“Hey!” Migz calls on Caloy. Caloy pretends to ignore him.

James tells Caloy. “Kausapin mo na. It’s time. Close kayo ni Mama niya pero siya mismo di mo kinakausap. Pati mga kapatid niya lagi mong kinakamusta. Usap lang.”

It’s December and they are at Migz’s house for their annual class reunion. Caloy never misses their reunions but it’s always a little bit awkward because Migz and Caloy have not spoken a word to each other ever since Caloy blocked Migz on social media when they were in first-year college. It has been 10 years. And Caloy feels he should be a little less petty.

“Okay, sige na nga. Pag lumapit ulit, kakausapin ko na,” he tells James.

James goes to Migz, “Lapitan mo na.” James hands over a glass of whiskey to Migz, “give him this para kausapin ka. Wag mo kasi asarin.”

“Oy! Grabe to. Usap na kasi tayo.” Migz approaches Caloy again, handing him the glass of whiskey.

“Unblock mo na kasi ako.” Migz asks Caloy.

Caloy retorts “Bakit kasi ang hilig mo akong asarin? Magme-message ka bigla para lang mang-asar. Alam mo naman pikon ako.”

Migz answers, “Ayaw mo kasi ako pansinin. Lahat na ginawa ko, di mo talaga ako pinapansin.”

Caloy raises an eyebrow and takes a sip of his drink.

Migz continues “Hindi mo ba alam, nag-aral ako nang mabuti para sayo? Nung first year, grabe yung puri mo kay Karl nung naging top 1 siya. Kaya nag-aral ako nang mabuti para i-congratulate mo ako. Graduate akong salutatorian, hindi mo man lang ako binati.”

“Sumali ako basketball varsity kasi nung 2nd year, lakas ng cheer mo kay Jacob nung intrams. Pero kahit 1 game ko, di ka nanood.”

“Niyaya kita maging ballroom partner nung 4th year, kasi nung 3rd year ang sweet niyo ni Jake nung partners kayo. Pero nag-request ka kay Maam na mag line dancing ka na lang. Kaya hindi tayo naging partner.”

Migz does not let Caloy answer and continues his litany “Sumali ako Debate Club kasi naging close kayo ni Jun pagkatapos ka niyang natalo sa debate nung isang beses. Pero si Jun lang palagi mong kausap pati si Harold. Di mo pa rin ako pinapalapit.”

“Nung pinilit ka ni Sir sumali sa Chess Team, nagpatalo ako sayo every practice para lang di ka mag-quit. Pero nagalit ka lang sa akin. Everyday ako tinatawanan nila Charles. Kasi masyado daw akong desperado tapos ikaw naiinis ka lang sa akin kasi ayaw mo talaga sa Chess Team.”

“Kaya kita inaasar palagi kasi kahit na pikon ka, napapansin mo ako pag inaasar kita. Kahit masakit bawat hampas mo sa akin, kinikilig ako. Kahit na minsan sinisigawan mo ako, ok lang kasi nakakakilig talaga pag nanlilisik mga mata mo tuwing inaasar kita. Pero dapat pala hindi ko yun ginawa kasi 10 years mo akong hindi pinansin.”

Caloy takes another sip of his drink. And finally answers with a puzzled face “HUH?!”

Migz answers “HATDOG!”

—END. Or is it?—

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6pjzBqwlkG5hWjydBjQdYv

Note: This flash fiction may or may not be based on real-life events. Please do not copy or reproduce without the explicit permission of the author.

Acknowledgent: “Migz” and “Caloy” character names are from #neochismisan Spaces on Twitter.