11/23

Hashtag 14

#ThirdPartyPooper

"When jealousy creeps, not even impassiveness can hinder the buried feelings."

-x-

There were no fucks given by Jhing that day. And a lot of days after that. Wala rin siyang paki kung sa buong linggo, iba't ibang babae ang nagpuntang office to meet their friend Miko Crux.

Wala rin siyang paki kung mag-sex mga ito sa sofa lobby.

Although. . .hindi na siya uupo sa sofa na 'yun, ever.

Friend? Hah.

"Sino ba 'yung girl?" asked Yayo during lunch.

Bagong babae na naman kasi ang nagpunta sa office para ayain mag-lunch out si Miko.

"Galing daw sa Tinder, beh," sagot ng isa. "Hindi ko naisip na sa app siya naghahanap ng babae."

"Judgmental naman," pagtatanggol ni Yayo. "He's old enough to do whatever he wants. Baka naghahanap na ng long term partner."

"Sa Tinder?!"

"Bakit hindi!" July laughed. "Anything is possible. Girl, uso na kaya ngayon ang online love."

That made Jhing's hands colder. She looked up at the aircon. Bakit kasi nakatapat sa kanya?

"Instant na nga pala lahat ngayon."

"Or. Baka naghahanap ng FuBu."

Halos mabulunan si Jhing sa sinabi ni July. When the 3 girls looked at her, she pretended she was busy staring at her food.

"FuBu? Yung clothing brand sa America?"

Jhing tried to laugh with everybody at Yayo's inquiry.

"Sa'yo pang buntis nanggaling pagkainusenteng 'yan?" July said. "FuBu! Fuck B—Oh Jhing, saan punta?"

Tumayo na kasi si Jhing. Atat na atat na siyang magtrabaho. Grabe. "Tara na, na-mi-miss ko na ineedit ko."

Nauna lumabas ng pantry si Jhing para mag-CR when July followed her and asked, "Hindi ka bothered?"

"Saan?"

"Alam mo na 'yun. Spell ko pa sa'yo?" Another laugh from July. "Miko, the Tinder thing. Tapos parang everyday may bagong babae na naghahanap sa kanya."

Sobrang linis na ng kamay niya kakasabon at kuskos.

"Ano na?"

She sighed. "No comment."

"Bakit naman?"

"Bakit ako magko-comment? Buhay niya 'yun."

Lumabas siya ng CR, sumunod si July.

"Ewan, kasi ano—uh," July dragged her uh. Pagbalik sa mga pwesto, she continued. "May something kayo ni Miko?"

Jhing felt her heartbeat stopped for a moment.

"Wala."

"Hindi ba parang nililigawan ka niya or something?"

Another heartbeat stopped. Ugh. Ikamamatay ata niya ito.

"Hindi."

"So, he's flirting with you."

She wasn't supposed to be rude, kaya binaling niya ang tingin kay July at ngumiti. She pointed at her computer. "Mamaya na tayo magkwentuhan, marami pa 'tong pages, oh."