09: Friends

I checked my phone and the time is five minutes away from my alarm. That's odd. I moved from the bed to fix it before taking a shower. Every day is the same every day Pete's face around the hall.

We intersect again down the stairs.

But today until Friday, we'll try applying to different colleges. The school year will soon start. And I can't wait for us to start our first college year together.

After I took a bath, I went upstairs to get ready. I badly don't want to move a muscle, I feel lazy, but I leave myself no choice.

I was still struggling to wear my pants when someone knocked from outside.

" I'll be waiting downstairs, Sue," he said.

I almost squeaked when I nearly fell above the bed. What is happening in the world? He's a lazy young man, but now he's the one who becomes a boss between us. Only now and then does he wake up this early, but since he lives with us, I caught him first downstairs before me sipping his coffee in the kitchen. It's like he's waking up with Mom.

I finished doing light makeup and took a double look inside my bag. Besides, we have nothing to hurry about, he was the one who was in hurry.

After spending a lot of time in the room, I came downstairs and saw his head on the couch, at rest with his eyes closed while embracing his bag around his chest.

I have been given another chance to mess with him.

I pluck a feather from the thing we used to smear above the shelves, especially on the back of the T.V. I rubbed the feather on his nose, and he twitched his shoulder, every time until he got up from the couch.

" Sue!" he snapped, wiping his nose. He looked like he wanted to vomit, but his upper lip pulled up when he saw the feather.

My eyes turned to Auntie when she joined laughing from the kitchen. But she instantly hid behind the walls, carrying plates on her arm.

I thought I got him furious this early. So, I followed him outside and still couldn't control herself from snickering behind him. I waved goodbye at Auntie before slamming the door.

LAST TIME I CHECKED on the school page, it has a wide-ranging field, and it's somehow a fact. Before we went inside the office, I peeked at the hallway we came across and saw long-leg buildings inside that centralize the field. It's said that there are two buildings here for different departments, but I guess it has more than that.

I would also recommend them to live here because while we were out a while ago I saw lots of houses surrounding the university.

" Sue!"

I didn't realize I was walking feet away from him. He's already outside the office, holding the door open. I came after him when he sat down on the first row of the metal chair.

It didn't take us too much time in line since there are only countable heads found inside. We only had a few calls to follow.

When we left I couldn't help but take a glimpse on my right, the long hallway. Especially when you hear the birds chirping and the branches slapping, it seems even more tempting to enter.

I rushed to him when I was walking behind again: but someone accidentally went to collide our shoulders with each other making papers and envelopes scattered on the floor.

" I'm so sorry--Sue?"

I lift my chin when someone calls me by my nickname, and his voice is somehow familiar, " Mark,"

" Small world it is," he added.

" Sorry," we said to each other.

I kneeled on one knee on the floor to help him pick up his scattered papers and envelope.

" Do you need a ride home? I'll be heading home too,"

It felt like something was stopping me from picking up the papers then. I didn't know what to answer since I barely heard a sentence from him. I realized Pete was a few feet away from us, so my gaze was on his standing figure watching us from afar.

" You're with him? Sorry," he said, turning at Pete's gaze.

" No, it's fine--" I cut my words when Peter interrupted.

" It's fine I also have to leave,"

I immediately returned to him what I had picked on the floor earlier and ran towards Pete.

I stopped chasing him when he also stopped on his feet, " Pete, I will explain,"

" You could go home with him, Sue. Besides, my shift will start soon," he said, turning to me.

" But--"

I felt his hand on my hair while my head was facing the floor, " --Just text me if you get home already," he showed me a smile after tangling up my hair.

He messed up my hair. Does it mean he's ok with it? He does it every time he's happy or in good mood. Observation.

"Pete!" I called him, showing my hair.

I felt his grip on my hair, turning it into a low ponytail. After that, I watched him out of the gate until someone placed their hand on my shoulder. When I turned around, it was just Mark.

" Let's go?"

I nodded at him. He told me to wait for him since he'll be getting his car out of the parking lot first, and park his car in front of the gate.

But something is lifting my feelings down. Pleasure is flowing because this is just dreamt by a 13 yrs. old back then, and four years later her imagination is coming to life. But this feeling is overflowing that's becoming... burdensome.

When I got in his car, I seemed to remember something. Although I didn't saw yet someone riding here but...

" Misha," I mentioned.

He stared at me after steering the wheel left, " Huh?"

" What about Misha? Your girlfriend,"

" She's not... anymore," after saying that, I was pulled back in my seat and felt the thrill of his driving.

" What happened?"

When it becomes to issues or hot topics, I can't help myself but ask what happen, how it happened, everything why it happened.

" Long story but... we're over,"

As much as I want to ask for more but it's none of my business. That's why I nodded to his answer and let him focus on driving. His driving somehow gives me good digestion in my heart. With every minute passed, I enjoyed it and lost the feeling of irritation while I was with him.

" Can I open the window?"

His window was tinted inside out. The most searing darkness ever—it was merely darkness caused by a lack of light; that was much more sinister.

My hands are starting to get numb that sits beside me, and I'm already having a hard time with the wind slapping me with my hair that I could taste every strand. It felt like he was watching my movements even though his eyes are on the wheel.

" You could open the radio if you're feeling uncomfortable,"

" Huh? It's fine,"

Asking to open the window feels too much already. Beyond that, he was never fond of noise, they are the same as Peter. It always tests Pete's patience.

To my surprise, he's the one who pressed the button, filling the car with music brought by the radio. The sound keeps us accompanying the whole ride even though I can't refrain my head from moving along with every song.

I leaned inside the window after he rolled it down when I knocked, " Thanks for the ride,"

" No prob," he gave me winked.

I watched his car make it out of the neighborhood before I went inside the house. It felt like no one was home upon entering the house. So I just went upstairs to have a rest.

I DIDN'T KNOW I FELL asleep after spending most of my time laying in bed. My body was cloaked with a blanket, and Mom was snoring beside me. The last time I remembered, I left my legs out of the territory of the bed. I checked the time, and it was just 1;23 in the morning. Why do I keep on waking up more than I expected?

My eyes feel heavy but I choose to go downstairs to grab some water. I fetch a cup from the cabinet and a pitcher of water inside the ref.

I'm in the middle of chugging the water when I heard someone talking behind me.

" You're still up?"

" Jesus!"

That made me spit the water in my mouth before it reached the wrong pipe.

It was all quiet and sombered around the house, chill rubs to my veins. Thank goodness I'm used to his voice, and I could tell it was him who didn't freak me out with his figure standing in the dark.

" Peter! Seriously?!" I scolded, but I kept the noise down. And I steady my breath, to calm the panic.

" Sorry," he even chuckled as he walks towards where I am after placing his bag above the table.

He also fetches a cup and water, " You're killing me!"

" Sorry, I thought you noticed me entering the house,"

" I hope so, and I wouldn't freak out," I said, taking a hold on my hip, " How was your 2nd day at work?"

" Getting used to it," his adam apple moved down first before answering.

I nodded to his answer. I watched him drop the cup he was holding and make his way upstairs. I was playing with the cup while watching him. Something's stuck in my tongue that I want to talk about with him.

" Are you going to bed already/ Do you want to take a walk?"

Everything is silent if it weren't for the wind that rustles and our footsteps marching, it not it's like a ghost street that only appears in the middle of the night and vanishes as soon as the sun rises. Wet dirt mingles with the scents of fragrances left behind by people to fill the air.

I was hugging the cardigan that was wrapped to myself. We're not alone in street we have the moon that guides us with its spotlight above us.

" Let's go seven eleven?" I invited.

" I don't even have my salary, Sue," he said, laughing.

" Who says it's your treat?"

I started pulling his arm through the store. He even glue his feet on the ground but I managed to dragged him, scrapping his feet on the road. It was as if I were carrying a cart from behind.

A bell above us rang when we entered the store. He won't tell me what he wants since he immediately found a seat because it seems every corner of this room is vacant, only us and the teller.

I shrugged my shoulders on him and leave a sigh before walking towards the teller to order us their ice cream. I payed for the chocolate flavor ice cream, whipped above the cone.

When I came back to our seat, he was resting his head on the table together with his arm. We don't come here to sleep.

I kicked his foot while I was having a seat. I gave him the other cone when he finally raise his head from the table.

" Don't feel embarrassed, it's fine. Next time, if you pay for the two of us, it's more expensive than this ice cream."

" I'm not," he said, licking the ice cream.

That made me pout from my seat and flinch a centimeter. We stayed quiet for a while, we were busy with our cone anyways.

" I'm sorry for not telling you about Mark," I started, looking out the window with our reflection copied on the glass.

" That your friends with him?" his voice sounded mixed with a chuckle.

" Not yet, but... getting there,"

When I took a glance at him, his stares are far away as if he thinks something... deep.

" That's great," he said with a trace of a smile on his face.

" I know you're still angry with him from what happened, and he said he was sorry."

His eyes already tell he doesn't believe a word from me," I am,"

"He means it, I swear!" I said, raising my right hand in the air, " Everybody deserves second chances. Let him prove himself to you,"

He suddenly stopped himself from walking, and so as I. I have to lift my chin to look at him while waiting for his words, " What I feel about Mark keeps on me. I know what I saw, and he's your friend, and I'm just your friend," he said, pointing out on himself, " Your friends are your friends, I don't want to control you to whom you make friends. I'll like them for you, not for me." he said, putting strands of hair behind my ear.