He Married the Stripper.

Cheers to New Friendships.

---NATHAN---

I pushed myself away from my desk and started stretching, I have been holed up in my apartment all day because of work and I wasn't even surprised when I saw what time it was since this is how it usually is when I'm trying to meet an impossible deadline. 

"I can't believe I haven't eaten anything since breakfast today." I muttered as I gathered my coffee cup and empty plate that had a sandwich hours ago but is now left with crumbs and a crusty ketchup stain. 

I left my plate and cup on the sink and checked my fridge for something to eat and of course it's empty what was I expecting anyway? I got so carried away with finishing my task early that I lost track of time and didn't even get groceries. If Roxy was here I wouldn't have lost track of time though, she would have been begging me to take her on a walk, to feed her and give her attention. I would have remembered to eat and take a break.

She's staying with Dad for the weekend since he misses her more than he misses his own son, they're going to the farm for the weekend and by taking Roxy with him "She'd get to enjoy the great outdoors rather than the cold city. Mas makakatakbo sya ng malaya." Whatever that means it's not like hindi ko siya nilalabas sa park everyday. I checked the weather report on my phone, grabbed my umbrella and started walking to the ramen shop I always go to when I forget to make dinner. 

I said hi to the cashier when I came in and she already knows what I wanted a clear sign I need to start eating healthier and stop eating out, I paid and turned to walk to my usual seat by window, where the people who eats alone usually sits. There were two chairs there and someone was already seated on the other one. I couldn't help but smile when I saw who it was, of course its her again. 

"Pwede bang maki-upo dito?" I asked her. She just nodded without looking at me. When I sat down I was surprised she actually heard me since she was wearing headphones and I can hear the muffled sound of the music she was listening to, it sounded like a song in english with a very soothing voice of a woman.

I sat down and minded my own business, she seemed so pre-occupied that I didn't want to bother her anymore so I took out my own phone and started reading and replying to my e-mails. It was a few minutes after I finished eating when I heard her muttering something.

"Naku naman, bakit umuulan?" I looked out the window and true enough, it already started raining like what the weather network predicted. 

"Paano ako uuwi ngayon nito?" I head her say again. I looked at the time on my phone and smiled. I tapped her shoulder.

"I have an umbrella, you wanna share?" She turned to me and looked surprised.

"Hello." I smiled at her.

She tried to refuse countless of times but seeing as it's getting late and mag-sasara na yung ramen shop napilit ko na din siyang sumabay sakin. For people sharing an umbrella we were walking centimetres from each other buti na lang malaki yung payong ko or else she'd be wet by now.  

"Pasensya ka na talaga, hindi ko talaga alam na uulan ngayong gabi." Sabi ni Emily for the nth time.

"Don't worry about it, malaki naman tong payong ko. It was a freebie from the last company I worked with." I smiled at her and she just smiled awkwardly at me. I don't blame her for being awkward though but I really hate awkward silence more.

"If this was a movie I'd probably be your knight in shining armor. Is that what you're thinking right now?" Biro ko sa kanya.

"W-what?" She stuttered. Looks like I got it right dahil namula yung mukha nya.

"That's what you're thinking right? I mean every time we see each other, it seems like that's what I've been doing." She didn't say anything and just walked faster and being the gentleman I am, I ran after her and covered her with the umbrella.

"Teka, umuulan pa o! Mababasa ka." Sabi ko sa kanya pero mas lalo nyang binilisan yung paglalakad nya at itinulak palayo ang payong ko.

"Mas mabuti pang mabasa ako ng ulan kesa sumabay sayo. Diba napag-kasunduan nating hindi na natin pag-uusapan yung dati?!" 

"I know pero ikaw kasi e, you're the one thinking about it that's why you're feeling awkward and I hate awkward silences." Paliwanag ko sa kanya and once again I tried covering her with the umbrella again.

"Nababasa ka na." Sabi lang nya as she pushed it back closer to me.

"I'm fine." I said as moved it back.

We were standing there like idiots as we pushed the humongous umbrella back and forth between us. If there were people watching us they're probably thinking were shooting a corny movie scene so I couldn't help but start laughing and I guess she's probably thinking the same thing as she laughed with me.

"Para tayong tanga." She said.

"I know, what are we doing? I mean the umbrella's big enough for the two of us if we just move closer to each other we'd both be covered, okay lang ba?" I asked her. She looked at me and I guess after weighing the pros and cons she finally moved closer.

"See, hindi na tayo mababasa." I said as we started walking.

We were silent again but this time it wasn't uncomfortable. I was about to start a conversation when she beat me to it.

"How's Roxy?" She asked, I smiled at her and I proceeded to tell her about how my Dad gave my dog a holiday and not me.

I predict that we're going to be fine from now on.