Chapter 4
“As I said, I’ll be out for a while. Report everything to Miss Amara while I’m gone. Meeting adjourned! Enjoy your weekend, everyone.”
The president bid his goodbyes to all members and went out.
Juliana was scribbling onto her papers when Ysabela talked to her, “Rereport ko na lahat kay VP makasama lang shea,” Ysabela squealed quietly beside her. Juliana only rolled her eyes.
“Aalis ka sa council?,” Ysabela asked out of curiosity when she saw the resignation papers Juliana was fixing.
The glasses hid her papers from Ysabela’s gaze and looked at her, “Hindi. I’m still thinking about it.” she said dismissing her friend’s question.
“Then bakit ganun yung nakasulat,” Ysabela pouts. Juliana just looked at her, “ikaw lang bff ko dito, Juls. Huwag kang umalis.” she said while clutching Juliana’s arms dramatically.
“Who’s leaving?”
Both of them startled when they hear someone talk behind.
“Si Juliana po-“
“Alis lang po kami ni Ysa para kakain VP,”
“Huh?” confused Ysabella
Juliana immediately took Ysabela’s hands and look at the girl in front of them, “Kain po muna kami VP,” Juliana asked the VP politely
The glasses noticed that the wavy haired girl took a glance of her and Ysabela’s hands, “Mauna na po kami VP.”
Without the Vice President’s response. Juliana jiffed, “Oy teka di pa ako umagree!” Ysabela mumbled but Juliana continued to walk out. Juliana smiled when they slowly neared the exit.
“Juliana,” Juliana stopped, she turned around and met the gaze of the wavy haired girl.
“Po?”
“Don’t be late tomorrow.” Kyu’s voice was laced with a sharp tone.
“Opo VP.”
“Bye VP! See you soon!”
Still dragging Ysabel, Juliana couldn’t hear what her friend had been saying. All she want is to be far away from the office. Ysabela pulled off her hand from Juliana’s grip, “Juls, ano ba kanina pa kita tinatanong saan tayo kakain. Ba’t mo ba ako tinigilan mag salita?”
Juliana looked at Ysabela, “Sorry,” she uttered.
“Sige na sabi mo kakain tayo. Where tayo eat?” Ysabela looked at her in annoyance and fixed herself after being in Juliana’s grip.
“Joke lang yun,” Juls sternly said
“Hala?”
“Sige na, kukunin ka ba ng daddy mo?” Juliana seriously dismissing her friend
“Gago ka talaga, Rivera ah!”
Juliana chuckled, entertained by Ysabel’s reactions
“At bakit ka nga aalis? Diba gusto mo tumakbo bilang president?”
“Gutom nga talaga ako. Tara na Ysa kumain na tayo. Libre mo ako ha” Juliana quickly said, changing the topic, “Ba’t ako ang manglilibre? Ikaw ang nag invite!” Ysabela’s brows furrowed which made the rimmed girl glasses laugh
The two found themselves a seat upon arriving the restaurant Juliana picked since she's the one paying, Ysabela as herself kept on yapping and enjoyed the night with Juliana
While eating and talking, Juliana has been texting Serena, updating her and then.
Serena
Come again. You’re having dinner with Ysa. just you two? i thought lahat kayo?
Juliana was smiling and tried to keep up with whatever Ysabela’s been yapping while trying to reply to Serena
“Hindi ko talaga…… Basta ang ganda… diba bagay si VP at President?”
Juliana glanced at Ysa on what she heard. She couldn’t understand everything but she processed a bit of information.
“Bagay ba yun? parang hindi naman,” she said in response.
“Basta. Kinikilig ako pag lumalapit si Pres kay VP” sabi ni Ysabela habang kinikilig
Juliana looked at her with annoyance, she was about to say something when her phone rang.
Serena calling…
Serena’s name appeared on the screen and then vanished. It was a missed call. She forgot to reply.
“Ano.. diba na realize mo rin na bagay nga si Pres at VP. Ship natin sila next meeting,” Ysabela continued, unaware of where Juliana’s mind is.
“Ulol,” Juliana responded and stood up, “Powder room muna ako. Be right back.” She excused herself
Upon reading the texts…
Serena
Kayo lang ba?
hoy sisiw bat di ka nag rereply?
nakapag tiktok pero hindi makapag reply? (Ysabela posted a tiktok video of them)
Typing but not replying???
1 missed call
When she read the texts, she wasn’t sure why she’s feeling tensed. Why would she feel this now? Is it right to tell Serena or should she just ignore it?
Juliana
bee, I'm sorry i wasn't able to accept the call. kumakain ako
Serena
Just the two of you?
She doesn’t know why but Juliana could feel the tension on Serena’s texts
Juliana
Yes :) Why bee?
Serena
Why.
Is she mad or something? Is being with Ysabela wrong?
Juliana
Just treating her since she’s been nice to me :)) Dont worry bee. You’re still THE bff
Juliana sent her reply and felt relieved. What she replied was great! No, she thinks it's perfect. She thinks Serena is jealous as her best friend because if Serena would be close to someone else she’d also feel terrible. Your best friend having another best friend is indeed a terrible thing. She mentally convinced herself.
Serena
Alright, where are you?
Juliana
We’re at Dynasty Palace. Malapit na kami. I'll head home after.
Serena
Stay. I’m coming.
Juliana stared blankly at her reflection. What the freak is happening. She went out and returned to her seat.
She smiled at Ysabela but her mind was screaming for Serena. Is she serious about coming over? Oh she wouldn’t. She secretly grabbed her phone and texted back
Juliana
Wag na bee. We’re heading home.
After sending, she put her phone inside her bag. Not minding anything. She should stop worrying and shouldn’t be worrying in the first place. She’s not doing anything wrong.
“Uwi na tayo Ysa,”
“Sige pero I ordered some chocolate moist, Juls. Treat ko na yung dessert,” Ysabela smiled while wiggling her eyebrows
“Oh, okay.”
“What’s keeping you off? Kanina ka pa, Juls.”
“Wala naman. Just some stuffs” Glasses shortly replied
“Weh, If i've known na connected yan sa resigna-“
“Ano nga yung chika mo, diba may sinabi ka kanina?” Glasses purposely butt in another topic just to change the topic while Ysabela was eyeing on her with her brows shot up.
“I’m not forcing you to tell me, Rivera.” Ysabela calmly said, “Pero yun nga, mag jowa pala sina … pero diba bff yun nung guy? two time yung nangyari beh!”
Juliana smiled as she was listening to the girl in front of her. She’s glad the girl understood what she meant. While talking, the chocolate moist cake arrived.
“Dalawa inorder ko,”
“Thank you,”
While eating, Juliana noticed some smudge on Ysabela’s mouth.
“Ayusin mo kumain. May dumi na bibig mo”
“Teka kuha ako tissue” Ysabela said because her hands were also smudged
Juliana was hesitant but she wanted to help, “Ako na,” she volunteered on wiping Ysabela’s caked face
“Am I interrupting something here?” A low voice appeared
Startled and taken aback, Juliana’s hands slammed on the table making the silverwares fall off to the ground. Serena was eyeing the two as if she just caught Juliana red handed.
“Hi Seer! Nice to see you here. Are you with Kenn?” Ysabela said. Making the situation calm
“Bee! Come. K-kumain ka na?” Juliana said as she stood up and greeted Serena
Serena was only looking at her. Juliana wasn’t sure what the expression she sees in Serena but it looked like a bad idea.
“I thought you said you said you're heading home?”
Before answering her question, Juliana made sure they wouldn’t look awkward in front of Ysabela. So she pulled Serena to make her sit but Serena took her hands off of her, “Kaya ko” then turned to Ysabela, “Hi Ysa.” fixing a smile
“Huwaw, magka away ba ang mag bff ngayon?” Ysa asked playfully since she noticed the vibe was off.
As if the fixed smile snapped. Serena’s vibe was just not around the corner. When she was about to say something. Thankfully, in Juliana's mind, Ysabela’s phone rang.
“Kuya Rico, andyan ka na po? Sige po.” Ysabela hung up the phone, “Juls, Seer, pasensha na pero nandito na driver ko. I’ll pay you online Juls. Thank you for tonight” Ysabela said and hugged them goodbye.
When Ysabela left. That leaves Juliana and Serena on the dining table.
“Uuwi na talaga kami kaso nag order pa si Ysa ng cake kaya ganun, bee” The girl with rimmed glasses explained
Serene was silent. She’s internalizing everything. Was she about to scream at Ysabela? She thanked the heavens she didn’t, “I’m sorry. I was overacting” Serena said not meeting her gaze, as if she was reflecting on herself
“Bee, ano ba yun? Bat ka pumunta?”
Serena went silent. She was still looking down. Juliana took Serena’s chair and dragged it near her singlehanded.
“Bee, bat ka nandito?”
“I… I’m taking you home.”
“Okay… but I brought my car, convoy na lang tayo? Or I’ll just ride with you” Juliana said slowly as if trying to console Serena’s unexpressed feelings.
“I didn’t brought my car,” Serena said in a little voice
Looking at Serena avoiding her gaze, looking down, and looking so shy. Very different from what she saw earlier.
“Ba’t ka galit kanina?”
“I don’t know how to say it, Juls. I was mad. fuming mad. and i don't know why”
She looked at Serena, she smiled and felt happy.
“… and you came here because?”
“I said I was fetching you!,” Serena scowling at her
“But you don’t have a car,”
“Shut up,”
“How did you arrive so fast?”
“Interactive Travel Apps. Duh.”
“Angkas? Wow!”
“you're driving me home, Rivera!”
Juliana let out a laugh because she found everything so funny. She was nervous for nothing. She thought she’d see a mad Seer but all she sees now is a cute baby.
Cute baby. Cute. Kyu. What? NO!!