The Spaces In Between

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

"That's true, man. She's fucking getting married," whoa there. Mas naging bitter pa lalo si Dan ngayon na may karamay na siya!

Chineck ulit ni Andreau ang invitation na hawak niya. Halatang disappointed siya sa balita. "She's marrying that guy? Is she crazy? Are your parents crazy?"

"Exactly my point!" pinalo pa ni Dan ang table namin. "Wala ba siyang nabanggit sa 'yo about this? Sabi niya kasi nagkausap kayo lately? Like last week?"

Andreau nodded slowly. "Yeah, we've been talking lately but she never mentioned anything. At kung meron man, sinabi ko na kaagad sa 'yo. As if I'm gonna let her marry that douche Billy." He did this mini eye rolls that I secretly love. He looked so adoweible while doing that, swear.

"Grabe naman kayo makareact dyan!" singit ko sa usapan nila. They both scowled at me, so I continued. "Sobrang nakakaasar ba talaga ang fiancé ni Ninna at halos gusto niyo nang sugurin yung tao?"

Andreau tilted his head towards my direction with an arched eyebrow. "That guy's a fucking douche, Zades."

"More than a douche," dagdag pa ng best friend niya.

"Jusko kayong dalawa!" sabi ni Mars after nitong uminom ng Coke. The guys immediately sat right up and faced her. "Quit that kuya shit, okay? Masaya dapat kayo na successful ang lovelife ni Ninna! Yung bitterness niyo pwedeng-pwede nang pangkape!"

Nakatinginan ang magbest friend sabay sabi ng "We're not bitter!"

Kesh and I couldn't stop laughing at their reaction. No doubt na magbest friend talaga 'tong sina Andreau at Dan, parehas na parehas ang reaction at galaw nila! "O sige na guys, hindi kami convinced," sabi ni Kesh. Sinimangutan tuloy siya ni Dan. "Sa totoo lang para kayong mga babae kung magreact! Pwede ko ba kayong gawing subjects for my next stu—"

Dan scowled at her. "Still a no, Keshia. At guys, hindi niyo naman kasi kilala yung mokong na Billy na 'yon. Ilang taon din ang sinayang ni Ninna don. Girls are really blind sometimes."

Todo tango naman si Andreau. "Yeah. I don't really get them, too."

"Tse! Ang sabihin niyo bitter lang kayo!" pinagpapalo ni Mars ang ulo ng dalawa gamit ang pamaypay niya. "Si Andreau, tatanga-tanga! Ikaw naman Roldan, nakikipaglokohan pa rin dun sa Diane na jowa mo! Eh kung maghanap kayo ng sariling love life para 'di kayo bitter?" Andreau was about to protest but Mars cut him off. "Ikaw Andreau, nakikita ko na talagang tatanda kang virgin at binata. At ikaw naman Roldan, pakasalan mo na yung Diane para 'di ka na bitter!"

Ibang klase pala talaga ang Cranky!Mars, no holds barred ang bibig niya! Siya lang ang bukod tanging kayang magsabi non kay Andreau nang harapan! My god ako nga ni maisip na sabihin 'yon sa kanya! So awkward.

As expected, namula agad si Andreau. Hay, this prude guy. Kaya hindi ako naniniwalang may Nat Geo Secret Folder 'to sa hard drive niya eh! "Marion Jane," he whispered through gritted teeth. "Fuck you."

"And I'm not crazy to do that, Mars," Dan retorted back with conviction. "I'm only 21! Hindi ako atat na magpakasal. And I know Diane's definitely not the one so stop harassing me."

I thought I was just imagining it, pero nakita kong bumalik ulit ang kislap sa mga mata ni Mars, na sinamahan pa ng nakakatakot niyang conniving smile. "Eh ako na bahala sa 'yo! I know this girl, sobrang cute! At available pa! You'll definitely like her." Iiwas sana ako ng tingin kaso kinindatan niya ako. Oh shit, she's talking about.. Kesh. Mars ang aga pa par—

"Stop pimping him, Marion Jane," Andreau interjected, at nakahinga nang maluwag ang best friend niya. "Problemahin mo muna ang love life mo bago ang sa iba."