Dating My Gangster Bestfriend

NYX POV "NYX! Paki-baba naman 'tong limang sako ng pulang sibuyas doon sa stall ni Aling Nena! Bilisan mo, baka maunahan tayo ng ulan!" Nicholas "Nyx" Bacani, wiped the sweat from his forehead using his faded black tank top. Sinabit niya ang kaniyang bimpo sa balikat at binuhat ang dalawang sako na parang sako lang ng bulak. Sa Divisoria, siya ang hari ng diskarga. Walang bulto ng tela, gulay, o plastic ware ang kayang magpatumba sa kaniya. He was notorious for his deadpan face, steel muscles, and sharp negotiation skills. Maliban na lang kung ang kausap niya ay may hawak na strawberry milk. "Nyx-nyx! Huhubells, ang init naman dito! Bakit ba kasi nauso ang araw?" Automatic na lumambot ang bagang ni Nyx. He dropped the sacks safely by Aling Nena’s stall and turned around. Walking towards him was Celestina "Yna" Dela Cruz. She was wearing a pristine white sundress in the middle of a muddy, crowded market. She looked like an angel who accidentally fell into a trading center. She was fanning herself with a notebook while sipping from a juice box. "Bakit ka nandito, Yna? Sabi ko sa 'yo sa Jollibee ka lang mag-antay," Nyx said, his voice dropping into its usual protective, low rumble. He immediately stepped into her left side, blocking a stray cart filled with dynamic hangers. "Tabi. Baka masagi ka." "Eh, bored ako doon! At saka look, binilhan kita ng milk tea!" Yna proudly held up a second plastic cup. "Onyx flavor! Kasi name mo, Nicholas Onyx!" Nyx stared at the drink. "Yna, taro 'yan." "Ha? Taro ba 'to? Sabi kasi nung nagtitinda, mukha raw ube pero lasang gabi. Bagay sa 'yo kasi madilim din aura mo ngayon," she giggled, completely oblivious to the fact that half the market vendors were staring at her like she was an alien. Nyx sighed heavily but took the drink anyway. "Salamat." "Welcome! Grabe Nyx, alam mo, napaka-suwerte talaga ng mapapangasawa mo. Sobra ka mag-alaga. Para kang tatay na kuya na... bodyguard!" Yna beamed, poking his rock-hard bicep with her straw. "Kaya labs na labs kita, best friend eh!" Best friend. The word stabbed Nyx straight in the chest, but his face remained completely expressionless. This was his life. Five years of pining. Five years of making sure she never tripped on the broken pavements of Manila. Five years of being the ultimate marupok. "O, baka matunaw 'yan," banta ni Nyx nang mapansing may isang manyakis na tinderong nakatitig sa binti ni Yna. Nyx gave the guy a death stare that effectively sent him back to arranging his garlic braids. "Huh? Alin ang matutunaw? 'Yung ice?" Yna blinked, looking down at her drink. "Hala, oo nga. Inumin mo na agad." Nyx closed his eyes for a brief second, praying for patience. Lord, bigyan Mo ako ng lakas. Ang ganda niya, pero bakit ang sabog? Bago pa siya makasagot, isang makintab na pulang kotse ang biglang huminto sa tapat ng eskinita—isang eksenang hinding-hindi mo makikita sa Divisoria maliban kung nawawala ang driver gamit ang Waze. Ang bumaba: isang lalaking naka-polo shirt na mukhang amoy mamahaling mall at may hawak na bouquet ng bulaklak. "Yna!" the guy called out, waving cheerfully. "Hi! I tracked your phone location. Ang hirap pala pumasok dito. Ang daming tao!" Yna’s face lit up. "Oh! Lance! Nandito ka na pala!" She turned to Nyx, pulling his arm excitedly. "Nyx, si Lance! 'Yung nakatabi ko sa seminar last week. Lance, si Nyx! My bestest friend in the whole universe!" Lance smiled politely, extending a hand. "Hi, Nyx. Marami akong naririnig tungkol sa 'yo. Thanks for looking after Yna." Nyx looked at Lance’s clean, manicured hand. Then he looked at Lance's face. Mukhang linta, Nyx thought. He shook Lance's hand, gripping it just a fraction of a second longer and tighter than necessary. Lance flinched slightly but kept his smile. "I brought these for you, Yna," Lance said, handing over the bouquet of imported tulips. "And I was thinking, maybe we can grab late lunch? My treat. I know a nice Italian place nearby." "Wow, tulips! Ang ganda!" Yna gasped, hugging the flowers. "Nyx, look! Bagay ba sa dress ko?" Nyx stared at the flowers. Tulips. Sa Divisoria. "Mas mabilis malanta 'yan sa init dito. Dapat dinalhan ka na lang niya ng isang kilong bawang, mas may silbi pa." Yna laughed, hitting his shoulder. "Grabe ka naman kay Lance! Ang hard mo!" She turned back to Lance. "Sure, gutom na rin ako. Isasama natin si Nyx, ha? Treat mo naman pala eh!" Lance’s smile frozen for a split second. "Oh. Of course. The... best friend can come." "Hindi ako pwede," Nyx said flatly, crossing his arms. His patience, which had been stretched thin for the last five years, suddenly snapped like an overused rubber band. Seeing this guy swooping in, trying to court his clueless girl right in his own territory, made something boil inside him. "May ididiskarga pa akong tatlong truck ng sapatos." "Aw, sayang naman," Yna said, pouting. "Sige, text kita mamaya, Nyx-nyx! Bantayan mo 'yang taro milk tea mo, baka langgamin!" Nyx watched as Lance opened the car door for Yna like a total prince charming. Yna hopped in, waving through the window until the red car disappeared into the traffic of Recto Avenue. Aling Nena, who had been watching the entire drama while chopping onions, cleared her throat loudly. "Hoy, Nicholas. Kung ako sa 'yo, hihiramin ko na 'yung truck ng sapatos at hahabulin ko 'yung pulang kotse na 'yon." Nyx didn't look at her. He just took a slow, angry sip of his taro milk tea."Bakit ko hahabulin?" Nyx muttered, his eyes narrowing into a dangerous glare. "Aba, halata namang popormahan nung lalaki si Yna. At ikaw, mukha kang pinatuyong pusit diyan sa selos." Nyx crushed the plastic cup in his hand, throwing it straight into the trash bin with perfect accuracy. He wiped his mouth with his towel and grabbed his heavy cargo hook. Game over na ang pagiging tahimik. Kung hindi makuha ng pinakamanhid na babae sa Maynila ang pahiwatig niya sa limang taon na pagbabantay, oras na para baguhin ang diskarte. "Aling Nena," Nyx said, his voice deadly serious. "Paki-sabi kay Bossing, half-day ako ngayon." "O, saan ka pupunta?" "Mag-iiba lang ng ruta," Nyx gritted his teeth, pulling his cap down. "Oorder lang ako ng pasta doon sa Italian restaurant."