I became a constant fixture in Jia's life for the past two months that even her family started to rely on me.
"Hello, Ate Bea?" Jobok said from the other line.
"Good morning, Bok!" I greeted. "What's up?"
"Busy ka po ba today?"
I frowned in curiosity at Jobok's question. And well, I was only lounging around in my pad today so he was very timely.
"Not at all. Bakit?"
"Ah, eh, si Ate Jia po kasi..."
I sat up properly from my lazy position in the couch.
"Anong problema?" I asked worriedly.
"Si Ate Jia po kasi, eh, ayaw lumabas ng kwarto niya. Saka parang nag-iiyak lang nang nag-iiyak," Jobok said with concern.
"Bakit?"
I stood up and went to get my keys.
"Di po talaga namin alam, eh. Baka naman po pwede niyo siya puntahan dito sa bahay?"
"Sure, Jobok. Punta na ako diyan."
We ended the call and I hurried to prepare and went to my car.
Somehow, I was worried but not that much. In fact, I had a good feeling that donuts and ice cream would help a lot so I bought some before going to Jia's house. I also bought boxes of pizza for her family.
When I got there, Jobok greeted me at the door with a kiss on the cheek.
I gave him the boxes of pizza and he assisted me to the kitchen where Tita and Tito were. Nagmano ako sa kanila. And they thanked me for the food.
"Bea, anak, buti andito ka na. Kausapin mo nga si Jia," Tita said.
"Kanina pa kami nag-aalala," Tito followed.
"Subukan ko po. Nasaan po ba kwarto niya?"
Jobok was the one who showed me the way to Jia's room on the second floor. He left me with a good luck when we were in front of her door.
I knocked softly on Jia's door. No response. I tried again and called out.
"Jia? It's me. Open up."
Still no response.
"Come on, Jia. Buksan mo na 'to. I brought food."
Still no response.
"Julia Melissa, isa! Buksan mo na 'to!"
I heard rustling from the other side and the door opened.
I gulped because Jia was glaring at me with her puffy eyes. I shouldn't have used her full name.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Jia asked bitchily.
I gave a nervous smile. "I told you. I brought food."
I raised my hand that was holding the box of doughnuts and plastic bag with cups of ice cream.
I thought Jia was gonna close the door on me so I immediately barged into her room and plopped down on her bed. Jia frowned at me before closing the door hard. The sound probably echoed all throughout their house.
I tapped the space beside me and smiled at her, hoping to make her calm down. But she only crossed her arms and glared at me.
"Come on. I brought doughnuts," I said.
She hesitated. "Choco butternut?"
I grinned. "All of it."
"And the ice cream?"
