The Two of Us

Part 3

The barista repeated the order, “Two iced americanos and one matcha. Did I get it right, Ma’am?”

“Yes po,” Joe answered, all smiley. The barista informed her na 15 minutes pa bago niya makuha ang order niya, to which the girl simply nodded in understanding.

She’s tapping her fingers sa counter while waiting sa drinks na inorder niya. She couldn’t help but overhear Yuuki teasing Harvey, na ngayon ay nakakunot na ang noo, causing her to chuckle. 

Bumalik na ang barista dala ang order niya and muttered, “Enjoy po.”

“Thank you,” Joe replied, carefully putting the drinks on the tray. Nilagay niya muna ang kanyang phone sa bulsa niya before carrying the tray papunta sa kanilang table.

“Isa, matatamaan ka na talaga sa akin, Yuuki,” Harvey said irritably. Yuuki just laughed at her, earning a death glare from the girl.

“Ito na order niyo mga ssob,” Joe said as she handed the drinks to her two friends one by one. “Huwag masyado isalubong kilay, Harv. Sabi nila kapag lagi kang galit, madali ka lang tatanda,” Joelai jokingly said, to which Yuuki laughed loudly.

“Gosh, whatever,” Harvey said in annoyance. She’s feeling everything all at once. Someone just ruined her day. Her.

“Joke lang naman.”

Harvey just shrugged and took a sip of her drink. They went all silent for a minute, but Yuuki decided to break it.

“Teka, may naisip ako,” Yuuki said, napatingin ang dalawa sa kanya. “Let’s bake some macarons sa apartment ni Joe para naman mabawasan yang sama ng loob mo today, Harv,” Yuuki suggested. Tumaas ang kilay ni Joelai sa narinig niya.

Harvey smiled at the idea at tumingin ito sa direksyon ni Joe, “Ehem baka naman, bff,” she said, then clasped her hands, pouting, at nag beautiful eyes kay Joe.

“Tigilan niyo ako. Kinaibigan niyo lang talaga ako para may tig-bake ng cravings niyo,” Joe remarked.

“Para naman may silbi rin yang program na kinuha mo,” Yuuki fired back, earning a nod from Haechi. Yuuki then clasped her hands gaya kay Harvey at nagpapacute ito kay Joelai.

Joe sighed in defeat, “Oo na! Pupunta na tayo sa apartment ko,” Her two friends said yey! in unison, which made her smile a little.

“Do you need anything?” Harvey asked.

“A hair tie, Harv,” Joe answered as she washed her hands.

Harvey nodded at tinanggal ang tali na nasa wrist niya, “Ako na.”

“Sa harapan ko pa talaga naglalampungan,” Yuuki jokes, nakaupo siya sa isang upuan sa gilid ng counter habang kumakagat sa hawak niyang apple.

Harvey shot her a death glare, “Pinagsasabi mo tanga ka. Umuwi ka na lang kung hindi ka tutulong,” Harvey fired back while tying Joe’s hair.

“A-aray. Parang matatanggal naman buhok ko sa anit.”

“Oh my god, am I pulling it too tight?”

“Just right. Pero feeling ko anytime soon buhok ko mabira mo dahil sa galit.”

Harvey glared at Yuuki and said playfully, “Edi buhok na lang ni Yuuki birahin ko.”

Yuuki raised an eyebrow, her tone sharp. “Ginawa ng buhok ko sayo?”

“Buhok mo, wala. Pero ikaw, meron,” Harvey retorted, her right hand is leaning on the countertop of the kitchen island, while her left hand is on her waist.

“Wala na nga eh!”

“Sige ’yang bangayan niyo i-bake natin,” Joelai’s jokingly said at natawa naman ang dalawa.

“Mag-bake na nga tayo,” tumayo si Yuuki sa kinauupuan niya at kinuha ang apron na nakasabit at sinuot ito. “Pa-help din ako, Harv.”

“Okay, come here,” lumapit naman si Yuuki sa kanya. “Higpitan ko pa yan.” Tinapunan ng tissue ni Yuuki sa mukha si Harvey at kumaripas ito ng takbo at sinundan naman ito agad ni Harvey. Natawa na lang si Joe sa dalawa.

“Aray! Aray!” sigaw ni Yuuki ng hindi pa binibitawan ni Harvey ang pagkahawak nito sa kanyang tenga.

“Kanina pa ako naiinis sayo,” Harvey replied.

Yuuki tried na tanggalin ang kamay ni Harvey sa pagkahawak nito sa tenga niya, but the curly-haired girl still wouldn’t let go.

“Bitawan mo na kasi. I won’t bother you anymore,” Yuki said, trying to convince the girl.

“Sure na talaga?” 

“Oo na nga!” Harvey finally released her grip on Yuuki’s ear.

“Luto na!” Joe announced, looking at her two friends.

“Oy, sarap niyan,” Yuuki said, nakaupo na ulit sa chair ng counter, pointing at the macarons Joe had made.

“Mas mapula pa yung tenga mo kaysa sa macarons, Yuu,” Joe said, laughing.

“Yung isa kasi dyan…” Yuuki glanced in Harvey’s direction, na kanina pa nakatingin sa kanya.

“Paisa ka pa?” Harvey said sarcastically.

Yuuki stuck her tongue out at her and ran off again. Harvey chased after her once more. Tumawa lang ng malakas si Joe sa kanyang nakikita.

“Lagot ka talaga sa akin. Hindi ko na talaga bibitawan yang te—” Harvey yelled, but her words were cut off when the door of Joe’s apartment opened, revealing a familiar face of a person.

The two stopped and looked in one direction—at the woman standing at the door. Tinignan naman ng babae ang direksyon ni Harvey at ni Yuuki. Sumilip si Joe  at ngumiti.

“Andito ka na pala,” Joe greeted the red–haired girl.

“Hey, good evening,” July greeted them.

“Come. Taste this,” tinuro ang mga macarons na niluto nila.

July approached the counter at tiningnan ang niluto nila. Dumistansya ng konti si Harvey when she felt that medyo magkalapit na sila ni July. 

Yuuki noticed her friend’s discomfort and started teasing her again. Tinignan niya ulo hanggang paa ang kaibigan niya and mouthed tumigil ka dyan.

“What’s the occasion?” July asked.

“Nothing. Cravings lang nila ngayon.”

July raised an eyebrow upon hearing that. Tumingin ito sa direksyon ni Harvey at ni Yuuki. Harvey forced a smile at her and so did Yuuki.

“Oh, I see.”

“Taste it.”

“I’ll have it later. Punta muna ako sa room mo,” She smiled before bowing, “Enjoy then!” and she excused herself from them. The two watched her leave and Joe just shrugged.