5: The Bestie

“Gaga ang aga aga tapos nakakunot yung noo mo” Luke, who dropped by so early in the morning grins. “Alam mo dapat sana sinabi mo na pupunta ka pala kagabi pa, edi sana natulog ako ng maaga” I rolled my eyes at him while getting myself water from the fridge. “Eh, surprise nga e” he retorts, making me roll my eyes again at him. “Ano? Wala ka bang pakape jan?” he wandered around the kitchen, looking for something to eat. “Wala, I’m still about to buy an induction stove and other equipment” I tell him while I walk to the bathroom to freshen myself. “Ano bayan, may unit walang pangluto” he complains, while he tailed behind me. “Ano bayan, may cellphone pero walang load pangtext manlang” I answered him back, making him snort with a smile. “May pupuntahan ka?” I asked him while taking my wallet and phone. “Oo, may kikitain lang” he shrugged and I squint my eyes at him. “Weh, kikitain tapos sunod boyfriend mo na” I chuckle at him before I gestured him to go out. “Lilibre mo ko?” he grins, “hindi, next time na, after mo akong guluhin ng ganto kaaga wala ako sa mood para ilibre ka” I stuck my tongue out at him before we went to the elevator.

Pressing the buttons and getting inside, then getting out. We gossiped about the things that he had been doing for the past weeks. “Alam mo, if you’re so sure about this guy, then go for him, malay natin, he’s the one you’ve been waiting for,” I tell him before shivering at the coldness that hit me as we got outside of the building.

“Good morning?” Brye’s familiar voice made me turn to where it came from. My eyes were wide, “oh, good morning” I smiled at him. “You still look sleepy” he chuckles, making me copy him as well. “Yeah, my friend dropped by for a visit” I pointed at Luke who sheepishly smiled at Brye. He returns it with a tight smile before looking down at me again. “Out for breakfast?” his eyes stayed on mine as I look up at him. I nodded, “yeah, you?” I say, hugging my arms to keep myself from the cold whips of air that the cars make. “I’m on my way to my brother’s house, I’ll probably be back by lunch” he shrugs before taking his hoodie off.

I nod at him, “ah okay, okay, ingat ka” I tell him. Brye smiled. Something that he always does and for some reason, it gives me a warm feeling in my chest. “Here, it’s cold, don’t worry I’m taking my car and I have a spare” he wears me the hoodie before I could even protest, my arms caged inside the hoodie that was too big for me.

“Enjoy your breakfast Liana, I’ll take the book later” he waved before turning his heels toward the parking of the building, leaving me as I muttered a small bye. “Ampogi, sino yon?” Luke snaps me out of the thoughts that ran inside my head. I wore the hoodie properly as I faced him, “jowa mo?” he laughs at me. “Gago, kapit-bahay ko” I frown at him, suppressing a smile as we walked toward the nearest coffee shop. “Kapit-bahay lang?” he pries more, “gaga oo nga, siraulo” I laughed at him before hitting his shoulder.

We soon entered the shop, ordered our breakfast, and went to sit down at an empty table. I was eating my breakfast peacefully when my gaze shifted to the hoodie that I was wearing. I stared at it, head empty, just the guy who gave it to me evaded my mind as I continued to stare at it. A sigh left my lips as I smiled softly before drinking the hot chocolate that I got. “Inlove ka na no?” Luke laughed after seeing the smile I let out. I frowned at him, “kanino? Wala nga akong love interest tapos sasabihin mo na inlove ako” I chuckle at him with a frown, pretending that he wasn’t half right. “Ay nako ka talaga, kilala kita, ang tagal tagal na nating magkakilala, alam na alam ko kung gaano ka karupok, the smallest gestures tips you off” he laughs like a maniac after telling me off. I rolled my eyes at him before laughing, “he’s too way out of my league, and his family is strict” I tell him so that the thought in his mind will fly off. “And so? Bakit ayaw din naman ng pamilya ko na mag boyfriend ako and yet I still did, twice, going thrice” he raised a brow at me with a smirk on my face. “Gaga, he has a different nationality in him, and I think lang na they follow traditions, and they have their own beliefs that they follow” I shoo him, Luke rolled his eyes at me, “bahala ka, I just know, that the more you deny things, the more it grows, marerealize mo nalang girl, you’re falling for him” he takes a bite of the pancake that he has been eating while smirking at me. “Gusto mo pustahan pa tayo” he laughs and I laughed along with his childishness.

I chose to stay silent with my eyebrows frowning softly, before turning my gaze outside where people are either hurrying to get to their jobs on time, or taking their morning walk or jog.

Soon enough, Luke and I parted in front of the condo building after he accompanied me, buying kitchen equipment and utensils. I placed the boxes and bags on the counter before I carefully arranged them. After hours of arranging my kitchen, a knock echoed throughout my unit. I took my phone to see that it was past lunch. ‘Wow, ganon kami katagal ni Luke nagusap at gumala around the mall’ I raised my brow, shocked at the time that we consumed before opening the door to reveal Brye, standing with his arms crossed across his chest and plastic dangling from his hands. “Hi” he smiled at me. “Hi” I smiled back at him before opening the door wider to let him go inside.