Summit Books

by Claire Betita

Publication Date: June 2004
Price: P150.00
Available at your favorite magazine stands

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EXCERPT

Is it raining men? Is it?

For boyfriend-less-since-birth Rudie, everyone is a prospect...

By the time I got to Food Nood, I felt embattled: on the one hand, I was so kilig over the prospect of Jay being out in the market again. But on the other hand, I was worried over his state of mind; if he and Dette were really broken up, will he go mad? Years of togetherness can't be that easy to erase, right? And how does one console a seriously sad friend?

Jay was already sitting there, a cigarette in hand, looking morose.

Aha, evil-me thought. This is definitely a break-up. And then: Oh, Rudie, show some decency!

"Rudie, I'm so glad I caught you. It's been a rough morning," Jay immediately burst out, before I even sat down.

"Why? Why? What happened?" I took a seat across him, and signaled the waiter.

"Dette made out with another guy. I don't know what else happened, basta that's what she told me. She confessed everything," he said, numbly.

The slut! I instantly thought, outraged. Oh Jay, I would never do that to you! I bit my tongue, lest my amorous thoughts slip out.

Apparently, Dette-Dette got piss drunk in one of those house parties she frequented, and actually made out with someone she just met.

"She pulled me aside just this morning, told me the whole story. She admitted it," he said, his brown eyes gazing sadly at me. "I appreciate her honesty - I mean, at least, she didn't lead me on that everything was fine - but God, you can't imagine how it's tormenting me now. Ang sakit pala nito. I feel...I feel so betrayed."

"A-are you two breaking up?" I asked, mightily trying to keep my elation down.

"That's the thing, I don't know, I'm so confused," Jay said, eyes downcast behind the glasses.

We ate lunch in silence. Jay, seemingly lost in his thoughts, and me still searching for the right thing to say. Not finding anything sensible in my head, I plowed on through the food, just to keep myself occupied. We were halfway through lunch when I heard the door open.

"Dude! Jay!" I heard a voice call out from the entrance. "It's too early for the event, pare."

Jay and I looked up to see a tall guy with a slim but muscular body, and an angular face that I instantly recognized. WHAT THE....?!? Oh my God. It was Almond Eyes. I stared at him, open-mouthed. His lively demeanor, however, was a far cry from the serious - if not suplado - mood he was in when he offered me his seat at the MRT just a week and a half ago. I had to down a tall glass of water before I could decide that it really was Almond Eyes.

"Pare, kamusta?" In one motion, Jay collected himself, stood up, and extended his hand. I sat stuck on my chair, gaping.