The heavy traffic here in Manila makes me always feel tired. Yung tipong lalo na working hours ng mga tao, pagod ka na nga from work, mas mapapagod ka pa lalo dahil sa traffic. Pero no choice, kailangang magbanat ng buto.

Sa sobrang sarap ng tulog ko, hindi ko na ata namalayan na umuusad na ang traffic. Naputol nalang yung tulog ko when Kyle tapped my arm.

"Hey, wake up. Nasa condo mo na tayo", Kyle tapped slowly my arm.

" Hala sorry nakatulog ako sa balikat mo. Nakadagdag pa tuloy ako sa pagod mo.", I replied.

"No its okay. No worries, Gia. I know pagod ka kaya I let you sleep comfortably in my shoulder. ", he replied while smiling.

Nakakahiya. Ginawa ko pang unan balikat ni Kyle.  Wait, I must thank him for this day. This day really is a good one.

" Okay, thank you for this day. Ingat ka pauwi.", I replied habang pababa na ng kotse ni Kyle.

"You're welcome. Ikaw rin. Thanks din sa pagpayag mong samahan ako.", Kyle replied.

" Sure. Anytime. Sige akyat na ako ha? Text me nalang if nakarating ka na sa inyo", I told him while smiling and saying goodbye.

Umakyat na ako sa unit ko. It feels so tiring but a good and enjoying one. Ngayon lang ulit ako nag enjoy ng ganito.

I removed first my heels and placed it on the shoe rack. I went directly to my room to change my clothes. I wear black dolphin shorts and a white shirt. I removed also my makeup using make up remover and wash my face quickly.

I put our pictures earlier in my vacant photo organizer. It was my first time again to have pictures together with Kyle. Since may space pa din naman dito sa aking photo organizer, I just place so that it will be preserved.

While I was busy checking my closet if anong susuotin ko for tomorrow's work, my phone beep. It was a message from Kyle.

"Hello! Just got home here sa condo ko.", Kyle said.

Nag-isip muna ako ng irereply ko.

" Hi Engineer! Mabuti naman. Thank you ulit sa libre! Next time, my treat.", I replied.

"Stop calling me engineer , Gia. Wala tayo sa sa corporate world. Sure, if hindi ako busy.", Kyle replied.

" Hahaha! Okay Kyle. Sabihan lang kita when ako mang-lilibre so that you can clear your scheds ahead.", I replied.

"Okay. Take care always Gia!", Kyle replied.

" Sure. You too.", I replied.

After nung reply ko, hindi na siya nagreply. I just think what to cook for dinner. I checked the fridge and I decided to cook adobong manok. Para iinitin ko nalang yung natira for tomorrow's breakfast.

I'm not good in cooking but I'm trying. Usually kasi kapag nagluluto ako, its either sunog or half-cooked. Hahaha but I am doing my best to cook better.

I was on my process of cooking adobo nang may nag door bell sa unit ko. I turned the stove on "low heat" before checking if sino yung tao sa pinto. To my surprise, it was Claire.

"Hi sissums, miss me?", Claire greeted me and went inside the unit.

" Actually hindi. Joke lang. Of course I do.", I replied while stopping myself to laugh.

"Grabe nagdate lang sila ni Kyle, nakalimutan na ako. Mali yun, frend.", Claire teased me.

" Friendly date. Correction. It's just a friendly date.", I replied.

"Sus, friendly daw pero mag ex jowa. Ano yan ex with benefits ganun?", Claire replied.

" So much with that date thingy. Gutom na ako sis kaya tatapusin ko nang magluto.", I replied while going back to the kitchen area.

"Hmmmm masarap siguro yang adobo mo. lasang pagmamahal", Claire teased me.

" Oo kasi kung ikaw ang magluluto ng adobo, alam mo anong lasa? lasang walang sense. Pati adobo dinadamay mo.", I replied sarcastically while laughing at her.

"Ouch ha! Pasalamat ka kaibigan kita.", Claire replied.

" Edi thank you.", I replied while laughing.

Sarap asarin ni Claire. Hahaha.

Nanood muna si Claire ng netflix sa sala habang ako ay nagpatuloy sa pagluluto. When I finished cooking, nilagay ko muna sa isang bowl and placed it on the table. Nag-set na rin ako ng table with plates and utensils. While waiting for the rice to cook, naisipan ko munang samahan si Claire sa panonood ng movie.

It was a horror movie. Ayoko ng mga horror movie, nakakatakot. I can't sleep if I watch horror movies. I feel na kapag nanonood ako ng horror movies, sinusundan ako hanggang sa pagtulog ko.

Naputol muna ang panonood ko ng movie nang tignan ko ang kanin na niluluto ko. Tamang tama, luto na ang kanin. I placed it on a bowl at inihain sa mesa.

Claire turned off  the tv and went towards the table. We had our early dinner since gutom na din ako.

"Hmmmm sarap ng luto mo ah. Pwede ka nang mag-asawa", Claire said.

" Jowa nga wala, asawa pa kaya.", I replied.

"Si Kyle di mo jowa?", Claire replied while smiling.

Bigla akong nasamid sa kinakain ko.

" Sana hindi ka matunawan sa kinakain mo", I replied sarcastically to her.

"Sana maging kayo ulit ni Kyle", Claire teased me more.

" Whatever. Kumain ka nalang nga dyan.", I replied and continue eating.

I can hear Claire's laugh. Kung hindi ko lang talaga 'to kaibigan baka nasapak ko na 'to.

After naming kumain, naghugas na agad akong ng mga pinagkainan namin. I carefully placed it back sa mga respective racks nila at organizers for the plates and utensils.

Since tapos na rin naman akong maglinis, we decided to have chitchats instead of watching movie again.

"Kwento ka naman ng ginawa nyo kanina sis", Claire asked me.

"Nag-arcade lang kami, and nag lunch.", I replied while smiling.

" Sure ka yun lang?", Claire was wondering if ano pang ginawa namin.

"Ano bang gusto mong gawin namin? Syempre niyaya ako nung tao na maglunch. Tapos tinanong nya ako kung saan ko gustong pumunta, sabi ko sa arcade.", I replied.

" Galet gustong manakit? Nagtatanong lang naman", Claire replied in a soft voice.

"Hindi naman. Yun kasi ang totoo. Ikaw kung ano anong iniisip mo ha. Nakakainis na.", I replied na medyo naiinis ng beri light.

" Change topic tayo. So anong feels mo? Nanliligaw na ba ulit ?", Claire asked me.

"Ewan. I don't want to assume. Pero sabi niya bumabawi daw siya sa akin. Hindi ko alam bakit.", I replied wondering.

"Sige let's assume hindi. Pero obvious naman kasi, bakit niya need bumawi if wala siyang motives ulit sayo diba? Ingat sis ha, ang puso baka mawasak ulit. ", Claire replied to me.

" Yes I know. I will do take care of my heart. Pero as of now, go with the flow nalang muna siguro tayo. No assumptions. Para hindi masakit.", I replied with confidence.

"Pero keep in mind ha, giving chances to a person doesn't mean na consent yun para saktan ka ulit. Use the chances wisely.", Claire replied.

" I will keep it in my mind.", I replied.

"Pero enjoy mo lang syempre yung time nyo together as friends. Pero yun nga be vigilant to your own feelings. Baka mamaya sa bar na naman kita makikita, lasing na lasing dahil sa sakit.", Claire teased me.

" Kung mangyari man yun, tatawagan nalang kita para sabay tayong malasing.", I teased Claire back.

"Ayoko nga, hindi ako mahilig sa hard drinks. Pass ako", Claire replied.

" Weh? naki inom ka nga nung homecoming kina Adrian na table eh", I teased Claire again.

"Basta I gave you warnings and advice ha. Hindi sa I don't trust Kyle pero mas mabuti nang ready ka. Hindi laging masaya, Gia.", Claire seriously replied.

" Yes. I will never ever forget that. Thank you Sissssss", I replied to Claire and give her a tight hug.

"Kapag ikaw nasaktan ulit, hindi ko talaga mapapatawad si Kyle. Tandaan mo yan. Ayokong nasasaktan ang bespren ko", Claire replied habang hinahaplos ang buhok ko.

" Grabe naman 'to. Syempre I won't let that happen to me again. I will be sure of that.", I guarantee Claire.

Hindi pa dyan natapos ang usapan namin. We did talked about random stuffs, about work and many more. Matagal tagal na rin kaming hindi nakakapag-usap ng ganito.

It is almost 8 in the evening nang magdecide si Claire na umuwi dahil tulad ko, may work na din siya bukas.

I decided to take a shower first before going to sleep. Pagkatapos kong magshower ay kaagad kong blinow dry ang buhok ko to make sure na hindi basa bago matulog. I also did my skincare routine. Kailangang matulog ng maaga dahil may work na ulit bukas at since traffic, need maging maaga pa hindi ma stuck sa traffic.

Nagpalit nalang ako ng pajama instead of shorts dahil malamig at pink sleeveless on top. Matutulog na sana ako nang biglang may nagtext.

From Engineer Kyle:

Hey! tulog ka na?

Agad kong nireplyan.

To Engineer Kyle:

Going to sleep na why? May problema ba?

From Engineer Kyle:

Ah okay okay. Tama may work ka pa pala tomorrow.

To Engineer Kyle:

Yas. Ikaw rin diba? Di ka pa matutulog?

From Engineer Kyle:

Nope. Mamaya pa. Sige tulog ka na.

To Engineer Kyle:

Okay. Night night engineer.

From Engineer Kyle:

Good night, Gia.

Hindi na ako nagreply after. Inaantok na talaga ako. I'm a sleepyhead kaya kahit saan inaatake ako ng antok. Pero syempre sa work kontrolado, baka ma-fired tayo eh.

I am currently on my bed lying but I can still remember what Claire told me earlier. I keep on wondering if ano ba talagang mangyayari sa amin ni Kyle or where is this our encounter again go through. Ugh, overthinking again. I just wanna be happy, masama ba yun? Pero takot rin akong masaktan ulit. Puro nalang what ifs. Puro nalang takot. Hays.

Sana sa pagtulog ko, mawala kahit sandali mga what ifs ko sa amin ni Kyle. And if ano man 'tong feeling ko, sana lang talaga worth it na'to this time.