Update in a Serious Mood

|| Reign

Ang ingay na maririnig sa kwartong ito ay ang ingay ng paghampas ng mga daliri sa mga titik ng mga letra sa isang kasangkapan sa pagsulat na kung tatawagin sa wikang Ingles ay 'keyboard'.

Lumilipad na utak ko kung saan saan, napapaTagalog na ako sa isip dahil nanonose bleed na ako sa Greek at Russian names ng mga recipes. Saka sobrang tahimik kasi dito sa conference room eh. Kami lang naman nina Maryl at Ian ang nakatambay dito. Pwede naman sa L-shaped sofa sa may entrance lounge, kaso hassle ang gumalaw galaw at paglapag ng paperworks kung saan saan at laptop sa lap, lalo na at parehas kaming nakapalda ni Maryl. Yep, nakaoverall college uniform si Maryl at ako naman ay yung usual pang cabin crew uniform.

So ayun, busy kaming tatlo at naisipan naming tumambay dito sa lab since walang taong umaaligid, di katulad sa library or cafe. Ang rason? Parehas na nagrerebyu yung dalawang scientist for midterms. Nagluto muna ako ng buffalo wings, caesar salad, at kanin kasi for sure, hindi bababa at pupunta ng 5-star canteen ang dalawa sa sobrang focused nila. Gumawa rin si Maryl ng isang 700ml na caramel latte, at nakakailang shots na ng espresso si Ian at pabalik balik sa kitchen.

Naglong exhale si Ian at tinanggal niya yung black headset niya, nakasabit sa may batok niya. Iritableng bumulong siya sa sarili niya. "Goddamn, we have to proof this theory again."

Napatigil ako sa pagtype ng recipes noong napansin ko yung stress ni Ian at tinignan silang dalawa na magkatabi. "Ano guys, Alexandra University pa?" pangangasar ko.

Tinanggal ni Maryl yung Galaxy pods, tumingala sa itaas at napabuntong hininga rin. "Gladly the first set of my midterm exams will be my engineering subjects."

"Ano nga guys, Alexandra University pa?" pangangasar ko ulit sa kanila. Okay lang naman ako kasi di ko na kailangang magrebyu, more on skills kami kaysa sa memorization of formulas eklavu eh.

And kung iniisip niyo past-time namin ang mangflaunt ng yaman, aka 'flex', eto talaga ginagawa namin on a daily basis, mangdugo ng sariling utak. Although sanay na kami, ramdam pa rin namn yung pagod at stress. Kung di ba naman kasi high-standards masyado yung school na 'to.

Buti nalang kahit ganun, nakukuha pa naming tatlo maging dean lister at maka 4.0 GPA ("uno" sa ibang universities).

"I still love AXU despite of it's harshness, don't worry." sagot ni Ian sa akin.

Napansin ni Maryl yung dyaryo na nakalapag sa gitna nilang dalawa. "Oh, ba't may broadsheet newspaper dito?"

"I was reading this earlier, looking for more sources of information since Philippine media is straight-up bullshit most of the time." response ni Adriano na nakaharap sa laptop niya at umiinom ng pang-apat na shot ng espresso.

Minsan iniisip ko kung minsan ba nagpalpitate na 'tong lalaking 'to eh. Matapang ang espresso eh.

Kinuha ni Maryl yung dyaryo at binuklat niya ito na medyo nakalapag sa mesa at sa laptop niya. Binasa niya yung pinakaheadline with a straight face. "'An executive director/son of a CEO of a globally-known South Korean conglomerate files lawsuit against a South Korean actress, also disclosed actual girlfriend to the public.' Nice." Inadjust niya yung bridge ng salamin niya at continuous na nagbasa na medyo pabulong. "After days of silence, he addressed the rumors about his alleged fiancée, and rumors of his father's upcoming marriage with a South Korean actress on the same night, he proposed to his real significant other."

"I want to ask the publisher why a well-known South Korean conglomerate was on the headline when, then again, it's a South Korea-based mega-conglomerate? And this issue seems too personal, which is unexpected his side for I thought he's a discreet-type of man." Adriano wondered.

Naisipan kong bumalik sa pagtype ng recipes, para matapos ko na before midterm week, tapos sinagot ko yung tanong ni Adriano na may konting sarcasm. "International nga ih, di lang Korea sakop nila bruh. But you're right, parang treatment nila sa CEO-in-line ay celebrity."

"It was the trend for the past few days on Twitter and Facebook, but it's my first time to see such news in a Philippine newspaper. And I think the Korean press are so bored, they turn heirs into celebrity figures overnight." Maryl responded habang dinidissect pa niya yung dyaryo para sa iba pang information.

"Saka oo nga pala, yung anak ng may-ari largest conglomerate ng SoKor no? Di ba matagal mo nang crush yun?" tanong ko kay Maryl habang nagtatype ng recipes. Kasi naalala ko lang bigla, kasi nakipag lunch meeting yung pamilya namin sa mga executives ng company na yun sa South Korea. Napogian si ate mo girl sa baguhang palang na project director/CEO-in-line at nagnanakaw ng mga sulyap. Tapos after ng lunch meeting, iniistalk na Maryl yung bawat social media niya.

Much to her disappointment, iilang pictures lang nakita niya dun.

"Really? Maryl has a crush on the him?" Ian got baffled with my question. Di kasi halata kay Maryl kung nagkakacrush. Pero except sa akin. Isang dekada ko na bestfriend yan kaya alam ko.

"Yeah, 3 or 4 years na actually." I confirmed habang nagtatype pa rin ng mga recipes sa laptop ko.

"Hmm, now I know your taste in men. He tends to attract women into signing contracts with his mystifying charm, so I can't blame you." Ian told Maryl na parang binigyan siya ni Maryl ng idea.

Tumigil ako sa pagtatype at binigyan ko siya ng ridiculing glare. "I know you're lowkey referring to yourself Adriano Martinenghi, but okay."

Napaclear throat siya sa response ko.

Bingo.

His eyes gawked at me, na para bang sinesermunan ako. Siguro dahil ayaw niya mainvolve sa isang love triangle? Di ko sure eh, kaso napapansin ko kasi these past few days. Gusto ko lang iconfirm yung mga speculations ko.

Hindi pinapansin ni Maryl yung bawat asar ko kay Ian kasi busy siya sa pagscan ng dyaryo.

Napabuntong hininga si Maryl nang mahaba habang binabasa niya yung article, na for sure tungkol sa Koranong heredero. "Yeah, but there is a thin chance for us to be actually together because of distance and age gap of around 8 years, and I think he opposes arranged marriage as much as I do."

"I believe na love has no age gap and distance, but I support your decision." hinting na sagot ko kay Maryl.

Binasa niya yung isang part ng newspaper at nagtaka. "Do you guys know the party this article referring to? It sounds somewhat familiar."

"Yep!" sagot ko. "Nainvite yung Midford Hotel diyan once and sumama ako, ang pogi ng musical actor na member din nila tih!" pagfafangirl ko na may kasama pang lowkey tili.

"Oh yeah, I know him for I watched some of his musicals. He deserves better to be honest." pagagree sa akin ni Maryl. Tumingin-tingin pa siya sa ibang parts ng article at pinuna niya yung bride-to-be. "His fiancée looks like a real-life princess... I'm kinda jelly of her, not gonna lie."

"You don't have to be jealous. I saw his girlfriend's Instagram a while ago, and she strangely looks like you with almost the same aspirations as you." panenegway ni Ian habang may ginagawa pa rin sa laptop niya.

"H-huh?" gulat na tingin ni Maryl kay Ian.

Naglagay ako ng kanin at buffalo wings sa plato ko dahil alam kong magandang show ang mapapanood ko.

"I'm serious. The only difference is she has brownish hair, hazel eyes, and looks more kind and approachable than you." sagot ni Ian with a grin.

"Are you saying that I'm not approachable?" kumunot noo ni Maryl.

"Lowkey... yeah." pag-agree na tango ni Ian.

Nageenjoy lang talaga ako sa pagsubo ng kanin at pagkagat ng buffalo wings dito eh.

At dahil nakakasense ng pabirong away yung isa, iniba niya yung subject. "Anong username ng soon-to-be first lady?"

Wala na yung show ko, nilipat na sa ibang channel.

"Hmmm... m x y l m s? You can check, yun ata yun." sagot ni Adriano na dinahan-dahan pa yung pagspelling ng username, at nakakunot yung noo.

"She almost have the same usern-- wait." Maryl quickly opened her phone at based sa pagtingin ko sa movements ng kamay niya, nagscroscroll at nagtatap siya ng mga pictures. Moments after, dahan dahan nanlaki mga mata niya at bigla siyang napatakip ng bibig. "Shems, oo nga. Not only she uses the almost the same username, but also she has almost the same name as mine but with a different spelling. This creeps me out.."

"Paano mo nalaman?" curious na tanong ko kay Ian at sumubo ng isang kutsara ng kinakain ko.

"Just hacked into other data bases, including her university, and Alexandra University's overall database because I got bored and I needed an outlet." straightforward na sagot niya.

Agad ko nilunok kinakain ko at nanlaki mata ko sa sagot niya. "Pangpast-time mo lang manghack ng database dito?!"

Tumingin siya sa akin with a smug look. "Yeah, they haven't strengthen the security system. I haven't caught, and sobrang dali lang makapasok. I can't believe this is a so-called 'techologically-advanced' school."

Donte Adriano Marco, anong madali? Nagtry ako pero dati pero nahirapan ako!

Ay wait... Physicist pala 'tong kausap ko at suki ng mga science competition abroad. Nakalimutan ko.

"So galing mismo sa database ng university niya yan?" tanong ko sa kanya at ningyuya yung buffalo wings.

"Yep."

"Interesting." banggit ni Maryl habang tumatambay pa sa phone niya. "She's so lucky..."

"Pfft Ms. Maryl Juneaux Liu. Feeling ko naman you'll gonna marry a corporate heir eh." asar ko kay Maryl kahit di halatang asar at kumakain lang ako nang matiwasay.

Napatingin sa akin si Ian sa gulat. "How did you know she'll gonna marry a corporate heir, Reign?"

"An uneducated guess." tingin ko kay Adriano na may nakakalokong tingin.

I was blinded by the possibilities, maganda pala ang Adriano and Maryl ship. Hindi ko alam kung kailan pa siya may gusto o may gusto talaga siya dito. Nakakasense lang ako ng namumuong chemistry at mga bagay na dapat halungkatin. Hmm, Carlo x Maryl o Adriano x Maryl? Yun ang mahalagang tanong!

After seeing Ian's reactions, binuksan ko yung OP: SEIRA app sa laptop ko at nagpm kay Adriano. "Akala ko robot ka dahil sa kilos mo, pero ngayon narealize ko may emosyon ka pala."

After ng ilang seconds lang, nakatanggap ako ng reply galing sa kanya. "Hey, what are you trying to imply?"

Nireplyan ko rin agad. "Something na malalaman ko rin soon?"

Sinilip ko reaksyon ni Ian. Mukhang sinusubukan niya maging seryoso hoho. Gap moe pala to? Saka mas bumilis rin ang pagtype niya kaya nareceive ko agad message niya.

"Hey Lawreign Ellison, kindly go back to teasing Austin Xil please. I wish not to be included in this so-called game of yours."

Natawa ako konti at nireplyan ko agad siya. "You could only wish."

Napagod siya sa mga asar ko sa sumunod niyang reply. "No."

Hmm, mukhang manonood nalang ako sa mga susunod na kabanata.

Nanawa si Maryl kakastalk kay future wife of a Korean conglomerate heir at bumalik sa pagreview. Tinapos ko rin yung pagkain ko at inayos ng slight yung OP: SEIRA app kasi nabored ako sa kakatype ng recipes and I need an outlet to release all of these boredom inside me.

Tignan mo, nahawa na ako ni Adriano Martinenghi sa pagkabored.

-----

|| Carlo

God all of these calculus formulas, it's aching my nape.

The night is getting darker and silence is creeping inside my room. My eyes are getting tired from looking at my laptop, which slowly giving me headaches. Ilang oras na rin ako nagrereview for midterms, mga 5 hours straight I guess?

I didn't even open my social media for I have to pass, you know? I had to control myself from sharing memes. But this time, I felt the need to take a break from all of these memorizations of complicated formulas. I checked the OP: SEIRA app, and my eyebrows twitched when I read the group chat's nicknames...

Supreme Leader: Axis the Pooh | ● Offline, at Salvatierra residence

Queen of British Monarchy: Reign-a Diyosa | ● Offline, at Midford residence

Three Engineering Slaves

Emotionless Mr. Super-rich Physicist | ● Offline, at Martinenghi residence

Bitchy BioChem Lady | ● Offline, at Alexandra University Campus Residences

Fuckboy Master of Electrecution | ○ Online, at Fulgenzio residence

I guess she knew the codes and made it through, huh?

Yeah, I already knew who made this, and it's none other than the so-called "vice president" of this organization. I private messaged her on the app itself.

"Heyyy Lawreign, did you change the usernames?" :)

Despite of the current time, she replied as soon than I was expecting.

"Yeah. Bored kasi ako that time. Sleep na ako, good niiight!" and suddenly went offline.

May she at least be thankful that I don't have the energy to play her games, I'm even too tired and exhausted to stay up longer. Perhaps I should do myself a favor and go to sleep. I need to function properly in the morning. But first, I have to clear up the nicknames and strengthen the app's protection wall.

_____

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