Graceful Stubborn Heart

How It All Started: Friendship Circle

I woke up to the rays of the sun on my face. To my surprise, it was already high noon. What a sleep I had. I reminded myself to ask  her the brand of her bed and mattress. I'd like to have one for myself too. No wonder she looks so calm.

I went downstairs to be greeted by everyone's happy chatter about what had transpired the night before. They were already enjoying lunch that Grace prepared. Mike exclaimed that Grace is the best host when it comes to mornings after a drinking session since she cooks the best dish, that is,  chicken in coconut milk. They made me try it and hands down. It really is good. "The perfect housewife.", Carmen gleefully declared, to which Grace responded with a scoff. 

"Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah! Single mother wanna be. Asexual woman!", Bea jokingly mocked Grace and everyone laughed. Mike again explained that Grace doesn't want to get married. She just wants a child and live single forever. "Single detached.", Mike said jokingly. I directed my gaze to Grace with a raised eyebrows, she noticed it and as if acknowledging my question, she said aloud but eyes on me, "Choice!".

I turned my head in disbelief and continued eating. I couldn't comprehend that there is a female like her? Where did she come from? I thought that those thoughts only occur in men.

I observed this group of people that I am with. Their friendship is something. They look out for each other. They're honest and blunt with their thoughts towards each other, without hurting an ego. This is the kind of friendship I want. I wonder how it is to be part of this group. I also noticed that everyone is a couple except Grace. Hmmmm... Why is she the odd one out? 

"So, how did this group come about?", I shamelessly asked. Mark told me that He, Grace, Mike, and Bea are friends from the office and they just started hanging out over lunch, middle of last year, to protect Grace, who was a newbie, from their perverted boss. 

"The p*****t noticed that our team has a new member who is not just sexy,  but is confident, and very intelligent. So he decided to make her his new personal assistant. He created a new position just for her, someone who'd go with him in his travels, and all. I heard of it from the HR so I told Mark and we vowed to protect her. Also we didn't want to lose a genius in our team.", Bea said as she winked at me. 

"The boss even came to a point to surprise her with gifts at the office. Clothes, flowers, and chocolates. Ew, that old man! He must have been fantasizing of Grace in those clothes.", everyone laughed at Bea's words.

I secretly looked at Grace. She was all flushed from the embarrassment but she was laughing too. She then glanced at me with a raised eyebrow, as if telling me that it is out of her control.

After lunch, I helped her tidy up the kitchen as everyone else were busy cuddling with their partners. She was washing dishes so I volunteered to the task of wiping them dry. "How long have you had this place?",  I asked. "Oh. just for a year, when I started at Mark's company." 

"Straight from university?", I guessed because she's still 25. "No, I worked somewhere else and I got invited to join their company so I gave it a try."

"How is it going with your perverted boss? It's Mark's uncle, right?", I looked at her. She smirked. "Yes, it ended well because Mark pretended to be into me. hahah", she said still laughing. "What is so funny about it?", I asked confused. "Can't you see the humor? Both Carmen and Mark are pretending to be with somebody else." I just smiled because I couldn't grasp how she is able to focus more on the lighter side of things when she was almost a victim of harassment.

"Are they your only friends here?", I asked to keep the conversation going as she was about to sit on the dining chair. "Hmmm... Yes, here. Most of my friends are in the province and  I am not used to going out a lot. I am okay with being home alone."  

"Don't you get bored here?", I asked with a raised voice, "What else do you do when no one else is with you?"

"Oh, I take advantage of the time to read and tidy things up. Do some crafts, maybe? In case you don't know, the group also often go on weekend trips, either to a mountain or to a beach, or somewhere new.",she's talking to me as if I am someone who doesn't know anything.

"So there is life in you after all.", we both laughed at my words. "Oh, by the way", I cut in. "Where did you buy your mattress and sheets? They feel so comfortable.", I asked. Suddenly, Mark butt in, "It's not the sheets it's the smell of the room and they way she tidies things up. That's her gift."

Bea joined in, "She even does my room from time to time. You can hire her.", she winked at me.

"How much?", I directed my question at her. I was serious about hiring her to have my bedroom fixed but she only responded with a smirk and everybody laughed at her. "Hey, I'm pretty serious. I never had that relaxing sleep for a long time. I could pay anything to have one again.". but to my dismay she just shrugged me off with a laugh.

"You need to find yourself a good wife. That is the best way. Stop playing around and start getting serious relationships.", Marked said to me jokingly to which everyone responded with a laugh.

I cheerfully looked at everyone. I enjoy their free spirit and banters. Oh, to have such friends...