housemates (completed)

housemates 14 -- breezy

Other changes happened in both J's and M's lives after M's schedule was changed to the morning shift. It was not as if they were not used to being 'awake' at the same time of the day but it was more of the physical presence in the same place. It has been, after all, almost eight months since M had the morning shift. She started work at Hopewell doing the afternoon shift then was soon scheduled for the graveyard shift. This was the same time that she moved into the share house and 'met' J. Even on her days off, M would try to keep her schedule of being awake during the late evenings until around mid-morning. J, on the other hand, maintained a more regular schedule. After a few months of living together with M, he got used to seeing her at work in the mornings, having lunch with her at noon, then bringing her to the hospital close to midnight. During the times J would 'travel' with M, they would always take his car even if the hospital was just a 15 to 20 minute walk from their apartment. However, over the weekend while they were both on their 'day off', M was able to convince J that they just walk to and from the apartment to the hospital.

"Hindi ba magtataka yung mga tao bakit tayo magkasabay?"

"As if hindi nagtataka yung mga guard at manong dun sa parking kung bakit lagi tayong sabay umaalis ng lunch time?"

"Sabagay...lagi nga akong nginingitian ni Kuya Amar kapag-inaantay kita sa likod ng door e. Alam nya kasing iniiwasan ko yung CCTV dun sa elevator lobby."

"Hmm...so, we'll make it appear that you pick me up from my apartment and we just walk together. Besides, bayad na yung parking natin dito. Sayang naman if we don't use it."

"Libre din ang parking ko sa hospital..."

"Ah basta, starting Monday, maglalakad tayo...exercise na rin natin...we'll take the car if the weather is bad..."

"O-kay" J replied reluctantly.

Weekends usually meant M visiting her grandparents and staying the night or two before going back to work the following Monday night. But since M's work schedule changed, she decided she'd spend Sunday with her grandparents and come home to the apartment in the late afternoon.

"Isama mo na yung manliilgaw mong si Richmond..." Papa said when M called to inform them of the change.

"Richard po..."

"Oo nga, Rico..."

"Richard..."

Kaya nga, isama mo na yang si Ricoa...dito na kayo sa Sunday...magsisimba tayo ng sabay tapos magllunch dito sa bahay..."

"Pa...Richard po..."

"See you sa Sunday"

"Tomorrow's going to be a 'first' for me again" M said as they sat on the sofa. They were going to watch 'Birdbox' on Netflix. M never told J her preference for romcoms, comedies, and action movies more than suspense, thrillers, or horror flicks. She cowered in one corner of the sofa when the scenes were too intense for her. The background scoring made her get goosebumps, too. Suddenly, M clutched on to J and buried her face in his chest. In his surprise, he embraced her.