Kyu
“Galit ba yon?” Georgia
“Bakit naman? She doesn't like Juls” Mac
“Shut up nga kayong dalawa!”
Mackenzie and Georgia looked at Calista when they understood what it meant. Juliana was still on her biscuit and juice, looking down and trying to busy herself. She noticed that three pairs of eyes were looking at her waiting for a response. It made her brows furrow.
“Ano na naman?” She asked in annoyance
“Does my cousin finally like you?”
“NO”
“What’s up with the defensive tone, nerd”
“I’m not being defensive!”
“See, listen to her tone!” Mackenzie points at her while looking at their two other friends that are listening. Georgia released a snicker
“Seriously, Juls. About the girl who answered your phone that night. Ano ba talaga ang nangyari?”
Calista opened her mouth making Mackanzie and Juliana’s banter stop and turned into serious mode. Juliana cleared her throat and told her friends what really happened to her that night.
She provided them details from her dancing with the crowd while somebody suddenly snatched her away, to waking up into another condominium with great service. She told them everything minus the part where it would get awkward. Her friends listened thoroughly and were entertained by each information that was given to them.
“Talaga lang ha na hindi kayo nag kiss?”
“Hindi ko alam?”
“What the hell… Are you for real, Juls?”
“Look, I only remember the part where we went into another VIP room because she said she needed my help, Okay? That's all. The words we exchanged are still foggy. Alam niyo naman kung paano ako malasing” Juliana reasoned out.
“And her name?”
“Sinabi ko nga diba? Kyu!”
“Ano yan? Pakyu?” Gorg
Laughters escaped from the three girls and that includes Calista. Juliana could only pout but cant help herself from smiling also about her friends banter towards her, somehow relieved on how they are processing the information she is giving to them.
“Kung walang babae sumagot, iisipin ko talagang gawa-gawa mo lang ‘to e” Cali said joining the banters
“Wow ha! Salamat sa info” Juliana’s said in sarcasm. The three continued laughing.
Thinking about what happened. She remembers everything clearly but chooses to disclose some scenes and decides not to tell it to her friends. She thinks that it’s not that big of a deal but she’s just trying to get away from what really happened since they know that she was dragged by a girl into another condo unit. A story for her friends is what it's worth for a peeping curiosity to dissolve.
Telling the story to her friends is fine. Just not to Serena.
As the gang were still laughing, Calista couldn't help but ask,“Maganda ba?”
As fast as light, Juliana quickly nods leaving her friends in awe about her reaction towards the question. They gave her a knowing look and all she could do is deny whatever banters they were giving her. Couldn't help herself but smiled despite being annoyed.
Sun was totally out of the sky and the gang decided to head home. Mackenzie offered Juliana a ride to her house together with Georgia, since their schedule aligned and their village are neighbors, in that way Juliana could avoid commuting.
“Saan uwi mo, nerd?”
“May pangalan nga kase ako, pulang manok!”
“So, where are you off to? Home or your condo”
“Home, I have something to get. Why? Gonna give me a lift?”
Mackenzie smiled at her friend and nodded.
They are now on their way home and Juliana called it shotgun, while Georgia seated at the back catching some z’s, leaving Juliana and Mackenzie the ones to be awake during the ride. The ride was silent, both Mackenzie and Juliana decided to be quiet feeling comfortable in each other’s presence.
Not until Juliana asked Mackenzie for the radio which was obliged by Mac.
They two were just singing along the music while Georgia was sleeping a the backseat.
Later, the redhead cleared her throat, Mackenzie started the talk, “I love you for my cousin, Juls.” making Juliana smile widely,
“Love ko rin cousin mo” Glasses was smiling
“Pero I’m glad that you’re seeing another girl,”
Juliana groaned at the response of her friend, thought that she was accepted by a family member from Serena, “That was one time of sleeping on somebody else’s condo, Mac”
“But, still. Improvement ka dyan, nerd”
That made Juliana roll her eyes at her friend, the red haired girl just smiled
“It's just nice seeing you free under Serena’s spell” Mackenzie continued.
When Juliana heard Serena’s name, she opened her phone and updated her best friend about her whereabouts and replied to her texts.
“Paano ba yan, I think I’ll make it to your family with that spell of hers,” Juliana replies with a joking smug face, making Mackenzie laugh.
Mackenzie just laughed at friends remarks, “In your dreams. Hindi ka nga type non e. Ang gusto non mga bad boy!”
“Kaya ko rin maging bad girl”
“Boy nga e”
“Argh, shut up!” Juliana yells in a playful way. Acting frustrated by what her friend meant. She knows Serena doesn’t sway both ways, but she was still hopeful.
Mackenzie laughed at Juliana and pleaded her sorry for reminding her friend the reality.
“Pero totoo, I would love for you to be pursued, Juls. Kaya, sumaya talaga ako noong nalaman na you’re with someone that’s not Seer. You deserve it after all. Yung gugustuhin ka rin,” Mackenzie suddenly becomes serious while her expressive eyes are on the road.
It made Juliana feel bittersweet. She leaned her head to the window looking at the road, watching at the buildings, slowly drifting as they passed by.
She feels happy, thinking how lucky she is to have a friend like Mackenzie who thinks about her feelings, and bitter about the feeling that Serena will never pursue or even probably see her romantically.
“One time lang nga kase ‘yon, Mac,” she reminded
“Who knows, diba? That Kyu will come back and pursue you”
“Awit na lang talaga”
“Pero if that happens. Ako dapat una maka alam ha! Promise hindi ko sasabihin sa pinsan ko,” Mackenzie said as she raised her one hand to make it look like she is promising while the other hand is on the steering wheel. “I’d be the happiest for you, Juls”
The girl with black rimmed glasses could only bow her head while shaking it in disbelief while a smile plastered on her face.
“Ewan ko sayo Mac… O sige na I better get going” Juliana mentioned upon nearing her place. She said her thanks to Mackenzie, and they both exchanged their goodbyes and told Mackenzie to say goodbye to their other friend who's still asleep in the backseat for her.
Morning came and Juliana groaned upon reading that there’ll be a meeting later. Then stumbled on Serena’s morning texts making a way for a curve on her lips
Serena
Still not sharing about that girl to me hmmmm?
Im gonna get ready cyl
I'm almost done wth are you? I thought we’ll have breakfast together
The latter rolled on her bed again with a wide smile plastered on her face, having the joyful moment together while holding her phone close to her heart, thinking her day was already complete. She thought Serena would ditch their breakfast because of how cold the girl was yesterday. Moments after, Juliana composed herself and sent her reply to Serena.
Juliana
Okay, bee. I'll prepare na. See you later. I’ll sundo you later with Ninja (car name) 😀
The latter masked her feelings through the way she sent her texts and thought to herself. So much for trying to avoid and move on from this girl. While chuckling
Juliana got up from bed, readied herself and walked towards the bathroom, she picked her usual fits, that would be anything laid back and comfortable, she dried her hair, and poured her usual strawberry scent perfume. She was humming all throughout and went downstairs, ready to go.
“Good morning anak,” Juliana’s dad greeted her while reading the morning paper.
“Good morning dad!”
“Wow, good morning to you too, Claire” her mom said as she heard her daughter “Bakit ka umuwi? I thought it’s a hassle to be in this house, hmm?” her mom continued while her eyes on her food
“Good morning to you too, mom!” Juliana kissed her mom on her cheeks. Her mom only rolled her eyes.
“You seem happy, Claire” His dad said while putting the paper down. Juliana didn’t mind the question and just smiled at her father.
She chuckled at her mom, hindi pa rin tapos sa pag tatampo ang mommy niya. It’s about her leaving the house. Juliana decided in her 2nd year of college that to live on her own near the school is the solution to avoid hassle; traffic.
“I miss you too, my” Juliana said to her mom
“Go eat your breakfast na anak” Dad. Juliana was about to answer her father but her mother spoke in between.
“You can live in this house again, Claire, your dad and I can compromise, we’ll hire you a driver,” still her mom initiating the topic.
Juliana chuckled again and went to her mom to hug her, “I miss you anak, why did you come home ba?” her mom finally melting at her embrace.
“Just some papers for the council, my. I completely forgot to bring it last week”
“Alright, kumain ka na, Claire.”
“I’m sorry, my, dy, pero kase… I made plans with Seer for breakfast and she’s already waiting”
Her mom only rolled her eyes at her making Juliana laugh at her reaction
“Sige na, pumunta ka na roon anak. Ako na bahala sa mommy mo,”
“Dad, isa pa po. Pwede pa borrow?” Juliana asked her dad while grinning wildly holding her hand up was the car keys.
“Hindi pwede”
“Sige anak”
Her parents answered at the same time. Her mom and dad looked at each other. Juliana’s mom was scowling at her father while Mr. Rivera only looked at her wife with innocence. Juliana laughed and ran with the car keys leaving her parents.
“Juliana!” She heard her mom scream but Juliana being the naughty, spoiled, only daughter to her parents, jiffed towards the garage while bursting out of laughter at the scenario.
“Dad, sabi mo ikaw na bahala kay mommy! I love you parents. See you next or next next week!”
Couldn’t help but laugh what happened at home, Juliana found herself smiling until she arrived outside at Serena’ condo building, she pull off her car on the drop off, pull out her phone from her bag and was about to text the older girl until she heard someone knocking on the passenger side door
Juliana unlocked the door and watched Serena slowly entering her car, she was still smiling, looking at Serena even made her lips curved more, her heart fluttering with joy, seeing the girl in her dreams, she couldn’t help herself but feel the gayness in her system.
“Juliana!” Juliana snapped, bringing her back to the moment.
“Ha? Ano?”
“I said where are we going?… and also bakit ka nakangiti”
“Hindi naman ako naka ngiti”
“Sabi mo eh” Serena said and rolled her eyes
Badtrip ba ‘to? Ang ganda naman pag galit
“Oo maganda talaga ako.”
Juliana widened her eyes. Did she say that out loud? She felt her cheeks flush and avoided Serena’s gaze
“Hindi ah!”
“Ahh so hindi ako maganda?”
“Feeling mo kase”
“Then stop staring” Again the older girl rolled her eyes and look at the opposite direction ignoring Juliana all throughout their ride
The glasses felt relieved when she confirmed that she didn’t say her thoughts out loud and went on driving to where she would take Serena. Juliana being Juliana, couldn’t feel the air Serena is bringing while driving
“I'm hungry na,”
“Malapit na tayo, bee”
No reply while Juliana still beaming with joy
When they arrived at their destination, Serena, went out of the car and made her way to the restaurant and found herself a table she preferred, Not looking back nor waiting for Juliana to park the car. On the other hand, Juliana tried to find a parking spot and when she found one, she jiffed to where Serena would be, still with a smile on her lips
As Serena was picking what she would like to eat on the menu, she sees Juliana making her way to her, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the latter and returned her eyes at what she’s reading
“Nakapili ka na bee?” Juliana says as she reaches for a chair to make a seat not minding her fit
“Mmm”
“Wow ang nonchalant”
Serena looked up and met her gaze, giving her cold stares. She's stating that she’s not happy with the jokes, and then looks back at the menu.
Juliana wondered with the older girl’s actions and finally asked what Serena’s been waiting for her to ask
“Galit ka ba?”
Serena did not answer her yet instead she called the waiter and gave her order and so did Juliana. Once the waiter was out of the picture, Juliana could already feel the cold air Serena was radiating. It makes her tense and at the same time she’s enjoying what she’s seeing.
Serena giving off an angry face makes her look… adorable. Because of her thoughts, she found herself smiling. This made the older girl’s one eyebrow arched.
“Anong nakakatawa, Rivera?”
“Galit ka nga. Last name ko eh” Juliana chuckled
“Hindi ako galit!” she spat
Juliana grabbed her friend's hand on the table to make her feel that she’s willing to listen, she rubbed her hand with her thumbs, she looked at the latter, and smiled, slowly nearing her face. Serena looked away, which made Juliana grab her cheeks and made the older girl look in her direction.
“Bee, ano ba. What’s wrong? Why are you galit ba?” Juliana asked the latter with so much tenderness
“Hindi nga ako galit,” Pagmamatigas ni Serena
Juliana just looked at the latter. She doesn’t know what to say, she looks at Serena and she could feel her heart pounding, she sees the girl’s eyebrows are furrowed, her hair falling onto her shoulder, her eyes expressing her anger, and her lips pouting.
She looked at her and felt her heart pounding so hard. Then she found herself staring at their hands, Serena letting her hold her hand, their positions were so close, people could think they’re together.
Because of that, Juliana let go of the latter’s hand and positioned herself back to her seat. She shouldn’t do that, she shouldn’t make a move on Serena especially on her state. Taking advantage of the girl’s heartbreak is the last thing she wants to do.
Serena noticed what the glasses did and looked up to meet her gaze
“Sino yung babaeng kasama mo?”
She snapped and looked at Juliana with her body, giving Juliana all of her attention.
“Ha?”
“You heard me, Rivera”
“Why? Ang importante safe ako, Bee. And, promise hindi ko talaga kilala eh. I think our food will arrive any minute now” Juliana said in one breath trying to change the topic
“Alright, then tell me about it” Serena still throwing daggers at her best friend
So this is why Serena’s been throwing a fit earlier. Juliana couldn’t help but wonder if her best friend is jealous about it. Thinking about Serena being jealous because she’s seeing someone makes Juliana feel so much things she cant explain
Could it be?
“Nagseselos ka ba?”
“Oo”
When she heard it coming from the older girl’s mouth she couldn’t say a thing and left her jaw dropped a bit, she hitched and tried to say a word but nothing would come out from her mouth, but before she could say anything
Serena continued “Who wouldn’t be jealous? Best friend mo ako pero hindi mo masabi sa akin yung nangyari sa’yo pero sa kanila ni Mac sinasabi mo ka agad!” Serena said it as if she was a volcano exploding after a very long time of being inactive
Juliana came back to her senses and felt hollow. She could feel the disappointment in her face appearing so to disguise it she nodded awkwardly and agreed to Serena implying a yes-yes-that’s-understandable kind of face.
“Ahh ganun ba? Bakit di mo agad sinabi”
“Duh!” the other girl rolls her eyes again
While on their conversation, the waiter arrived with their food, they ate in silence but later began talking again about what happened to Juliana that night. Juliana filled Serena with her part of the story but minus everything that she thinks that would make her feel awkward.
“So that’s it?”
“Oo nga” Juliana said as she drank her orange juice, swiftly avoiding contact.
“And her name?”
“Kyu nga e, paulit-ulit?”
“What a lousy gossiper”
“Edi sorry, yan lang talaga info ko!”
“Kyu… I’ve never heard of it before. Saan yung condo niya?” Serena, still curious about the girl
“Two Roxas ata” Juliana mumbled while drinking her drink
“Okay, so not an ordinary person. Baka kilala lang natin yan, Bee”
Juliana thought about the girl passing by the hallways with her headphones. Hindi lang ata kilala, schoolmate pa at baka naman ka batch or blockmate lang ng mga kaibigan natin. Hindi ko na talaga alam.
“Yeah, baka nga…”
“Maganda ba?”
“Huh?” Juliana thought about the question and how she should answer it. She doesn’t want the same reaction she got from her friends, especially by Mackenzie.
“Bingi ka ba? I said maganda ba yung Kyu,”
“Hindi! hindi siya maganda”
“Chill uy, I was just asking”
Serena smiled at her and she felt herself flustered with her conviction. Why would she say that? Serena shouldn’t mind if she would say the girl was actually pretty. Why should she care about the other girl’s reaction when it's clearly clear she only sees her as a friend.
“Sinasabi ko lang naman na hindi maganda” she replied
Juliana fists her palm, trying to make herself feel what’s really happening because she seems at the edge and lets her emotions get the best of her. Serena only sees her as a friend. Her best friend.
The time went by and the two talked about anything like what friends do. Juliana’s hollow feelings was soothed by their catch up chikas. They ended it when Serena’s phone rang, it was an alarm for her first class. It indicated that they needed to go to school and so they did.
Upon arriving at school, Serena hugged Juliana as gratitude before leaving her
“See you later?”
“I'll text you may meeting kase, bee”
“Alright”
In between their exchange of words, Serena’s phone rang again, and when the older girl thought it was her alarm clock they saw a caller ID instead, ‘Kenn’. Serena immediately looked at Juliana and the glasses only smiled carefully at her.
“Sige na, sagutin mo na”
Serena looked at her then back to her phone, and then she pressed the red button which indicates decline. She immediately put her phone on her bag and readied herself to go out of Juliana’s car
“Break na kami, remember?”
“Sabi mo eh. Sige na baka ma late ka pa”
“Alright, thank you for today bee!” The older girl said while she hugged Juliana and then bid her goodbyes
The glasses looked at her and walked away until Serena’s out of sight. She sighs, a lot has happened in just one morning! While inside her car she took her bag from the back seat and readied herself for her classes.
Meanwhile in the Student Council Office around the afternoon, Juliana was called by her org mates to help with some paper works that will be needed.
While she was busy with her papers she kept glancing on her phone to wait for Serena’s reply, one notification and she’ll immediately attend to her phone giggling with whatever she and Serena are talking about. It has been days since they’ve been smooth sailing
And for Juliana, life has been nothing but good as of the moment. Her happy thoughts were short-lived when Ysabela, one of the members, tried to get her attention
“Hoy Juls, focus muna. Dadating raw si pres sa office” Juliana nodded and quickly hid her phone , fixed her desk and made herself presentable. Juliana on the other hand, couldn't stay still
“Eh si VP, punta rin ba?’
“Di ko alam. Bakit? Type mo?” Juliana’s whole body involuntarily said NO when her friend asked her the question, making Ysabel laugh at her reaction
“Chill lang uy, I was just asking you to know. Masyado kang defensive”
“Ang ganda niya kasi. Akala ko magiging crush mo rin”
Crush niya? Rin? Huh?
Juliana scowled at Ysabela with her sudden question. She has been thinking how she had been dreading to see the Vice President.
All she wanted to do was hide. She just went to the office today because she heard that ExeCom is having a meeting with the other department and the representatives are needed to assist.
All she thinks about right now is that she will help the Student Council for the last time for the upcoming semester and will leave because she is trying to avoid direct contact with someone.
Last meeting, she was surprised at who the Vice President was. She hid herself from the VP by dropping her head so low as if reading the papers was very important by hiding her face with the papers while listening to someone talking, and by putting her hair all over her face just to hide her face from everyone . And with those antics, she can say that she successfully hid herself from her.
“Iba type ko” Juliana shortly replied
“Eyy marunong ka pala nyan, Rivera. Pero syempre pupunta yun. VP eh”
Juliana let out a bashful face and spat “ikaw nga e, diko akalain na madali ka pala ma fall”
“Ansama! Ang ganda niya kasee binabading niya ako”
She only smiled. She thought that she needed another antics to successfully hide herself from the VP. She prepared a folder, and wide notebooks that is enough to cover her whole face if she doesn’t want to keep on looking down.
“Ikaw Juls. Bading ka ba?”
“Oo” Juliana said while still preparing
“Wow grabe. Sana all hindi denial”
Juliana only chuckled at Ysabel’s remarks
“So may girlfriend ka na?”
“No, wala akong girlfriend”
While talking to Ysabela, someone entered the door and clearly heard what they were talking about because, “Enough with the flirting people and let's focus na. Representatives, prepare niyo yung reports nyo mamaya” the president said in a playful tone and made his way to his office and greeted them with a smile.
Following in his footsteps was a girl. Juliana’s eyes widened. While looking at the girl, she felt everything stop.She could feel her soul slowly climbing on the way to heaven because of how surprised she was. The girl mirrored how surprised she was to see her in the area. With the glasses still in the process of everything. The girl named Kyu vanished from her sight when she entered the president's office.
“Ahh ang ganda talaga ni VP” She heard Ysabela squealing on the back ground
So much for hiding huh?
The glasses finally breathe and sit on her chair, trying to compose herself. She ran her hands through her hair on how crazy she was on not paying attention, she could have avoided it like the last time.
Ysabela saw her being weird “Huy ano nangyari sa’yo dyan? Kinilig ka rin ba? Sabi ko sa’yo ang ganda ni VP eh!”
Juliana only stared at her friend and thought about herself and her situation. She convinced herself that none of what’s happening is a big deal. That was just that night and nothing more.