On the News

|| Carlo

Monday, 0640H

New day, new bullshit.

I had to drive from home to school, and I'm getting late. Yeah it's my fault, I woke up motherfucking late and I forgot to set the alarm clock. It's usually around 40 minute drive. So yeah, it's six fifty in the morning and I'm getting late for my seven thirty Physics 2 class.

Gladly that the traffic was smooth so 40 minutes after, I parked my car in the parking lot of College of STEM. I immediately rode an elevator and went out in 14th floor.

I peeped onto the side window of room 1412 to check if there was a professor, but I only saw three of my homies there. They are holding their phones in landscape and wearing wireless headphones or true wireless stereo (TWS) so I'm guessing they are playing Mobile Legends.

I carefully opened the door and entered the room slowly. They noticed the door creak, so they looked at me and they all cheered.

[Jordan] "Mr. Fulgenzio, you're early for the next subject!"

[Clint] "First time na maaga pumasok ah!"

[Elijah] "Pasalamat ka may meeting si prof kundi binagsak ka na!"

Oh yeah, they know I'm always late. Sigh.

I gave them a glare and bluntly replied. "Gago. Matalo pa kayo at mareport ng team. Balik na kayo sa ML." I approached them and placed my bag on a seat in front of Clint.

"Dude di kami nagMML." Clint answered. "Pinapanood namin yung engagement party video."

I gawked at their response.

"Nakaakbay pa sa'yo iG model na nilandi mo noong nakaraan. Congrats!" Elijah greeted

"Ganda ng nabingwit mo dude, ilang beses na nambusted ang babaeng yun!" Jordan added.

"Wait, busted?" I asked confusingly.

"Di mo alam?" Clint asked. "A lot of men from all departments tried to reach out to her, either binabusted niya o ghinoghost. Hindi raw kasi abot sa standards niya."

Oh wow, fuck. That hurts.

But should I know about these things? It makes me feel hopeless.

"So, musta dude? Xinyue pangalan nun, di ba?" Jordan asked with a hidden meaning.

"Oo nga, masarap ba?" Elijah asked with the same tone.

I sighed deeply. "Enough with such nonsense my dudes. Ibahin niyo si Ryl, please. I resigned on being a 'fuckboy' because of her."

Nabigla sila sa sinagot ko. Ewan ko ba, there's something that made me stop from filling an endless void. I was even shocked that I answered in such way.

"Kaya pala iba kilos mo noong mga nakaraan." Jordan suspiciously answered.

"Maryl is beautiful, intelligent, talented, a cool, calm and collected woman. If you know her personally, she's an extraordinary kind of woman who does her thing, and no one could tell her otherwise." I explained.

"Woah dude!" Clint exclaimed.

"So, siya na ba? Kailan mo liligawan?" Elijah asked.

"About that, natotorpe ako." I answered.

Nagkatinginan ang tatlo.

"For the first time in history dudes, natotorpe ang isang Giovanni Montecarlo Fulgenzio!" Elijah exclaimed and they all clapped their hands.

My friends are so... above normal.

-----

|| Maryl

Monday, 1015H

It's a busy morning, and I know the only thing matters right now is the pleasure of pressing the keyboard keys and sipping some iced caramel latte. I also like the smooth glide of writing my notes onto my notebook binder or memo pad.

Things are swell, until...

"Ang pogi ni Adriano teh!" Janelle squealed and showed Rika something from her phone. "Nakita mo na tong red carpet pictures mula sa engagement party?"

"Sino yung babae teh? Kainggit yung pagkakapit sa braso niya." Rika asked.

"Oo nga tih, ganda pa. Mukhang yayamanin teh." Janelle answered.

We are currently in our college building cafe. This is our favorite spot for doing homeworks, doing research and reviewing for the next class. I am seated next to Fiore on the left, Mau on the right. Janelle and Rika is at our front. We were in front of our laptops and sipping on some iced coffee, reviewing for our analytical chemistry quiz.

Our squad can get noisy when we get tired of scanning our notes. And at this rate, I can feel that things are getting... peculiar.

Fiore stood up, and approached the two. "Loka kayo. Future sister-in-law ng ate ng crush niyo di niyo kilala? Si Lawreign Midford yan!"

"Seryoso teh? As in si Lawreign Ellison Midford 'to?" Janelle asked.

"Oo teh." Fiore answered. "Best friend din ng kaibigan natin yan tih."

"Sino?" Rika asked.

I looked at them, and Fiore pointed me with her lips. The two turned their heads to my direction.

"Yes?" I asked.

They asked random questions about their pairing... na salitsalitan, starting from Janelle to Rika.

"Sila ba?"

"Nakaarranged marriage din ba sila?"

"Approved na ng parents nila yung pairing nila?"

"Mahal ba nila ang isa't isa?"

"Ano ginawa nila noong gabing yun?"

"Di naman sila nagjugjugan di ba?"

"Ang ingay!" saway ni Mau while typing something on her laptop.

Fiore gave them a tap on the shoulder. "Kayo talaga. Issue kayo."

I twitched my eyebrows. "No, and nothing happened between them."

They both sighed in relief. Fiore went back to her seat. The two got back into checking the photos and I got back to reviewing our lessons that were written in our powerpoint and handouts.

"Ay kabog pala itong frenny natin." Rika reacted.

"Sexy talaga ng gown tih." Janelle agreed.

"Yan, tama yan. Si Maryl nalang pagusapan niyo, hindi yung gagawan niyo ng issue si Adriano at Lawreign." Fiore told them.

"Si Carlo Fulgenzio kaakbay mo di ba?" Janelle asked.

"Pogi rin no?" Rika told Janelle.

Janelle slapped her arm. "Hindi yan pwede! Kay Maryl yan. Bagay sila hehe."

I twitched my eyebrows while reading. I really despise being shipped with someone.

Fiore poked my waist and I gagged a bit. "Hoy Maryl Juneaux, nagblublush ka!"

I looked at her and went defensive in surprise. "Hindi ah!"

They all gave me a suspected look, even the study-focused Mau.

"Seriously guys?" I asked quizzically. "Am I in a hot seat right now?"

To be honest, they're making me feel flustered. I don't want to get involved with Gio. For the love of god, please get me out of this situation.

"May di ka kwinekwento." Fiore told me.

"May jugjugan ba?" Mau straightforwardly asked.

Rika slapped Mau's hand. "Ito oh. Partner lang pagpasok ng venue hall, jugjugan agad?"

Mau looked at her and asked "Bakit, sino ba sa atin unang nagsabi ng "jugjugan" sa atin ha?"

"Ay." Rika reacted after a sudden realization.

_____

Beyond the Spectrum | Wave 14: On the News • © mxylms