Niki and Andy

Chapter 11: Can't Lose What You Never Had

"Hey!"

Pabalik na sana si Andy ng elevator nang makita siya ni Niki. She immediately removed her mask as she approached. She was smiling from ear to ear. Andy put his hands in his pockets and waited for her to reach him. He wanted to ask about the date but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Mukha namang nag-enjoy ito. There was spring in her steps, aakalain mong trampoline ang sahig because of her lively walk.

Her cheeks were a bit flushed, and judging from the dry weather outside, it wasn't because of the weather. Andy leaned closer to smell her breath and he was right. He made sure to express his disapproval at her drinking alcohol on the first date. What if something happened to her because she got drunk? She shouldn't lower her guard down just because she liked her date.

Niki gave him a questioning look. "Why do you look so upset?" tanong nito.

With a frustrated exhale, he turned his head away, his eyes shifted to the side. "Ponkan had me sneezing all night." He sniffed a couple of times to make it sound more convincing.

"Oo nga. Ang pula ng ilong mo." Niki touched his nose in concern. "Did you take your meds?"

Pinalis ni Andy ang kamay nito. "Yeah." He then started walking towards the elevator.

Sumabay naman si Niki sa kanya at kumapit pa sa braso niya. "You're not gonna ask me about my date?"

"I don't care."

He pushed the open button and entered the elevator with Niki clinging to his arm. Nakasimangot ito sa kanya. Kita niya sa salamin ng elevator. She looked at their reflection. "Why not?"

He pressed their floor's button. Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Because I already know how it went."

Niki beamed at him. Kumikinang pa ang mga mata niyo. It annoyed Andy more. Kung may makakakita sa kanila sa elevator, aakalain na she was just a girlfriend annoying her boyfriend on their way back to their unit.

Maybe this was what people saw back then. It was something that he never considered before. Well... that was not entirely true. He did consider it a few times, but he always told himself no. Because it came and went and he understood the unpredictability of this feeling.

–

The following morning, Andy woke up to Niki cooking breakfast. It was a sight he didn't think he would ever see in this lifetime. Nagkusa itong magluto ng almusal.

"Good morning!" bati nito nang lumabas siya ng kwarto. Ponkan was following Niki's movements earlier. Nang lumabas siya ng kwarto, lumapit kaagad sa kanya ang pusa at idinikit ang mukha nito sa binti niya.

Andy has not taken any medicine yet, kaya umiwas siya sa pusa. Ponkan, not understanding the concept of personal space, proceeded to push himself towards Andy.

Natawa si Niki nang magsimulang makipaghabulan si Ponkan sa kanya. Pumwesto si Andy sa likod ni Niki at ipinangharang ito para hindi makalusot si Ponkan. Ponkan began playfully biting Niki's feet, which made the latter shriek. Nawalan ito ng balanse at muntik nang matumba kung hindi siya nakakapit sa likod nito.

Niki immediately wrapped her arms around his chest for support and Andy could have sworn his heartbeat doubled that instant.

"Help me up!" sabi nito sa kanya habang paulit-ulit siyang tinatapik sa likod. Iniayos niya ito ng tindig. Niki scolded both him and Ponkan for playing around her.

"Doon nga kayo maglaro!" pagtataboy nito sa kanilang dalawa ng pusa. "You're ruining my breakfast!"

Sumilip si Andy sa nakasalang na pagkain. "Looks like it's already ruined," he teased.