“Tara na sa cafeteria gutom na ako.” Sabi ni Jho nang matapos na ang practice namin.

“Kalma. Hindi mo pa nga naibababa ang gitara.” Sabi ni Colet at uminom ng tubig.

“Ligpitin lang muna natin ang mga to tapos aalis na tayo.” Sabi ni Gwen kaya inayos namin ang mga instruments at pagkatapos ay pumunta na ng cafeteria para mag lunch.

“Ang haba naman ng pila.” Pagrereklamo ni Jhoanna nang makarating kami sa cafeteria.

“Yung pila kaya pa pero ang paghahanap ng table habang may dalang pagkain ang challenging.” Sabi ni Colet at nilibot ang tingin sa cafeteria na puno ng mga estudyante.

After the long line, we were finally able to buy our foods, and now we are looking for a free table to sit at.

“Colet!” We heard someone call, which made us look for where it came.

“Over here, guys!” We heard, and then we saw Aiah and her friends waving at us at one of the tables in the cafeteria.

“Dito na kayo.” Sabi ni Aiah sabay lipat kasama si Stacey sa kabilang upuan katabi si Maloi at Sheena.

“Thank you.” My friends and I chorused as we joined them at their table.

“How’s your first band practice?” Sheena inquired.

“We struggled a bit at first matagal na rin kasi yung last na tumugtog kami as band, but after a few tries we eventually got the hang of it.” Gwen answered.

“Salamat pala sa tulong niyo for us to have permission to practice in the music room.” Colet thanked the other group.

“No worries.” Maloi assured radiating a smile stretched from ear to ear.

I’m just listening to their conversation and quietly eating my food when I noticed Aiah, who is seated across me, seems to be struggling to open the lid of the water bottle.

“May I?” I offered, opening my hand for her to pass me the water bottle.

“Thank you.” She said, beaming a bright smile that makes her eyes disappear.

“You’re welcome.” I replied as I opened and returned her water bottle.

“Mikhs pabukas din ako.” Sabi ni Jhoanna na katabi ko sabay abot na tubig niya. I know she will tease me if I refuse her, so I had no choice but to open her water bottle for her.

“Give me.” I said in a monotonous voice.

“Thank you, po.” She teased.

“Akin din Mikhs.” Colet said, putting on her playful smile.

“Ako rin.” Gwen said, passing her water bottle to me.

“Really Gwen? You too?” I sneered while they just giggled.

We just finished our lunch, but we still have time before our afternoon class, and my friends seem to be enjoying their conversation with Aiah and her friends, knowing things about them.

“Do the four of you become friends since freshman year?” Maloi asked.

“We were friends since we were young.” Colet revealed.

"Wow, ang tagal na pala ng friendship niyo." Stacey gasped, who seems to be amazed with the information that she learned. 

“Oo, pagkalabas namin mismo sa mga nanay namin binisita agad namin ang crib ng isa’t isa.” Jhoanna joked, making Stacey's friends chuckle.

“Alam mo Jhoanna feeling ko hirap na hirap si tita noong inilabas ka dahil sa katigasan ng bagang mo.” Naiinis na sabi ni Stacey.

“Uy tita daw. Mommy na lang tawag mo sa mommy ko total ikaw naman ang future ko.” Jhoanna said, then winked at Stacey.

“Our families are close since then, especially our dads, given that they are business partners. When we were kids, they would bring us some times to their meetings and make us play with each other, which obviously made us close to each other.” Gwen imparted.

“How about you guys? Did you become friends since childhood also?” Colet asked.

“The four of us first met in the restroom the day of freshmen orientation. Hindi kasi namin alam na sira pala yung door knob ng restroom kaya yun na kulong kami ng tatlong oras.” Kwento ni Sheena.

“For 3 hours we talked about how we got into this university and our possible life if we were forever stock in that restroom, kaya ayon 3 hours din yung iyakan namin.” Natatawang sabi ni Stacey.

“After namin makalabas we became friends, and from then on, we always do things together. After all, we were survivors of an unfortunate event.” Maloi shared. 

“Parang survivors naman tayo ng digmaan niyan beh.” Sheena chuckled.

“But you know guys, I am beyond thankful that it was the three of you that I got stock with because you became my friends slash sisters that makes life more meaningful.” Aiah expressed as she faced her friends with an affectionate smile mirroring her genuine love towards her friends, then they did a group hug with the four of them having teary eyes.

“Aww, soft hours.” Jhoanna cooed, wiping her tears with tissue.

“Nakiki-iyak akala mo naman kasama siya na stock sa restroom.” Sabi ni Colet kaya sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Jhoanna.

“Sorry ang drama namin.” Sabi ni Sheena nang matapos na ang group hug nila.

"No, it’s okay. We admire your friendship.” Gwen said, then proceeded to give Sheena a tissue.

“By the way, are you free this Saturday? Do you have class or training? Balak kasi namin na ayain kayo mag jogging sana and then mag gala after if you want to.” Maloi asked.

“Rest day namin sa Saturday and we don’t have any scheduled classes. We are totally free.” Colet bubbled.

"Yeah, we don’t have anything to do naman so we can join you.” Gwen agreed.

"Yes! Gagala.” Jhoanna said excitedly.

“That’s good to know, message na lang namin kayo ng time and location.” Maloi said as they gathered their things to go to their afternoon class.

“Una na kami. Bye!” Stacey said while my friends said their good byes too.

"See you on Saturday!" Sheena said.

“We’ll head first, guys.” Aiah said, then turned her eyes at me.

"Bye, Mikha Lim.” She grinned.

“Bye, Aiah.”



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