Chapter Two: Iced Coffee

“What if bili tayo yumburger sa Jollibee bago bumili ng Frappe and Milktea?”

Napalingon si Lorraine sa akin dahil sa sinabi ko kaya napataas naman ng kaunti ‘yung kilay ko. She look at me hilariously as if there is something wrong with what I said so I pout my lips a little while looking around with my opened palm.

“Sandali nga, liliparin sa hangin ‘yang pera!” Lorraine exclaimed so I look at her.

My palm is opened flatly kasi and our paper bills is on top of it dahil pinatong ito ni Lorraine kanina sa mga kamay ko while budgeting our few paper bills left for this month. It is still 23^rd day of the month pero parang hindi na aabuting ng last day sa buwang ito yung pera namin. Every end of the month kasi pinapadala ang allowance naming and kung minsan nga ay kulang din ang ipinapadala dahil sa mahina ang income doon sa Mindanao and medyo roll out ang ibang mga tanggapan sa pagpapasweldo.

To support our unlimited wants and whims, Lorraine and I sometimes look after for part-times while also studying. In fact, we are already in our last year in college, sana nga makakapasa sa Thesis. I could not find myself na talaga kapag babagsak ulit kami sa isang subject.

“Do you think na okay lang sa Café na ‘yun ang magdala ng foods from outside?” Lorraine ask while also looking around.

I kind of grin a little before walking away from her. I walk straight towards the entrance of this red-themed fastfood na kinababaliwan ng mga bata—even Lorraine and I. Jollibee meals are our comfort food. Yumburger, the best one and the only burger na hinding-hindi naming pagsasawaan.

“Hoy!” I heard Lorraine called pero hindi ko na siya pinakinggan, bagkus, dere-deretso lang ako patungong counter. Good thing medyo hindi madami ang costumers nila today so I smiled at the waiting attendant who is always ready preparing our foods.

“We’ll have two yumburgers for take-out, please.” I courteously stated before smiling.

She nod her head while tapping something on the monitor but her smile is still plastered on her face, making the crew pleasant and humble.

I felt Lorraine stands beside me kaya ni-ngitian ko siya. “Kapag tayo mapahiya mamaya, makukutusan talaga kita, Thalea. Tingnan mo.” She warned.

Napatawa naman ako habang inaayos yung bag na nasa braso ko bago siya hinarap. “Praning mo naman.” I murmured before taking the small pouch na pinaglagyan nung crew ng orders namin.  After taking our order, we walk out immediately from the store at agad din namang naglakad patungo sa isang café malapit sa university namin.

It’s like a coffee shop na may minimal interior designs and they offer some sort of frappes, milkteas, iced coffee, and even snacks. As soon as we reach the place, Lorraine and I look at each other before grinning. Tinulak ko siya ng mahina para mauna pero agad din namang bumalik para sumabay sa akin. I groaned.

“Ikaw mauna.” I murmured, trying to hide behind her back dahil may ibang mga costumer at staff na nakatingin na sa gawi namin. Good thing she is taller than me kaya medyo nakakatgo naman ako.

“Gagi, ikaw mauna.” Panulak niya naman sa akin pero agad naman akong umatras habang tumatawa.

Nang dahil diyan, umatras naman kami muli papalayo sa pintuan ng café habang humahagalpak ng tawa. Lorraine pointed me while laughing as well. “’Yung social climber ka pero medyo shy.”

I chuckled while starting to look around. “Sige na, girl, ang init na dito.” Sabi ko sa kaniya kaya wala na siyang ibang nagawa kundi maunang pumasok at sumunod naman ako kaagad sa kaniya.

Bitbit ang Jollibee pouch, she ushered me towards the counter para hayaan akong mag order. I bit my lower lip while looking at the set of menus na hindi ko in-expect ang prices.

“Uhm, I’ll have the oreo cheesecake, yung highdose.” I told the woman behind the counter. I then now look to my side, waiting for Lorraine’s pick. “Sa’yo?”

I saw how Lorraine move her eyes down from the menu to my eyes as if she is telling me something na agad ko namang tinawanan. I know what she wants to say. We were expecting lesser price as what was stated and posted on their Page but turns out na it was higher than what we budgeted for ourselves pero yes na lang. Di ko rin naman keri yung thought na, nakatayo na kami’t lahat and may staff ng naghihintay sa order namin tapos ay lalabas pala kami ulit.

Nakakahiya ‘yun.

“Dark Chocolate akin, but low dose lang.”

I widen my eyes a little so she move her eyes to meet mine as well. “I thought high dose bibilhin mo?”

She parted her lips, eyeing me. Lorraine then move to my side closer before whispering, “gaga, mahal."

I gasp kaya napalingon siya muli sa akin. The lady staff even look at the both of us kaya pilit naman akong ngumiti to act normal.

“Can I go through your orders now, Ma’am?”

Lorraine and I both look at the woman once again na naghihintay pala sa confirmation namin. I smiled at her. “Yes, please.”

After the little push and pull with Lorraine, we look around in the place to find a good spot na may magandang designs for our photos. Lorraine pointed the side where there is a shelf with Chanel Magazine and few other brand books so we walk towards the table of two.

Nang makaupo na kaming dalawa, I roam my eyes around the place once more while grinning. “Can’t believe na I’ll spend my last allowance in here. Masyadong dollar, but keri na rin.”

“Ano ka ba, memories!”

I purse my lips altogether, hearing that same reason na parati naming sinasabi kapag sa mga sitwasyon na ganito.

“Memories, memories, kaya tayo walang pera mga de p0ta.” I murmured na ikinatawa naman ng isa.

Memories. That would always be our take kapag lalabas. Since we both love taking photos on everything, we made it sure na if we’ll dine in a restaurant or eat snacks in a café, or even if we go to a new place, we really take tons of photos not just to satisfy our social media but to also collect photographs from the places we went to. Kaya kahit na kakaonti na lang ang mga pera namin, go pa rin kami.

Lorraine lean on her chair before taking her phone out, starting to get selfies.

I stare at her for a very long time before shaking my head and grab my phone as well. “Gora na. Wala namang Café sa langit.” I murmured as I look at my phone’s camera.

Narinig kong humagikik si Lorraine kaya I look at her. “Di ka sure. Ang tanong, sa langit ka ba mapupunta?”

I laugh loud before throwing her a tissue na nasa bag ko lang. “Feeling ko lang.”

“Ay waw, pala desiyon ka talaga.”

“Manifesting.” Dagdag ko pa bago kami tumawa muli.

Like what we planned all along, we took selfies and took photo of each other while waiting for our orders.  Lorraine posted our photos automatically so I shake my head while watching how her smile is so big while staring at her photo on her phone.

“I love simping over myself.” She murmured na ikinataas naman ng kilay ko. “Swerte ni Mama and Papa may anak silang maganda, shet.”

I face palmed this time after hearing that coming out from her mouth. This woman is really full of herself. Masyado nang mataas sa sarili, kailangan ko na sigurong maghanap ng bagong kaibigan.

I chuckled after that thought. As if I can replace her. Lorraine has been with me through my ups and downs, has seen me at my worse and even knows my back stories. She stayed and understand despite everything and I do not know if may makikita pa akong isang Lorraine Keanne Abusado. And yes, Abusado is really her last name. Contrary to what she is, this woman is a pure best friend.

Nang dumating na ang order namin, nag-usap lamang kami ng tungkol sa mga chismis meron ang ibang mga department since malapit na ang Intramurals. The university has been so busy the last few weeks and students are all enjoying the temporary break. But worse comes next, midterm will soon come so there are also some, or maybe few students, who are idling and staying inside the library. As for Lorraine and I, we are both good in cramming kaya habang may oras kaming gumala, then we’ll take advantage of it. We don’t do pure academics here, it’s ‘lakad with acads’ that we keep on telling ourselves.

It’s like, we wanted to become successful in our chosen field but with memories to tell. We are growing adults, and we don’t have so many time in this world.

“You see, I am this close,” she showed me her forefinger and thumb meeting close to each other. “to freaking find a rich-as$ man who can support my luho. Damn empowerment, walang dolyar dito sa Pinas.”

I gasp, putting my cup down. “Go little rockstar.” I sarcastically cheered before leaning on the chair.

As I am about to scroll down on my social media dahil wala na rin kaming ma pag-usapan pa, bigla namang tumili ng mahina si Lorraine na nasa harapan ko habang nakatingin sa labas. I followed where she is looking and found a group of men walking towards the café we are in.

Kumunot ang noo ko. “You know them?” I asked.

Lorraine shakes her head, so I roll my eyes heavenward. “Napaka-aggressive mo masyado when it comes to boys.” I commented, also following those guys with my stares.

They look decent and professional naman but they seem out of reach at the same time. Amoy expensive na hindi naman magiging sa amin.

“May isa sa kanila na amoy Johnsonn’s baby powder.”

My lips twitches on the way she describe the shortest man amongst six of them. He really is short, maybe a height of 5’2 and parang magkasing-taas lang sila ni Lorraine.

“Pak, baby na baby oh. Mine ‘yung naka pink.”

I face palmed after hearing my friend say that.

Parang mapapahiya talaga ako kapag may makikitang lalaki itong si Lorraine. We are both into good-looking guys naman but I am just not in the mood to catch a man today. Gusto ko munang uminom para sure na may good catch to secure the future. Charot.

While Lorraine is busy watching those men, I stand up because I feel the need to go to the CR. I look around the hallway towards the comfort room and notice na pati interior designs ditto shouts expensive. After doing my thing, naghugas naman ako deretso ng kamay bago lumabas. Just when I am about to turn right, I felt a cold liquid under my neck to my chest at dahan-dahang nabasa ang damit and upper part ng trouser ko. I wanted to scream but I was too stunned to speak because of how fast things happened.

“I’m sorry!”

I look at the man who apologize and nakita siyang dali-daling bumunot ng panyo mula sa kaniyang bulsa. In an impulse, he automatically wipe the wet part under my chin bago dinampi pababa ‘yung panyo kaya medyo napaatras naman ako mula sa kaniya.

He seems to realize as well kaya he step back immediately while still offering the hank to me. “I am really sorry.”

“Irish, dud—“

“Man, what happened?”