No Label

Once In A Lifetime

Author's note:

Parts of this book will be divided by 8 parts

Prologue

I love the smell of coffee and books. It rushes my adrenaline and urges me to become productive.

People may thought I am living an easy life. Like stress cannot come near me...

Because I always smile.

Not because I am always happy.

Not because I look pretty with it.

Not because I am hiding something.

It's just, a daily routine.

If I frown, it's not me.

It's not Nana.

"Kanina ka pa dito?", my friend Mina asked as she sat in front of me. I just nodded to her question.

I invited her to study with me. The only bonding I could think of with her.

We're not boring. It's just a change of life. Normal din naman kami noong hayskul. Katulad ng iba, nag-eeskapo din kami, nagkokopyahan sa tests, nagtatally ng mga mannerism ng teachers namin instead na makinig sa lessons at marami pang iba. We are a group of clowns in our class before. Kami yung palaging maingay sa classroom kaya't mga matitinong kaklase namin, masama palagi ang tingin. Marami kami. Hindi nga ako sigurado kung ilan kami talaga kasi parang araw-araw may dumadagdag sa squad. Ganun kami ka friendly.

Highschool life indeed the best era of schooling. But we cannot avoid parting. We also need to enter college for our dreams. And I couldn't really keep in touch with my other friends now. Though I understand them and I'm not complaining.

"Inorderan na kita", I said as I slide the thing that vibrates when your order is ready.

"Nux! Libre?"

"Ofcourse, not. We are girls who pay their own bills, duh", nilapag ko palad ko para kunin bayad niya.

"Tss. Oh", reklamo niya pero nilagay din naman niya ang pera sa palad ko. "Ano inorder mo sakin?"

"The usual. Blueberry frappe.", I smiled as I keep her money.

"Good", the only word she said saka niya nilabas mga notes nito. Bumalik na din ako sa ginagawa ko.

Powerpoint presentation. Since high school hindi na 'to nawawala. I'm still doing it now. I glanced at Mina and damn-- masakit sa mata ang ginagawa niya. She's writing a lot and lot of numbers in that yellow paper. Not just numbers, there's letters too, usually x and y. And even drawings of lines and whatever, tinitignan ko pa lang naiistress na ako. I do hate Math.

I felt the vibration of that thing and so Mina stood up to get her drink. She sat back in front of me while sipping on that metal straw then just went back to her work. We are both not saying anything. Well, because we are both busy with our own businesses. This is how we date now. Very different from before.

"Na, nakaconnect laptop mo sa wifi?", she broke the silence.

"Yup"

"Can I borrow?"

"Hindi ba makaconnect phone mo?"

"Connected. Pero hindi supported for mobiles yung site."

"Oh sure, wait", Sinave ko muna yung presentation for safety purposes saka pinaharap sa kanya laptop ko.

"Thanks. Mabilis lang", she said while typing something. I don't know what she is searching because the fruit logo at the back of my laptop screen is the thing that is visible for me. She then write something on the yellow paper after typing.

Inikot niya na yung laptop paharap sakin "You're done?", I asked.

She slowly nodded but she suddenly stopped the laptop from facing me "Hala ano 'to?", she said with a teasing smile. Tinignan ko kung ano yung tinuturo niya sa screen.

I laughed as I saw that folder again.

Once In a Lifetime Crushes. That's the title.

It contains pictures of cute boys I saw somewhere. Sa debut ng friends ko, sa family gathering, sa mga KPOP events at minsan sa jeepney. I just secretly took pictures of them but I didn't really stalked or chat them. That's why, Once in a Lifetime lang. I'm not really planning to meet them or develop feelings with them. I just saved their pictures for remembrance. Just a collection.

I let Mina browse that folder. "Oh my God! Kilala ko 'to!", nagulat ako. Is the world that small?

"Sino?", I asked out of curiousity. She opened that one picture. Ah right, the only person there na talagang naging kaibigan ko. But no feelings found. "Si Jill?"

"Oo! Kasama ko siya sa Tulips. Crush mo pala siya? Gusto mo pakilala kita?", she offered but I shook my head.

"No need girl. We're already friends"

"Wait, really? Kailan pa?"

"For a while. Pero we didn't keep in touch anymore. "

"Ayaw mo jowain?"

"Girl! Respect sa friend natin"

"You mean Ina?". Oh, she knew.

"Yup. I brought them together. Galing ko 'no?", Somehow I feel proud that they actually dated because of me. I forgot how Jill and I actually became friends. But things happened and I'm glad I got to know him.

"But they broke up", nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Mina.

"Really?", reaksyon ko. Mukhang hindi na ako masyadong updated sa mga friends ko. College, indeed.

"Yes. Matagal na. I think Jill is single now"

"He is", sabay kaming napatingin sa biglang sumulpot sa usapan namin. A tall, good looking guy. He sat beside Mina. I'm quite confuse who is that guy but I guess, Mina's friend? Or boyfriend? What!? Wait--

"Ah, si Yanyan pala. Kasama ko sa Tulips", she introduced. Mina isn't the type to bring boys in front of her friend. We're somehow alike. But did it change?

"Hi. I'm Nana. Jowa ni Mina", biro ko at napatawa ko din yung Yanyan. "Just kidding. Are you guys somewhat in that kind of relationship?", I asked. I don't know how to formulate the right question.

"What? ", naguguluhang tanong ni Mina.

"I mean- Is he your boyfriend? ", Inayos ko na lang yung tanong ko.

"Not really"

"What kind of answer is that?"

"We are in just some kind of a mission", sagot ni Mina. Tumayo muna si Yanyan para mag order ng drink.

"Sis! Bagay kayo", komento ko ng lumisan si guy. Gusto ko din namang magka lovelife itong friend ko. Ayokong matulad sakin.

"Tss. Alam mo, ikaw talaga kailangan na nag lovelife eh. Sayang lahi sis. Gusto mo hanapan kita? Oh kaya...si Jill. Tama si Jill! Jowain mo na!",excite na excited itong si Mina. Akala niya ganun lang kadali maghanap ng jowa. And Jill...

"Not a bad idea though. Pero si Jill...I don't think he likes me. Atsaka takot ako sa mom niya. Baka hindi ako pasok sa standards.", hinampas niya ako ng mahina.

"Kailan pa bumaba ng ganyan confidence level mo? "

"Kung gusto mong magkajowa kaibigan mo, set up mo na lang ako sa blind date. That would be better.", I suggested. Blind dates isn't always finding a partner. You won't know if affection will develop with that mystery guy but it's certain that you will gain a friend. So, i don't see any bad side with blind dates.

"Okay, ganito na lang. The first person you will bump with in this day, you will date him for a week. And see if you can continue dating that person even after seven days. How's that? Deal?", Tss. Daming alam nitong friend ko ah?

"Ba't ba gustong-gusto mo akong magkajowa? Eh ikaw nga diyan walang jowa", reklamo ko. As if that's a requirement in life.

"I'm actually wanted to figure out something but I can't tell you since I'm not very sure"

Kumunot noo ko sa sinabi niya. This girl must have a lot of secrets. "Is that some kind of social experiment? May ganyan din ba sa Engineering school?"

Umiling siya. "I'll tell you after a week. Deal? "

I sighed. "Fine. Deal"

Yeah, what choice could I have with this girl? If I call off the deal, i will surely endure a whole fcking month sa pangungulit niya. I'll just avoid bumping oldies and fckboiz.

Nagpaalam na ako kay Mina and 'friend'. I decided to leave first dahil tapos na yung ginagawa ko. At ayokong mag thirdwheel sa kanila. Baka sakaling magkadevelopan pa yung dalawang yun.

I'm carrying this laptop with my left arm while browsing my phone with my right hand. I have just checked my phone because I was busy earlier and so I am flooded with messages from our group chat.

I was distracted when a body lightly bumped me. I wasn't looking on the way so I immediately said "Sorry--", I stopped when a familiar face welcomed me.

"Ate Nana?". He's even calling me 'ate'.

"Oh...Jill...ikaw pala", I faked a laugh avoiding his eyes. Why is this so awkward?

Damn. It means, I will date this guy for a week?