Chapter Two: Bestfriends

"Hey baby.."

Kung hindi ko lang naagapan ang sarili ko, I could've slapped Nicolas on the face already! Oh my gosh!

"What the hell, Nico?!" sigaw ko sa kanya at binato sa kanya ang unan na naabot ko. Malakas siyang tumawa, not minding my reaction. The audacity of this guy!

"Ang aga pa ang init na ng ulo mo. Are you on your period?" he even teased at sinabayan pa nang paggulo sa buhok ko. I swatted his hand away because for whatever reason, I hated it.

"Kung bakit ba naman kasi hindi mo na lang ako gisingin nang maayos? Kailangan talaga nakalapit ang mukha mo sa'kin?!" singhal ko sa kanya pero tumayo na rin ako. Malamang kasi ay inutusan siya ni mommy na gisingin na ako.

"I like pissing you off more early in the morning than coffee," he resumed laughing. I just rolled my eyes at that and went to my closet para makapagpalit na ako ng damit since I am just wearing a thin, silk nightie. Nico automatically turned on his back.

"Bakit ang aga mo naman ata ngayon? I mean yeah we're gonna meet today pero anong oras pa lang, ah?" pag-iiba ko ng usapan because it's also a wonder to me kung bakit nandito na siya. It's just nine in the morning at magb breakfast pa lang kami ng family ko.

"Tapos ka na ba?" tanong niya referring sa pagbibihis ko.

"Yep, you can turn around now," I said and then he turned to me. Kumunot ang noo ko nang bigla siyang sumeryoso.

"What's up?" I asked curiously and crossed my arms.

He looked up to me then sighed heavily. Sa totoo lang kinakabahan ako ah. I know Nico for acting childish most of the time pero kapag ganitong seryoso siya, I know something is not right.

"Are you still on that guy, Justin?" tanong niya.

"Uhm yeah.. I mean, 'di ba nga nililigawan niya ako?"

He breathed harshly at that. "I want you to stop seeing that guy, Millicent. I mean it,"

Napataas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya but then I am curious as well. Ano kaya ang pumasok sa utak na naman nito?

Oh right.. He probably asked someone AGAIN to investigate. Damn it. Naging habit na talaga ng lalaking 'to ang ipa background check lahat ng lalaking nagkakainteres sa'kin at gusto akong ligawan! Every damn time!

"What did you find out this time, Nic?" I asked disinterestedly as I brace myself for the worst. As much as I hate him doing that, still I know Nicolas won't lie about it. I may hate him for always doing that whenever a guy shows interest to me, but he's never the type to twist facts.

"Well, it just happened that Jax is dating his ex girlfriend and she told me a lot of things. She even told me to tell you to be careful. That guy Justin is one hell of an asshole. Did you know what he do? He broke up with her when she refused to have sex with him," his voice is hard and it's no brainer that he'll kill Justin kung nasa harapan niya 'yon ngayon.

I rolled my eyes at that. "Paano ka nakasisiguro naman na totoo 'yon? I mean.. it's been a month when we started dating and he's nothing but sweet and nice. He's a gentleman that he will even carry my bag," I argued. It's not that I don't believe what he was told but I won't take it though right away.

Para sa'kin, mali na husgahan ang isang tao kung hindi mo naman siya kilala o napatutunayan mismo sa sarili mo na ganun nga siya. I just find it unfair.

"Wow, Millicent Iris Escoleto. Your definition of gentleman ay dahil binubuhat niya ang bag mo? I've done that during our highschool days but you never called me that," he snapped as if it offended him.

I gave him a bored look. "It's because we're bestfriends! Ano bang problema mo? You're starting to get on my nerves already, Blake Nicolas. Why is it na lahat na lang ng lalaking gusto ko ay hindi pumapasa sa'yo? I need to date too! I want a boyfriend!" I snapped back.

Sukat sa sinabi kong 'yon ay napatayo siya. "What's wrong with you? Pinoprotektahan lang kita! You're my sister, and of course ayokong maloko ka ng kung sino-sino lang!" he yelled back.

Tears started to pool around my eyes. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa mga pinag gagagawa niya o dahil sa sinabi niyang kapatid ang turing niya sa'kin?

You just don't have the idea, eh?

"Hey.. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to - "

"Concern ka ba talaga sa'kin o ayaw mo lang na sumaya ako?" putol ko sa kung ano man ang sasabihin niya then wiped my tears angrily.

"I'm just protecting you, Millie. I know it really looks like I am the villain everytime but the hell I care? Ayokong mapunta ka sa taong alam kong sasaktan ka lang," he said gently and inched towards me. He wiped my tears using his thumb at niyakap ako.

Ayaw mo akong mapunta sa taong alam mong sasaktan lang ako? Then why are you here..

"I know you're concern because you are my bestfriend but I don't want you always sticking your nose on my business. I don't know what happened between Justin and his ex girlfriend, pero masaya ako sa kanya. Isa pa, pwede naman magbago ang tao di ba? Come on, Nic. Kung sex lang din ang habol niya sa'kin he could've done it already," I said and hugged him back. Ramdam ko ang tensyon niya dahil medyo dumiin ang yakap niya sa'kin. I know he's still not okay with this but maybe he doesn't really want to upset me further. 

"And I promise to be careful. Kapag nararamdaman kong hindi na ako nirerespeto, ako na ang unang kakalas. I don't intend to be disrespected, you know." I assured that I wish he'll believe because it's the truth, anyway.

Humiwalay na siya sa'kin at mataman akong tiningnan, "If he's making you happy, sino ba naman ako para pigilan ka di ba? After all you're right. You need to have a boyfriend too. Hindi naman pwede na ako lang ang kasama mo lagi di ba? I can't be the only guy in your life," hindi ko alam pero sa sinabi niyang 'yan parang mas nasaktan ako imbes na makahinga nang maluwag.

I just smiled at him then pinched his nose. "Tara na. Nagugutom na ako," inunahan ko na siya sa pagbaba where we found my parents and my brother on the dining table.

"Umupo na kayong dalawa rito. Millie, mayroong manga sa ref. Pwede ka mag shake kung gusto mo," mom said then averted his attention to Nicolas na umupo sa tabi ko. Napailing na lang ako. My family is really fond of him dahil na rin sa magkaibigan ang mga parents namin.

"Kailan niyo balak mag-enroll? Malapit na ang pasukan," dad said and the question is for the both of us.

"Next week pa po kami, tito. Sabay kami ni Millie kasi magka schedule ang initial ng surnames namin," it's him who answered. Dad just nodded at that.

"Parang kailan lang ang babata niyo pa. Imagine now, you're about to finish college. I just realized that I am getting older too," we all laughed at that.

Nicolas is the center of conversation which is I am thankful because I get to enjoy eating.

"Di ba may lakad ka ngayon, darling? You're off to see Justin, right?" saglit akong napatingin kay Nico because like what I expected his expression changed.

"Ugh, yes dad. He will take me to a bar tonight. Birthday po kasi ng bestfriend niya," I said and dad just nodded at that. Hindi naman kasi siya mahigpit and one more thing, he met Justin already and he adores him.

Pagtapos kumain, lumabas kaming dalawa ni Nic sa porch and he helped me na paliguan ang aso naming si Bacon. It's the dog we picked up from the street two years ago. Bacon is supposed to stay with him pero hindi pumayag si Tito Blaise because Bliss, their youngest, have asthma.

"I didn't know that you're going to a bar later," he started.

Napabuntong hininga ako. "I thought we already talked about this? I'm going to be alright."

He remained quiet as he just continue rubbing Bacon with a soap. I caught his hand and clutched it with mine.

"Don't you trust me?" I asked.

"Sa kanya ako walang tiwala," his jaw clenched as he freed himself from me. Bacon licked his face as if sensing his distress. 

"How about this? Uhm, if you want.. You can go there too pero just maintain your distance," I offered nang sa ganun matapos na ang usapan na 'to. I don't want another argument. 

His face brightened up at that. "I can do that?" I nodded.

"Okay.." there's a smirk on his face and I know from here that he's fine already.

Napabuntong hininga ako. Out of all the people in this world, bakit ikaw ang naging bestfriend ko, Nicolas?