feel something (Campus Playlist Series #1)

Chapter Five

Iana's Point of View

Nakatitig ako sa cup na may lamang chamomile tea, na tinimpla ko habang nakaupo ako sa dining table dito sa baba. This chamomile tea made me think about how good he is. El is a good person and he deserves better kaya naiintindihan ko if the universe didn't let us end up together.

Do I still love him? I won't lie, yes, I still do but it's much better to keep things this way. Gano'n naman 'yon di'ba? Loving someone also means wanting what's the best for them even if it means keeping your distance away from them. And I ain't the best person for him.

I was about to sip my tea when I got a message from Artemis.

"How was your day? You fine?" I smiled as I read her message. Sobrang swerte ko pa rin dahil may mga kaibigan akong tulad nila. Mula noong umalis na si Mama sila na 'yung nakakasama ko at nakakaramay ko sa lahat ng bagay. What I love about them is that they respect all my decisions in life and they never judged me kahit ang daming nag bago sa'kin, they still treat me like how they used to, nothing changed at all.

I was typing when I heard a knock on my door. Napatingin ako sa oras sa phone ko, it's almost 12 AM and I wasn't expecting anyone kaya napakunot ang noo ko pero naisip ko na baka si Artemis din 'to since kaka-message lang rin niya sa'kin. So I calmed myself down.

"Sino 'yan?" Tanong ko nung nasa tapat na ko ng pinto.

"It's meeee!" Sagot naman ni Artemis na pinahaba pa ang word na 'me', doon lang ako tuluyang kumalma. Mahirap na, hindi na 101% safe sa paligid ngayon.

I immediately opened the door and I registered a big smile pa which instantly faded and turned into shock when everyone's face registered. What the f**k are they doing here?

"Ang tagal mo buksan 'yung pinto ah." Reklamo ni Trudis, na tinawanan ko lang.

They were all smiling to me habang winawagayway pa 'yung foods na dala nila. Kuya Red's holding a cooler box, Kuya Apollo and El were holding bottles of Bacardi and Coke while Kuya Uno and Artemis were holding random foods and pulutan, disposable flatware na nasa plastic bag naman ang hawak ni Trudis and Quia's holding a cake, what the freak.

"Anong meron?" Tanong ko agad habang simpleng napapakamot na lang sa ulo ko. Nakangiti pa din sila sa'kin as some of them answered me in chorus ng, "Wala lang."

"Bonding?" Parang hindi pa siguradong sagot ni Kuya Red. Then they entered my house and did not wait for me to let them in, like they literally shooed me away from the door frame.

"It's Friday night, you know? It's walwalan day!" Sabi ni Artemis na sinadya akong sagiin sa tagiliran noong dumaan sila ni Trudis sa gilid ko.

Kuya Red hugged me using his one arm as he was holding the cooler box with his right hand, I hugged him back f**k I missed them. Kuya Uno just tapped my shoulder and Kuya Apollo the person I missed the most, kissed my right cheek. Like what I've said, he's a funny guy. El gave me a warm smile, which again made my heart thump. Stupid, Iana.

"They missed you. Sorry I didn't inform you, its Apollo's idea." Sagot ni Quia as she hugged me tightly with one arm lang din because she's holding a box of cake.

Sa aming apat, Quia's the most matured, she's like our old sister minsan pa nga she's like our mom. She's very straightforward, minsan natatakot sa kanya 'yung mga tao because of her aura, mukha kasi siyang masungit. But she's actually kind and caring, she only wants what's the best for everyone.

Sabay na kaming umakyat ni Quia sa rooftop after locking the door, since nauna na ang lahat at pasimuno si Artemis at Trudis. Our house isn't big as theirs, sakto lang 'to for me and Mama. Hindi pa namin 'to bayad ng buo, monthly pa rin 'tong hinuhulugan ni Mama kaya rin ako nag apply bilang student assistant ni Ma'am Lopez and tutor ni Kyu para kahit papaano nakakatulong ako.

They were setting the table na nung pag akyat namin. When Quia, Artemis and Trudis are here dito talaga kami madalas tumambay, perfect place for a hang out. May big wooden table and chairs na nabili ko pa from my art commissions. Meron ding wire-hung canopy na ginawa ko lang, tipid hack and pinaligiran ko din ng string lights para mas relaxing and maganda tingnan.

Binaba muna ni Quia ang box ng cake sa table bago siya umupo sa tabi ni Kuya Red, at tumabi naman ako sa kanya habang si Trudis naman ang nasa harap ko. Bale, si Kuya Red, Quia at ako ang magkakatabi, sa gilid ni Kuya Red nakaupo si El habang si Kuya Apollo naman ang nasa gilid ko. Sa harap naman namin ay sina Trudis, Artemis and Kuya Uno.

"So ano talagang meron?" Pabirong tanong ko ulit habang kumukuha na sila ng pagkain, I tried not to become mahiyain because f**k I missed them, I missed this, 'yung buo kami.

I love their effort for this, they brought a lot of food. Merong pork sisig, tuna sisig, grilled calamari, deep fried mussels, stuffed tilapia, barbecue, beef caldereta and buttered shrimp, oh plus the strawberry cake na kakabukas pa lang ni Quia. If you love inuman session, you'd love hanging out with them, hindi mauubusan ng pulutan.

"Ano ka ba? We're celebrating your comeback! O kumain ka na." Sagot ni Kuya Apollo as he put buttered shrimp on my plate, it's my favorite food.

"Kaya nga, wag mo na kaming subukang iwasan ah." May hint of pagbabanta na sabi ni Kuya Uno, natawa naman kami sa sinabi nito.

"Tsaka alam mo I badly want to approach you the last time I saw you in front of Caravaggio building, I heard that you're doing art commissions. Gusto ko sana mag pagawa ng portrait ni Mommy for her birthday, nawiwili kasi siya sa mga art exhibits, lately. But if you're not busy lang naman." Dugtong pa nito habang sumusubo ng sisig.

"Aba magaling 'yan, hindi ka madidisappoint sa manok ko." Proud na proud na sabi ni Trudis with her boyish accent, na may pagturo pa sa'kin gamit ang tinidor, I just rolled my eyes to her while trying to hold my laugh.

"Ang lakas mong mambola sa part na 'yan." Mahinang sagot ko naman.

"But she's right" We all looked at him, like really looked at him with this shookt look but they quickly acted cool like others shifted to 'ohh-really' look while the others went back to eating again, maybe because it's unexpected to hear those words from him. "I've seen your works since high school. Your paintings are astounding," he continued and I was just staring and smiling at him. Yes, I always show him my work when we're still together before. I let him critique my paintings and other works. Naalala ko pa kung gaano siya ka-ingat sa mga words na ginagamit niya para lang hindi ako ma-offend or what, ugh self-it's not a good time for a trip down memory lane. I tried to distract myself, ayokong isipin ang nakaraan because I might cry.

"I agree, nakita ko 'yung gift mo kay Quia I didn't believe pa nga nung una na it's your work, but-" Mabilis na salo ni Kuya Red as he ended his sentence with two thumbs up, another thing I like about them, nasasalo agad nila every time there's an awkward situation just not to spoil the moment. Pero totoo 'yon na niregaluhan ko si Quia ng portrait niya.

"Thank you." Sabi ko tapos binalikan ko si kuya Uno, "PM me about the details, hindi pa naman ako gano'n ka busy." Pero ang totoo iniisip ko na kung saan ko isisingit 'yon, gusto ko lang bumawi sa kanila kaya tatanggapin ko.

We talked about random stuff after that, joked and laughed together like how we used to, no awkwardness at all. Then after eating late dinner, niligpit na namin 'yung ibang paper plates at pinalitan ng bottles of Bacardi. Yes, we started drinking, hindi na kami nagpaikot ng baso, nagkanya kanyang baso na lang kami pero nakabantay pa rin si Quia sa iniinom ko at baka daw mapasobra.

"Can we play truth or dare? To level up this inuman?" Suggestion ni Artemis, nag tinginan muna ang lahat bago sumagot isa-isa.

"G." Kuya Uno answered.

"No problem sa'kin." I answered next.

"Game ako dyan!" Excited na sagot ni Kuya Apollo while El just nod his head.

"Go lang din ako." Sumunod na sumagot si Trudis. Nagkatinginan muna ang mag bestfriend, si Quia at Kuya Red.

"G ako, ikaw?" He said as he waited for Quia's answer, who just rolled her eyes so Kuya Red playfully hugged her and made some cute gestures to Quia. He really looked cute kasi ang laki ni Kuya Red tapos parang bata siyang nagpapa-cute kay Quia, we were just staring at them while smiling while the others made some 'pang-aasar' noise.

"Laro na tayo, sasaluhin ko na lang iinumin mo pag ayaw mo sumagot or ayaw mo gawin 'yung dare, malakas ka sa'kin eh." Tumaas pa ang isang kilay neto habang nakangisi. They're best friends since high school and if kuya Red has no girlfriend iisipin na talaga namin na sila talaga but yeah sad to say meron at best friends lang daw talaga sila. Like, Quia only sees him as her immature na kuya and Kuya Red only sees her daw as his masungit na little sister. But honestly speaking, bagay silang dalawa, lagi nga namin silang niloloko na sana sila na lang talaga.

Quia rolled her eyes again as she shooed him away, "Oo na."