His Girl Friday 2

Chapter 26: Date Night

Chapter 26: Date Night

Ara: Someone's going on a date! :)

Leila: Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leila: I'm happy you're moving on

Leila: But who's ur date?

Everly: Me too!!!!!

Everly: I'm so proud of you for

Everly: making this first step!

Ara: Uhh... it's not me

***

As a temporary bum, I found myself using my phone for hours and hours on end. I was kinda disappointed with myself with how high my screen time has been these couple of days. But what can you do? Ano bang magagawa ko dito sa probinsya matapos kong umeksena sa unang araw ng pagbabalik ko?

Kaya naman nanag may kumatok sa pinto ng kwarto, nagulat ako at nabitawan ang hawak ng smartphone—tumama ito sa mukha ko.

"Fuck!" I grunted in pain.

"Sahara?" I heard Apollo's worried voice, muffled by the closed bedroom door between us.

I gingerly sat up and went to open the door to face him, while massaging the spot where my phone landed. On my fucking forehead.

"Yes? What's up?" I asked nonchalantly as if he didn't hear me get hurt just now.

"Is everything good?" he asked as he looked around the room and then to my face. "What happened to your forehead? Why is it red?"

I dismissed his worries with a wave of my hand. "Wala lang 'yan," I added. "Anyway, what's up? Bakit mo ako tinawag?" I looked at the clock and saw that it was six in the evening. "Mag-early dinner ba?"

"No." He shook his head. Then he showed me two Nike paper bags filled with orange shoe boxes. "Here, I got you something," he said.

I gave him a confused look. "Ano 'yan? Anong meron?"

He took one orange box and handed it to me. I took it from his hands. "I saw you wearing heels again for the past few days and thought maybe you haven't gotten around to buying new footwear."

My jaw dropped. "What?"

"Just take it," he said as I eyed the black and white Air Force 1. Kinuha niya pa ang isang box at inilabas ang black Nike slip-ons na laman nito. Both are in my size.

I couldn't help but worry, so I asked, "Dagdag ba 'to sa utang ko?"

He shook his head again. "No, it's a gift from me."

"Gift?" I asked in confusion. Ano bang ginawa ko para regaluhan niya ako ng branded sapatos at tsinelas? I literally just showed up here, mooching off him according to his former assistant. "Why? I didn't do anything to warrant a reward or a gift," I said to him.

"Can you just accept it?" he asked as he chuckled. "There's no strings attached. Tsaka it really is for my peace of mind. Natatakot ako na baka matapilok ka or maaksidente ka dahil lang sa maling footwear na suot mo."

This worry-wart. Lagi na lang nag-aalala!

"Fine," I relented and accepted the gifts. "Thank you."

He flashed me a closed-lip smile. "You're welcome."

Tatalikod na sana siya pero hinila ko ang braso niya nang maalala ko 'yung unanswered e-mail na pinadala ko sa kanya noong isang araw. It's about the merch design Everly suggested I do for Apollo.