Chapter Text
Jhoanna grumbled to herself as she did the math in her head. What was the use of being on sick leave when here was her boss requiring her to submit a report.
Inaatake nanaman kasi siya ng migraine niya kaya hindi na siya nakapasok.
Thankfully after getting some much needed shut eye she was back to normal but alas upon waking up she was bombarded with messages from her boss.
Mabuti na lamang at inuwi niya ang kanyang work laptop.
Glancing at the time on her phone, she saw that it was a few minutes to six in the evening.
“Hala pauwi na pala si Col.” She whispered to herself before standing up from her position.
Agad siya dumeretso sa kusina ng kanilang apartment. She started grabbing the ingredients for the sinigang and mustard porkchops she had decided to cook for their dinner and got to work.
It was a quarter to 7 when she heard the apartment door open.
"Jho? Nakauwi na ako!"
Jhoanna heard her friend Colet calling from the front door.
"Kitchen!" She answered as she continued stirring the pot.
"Ui bango naman niyan!" Colet said just as she entered the kitchen, still wearing her back pack. She then reached out to fix a strand of Jhoanna's hair, framing the girl's gorgeous face. "Okay ka na? Hindi na sumasakit ulo mo?"
Jhoanna stilled for a second. Hindi pa din kasi siya masanay sa kaibigan. It's been two weeks that they've been living together. Her previous roommate got married and it just so happened Colet transferred to a company closer to where the apartment was.
They've been friends since they were in college and it was exciting to think they were living together now. And well...Jhoanna has always had a crush on her friend. She was just too chicken to admit it to anyone else.
"Nakatulog naman na ako Col." She answered Colet with a small smile. "Freshen up ka na doon pagtapos mo luto na 'to."
Cole smiled back in return before bounding for their room to deposit her things before showering.
Jhoanna had just finished up with the food, placing everything on the table before following where Colet had disappeared to. She had the laundry basket in one hand, fixing the clothes Colet had placed there just as she saw her phone ringing. She quickly swiped to answer and saw that her friend Stacey was video calling her.
"Jhoooooooo!"
"Ang energy Staks?" She chuckled, using their nickname for the girl. Jhoanna glanced at the bathroom when she heard the shower streams before looking back to Stacey.
"Inom tayo! Friday naman!" Stacey said through the call, Jhoanna saw that the girl was just inside her own apartment.
"Gaga nim-migraine nga ako kahapon tapos iinom?" Jhoanna answered as she entered the laundry area, propping her phone as she set up the washing machine.
Stacey ignored what she said and was instead engrossed with what she was doing. "Si asawa o naglalaba."
Jhoanna turned to her friend. "Huy. Asawa ka dyan."
"Ay bakit hindi ba." Halakhak pa ni Stacey. "Bahay bahayan kayo diyan ni Colet jusko."
"Sira." Jhoanna shook her head. "Best friend ko yon."
"Ako best friend mo gaga. Si Colet asawa mo."
Jhoanna rolled her eyes. "Bye na nga! Naglalaba yung tao! Bukas tayo mag-inom!"
"YOWN! Panghahawakan ko yan! Love you! See you tomo!" Stacey grinned, her pretty face showing through the call before she ended it.
She set the washing machine and got to work just as she heard Colet finishing up with her shower.
Once done, she went back to the kitchen and began setting up the plates as she waited. And in no time, Colet too was coming out from her room, dressed in a simple sando and shorts.
Jhoanna subtly bit her lip. Jusko. If only Colet knew how poganda she always looked.
“Kain na tayo?” She said, smiling widely at her friend.
“Shet sinigang and yung mustard porkchops! Favorite ko ‘to Jho!” Colet said giddily as she looked at what Jhoanna cooked.
And well that brought a smile to the girl’s face. Basta masaya si Colet masaya din siya.
She sat down as Colet started spooning some rice on to Jhoanna’s plate.
Pigil na pigil ang kilig ni Jhoanna.
Parang biglang nag e-echo ang boses ni Staku.
Si Colet asawa mo.
Si Colet asawa mo.
Si Colet asawa mo.
“Jho?”
Jhoanna snapped back to reality upon feeling Colet squeeze her arm.
“Ha?” She said, turning to her best friend who was worriedly looking at her.
“Nagz-zone out ka man.” Colet said still in a worried tone. She placed a hand on Jhoanna’s forehead, trying to feel if she had a fever. “Wala ka naman lagnat. Pagkakain pahinga na saglit tapos tulog na.”
Jhoanna pouted in reply. “Col di pwede may tatapusin pa ako na report.”
Colet looked at her. “Anong report e sick leave ka? Hindi. Magpahinga na.”
“Hindi nga pwede.” Jhoanna pouted again. “Promise malapit naman na matapos. After matutulog na me.”
Colet looked at her friend and sighed, knowing that Jhoanna wouldn’t back down.
“Fine. Tulog agad after okay?” Colet gave her a small smile, patting her head. “O tara na kain na tayo muhkang mabubusog nanaman ako neto.”
And so they ate, happy with the company they gave each other.
“Jusko Jhoanna ang amos!” Colet chuckled, wiping the side of Jhoanna’s lips streaked with sauce, with her thumb before licking said thumb then continuing to eat.
Jhoanna stared wide-eyed ay the girl. Close sila ni Colet pero iba pala epekto pag magkasama na sila sa iisang tirahan! Sobrang komportable nito sa kanya.
Pa-fall ampota.
Sighing, Jhoanna merely smiled back at the girl. She always told herself that she needed to push these feelings aside as to not get hurt. Colet has had past girlfriends and a few flings here and there. Jhoanna just knew that she wasn't her best friend's type.
All these thoughts to herself and she hadn't realized that Colet was finished eating as well.
Tatayo na sana siya pero inunahan siya ng kaibigan.
"Col--"
"Et et, you cooked I clean okay?" Colet said smiling softly at her while holding their plates.
Jhoanna had to bite her lip as Colet walked to the sink. It was always like this with them, and it felt too domestic; something she thought in the back of her mind would be a happy life for her. Hanggang imagine lang naman.
She let Colet be with the dishes while she moved to grab the laundry she was doing earlier. She set the clothes once again in the dryer before moving back to grab her laptop but was surprised to see that it wasn't where she left it.
Her feet led her back to the kitchen to see Colet setting her laptop up for her.
The girl lifted her head up upon seeing her, a scowl on her pretty face.
"Jho diba sabi ko dito ka na lang sa kitchen magwork kung gagamitin mo itong laptop? Masyado mababa yung coffee table sa may living room, yung scoliosis mo."
Jhoanna's expression softened at that and she gave Colet her signature smile as she sat down. "Hay nako saan ba talaga ako pupulutin kung wala ka." She said as she glanced up at Colet who was pouring her a glass of juice.
The latter glanced back at her with a small smirk. "Tulog na after ah. Dapat nga di mo na tapusin yan." She said as she pinched Jhoanna's nose.
"Aray! Kainis 'to!" Jhoanna said but was clearly laughing.
"Tulog agad okay?!" Paalala ulit ni Colet.
Jhoanna shook her head. She knew where Colet was heading to; the game room. They set up a game room and it's been a few days since Colet had discovered this new console game and she'd play 'till midnight. Kapag walang pasok kinabukasan anong oras pa ito minsan natutulog. A chuckled escaped her when she heard Colet yelling at her game though muffled.
"Gagi potaeana hinabol ako!"
The minutes passed and Jhoanna was able to get on with the report. Kaunti na lang talaga at makakabalik pahinga na siya. Mabuti na lamang at weekend kinabukasan.
She re-read her report, making sure that everything was in order and in tip top shape. Maipagmayabang naman niya sa boss niya na hindi man lang naalala na may sakit siya. She fixed the glasses perched on her nose, stifling a yawn when she heard the entertainment room door open. She lazily turned at the sound in time to see Colet walking towards her.
The girl had a cute pout on her face as she approached and in one movement, moved to squeeze Jhoanna's right arm two times. Jhoanna's mouth opened agape but no sound escaped her as she was too surprised.
What the?
And without another word, Colet gave her a small cheeky smile before she walked back to the room.
Jhoanna sat there dumbfounded. What just happened? It took a few more seconds before she finally submitted her report and closed her laptop.
Walking to the bedroom, she leaned her ear on the door, listening if Colet was alright. Apparently not since she was yelling at the game again.
"Hoy!" She called after her friend, opening the door to see Colet pouting at her while placing her controller on the carpet.
"Jho! Haay, lintik na naturingang healer 'tong isang 'to di naman nag heal! Katabi niya ako!?"
Jhoanna chuckled, placing her laptop on the table there. Bakit kasi ang cute ni Colet? She sat beside the girl who was resting back on the sofa while sitting on the carpeted floor.
"Tumataas nanaman yang cortisol mo, matulog na tayo--aray!" Jhoanna pouted when Colet squeezed her arm yet again.
"Col!"
"Sige tara tulog na tayo." Colet said, immediately losing her frown now replaced with a wide grin. She turned the console and the television off.
Jhoanna rolled her eyes. Jusko ano ba itong bagong habit ni Colet?
It was the latter who stood up first as she held Jhoanna's hands, lifting her to stand as well.
"Tigil mo na kakalaro niyan nas-stress ka lang." Jhoanna said as they walked out of the room, Colet pushing Jhoanna softly, hands on the taller girl's shoulders before they slid down to her arm, softly squeezing.
"Colet!!!"
"O bakit? Tulog ka na dapat kanina ka pa nagpapahinga. Dapat yung boss mo sinesermonan eh." Colet shook her head as they entered the bed room.
Since college days they were already used to sharing a bed so when Colet moved in, they sold the bed Jhoanna's previous roommate used and shared the queen sized one in Jhoanna’s room.
Left side was Jhoanna’s and the right one was Colet’s. It was already a routine for them.
Jhoanna was the first one to slide under the covers. Feeling her back rest againt the sheets was heaven.
“Jho teka.” And Colet reached to fix the pillows around her.
Jhoanna sighed as she turned and smiled at her friend. Sarap talaga kapag may nag-aalaga.
“Good night Jho.” Colet smiled at her before closing her eyes while Jhoanna turned around into a more comfortable position.
She was just beginning to fall asleep when she felt Colet burrowing closer to her. She gave a slight yelp when the girl squeezed her arm.
She couldn’t help but slowly turn back to look at her friend.
Colet was already asleep.
So she was doing it absent-mindedly?
BAKIT BA GIGIL SA BRASO NIYA SI COLET?!
========
“Colet iiwan talaga kita sinasabi ko sa’yo.”
Jhoanna was waiting by the door, car keys in hand.
Ubos na kasi ang stocks nila sa apartment at ayaw ni Jhoanna na lagi bumibili sa labas. Sayang naman ang pagturo ng nanay niya sa kanya magluto diba.
“Ito naaa.” Colet chuckled as she got out of their room.
She grinned at Jhoanna, hoping her charm would win the girl.
Jhoanna clicked her tongue. Palibhasa alam ni Colet isang pa cute lang nito sa kanya eh.
“Let’s go na kapag maaga kaunti pa tao.” Colet held her forearm as she was the one to close their front door, making sure that everything was locked.
After, they made their way to the basement parking and to the nearest grocery store.
Colet quickly grabbed a cart and made her way to the end since Jhoanna had a route eveytime they shopped there.
“Ay wait Col, yung fave natin.” Jhoanna reached for the top shelf where the spinach dip for their chips was.
She stilled when Colet reached for her waist, giving a slight squeeze. “Jhooo.” Colet whispered, trying to bring her shirt down.
A group of guys were passing by and subsequently turned their heads to them but Colet had already sent a dagger of a look their way causing them to scurry like a bunch of freightened rats.
“Hala thank you.” Jhoanna whispered, feeling Colet’s hand still on her waist.
She was still holding on the jar and so placed it inside their cart.
And still…she could feel the heat of Colet’s skin on hers.
She glanced at her friend who was busy organizing the contents of their cart while still holding on to her though instead of just gripping her waist, Colet’s whole arm was subtly resting their as if it was her own custom belt.
Ayaw siya bitawan?
“Col.”
“Hmm?” Colet turned to her.
She was expecting Colet to let go but the girl did nothing of the sort.
“Lika deretso na tayo para makapaglunch na din.”
They were already done and were lining up at the check out line waiting for their turn.
Jhoanna leaned slightly on the cart as she looked around the lanes. They were already next in line and the items by the cashier caught her attention. You know those knick knacks and brick a brack groceries placed conveniently there so people waiting in line would grab one even though they didn’t need it.
She then felt Colet planting her chin on her shoulder as they both waited.
“Ano tinitingnan mo?” Colet murmured. And Jhoanna didn’t know if she imagined it, but she definitely felt Colet brushing her lips on her shoulder as she did so.
“Uhm…” She cleared her throat, feeling suddenly hot. So she grabbed what she was looking at and gave it to Colet.
The latter pulled away slightly as Jhoanna glanced at her with an amused smile, opposite Colet’s weirded out expression.
“A…stress ball?” Colet said as if an invisible question mark was floating above her head.
“Oo I think need mo nyan dahil sa nilalaro mo.” Pasimpleng sabi ni Jhoanna.
She was surprised though when Colet returned the ball back to where she grabbed it. “Hindi ko kailangan niyan.”
“Next po!”
Their conversation was cut short when the cashier called for them since it was already their turn.
“Tara Jho.” Colet smiled, giving Jhoanna’s waist two squeezes.
Jusko.
Jhoanna gulped as she let Colet guide her forward while they pushed the cart.
Kaya ba hindi kailangan ni Colet nung stress ball kasi…siya yung stress ball ni Colet?