Would You Mind? ✓

WYM? 17

It was thirty minutes past five in the morning when Uno heard someone ring the doorbell of his flat. He just woke up from a not-so-good sleep. His last wish was to be ticked off by anything or anyone. However, when he peeped in the tiny hole by his door, he knew right there and then--it wasn't a granted.

This is why I hated Winnie The Pooh ever since I was in my diaper days! he ranted in mind before he swung the door open to welcome Dos' partner. "What are you--"

"Hi, Uno, good morning." She beamed.

Uno ignored her pleasantry. He simply motioned his hand for her to come in. He didn't bother to ask her if she needed help with the paper bags of McDonald's she was carrying on both hands.

"I wasn't able to introduce myself to you a night ago," she said to him, who closed the door. "I'm Seri."

"Akala ko Winnie," he murmured, inwardly rolling his eyes.

Much to his surprise, the latter must have heard him when she said, "Excuse me? You were saying?"

"Ay, wala!" He smiled. "What brought you here this early, Seri? If you don't mind me asking."

"I'm going to pick up Dos for school. Mind you also that I'd be lodging her starting tonight, so I'd also be taking her things now," Seri said, walking their way to the living room.

He took a hard gulp as he stared at her for seconds, slowly taking in what she meant with her remark.

"Ng-ngayon a-agad?" His breathing was ragged. Heartbeat pulsated at an abnormal pace.

"Yep." She nodded, eyes roaming around his pad. She brushed a finger over the stuffed toys she saw scattered within the area. "Those are Dos', right? I think I should just pack them while waiting for her to wake."

He just watched her do her thing, trying hard not to kill her with his dagger looks at the same time, trying not to think how stupid she was for not taking any bag with her to think she was to help her girlfriend move out.

A few moments later, Seri turned to look at him after taking all the toys intact. "Can I ask you a favor?"

He forced a smile. "What is it?"

"Can I have a few of your eco-bags or huge plastics? I'm so sorry. It got off my mind. Maybe I should just pay for it na lang?"

Ano'ng tingin mo sa 'kin, poor? Bilhin pa kita, eh.

"Nah. You don't have to," he replied before pushing to his feet.

He heard her yell gratitude; he bothered not to reply.

When he trotted back from the kitchen, he suddenly stiffened when he saw Dos wrapped with Seri's arms, so was Seri with Dos'. For some unlabeled cause, he felt the urge to put Seri in the biggest bag he was holding, then driving to MOA seaside to throw her there.

Too much for the imagination, he snapped himself back to his senses. He neared them and forced a loud cough, which caused the two to untangle their arms from each other.

"Oh," he said, handing the bags to Seri.

"Thank you," she said with a wide smile, her right arm snaked on Dos' waist.

"Bayaran mo na pala 'yang mga 'yan. Malayo pa payday, eh." Even he, himself, was surprised when he uttered such a line. But when he saw the disbelief painted all over the faces of the two, he regretted it not. "Did I say something wrong?"

Seri shook her head. "Wala naman. It's just that, payday na this coming Friday. But don't get me wrong, ha? I'll pay for these," she said, lifting the bags. "I just said so because I'm also working. It just happened that I enjoyed school a lot that I'm currently taking a second degree."