"Tienn..."
Sinundot sundot ko ang pisngi niya pero nanatili pa rin siyang tulog sa balikat ko. After that incident, I asked where her car is pero wala pala itong dala. Kaya pala kasabay ko rin siyang pumasok sa gate kanina. We called her driver so we could get her some clothes from the mall. I even bought her a meal and had her sleep on my shoulder. Ang driver niya'y nanatili lamang sa labas ng sasakyan. Naguiguilty nga ako dahil isang oras na siya roon sa labas ng sasakyan, nakatayo. Sinabi ko naman na ayos lamang kahit narito siya sa loob, hayaan lang muna naming matulog si Tienn but he insisted on staying outside the car, to give privacy to his boss daw.
I opened my phone and saw tons of messages and calls from my friends.
"Are they looking for you na?" I looked at Tienn when I heard her sleepy voice. Bahagyang nakabukas ang isang mata nito at nakasilip sa ibabaw ng phone ko.
Instead of turning the phone off, I even opened up the messages and let her look at it. She slowly moved and looked at me confused.
"Sina Ray, nagyayaya mag night out. You wanna come?" I asked. I saw her gulped. Kinakabahan siguro siyang makalapit kay Ray, that's understandable.
"By night out, you mean..."
"Ahh hindi, bonding lang 'yan. Swimming siguro kayna Gail." Nawala ang kunot ng noo niya at dahan-dahang tumango.
Ang iniisip siguro niyang night out ay ang usual night out na clubbing. But judging from how my friends says "Kina Gail tayo tonight!" I know it's just bonding.
"I-ikaw na lang. I think it's inappropriate to come." Sabi niya at nag-iwas ng tingin.
Hinuli ko ang tingin niya at ngumisi.
"Inappropriate? Or are you just nervous to be with Ray?"
"Ha? Hindi ah! I'm just thinking it's inappropriate to come since, you know, I'm not invited naman." My forehead creased.
"I'm inviting you."
"I'm not welcome—,"
"I'm welcoming you."
"But—,"
"Okay, if you don't want to come, it's fine. Wanna grab some coffee at Mom's?" Dahan-dahang sumilay ang ngiti sa labi niya pero agad niya iyong sinubukang itago kahit halata pa rin namang natuwa siya sa sinabi ko
"May lakad ka with your friends oh! Bakit ka nagyayaya magkape?"
"I haven't said yes to them yet... And I'm asking you. You're my friend too."
"But—,"
"Kuya, tara na." Tinawag ko na ang driver niya as I brought her car's window down.
I instructed him regarding the directions of our coffee shop. It's already 5:30pm at mga ganitong oras madalas maraming tao sa coffee shop so I called an employee to reserve us a table ahead of time.
Like what I expected, they reserved us my favorite spot. The table on the corner, without many tables surrounding it.
"How did you—?" She couldn't finish asking. She was shocked when they served us Caramel Macchiato, and spanish latte. I noticed her receipts with Caramel Macchiato so I figured this is her favorite so I ordered this ahead of time as well.
"I thought your favorite's strawberry frappe at first but I noticed Caramel Macchiato on your receipts."
"My receipts?" Kunot noong tanong niya.
"C'mon, just drink it." Sabi ko rito. Ngumiti naman siya at masayang uminom.
I did not try opening up what happened earlier but she did.
BINABASA MO ANG
Her Steps (GS #1)
RomanceGRANDÉTON SERIES #1: Her Steps Jhiezzel Kane Portuez transferred from Del Rio University to Grandéton University to move on from her sister's death. This is where she met Krytienn Jaile Muardez, a woman who bugs her to have her friend, Ray.
