Irene Figueroa

"Anak, just go on a date with Bogum... It's just one date!" Sabi ni papa ko sa kabilang linya.

"Dad, how many times have I told you that I don't want to go on date?!" Inis na sabi ko.

"Just think of it as a business meeting! Come on, I heard from your ninong that Bogum really likes you. He's a nice guy naman, anak." Pilit ni papa.

"Dad bakit kaya hindi nalang ikaw ang makipag date sa kaniya mukhang type mo naman siya!" Sabi ko rolling my eyes.

Natawa si papa sa kabilang linya.

"Come on, Rene... Do it for papa!" 

"First of all, if he really likes me like you claim he does... Bakit kelangan niya pa ipadaan ang date invitation sa papa and sayo? Doesn't he have balls to ask me out himself?" Sabi ko.

Inis na talaga ako.

"You scare him daw, anak!" Natatawang sabi ni papa.

"Sounds like wuss! Sorry, dad but no! Bye!" Sabi ko at binaba na ang tawag.

Napaapikit ako at napahawak ako sa sintido ko, and i took a deep breath.

Hinimas ko ang legs ko...

I still feel the pain sometimes... kahit na naghilom na ang sugat, yung sakit parang andiyan pa din.

I'm in this hole because I was dumb enough to fall in love with a guy...

I chuckled bitterly...

I won't be dumb twice and fall in love again...

"Ate Jinky, I'm off now!" Sabi ko kay Ate Jinky, yung matandang secretary ko.

"Okay, ma'am. Off na din ako." Casual na sabi niya.

"Ate Jinky, it's still 4pm..." Kunot noong sabi ko.

"Eh ma'am, yung boss ko uuwi na, di ba dapat lang na umuwi na rin ako?" Sabi niya.

Ha?! Ano daw?!

Ganon ba yon?

E kung bawasan ko din ang sahod mo dahil trip ko lang?!

"Fine, whatever... Just make sure, tapos lahat ng mga dapat matapos today and wag ka mag iiwan ng backlogs." Sabi ko nalang bago umalis.

Naiistress talaga ako kay Ate Jinky. Minsan mas stress pa ako sa kaniya kesa sa actual workloads ko. Pero dahil loyal employee siya ng dad ko at kasama siya ng dad ko even when he was still a young businessman, e hindi ko magawang tanggalin siya.

Napapailing nalang talaga ako sa kaniya minsan.

Papasok na ako ng car ko nung biglang may tumawag sa akin, napangiti ko when I saw the caller ID.

It was August.

She was my savior.

She's 10 years older and she's really beautiful.

She's graceful and elegant.

You can say na may crush ako sa kaniya and nagkaroon kami ng something but she's married na.

Right now, we're friends... close friends.

'totoo ba? friends lang?' sabi ka ng konsensiya ko.

>.<

"Hello, Irene..." Sabi ni August.

"Hey August... Wolfgang?"

"Uhh yes... Kasama ba si Yeri? Di ba sinundo mo siya from Univ?"

"I did but I dropped her off sa mall then bumalik ako ng office but paalis na ko ulit.." 

"Okay, see you.."

"Do want me to pick you up?"

"No need, see you."

"Alright."

Pag dating ko sa Wolfgang, andun na agad si August at agad akong lumapit at bumeso.

"Wow, you still look so absolutely gorgeous, Irene." Sabi niya sakin.

I can't help but blush naman.

"Come on, August... You don't need to flatter me." Natatawang sabi ko.

Nag order na kami agad.

"So, how's life? Ano na balita sayo? Kakadating lang namin ni Kurt from New York.." Sabi niya.

"Eto same, old... Busy sa business." Sabi ko while sipping my iced coffee.

"So you told me that you met your ex-boyfriend's sister, right? How was it?" Concern na tanong niya while squeezing my hand na nasa table.

To be honest, ayokong nahahawakan ng ibang tao except for my family since the 'thing' happened. 

But August is an exception.

I smiled at her gesture.

"Parang lahat ng binaon ko sa limot, bumalik lahat, August." Sabi ko.

August sighed.

"It's okay... But you know, you have to let it go... not for them but for you. Para you can move on na from what happened..." Sabi niya.

"If only it's that easy, Augs." Sabi ko.

"You say her name is Seulgi Celestial, right? She's a friend of my pamangkin... I met her last time before kami mag punta ng New York ni Kurt... She seems like a nice kid... and a very beautiful one, smart pa." Nakangiting sabi ni August.

I rolled my eyes.

"Looks can be deceiving, August. That kid is a selfish brat... Kung hindi dahil sa kaniya.... that day... hindi sana ako ganito ngayon..." Sabi ko.

Napansin ni August ang pag dilim ng mood ko.

"Okay, okay, let's change the topic na. We're here para mag catch up at hindi para mag throwback!" Sabi niya lightening up the mood.

I noticed, natunaw na yung ice nung iced coffee and there is no waiter around.

"Teka, I'll go there and ask the waiter to give me some ice." Sabi ko.

"Alright.." Nakangiting sabi ni August.

So naglakad na ako papunta sa may waiter when suddenly someone bumped into me dahilan kung bakit natapon sa damit ko yung iced coffee.

Napapikit ako as I rolled my eyes sa inis.

Letse!

"What the ?! Are you blind or are you stupid?!" Inis na sabi ko.

"IKAW KAYA YUNG----" Pasigaw na sana siya, but then she looked up and suddenly napatingin siya sakin.

What the hell!?! Bakit etong brat na to nanaman?!?! 

Bakit ba ako sinusundan ng kamalasan na to!?!

"G-goddess... i mean ate Irene sorry po... ihing ihi na kas---"

Pinutol ko na yung gusto niyang sabihin.

"Stupid little twerp! Wala talagang magandang dinudulot ang presence mo sa buhay ko!" I rolled my eyes at iniwan siya dun.

Teka...

Did she just call me goddess?

Whatever, dahil sa kaniya nadumihan pa tong white dress ko.

Kung minamalas ka nga naman.

Bumalik nalang ako sa table namin dahil nawala na ako sa mood.

"Oh, ano nangyare sayo? What happened to your dress?" Concerned sabi ni August.

Pero natawa siya sa frowning face ko.

"That stupid twerp, binangga ako kaya natapon 'tong iced coffee na hawak ko." Sabi ko whle rolling my eyes.

"Stupid twerp?" Curious na tanong niya.

"Yeah, the Celestial kid..." Sabi ko.

Natawa naman siya.

"Don't you think the universe is making your paths crossed on purpose?" she said with a laugh.

"So now even the universe wants to annoy the hell out of me?" I replied, irritation evident in my tone.

After a while, while August and I were eating, I felt someone's gaze on me. When I glanced towards the door, the Celestial kid was looking at me, with a crazy smile on her face, waving at me as if we were close.

I frowned and discreetly gave her the middle finger.

That kid really gets on my nerves, feeling close masyado!

Seulgi Celestial

Andito ako ngayon kausap ang pinsan ko na sobrang arte.

"Hey, Seulgi. I heard malapit ka na gumraduate ng Fine Arts and yet wala ka paring art exhibit?" Mayabang na sabi ng pinsan ko.

"Jenny, don't worry, I'm already planning my art exhibit..."

Bluff ko. Sa totoo lang wala naman ako bal