3: Friends

Nagising ako sa mabangong amoy galing sa labas. The sweet aroma of coffee is lingering in the air as well as the smell of delicious breakfast, my stomach started to rumble sa sobrang gutom.

Pikit mata akong nag-unat habang humihikab.

I reached for my phone at the bedside table and saw that it's quarter to seven a.m, I need to get ready for work.

Napasapo ako sa noo ko nang maalala ko na wala nga pala akong baon na damit pamalit, I sighed when I realized that I still need to go back home and get change especially that I forgot to wash it last night, there's no way in hell na papasok ako sa trabaho na ayun pa rin ang suot ko.

Mabilis akong naligo at halos magdikit ang kilay ko nang hindi ko na makita ang mga damit kong hinubad kagabi,

Shit where's my clothes dito ko lang 'yon nilagay ah!

Nagbalot ako ng towel at nagmamadaling lumabas ng kwarto para tanungin si Eli.

"Eli--"

"Jesus, Anjie! You shouldn't be going out with just a towel on your body while I'm practically here!!" natatarantang sigaw ni Eli saka mabilis na tumalikod,

I chuckled at his reaction and I ended up teasing him more.

"Why? Naaakit ka ba?" nakangisi kong tanong.

I heard him groan. Hahaha!

"You wish! Pwede ba bumalik ka na sa kwarto at ituloy yang pagbibihis mo!" stressed niyang sabi.

I only made a face as if makikita niya. Tss!

"You fool! I can't find my clothes!"

"Go get it in the laundry machine! I washed it last night when you're sleeping, as usual you forgot it again." he said annoyed still not looking at me.

Natatawa ko naman siyang pinagmasdan habang nagkakandatulis ang nguso niya sa pagsasalita at nakakunot pa ang noo, ang isang kamay niya ay nakalagay sa bewang niya habang ang isa naman ay busy sa paghahalo ng fried rice.

"Eli---"

"Shut it Antoinette! Go away!" he yelled.

Natawa nalang ako habang kinukuha ang mga damit ko, I sniff and smiled to myself when it smells just like him, that was one of my favourite thing about him, his laundry soap. I smiled to myself because my clothes now smells just like him.

Nagbihis na ako at inayos ang mga gamit ko. I'm working in a publishing company. While my bestfriend Elizer is an artist, he loves to draw and that's where his earnings came from. And sometimes he does photography, he does it for a sideline.

Nadatnan ko siyang nagtitimpla ng kape, naupo ako sa harap niya at nakangiting tinitingnan ang masasarap na pagkain sa harap ko.

"Ang dami naman yata nito? Tayo lang dalawa kakain eh." puna ko but he just smiled at me.

"Just like what I promise last night, I made you delicious breakfast." he said proudly as he pushed the cup of coffee in front of me.

Perks of being the spoiled bestfriend. Haha.

"You're the best," pang uuto ko pa but he just smile at me.

I was devouring the delicious meal when I caught him staring at me.

"What?" I asked raising my brows.

"I'll drive you to your work." he said as he sipped on his coffee his chocolate eyes focused on me.

My forehead creased at that.

"No need, I brought my car you know." sabi ko naman at kumagat ulit sa toast.

Pero mabilis niyang iwinagayway ang kamay niya sa ere saka pinadausdos ang mga daliri sa buhok niya habang nakatitig ng mabuti sa akin.

"No, I'll drive you to work and I'll pick you up as well."

Ako naman ngayon ang nagtaas ng kilay sa kanya, inilapag ko ang kutsara't tinidor saka sumandal sa upuan at tinitigan din siya ng maigi sa mata.

"Eli.."

Nung una ay nilalabanan niya pa ang mga titig ko pero siya rin ang kusang bumitaw saka maingay na nagbuntong hininga, nahihiya siyang kumamot sa batok niya at dahan dahang sinalubong ang mga nag aabang kong tingin.

"Fine, its Friday and you don't have work tomorrow, I was just thinking if maybe we could watch some movie later?" he asked in a low voice while looking down at his plate.

I sighed as I stood up and walked to him.

I wrapped my arms around him as I hugged him tightly. Gets ko na, ayaw niya pa maiwang mag isa. Gusto pa niya ng kasama habang may ganito siyang pinagdadaanan at naiintindihan ko 'yon.

"Fine, but first pwede umuwi muna ako ngayon sa unit ko? I need to change clothes before heading to work, plus I need to grab some of my clothes too, para naman may magagamit akong damit dito whenever unexpected sleep over happens again." pangungumbinsi ko pa habang niyayakap siya.

He glance at me and he licked his lower lip.

"Why? You don't like my clothes now?" masungit niyang tanong habang nakataas pa ang isang kilay.

I snorted a laugh as I playfully hit his tattoed arm.

"No, baka kasi iniisip mo nasasanay na akong sinusuot ko mga damit mo." natatawa kong sagot.

He looked away with a smug on his face.

"I don't care if you use all of my clothes you know, it all looks good on you anyway." masungit niyang sabi na labis na nagpangisi sa akin.

"but your boxers? maluwag and kinakabag ako because of that you know." I asks teasingly.

I saw the shade of pink sitting on his cheeks before he look away and I chuckled. He knows it very well dahil lagi ko iyon nirereklamo sakanya.

"I was wondering if maybe I could--"

"Don't you fucking dare put some of your undergarments here, Antoinette. I don't want to have any problems with my girl in the future." he said warning me.

And I laugh at that as I freed him in my hug and sit back to finish my food.

"I'll buy dozens of boxers of your size so that you can shut up about my boxers, reklamo ka ng reklamo gamit ka naman ng gamit." masungit niyang sabi.

And my grin grows wide at that.

---

He really drove me to work after namin kumuha ng ilang damit ko sa unit ko.

"I'll pick you up later, alright?" he said raising his brows habang pinagbubuksan ako ng pinto ng kotse.

"I'll call Riz and Jemi later baka gusto rin nila mag movies." nakangiti kong sabi.

He just shrugged his shoulders.

"Ikaw bahala."

His eyes move from somewhere and when I followed his sight I saw my workmates eyeing him. Of course hindi nakatakas sa akin ang mata ng mga babaeng katrabaho ko na tinitingnan din siya, because who wouldn't? My bestfriend is an ultimate head turner. Tsk.

"Who's that?" tanong niya habang nginunguso ang mga ka-trabaho ko.

When I look back at my collegues I found my newly hired workmate Jay, standing with my friend Kairus. Kairus waved his hand at me and I smile and wave back at him.

Binalikan ko ng tingin si Eli only to found him rolling his eyes on Kairus, I chuckled at that saka mahina siyang pinalo sa balikat to stop him. He's not really fond of Kairus.

"That's Jay bagong hired kahapon."

He eyed him again atsaka ako tinapunan ng tingin, habang nakataas ang kilay. He can really be possesive sometimes. Tsk.

"You should try getting along with Kai, he's nice you know." pangungumbinsi ko pa.

He scoffed at that followed by the roll of his eyes.

"If I know that Kai has a secret crush on you." he frowned.

"Ikaw lang ang nagsasabi niyan Eli," naiiling kong sabi at inirapan niya lang iyon saka ako pinatakan ng halik sa noo,

"Sunduin kita after work," he stated casually as he bid his goodbye to me and turn to his car.

Nangingiti nalang akong tumango sa kanya habang nagmamaneho siya paalis. Nang makalayo na siya ay naglakad narin ako papasok ng building namin, sinalubong naman ako kaagad ni Kai.

"He's still giving me that cold look huh." Kai muttered as he walked beside me.

"Ganon lang 'yon si Eli overprotective lang talaga parang hindi ka na nasanay." natatawa kong sabi.

"As if naman aagawin kita sa kanya! My gosh!" natatawa rin niyang sabi.

---

Lunch time at the cafeteria.

Kai and I we're eating peacefully as we chat over something when we saw the newbie Jay and he seems like struggling to find a seat and this motherfucker Kai called him so he walked to our table and sat across me and beside Kai.

"I hope I wasn't disturbing you guys." Jay casually said a little bit shy.

So I smiled hesistantly.

"Ano ka ba walang problema, bro! My friend here Anjie doesn't mind it at all, right Anj?" pabidang sagot ni Kai.

At wala akong nagawa kundi bigyan si Jay ng ngiti.

"Of course," tipid kong sabi.

"My name is Jay." sabi nito at inilahad ang kamay niya sa akin.

I throw a glance at Kairus as I took Jay's hand.

"Yeah.. uhmm. welcome sa company. Just call me Anjie." I said as I smiled hesitantly.

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❤️