them seriously, but with an apparent silent cry for help.

“Maloi, listen. I have a feeling you want us to play devil’s advocate for you,” Aiah says bluntly. “Because you want someone to tell you not to go.”

“That won’t be us, sis,” Stacey adds. “We’ve always been honest with you about Colet. Alam mong hindi kami agree no’ng pinalayas mo na lang s’ya bigla.”

“Totoo. Ni hindi mo man lang binigyan ng chance magpaliwanag ‘yong tao. Alam mong hindi ka namin kinunsinti do’n, pero nirespeto namin ‘yong desisyon mo,” Sheena says.

“We respected it, Maloi, because you were so sure she did what those people told you she did. We tried convincing you to rethink your decision, but you told us—adamantly—that you were certain you didn’t want her anymore.”

“Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin namin maintindihan, sa totoo lang, bakit gano’n ka na lang naniwala. But then again, we know you were hurting and struggling at that time. So, as your friends, we let you be,” Stacey says.

“And now you want us to do that again—convince you to rethink your decision. Ay, Ate, nawiwili ka naman yata,” Sheena teases.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Maloi, ha? You know how much we love you. But this time, we want you to really think about it—like, really think about it. Feel your feelings. Yes, let your heart give you an answer this time,” Aiah says.

Stacey adds, “May we remind you as well that once you decide on something, there’s no going back. There will be consequences or gains—whichever way you take it.”

“Kasi if hindi, magiging cycle lang ‘to for you and Ate Colet,” Sheena says. “At ang kawawa rito—aside from the two of you—ay sina Coco at Letlet. Do you want that kind of instability for them while they’re growing up?”

Maloi is now even more confused and lost than she was minutes ago. But it’s the good kind of confusion—she knows. It means she’s being kept in check, that there are people who still care about her and look after her. These three have always been the best at handling her. They just know how to be Maloi’s saving grace.

“I understand. And I honestly appreciate this because I get your point. Nagdesisyon akong tapusin before, tapos ngayon parang nagbabago na naman gusto ko,” Maloi admits.

“Kuha mo, sis,” all three say in sync.

“But then again, we understand,” Aiah tries to recover. “Things change; time and distance can ultimately be game-changers.”

“You guys always understand. Paano na lang ako kung wala kayo?” Maloi says.

“Oh ‘di, boang na boang ka na ngayon kung wala kami” Sheena teases.

And with that, they let the conversation go. Maloi appreciates how her three best friends don’t press her on her decision about Boracay. They let her be.

“Ice cream tayo after this, please,” Sheena says.

Colet POV | IM Messaging

Maloi Ricalde [10:01 PM]

Hi Cols, good evening. Thank you ulit kanina.

I got home na, hinatid ako ni ate Aiah.

Colet Vergara [10:02 PM]

Hey, I wasn’t expecting na i-update mo ko. 😅

But thank you, I was wondering if nakauwi ka na.

Maloi Ricalde [10:05 PM]

Actually, I messaged you not to update really.

It’s about the invite to Boracay..

Colet Vergara [10:06 PM]

Payag ka na sumama? 🥺🙏

Maloi Ricalde [10:10 PM]

Typing…