Love For Sale Book 1 (Self-published)

CH 17: The Kids Aren't Alright

"Mars! Congrats!" nagtititiling niyapos ako ni Mirasol. "Grabe, ang bilis ng mga pangyayari! Parang kailan lang, sabi mo wala kang balak mag-asawa 'tapos ngayon engaged ka na!"

"Vakla! OMG! Mabuti na lang lumabas kami para magbanyo sana! Hindi bale nang magkaroon kami ng bato sa kidney! Ang mahalaga, we were able to capture on video the historic moment! OMG! Excited ako! Sana isa ako sa mga abay mo!"

"Teka lang, you got it all wrong," I objected. "Hindi naman—"

"Grabe, naiiyak ako...." Mirasol started fanning her face with her hands. "I'm...just...so...happy...for you..." She sobbed. "Sorry..." Mirasol wept. "It's just...so...I'm just so... I'm so...my God..."

Nagulat kaming dalawa n'ung bigla s'yang binatukan ni Owen. "Aray ko, Vaks, naman eh!"

"Ay, OMG, ang echosera ng babaeng ito. May pag-iyak pang nalalaman. Mahadera ng taon! Ikaw ba ang nanay ni Claire, 'Teh?" Owen asked.

Mirasol glared at him. "Pake mo ba, hindi ba pwedeng mag-emote para sa friend mo?"

"OMG! Agaw-eksena ka kasi. Ito ngang future bride hindi umiyak, eh."

"Malay mo ba kung umiyak s'ya o hindi? Kita mo ang mga mata n'ya, medyo mapula? Malamang umiyak 'yan sa sobrang kasiyahan, ano."

"Aba, sa kanya nag-propose kaya may karapatan s'yang maiyak sa galak. Pero, ikaw? Kaloka ka, ha. OMG itong Vaklang 'tong talaga!"

"Ano ba, awat nga muna at baka totoong magkapikunan kayo," I told my friends who laughed off what I said.

"Mars, kahit kailan ay hindi kami magkakapikunan nitong isang 'to, ano. Isa pa, may kasunduan kami n'yan, kung sakaling magkaubusan ng lalaki, pwedeng-pwede kaming mag-share!"

"Plangak! OMG, Vakla, ang morbid pakinggan—!

"Claire! Hayop ka!"

I did not even have to turn my head to see who it was.

"Malandi ka, anong ipinakain mo kay Barry at nag-propose s'ya sa'yo?!" Leah shouted.

Diyos ko, buhay pa pala 'to?

I watched Barry's ex make her way towards where I was standing. She had obviously been crying because her eyes were red and swollen. And she obviously had been drinking, too, because she wasn't steady on her feet.

Saan galing 'to at bakit ngayon lang ito nagpakita?

"Pokpok ka! Mang-aagaw!" she slurred pointing a finger at me. "Hindi mo deserve si Barry! He is too good for you! Do you hear me, hindi kayo bagay—"

Then she started to vomit.

"Ew..." someone said.

"'Nubayan, lakas manggulo ng sayahan..."

"Hoy, putang-ina kayo, anong sinasabi ninyo, OM n'yo ako, taena—" Leah's tirade was cut short when she threw up again. And then she passed out.

"Ay, OMG, hala, si Madam, anyare?" Owen said. "Buti nga sa kanya..."

"Saan s'ya uminom? Hindi naman namin 'yan napansin kanina..." Mirasol commented. "May pa-bachelorette's party si mayora?" she added in a low voice before she and Owen giggled.

"Annie!" Barry bellowed. "Annie!"

TL Annie scurried forward. "Yes...Barry—?"

"Get your friend out of here!"

"Eh, s'ya naman 'yung nagyayang mag-inuman kami sa labas. Sabi ko nga kumain muna kami, eh, pero, ayaw n'yang magpapigil—"

"Leave, after you've cleaned up," Barry said as one of the restobar's staff came running forward.