"Apo andito si Gwen," My head snap up and look over the door. I put my phone down on my bed and walk towards the door.

I opened it and look at lola with confused look.

"Sino po?" I ask,

"Si Gwen tapos si Ali at Lory." She replied. That's when everything processed in my head. My eyes widened and immediately rush down the house. Going across the living room and running to the door.

That's when I saw Gwen and Ali raising some piece signs. More like posing while Lory is busy with her phone.

"Oh my god! What are you doing here!?" I exclaimed before running out the house and going towards the gate. I opened the gates for them and open it wide.

"Naka bike kayo?" I confusedly ask when I saw them still sitting on their bikes.

Gwen scoffed and  go down from her bike. "Alam mo naman si Alejandra, masyadong.. naku! Piste ka talaga Ali! Hirap na hirap kami kanina!" Gwen said before pushing her bike inside the gate. Followed by Lory and last us Ali.

Ali stopped in front of me. "On the way na daw sila Tobi at Jax." She said before continuing to push her bike.

They put their bikes under the large tree near the benches.

"So.. uh, dito tayo mag s-stay? What are we even going going to do?" I confusedly ask while looking at them. My hands on my waist waiting for their replies.

Silence, that's the reply I got. Ali and Gwen are looking at me. Probably thinking while Lory is busy with her phone. It's not even new to see Lory busy on her phone. Well all of us six are married to our phones. That's not something I should be surprised of.

Gwen flick her tongue and finger. She put her point finger under her chin, "Hintayin muna natin si Tobias at Gabriela." She said before sitting down beside Lory.

I look at Ali who's just staring at me. Before she just look away and sit on the other bench. What the fuck?

I awkwardly stared at them three who is all busy with their phones.

"I'll just get my phone upstairs." I said and they just nod. I run back inside the house and run to my room to grab my phone.

As I go down the stairs I saw lola looking at me.

"Yes lola?" I ask as I reach the floor.

"Magluluto ba ako ng pagkain niyo?" She ask.

I bite my lower lip and slowly shake my head. "Hindi pa po kasi sure kung dito kami kakain. I think may plano po silang iba eh."  I replied. Lola nod and I rush outside again and sit beside Ali.

"On the way na daw sila Jax." Ali said while scrolling on her phone.

My brows furrowed and confusedly look at Ali.

"Kanina pa sila on the way ah." I said while confusedly looking at her. Ali pursed her lips and shrug.  

"Welp, awan ko sa kanila." She said and I just lean on the chair rest.

"Alam niyo naman na ang on the way sa atin ay on the water palang." Lory said and I hear Gwen snorts.

"Oo nga, ang bagal pa naman din gumalaw ni Gabriela." Gwen said and we started laughing.

"Wow, nagsalita ang mabilis kumilos." Ali fired back.

Gwen glared at her. "Okay Ali, okay, edi ikaw na ang 3 minutes maligo!" Gwen sarcastically said.

"Oyy! Biggest flex ko 'yon, gaga!" Ali replied.

Gwen started making faces like those faces na ginagawa ng mga bata kapag napipikon na sila.

"At least naghihlod kami-

"Gaga naghihilod din ako." Ali immediately cut off.

"Eh bakit three minutes ka lang maligo?!"

"Mabilis lang talaga ako!" Me and Lory just look at the both of them. I'm not sure if they are being personal or still bickering.

"Kasalanan ko ba na madulas na sabon ang binibili sa akin ng nanay ko." Gwen said, more calmly this time.

"Naol, mamahalin kasi ang sabon mo. Perla lang gamit ko." Ali said and both of me and Lory laughed.

"Ay sa bagay, oo nga. Acceptable, sabong panlaba naman pala ang gamit mo. Okay lang yung tatlong minuto na ligo." Gwen said before leaning on the chair rest.

We just went silent but not awkward. More like peace. And the breeze of summer is somehow helping it and lifting up the mood more. I guess the thought of me liking the outside more is based on my mood.

I still don't want to be on big family gandering or any gandering. But maybe if I'm with them I'm fine. Well they are the only reason why I would go to a certain party. It's only them, it's us. Who will be at a side or corner, together but busy on our phones. But at least we are still together. Not like in family gathering where I would only seat on a couch alone or sometimes between my titas who have nothing good to ask.

We are all enjoying peace when I suddenly hear like a goat being killed.

"Kassandraa~! Pabukas!" Our heads snap up and look over the gate where Tobi is at.

He looks like those inmate behind the bars of prison. His face pushed to the bars of pit gate which makes his face looks so funny.

"Mukha kang preso na tunog kambing na kinakatay." Gwen said that made Ali burst into laughter.

"Oo nga!" Ali said while laughing making her voice sounds different.

I shake my head and stand up before going to the gate and opening it for Tobi and Jax who also have their bikes with them.

"Naka bike rin kayo?" I ask and Jax nod.

"Sabi ni Ali eh." Jax replied before going after Tobi.

I close the gate and went back to them only to hear them arguing.

"Parang tanga kasi Ali. Pinag bike mo pa kami. Muntik na tuloy mapatid kadena ng bike ko." Tobi said while sitting down beside Lory.

"Sus, nagtitinda naman kayo ng parts ng bike tsaka ng mismong bike." Ali said.

Tobi slap her with his towel. "Gaga ka sa tatay ko 'yon. Tsaka mahal ang kadena ng bike 'no." Tobi said before leaning on the chair.

"So anong gagawin natin ngayon? Bigla-bigla nalang nagpapatawag eh." Jax ask.

Gwen scoffs, "Jusko Gabriela, alam naman namin na pagkain ang nasa isip mo." Gwen said that made Jax giggle.

"Hehe," she cutely giggled.

Minutes passed and we still have no plan for this afternoon. We are just here. Spending our time to our phones. Tobi and Ali feet are on the table while almost all of us are slouching.

Heck if my manager see me like this she will probably scold me.

"Mag mukbang kaya tayo?" Ali suddenly said.

Our heads all snaps t her direction. She's raising her phone showing a YouTube video to a girl eating noodles and sausages.

"Gaga, sa Korea lang naman masarap ang mga ganiyan." Gwen said.

Ali pull her phone away. "May mga Korean noddles naman sa supermarket eh. Tapos bumili tayo ng hotdog at itlog. Tapos drinks, oh diba! Mukbaeng!" She said and we just laughed at her moves, as if she just represented Philippines in the Miss Universe.

"Oo nga 'no! Tara sa supermarket!" Jax excitedly said before standing up and started jumping. 

Gwen laughed before pointing at Jax. "Kaya magkaibigan 'yang dalawang 'yan eh." She said before standing up.

Lory look at Gwen confusedly. "So payag ka na mag mu-mukbang tayo?" Lory ask.

Gwen nod. "Oo, pagkain pa din 'yon 'no." Gwen replied.

"Pero uy, hati-hati tayo sa pagbili. Ako na bibili ng hotdog." Ali said while dancing some random movements.

Gwen nods, "Ako na sa inumin." Gwen said and Lory stands up.

"Ako na bibili ng itlog." She said and Tobi whined.

"Ako na sa itlog!" Tobi exclaimed and Lory covers her mouth and laughed.

"Sige.. sa ano nalang ako.. ano pa ba?" Lory ask while looking at us.

"Pwede na tayo bumili tig-iisa ng cup noodles, then may bibili ng canton, okay?" Ali said and Lory nod.

"Sige ako na sa canton." Lory said.

Jax raise her hand. "Pwede kami na ni Lory sa canton, wala na ako maisip na bibilhin eh." Jax cutely said while grinning.

"What about Spam? Nakakakita ako sa ibang mukhang ng Spam e." Lory said and I nod.

"Pwede naman, lets get some too." I replied. When I suddenly realized except the cup noodles I have nothing to buy.

"How about me? Anong bibilhin ko?" I ask while pointing at myself.
    

They just stared at me and probably thinking as well of soemthing we could be missing out.

"Ice cream kaya?" Ali said and Tobi nods.

"Oo nga, ice cream nalang Laura." Tobi said and I nod.

"Sige magpapa-alam lang ako kay lola. I'll also change clothes and get some money." I said before going back inside.

Nag-paalam muna ako kay lola before running upstairs and  changed into a pair of jeans, and a gray printed long sleeves.

I grab my cross bag and put my essentials such as my phone, wallet, towel, and balm. I put on my pink vans and head down stairs.

"Anong oras ka uuwi?" Lola ask as I give her a kiss on the cheeks.

I shrug, "Not sure  po, but I promise I'll be careful." I said before heading out. When they saw me walking towards them they one by one stand up and get on their bikes.

When I suddenly realized..

"Saan ako sasakay?" I ask,

They look at each other confusedly. "Wala naman maalam mag-angkas sa atin. Tsaka delikado kung aangkas si Laura." Gwen said.

"Bike ba Lau? Meron ka?" Jax ask. I purse my lips and slowly nod.

"I have, and I know how to ride one." I replied. On the side of our house near our garage I get my bike with the help of kuya Bert. We went out our house with our bikes and started hitting the road.

"Ali, tabi! Mababangga ka!" Lory said with a lot of stress as Ali had been going in the middle of the road. And it stressed us all. I just realized that Ali could be a little careless when it comes to the road.

"Hayaan niyo na, nabangga na ako sa tricycle dati." She screamed form in front. She's leading the way cause we don't want her to be left out.

She can be careless and too caring at some point. She would stop with her pedals when she saw a vehicle coming even it's still meters away. And her bike is  a little high for her so she's having a hard time reaching the surface.

One time in 9th grade, we went at Jax's house and we decided to go around the town. Us five are already on the road when we realized that Ali was no where behind us. So we had to stop and look for her. When we saw her still near Jax's house and having a hard time with the height of her bike.

"Ali tabi sabi!" Lory screamed. And we can really hear the stress on her voice.

I lightly chuckled and look at Jax who's beside me who's laughing as well. "Mababangga si Ali." She said with a little chuckle.

I just slowly nod and focus on the road.

We arrived in front of the super market. Some tricycle drivers help us with our bike cause they said it won't be good for us to put it just beside the road. So they help us out it near the door of the supermarket.

"So, tig-iisang basket tayo?" Gwen ask when we have entered the supermarket.

"Wag na, dalawang basket nalang, tapos kwentahin niyo nalang kung magkano yung sa inyo then mamaya niyo nalang bayaran." Ali said before going to the freezers where the hotdogs are at. I just followed her since the ice creams as well in that area but I won't be immediately getting some.

"Laura, ano sa tingin mo ang bagay pang mukbang? Yung normal size, higante, hotdog balls, or like this small ones?" She ask while looking at the freezers.

I bite my lower lip and shrug. "Ikaw bahala, ikaw naman ang bibili e." I said but she shake her head.

"No, alam ko naman na mga prices nila. And kaya naman ng budget ko. So... what?" She ask. I stare at the freezer before pointing at the big once.

"Okie," she said before opening the freezer and putting a pack of giant hotdogs in the basket. When I face my back I saw the canned goods. When I suddenly remember a scene at this exact place.

"Hey love! What do you think about this one?" I said pulling Jiro's head closer to mine to at least cover my face when I saw teachers from our school inside the supermarket.

I saw how Jiro's eyes widened and he even squirmed at my arms but I pinched the side of his shoulders.

I carefully peaked at our teachers passing through us. I make sure to hide my face from them.
And when they're out of our surrounding I took a deep breath and sigh.

"That was close!" I said still looking at the direction where my teachers went.

"Really close." My head immediately snapped at Jiro's wide. Our faces inch apart almost making our lips touch.

I immediately push him away making him surprised.

He started laughing while wiping his fake sweat on his forehead.

"That was really close! Maybe..this close." He said showing me his fingers his thumb and point fingers inch away form each other.

I rolled my eyes.. "Shut Up!" I said before starting to walk away from Him.

Then he suddenly called me making me froze on my spot.

"Hey! Wait for me, love!"

"Laura bumili rin kami ng cheese! Para sa canton!" I snap back to reality when I hear Jax's cheerful
voice. I look at her direction and saw her with Lory.

I just stand there and have no thoughts on anything when I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder. "Kumuha na ako ng cup noodles for the both of us." Ali said while raising our basket that have the hotdogs and noodles.

"We're here na." We look over Tobi's direction who's holding the eggs with his both hands and Gwen trailing from behind with the two 1.5 liters of soft drinks.

My eyes widened when I suddenly remember of the ice creams. "Oh wait yung ice cream pa!" I said before running towards the freezers.

"What flavor?" I ask Jax who's standing beside me.

"Yung Cookies and Cream tapos rocky road." She said pointing at the two tab. I'm planning to buy two since some of us really loves ice cream.

"Yung 2 in 1, rocky road at coffee crumble. Favorite ni Ali and coffee crumble." Lory said appearing at my side. I nod and just grab the two tab and put it inside Ali's basket since Lory's is already full.

In the end our foods costs almost three thousands which me, Lory and Ali chipped in at first.

"So saan na tayo?" Tobi ask while we are preparing our bikes. Each of us have eco bags at our bikes where the foods are at. We can't have a big box even the foods we got should really be at. So we just decided to buy some eco bags to put the foods in.

"Sa bahay kaya? Wala namang tao dun e." Ali said before pulling her phone out. She called her mom and ask if we can cook there, and just by judging of Ali's reactions and replies. Pinayagan siya. So we get back on the road and go to their house.

We first put the soft drinks, ice creams and hotdogs inside their freezer since we are still not planning to cook. We just stayed at her dance room where our usual set up is at. When I got bored I entered her room and lay down on her bed.

"This is where it started." I mumbled as I look around her room.

I must say I'm really enjoying this modeling that I entered. I have never think and imagine I would become a model one day. I might be not yet famous, but I can already feel that modeling hitting me hard.

What if hindi sila tinamaan ng kalokohan that night at pinatripan ako?

At 3pm we started cooking, it was almost a mess since Ali sucks at cooking. She once told us she cooked black bean noodles inside a rice cooker but it took her an hour since she forgot to put the rice cooker in cook and it just stayed at warm.

By 6:30pm we started going back to our homes.

And in the next days, it's time for a hard exercise since yesterday I was really full. And it continues and continues. Summer goes on and on and I had my second and third photoshoot. And after the pictures from the second photoshoot went out.

My followers in instagram started blowing up. Which sometimes made me tear up for unknown reasons. Maybe I feel thankful for them. Cause model has been really going inside my heart.

And every photoshoot I had, I'm receiving so many compliments such as I'm improving well which inspire me to do more in the future. 

Classes started and with the things mom sent me I started my senior highschool years with new stuffs. And not just that, on the first day of school I got lots and lots of compliments from my teachers.

And lots and lots of fans as well.

Sometimes my friends would joke around as my body guard. Since there are times that 7th graders can be a little too exaggerated and literally screaming my name which we find funny sometimes.

There's no day that is passing without anyone asking for a picture. I also had some interview with a DJ from our town fm. So basically I am known here in Tagkawayan n already.

Which means.. less public activities such as our little food trips. And also, less dates with Jiro.

The last time we had a date was in the middle of June. But as week passes and both of us become busier and busier. We would just have some phone calls and texts.

And now we have a week school break but my company called me last night and I have to rush to Manila again to do a photoshoot.

I just finished my day two of photoshoot today and now I'm just waiting for my manager to bring me dinner.

I miss him so bad already.

So bad.

I sigh, "I miss Jiro."

"Who's Jiro?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•3•