The Roommate Situation

Chapter 2

Gracie

I got extra busy at the cafe that I totally forgot to message Alex. May nag-hold pa ng event sa cafe the next day kaya we're packed than usual. I'm not complaining though. I need this income, kasi hindi ko talaga kayang i-let go itong coffee shop business ko. This has been my dream for the longest time. The Blissful Beans is my heart and soul.

Iniwan ko lahat para sa passion project ko na ito. I quit my corporate job in BGC and moved here to my mother's hometown when she died. This coffee shop used to be my mom's flower shop, kaya sobrang sentimental ng place na 'to sa'kin to the extent na willing ako isakripisyo 'yung personal savings ko to save this place, and of course, willing to share my personal space to cut costs—kahit pa sa isang baliw na kagaya ni Alex.

By the time I got home, it was already 10 PM. My feet ached from running back and forth at the cafe. I collapsed at the couch with my phone in hand. Nagso-scroll lang ako sa instagram ko nang mapadaan sa picture ng isang cute na aso at saka ko lang naalala.

"Shit." I slapped my forehead. Alex.

Binuksan ko agad ang inbox ko sa reddit at tinitignan ang huling message namin sa isa't isa. It's been more than a day, and he hasn't messaged me since. He probably thinks I'm flaky or uninterested.

Bumalik ako sa IG para doon siya i-dm. I pulled up Alex's Instagram handle. @alex.doesntrunwithscissors.

I snorted. "Okay, decent username. At least it's not like... 'DarkAngelNurse' or something."

Binuksan ko ang profile niya, and my skepticism wavered as I scrolled through his posts. The first one was a mirror selfie in a fitted, maroon scrubs that showed off his muscular shoulders, with the caption: "Another day, another night shift. Catch me crying in the supply closet at 3 AM."

"Relatable," I mutter. Bigla ko na lang napindot ng dalawang beses 'yung screen at may lumabas na heart sa gitna. Nanlaki ang mata ko at namawis ang palad sa kaba. Agad ko itong in-unlike, praying to God that it didn't notify him.

I scrolled more and found a photo of him at the beach with his friends, wearing a pair of swim trunks and holding a ridiculously oversized inflatable duck. I blinked. Inunahan ko na agad ang sarili ko. "No, Grasya. Get it together. This is exactly how girls end up in bad romcoms!"

I took a deep breath as I tapped the send message button and started typing.

Gracie:

Hey. This is Gracie, yung kausap mo sa reddit regarding apartment. Slr, I got so busy at the cafe. Let's talk apartment logistics na.

I hit send and stared at the screen, half-hoping and half-dreading his reply.

And there it was, the seen icon appeared followed by three little dots that meant he's typing.

Alex:

Uy! Kala ko ghinost mo na ko e. Promise I'm not some lunatic. I even have references.

Gracie:

Pics or it didn't happen.

Alex:

Anong pic? My NBI, police clearance, barangay clearance? Name it, I have it all. 😃

Gracie:

Hmm. A pic of you holding a sign saying "I'm not a murderer"?

Alex:

Wow. Sabihin mo na lang kasi kung gusto mo ng fansign ko.

Gracie:

Omg, kapal ha!!! I just have to make sure na hindi ka poser. Sorry for not wanting to be in a netflix crime documentary. 🙄