"Punta daw tayo kila Shyra mamaya. She chatted sa GC," sabi ni Wesley habang nakatuon sa cellphone, siguro binabasa yung chat.

Nandito kami sa Cafeteria sa Dapitan, malapit sa Dapitan Arcade, break time na kasi namin.

"Bakit raw?" tanong ko, habang kumukuha ng sandwich sa aking tray.

"Bake cookies," sagot ni Wesley, hindi inalis ang tingin sa cellphone.

"Huh? Para saan bro?" tanong ni Jethro, habang kumakagat ng burger.

"I don't know. Let's just ask mamaya," sabi ni Wesley. "Also, pasundo daw si Shyra kay Gelo," dagdag pa niya.

"Speaking of that asshole, nasa'n na ba yun?" tanong ni Jethro, habang naghahanap ng upuan.

"Pinopormahan na yung taga nursing," sagot ni Wesley, sabay balik sa pag-check ng kanyang cellphone.

"Huh, sino?" tanong ko, habang nililigpit ang aking mga gamit sa tray.

"Remember that girl na part ng school council, yung maganda na mahaba yung buhok?" tanong niya at tumango ako, yung kasama ni Valentino ang tinutukoy niya.

"Pumuporma na siya dun? Mga blockmates at kaibigan ko crush din yun eh. Kung 'yon yung pupormahan niya, dami niyang kaagaw," saad ni Jethro habang tumatawa. "Tsaka pag nalaman nung babae gaano siya kababaero, mas lalong mawawalan ng pag-asa yun," dagdag niya.

"And knowing he's friends with pres, for sure tutok sa pag-aaral yun. Mga circle of friends ni Stefano na laging libro ang kaharap," sabi ni Wesley, sabay inom ng kape.

"Grabe ka, tayo rin kaya," sabi ni Jethro, defensively.

"Sige nga, kailan mo huling binuksan ang mga libro mo?" tanong ni Wesley, sabay tawa.

Kung tutok sa pag-aaral at libro ang laging ka-bonding sa grupo namin, si Wesley 'yon.

"Ano... Nung first day of school," sagot ni Jethro, sabay tawa. Tumawa naman kami at binatukan siya ng pabiro.

"Ewan ko sa'yo, inamo talaga."

Napansin naming tumitingin na yung ibang mga students kaya tumahimik na kami.

After our break time, we decided to go to Dapitan Arcade to buy the ingredients for the cookies we were going to make at Shyra's house. Wesley was the only one with a car, so we all rode in his car.

"Bale, hati-hati tayo sa pagbili ng ingredients. Magkikita na lang tayo sa parking lot pagkatapos," sabi ni Wesley habang inaayos ang GPS sa kotse.

Nang makarating kami sa Dapitan Arcade, agad kaming naghiwa-hiwalay. Wesley and Jethro went to a store to buy the main ingredients, while I went to another store to buy the other necessities.

Matapos ang ilang sandali ng pamimili, naglakad na ako pabalik sa parking area kung saan nakaparada ang kotse ni Wesley. They hadn't arrived yet, so I waited for a few minutes.

"Ba't natagalan kayo?" I asked when I saw them approaching in my direction.

"Si Jethro daming kilala, tapos na sana kaming mamili, pero laging naiipit sa mga kakilala niya," Wesley answered as he walked towards the trunk and opened it.

"Alangan namang hindi ko sila pansinin," he remarked.

"Feel ko talaga papalit ka kay pres kaya ka nagiging mabait sa students. Nangangampanya ka yata."

"Gaga, ayoko ko nga, nakakapagod maging student council. Lagi nga silang busy e. Hindi naman ako si pres na sobrang galing mag-manage ng oras niya," Jethro replied.

True. Ang galing mag-manage nun, lahat yata napagsasabay. Babae rin kaya? Joke.

As they talked, they started putting the groceries into the trunk of the car.

"Tawagan nyo nga si gago," Jethro said, reclining comfortably in the backseat of the car, his eyes scanning the passing scenery.

Ang lala, kahit hindi na mentioned 'yong pangalan, alam agad kung sino.

Ako ang nakaupo sa passenger seat habang si Wesley ang nagmamaneho. I reached for Wesley's cellphone, connected to the car's Bluetooth, and dialed Gelo's number. It rang a few times before he finally answered.

"Yo, Gelo! Asan ka na?" I asked eagerly as soon as he picked up.

"Gumagawa pa ako ng requirements sa dorm," he replied, his voice slightly muffled with the sounds of activity in the background.

"Ulol, requirements? Pinopormahan mo nga yung taga nursing, siguro dinala muna sa dorm," Jethro remarked with a chuckle, teasing Gelo.

"Gago, wala, tsaka 'di pa ko pumoporma dun. Humahanap pa'ko ng tiyempo so I'm telling the truth," Gelo clarified, his tone defensive.

"Maniwala nalang kami," Wesley interjected, his eyes focused on the road ahead.

"Maniwala talaga kayo kasi yun yung totoo good boy muna ako ngayon."

"Sure Angelo Marco Castellano," Jethro sarcastically remarked, rolling his eyes as I glimpsed through the rearview mirror, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Sige na pupunta ako promise mag dadala na rin ng pagkain."

Pumayag naman kami kaya kami nalang rin ang sumundo kay Shyra at Namyy.

"Tangina ba't may alak rito," Shyra exclaimed with a laugh, shaking her head in amusement as she surveyed the contents of the trunk. Kakarating lang namin sa bahay nila.

"Si Jethro niyan pag tapos daw mag bake mamaya inuman daw tayo," I said.

"Takte Shyra wag ka magpaka lasing mamaya ah!" Suway ni Namyy kinuha naman niya ang ibang supot para tumulong dalhin pero kinuha rin ni Wesley sa kamay nya, offering to help carry the groceries.

"Gago hindi 'no ayoko na sobrang sakit ng ulo ko kada gigising pag naka inom," Shyra protested, She gently massaged the sides of her head.

Pinitik naman ni Wesley ng marahan ang noo nito "Aray ko naman," he teased gently, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he lightly tapped Shyra's forehead.

"Wag ka ngang masyadong uminom sabi, lagi ko pa nakikita mga IG stories ng mga kaibigan mo na nag p-party kayo," Wesley reminded her, his tone lighthearted yet concerned.

"Hindi naman ako laging umiinom eh! Nakiki sayaw lang, tsyaka ba't mo nakikita mga stories nila?" Shyra defended herself.

"They followed me so I followed them back," paliwanag nito.

"Ako nga rin," singit ni Jethro, joining the conversation. Lahat naman siguro kami 'cause her friends follows me too.

As we all gathered in Shyra's kitchen, the atmosphere was filled with laughter. We divided the tasks, with Wesley and Shyra taking charge of mixing the dough, while Jethro and Namyy prepared the baking sheets and preheated the oven. I helped with measuring the right ingredients.

"Anong flavor ng cookies ang gagawin natin?" Namyy asked.

"Basta may chocolate chips!" Jethro chimed in, grinning mischievously.

After a brief discussion, we settled on classic chocolate chip cookies with a twist-adding a sprinkle of sea salt on top for that extra flavor kick.

As the scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air, we all couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. It wasn't just about the cookies; it was about the bond we shared as friends, making memories together in the simplest of moments.

Finally, as the cookies came out of the oven, golden brown and irresistible, we gathered around the kitchen counter to taste our creation.

"Shit, palit na ako course. I think mas bagay pala ako maging chef," Jethro said, habang nginunguya ang cookies.

"Ano? Nag-iinarte ka nanaman, Jeth? Hindi bagay sa'yo maging chef, masyado kang tamad magluto," Wesley teased, habang tinitignan ang cookies sa oven.

"Tsyaka, manahimik ka nga kung hinayaan ka namin magluto, for sure masusunog 'to," Shyra remarked with a playful grin.

"Pano ka mag-c-chef e puro ka nga paluto sa mga maids nyo? Last time na nagluto ka ng pancit canton, may sabaw pa," I said, nag hagalpakan naman kaming lahat.

Tangina naman kasi, talaga, kahit pancit canton, may sabaw pa. Edi sana nag-ramen nalang kami para naman may nagawa siyang tama sa buhay niya.

"Aba, pinagkakaisahan nyo kong lahat ah," sabi ni Jethro, his tone a mix of amusement and mock offense.

"Ba't ba gusto mo mag-bake sa subject nyo ba?" Pag liko ni Wesley sa topic, tinatanong si Shyra.

"Ah, oo, gusto ko lang mag-practice. Nag-start na rin kasi kaming mag-bake," Shyra explained.

"Ay, ako rin. May practice na rin kami," Namyy smiled playfully.

"Ah, Namyy, sure naman akong marami kang kaibigan diyan. Wag na kami pag-practisan mo," sabi ni Jethro, umaatras pa, na para bang ngayon pag papractisan na.

Nursing kasi si Namyy, so maybe she's talking about something with needles or what.

"Practice lang naman, isang beses lang," sabi niya. "Pwede naman practisan ko kayong lahat, hindi lang mag-focus sa isa."

"Wag na kami pag-practisan mo sa injection na 'yan," sabi ni Jethro. "Si Angelo nalang, mahilig 'yun sa tusok-tusok." Kaya tumawa naman kaming lahat kasi iba ang naging meaning nun.

"Tangina nun," sabi ni Shyra, "sabi pupunta, saan na?"

"Baka nag p-practice din ng injection sa taga-nursing," sabi ni Jethro. Kaya tumawa ulit kami. Bunganga talaga nito.

***