Two ✶ Calm Before The Storm

It was the next day. Her head was pounding as she felt the sunlight hit her closed eyes, making her stir awake.

She tried to sleep again, tossing and turning around her bed until she fell off the bed which happened to wake up everyone in the room with her. Her best friend, Shiloh, came rushing to her side, quickly attending to her. "What the fuck happened, gago ka!" She shouts, making her ears ring slightly.

Mahalia winces before rubbing her eyes open and looking at her friend. "Umusog lang naman ako, grabe ka makamura ah." Her voice was raspy from all the shouting from last night. I was just moving around and you're so quick to curse me out ah.

The older girl rolls her eyes, not bothering to reply and leaving the girl to return to sleep.

The singer closes her eyes for a bit before standing up and looking at who else slept over her apartment. Franchezka and Shiloh were with her in the room, lying on the floor with the cushion would always put out. Then she looked at her bed, Jacob was nowhere to be found on the spot he'd always sleep on although his bracelet and lighter were on her bedside table with a small note beside it.

'Went out for a jog - J x'

She smiled tiredly before going out of her bedroom to check her kitchen and living room for her boyfriend yet he was nowhere to be found.

On her living room couches, she found Gio and Charlie sleeping peacefully, their mouths open wide enough for bugs to enter. She was surprised they managed to fit themselves on the two medium-sized couches.

She went over to the kitchen and brewed herself some coffee. Moments later, she heard soft footsteps that got louder as she poured coffee into her mug that said, 'spill ur guts' from her recent album's merch release.

With her hair up in a bun, Franchezka went over to the kitchen to get herself some coffee as well. "Morning," The older girl yawned as she got the mug she'd usually use when she came to visit.

"Good morning, ganda mo ah." She teased the girl in the messy bun who was now pouring coffee into her cup. Good morning, you look beautiful.

The morning went on, the rest of their group waking up as soon as the Mahalia started making brunch. Their friend group was huddled around the kitchen, Gio and Charlie taking plates and cutlery out while Shiloh poured the two boys coffee and Franchezka set glassware down.

"Glad you're still alive Gio, after all those drinks last night and how you couldn't even get up the stairs, I thought you were gone for good." Mahalia teased the boy as she turned off the stove.

The British boy rolled his eyes with a small smile on his face. "Yeah yeah, whatever. Where's Jake at by the way? He owed me so many shots last night he ditched Charlie and I!" Emphasizing on the word so.

Shiloh set down the mugs beside two plates before taking a seat on one of the stools, watching her friends interact. "Yeah Mal, where's your guy?" The girl asked, a hand on her palm.

"Said he went out for a jog." Mahalia shrugged while she placed the scrambled eggs on one big plate. She made a big serving, enough for 6-8 people. It was routine for whoever's house they would sleep over at to make the same amount of food every time and most of the time it would be Franchezka's as she was the oldest and her apartment was spacious, perfect for their friend group.

Charlie then walks over to where his girlfriend is seated, taking the mug she had just set down seconds ago. "It's almost 11 and he's still jogging?" His head a bit tilted then Shiloh nudges his side. "Ow," he mumbled, giving his girlfriend a confused look but her eyes were widened in a way to warn him.

"Uh... I don't know, he usually goes to the gym while he's out too," The girl turns her back on them, taking the plates and setting them on the counters. "Let's eat for now, okay?" She tells them with a smile.

There were only 4 stools and there were 6 of them so the boy decided to stand up while eating their meal.

After brunch, Jacob finally returned to the apartment with paper bags of food for everyone. "Sorry, I took a while, wanted to get everyone something." He says as he walks inside the house going over to the couch and pecking Mahalia's temple before setting the paper bags down on the counter.

The blonde boy took out the box of bagels and donuts while Mahalia got plates and cutlery out.

"Okay guys, let's eat again," She called her friends before inching closer to her boyfriend, who was now opening the box of donuts and taking one. "Thank you for this by the way." The brown-haired girl tells him softly, placing a peck on his shoulder.

The girls went up to the counters first, two of them taking a donut.

As they ate their donuts, Franchezka noticed something different with her best friend's boyfriend. She wasn't sure what he typically looked like after going out for a morning jog but seemed to see a red bruise blooming right by his collarbone which was slightly covered by his shirt though it could still be noticed.

Her eyes narrowed at the boy, Shiloh nudged her slightly to ask what was wrong but she looked at what her friend was looking at, the couple in front of them being oblivious to what was going on. The smaller girl's eyes widened as she noticed, taking Franchezka's hand and dragging the both of them back to the living room.

Shiloh began speaking incoherently, her mouth filled with the powdered donut.

"Don't speak with your mouth full, please." The older girl emphasized the please before taking a bite from her donut.

Once Shiloh was done chewing, she spoke again. "Did you see that? It was a hickey right or am I crazy?" She said softly, dusting off the powder from her fingers.

"I know... It looks new too. It's probably from last night—unless, he's chea-"

"Shh! Ang lakas lakas ng boses, she's just behind us dude." Shiloh put her index on her lips as she spoke, glancing back at the kitchen where the couple still stood. You're too loud, she's just behind us.

The two chose to ignore it the rest of the day though the thought of their best friend's boyfriend cheating on her was also hanging over their heads while the group hung out and spoke until they left the apartment.

For now, they enjoyed the day together, talking and telling each other about stories from last night's party, not knowing what could happen in the next few days.