Love’s a tricky game. And just like any ordinary game, you have to remember to keep having fun while playing so that when you lose, it won’t hurt as much. In this game I’m presently playing, I’m the judge.

HER: Ang sungit ng kumag. Nag-sorry nga, pero ako naman ang nauna pumansin. Mukhang inis lang sakin.

ME: Actually, tumatalab sa iyo yung pa-effect nya…

HER: oo nga…

ME: nagsusuplado para lalo kang maintriga sa kanya, kinagat mo naman.

HER: Ako dapat ang nagsusungit ah. So hindi tumatalab yung gimmick ko sa kanya?

ME: The fact na may ginagawa din syang sarili nyang gimmick means tumatalab din yung sa yo.

HER: eh kung pareho naman kame kasi magsusungit… walang mangyayari

ME: sarap nyong gawan ng pelikula, pang star cinema…

HER: im just trying to be friendly… im not flirting naman.

ME: aba, stop trying to be friendly! be the object of pursuit! be a bitch

HER: hirap….wala sa personality ko…

ME: there’s a book entitled something like "why men fall for bitches"

HER: yeah!! ive heard about it

ME: iba-ibang klase naman ang pagiging bitch e

HER: i know…

ME: may bitch na cute dahil nagpapakatotoo. that should be you

HER: pero ngayon. gusto ko lang sana na hindi kame nagkakailangan. eh mukhang hindi mangyayari yun sa ginagawa ng kumag. pano ako magpapakatotoo? i’ll tell him im attracted to him but not that i want him to be my bf… right away..??

ME: hay, kung gusto mo lang pala sya maging friend, wag na tayo gumimik

HER: hindi… i like him to be more than that!! shocks kung alam mo lang. pero kasi… nagkakailangan. yun yung ayoko.

ME: ikaw lang ba ang naiilang, o pati sya sa yo?

HER: tinatry ko hindi mailang… kita mo naman yung effort ko kanina… kahit alam kong hindi ako papansinin…

ME: we both know about your side, but what about him?

ME: kung naiilang din sya katulad ng nararamdaman mong pagkailang sa kanya, what do you think is the equation?

(pregnant pause)

ME:  snob +  bitch = desire

HER: you mean he’s attracted to me but he still loves his ex? That he wants or plans to go back to her kaya iwas sya sa akin?

ME: when I asked him if he’s still nursing a broken heart, his answer was an emphatic “NO”, without batting his cute eyelashes.

HER: so that means it’s really over between them?

ME: more like he gave up already. In his own words, “sobrang tagal na non”

HER: kilig ako! (in a sing-song tone) could I be your no. 2? You and no. 1 are through…?

ME: if no. 1 is gone, it means the position is vacant. Who’s next? Could it be you? Let’s just nurture the mystery…