My friends asked me what happened at the housewarming party, so I told them the wholesome version. Were they disappointed to only know those things, of course? I wouldn't tell them what happened. I promised Zeke I won't share with anyone what we did, even with my friends. I don't snitch. I don't tell.  But if something would make me get back to them if the situation turned out bad, I would be their greatest karma.

So far, all of them ended on a good note.

I went to the store today to buy groceries for my house. I have low stocks of goods in my pantry so I thought it was the best time to get out of the house. I also took this opportunity to grab the ingredients to make some lasagna. I should give Hayden sooner his request from me. Alam kong hindi rin naman niya ako titigilan hangga't sa hindi niya natitikman ang isa sa mga pinaka-proud ako kapag niluluto. Well, same thing for me on him, hindi rin ako titigil hangga't hinid ko siya natitikman.

But I knew that wouldn't happen, isang malaking problem si Renee, and she would remain a problem forever, so I might just resort to something else. . . And that is, Zeke.

I've been keeping in touch with Zeke. We were texting, calling, sexting, and sending dick and hole pics and all. It was fun and I've gotten comfortable with him since the night he came into my house and said he wanted to fuck me. Whenever I get back to that night, I can't forget how nervous he would find out that I was fantasizing about his friend, yet he was the one who told me secrets about him.

"Why do they always put the essentials on the top shelves," I murmured when I tried tiptoeing, but I felt like I was just going to fail. Either I would leave it or try my best and if I fall, I hope no one would see that. I grunted as I couldn't make it. When I looked around to see if any workers could help me, I thought it would be just myself. "This is it. . . Now or never."

The lasagna pasta was at the top of the shelves and I couldn't find it elsewhere, but here. They said the stock left on this shelf would be the last one until the next delivery so I can't miss this one out just because I wasn't a few inches tall enough.

"Chel!" Mabilis na lumipad ang tingin ko sa boses ng lalaki na tumawag sa akin. As soon as I found out who it was, kinabahan ako at the same time ay kinilig ang pempem ko. Malaki naman ang ngiti na namutawi sa mukha ko. Feeling ko lagpas tainga pa nga. Nakangiti rin naman itong lumapit sa akin. "Anong ginagawa mo? Do you need some help?"

Napangiwi ako sa kanya. Out of all people who could see me right now, siya pa. Pero aarte pa ba ako? I would take Hayden every day. Wala nang atras-atras pa. Ilalaban ko na kaagad 'to.

Tumango naman ako. "I actually need some help. . . Would you mind grabbing the box of lasagna on the top shelf? I was trying to grab it, but I knew I would just fall. . . This wasn't the shelf it had in before so I don't know why would they put them here now—"

Napangisi naman ito at kukuda pa sana ako, pero inabot na nito ang box ng lasagna sa itaas. Tinanong ako nito kung ilang box ang need ko. I would only need one, pero nang mapansin ko na sa pagtaas niya ng braso niya ay umaangat din ang laylayan ng t-shirt niya. Even though I didn't need another one, I asked for one and then he grabbed it and my eyes quickly went down to see his amazing trail and v-line. Agad ko rin namang ibinalik ang paningin ko sa kanya nang ituon niya rin ang atensyon niya sa akin.

I took the boxes and put them in my basket. Nahihiya ako sa kanya dahil hindi ko inaasahan na makikita ko siya ngayon. Kanina lang ay naabutan ko siyang nagbibihis sa kwarto at umalis silang dalawang mag-asawa na naka-kotse.

"Thank you sa help. Iiwanan ko na sana 'to, e," aniko. Ngayon ay hindi ko na magawa pang tingnan siya sa mata niya.

"No problem. I'm glad to help. . . And you're to cook some lasagna? Would that be for me?" he said letting out a subtle laugh.

"What would you say if I told you that this is for you?" I giggled. Natawa na lang din naman ito. "I thought it was about time na matikman niyo rin ang luto. Renee has been giving me her baked goodies. It was so good. Renee has been blessed with chef's hands."

He chuckled. "I think if we would be able to taste your creation, we would say the same thing."

"Ito naman, makabola, e."

He laughed and I thought it was genuine. "No, really! Naamoy ko pa lang 'yon the last time I went to your place, I knew it would taste good. I can't wait to taste it, Chel. Nakaka-excite, actually.

"Thank you! Mas kinakabahan na tuloy ako. . . Anway, nasaan pala asawa mo? I knew both of you left earlier. Hindi mo ba siya kasama ngayon?"

Umiling naman ito. "We were, but she was still at the nail spa so I left her there in the meantime while I did the grocery. Where are you going after this?"

I shrugged off. "I'll go back home. I've got nothing else to do today. . . Or maybe I could join Renee in the nail spa. I haven't been going to the nail spa since my Mom brought me there when I was wrong when she did her nails. Ay, ang daldal ko na at masyado na kitang inaabala. I should get going. . . May mga kukunin pa ako and I wouldn't take much of your time. Basta, I'll cook this lasagna for you, as promised!"

"Sure thing! Aasahan ko 'yan." Kindat pa nito sa akin. "See you around, Chel."

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita. Nakangiti lang akong pinanood siyang maglakad palayo. Nang mawala siya sa paningin ko ay saka lang ako bumalik sa ulirat ko at bumalik ako sa pamimili ko. Sa tuwing masisilayan ko naman siya, umiiwas na ako. Nahihiya ako sa kanya at baka sunod kong gawin ay lumuhod na kaagad. Hindi ko rin sigurado kung nahuli niya akong sumisilip sa happy trail niya, pero malakas ang pakiramdam ko na nakita niya at hindi niya lang binanggit.

As soon as I was finally done getting the things I needed, I went to the counter where I found Hayden falling in line. Tatalikod na sana ako at lilipat sa ibang counter, pero nakita na niya ako at pinapuwesto na niya ako sa likod niya. I fell in line as he told me so.

"Renee just called me earlier and told me that she might take a while in the nail spa, so I might have to go back home first and then pick her up once she's done. Do you want to come with me back home? Since you said you're heading back home and you'll be carrying a lot of groceries, I think it would be nice for you to join me. I've got my car outside. You'll fit there."

"You don't mind?" tanong ko.

Umiling naman ito at may along ngiti pa ito sa labi. "I don't mind. Since we're neighbors and heading back into one area, I don't mind you joining me for a ride unless you don't want to."

"No, no! I didn't say I don't want to. . . I was just wondering if Renee would mind as well?"

"Nah, don't worry about her. She loves you so I don't think she'll mind. Just like what I said, we're neighbors and we do good things with our neighbors."

Napangiwi naman ako. "Sige. . . I'll go with you. Thank you for it advance."

"No worries. I'm always glad to help you out. You've been so nice to us and this is the only thing I thought I could do for now."

"Well, this is already a lot for me. . ."

"Yeah, don't mind it. Anyway, I hope you had a good time at our housewarming the other day."

"Totally, Hayden. I've had so much fun. Thank you for inviting me. . . Even though I felt like I didn't belong there, it was so nice. I've met your friends as well. They were nice. They seemed to love both of you."

"Yeah, they are all lovely. Happy you get along with them. . ." Natigil lang ito sa pakikipag-usap sa akin nang siya na ang sumunod sa counter at inihilera ang mga ipinamila para i-punch ng casher. He paid his grocery in card, and once he was done, he waited for me. "I'll just get a coffee there. . . I'll wait for you."

Habang nasa cashier ako ay bumili lang siya saglit. Mabilis lang din akong natapo sa cashier kaya nang magkita na kaming dalawa ay inabot pa niya sa akin iyong isang takeaway coffee. Tinanggap ko naman dahil hindi naman ako maarte kapag may libre sa akin. Tumuloy naman kami palabas ng store at saka kami tumungo sa parking lot kung nasaan ang sasakyan niya. 

Nang matunton namin ang sasakyan niya ay agad naman nitong binuksan ang trunk saka niya isinilid ang mga grocery bag namin. Tatlong plastic bag lang naman ang kain at kakayanin ko namang mag-commute pabalik sa bahay, pero hindi na nga ako aarte kung may manglilibre sa akin. Gayong si Hayden pa 'to. Choosy no more.

Binuksan niya ang pinto ng sasakyan at saka ako pumasok sa loob. Tumuloy rin naman siya sa driver's seat at nang tanungin ako kung maayos na ang lahat ay tumango na lamang ako. Ini-start nito ang engine ng sasakyan at saglit lamang ay umandar na ito paalis ng parking lot at saka tumuloy sa kalsada.

"So, I haven't got a chance to ask this before, but what's your work, Chel? Or did you mention it before? I'm sorry if I have forgotten about it already."

I chuckled and shook my head. "No, I don't think I've mentioned it before. To be honest, I just resigned three weeks ago from my day job, so basically I'm unemployed now, but I've done sidelines which helped me get through these weeks. I'm not sure when I would go back to work since I don't feel like being a corporate slave, but Patty's college friend said they have an opening at the club so I think I'll apply there as a dancer."

He burst in laughing. "You got me there. . . Are you serious, Chel?"

I giggled. "No. Of course, I'm not. But—"I wasn't able to continue my sentence when my phone started ringing and when I flipped my phone to see who is it, I saw Zeke's name. Biglang nanigas ang buo kong katawan dahil alam kong naisip din ni Hayden ang screen ng phone ko bago ko ito sinagot.

I was trying to keep it low while I was talking to Zeke over the phone because I knew Hayden was listening. I ended the call abruptly and as I expected, Hayden had a question for me.

"Was that Zeke? My friend Zeke?"

Lumingon ako sa kanya at saka ako umiling para itanggi. "No, no. It wasn't Zeke, your friend. . . I thought he was Ezekiel. . . Anyway, it was just a friend of mine. He was inviting me to their home since they'll be hosting a party there later. I think I'll come there. . ." I gasped. "I forgot. I'm sorry. . . I won't be able to cook your lasagna."

He smiled. "It's fine, Chel. I can wait. Tease me more and I'll look forward to it even more. . . But just another info, Ezekiel's nickname is Zeke. Well, for your information. I know you don't need to know it."

"I see. . . Nice to know that!"

It didn't take too long when we reached our house. Nang iparada niya ang sasakyan niya ay mabilis itong bumaba para buksan ang trunk.Sumunod din naman ako palabas at siya mismo ang kumuha ng mga bag ako at nang kukunin ko mula sa kanya ay iniwas nito sa akin at siya mismo ang nagdala sa bahay ko. I only took them from him when we were at my porch and I didn't know how many times I thank him for it. As soon as he turned around, I quickly get back inside the house and went straight to my kitchen putting all the bags I've carried.

This day was too hilarious for me, but I've gotta prepare as I'll be leaving tonight and meet my best man.

***