Friendly Tricks
1569 Words
As a group, they decided to stop by Bag of Beans Cafe before heading home. As soon as they got there, Mel and Ayvs headed out to the garden where the best view was and started taking pictures for their social media accounts. Reg couldn't be bothered while KC was busy on her cell phone.
The two were comfortably seated indoors. Her friend was chatting with her Australian boyfriend, so Reg decided to stare at nothingness to pass the time.
"Regina, back to earth please."
KC was calling her attention. Reg smiled and turned to her.
"What's on your mind? Talk to me!" KC demanded.
"Nothing in particular. Just admiring the view."
She pursed her lips and looked around her.
Her friend went back to what she was doing.
"KC, is it not difficult?"
"What is?"
She asked back without taking her eyes off the screen.
"That," and she pointed to the phone she was holding. Her friend looked at her and then back to her phone.
"Oh! This."
She said, understanding what she meant by her question.
KC put her phone down and took a sip of her coffee.
"Relationships are not easy, especially if you're dealing with a long-distance thing. But right now, we haven't got a choice."
She smiled as she picked up her phone again.
KC took a break from dating for a year before she met her current boyfriend. He’s Australian. They met at an event she was hosting in Boracay.
She wasn't intending to date him, but he was quite persistent.
Why not? KC is gorgeous! She looks like a model and dresses like a model. She is also kind and caring. Any man will be lucky to have her.
But for transwomen like KC, finding love is never easy. It is actually much more difficult. Not many men are open-minded.
"My Steve is kind and faithful. I wouldn't have agreed to maintain a long-distance relationship if there was a doubt in my mind."
Reg could hear the sincerity in her friend's words.
"Our relationship is by no means perfect. We argue and we don't like each other as much at times, but at the end of the day, our love for each other prevails."
She continued with a smile.
"You know how much I suffered from the horror that is my ex, right?"
Yes, she could remember how devastated KC was when she found out her now ex-boyfriend had been cheating on her with different men and women for over a year.
The worst part was KC dedicated most of her life to that damned guy. She supported him through college and provided him with food, shelter, clothing, tuition, and fees. My gosh, even his family was smooching off of her. She couldn't even finish college because she decided to work and support him instead until he landed a decent job.
"I was a wreck."
She said with a laugh.
"I never thought I would find a person who would love me completely. But I did, just when I least expected it."
She confessed.
Happiness was painted all over her beautiful face.
Reg smiled back at her and held her hand.
"I am so happy for you," She whispered.
Their serious talk was interrupted by the arrival of Ayvs and Mel at the table. They were both panting, breathless as they sat and sipped their iced coffee. When they had recovered, Ayvs couldn't stop laughing while Mel was furiously scrolling through her phone.
Reg and KC just looked at each other. They were wondering what kind of prank Ayvs had pulled on poor Mel this time but they did not need to ask.
"I hate you!"
Mel was near to tears.
"Look at what that little devil did!"
She was encouraging Reg and KC to browse through her photos, which they did. All they could see were selfies taken by Ayvs on her cellphone.
"I posed until I felt like my back was breaking."
She complained while Ayvs was holding on to his tummy, turning red in the face, laughing out loud. His laugh was so infectious that KC started to chuckle even though she had no idea what was laughable!
"I even climbed that tree there because he said it would look nice in photos," she was pointing outside.
Reg started to giggle now, watching Mel complain to them like a little kid.
"And he wasn't even taking my photos! Just endless selfies showing off his evil face!"
"Hey! That's not true."
Ayvs momentarily stopped laughing to defend himself.
"What?! That you were taking selfies instead of taking pictures of me?"
She was making a face at the culprit.
"Well, that one is true."
He smirked guiltily.
"What's not true is that I have an evil face. I look angelic!"
He shamelessly teased.
Mel was fuming! She got up and was about to get Ays but he ran before she could get close. Now, they were chasing each other across the garden.
Reg and KC just sat there amused. They were sure the two clowns could sort it out between themselves! In the meantime, they would continue enjoying their coffee in peace.
They came back from their little trip at six in the evening and headed straight to their favorite hangout place a.k.a. KC’s apartment.
KC's 2-bedroom condominium unit had a modern minimalist design. It was tastefully decorated. And it felt like home. They always felt at home here.
Upon their arrival, Ayvs and Mel immediately took their spots in the living room. They sat on the carpet and turned the TV on. And Reg was helping KC prepare snacks and drinks in the kitchen.
"Don't be shy girls. Mi casa su casa!"
She said sarcastically while laying the charcuterie board on the center table. Ayvs automatically got his phone camera ready to take a picture of what their host was serving.
"Biatch, where's the wine? Hurry up!"
He said jokingly to the host.
"Yes, sir, coming..."
The host came back with four glasses and 2 bottles of red wine. After the obligatory social media pictures were taken, they were ready to start drinking and chilling.
Regina was sitting on the sofa next to KC happily watching the banter between the other two.
Ayvs was busy scrolling on his phone while Mel was lying on the carpet. From time to time, Ayvs would call the other's attention.
When she gave him a thumbs up, he would swipe right. When she gave him a thumbs down, he would swipe left. Reg was intrigued but KC asked the question.
"What are you two doing? May I see?"
"Nope. You have high standards."
Ayvs replied without even looking at KC who was now even more puzzled.
"What about me? Can I have a look?"
It was worth the try, so Reg asked.
"No way! You have even higher standards than that biatch." he turned her down too.
KC and Reg just looked at each other and shrugged.
"Wait! Then, why are you showing me?"
Mel sat up and turned to him.
"Oh!"
He looked at her momentarily and went back to scrolling.
"Because, my dear, you have no standards!"
Mel came swinging with a pillow that landed on his back. It was a good hit! They all laughed.
“Birthday girl, cheer up!”
Mel held her glass to her and they all went for a toast.
“Why are you so quiet?” Inquisitive KC asked.
All eyes were on Regina now. He looked at them clueless about what they were thinking.
“Nothing. It’s just you two are already too loud.”
She pointed at those seated on the carpet.
"Hhhmmmm..."
They looked at her suspiciously.
"I say we check her phone and look for evidence," as he said this, Ayvs was quick to grab it from the sofa.
Before Reg could even say anything, he unlocked it and started scrolling while Mel looked over his shoulder. Usually, Regina would scream invasion of privacy but she just didn't have the energy. She had nothing to hide anyway.
After a few more moments, the two started giggling. Reg became suspicious, so she reminded them.
"Hey! Don't watch p**n on my phone!"
She could still remember the horrifying elevator incident!
The mischievous duo, including KC chuckled as they recalled the said event.
The two continued giggling as they kept scrolling.
"What's going on? I have to see what you're doing!"
She was about to get up to reclaim her phone but KC pulled her back to the sofa.
"Just stay here dear and relax."
"But..."
She was already tired anyway and a little dizzy from the drinks they were having. She yawned. The last thing she could remember before dozing off was KC joining the group as they gathered around her phone.
Regina woke up the next morning lying on the sofa. The evidence of their drinking session was still on the table. Mel and Ayvs never made it into the bedroom either. They were lying next to each other on the carpet.
She slowly got up, careful not to step on the two or make any noise that would wake them up. She grabbed her phone next to Ayvs and went to the fridge to get some water. She nearly dropped the glass when she unlocked the screen and saw...
YOU HAVE 34 MATCHES!
HUH?! What the hell is this? A dating app?!
- Writer
