Safe In Your Sound

Chapter 3: Friendly

Lucas and I spent the afternoon cleaning around the house. Well, sort of. I am not used to doing this kind of chores and it shows just by the way I handled the broom. He noticed how awkward it was for me so he volunteered to sweep instead while I mop.

Whenever I am having a hard time, Lucas would immediately be there to help and would do all the work. I can't help but feel embarrass for myself. I am supposed to do more of the cleaning but somehow I gave him all the hard work.

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me. I'll go to you right away," was what he said after he typed in his number in my phone.

We finished cleaning and after taking a rest for a while, he eventually had to go. He was friendly and very kind. In fact, he was the one who insisted that I should get his number, just in case. We are neighbors, I know, and there is no need for exchanging phone numbers but I also don't think that it was wrong to do so.

That night, I had to arrange my things in my room. On the first floor were the living room, the dining, the kitchen, a comfort room and the laundry at the back. There are two bedrooms and one common bath upstairs. See, the three thousand rent for a month is not that bad.

Everything was good enough for me until when I tried lying down on the bed. It must be because I was used to my old bed back home that I find my bed here less comfortable. It was soft, yes, but doesn't really compare to my bed's softness. It was hard to get myself to sleep when I am not comfortable enough. I guess, I'll have to buy a new mattress after all. That's the first thing I wrote in my "to buy" list the next morning.

I was up early. I do not really over sleep nor do I wake up before the sun has even come up. It was just four-thirty in the morning when I woke up feeling the need to go to the bathroom, and when I came back to my room, I can't doze back to sleep.

There was nothing to do. I don't have anything in my fridge yet to cook for breakfast. All I had was the left over food which Lucas gave last night for dinner.

At first, I thought he was being too generous to even give me food after helping me out but that was before I learned that it was a usual thing like a tradition or norm when they have a new neighbor.

It was the first time I have heard of it and I think it was cute and very kind. The neighbors would give you free food? Then should I just go transfer from here to another place to find new neighbors who will give me free food? If I don't have the money, then I think that would have been a good idea.

"Erica," someone called after I closed the door behind me. My eyes caught Lucas approaching me and I smiled.

"Good morning!" I greeted. He greeted me too as he looked at me fully.

"Going somewhere?" He asked.

"I'm out to go grocery shopping and probably buy other supplies for the house," I replied.

It was only then when I noticed he was wearing a uniform, a school uniform exactly. It was an off-white short-sleeved polo with a circular logo on the left-side of his chest, paired with black slacks and black leather shoes.

"You look good in that uniform," I remarked.

He looked down on himself before he chuckled. "Thank you for the compliment. By the way, do you already know the way to the market? If you don't I can accompany you there."

Immediately, I shook my head at his offer. "No need, Lucas. I was there yesterday so I already know where to go. And..." I pointed at him and gestured his uniform. "I think you really need to go."

He scratched the back of his neck while smiling bashfully. I thought he was going to insist but I'm glad he didn't. It seemed like he was also running late but still had to stop for a moment when he saw me. His thoughtfulness was overwhelming that he almost forgot he has a class to attend to.

But, we did rode the tricycle together. It dropped me off to the market before it drove off to the university where Lucas was studying.

I looked around the place. It was where I was yesterday, the exact point. I am quite good at directions so even if I haven't tour around here yesterday, I still didn't have trouble in finding my way. There were hardware stores, furniture and appliances store, small clothing stands, and food stalls around. I found the grocery store just beside the hardware store, which was several meters away from where the tricycles were waiting in line.

Maybe I'm bad at doing house chores, but I do know how to shop for groceries. That's one thing all woman should know. But, it took me some time to finally finish buying all that was in my list. My cart was full of my stock for the whole week. And I'm thankful that it isn't that hard to get a ride knowing that the trike drivers were just on the other side of the road.

But I still need to get one thing though and I don't think I can do that when I have all these groceries with me. I thought maybe I can just go home first and return later. Yeah, that would be more convenient.

The bagman helped me in taking my boxes out from the store. The things I bought were in three medium boxes. I thanked him and he went back inside afterwards. I turned to where the trikes are waiting, squinting my eyes at the one driver that was waving his hand at me. I had to look back and see if he was really waving at me. That was their way of saying "do you need a ride" as what I have observed from the other people around earlier.

I called him by waving too, gesturing for him to come. He took his trike over to where I was.

"Here, let me help," he said when I took one box and tried to put it inside. And also regretted it because it was really heavy.

I let him bring the second box at the back of his trike. When he was about to lift the third box from the ground, his attention was grabbed by someone he knew.

"Oh! Orly!" the driver said. I turned around to see the person behind me. He looks the same as when I first saw him yesterday here. With the same furrowed eyebrows as if he was always angry or something.

His lips protruded as he walked closer to where we are, eyeing the box that was on the ground before his gaze went up to meet mine. I eventually looked away.

"You're out early. Going somewhere?" The driver asked and crouched down to lift the box.

"Yeah. Is there still room for one?" I heard Orly inquired. The shadows on my left side grew bigger and knew that the guy had come closer to me. I glanced at him once before returning my gaze back on the driver that is now tying the box secure behind the trike.

"Back ride's still available," the driver replied.

At the corner of my eyes, I saw Orly nod and glanced my way before he went to ride on the back seat of the driver, passing by behind me.

"Let's go, miss," the driver said and I went inside the cab.

The driver asked me where I was going and I'm very much thankful to Lucas for telling me what to say in times like this. "To Mang Carpo's," I said.

Mang Carpo is Grandpa Pol. It turns out that the old man is known as Mang Carpo to most of the people living here, especially to the tricycle drivers.

During the short ride, I can hear the two men talking but not clearly because of the motor's loud roar. When we got to the apartment, the problem I have to face now is how to bring these boxes inside the house. I was thinking of asking the driver for a favor but after he put down the three boxes on the ground, he conversed with Orly and I didn't have the chance to ask him until he drove off.

I stared at the boxes in front of me before I started to try and lift one of them. Well, I tried, once. And then twice. I managed to move it though it was only one step.

"Need some help?"

I flinched when I heard the man's voice thundered behind me. But eventually regained my composure. I straightened up and looked at him. His brows were furrowed as usual, but his gaze and the way his lips curved up slightly made me think that he find this funny.

Realizing it was the case, I had second thoughts on accepting his offer. But then, he would only laugh at me if I continue to do this alone.

I sighed. "Yes, please. And thank you," I said, in the end.

He walked towards the boxes and lifted one easily. I didn't see any constriction in his face while he carried it on his arms as if it wasn't really that heavy. Or was that box really lighter than the others? If I have known then I would have chosen that one to carry.

I watched him as he walked to my door. He was walking straight to it when he turned around and met my gaze. It was then when I realized the door was closed and locked. And he couldn't possibly open it with him carrying a load on his arms.

"Sorry," I muttered when I opened the door and he put the box down and pushed it inside before going back to get the other two.

I went inside to take the box to the kitchen. I tried to lift it up, thinking it was much lighter and easier to carry, but my thoughts deceived me. It was also heavy.

"Do you need help bringing these to the kitchen?" he asked. He was standing by the door with the last box on his arms. I didn't notice he was already done.

"Uh..." I opened my mouth to reply but I'm still unsure. That when he suddenly stepped inside and carried the box to the kitchen, my mouth hanged open by his action.

Without saying anything and did not even care to see me surprise, he took all of it to the kitchen.

"You don't really have to do that... but thank you anyway," I said after.

His face was back to looking angry and snob. "You can't expect me to let you carry all those boxes with that thin arms of yours. You might break a bone if you do," he insulted my arms.

Just when I thought he was a good guy, he dare to say that straight to my face. This guy is something.

"Hmm. To be clear, I didn't really asked for your help. You were the one who volunteered so I'm thankful for that. But I don't think you can just say things like that just because you have done me a favor," I retorted, trying to stay calm as possible.

Although I'm a bit offended, I am still very thankful for his help. And swear I am not going to ask him for anything again and even if he offers help, I won't take it.

He didn't say anything after that so I just thanked him one last time before ushering him to leave my house. He seemed very friendly judging by how the drivers from the market were all casual with him but was that only intended for men? Is he not friendly with women?

I sighed in dismay. Too bad, I kind of find him hot when he helped me with those boxes but when he spoke those words, I changed my mind.