I didn't have to check my map again if I was arriving at the pinned live location that Zeno sent me earlier because I was able to see him and Thunder from a distance.
Nakaupo si Zeno sa gutter habang si Thunder naman ay nakadapa lang sa harapan niya at hinihimas niya ang katawan nito. I couldn't help but smile.
Ang mag-ama ko naman. Charot. Practice lang.
It was in the middle of walking with Bella and Diva when I received Zeno's message that Thunder was refusing to move and sent me a live location of his address. Kaya pagtapos ng oras ko kila Bella at Diva ay dito na ako dumiretso.
Zeno must have heard my scooter because his head turned to my direction. His eyes remained locked on me and stood up as I approached them.
Nakangiting pinatay ko ang scooter at tinanggal ang helmet ko. I placed it on my scooter and walked to where Zeno was.
"Hi!" I chirpily greeted, then crouched down to greet Thunder by rubbing its head and cooing, "Hey, Thunder."
"Kanina pa ba kayo dito?" bungisngis na tanong ko nang tingilain si Zeno.
"Yes," he heavily sighed. "We only got through the gates and them he gave up."
I laughed and opened my dumpling bag to get some treats for him. Niramihan ko na ang dala ko ngayon dahil sugapa siya sa treats.
Naamoy yon agad ni Thunder at umayos sa pagkakahiga. His ears lifted, too. Tumingin siya sa akin.
"Thunder, up," I pointed my index finger upward.
Thunder quickly stood up and began to pant heavily. I smiled. "Good." Then fed him the dog treat. His tail began to wag with enthusiasm.
Tumayo na ako at binaling ulit ang atensyon kay Zeno na tahimik na nanunuod sa amin.
"Tara na sa park?" pag-aya ko.
"Actually... do you want to go to our house instead?" he asked, and then quickly added, "We have a patio there. And you won't have to worry being seen."
My eyes went wide and I was instantly hit by excitement. Makakapunta ako ng bahay nila? Syempre, G!
But then I thought of meeting his parents, probably family, and I was instantly struck with extreme anxiety.
"Ma-me-meet ko parents mo? Hindi ako naka-ayos!" I said in complete panic.
I was only wearing a gray cropped top beneat a black hoodie and some baggy jeans. Streetwear aesthetic naman 'to, pero syempre dapat extra presentable ako kapag nakilala ko ang ang mga biyenan ko for the first time!
"It's a weekday. They're at work, so no one's home."
Nakahinga ako nang maluwag pero nang mag-register sa akin, I feigned a horrified look and crossed my arms over my chest. "Anong gagawin mo sa akin?"
Zeno grunted and lightly knocked his fist on my forehead. "Get your mind out of the gutter."
"Ay, wala ba? Bakit wala?" I pouted.
Zeno laughed and took my hand. He tipped his head to the left. "Let's go."
"Yung scooter ko," sabi ko.
"I'll have someone get it."
Umuwang ang labi ko at wala nang magawa kundi sumunod nang hilahin niya ako. I thought we were going to somewhere far but he pulled me to the big gate right where he was sitting in front of earlier.
Instead of the big gate, he lead me to the smaller one. Yung daanan na pang tao lang. It had a smart lock attached to its handle. He typed in the code and it opened automatically.
