"Make yourself at home, I guess."

 

Inilapag ni Seulgi ang bag ni Irene sa couch.

 

Napansin din niya na naka-paa nalang si Irene sa loob so tinanggal niya yung indoor slippers niya and binigay kay Irene.

 

"Ikaw?" Tanong ni Irene.

 

"May extra pa ako sa kwarto." Sagot ni Seulgi and pagkatayo niya mula sa pagyuko, napansin niya, "..Maliit ka pala." Sabay hawak sa bumbunan ni Irene.

 

Irene pouts, "I feel vulnerable all of a sudden. Mamaya makikita mo na din how I look without make-up."

 

Seulgi smiles, "Parang mas excited ako jan."

 

Ibinaba na ni Seulgi ang kamay niya from Irene's head, "..Shower and bihis lang ako. Hanapan din kita ng masusuot."

 

Tumango lang si Irene and pagkaalis ni Seulgi, umupo na siya sa couch.

 

Seulgi's one bedroom unit was.. neat.

 

The couch was sitting right in front of a balcony sliding glass doors, overseeing the Makati skyline.

 

There was no TV set, but on the left-hand corner, merong music station. Guitar, keyboard, e-drums, a display cabinet halfway full of albums and vinyls, and some sort of EP system.

 

Lumapit si Irene to check out the albums na collection ni Seulgi.

 

One particular got her attention.

 

It seemed like a compilation of songs, the one nung uso pa ang CD burn.

 

There was a note on the cover of the case and Irene can tell na luma na ang CD and yung note.

 

It was a birthday gift to Seulgi.

 

Binaliktad niya case and nakita niyang puro gasgas na nga yung mismong likod ng CD.

 

"I take it that you're not a PJ person, so here's an oversized shirt and comfy shortpants." Seulgi appeared from behind.

 

Bilis naman mag-shower neto.

 

Nakita niya yung hawak ni Irene and napangiti siya.

 

Na-curious tuloy si Irene cos the way Seulgi smiled, parang napaka-sentimental nung album na yun.

 

Inabot na ni Seulgi yung mga damit at isang bagong toothbrush sa bisita niya, "Parang ang tagal ko ng nakita yan ah. Anjan pa pala yan?"

 

Nag-swap sila ng hawak ni Irene.

 

"..Huh, ang weird." Seulgi says.

 

"Is it something important?" Irene asks.

 

"It used to be. All this time akala ko nawala ko na'to e. Gusto mo pakinggan?"

 

"Sure. Pero after I take a shower?"

 

"Okay." Sabay turo sa guest's bathroom.

 

Sabi nila, dalawang beses lang sa isang araw mo malalaman if maganda ba talaga ang isang babae.

 

First is kapag bagong gising ito.

 

Second is kapag bagong ligo.

 

And something wild was happening in Irene's stomach after seeing Seulgi's after shower look.

 

She thought about how would it feel running her fingers through Seulgi's slightly damp hair and kiss those reddened cheeks.

 

And kahit nakapambahay, jowa material pa din.

 

So ayun, habang nagsha-shower din siya, kilig kilig yung mga butterflies sa tummy niya.

 

Pero na-curious talaga siya dun sa album na yun.

 

After niyang ayusin ang sarili and isuot ang pinahiram na damit ni Seulgi, jowa material na din sana siya sa POV ni Seulgi.

 

"Hey." Sambit niya, habang nagtutuyo ng buhok using a small towel.

 

Nakaupo si Seulgi sa armrest ng couch habang binabasa yung note sa album nung tumango siya para lingunin yung bisita niya.

 

"Hi." Ngumiti ito sakanya.

 

Irene proceeds to sit on the couch and Seulgi presses the key on the remote.

 

But then sabay silang tumawa nung garble yung nagplay na tugtog sa speakers.

 

"Andami na gasgas e." Sabi pa ni Seulgi.

 

"Looks like gamit na gamit."

 

"Nung high school, oo. First time kong nakareceive ng gift na hindi galing sa family member."

 

Irene merely hums, "So.. was she the one you were talking about?"

 

Seulgi smiled first, then gave a nod.

 

Irene laughed bitterly, "Parang ayaw ko na bigla magtanong."

 

"Bakit?"

 

"Are you still in love with her?"

 

"Pano mo nasabi?"

 

"Does someone still smile remembering their ex?"

 

"Are you the type na sumisimangot after remembering their ex?"

 

"Maybe?"

 

Umiling si Seulgi ng patawa, "I should be careful then."

 

"Why?" Irene sneaks, "..You think magiging ex kita?"

 

Di nakasagot si Seulgi. Or baka wala lang talaga siyang maisagot.

 

So she diverts Irene attention away from the question, "We parted ways in good terms. Yung break-up na wala lang, napagod lang talaga then the feeling was mutual."

 

"I envy those kind of break-ups. Mine.." Irene sighs, "..were all messed up."

 

Tumahimik sila pareho.

 

Di nagsalita si Seulgi and nagets naman ni Irene na it's her turn na magkwento.

 

"..I've only had 3 serious relationships. The endings were all the same and it seems like gusto ko na ring maniwala na ako talaga yung problema."

 

Umikot si Seulgi mula sa armrest ng couch, tinignan saglit si Irene, tapos lumipat na mismo sa tabi ng PM.

 

"And the problem is?"

 

"Me.. I just don't.. love them enough."

 

"Well, there's always two sides of a break-up story." Seulgi says. "..Dalawa lang naman yan e. Reasons to stay, or reasons to leave. And madalas, laging pinipili ng mga tao yung pangalawa. Since yun yung pinaka-convenient."

 

"Ouch." Irene smiles bitterly.

 

"Ugly truth." Seulgi commented.

 

"Yeah." Sumandal si Irene sa backrest, then dumulas pababa sa balikat ni Seulgi. "..Kantahin mo nalang kaya yung mga kanta sa CD?"

 

Seulgi snorts, "Parang aabutin yata ako ng 45 minutes pag lahat yun kakantahin ko."

 

"Then just pick one."

 

They both stared outside in silence.

 

Nagdadalawang-isip pa talaga si Seulgi. Until..

 

 

Tell me what you thought about when you were gone and so alone

The worst is over

You can have the best of me

 

We got older but we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up

 

 

Seulgi feels a hand to her cheek, making her head turn down.

 

Next thing she feels was Irene's lips on hers.

 

It was just a chaste kiss, Irene even giggles after doing it, "Sorry, I can't resist. Continue, please."

 

"Are you really like this?" Seulgi asks in amusement. "..Kissing anybody you like?"

 

"You're not just anybody, Seul."

 

"Wow, second day into this, you're sleeping at my place, and now nickname basis. Nice."

 

Para nga talagang panaginip. Isip ni Seulgi.

 

"What can I say? Ang bagal nung taong gusto ko e." Irene says, "..I had to make the first move."

 

Kibit-balikat si Seulgi.

 

"..Gosh, Seulgi.. I like you so much right now, ano nang gagawin ko?"

 

They stared at each other.

 

“How about we wait?” Seulgi suggests.

 

"Should I?" Irene smiles, biting her lip, then bringing her right hand to support her head and still looks at Seulgi. "..Cos you know, waiting is my pet peeve."

 

"So ano? Speed nalang lahat?" Natawa na si Seulgi. "..Wala tayo sa office."

 

It was Irene's turn to shrug, "Sanay ako e. I get what I want."

 

"Edi ikaw na."

 

"Ikaw ba? Lagi ka bang ganito? Not running after what you want?"

 

"I like waiting. If it's for me, everything will fall into place."

 

"What if it doesn't?"

 

Ngumiti si Seulgi, "Then it's not for me."

 

"How are you so sure?" Irene asks.

 

"You're stubborn noh?" Seulgi replies.

 

"Cos I don't believe things work like that." 

 

"Well, it does."

 

"It doesn't!" Emphasize ni Irene. "..Not for me."

 

Seulgi paused, thinking if she got Irene angry.

 

"..Must be so easy for you." Habol pa ni Irene.

 

Di na tuloy magtama ang tingin nila sa isa't-isa.

 

Napapikit nalang din nung realize ni Irene yung mali niya afterwards.

 

Bakit nga ba napadpad sa ganito yung usapan? Kanina lang magaan pa e.

 

"We really have to work on your patience, baby."

 

Seulgi gently pats Irene's head.

 

"I-I'm sorry." The older apologizes, "..That was uncalled for."

 

"No worries, lahat tayo may pinaglalaban." 

 

They both laughed.

 

Irene then catch on, "Did you just call me baby?" 

 

"I did?"

 

"You did."

 

"Must be out of reflex. You don't like it?"

 

"We're not together though."

 

"But you kissed me?"

 

"Must be out of reflex." Irene smiles.

 

Napailing nalang si Seulgi, "Touchè, Bae."

 

---

 

"Di ka pa inaantok?"

 

"Not yet."

 

"One AM na."

 

Irene smiles, "I still want to talk."

 

"Inaantok nako." Sabay hikab si Seulgi.

 

"Let's sleep then."

 

Tinuro ni Seulgi yung bedroom niya, "You can have the bed."

 

Nilingon ni Irene yung kwarto, "We can share it."

 

"Ayaw."

 

"Then what's the point of me staying the night?"

 

"Sabi mo mag-uusap lang tayo."

 

"Yeah, but now you're sleepy and I still wanna talk. So it's your fault na hindi ko masusulit yung stay ko."

 

Tinignan ni Seulgi si Irene.

 

Nakaligtaan niyang competitive si Irene so she surrenders.

 

She scoops Irene up, making the PM squeal again, then carries her to bedroom.

 

"Why do you always carry me to bed then not do anything after?" Irene asks, "..Masakit sa puson ha?"

 

"I have lots of ideas in my mind.. things I wanna do to you." Nilapag niya si Irene sa bed then crouches so they can be in the same eye level. "..Things that your exes failed to do."

 

She kisses Irene's forehead.

 

If this won't work, I want you to smile whenever you remember us, at least.

 

---