Phosphenes

Twenty-one

"Maybe you wonder
where you are,
I don't care
Here is where time is on our side"

"Can't you wait for simbang gabi? Kakanin in the middle of the day? Really?" Thirdy asked me in amusement.

"Why? Don't you have cravings? Saka ilan days pa yun. Ang tagal pa."

"It's less than a week na lang."

"Four days to be exact. Four. Days." I made an emphasize to the last two words.

"But still less than a week."

"But still four days." Arghh. I'm not giving up until he's seen where I'm coming from.

"Hahaha! Half-full, half-empty attitude. Take your pick."

"Easy for you to say when you're not the one in the position. And you could've just turned down my invitation you know."

"As if kaya ko."

"I know." I beamed at him where he just rolled his eyes at me.

It's true. This guy would go with me in Timbuktu if I asked him to. Wait. Erase that. Even if I don't ask him to.

He's already finished his lunch while I dig in my bibingka with gusto. He just watched me in amusement while I just, well, don't care.

One thing that hasn't changed? He always makes sure na magreklamo whenever I have cravings. While I blame it on hormones, he said I'm just matakaw. But he still, and always finds delight in my katakawan. What a weirdo!

Before, I was weirded out whenever I hear about friends falling in love with friends. Coz I mean why would you want someone who saw you eat like a construction worker after work, heard your decibel-intensity burp, and most probably smell your fart? That was just gross.

But now I understand. Falling in love with friends who you've shared a lot of things is as natural as breathing and as easy as waking up in the morning.

And I'm glad I don't have to pretend to be someone I am not. In fact he finds glee in seeing me acting like a lost puppy in the city. Adorably awkward, his words.

I noticed him fidgeting over his phone.

"Hey what's that?"

"Just weird reaction from people over my shared post."

"Which one?"

"About waking up in the morning, saw that?"

"Yeah, yeah. What about that?"

"Here. Read it."