WHAT ARE WE?

[7]

//Leon's POV//

Nakarating na kami sa condo ni Anarisa, unlike earlier, mas sober na siya ngayon.

I took her sling bag and put it on me, hinatid ko siya sa mismong unit nila, para alam ko talagang nakauwi siya ng safe. She opened the door and let me in, so pumasok ako.

"Ris, saan ko ilalagay 'tong bag mo?" I asked, the second na nakapasok na kami sa unit niya, "d'yan nalang sa sofa" she answered while removing her sandals and changing it into her comfortable purple home slippers. I placed the said bag on the sofa.

"Water? Gusto mo?" she asked me, andun na siya ngayon sa kusina part ng unit niya, "No thanks. Uuwi na rin n'yan ako. Hinatid lang talaga kita."

"Ah. Oh sige," she responded and took something from her refrigerator, "no one leaves my house without takeaways, so take this." she added while handing me a drink, C2 to be exact. I gladly accepted it and said, "thank you".

Hinatid niya na ako palabas ng pintuan ng unit niya. "Thank you for today, Attorney. Ingat ka" she said and hugged me, I hugged her back, "Thank you for inviting me, pahinga ka na." I responded and smiled as we pulled out of the hug.

-

6:00 PM

I am fixing my things at nagpprepare na to have a tita-ninang-niece bonding kami ni Inna. Inna texted me and asked if I could go with her sa mall and to also hang out na rin with me. I agreed naman dahil ang tagal na rin naming hindi nagkita.

She told me na sa mall na raw kami mismo magkita kaya ay doon na ako padiretso.

I arrived at the mall at pumunta na sa meeting place namin, which is sa Starbucks. Pumasok ako at nakita ko na siya agad sa loob. I went to her and tapped her shoulder, "Hi Inns!" I greeted her and beso, "Hello tita, I missed you!" she said.

Umupo na ako sa may harap niya, "Have you ordered already?" I asked, "Not yet, Tita-Ninang, I was waiting for you po eh. Do you want to eat po ba?"

"Ikaw? But they do not have heavy meals here, pero I am not that hungry naman so there's no issue with me na dito kumain."

"Okay po, then here nalang us. I don't mind naman po." she answered, "okay, so anong want mo?" I asked.

"Ako na po magoorder, Tita-Ninang. What would you like?"

"I will have a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew and a Buttered Croissant." I answered, "okay po" she said and left to order.

Nang nakaorder na siya ay bumalik na siya sa upuan namin para hintayin ang order. We talked for a while. It's been months na rin since we last hanged out with each other. Napaka daldal pa'ding bata, walang pinagbago.

I love talking with Inna, since I don't have a child of my own pa, I enjoy spending time with her. Sobrang dami niya laging kwento and she's also bubbly. She's been a sweet kid ever since pa noon, kaya I treat her as my own.

"Order for Miss Inna." The barista called, pumunta na si Inna and took our order, she gently placed it sa table. "Thank you!" I thanked her, siya rin kasi nagbayad HEHE.

"Soooo tita-ninang, I heard na you've been hanging out with Doc Anarisa. Dumadamoves ka na po ba?"

"Ah yes. We've been friends, pero nope, I am not dumadamoves pa"

"'PA'???!! OMG SO IBIG SABIHIN MAY CHANCE?" she exclaimed, "well, maybe? Anarisa is pretty and is a great woman." I answered and she smiled cheekily.

"omg ka tita-ninang, I support na po agad!!!" Inna said with enthusiasm and a big smile on her face.

Madaling ma-attach at maging close si Inna sa kahit na sinong tao, kaya I understand why she's happy or why she is reacting that way. Noong binibisita ko siya sa ospital, nakikita ko kung paano siya makitungo kay Anarisa, at ganun din naman ito kay Inna.

Kulang na nga lang isipin mo na magkakilala na sila bago pa siya ma-ospital.

We were talking to each other when I saw a familiar figure line up sa queue ng cashier ng Starbucks. I didn't realize na ang tagal ko na palang nakatingin doon.

"Tita-ninang, hello???" Inna said while waving her hands in front of my face to get my attention. But when I didn't react to her, she looked back to where I am staring, and she saw her too. She saw Anarisa.

"Kaya naman pala, andyan pala ang magandang doktora." Inna said and took her drink and sip.

"Saan ka pupunta?" I asked, "Pupuntahan 'yung kanina mo pa tinititigan," she answered, "Inna. No."

"It will be quick, Tita-Ninang. I promise!" She said and walked to where Anarisa is.

They greeted each other, Anarisa even hugged her and I didn't know why I smiled. I just did. I love how she interacts with her.

They were talking for a while when suddenly, Inna pointed towards me and Anarisa looked. Nagka eye-to-eye tuloy kami, I smiled at her and she smiled back.

Hindi nagtagal ay bumalik na si Inna sa table namin.

"What did you talk about?"

"We talk about you, tita-ninang" pang-aasar nito, "Nah, I'm just kidding. Kinumusta niya lang po ako."

"Okay, that's great. Close na kayo ano."

"Opo. And also..."

"And?"

"I invited her to sit with us," Inna said then smiled and did a peace sign, I mentally face-palmed myself.

"Why did you do that? Baka may kasama siya. Nakakahiya."

"I asked her naman po, sabi niya wala naman. She's just here to drink coffee and para rin daw mag shopping and unwind."

"Oh... Okay."

Hindi nagtagal ay lumapit na sa amin si Anarisa with her drink. I looked at her and smile, she did the same. 

"Upo ka" I said and tinuro ang upuan sa tabi ko, umusog ako ng kaunti at umupo siya sa tabi ko. I saw Inna smiled and tried to hide her kilig, I looked at her and signaled her to stop using my eyes, nabasa niya naman siguro iyon dahil tumigil siya at ininom nalang ang drink niya.

"So... what are you doing here?" Anarisa asked me, "Ah ano lang, hang out with Inna, tagal na kasi naming hindi nagkita."

"Yes po, tama po." sabat ni Inna, "I see. So you'll be here ba ng matagal or aalis din agad?"

"Hindi naman, we're gonna go shopping pa kasi. Nagpapasama si Inna."

"Oh really? Ako rin magsashopping eh. Anong bibilhin mo, Inna?" Anarisa asked Inna, "Clothes po, Doc." sagot nito.

"Ayyyy, diba po you'll bili rin and go shopping? What if sumama ka na po sa'min ni Tita-Ninang para may kasama kayo? I mean... If it's okay lang po with you." Dagdag pa nito, I almost choked with my drink dahil sa sinabi niya.

"If it's okay with Leon, then I'll come with you guys."

"Wala namang problema sa'kin." I said, "YAYYY!!!" Inna answered with enthusiasm. Anarisa and I looked at her and we both smiled.

-

A/N: HELLO PO SAINYONG LAHAT! THANK YOU FOR READINGG!! SORRY PO MEDYO NATAGALAN ANG PAG UPDATE, BUSY KASI SA SCHOOL AND LUMABAN DIN KASI KAMI (STUDENT-ATHLETE) NUNG FEB KAYA KULANG SA TIME AND LAGING NASA TRAINING HUHU. NA-MISS KO PO KAYONG LAHATTT!!! HOPE YOU ENJOYED!

LABS NA LABS!<3