Millenial Talk

"Kamusta na si Drew?" I asked Jap.

"Ayun, may jowa na," he replied.

And there it is, that magic word: jowa.

"I see. Gaano na sila katagal?" I inquired.

"Matagal-tagal na din ata. LDR sila. The guy works here and he works in Cebu."

"Drew works in Cebu? Hindi man lang kami nagkita nung andoon ako. Sayang."

"Order na tayo guys," Aaron said.

Off we went to check what this new part of Megamall foodcourt had to offer. I had to satisfy myself with some Vietnamese Spring Rolls while Aaron had chicken and Jap had steak.

A few minutes while we were waiting for our orders, Drew came.

He looked a little fuller. Happier and healthier. We all smiled at him.

"Drew, kain." We offered him.

"Thanks. I just had dinner at Galleria," he replied.

"What brings you here? Balita ko asa Cebu ka na?" I asked.

"I go here about once a month."

"Ah okay." I said while finishing my spring rolls.

The four of us were talking anything under the sun but it mostly revolved around work and future plans. It was funny and weird at the same time because the last time we saw each other, we were talking a whole lot differently: clubs, dates and being "wasak" from binge drinking.

Sino kasama mo sa O?

Sino date mo last time?

Sama ka sa amin uminom ng Sabado?

Kamusta date mo? Nagkikita pa ba kayo?

Ay wala na yan. Move on na.

Did you know who slept with who?

"Saan tayo pagtapos nito? I need something sweet, like dessert." I asked them.

"Tignan natin," They chorused.

Part 2

Millenial Talk

"Hay, Aaron iba na talaga ang mga bata ngayon ano?"

We were chatting while roaming around Shangri-la, waiting for another friend.

"Sinabi mo pa," He said in a matter-of-factly tone.

"These millenials really have a different thought process." I added.

"G, kasama pa tayo sa millenial generation," Aaron quipped.

"Hahaha! I knowww. But these younger guys, them, they're really something."

Aaron just smiled at me.

We decided to transfer to SM Megamall since we were looking for an inexpensive place to eat and we were getting bored at Shang too.

"Sorry, I'm late." Jap said while hobbling towards us from Zara.

"Anong nangyari sa iyo?" I asked.

"Natapilok sa treadmill yet still continued to use the treadmill the next day," He said. "Actually isang buwan na itong masakit."

"Have you seen an orthopedist for that?" I asked.

Aaron looked at me.

Jap replied: "Well, you know what I'm dealing with now..."

"I know, Jap. I understand." I didn't ask further.

"Susunod pala si Drew." Jap said.

"Ah si Drew. It has been a while!"

The last time I saw Drew, Jap and Aaron together was five years ago - 2011. Malate was still alive. We were younger back then...Had more endurance and partied-till-we-dropped.

Five years. Can you imagine? OBar Malate was still quite famous.

So there we were, waiting at the foodcourt for Drew to arrive.

Part 1