Map of the Lost

"Cole, ano?! Umiinom ka ba?!" Bryce pointed at me, holding a beer on the same hand. I chuckled and raised my glass, showing him my drink. Convinced with the answer he received, he nodded and returned his attention to his previous business with our block mates.

We went out to drink as a block because this may be one out of a few days we could be free like this. I'm not really a drinker. I don't have high alcohol tolerance so I manage to only limit myself with the drinks. Madalas gusto ko lang sumali pag nagyayaya tropa ko.

From: Mom

kuyaaa are u busy :(

I glanced at my phone as soon as a notification popped. Realizing it was my little sister messaging me through my mom's phone, I dropped my glass to reply to her.

I smiled because she only wanted to check up on me. She knew I was out to drink today so she wanted to remind me to drink responsibly. My youngest sister was rather clingy with me. She grew up used to my presence around so she had a hard time accepting the news of me staying in a condo for college. She didn't talk to me for a week, expressing her disappointment when she first heard it. I tried my best to find a way to make it up to her until she finally understood. I told her she can always call me anytime she misses me.

I should probably give her a call right now but this wasn't the perfect place for it. Luckily, I saw Kei finishing his drink in one shot before standing up while his eyes were also fixated on his phone.

"Uwi ka na?" I asked. He nodded shortly.

Kei was the quiet and serious type. The first time I saw him was when we got off the same elevator in our condo then I noticed we were heading to the same classroom with our same uniform. We were seatmates too, arrangement set by class number, him being an Iverson and me being a Hernandez. He was always in front of his books and he doesn't talk anyone at all in the room. I think the only time he spoke during the first few months in our first year was during recitations.

In result, I found myself forcing him into a conversation with me to get him to loosen up a bit and get comfortable. Then the others did as well. He always showed irritated reactions whenever we playfully bugged him. He was fun to tease. But I can tell he was used to it by now so he doesn't really mind anymore.

I tagged along with him and he let me tutal parehas na condo lang naman kami inuuwian. Pero sabi niya may kailangan daw muna sya daanan at hatid. Sinamahan ko na lang siya.

From my peripheral vision, I see him busy on his phone as we stopped at a small bar in dapitan. He must be calling for the person he was gonna pick up.

Was is a friend? Or a girlfriend perhaps? He hasn't opened up to us about anything in his personal life yet.

"Kei!" A soft yet squealing voice made me shift my head at the direction of the girl who came running towards Kei, almost stumbling down before he could catch her small waist.

She was giggling the whole time and I'm surprised Kei allowed them to have this much contact. I'm assuming she's someone important then. I observed how Kei treated her. He offered her water and he gave her his jacket.

I couldn't help but smile. I have never seen this side of Kei. Who was this girl? It got me intrigued.

"Sab, Cole. Cole, Sab," he finally introduced us to each other.

This girl was awfully loud as we walked in the streets at this quiet hour but Kei doesn't seem to mind. Not that I minded as well. She shared every detail about her day and I paid attention and listened until the end. Her voice was soft and cheerful as she spoke, I think anyone would be willing to listen to her stories. She even showed strong expressions and hand gestures as she shared them.