Niki and Andy

Chapter 1: Denial is a River in Egypt

"Ano na? Nasa'n ka na? Kanina pa 'ko dito sa lobby nyo."

"Wait lang! Nag-aayos pa 'ko."

Niki heard Andy click his tongue. "Niki... SABI MO TAPOS KA NANG MAG-AYOS. ANO PANG INAAYOS MO." She winced as she pulled the phone away from her ear. She did tell him that when she just got out of the shower.

"Mabilis na lang 'to. Five minutes!" she promised.

"Aakyatin na ba kita dyan?"

"Sige pero maghagdan ka. For sure tapos na 'ko pagdating mo rito."

Andy dropped the call. He seemed pissed, but that was just his usual mood tuwing may lakad sila. Palagi kasi niya itong pinaghihintay nang matagal. Mabagal siyang kumilos, but he never learns. He said he was hoping that she would change one day. So far, she has no plan to change.

"Si Andy 'yon? Ang lakas ng boses!" kumento ng housemate niya, si Myles. Six months na niya itong kasama sa condo unit niya. She had seen Andy several times because he would sometimes show up at the unit. Minsan, wala pang pasabi. Sanay na si Myles sa kanilang dalawa. She even thought that Andy was her boyfriend, which she cleared up immediately to avoid misunderstandings. "Para talaga kayong mag-asawa kung mag-usap."

"Naku, tigilan mo 'ko, Myles."

Tumawa ito. "Buti hindi ka nya iniiwan, 'no?"

"Subukan nya lang!" She put a new set of earrings on and looked at herself in the full body mirror. Inilapit niya ang mukha para i-inspect ang makeup niya.

She was going for the fresh and natural look to complement her dusty pink satin dress. One shoulder iyon at hanggang makalampas ng tuhod ang tabas. She paired it with her pair of silver strappy heels na baby pink ang ilalim. She was wearing her hair in a ponytail this time. Myles helped in straightening it.

Pinag-iisipan niya kung ano ang bag na magandang ipares sa damit nang tumunog na naman ang phone niya. Niki exhaled sharply before answering it.

"Five minutes na," paalala ni Andy.

"Madaling-madali? Ikaw ba ikakasal?"

"Sa tagal mong mag-ayos, baka pagdating natin dun tapos na 'yong kasal."

"E di mabuti. Di ba reception lang naman ang habol mo dun?" She heard Myles snicker. Nginitian niya ito sa salamin. 'Bilisan mo' Myles mouthed. Tumango-tango siya. "Pababa na 'ko."

"How much longer?" Andy asked with a grunt.

"Eto na. Bababa na. Bye." Lumingon siya kay Myles hawak ang dalawang bag na pinagpipilian niya. "Masyado bang matchy matchy?"

Myles scrunched her nose. "Medyo."

She groaned. "What if... black yung bag. Then I'll wear black earrings saka black shoes?"

"Wag na! Maganda na 'yang silver clutch. Iiwanan ka na talaga ni Andy kapag nagtagal ka pa."

She let out a sigh. "Fine." Mabilisan niyang inilagay ang mga dala sa maliit na bag. Saka niya iyon chineck nang dalawang beses para masiguradong wala siyang naiwan. She knew Andy wouldn't leave her, but she made haste just in case. Lakad-takbo siya papunta sa elevator. Thankfully, minuto lamang ang tagal ng byahe niya pababa.

She immediately saw Andy at the basement parking area. Naka-gray three-piece suit ito, without the jacket. Nainitan siguro kahihintay.

"Finally!" he exclaimed when he saw her.

"Sorry! Sorry!"

He went in while she was going around the car to the passenger seat. Andy started the car before she could even buckle her seatbelt. Understandably so. Mukhang mali-late na nga sila.