Perfect Pieces

04

"That's enough already. You'll end up in the ER if you don't stop."

I groaned and held Grey's head while he was drinking. I was actually sleeping peacefully na when the barista called me that Grey's here, getting wasted at ako ang nauna sa contact niya.

"Ah f**k that guy, he snitched on me! Sabing wag tumawag!" he groaned and straight up drank the tequila at lalamunan ko ang nanghapdi ron.

"Why are you even here getting wasted, huh?" I softly asked him. "You should at least come to the house and drink at the bar. Not here when there's no one taking care of you!" mahaba ko pang litanya.

He suddenly turned to me making our noses almost touching. "Why... why do you care?" I can smell the alcohol in his breath now.

"Because you're my friend! I'll be carrying guilt when something happens to you and I'm not even there!" I frowned and he scoffed and looked away.

Para kaming tanga ditong nagaaway sa couch with bottles of alcoholic drinks on the table. Natahimik nalang ako at pinikit ang aking mga mata at humilig sa couch dahil ulo ko ang sumasakit dahil kay Grey.

Of course I will get worried! He's like a brother to me because he was with me ever since we were wearing diapers. He should at least called me nalang to pick him up! Jusko naman, alas tres na ng madaling araw and from what I remember, may parehong schedule kami mamayang 6 am.

"Okay, that's enough." Inagaw ko ang bote sa kaniya at inubos 'yun ng inom bago inilapag sa table at hinila siya patayo. "s**t," bulong ko nung muntik akong mawalan ng balanse dahil sa biglaang pagtayo.

"See? We should sit down-"

"No! We are not sitting down, again." Pinanlakihan ko ng mata si Grey at hinila siya. "I am getting you home and you are going to follow me or else!" I threatened him and he pouted like a lost puppy before nagpahila sa akin palabas.

I look stupid here kasi naka malaking hoodie nalang ako that only covered my thigs and dolphin shorts dahil nga natutulog na ako kanina! Kinuha ko nalang 'yung susi na nakasabit sa pantalon niya at pinatunog iyon so I know where his car was parked. I groaned frustratedly when I heard it beep at the further side of the parking.

"Why did you even park at the furthest of the- ohmygod! Kanina ka pa siguro dito?!" mas lalong nag init ang ulo ko when I realized the hindi naman siya mapapasok dun sa pinaka loob ng parking kung bago palang siya dito dahil may rule 'yung bar na to when it comes to parking. Hindi kasi 'yung pahanap hanap kalang ng parking space.

He chuckled. "Tumpak!" he pointed at my face at pasuray suray na naglakad kaya hinila ko siya pabalik sa akin.

"Why are you even drinking? Do you have any problems? About what? Girls? Are you failing school? Family problem? Getting laid?"

I was getting worried because Grey was the therapist of the group. Whenever we have problems, we would always call him because he's just one call away but... who does he rely to? Who does he talk to when he has problems?

"Wala 'to, Lani." Umiling siya and patted my head. "Trip ko lang talaga uminom ngayon," he sadly smiled pero hindi nakatakas sa mata ko 'yung paglandas ng luha galing sa mata niya at pinunasan niya agad 'yon but I didn't push it further because he'll open up when he wants to and I wont pressure him for that. 

"Hey do you need help- oh!" nagulat ako nang may sumulpot na lalaki sa aking tabi but he was distant to me.

"Hi, do I... know you?" maingat kong tanong at hinigpitan ang hawak kay Grey kasi mauuna nanamn ito sa paglalakad.

"Ouch!" he held his chest like he was in pain kaya nagpanic ako thinking that I offended him. "De joke lang! Wag kang umiyak, please." He bit his bottom lip like he was panicked. 

"Hindi naman," umiling ako.

"You don't know me but I know you," he smirked at may tinignan sa likod niya kaya napatingin rin ako dun and there I saw Luan walking with their other guy friend and Keziah on either side of him.

It had been a week since I last saw him.

Napalingon ulit ako kay Grey when he rested his chin on my shoulder and I held his head para hindi siya mahulog and hurt himself.

"I need to get him home." I smiled at the guy na hindi ko naman alam ang pangalan which now I remember na kasama pala siya ni Luan nung nabunggo ko siya sa school. "See you around!" I smiled and hinila si Grey papunta sa sasakyan niya.

"Gusto ko matulog," Grey said at uupo na sana sa sahig pero pinigilan ko siya.

"No, Grey." I sighed. "You cant sleep here kasi masasagasaan ka and people would label you as homeless and bring you to... I don't know, DSWD?" or jail and let him sleep there? ah ewan.

"I'm not homeless," he whispered and rested his chin again on my shoulder kaya 'yung hininga niya ay natatama sa ears ko.

"Yes you aren't so let's go home so you can sleep-"

"Let me help you." A baritone voice said and the next thing I knew no weight were on me anymore.

"Hindi na," umiling ako at hinatak pabalik si Grey sa akin but Luan held Grey instead.

"Why are you always refusing my help?" he sounded pissed now but his eyes were soft while looking at me.

"You two... can you please stop pulling me against each other? Masakit ha?" Grey drunkily said kaya ay natahimik nalang ako and let Luan help me.

Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng shotgun seat so Gre could sit there. I also adjusted the seat para mahimbing ang tulog niya habang nasa daan kami because his house was distant from this bar. 

"Are you drunk? I can drive you two..." Luan glanced at me while I was busy putting Grey's seatbelt.

"I'm not drunk... I just went here because some guy called me saying he was a drink away from killing himself." I glared at Grey who was peacefully sleeping now.

"Are you sure? No drinking and driving." He raised his brow.

"I'm not drunk, okay?" I sighed at hinilot ang sintido ko. "Look, Luan, thankyou for offering to help me but I swear I am not drunk-"

I stopped my sentence when he suddenly stepped towards me. We were like inches away from each other that I can smell his perfume. I always know when he was approaching because his signature scent will be all over the room.

Hindi ako makatingin ng diretso sa kaniya because for whatever reason, my heart was pounding so fast that my knees and my hands shook and because of that, he held my chin using my fingers making me look up to him. But then my eyes widened... nung nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa mukha ko and he was staring at my face... at me and once in a while, his eyes will find mine.

He hummed. "Be sure to not be drunk because of you are then... you'll be in a hell lot of trouble." He crooked his head to the side and smirked.

I blinked. "Hindi nga..." I shook my head and removed his fingers on my chin because the tension was just... a lot to take! "Una na kami," I smiled at him and turned my back before going inside the driver's seat.

I gripped on the steering wheel and blew a breath before shaking my head and drove away.

When we got to Grey's house, inalalayan ko nalang siya papasok with the help with kuya manong guard kasi hindi ko naman siya kayang buhatin because he was asleep. I thanked manong after he laid Grey on the bed. Kinuha ko lang 'yung cleanswer na naiwan ko rito kina Grey and put it on his face so he wont breakout tomorrow.

Nasanay na sila mag skincare dalawa ni Pierce because of me and Stella kasi kaoag nagsisleep over kami ay dinadamay na namin ang dalawa kaya minsan nagugulat kami ni Stella na nagcacall 'yung dalawa kung anong cleanser maganda sa mukha.

"Good night," I whispered at him and he just pouted in his sleep and hugged the pillow beside him. "Good mornight na pala." I giggled by myself and kissed his cheek lightly before closing the door so I can go home.

"Oh? Bakit mukha kang bangag?" I looked at Stella beside me. We were eating here sa isang grocery store nung cup noodles.

"I had to pick up Grey last night at 2 am then I had to wake up at 4 kasi may klase ako ng six." I sighed at dinukdok ang mukha ko sa lamesa because I was too sleepy.

"You look bangag but you still look glowing. How to be you po?" dinig ko pa ang tawa niya but I was too sleepy to even laugh kaya kalaunan ay nakatulog na rin ako.

I woke up because I can feel someone staring at me. I stretched first before opening my eyes so my eyes can adjust sa light. Sumakit ang mata ko nung una but got used to it after a few seconds.

"Still sleepy?" mas lalong nanlaki ang mga mata ko when I heard the familiar sound... voice of Luan.

"W-why are you here?" nagulantang kong tanong at hinilamos ang kamay ko sa aking mukha. "And... where's Stella?" I asked at inayos ang buhok ko and tied it in to a bun.

"She left you a note," tinuro niya ang sticky note na nasa lamesa nakadikit.

'Sorry I had to leave you, sleeping. Emergency meeting sa org. Binilin kita sa guard and sa cashier though. Love u, take care beb.' - S.

"Oh," I muttered at inilagay sa bag ko ang note niya. "And... why are you here?" takang tanong ko.

"Am I prohibited to do so?" he raised is brow and crossed his arms over his chest after leaning on the chair.

"No," I shook my head. "I'm just... surprised. Aren't you busy?" 

"I am." Tumango siya.

"Then?"

He shrugged. "Priorities."

Kahit nagtataka man I chose to shut up and drink cold water instead para mahimasmasan ako. I was not on the mood today and I almost snapped at my groupmates pa kanina kasi wala akong tulog but I realized that wala naman silang ginawa sa akin at buti ay napigilan ko ang bibig ko.

"Let's go study," aya ko sa kaniya and he stared at me.

"Where?"

"My favorite place." I grinned at inaya siya palabas.

And not an hour later, I arrived at my favorite place. Siya palang ang dinala ko dito.

Our second house here in Manila. We lived here before pero ang layo kasi sa University na pinapasukan namin kaya ay lumaipat kami. We use this house nalang if ever we have guests over kasi malaki tong bahay na to. People come here to flower the plants and take care of the house para hindi masira.

"Whose house is this?" Luan asked behind me while I was finding the key sa main door.

"Ours. We lived here when I was still a kid then we transferred when kuya Apollo entered high school." 

Binuksan ko na ang pintuan and the familiar scent of the house welcomed us. Napangiti nalang ako ng wala sa oras nung makita ko pa ang family frames namin sa bahay so the house wont look empty. Kinuha ko nalang ang glass table at hinila 'yon papunta sa living room so we can put our books there.

"Come sit," aya ko kay Luan. "Feel at home." 

Nilagay na namin ang gamit namin sa couch and we studied na. Tahimik lang kaming nag aral dalawa because he was busy memorizing terms there habang naghahigh light naman ako for my notes so it would be easy to review when exams come up.

Hindi ko napansin ang oras that it was getting dark already na pala. Napansin ko lang nung nakaramdam na ako ng gutom so I texted my parents na nasa old house ako and wont eat there. And they just replied with okay and to take care.

"What do you want to eat? I'll cook." I asked Luan at tumayo and stretched my legs kasi nangangalay na kakaupo sa sahig.

Umiling siya. "I'll cook," he muttered at tumayo.

"Huh? Hindi... nakakahiya naman!" bulalas ko and tried to stop him, but he was already heading for the kitchen.

"It'll be more shame if you'll be the one cooking when I'm the visitor," I heard him mumble

"Huh? Kaya nga! You're the visitor! I'm the owner of the house!" I panickly said. "You know what I think? I think-"

"You know what I think?" he suddenly turned to me, our bodies almost crashing down to each other kasi huminto nalang siya at humarap! "I think you should sit down and let me cook, hmm?" he smiled gently at me before turning back and went to the kitchen.

How... how does he do that?! Doing things that just would make me stop? Like he gave me some sort of magic to make me stop and agree on whatever he wants me to do?

I sighed and made him do the work. I sat down on the stool adjacent to where he was cooking. I was just staring at his back while he was cooking at nakasuot nung pink kong apron na may drawing ng powerpuff girls. I pursed my lip to stop myself from laughing. In the end, I took a video of him while cooking and added it on my ig story pero naka close friends lang rin kasi ayaw ko ng issue. Mga nasa close friends ko, alam kong hindi snitch.

'Chef for today'

"What the- Ano yan?!" my mouth hung open when I saw what he cooked.

"A steak?" patanong niyang saad.

A steak. He cooked a f*****g steak inside my kitchen! He knows how to cook! And by the looks and smell of it, I just know that it tastes good!

"What? My family owns a restaurant. What makes you think that I don't know how to cook?" he smirked and handed me the utensils kasi nakatunganga lang ako. "Medium rare. You like your stake, medium rare." Naglagay siya ng steak sa plato ko.

"You remembered?" I asked him and got rice.

"I take notes," I hear him mumble... almost like a whisper.

We ate in silence there because the steak he cooked was just so good. It was so good that I couldn't stop eating and I felt like a gained weight just because of it. When you slice the meat, it was so tender. Kahit kagatin mo, sobrang lambot niya.

"Thank you... for the dinner," sambit ko sa kaniya while I was washing the dishes. I know that he was standing near the door behind me.

"Thank you... for bringing me to your favorite place," he muttered and I smiled.

"Always."