More Than Friends (Book 1)

Chapter 40. Birthday Gifts

Ellias Joaquin Alfaro

"So? You two are seriously dating? Since when?" Elisse asked with her arms crossed. 

"Shut up," Iya said. 

"We just started dating," I answered instead.

"Baby brother, you better not hurt our Naddy or else, I'll make sure to never give you a peaceful sleep, ever," Sabi ni Elisse kaya naman natawa ako.

"Bakit ko naman sasaktan ang sarili ko?" Tanong ko kaya naman natahimik siya.

"Oh, wow. I liked that," Elisse said and I chuckled softly in return.

It's funny how she was mad earlier but now she seemed fond of us. 

"Ano? May tanong ka pa ba?" I asked her but before she can even speak, Iya suddenly grabbed me by the hand.

"Stop with the interrogation. Hindi pa ba tayo uuwi?" Tanong niya. 

"What do you call each other?" 

"By names of course," Iya replied.

"As usual, you're not an expert in dating Naddy. Couples usually call each other by endearments like love, baby, babe, boo, or ma--" Hindi na natapos ni Elisse ang sasabihin niya dahil biglang tumayo si Iya.

"Go lecture someone else with your love advice Eljay," Iya said before holding my hand. 

"If there's someone who needs to be lectured with love advice, it is none other than you Naddy," Elisse said but Iya just rolled her eyes in return. 

"Tara?" She asked while looking at me. 

"Tara," I said, smiling at her. 

Elisse dropped us off before the villa just to interrogate Iya and as usual, both Elisse and Trisha were surprised to hear that I'm dating my best friend. Sa totoo lang, pati ako nagulat. I thought Iya would deny me and our relationship. 

"So? Ano bang gusto mo itawag sakin?" I asked her out of curiosity.

We're walking together with our hands locked and I can't deny that this is now my favorite thing to do with her. 

"Seryoso ka ba? Come on Elli, that's childish," 

"Ano bang bagay? Hmm, I think love would be perfect tutal mahal mo naman ako," I teased but she just giggled in return. 

"Hindi bagay," 

"Then what?" I asked while looking at her.

"The term baby suits you a lot since you are so childish," She said and giggled. 

"Really?" I asked her.

"Really. I've never encountered someone as childish as you are in my 21 years of damn existence," Sabi niya kaya naman napangiti ako.

"I like it," I replied.

Fuck

I can't imagine Iya Nadine calling me that. Just thinking about it, sends a cold shiver in my entire existence. My heart would burst in a damn instant if she ever calls me that.


"That was supposed to be a joke," She said.

"I take jokes seriously," Sabi ko naman. 

"You better not call me that," She warned.

"Noted, baby," Sabi ko kaya naman kusa siyang napabitaw sa kamay ko.

"Shut up," Sabi niya kaya naman natawa ako. She hugged herself and rubbed her shoulders the moment the cold wind brushed against her skin. She looks so beautiful. The moon as well as the stars are a fan of her.