Cause All I See Is You (Jholet)

CHAPTER 11: The One With The Fireworks

My eyes fluttered open as the sunlight streamed through the window, warming my face. I yawned and stretched, feeling my muscles slowly wake up. 

After making the sign of the cross, I whispered a quick thank you to God for another day.

With a smile, I stood up and opened the window. "Good morning, Mr. Sun!" I greeted cheerfully, remembering it was Saturday and I had the whole day free.

I turned back to my bed, humming a tune while I straightened the covers. Glancing over at Stacey's bed, I noticed it was already made. She must have been up for a while, I thought. Checking the clock, I saw it was 9:00 AM.

 As I continued fixing my bed, there was a knock on the door.

"Pasok!" I called.

Colet's head peeked in, her face showing a mix of hesitation and a smile. "Good morning, Jho," she greeted, biting her lip nervously as she stepped into the room.

I blinked, slightly surprised. "Uhmm... gusto mo bang sumabay na breakfast?" she asked shyly.

The simple question, paired with her tentative demeanor, made me smile warmly.

"Sige Ate Colet. Tapusin ko lang to," I replied, grinning playfully. 

Her nose scrunched up in mild annoyance at being called "Ate" again. 

I had recently found out that she was three years older than me, which made the teasing all more fun. Ate Aiah mentioned it, hinting that Colet had taken a break from school for reasons she didn't elaborate on.

"Ah, basta. I'll just wait for you in the kitchen," Colet said, biting her lip and shaking her head with a smile. I watched her for a moment, enjoying how she reacted every time I teased her.

Ever since that night when Colet rescued me in the storm, things between us had shifted. She became incredibly protective, always looking out for me in ways that surprised me. 

She was thoughtful and attentive, a far cry from the impression I initially had of her. Not that I minded; it was just unexpected to see this caring side of her.

I remembered how I cried in her arms that night. The storm had scared me so much, with the thunder and lightning making everything worse. I thought I wouldn't make it home, but then she came.

I smiled, lost in the memory of that night, remembering how she held me tight and made me feel safe.

"Huy Jho! Anong ginagawa mo diyan?" Stacey's voice snapped me back to reality as she entered the room. "Mukha kang tanga, pangiti-ngiti ka pa diyan," she laughed.

I threw a pillow at her, which she easily caught. "Stakuuuu! Manahimik ka nga!" I said, irritated.

Despite my annoyance, I had grown fond of Stacey. After all, we shared the same apartment and spent almost every day together. We had so many similarities that we quickly became close friends. But Stacey had a knack for getting under my skin and making me lose my temper.

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After finishing my bed, I left Stacey in the room and headed to the kitchen.

When I arrived, I saw Colet scrolling through her phone while sipping from her mug. The smell of freshly cooked eggs, hot dogs, and bread filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

"Bat di ka pa nag-umpisa kumain?" I asked as I pulled out a chair to sit beside her.

She stopped scrolling and turned her attention to me. "Malamang hinintay kita, meron bang sabay na may nauna?" she replied sarcastically, then chuckled. "De joke lang."