Chapter Text
Colet tried stretching her limbs as she felt herself waking since the air conditioning was freezing her limbs off.
She tried moving but realized that her arm was trapped somewhere warm.
Her eyes slowly opened and though it was still dark, she was able to see her best friend Jhoanna, snuggling so close that she thought the girl would melt into her. A gulp echoed through the quiet room when she felt Jhoanna tangling her legs with hers.
"Jho..."
Napasinghap si Colet nang maramdaman na mas sumiksik pa ang kaibigan sa kanya. Ang lamig nga naman kasi nung aircon.
“Jho…” Pangungulit ni Colet. Nakakaloko na kinalabit niya ang kilikili ni Jhoanna.
“Col naman ehhh.” Jhoanna murmured and turned again.
Colet let out a small laugh. Gustong gusto niya inaasar kasi ang kaibigan. “Huy gising na.” She prodded Jhoanna’s underarm yet again. Wala lang ang kinis eh.
“Col isa…” Jhoanna groaned before going back to sleep. Bilis makatulog.
Colet sighed as she fixed the blankets around Jhoanna. Sige may ilang minuto pa naman hayaan niya muna ito matulog.
She stopped moving though when she heard the door of her bedroom opening.
"Jho? Col? Are you guys decent? Doesn't matter papasok naman ako--oh wow."
Colet glanced behind Jhoanna's still sleeping form to see their friend, Aiah entering her room.
"Wala ako nakikita." Aiah turned around, closing her eyes.
"Si Aiah ba yun?" Sa wakas nagising na si Jhoanna. She turned around, eyes still squinting in the darkness before she reached for the lamp next to her.
Aiah glanced at them before releasing a sigh of relief. "Oh good. Akala ko nakahubad kayong dalawa or something."
"Buang bakit naman kami maghuhubad?" Colet said as she sat up on the other side of the bed, cracking her neck to get rid of the cricks there.
Aiah rolled her eyes. “Wala wala.”
“Jho gising na.” Colet said, tapping Jhoanna’s arm before she stood up from the bed and stretched her arms. “Grabe wala pang araw sa labas.”
Jhoanna too stood up from the bed and slowly stretched her long limbs just as Aiah looked at them curiously.
“Bakit nga ba dito ka nanaman natulog?” She asked Jhoanna.
The latter shrugged her shoulder as she srcatched her eyes awake. “E kasi magjogging tayo tapos mas malapit dito.”
Aiah sighed as she looked at Colet who was already fixing the blankets. “Fine. Painom nga muna tubig. Col yung susi ah.”
Colet smirked as she grabbed her keys and showed it to the two who both grinned teasingly.
Aiah waited for the two to freshen up and get dressed for their jog.
Jhoanna got inside the driver’s seat while Colet took to the passenger one and Aiah situated herself at the back.
“May lubid ako dyan para handa.”
“Col!” Saway ni Jhoanna sa kaibigan kahit medyo natatawa.
“Hoy it’s true!” Biglang sabi ni Aiah. Kasi may lubid talaga sa tabi niya!
Jhoanna looked at Aiah through the rear view mirror for a split second before she stopped and turned to Colet. “Hoy grabe ka kay Mikhs!”
“Kailangan natin yan maniwala kayo sa akin.”
“Boang.” Sabi din ni Aiah pero natatawa din.
They had been planning for this day for weeks now. Well actually, the whole weekend.
Magkababata kasi silang lahat at nagkasama-sama din sa siyudad ngayon na lahat sila ay nagt-trabaho na.
And now they had planned a fun morning run so that they could spend some time together and get the exercise as well.
But the real challenge was waking their friend Mikha. She wasn't really the type to go jogging early in the morning since she was usually a late sleeper thus had just probably got some shut eye.
And Colet wasn't totally kidding when talking about the rope since she remembered their conversation about the jog a few days before. It took a lot of convincing, mainly on Aiah's part for Mikha to actually agree to go jogging.
"Bakit pa kasi kailangan na may lubid e mag beautiful eyes lang naman si Aiah kay Mikhs papayag na yon." Jhoanna smirked as she continued driving.
Tumawa muna si Colet na napatingin kay Aiah. "Pano gagana e nakapikit pa nga si Mikha. Pusta tulog pa yon."
Aiah rolled her eyes. "I have no idea what you guys are talking about."
Jhoanna and Colet glanced at each other just as the car pulled up on Mikha's condo building.
"Shala talaga ng condo ni Mikha no." Colet commented as she and Aiah got out of the car while Jhoanna checked the locks and everything else.
Aiah looked to Colet and had to laugh when she saw the girl was still holding on to the rope.
Jhoanna too raised an eyebrow as she chuckled at her friend.
"Ano?" Colet said defensively. "Kilala ko si Mikhs sabi ko sa inyo magagamit natin itong lubid."
"Tago mo nga yan baka akalain ni Kuya guard na mangkikidnap talaga tayo." Jhoanna softly slapped Colet's arm.
They made their way up Mikha's apartment building, riding the elevator in relative silence.
“Jho may shorts ka naman dyan?” Colet asked while looking at Jhoanna’s outfit.
“Ha? Oo may cycling ako.” Jhoanna answered as she too observed her clothes. A pout crawled up her face as she looked at her clothes. “Maikli ba?”
“Ha? Hindi. Okay lang yan. Nandun naman ako.” Colet said, whispering the last part.
“Hmm?”
“Wala.”
Aiah laughed, watching the exchange. She rolled her eyes at her friends. “Basta Jho si Colet na ang bahala.”
They arrived at Mikha’s unit, standing outside the door.
Aiah couldn’t help the laugh escaping her, her hand covering her mouth daintily. “Rinig niyo yon? I can hear her alarm from here.”
“Pusta hindi pa din niya yan rinig.” Colet smirked.
Aiah had the keycard ready and tapped it on the door and it opened in an instant.
From their position in the foyer, they could still hear Mikha’s alarm blaring.
Jhoanna cackled, realizing that what Colet said was true.
The three of them headed to Mikha’s room, opening the door.
Colet and Jhoanna had to hold on to each other as they laughed. Because it was true!
Tulog pa din si Mikha! Rinig na sa labas yung alarm pero si Mikha tulog pa din!
“Mikhs!” Aiah laughed. She bounded for Mikha’s bed while the girl in question was still curled up.
“Mikhssss.” Lambing ulit ni Aiah habang pinipindot ang braso nito.
“Hindi natin papatayin yung phone talaga no?” Natatawa pa din na sabi ni Jhoanna.
The alarm was funnily still blaring from Mikha’s phone which was on the bed side table.
“Mikhs.” Aiah prodded yet again, resting her head on the pillow beside where Mikha was.
Colet subtly pulled her phone out before taking a snap.
“Huy!” Aiah chuckled.
“Mmmm…” Finally. Mikha rolled around in bed before slowly opening her eyes which were met with Aiah’s gorgeous face. “Aiah?” Her eyes widened, pupils dilating.
“Oo Mikhs si Aiah talaga yan hindi angel.” Jhoanna suddenly said from the sides, hands on her hips.
Mikha grumbled. “Okay na sana tapos biglang muhka mo.” She told Jhoanna who only scrunched up her nose at her.
“Bumangon ka na dyan. Ganda ganda ni Jho eh.” Colet said. She was the one to grab Mikha’s phone and turn the alarm off.
“Diba we’ll go jogging? Pumayag ka.” Aiah reminded Mikha as she too stood up from the bed. Baka siya naman ang makatulog kapag nagtagal pa siya na nakahiga doon.
“Shit ngayon nga pala yon.” Mikha groaned, also sitting up on bed.
“Yup kaya let’s go let’s go! I’ll timpla your coffee for you.” Aiah smiled before exiting to the kitchen.
Parehong nanlalaki ang mga mata na napatingin si Jhoanna at Colet kay Mikha na dahan dahan nang tumatayo.
“Aba! Hindi ka bumalik sa pagtulog!”
Mikha raised an eyebrow at the two. “Gulo niyo? E magjogging nga tayo diba.”
“Hindi ko pala magagamit tong lubid.”
“Lubid?” Mikha pondered at what Colet said.
“Rope Mikhs.”
“Hoy alam ko.”
“Talaga?” Hamon pa ni Jhoanna.
Mikha shrugged her shoulders. “Busit kayo lumabas na nga kayo bibihis lang ako.”
“Iba talaga kamandag ni Aiah.” Tawa pa ni Jhoanna bago hilain si Colet palabas ng kwarto.
Aiah was already done with the coffee for Mikha when the two of them entered the kitchen.
“Ay so si Mikhs lang talaga ah?” Jhoanna teased Aiah who merely shrugged at them.
“Gising na kayo si Mikhs binulabog natin. And she’ll need this for the run.”
Hindi naman na nanlaban pa si Jhoanna at si Colet. Mikhs may be athletic but she wasn’t a morning person. Himala nga na bumangon eh.
After a few minutes of waiting, Mikha had exited her room already in her jogging clothes just like the other 3.
Excited na napapalakpak si Jhoanna. “Let’s go! Magiging masaya ‘to!”
And so Jhoanna drove them to a jogging field where a few other people would also frequent.
Mikha and Colet took to themselves as they started warming up with Jhoanna and Aiah doing their own routine.
In all actuality, Jhoanna and Aiah were the ones known to jog the most that’s why they knew the two would get an upper hand.
“Hindi ko akalain na gigising ka talaga ng maaga.” Colet chuckled at Mikha as they stretched.
Mikha looked back at her friend as she tied up her hair. “Actually ginising nyo ako.”
“Kaya ka nagising kasi si Aiah.” Colet corrected.
Mikha shrugged her shoulders. “And that matters why?”
Colet rolled her eyes. “Pakipot ampota.”
“Gago pinagsasabi mo.” Mikha smirked.
“Hoy kayong dalawa let’s go na.” Jhoanna called.
Lumapit na si Colet at Mikha habang si Aiah ay tumabi saglit para ayusin ang sapatos.
“Col pahawak saglit.” Ani Jhoanna kay Colet habang inaabot ang telepono.
Colet did as she was told as Jhoanna brushed her long hair and tied it up into a ponytail as she bit on one end of her cap.
Colet grabbed the cap softly before Jhoanna could move and was the one who placed it on the latter’s head.
“Tamis.” Mikha teased just as Jhoanna looked back at her.
“Ha? Anong matamis?”
“Wala.” Mikha sighed.
“Let’s go na?” Aiah smiled at them.
Mikha turned back to the girl with a small smirk. “Unang mapagod talo?”
“Luh lugi.” Singit ni Jhoanna.
“Hindi ka naman kasama.” Pang-aasar pa ni Mikha.
“Sus maunahan pa kita.” Balik ni Jhoanna.
Colet and Aiah looked at each other and both sighed. Sanay na kasi sila sa bangayan ng dalawa.
The four of them started with their pace amicable.
That was until Mikha noticed that Aiah was getting a few steps ahead of her.
She smirked. Bata pa lang kasi sila competitive na sila ni Aiah sa isa’t isa.
“Binibilisan mo ah.” Mikha teased as she and Aiah continued jogging.
“Hindi ah. Bagal niyo lang.” Aiah teased back.
“Ah really.”
They looked at each other for a split second before Mikha sprinted fast.
“Hoy! Daya!” Aiah laughed as she quickened her pace as well.
“HOY JOGGING HINDI RACING!” Colet yelled after them but Mikha and Aiah were already ahead.
“Race you to that tree!” Mikha laughed as she and Aiah burst out with their running.
Aiah pushed her legs as hard as she could and she looked back at Mikha with a triumphant smile on her face before reaching the tree.
Mikha tried halting her steps but hadn’t anticipated her speed. She bounded and tumbled after Aiah who shrieked in laughter as they both fell on the grass.
“Ang dayaa.” Mikha chuckled as they lied down on the greenery and looked at the cloudy sky.
Smiles pulled across their faces as they looked at each other while lying down.
Their smiles softened, still there.
“Kunwari ka pa, you let me win didn’t you?” Aiah said. Ganun kasi kahit nung bata pa sila.
“Ako? Ikaw itong she’s a runner she’s a track star.” Mikha chuckled, smiling at Aiah as she removed a leaf that had found itself on the girl’s head.
They looked at each other, expressions both turning different from smiling to surprised at what Mikha did. Oo pati si Mikha nagulat.
“Diba jogging, bakit nakahiga na kayo?”
Mikha and Aiah turned at the voice to see Jhoanna and Colet had caught up to them.
“Hahaha haynako Jho.” Colet smirked, placing an arm around Jhoanna’s shoulder as they grinned at their friends.
Mikha sighed as she stood up from the grass, quickly helping Aiah up from her position.
They ran a few more laps before calling it a morning.
“Kape tayo please.” Mikha begged as they were walking along the sidewalk of the establishments.
“Kape nanaman?” Colet smirked at Mikha.
“Parang gusto ko nga.” Jhoanna pondered as she reached to wipe the sweat on Colet’s neck with her towel.
“Ay gusto mo? Osige kape na tayo. Saan mo gusto Jho?” Biglang sabi ni Colet kaya napataas kilay ni Mikha.
“Bwisit ah.”
“Oh akala ko ba gusto mo kape.” Balik ni Colet. “Doon tayo Jho diba fave mo dyan.”
And before anyone could say anything, Colet had pulled Jhoanna, holding the girl’s hand in hers as they approached the coffee place she was pointing to.
Mikha and Aiah were left there on the spot.
Chuckling, Aiah turned to Mikha. “Mikhs, wala ka laban kay Jho pagdating kay Colet.”
Inside the coffee shop, Jhoanna and Colet had already stood by the cashier as they were looking at the menu.
“Alam ko matcha gusto mo.” Jhoanna told Colet as she glanced at her best friend who smirked back at her.
“Kapag sinabi ko na sawa na ako sa matcha?”
“Sus kilala kita.” Jhoanna teased. “Ako may pinaka kilala sayo.” She looked back at the menu.
“Muhkang masarap yung croissant o, bili din tayo?” Jhoanna asked, turning back to Colet to see that the girl was looking at her. “Col.” She called again. Nakatulala eh.
“Ha? Oo sige.”
Jhoanna was about to step up to order but some guy had squeezed his way.
“Ay excuse lang sweetheart. Hingi lang ako tissue.” He smiled at Jhoanna.
It didn’t go unnoticed by Colet how the guy’s eyes glanced by Jhoanna’s chest since her shirt was kinda loose.
“Kuya, ayusin mo saan ka nakatingin.” Colet gave the guy a glare that made sure he’d feel it in his bones.
“Col.”
The guy may be larger than them but he didn’t want any trouble and quickly threw his hands up in defense.
“S-sorry.” He quickly walked out of the coffee shop.
“Piskit na.” Galit na sabi ni Colet. “O diba nakalimutan na niya tissue niya.”
Jhoanna calmed the girl down though, holding on to her arms.
“Okay ka lang?” Colet said, quickly making sure that Jhoanna was alright with the whole ordeal
And her best friend gave her a reassuring smile, holding back to her arm.
“What was that?” Biglang tanong ni Aiah na nasa likod na nila.
“I saw what happened. Gago yun ah.” Mikha couldn’t help herself as well, glancing at where the guy disappeared to.
“Nandito naman si Colet, I was safe.” Jhoanna said.
“Upo na kayo ni Aiah, kami na ni Mikha mag order.” Sabi naman ni Colet, hinahaplos pa din ang braso ni Jhoanna.
Inakay ni Aiah si Jhoanna papunta sa isang booth sa dulo ng coffee shop.
And so Mikha stood by Colet as the cashier looked at them.
“Sorry for that ma’am. Okay lang po ba girlfriend niyo?” Yung cashier na ang humingi ng tawad.
Colet sighed. Ramdam ni Mikha na asar pa din ang kaibigan.
“Yeah she’s fine thank you. Mag-order na kami.” Colet said.
Mikha echoed out her and Aiah’s while Colet had hers and Jhoanna’s. The cashier nodded her head before proceeding to place the food in trays.
Tatawagin na lang daw sila para sa drinks.
“Kailan mo pa naging girlfriend si Jho?” Mikha teased Colet, remembering how she answered the barista.
Smirking, Colet shook her head as she and answered, “Sa puso ko matagal na.”
“Torpe ka kasi.”
“Ah? Nagsalita.”
“Ako?” Biglang sabi ni Mikha.
Colet rolled her eyes. “Tara na ayoko nagugutom si Jhoanna.” And she left Mikha there, thinking about what she said.