Marla laid in bed the next night, her muscles still sore from yoga. She spent the day watching movies, eating cereal, and not moving. Instead of cooking, she ordered her favorite pares from Grab Food while watching "House" on TV. She always loved the combination of hot gooey beef pares on a mound of steaming garlic rice with television whenever she was not feeling well.
Marla's was interrupted by a soft alert from Facebook. She grabbed her phone and saw a message from Gab. Two days ago, they had connected on Facebook and he started messaging her on social media. They mostly just exchanged lighthearted memes about coffee and yoga. As she tapped the notification, she smiled at the image he'd sent: a Frenchie bulldog doing a split with the caption, "Take time to Paws and Reflect."
As she smiled, she remembered how she'd casually mentioned yesterday how she wanted a French Bulldog. Gab sent her memes throughout the day, likely to make her feel better. For her response, she found a photo of a dog wrapped in a blanket with the caption, "It's been a rough day." She attached it and sent it.
After putting her phone down, another chime alerted her to a message from Eds.
Eds: Sis, are you free Saturday night?
Marla: I think so, why?
Eds: May guy friend ako from school, I want to set you two up
Marla: Nope, I'm not into blind dates
Eds: Pumayag ka na, promise you will not regret him
Eds: Describe ko ba siya sayo?
Marla: Sure, as if naman mapipigilan kita
Eds: Well... He is tall, dark, and probably big
Marla: Gaga, no means no
Marla: And if he is really as hot as you say. Bakit di ikaw nakipagdate?🤨
Eds: Obviously tinry ko. Pero wala effect sakanya sis
Eds: Siguro nawalan nang gana sakin nung nakita niya downward dog mo
Marla: Gaga!😂
Eds: Please Marls, I already promised him kase
Eds: Pinakita ko profile mo, and talagang di mapakali si kuya
Marla: Hay, I'll think about it. It's difficult to think right now
Marla: My legs are super sore today
Eds: Sige na, you owe me one ha
Eds: Remember, when you bailed on the last date I set you up on?
Marla: Jusko, ilang sorry na nagawa ko sayo for that. Ok ok, I'll do this for you
Eds: YES! I'll tell him to chat you
Eds: Promise malalaglag panty at sports bra mo pag nakita mo siya
Marla: Sure ba yan?
Marla: Need ko ba magdala pangpalit?
Eds: OO naman, after your date sure ako di lang legs mo ang sore!😎
Marla: Gaga!😠
Marla put down her phone and noticed it was already 11 PM. It was time for her to get some sleep. She painfully got up and walked to the bathroom. Marla turned on the lights to start her nightly routine. Then she washed her face, applied toner, serum, moisturizer, and brushed her teeth. She headed back to bed when another notification popped up just as she settled in.
It's from Gab.
Gab: How are you feeling na?
Marla: Parang nahulugan nang pader
Gab: 😂
Gab: If you need anything sa baba, just tell me
Marla: Wow. Gentleman, thanks, but I already went downstairs na kanina to get food
Marla thought about Gab. Funny how he made her blood boil not too long ago. While she didn't see anything romantic happening between them, she had grown fond of him. Maybe they could be good friends.
Gab: Wala ka naman inaway sa baba?😭
Marla: Wala noh!
Gab: 😂
Gab: Ano naman kinain mo?
Marla: "Beef pares and rice"
Gab: Parang construction worker lang ah
Marla: 😠
Marla: Ano masama sa construction worker?
Gab: Just trying to lighten you up
Marla: Kaw, what's for dinner? Lemme guess, foie gras with gold leaf and espresso sprinkles?
Marla: Paired with black coffee from the Amazonian rainforest
Gab: 😠😂 Ligo Sardines po
Gab: If free ka Saturday, my shipment of Colombian coffee is coming. We should try it
Marla: I can't, apparently may date ako nun
Gab: Uyyyy, so sino yung kawawang guy?
Marla: Wala ka na dun. Are you selos?
Gab: Yuck. No way. 😄
Gab: Well, if you have time after your date, feel free to stop by
Marla: Maybe Gab, thanks for the company ha, Good night!
Marla placed her phone on the nightstand, amused by the conversation. She closed her eyes, hoping the alarm wouldn't wake her up too early later.
YOU ARE READING
The Trouble with Sleeping
RomanceAlmost every night, Marla's condominium's emergency alarm goes off, turning her into a monstrous perpetually sleep-deprived yoga instructor. Let's just say her nights are more downward dog caught in a rainstorm and less Shavasana. In walks Gab, her...
