THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC23
IRIS
I got weird and scary looks from Kaia the next day. She was looking at me like I was one of the murderers of John Wick's dog.
"You know what, Iris, I admit I'm not the greatest at math but I know when shits don't add up..." she speculated, looking at me directly.
"Just tell me what you want to say and stop suspending everything, for the love of god, Kaia," I snarled. But Kaia refused to accept my request and still gives me the weird look. Nang mabwisit ako ay hinagis ko sa mukha niya 'yung tissue.
"Hindi ko kasi maintindihan e, kung pa'nong halos ayaw mo magtagpo ang landas niyo ni Pres tapos ngayon hinahanap ka niya sa
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC24 IRIS "Pwede bang matulog muna?" tanong ko kay Joaquin habang unti-unting tumatayo sa pagkaka-salampak ko sa sahig. Joaquin nodded, "I'll wake you up later," he said while his eyes are still fixated at the screen in front of him. "Joke lang. Ang sakit lang ng mata ko, kanina pa ko nakababad sa screen," reklamo ko. Nasa condo ulit ako ni Joaquin. I already started doing their logo while Joaquin was doing enormous things for school, for SC, for their project, and his studies. Kung matagal na akong nakatutok sa laptop—mas lalo siya. Hindi na nga siya gumagalaw e. I stood u
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC25IRISBaby?What the actual fuckery is this...I feel like water has splashed onto my face when I heard a woman's voice...Not until..."Mom..."Mom?"What are you doing here, Mom?" Joaquin asked. Hindi ko makita angmomna tinawag ni Joaquin kasi nahaharangan niya ito."I'm visiting you, of course!"Hindi sumagot si Joaquin. Nagulat n
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC26 IRIS "I strongly believe that friendships should be 50/50, you tell me the happenings about your love life to me, and I will religiously listen," Kaia said while looking at her phone. Kaia and I were inside the library, nagre-review kami dahil exam namin mamaya sa BroadJourn. Isa lang ang exam namin ngayong prelims dahil 'yung ibang subjects namin ay puro pasahan lang ng Chapter 1 ng research. I was busy reading my reviewer on my phone when I heard her saying those. I initially ignored her because I thought she was just reading something aloud, but when I saw Kaia looking at me from my peripheral vision—which took too long; it immediately sunk into me that she was referring to me.
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC27 IRIS It's already Friday—the last day of the prelim week and I thanked all the gods and goddesses for giving me bomb-ass group mates—they were all cooperative and initiatives! Nakakatuwa silang ka-grupo! Less stress ang research dahil sa kanila. Kakapasa lang namin ni Kaia ng Chapter 1 sa prof namin sa CommRes sa dept at kasalukuyan na kaming papunta sa SVU grounds para sa Valentinian Concert. Today is also Valentine's Day and SVU requires us to wear red—any red clothes basta daw red! Hindi raw papapasukin kapag hindi naka red, nakakaloka! Kaia is wearing a red puff-sleeved body con dress, red vintage sunglasses, a white saddlebag, and oxford Dr. Martens. While I'm w
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC28 IRIS Nakakahilo. Ang gulo-gulo ng paligid. Ang ingay ni Kaia, nakakataranta. "Kinakabahan ako, Ris e..." sagot niya nang sinabi kong maupo siya. "Pa'no kapag hindi ako nakasagot sa tanong ng mga panel? Ligwak na agad research natin?" tanong niya. Kunot-noo ko siyang tiningnan, "Ano pa't by group 'tong research? Malamang sasaluhin ka namin ni Jourdan," sagot ko. I'm wearing a black trouser suit and low black heels. Si Kaia naman ay naka navy pinstriped suit. Initial defense namin ngayon at lahat kami ay naka formal. I
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC29 IRIS Kaia was crying when we leave the defense room. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong maiyak kahit nakakahawa ang hagulgol nilang dalawa ni Jourdan. "Congrats sa atin!" Kaia greeted while hugging me. You heard it right! Nakapasa kami sa initial defense namin sa CommRes! Which means deretso chapter 4 na kami. Sadly, may dalawang grupo ang hindi nakapasa. Kaya kahit gusto kong matuwa ay hindi ko magawa dahil naaawa ako sa mga groups na back to zero ulit. Pagkatapos mag defense ng lahat ng group ay pinabalik kami ni Josh sa room namin dahil may important announcement daw. "Hindi tayo magro-room sa theater next Friday dahil may
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC30 IRIS If it wasn't for Kaia, I wouldn't celebrate my birthday today. Nawala na naman ako sa mood mabuhay. Simula no'ng malaman kong may ibang tao ng nakaka-alam ng history ko bukod kina Joaquin ay parang gusto ko na lang ulit magtago sa dorm...wala akong lakas makipag-socialize. Rational thoughts eventually leave my mind...I was back at being in a hellhole again. But Kaia was determined to celebrate my birthday at all costs. Hinila niya pabalik sa reyalidad ang magulo kong utak. Nagawa niya akong patayuin sa kama ko sa araw ng sabado matuloy lang ang mga balak niya sa birthday ko. Kasalukuyan akong sakay ng grab, binigay
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC31 IRIS You start to really live the day you decide not to let others influence how you live your life... It sounds so easy but in reality, it isn't. I would love to talk to people who were able to do that because that shit so hard to materialize. It takes a lot of push...diversions...and one person that will let you drain the last piece of the devil inside your brain. ...and It's really the person you never saw coming that'll change your life. Meanwhile, while I'm manifesting everything—Kaia, who is sitting beside me, was doing the opposite. She has been praying to God since morning to give her a boyfriend this insta