After The Fall GxG)

Chapter 1

Gaia Faviola Del Gallego POV

It's almost evening here in New York City but the sun is still visible. The weather is hot and humid. I could feel a tinge of sweat forming at my nape as I wait for my best friend to come get me outside her apartment building. I've buzzed her walk up apartment on the 3rd floor and she told me to wait right here and that she will come get me. I told her to just buzz me in but she insisted on coming down to help me with my bags. I didn't argue with her and told her, "Sure," through the speaker by the main door.

Two hours earlier, I've rang her phone on my way from the airport as the taxi driver braves the hella traffic on the Van Wyck Expressway. I wanted to make sure that she's at home. Because the last time I came for a surprise visit, I was the one surprised. She wasn't at home and was out of town. That taught me a great deal, because I dragged my frozen ass up a few blocks going midtown to checked into a hotel. Never again will I do that during winter. That was a bummer.

I'd usually check into a hotel in Times Square or in K-Town whenever I visit NYC, but for some reason she has talked me into staying at her flat. And so here I am waiting for her fiddling with my phone.

"Girl!" My best friend shrills as she comes down running the couple of steps of her walk up in the East Village. I look up at her smiling and wave my hand hello. The smile on her face as she looks at me was so bright, it could rival the almost setting sun and illuminate the whole block. She stops and takes a breath and then clears her throat as she steps in front of me. Her dimples on both cheeks are visible as she smiles again at me before giving me a crushing hug. I almost dropped my phone as I try to return the tight hug.  She smells like green apples and peach with a hint of disinfectant.  I know right!  What a combination; but I've been accustomed to that
smell since she became a doctor. 

We've actually lost touch for a few years after college as she was busy going to med school.  She was my high school best friend.

Then I came to visit Kai―my other best friend since my Culinary days in Italy―a couple of years ago, who btw also lives here though in the Gramercy Park area. 

Anyway, Joelle and I accidentally bump into each other in Cooper Square, as I was on my way to St. Mark's Place. We had coffee and talked the whole day to catch up on our lives. 

Ever since that day, we've rekindled our friendship and it has been great for the past the past 5 years or so.  And we've been spending a lot of time whenever I come here for a visit.

We talk almost everyday over Skype, messenger or FaceTime. It's as if we've never lost touch. Our friendship has been great since then. 

"Kamusta?  I've missed you girlie!"  She says smiling at me as we let go of each other. 
"I'm good, thanks.  You?"  I smile at her and she hugs me back again. She probably missed me a lot with all this hugging thing going on. To think we're both not huggers and we both know it. 

"I missed you!  Like I really do." She then kisses my right cheek like she always does whenever we see each other.

"Really? But we always Skype." I say teasingly. She blushes and shrugs her shoulders. What's with the blushing? I mentally ask myself. It's probably because of the summer heat, I dismiss.

"So, c'mon! Let's go up. Just a heads up though, it's a walk up. So, there's no elevator. Get ready for a work out Babe." She softly laughs as she tries to grab my medium sized luggage.
"No, it's okay. I got it." I tell her as I grab the handle from her hand.
"I insist. Let me help you with that." She points to my luggage.

"No, really. I can manage. But if you must insist, you can carry my duffle bag and my purse since we're going three floors up. Ako na okay?!  Kaya ko 'to!"  I said smiling at her.
*************
"Damn! I thought I'm in good shape. Apparently I am not." I say out of breath in front of her door.
She laughs at me and winks.
"Good cardio right? Okay Lang yan.   Pawisan ant hingalin ka man, you're still sexy girlie." She says smirking as she inserts the key to her door.

"Ewan ko sa yo Elle." I say as I bend over to catch my breath. She laughs at me and then suddenly has this sudden forlorn look in her eyes that vanishes quickly.

"Wow.  I've missed that monicker G!  No one has ever called me that since you did back in high school."  She looks intently at me and a small smile forming on her lips.  "

Did you know that you're the only one who calls me Elle?"  She says laughing a little as she opens the door. I just shrug my shoulders at her. 

"Pasok ka muna. I'm so excited to have you staying with me. Grabe babe! Finally!"  She steps off to the left to let me in and then closes the door.  I move my feet as I pull my luggage behind me. 

"Thank you."  I nod at her.  "So, where should I put my stuff?"  I ask her as I look around the place.  It's a one bedroom apartment.  As you enter, there's small foyer.  To the left of that is the dining room and kitchen.  To the right of the foyer is the living room.  There's a lilac colored sofa with pillows and a baby pink Afghan throw resting on it. It looks so plush and comfy and it's calling my butt to try and sit on it. I smile at the thought. In front of that is a wooden center table with books and and some paper strewn about. 

The wall in front of the sofa has a floor to ceiling cabinet and shelves that houses a big flat screen TV in the middle. 

A light grey love seat on the left side of the sofa looks so inviting with its bright yellow throw pillows on each of the arm rest. Behind that is a feature wall that has a live green wall art that looks so organic and gives the room a livelier vibe. 

Beyond it is the bathroom and hallway that used to be a bedroom turned closet space and office/hallway.  Her apartment is a railroad flat; which is typical of New York City.

That passage leads to her bedroom.  It's a pretty cozy place and It looks so organize and beautiful. 

"Here, I'll lead the way."  She starts walking with my bags in tow through the living room and to the hallway leading to the bedroom. 

"Babe, pasensya ka na ah.  This is a one bedroom apartment and it's a bit small.  I know you're used to staying at grander places.  I hope you don't mind my mess and the size of my bedroom."  She says as she steps through her room.  She's shyly smiling at me and looks a bit apologetic. 

"No worries Elle.  Ako na nga makikitulog for a few of days, ako pa ba ang choosy? Besides, your bedroom is a good size.  Wag ka ngang ano diyan!"  I genuinely smile at her and hold her hand.

"Basta sorry Favi.  You can have my room naman and I'll sleep sa sofa bed sa living room, so you'll have more space."  She says and squeezes my hand.

"Ano ka ba?  I'll take the sofa bed and you can sleep here in your own bed.  Hindi naman ako maarte."  I wink at her. 

"Is it okay if I put my bags here?"  I ask her as I place my luggage beside her dresser drawer.  She nods and puts my duffle bag beside it.  She hugs me again and invites me to the dining room. 

"So, since I know you're tired from the long haul, do you want to go out to dinner or do you just want to stay in?"  She asks as she gives me a glass of water. 

"It's up to you.  I know you're tired too Kasi di ba you just came from duty?"  I take the glass from her and drink the water. 

"Tell you what, since we're both tired, we could just order in and just chill here if that's okay?"  I place the glass on the table and look at her smiling.

"Great idea!  Sige!  Italian, Chinese, Japanese or Vietnamese?"  She asks me.  I

I think for a minute.
"It's too hot for Pho but I would really love some soup. Hmmm...okay. Let's go for Italian!" She laughs at me and winks. "That was confusing."
She then immediately went to one of the kitchen drawers and took out a flyer that says Serafica.

I peruse the menu and decided on having the Branzino, one of my favorite fish dishes, with a side of aglio olio spaghetti and Tiramisu for dessert.  Their Tiramisu is to die for I tell you.  I've always liked Serafica. Everything's good there. Joelle didn't bother getting the menu from me and dials the number of the restaurant and orders our food.