I surprisingly fell asleep after my convo with Rakki but that meant that I only had a few minutes to nap which I don't like. When I take naps, I make sure na it takes an hour or two since it helps me clear my mind and rest ng hindi kulang or sobra. And most of all, I love sleeping.

 

Hindi ko alam kung saang grocery kami huminto, maybe I only had 10 minutes of nap kaya I feel disturbed nang ginising ako ni Rakki.

 

And I had a strange dream.

 

A bizzare one.

 

I was the halo-halo vendor at the exact place where we buy our halo-halo tapos I was making halo-halo for my two customers— si Wacky at Isha. The two looked close and they're enjoying each other's company.

 

Too close nga when I compare it in real life. I wouldn't say they're friends, acquaintances lang. A friend of a friend gano'n, which is a fact naman.

 

Kaya I was confused and I felt weird when I woke up kasi nga dahil sa panaginip ko. They looked sweet sa panaginip ko even though those two had never been so close in real life kaya I questioned myself. What is wrong with my brain? 

 

“Kite, can you message Wacky? Sabihin mo we’re buying groceries na.” Nabasag ang mga iniisip ko dahil sa boses ni Rakki. Wala sa sariling tumango ako at bumaba ng sasakyan.

 

I immediately felt the heat dito sa parking. Gosh, nakaka-suffocate ang init. I feel a little bit dizzy kaya humawak ako sa door ng sasakyan. I grabbed my bag at iche-check sana si Rakki pero nagulat ako nang makita ko si Isha sa harapan ko.

 

Bigla ko naman naalala ‘yong panaginip ko kanina kaya umismid ako sa kanya at hindi ito pinansin.

 

“Nasaan tayo, Raks?” Tanong ko nang makababa ito ng sasakyan. Akala ko ay grocery ang pupuntahan namin pero mukhang nasa mall kami.

 

“This one's nearer than the grocery store kaya dito na lang sa supermarket inside the mall.” Tumango ako at lumapit sa kanya.

 

“Hindi muna natin ihahatid si Isha?” Bulong ko para hindi mahalata si Isha na pinag-uusapan namin siya.

 

“Oh, why naman? I invited Kale, I’m sure Wacky won't mind tagging another person in her place. Nga pala, can you inform her about this too?” I'm not sure about that. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

 

“Kung ayaw mo, ako na lang. Wacky won't mind it, I’m sure. Hindi rin naman ako papayag kung alam ko na it would make her uncomfortable. Wacky is sociable, she won't mind us bringing another friend, okay?” She reassured me pero tahimik lang ako kaya kumunot na rin ang noo niya. Siguro ay iniisip niya na hindi ako kumbinsido pero nakakaramdam pa kasi ako ng antok after my nap. 

 

It was a short nap that's why I still feel lightheaded.

 

“Or are you worried about Isha?” She teased at ngumiti ng pilya. “Hindi naman takot sa tao si Isha don't worry. She can handle these things.” Parang nawala na yata ang antok ko. Nevermind.

 

I cleared my throat. “Baliw ka, Rakki. Alam ko naman ‘yon. Kung ano-ano kasi ang iniisip mo.” I’m not concerned dahil alam kong kaya ni Isha ang lahat ng social situations na ihaharap sa kanya. After all, she was always the extrovert between us.

 

Another piece set in place.

 

Rakki giggled. “Tara na nga, kanina pa tayo nag-uusap at baka akalain niya binabackstab ko na siya.” Inakbayan niya ako sa balikat at hinila ako sa gawi ni Isha. Nasa harap siya ng car at naghihintay sa amin.

 

“Let’s go, Isha. Nag-message lang kami kay Wacky to get her permission,” bungad ni Rakki.

 

“Wacky? That's… Chesca right?” Tanong nito. “If I’m correct…” she mumbled underneath her breath na narinig ko naman dahil malapit lang ang distance namin sa isa't-isa.

 

Natawa naman si Rakki. “Oo, so that we match daw. She nicknamed herself Wacky. Sounds corny, ‘di ba? Rakki and Wacky.”

 

Ngumiti si Isha at umiling.

 

“No, I think it's cute.”

 

“Ganyan ka naman lagi, Kale. Mahilig sa mga cute.” Pinalo pa ni Rakki ang braso ni Isha.

 

Pareho silang natawa. “Anyway, I hope she won't mind that I’m going with you guys, I can leave naman if it's uncomfortable for her.” Umiling si Rakki sa tabi ko. I took it upon myself na sumingit sa conversation nila.

 

“No, don't worry she won't. Wacky likes having people around her.” Mula sa gilid ko ay ramdam ko ang titig ni Rakki. Ngumiti ako and I nudged her secretly.

 

“See, you have nothing to worry about,” Rakki replied but I feel like it was more directed to me than at Isha.

 

“Pumasok na nga tayo, namumula ka na naman.” Bakit ba kasi nag-stay pa kami rito ng matagal? Pawis na naman si Rakki and it’s not a good idea na magtagal pa kami rito.

 

Nailing na lang ako at hinila siya sa loob ng mall. Chineck muna ng guard ‘yong bag ko at paglingon ko sa mga kasama ko ay wala silang dalang mga bag.

 

“Did you bring your phone and wallet, Rakki?” I asked dahil I don't see anything on her hand.

 

She shrugged. “I forgot.”

 

I squint my eyes at her suspiciously.

 

“So, ako ang magbabayad lahat ng bibilhin natin?”

 

She laughed and said, “Exactly!”

 

“We can split in half, Kite,” sagot ni Isha.

 

“No no, it’s fine. Rakki owes me, siya rin ang magbabayad sa huli, I’ll make sure of it,” I say in a threatening tone. Ngumuso si Rakki sa narinig niya.

 

She groaned. “Fine! You never let me get away with anything.” So OA. She stomped away from us kaya sinundan namin siya.

 

“She’s always been like that,” panimula ni Isha and I agreed by nodding.

 

“Lagi naman siyang makulit ever since,” natatawa kong sabi.

 

“But I think she’s just like that around you and me as well, I guess.” She shrugged. My eyebrows raised at her.

 

“I swear! Hindi siya ganyan ka-kulit around other people. She’s more tamed… and tahimik.” Tahimik? Seriously? Natawa ako sa sinabi ni Isha.

 

When did Rakki and tahimik become a combination? 

 

“She’s pa-cool kasi,” nguso kong sagot at umirap na kunwari ay naiinis sa ugali ni Rakki but it's quite the opposite of what I’m feeling. 

 

Nang makarating kami sa loob ng supermarket ay binigay ko ang bag ko sa counter. Si Rakki ay kaagad na kumuha ng push cart habang nakasunod naman si Isha sa kanya.

 

I looked at the list I made on my phone based on what Wacky said sa group chat namin.

 

I first looked at the canned goods aisle. I'm sure nandito lahat ng ingredients for our halo-halo.

 

“Rakki, can you get the ube ice cream?” I requested para mas mabilis kaming matapos mag-shop. “Don’t take anything else, ube ice cream lang,” I reminded pa dahil baka kung ano-ano na naman ang kunin niya.

 

“Sunod ka sa ‘kin, Isha,” she said while riding the push cart. 

 

“Stop it, Rakki. Baka bumaligtad ka d'yan!” Suway ko.

 

“Nanay ba kita? I can’t even carry this, paano ako babaligtad dito?”

 

“Nyenyenye!” How mature of you, Rakki.

 

Isha cleared . “Can we buy an extra snack? It’s for Chesca.”

 

“Sige lang, please. Take whatever you want si Rakki naman ang magbabayad.” Nang makaalis sila ay parang nabawasan ang sakit sa ulo ko.

 

Hay nako, Rakki! So kulit.

 

I roamed around the shelves and picked out what's on my list: nata de coco, sago, gulaman, kaong, baguio beans and what else..?

 

I went to the dairy aisle and got a few cans of evaporated milk. I also bought condensed milk dahil baka makulangan sa tamis ang halo-halo.

 

Pagkatapos ay umikot ako to find Rakki and Isha. Nakailang ikot din ako bago ko sila mahanap and at this point, I can feel the tiredness hitting me. I kept yawning from time to time kaya I had no energy to be irritated with Rakki anymore. 

 

“Are you guys ready to pay? Why is our cart so full?” Kalmadong tanong ko.

 

“Rakki said that we should stock up Wacky’s kitchen since you guys usually go there.” That's true. Wacky began living independently last year and since then we often go to her place when we makes plans to hang out.

 

“This is too much…” I sighed. “Tara na, let’s pay.” Baka kung ano na naman makita niyong dalawa.

 

Hindi naman mahaba ang queue para mag-check out so we payed everything in a breeze. Ang dami ng dala-dala naming grocery bags because of the two of them. Hinayaan ko silang dalawa itulak palabas ng parking ang mga pinamili namin kasi I have to get my bag pa at the counter.

 

We’re currently putting our stuff sa likod ng car ni Rakki, ‘yong iba ay hindi nagkasya kaya nilagay na lang namin sa backseat.

 

“Rakki, I’ll drive, just put on the address sa phone mo. Magpahinga ka muna,” sabi ni Isha.

 

“Thanks, Kale. Kayo na ba