Yia and Elya

Chapter Eight

I drifted off to sleep with my head resting on the table, only to be awakened by the realization that I still needed to set up the hammock I had ordered for my balcony—a cozy spot where I could unwind. As I busied myself with the hammock, my gaze inadvertently wandered to the balcony opposite mine. It was empty, devoid of any signs of life. Where was Yia? I pondered, my mind swirling with curiosity. The darkness had already settled in, as it was already 6:34 pm, and the absence of light in her room caught my attention.

Suddenly, a pang of thirst struck me, and I decided to head downstairs. To my surprise, I found my mother in the midst of preparing a meal.

"Ah, finally decided to show up, did you? Can't even handle the simple task of cooking rice. Sometimes I wonder if I should have hired some help around here. Just go downstairs and eat. As if you guys have a maid," my mother's voice dripped with passive-aggressiveness, taking a not-so-subtle jab at me.

A gentle knock on our front door interrupted the tension, and there stood Yia, clutching a bowl of steaming tinola, a Filipino chicken stew. "Hi, Tita, my mom sent this," Yia said, her voice filled with warmth.

"Oh, please convey my thanks to your mom, dear. Elya, take the bowl and set it on the table. Just wait for a moment, I'll give you a portion of what I'm cooking as well. Take a seat in the living room, sweetheart," my mother instructed Yia. With a nod, Yia followed my mother's lead and settled into the living room, where my younger sibling was engrossed in a YouTube video while my mother was cooking her caldereta in our kitchen. Feeling drawn to Yia's presence, I joined her on the couch, taking a seat by her side.

"Finished reading?" she asked, a hint of curiosity lacing her words.

"No, I actually fell asleep before I could finish it," I confessed, a tinge of embarrassment coloring my voice.

"By the way, I noticed you weren't in your room earlier. Where were you?"

"I was playing basketball with my brother," she replied, a glimmer of excitement dancing in her eyes.

Yia playing basketball? I couldn't help but admire her cool and confident demeanor, truly embodying the spirit of an alpha female. "That's impressive," I complimented, genuinely in awe of her athletic abilities.

"Would you be interested in joining us next time?" she offered, a warm smile gracing her lips.

Shaking my head, I responded, "I'm not exactly athletic, and I don't venture outdoors much."

Her genuine enthusiasm and invitation touched me, making me feel a sense of belonging. It was a rare feeling that warmed my heart.

"Yiaaaahhh, come here, dear. Bring this Caldereta dish. Just return the bowl after you've eaten. Elya, please serve the food and call your siblings. Let's sit down and have a meal," my mother called out from the kitchen, breaking our conversation momentarily. Yia and I followed her instructions, bidding each other farewell as she went to join her family for dinner.

Once we had finished eating, I found myself standing by the kitchen sink, taking on the task of washing the dishes. My two other siblings went back to their room, engrossed in their own activities, and my mother remained in the living room, immersed in her favorite drama series. As I was about to make my way upstairs, a gentle knock on the door caught my attention. My mother, despite being closer to the entrance, instructed me to open it.

"Hi," Alyia greeted me with a bright smile, holding the cleaned bowl.

"It's you, Yia dear. Come on in," my mother welcomed her, taking the bowl from her grasp.

"Have you explored the house, ineng? Would you like to see Elya's room?" my mother asked, causing a furrow to form on my forehead, as I hadn't been prepared for such an inquiry.

"I would love to," Yia responded with enthusiasm.

"Let's go," I replied, mustering a brief response, walking ahead of her to my room, tidying up as we went along.

"Wow, your room looks much better than when I last saw it," she commented, her voice laced with genuine admiration.

I had intended to inquire about how she had managed to enter my room without my knowledge, but she preempted me by saying, "I thought your room was the bathroom. I couldn't hold up my 'you know what' and ended up running across to my room, just across your balcony."

She meandered around my room, taking in the sight of my belongings. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of embarrassment as I noticed the numerous boys' love (BL) books stacked on my shelves, with the TV still displaying a BL show.

"So... you like BL, huh? Don't worry, I won't judge. I've watched BL and GL too. They're quite captivating," she said, a playful smile playing on her lips.

Her acceptance of my interests brought a genuine smile to my face. "Feel free to read that book," I offered, gesturing towards the one that had caught her attention. "You can sit here on my bed."

"Oh, this is interesting," she remarked as she settled into the cozy spot, diving into the first chapter. Unbeknownst to me, my words slipped out, "If you feel sleepy, you can just sleep there."

"Really?" she asked, her eyes lighting up with a mixture of surprise and excitement. I found myself unable to refuse her request.

"Of course, what's the point of having a king-size bed if I won't let you sleep with me," I responded, trying to conceal the warmth that spread within me.

She expressed her gratitude and delved back into the book, disappearing into its pages. "Can I change into my pajamas real quick? Then I'll be right back," she asked, swiftly retreating to the balcony to change. I wondered why she didn't bring the book along and sleep in her own room. Perhaps she wanted to ensure my comfort—I didn't want to push her away, after all.

I busied myself setting up the sleeping arrangement, and before I knew it, I heard her return. She wore an oversized black polo shirt and glasses, giving her a cute and casual look.

"I noticed you already have a hammock on your balcony. It's cute. Where did you buy it?" she inquired, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

"I got it from the Python Online Market. It was affordable," I replied, a hint of pride in my voice.

"Actually, your room has a beautiful theme. It's incredibly comforting," she complimented, her words leaving a warm sensation in my chest.

"So, I guess this is our first sleepover," she mentioned, her voice tinged with excitement.

"Yup," I responded, my heart dancing with a mix of nerves and anticipation.

"Does Auntie know that you'll be sleeping here?" I asked, a tinge of concern coloring my voice.

"Um, yep. She knows," she reassured me, her gaze filled with sincerity.

As our conversation continued to flow, I couldn't help but notice the genuine connection forming between us. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced before, a sense of understanding and acceptance.