I called Ingrid before I went to bed as promised but I did not tell her about what had happened with Lara during dinner because I knew she'd probably fly to Tagaytay then drag Lara by the hair back to Quezon City.
"Ano ang ginawa n'yo ngayon, introductions ba?"
"How did you know?" I asked.
"Kasi nga si Ate mahilig 'yung magkuwento kaya naman familiar ako sa mga activities ng ISYC."
"Oo, introductions lang kaya lang ang dami namin kaya inabot pa rin nang almost three hours. May twist ngayon, eh, kasi may Most Popular na award kaya kailangang creative 'yung introduction mo so people would vote for you."
"So, how did you introduce yourself?"
"I gave up on that award outright," I answered laughing. "Hindi ako mananalo d'un, these people know each other. Besides may parang celebrity na participant ngayon kaya for sure sa kanya mapupunta 'yung Most Popular award."
"Celebrity? Artista?"
"Hindi ko alam, basta sikat daw s'ya."
"Babae o lalaki?"
"Babae."
"Hm..."
"Kisses, hindi malayong mas maganda ka d'un," I truthfully said. "Walang halong pambobola."
"So tinitigan mo?"
I chuckled. "Hindi. 'Di ba nga may introductions kanina?"
"Ahh..."
"Nagseselos ba ang future wife ko?"
"Kinikilig ako d'yan sa pa-future wife mo but instead of answering your question, I would like to ask you, may dapat ba akong ipagselos, future husband?"
"Wala po," I replied before I sighed. "It is crazy how I am missing you so much. Gusto na kitang mayakap."
"Yakap lang?"
"Kiss din..."
"O, bakit may pagbulong?"
"Baka kasi marinig ako ng roommate ko, nahiya ako."
Ingrid burst out laughing. "Ang cute mo, nakakainis ka," she said. "Pag-uwi mo rito, matutulog ako sa tabi mo at magpapayakap ako sa'yo buong gabi."
"Naku, takot po ako sa shotgun ni Tito."
"Eh, h'wag ka nang pakipot. Kapag ako talaga nainis sa'yo pipikutin na talaga kita."
It was my turn to laugh.
"Tabi tayong matulog pag-uwi mo, ha. Hindi naman tayo sa bedroom matutulog, eh, kundi sa sala."
"Baka magalit Mommy at Daddy mo..."
"Magpapaalam ako. 'Tsaka hindi tayo magpapatay ng ilaw para hindi sila magduda na may ginagawa tayong hindi maganda. Kung gusto nila doon tayo sa bedroom nila matulog, sa sahig, para nakikita nila tayo."
"That's a scary thought."
"Ang alin?"
"Ang matulog sa bedroom ng parents mo."
"Natural hindi sila papayag at sasabihin ko lang 'yun to express how General Patronage our sleepover is going to be.
"Hm..."
"Ayaw mo?"
"Natural gusto..."
"Eh, bakit sabi mo hm...?
"Napag-usapan na natin, 'di ba, that I have...not so pure thoughts about you sometimes?"
"Anong sometimes? Ayaw mo pa amining everyday."
