Lunch
It has been days since then, Juliana has never been happy. Serena has been constantly making time for her and their friendship
Although her ex boyfriend has still been making a move to get her back, Juliana is happy and contented with their relationship right now.
”Sorry. Kanina ka pa?” Serena came out of the blue
The glasses was waiting for her at the cafeteria because they agreed to eat lunch together.
”Yeah, what took you so long?,” glasses responded in an unserious tone
”OA. 5 minutes lang ako late sisiw”
She smiled at the older girl’s respond.
In normal days, she could never spend so much time with Serena. She can but it wouldn’t be much since she’d be preoccupied with her studies and her boyfriend Kenn.
”I actually invited your gang,”
Juliana’s smile faded.
”Why?”
”Tagal niyo na kase hindi nag hang out. Namimiss ka na ni Mac,”
The glasses pouted, “Okay.”
”What are you eating today?” Serena asked while on her phone.
”My usual. Biscuits and orange juice,” She pull out her lunch from her bag.
The other girl was still on her phone, She glanced at Juliana and noticed the glasses was just looking at her, “Sorry, you were saying?”
”Wala. Eat your lunch na,”
”About that, kumain na ako sa classroom,”
”Oh.” Juliana looked at Serena but Serena lowered her gaze, “… alright.”, the older girl continued nibbling on her phone.
They continued eating in silence, Serena was constantly on her phone, while Juliana was silently observing her.
On what the glasses observed, it looks like Serena was in constant worry. Trying to overcome it but cant help it. Serena glanced at her, “Im sorry, bee, just occupied on things.” The older girl said when she noticed the glasses staring at her.
”Why are you eating biscuits for lunch again?” The older girl when she noticed.
“This is my usual,”
“Usual mo mukha mo, akin na nga yan!”
”E sa nasanay na ako,”
“Akin na yan, Rivera, at kumain ka ng totoong pagkain!”
Serena was trying to take away lunch from Juliana. The glasses’ was having fun on their situation while Serena was pissed off
“What are you guys doing?”
The two stopped when they heard a familiar voice. It was Mackenzie with Calista and Georgia.
Serena stopped while Juliana was all smiles. Still pissed she sat down aggressively scowling at the glasses
“Chill ka lang uy,” Juliana said while laughing
At the same time, the three girls that just arrived made their selves a seat.
“Long time no see, nerd!” Mac
”Wag mo na kami pansinin, Juls, sanay na kami” Georgia being sarcastic
“What’s with you two?” Cali
Serena was still throwing dagger at her. Not minding everyone that just arrived.
“Sabihan niyo yang kaibigan niyong matigas ang ulo kumain ng saktong pagkain,”
“Seryoso ba kayo sa pinag aawayan niyo?”
Juliana couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing Serena fuming mad because she only ate biscuits made her heart leap to joy, “Sanay na nga ako. Busy ako, I dont have time to prepare a meal.”
The older girl continued throwing daggers while the latter was just smirking. Happier than ever.
Her smile faded when the older girl’s phone rang. Serena glanced at it and look at everyone at the table, “I must take this call,” She didn’t look at Juliana and proceeded to walk out.
Juliana couldn’t see who called but she had an idea.
Serena returned to their table and called Mackenzie, they distance themselves and Serena began to talk. Juliana was just staring. What’s wrong with telling it to everyone?
“What’s up with them?” Georg looking at Juls
”Ewan ko,” she said bitterly
The two went back to the table. Mackenzie cleared her throat while Serena was just poker face. “Mauna na ako, Juls. I’ll leave you with these 3 crackheads. Eat proper meal, Rivera.” Serena said to her then hug her goodbye
The older girl walked out, didn’t bother to explain nor hear Juliana’s response . Not that she should but they made an agreement to eat lunch together. Juliana couldn’t help but feel bitter.
When Serena could no longer be seen, “Hahaha iniwan shea,” Georg started a banter which changed the mood
With that, Juliana’s face boiled, “isusumpa ko talagang mag hahabol ka!”
”Heh. Never.” Georgia cooly said while smirking
”Hinabol mo nga yung freshman last week” Mac
“Sinong freshman?” Juliana asked Cali in the middle of the talk, ”Si Shantal sa dance class,” Caista replied shortly.
”In my defense, kinuha niya yung water bottle ko!” The ever calm Georgia suddenly snapped.
”Tapos hindi naman pala,” Cali
Juliana was surprised on how pissed Georgia is. This could mean that freshman might’ve really got Georgia’s attention
”Oh shut it,” Georgia still pissed
”Ang sabihin mo, type mo yun!” Mac still teasing Georgia.
“Hindi ako pumapatol sa bata,” Georg said cooly
“Pwes, ako oo,” Mackenzie grinned at her still teasing which made Georgia’s gaze darkened . She fisted her knuckles.
Mackenzie laughed out loud, “Chill bro,” while still bursting her stomach.
Georgia was still serious, “Subukan mo Mac at popormahan ko rin si Mara,” and with that, Mackenzie shush her mouth and looked at Georgia in a playful way.
”I was just kidding bro! Chill.” Mac playfully said,
”Oh, you’ll cry when I get Mar-“ Georgia still pissed
“Try, Aragon. And I’ll make my move.” Mackenzie suddenly being serious while looking at Georgia.
The table felt the heat. The banters suddenly became a mentally heated argument. Juliana and Calista stayed on their place, confused . Calista being the mother of the group, snapped her hands on the table, making Mackenzie and Georgia pulled off from their angry staring contest. As they snapped back to reality, they immediately avoid each other’s gaze.
“That was a petty fight,” Cali
“Kung maka away kayo kala niyo girlfriend niyo na yung tao,” Juls
”I don't do girlfriends,” Mac and Georg blurted it at the same time. They looked at each other then looked away. Juliana put her hands on her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
“Ang petty niyong dalawa. Say your sorry’s,”
The two looked at each other then looked away again immediately, parang mga batang nag aaway. Until Mac broke the ice.
“Sorry Georg. I didn’t know you were serious about the girl,” Mackenzie started
”I’m not serious ,” Georgia replied and stood up walking out from the gang.
“Kita mo yun, Cali, di man lang nag sorry!”
”Hayaan mo muna,” Cali
”Wow, all of that for a girl?” Juliana
”Mukhang nagkatotoo na yung wish mo kay Georg, nerd.” Mackenzie smiled at Juliana, weirdly happy after the tension, “Mauna na rin ako, may klase pa ako,” she continued and bid her goodbye to Cali and Juls.
Mackenzie faded into Juliana’s sight, leaving her and Calista on the table.
“Why was she smiling, weren’t she just pissed?” Juliana cant help but ask.
”She’s asking the girl out today.”
”Oh” Juliana formed an O getting the cue. Calista then look away and just stayed beside her, silent.
The glasses girl noticed the silence Calista was bringing, but she didn’t mind it dahil sanay na siya sa pagiging tahimik nito.
While Calista was zoning out, Juliana also thought about Serena’s aura earlier. It was like seeing the Serena months ago, she fisted her knuckles, frustrated, on the thought. Maybe she needs to make a move, or is it just too early?
While the glasses zoned out, Calista was looking at her. Drowned with her thoughts. She saw Juliana stand up, fixed her things, and ready to go. She tapped Calista and signaled her that she’s leaving, she still has classes to attend to.
Calista still looking at her intently.
Juliana didn’t wait for her friend’s approval and continued to walk off.
”Pag hindi ka sigurado, aagawin ko.” Cali blurted behind.
Juliana stopped and looked back. What did Cali just said? Did she hear her right?
”What did you say?”
Calista only chuckled, she stood up and smiled cockily, “Wala, Juls,”.
“… i’m just saying. Kung hindi ka sigurado. I’ll make a move. Kahit kaibigan ko pa kayo.”
Juliana couldn’t get what her friend meant, she’s clueless, she doesn’t know what to respond
“What do you mean, Cali?” still puzzled.
Cali clicked her tongue in annoyance, she’s annoyed on how dumb her friend could be.
”So… the girl you’re with that night, Kyu, she’s part of the Student Council diba?” Cali making a topic
“Yeah, what about it? Anong koneksyon non sa pinag usapan mo ngayon?” Juliana determined to ask questions that can give her clarity.
Calista, again, clicked her tongue in annoyance, “Ewan ko sayo, badtrip ka, basta yun na yun.” she dismissed the glasses then walk away.
The glasses stared at her friends back until she disappeared on the crowd. Juliana didn’t know what just happened, but she felt a rush in her heart. What did Cali mean? Si Kyu? Anong saysay wala naman siyang pake dun.
Did she have an idea about Kyu? How did she know the girl I was with was Kyu?
…
”You’re late, Rivera”
”Sorry po VP,” Juliana said to Kyu when she handed the papers the Vice President asked her to comply.
The VP looked at the papers Juliana handed to her, Juliana was standing in front of her table waiting for the response of the Vice President.
“If okay na po. Sabihan niyo lang po ako sa susunod kong gagawin,”
Kyu only glanced at her and proceed on reading the papers
While waiting Juliana glanced at the VP’s table and noticed something.
Aizawa, Amara Queen
Vice President
She stopped and stared at the nameplate on the table, looking so bothered. Her name. Where’s Kyu? Her brain started to wonder on how everyone calls the Vice President.
“Rivera!”
“Po?” Juliana said involuntarily.
”Anong sinabi ko?”
“Po?” still dazed.
The Vice President groaned and fixed her hair, she took a moment for herself before proceeding to talk to Juliana again.
When she stared into the girl with glasses’ eyes again, she cleared her throat and handed the papers, “Maayos na ang gawa mo, thank you for this. Now what I need for you to do is to just double check the candidates and make sure they’re really on the show, okay?”
When Kyu stopped talking she noticed Juliana’s red cheeks which made her eyebrow arched.
”Are you sick, Rivera?”
And with that, Juliana automatically hid her face with the papers she was holding.
”Gets ko po, VP. Alis na po ako.” Juliana said and walked out of the office in a hurry.
“Umm, wait teka.”
”Gets ko na po, alis na po ako” Juliana said before closing the door. Not hearing the other girl said.
…
Juliana did her job at the council and went home. While driving, she remembered what happened,
Her name doesn’t have Kyu, so why would she let me call her that?
And what happened to me?! Ano yun?
On red light. She gripped on the steering wheel, and banged her head. She was being crazy for minutes until she heard a honk behind. It was already green light. She stepped on her gas and jiffed off.
After changing into her pajamas her phone lit, it was a message from Serena.
Serena
saan ka na, sisiw?
uwi na
Juliana couldn’t help herself but smile. There might’ve been a setback on Serena’s energy earlier but she just cant herself. Serena remembers her. And that’s enough.
Or is it?
…
Juliana is on her table and continued her unfinished loads. She’s on the SC office alone. It’s almost lunchtime and she’s still not finish. She still needs to print some papers, she went to the printer on the office but unfortunately, it’s not working.
Lintek, ayoko na pumunta sa Library gutom na ako!
She groans on the situation and suddenly a light bulb lit up her head. She’s going to use the printer inside the office of the executives.
She smiles, and stands, got her laptop.
Hehehe nobody will know anyway. And besides, this isn't a scheme
She thought and directly opened the door, thinking the room was empty.
As she opened the door she saw Kyu on her table, with a paper bag. Her eyes widened and decided to turn around.
”I’m sorry to barge in without knocking, akala ko walang tao, mag p-print lang po sana.”
”Oh, that’s okay. Come inside, Rivera.”
”Po?”
“Drop the po, will you? We both know you don't do that.” Kyu swiftly said, “… sige na, print your papers na.”
With no choice, Juliana went inside the office and went straight to the printer that’s placed behind the vice president’s table.
While waiting for her papers, she took a glance at the other girl and noticed a lot on her deck, beside her is the paper bag she, she’s guessing its her lunch. While staring, she noticed a bouquet of flowers beside her chair, unattended.
It’s probably a gift from someone.
”Kumain ka na?” Kyu suddenly blurted.
“Hindi pa.” Juliana answered thoughtlessly
The Vice President turned her swivel chair to look at Juliana, “Eat with me then,”
Caught off guard, Juliana was frustrated on how she felt about that one question leaving her unable to answer.
“That’s a yes then.” Kyu smiled proudly then turned around to prepare the food inside the paper bag.
Juliana was still in the process of what’s happening. She watched Kyu preparing the lunch, smiling, everything was packed.
“Bakit andami ng dala mong pagkain?” She couldn’t help but ask.
”To share it with you? Upo ka dito, Rivera” Kyu said mindlessly and tapped the other swivel chair beside her.
Juliana was stunned with the answer but she showed no reaction to it and brushed it off.
“This isn’t mine. Somebody gave it and I find it sayang if I just leave it to rot.”
Oh, so that explains the flower bouquet.
“… and you happened to pass by, might as well share it with you.”
Juliana happened to already sit on the chair beside while Kyu was talking. She took glances at the food served and it is indeed good for 2 or more people.
”Andamiii, ang sarap rin,”
“Help yourself, Rivera” Kyu smiled sweetly
Being so hungry, Juliana didnt let the chance go to waste. On the usual she only eats biscuits.
”Gutom na gutom ah,”
Juliana grew shy at the other girl’s remarks, she wiped her mouth with a tissue before speaking, “sorry”
Kyu laughed at her, “No, I just thought you dread eating with me, kain ka pa.” Her smile was so wide, her eyes were turning into a curved line.
with that they continued to eat silently and just smile whenever they look back at each other.
“Hindi ba magagalit manliligaw mo? I’m eating what he’s giving,”
”I dont even know the manliligaw,”
Juliana looked at her
”hindi ko nga kilala, mysterious siya, it was left outside my locker.”
Juliana’s face lit up and indicating she understood it.
”And you? It’s passed lunch time and you still haven’t got your lunch.” Kyu starting the topic.
”I was about to pero I wanted to get the loads off my back. Kaya tinapos ko”
”Oh so you barge in here”
“I didn’t know you were inside”
”as if, i’d think you're my mystery manliligaw eh” Kyu jokingly said
”Ew,” Juliana said comfortably. Which made them stop and stare at each other. While staring they slowly smiled and laughed.
“Kung maka ew ka, Rivera!”
Juliana’s mind went on, she stopped mid way and remembered how they actually met. With that her face grew red.
”Rivera? Okay ka lang?” Kyu put her hands on her forehead, “… why are you red? mainit ba?”
With that, Juliana wished she could die. She isn’t having it. She doesn't know why it affects her. Should they talk about what happened? But… looking at the situation now, it would be better for it to be brushed off. Juliana couldn’t help to be awkward again with the VP. They just settled the icy barriers.
So she brushed it off.
”Hahaha wala, thank you for the food VP. Ang sarap ng kain ko. I normally go for biscuits eh” Juliana casually said trying to divert the topic
”Biscuits?” successfully shifted the topic
“Oo,”
”Bakit biscuits lang?” Kyu looked at her intensely as if the information was very important.
”I like sweets,”
“But that doesn’t give you enough nutrients,”
”Well, to start. I just moved out of the house and preparing my own lunch is kinda new to me.”
“So you settle for biscuits…”
Juliana just nodded in response.
Juliana looked at Kyu, as if the girl was thinking thoroughly. While Kyu was having her bubble, Juliana slowly cleaned her deck.
“Salamat sa manliligaw mo, VP. Nakakaen pa ng libre” Juliana said as she ready herself to go to her class
Kyu smiled and thanked her for eating with her too
“See you tomorrow, Rivera. Madami pa tayong gagawin.”