90210 (BINI Series #3)

Chapter 13: Two Steps Back

Maloi's POV

I'm here at Bloom's, just done eating breakfast before going to Stacey's house. Today, I'll visit her and will say thank you because she stayed with me in the hospital and even bought me meals and kinds of stuff so I could feel better. While at the cashier, a teddy bear for sale caught my fancy, so I decided to buy it and grabbed a sandwich for Stacey too. 

On the way to her house, the maids welcomed me and escorted me to her room. I heard voices coming from her room. I was wondering if Stacey's parents had already arrived from their out-of-the-country business thingy but immediately doubted it as the voice, seemed to come from a young man, with whom I am familiar. I could hear Stacey laughing at whatever this guy was telling her. I slowly opened the door and peeked my head in, hiding the bear behind me. 

She was on the bed and chatting with a guy who had his back to the door. Upon seeing me, her eyes immediately lit up. 

"Hey, Maloi! I was getting worried because you didn't reply to my message since this morning." she said. 

"I doubt it." I snapped sarcastically. From what I had heard before I came in, it looks like Stacey wouldn't mind my absence as she was being entertained by this guy named Lance. 

Tumayo si Lance at hinayaan akong makalapit sa kanya. I smiled shortly at him before facing her. Ang sakit sa mata na makita sila.

"So, san na nga tayo? Ah! I remember when tito said he'll find a guy for you if you haven't met your husband at the age of 30. That was so funny!" Lance said, continuing their conversation. 

Stacey laughed and shook her head. She glanced at me before facing at him and replied, "Hala! Ang tagal pa ng 30 and I don't know shit about possibilities. Magdodoctor pa ako!" 

"Right! And I will be an Engineer soon." Lance nodded his head. 

I tried to busy myself as I felt awkward, much like being a third wheel in this conversation. I noticed the bouquet that Lance brought, as well as a rocky road cake. I thought, he doesn't know her at all. She is allergic to peanuts. What a douche.

Soon after, the maid came in with some snacks. I immediately stood up to prepare the table so I could serve Stacey. Lance offered to be the one to do it, so I stepped back, handing to him the food tray. 

Lance was about to put a cream on Stacey's coffee, when I corrected him. "She doesn't want cream on her coffee."

Lance apologized to Stacey, and he then got two sugar sachets and prepared to pour it on the cup.

"She only takes one sugar." I said, slightly blocking his hand to prevent him from pouring the second sugar pack. 

When Stacey seemed to notice the tension, and so as not to probably embarrass Lance, she said "It's okay, I do feel like having something sweet now." 

"No Stacey," I cut her off "I'd rather you not have that extra sugar, than hear you rant that you feel fat because of what you ate." 

"Only because you keep teasing me!" she lightly slapped my arm.

"Well, you did ask!" I defended and we both laughed. 

From behind Stacey and I, Lance cleared his throat. "Here's your coffee, Stacey." He was about to fix the tray of food but I was already on to that. 

"Stacey, there's sausage, eggs, and rice. It's a good thing I brought bread at the shop, I know you don't want rice in the morning." I said. 

Lance just sat at the sofa while I attended to all of Stacey's needs, even feeding her like a baby sometimes. If our friends are here, siguro kinikindatan na ako at pasimpleng inaasar ng mga kupal. After a few minutes, Lance left, saying he still had to go to his swimming lesson.

"Stacey, I'll go ahead, catch you soon. It was nice meeting you again, Maloi." he said before leaving.

As soon as Lance left, I stood up, and started cleaning up the tray and her room. 

"You don't like him," she said, more a statement than a question.

I continued what I am doing, but she noticed my body stiffen. "Para kang naging bago for few seconds." she laughs.

"It was the second time I met him, Stacey." I said.

"Non-responsive," Stacey looked straight at me, as if saying that she was not going to give up this topic unless she gets straight answers from me. 

Sighing defeated, I walked over to the bed and got on it. I leaned my back on Stacey, so that she can hug me from behind. 

"Yes. No. Whatever! I'm not the one he's courting or whatever kung ano mang meron kayo. So why would my opinion matter?" I asked. 

"Because you're my friend. Of course your opinion matters." Stacey hesitantly replied.

I paused, contemplating long and hard before responding. It's not that I doesn't like Lance, I hasn't known him long enough to really have an opinion about him. It's just that, I felt that he will be a distraction for Stacey.

At isa pa, hindi maalis sa akin na hindi maguluhan. She said she likes me but why is she acting strange now? Anong nangyari? Parang bigla nalang, out of place na ako sa mundo niya. Gusto ko pa ring magtanong pero parang bigla kong namana ang katorpehan ng mga kaibigan ko. 

Stacey started rubbing my shoulders, as if coaxing an answer out of me. 

I tried to be honest, but the only words I could muster were, "I-I don't know.. Magulo lang isip ko ngayon..." I then trailed, not finishing my sentence. I wasn't sure if I couldn't find the words to continue, or if I just didn't have the courage to say my thoughts out loud. 

Stacey tightened her hold on me, putting her chin on my shoulder. She lightly kissed my temple. Sooner, I felt relax.

After a few minutes, changing the topic. Stacey spoke. "Where did you put it?"

"What?" I asked curiously.

"My gift, I saw it when you came in." she replied in an excited tone. 

"Don't be assuming, that's not for you. I bought it for myself." nahiya naman kasi ako sa bouquet ni Lance. Mukhang mamahalin kasi tulips. Samantalang 'tong teddy bear, maraming kapareha. 

"Fine." Stacey said pouting.

I couldn't help it and started laughing. I stood up to get the bear where I threw it near my bag and resumed my earlier position, with Stacey hugging me.

"Here," I smiled. "I hope this will help you cheer up whenever you're stressing out in acads. I believe in you, my Doctora." I said, handing the bear to her. 

Still hugging me, she played with the bear in front of me. She noticed the heart patch of the bear, which she pressed, and she was surprised when it said "I wuv you" in a cute childlike voice. Nagulat din ako dahil hindi ko alam na may ganito pala. 

"I love it, Maloi!" she chuckled. She kissed my hair, mimicking the voice of the bead, and whispered in my ear, "I wuv you!"

I grasped both Stacey's hand and wrapped it tighter around me.

The farthest distance isn't measured by any metrical system, even if its in kilometers, miles or even light-years away. Distance sometimes is in the form of unsaid feelings or maybe stated in wasted chances, because at the very least, we tend to take caution, taking two steps back from happiness.

Taking two steps back from pain.

Because sometimes, the farthest distance is a love in front of you, two steps away,yet, untouchable.