The Spaces In Between

[43] Every Time The Bell Rings (And Other Christmas Stories)

"It's a fucking relationshit, Kesh," Dan interjected, rolling his eyes. "I just don't get it! Bakit siya pinayagan ng parents namin!? Are they batshit crazy? Sure, they like the guy! But I'm still a part of the family! I have the right to say something!"

"Baka nasobrahan sa MSG 'yon. You know, McDonalds and In-N-Out," dagdag ni Mars.

"Or maybe mahal lang talaga ng kapatid mo yung guy," Kesh said, and she received a haughty laugh from Dan. "Ay grabe ka talaga! Ba't hindi ka ba naniniwala sa true love?"

"True love my ass. Fine, since 8th grade pa silang in a relationship but still! I just don't want it to end in a messy divorce," he sighed, shaking his head ruefully. "I hope Ninna signs a pre-nup."

Kesh patted his shoulder lightly, trying to comfort him. From my peripheral I saw Mars sporting her alam na this! smile. Tinitigan ko tuloy 'tong dalawa na nasa harapan ko. Sila.. together? Hmm.. in fairness, cute naman silang tignan together.. and they get along pretty well. Aba, pwede! Gusto ko sanang asarin si Kesh kaso baka ihulog niya ako sa may Kennon Road mamaya! Malakas kasi siyang mang-asar sa ibang tao pero pag siya na ang inaasar, mas defensive pa siya sa 'kin. Aha! Tsaka ko na lang sila aasarin pag break na sina Dan at Diane! I'll discuss this to Mars in the future para may iba naman siyang pagtuunan ng so married feels! (Okay, ang sama ko namang roommate pero gusto ko lang namang makitang magkaroon ng love life si Kesh!)

"Ano, kalmado ka na?" Mars said, ending the magical trance between Dan and Kesh. He just huffed in reply and lit up another cigarette stick. "Intense ka ring magmura, ano? Lifetime quota na ata ng fuck ang narinig ko sa 'yo, Dan. Kausapin mo na lang si Ninna pag-uwi mo, okay? Wag mong aawayin, baka bawiin pa niya invitation mo."

"Subukan lang niyang bawiin ang invitation niya sa 'kin. I'll crash her wedding!" tinignan niya ang relo niya at.. once again, nagmura. "Where the fuck is Andreau!? Kanina pa yung on the way niya ha!"

Sinilip ko naman ang phone ko to check if Andreau texted me. Nothing. 20 minutes ago pa 'yung last text niya sa 'kin na I'm on my way there. Please please be ready. Ewan ko ba sa lalaking 'to at pinagpipilitang umakyat ng Baguio ng madaling araw! Sinuggest ko na sa kanya na kaninang umaga kami umalis kaso ayaw niya. May gagawin daw siya the whole day na super duper importante na ayaw niyang sabihin sa 'kin.

"Teka nga, itetext ko ulit," I told them as I typed my message to Andreau. Well, puro angry emojis lang naman ang isesend ko sa kanya. Tama na 'yon para magmadali siya!

Pero bago ko pa masend ang message na 'yon, we heard a loud screech approaching us. Napatingin tuloy kami sa may kalsada at halos mabulag kami sa brightness ng ilaw ng sasakyan na palapit sa 'min. "Pucha ano ba yan?" Mars complained while shielding her eyes from the light. "Oo na Pasko na pero shit naman sa ilaw nitong si Kuya! Bubulagin ba tayo nito!?"

The car – or truck, I really don't know 'coz the vehicle seemed big – stopped a few meters away from us, and finally namatay din ang ilaw. I blinked my eyes a dozen of times para maka-adjust sa ilaw at mawala yung orbs sa eyesight ko. Seriously, grabe naman ang liwanag ng sasakyan na 'yon! Gusto ba ng may-ari na magbigay ng ilaw sa buong street?

I heard the car door slammed close, then.. "Guys, sorry I'm late. The goddamn Christmas rush in EDSA is really annoying."

Agad akong napatingin ulit sa sasakyan.

Aba, si Andrea—

HOLY SHIT.

"You bought have a new car!?" halos sabay naming sigaw ni Roldan sa kanya.

He stilled for a second, then smiled smugly at us. "Well technically this is a Jeep so—"

Tumakbo kaagad ang tatlong kasama ko papunta kay Andreau at sa bagong jeep niya, leaving me behind, awestrucked. Hindi nagsisink in sa 'kin na may bagong sasakyan si Andreau. Mahal na mahal ko yung red Dodge niya na naging service ko for almost six months at hindi naman niya kailangang bumili ng bagong sasakyan. But.. this jeep.. oh my god. It's...