Julie woke up the next day feeling a little better. Agad namang hinanap ng mga mata niya si Elmo pero di niya ito nakita. She was about to get up from bed nang may maramdamang gumalaw sa sahig. Dahan-dahan niya itong sinilip and there, she saw him. Sleeping in all his glory at nakayakap pa ito sa orange niyang throw pillow. At napatawa na lang siya because he is so damn cute. Para siyang batang natutulog. Nagulat naman siya nang biglang gumalaw ito kaya she pretended to sleep again.
Elmo sat up and looked at her. Napangiti siya dahil as always, she would be beautiful in his eyes. And aaminin niya. Hindi siya magsasawang titigan si Julie.
“Haha. Here I am again. Staring at you as if it’s my first time to see your face. Thank you, Julie. For being the best neighbor in the world. For changing the old Elmo, to a whole new Elmo. Siguro kung di kita nakilala, I wouldn’t be like this. Hindi siguro ako magbabago.” After he said those words ay hinalikan na niya ito sa noo at saka na lumabas ng kwarto.
He walked to her fridge and opened it. Plano niyang ipagluto ito ng breakfast since she is still sick after all. He looked inside the fridge and saw that it’s almost empty.
“Di man lang naggrocery. Hahaha.” Sabi niya sa sarili. Naisipan niyang kumuha na lang ng stock niya sa unit niya para may lutuin siya. He decided to get the box of cereal, milk, oatmeal, some eggs, bacon and the pancake mix na nakatengga lang naman sa condo niya. Pagbalik sa unit ni Julie ay nagsimula na siyang magluto. Nagulat siya when the door opened and Maqui came in.
“Oh. Elmo, ikaw nagbantay kay Julie? I thought si Sef ang nandito?” pagtataka ni Maqui. She dialled Sef’s number and agad namang sinagot ito ng kaibigan. “Bakla, akala ko ba dito ka matutulog?”
“Di na girl. Andyan naman si Magalona ever eh. Keriboomboom naman niya yun.”
“Haha. Pakaarte mo talaga. Okay fine. See you later na lang after mo sa school. Bye.” And Maqui put her phone down. “So, Moe. What’s that?” tanong ni Maqui habang nakasilip sa ginagawa ni Elmo.
“I’m making Julie some breakfast. Join us na. Madami naman to eh.” Yaya niya dito.
“Yeah, yeah. Haha. Plus pogi points ka ha? That’s all of Julie’s favorite.” Nakangiting sabi ni Maqui.
“Haha. Naks. So if ever pala, boto ka saken?” natatawa namang tanong ni Elmo.
“Depende. Kapag pumasa sa akin yang luto mo baka sakali. Hahaha.”
“Sabi na nga ba eh. My favorite person’s here already.” Napatingin sila nang makita si Julie na lumabas ng kwarto and hugged Maqui. “Good morning, favorite person!!” she greeted her.
“Good morning, dear! Oh. Yung apples mo. Eat those ha?” Maqui said.
“Onaman. Haha. Hm… Smells good. What’s for breakfast?” at saka siya tumingin kay Elmo. Napangiti naman si Elmo and placed the last pancake on the platter.
“We have: pancakes, bacon and egg, oatmeal and cereal. Tapos may orange juice sa ref or milk. Depende sayo. Then the apples that Maqui brought.” Elmo said.
“Sounds great. Tara na? Kain na tayo?” pagyaya ni Julie. Umupo na silang tatlo and ate. Actually si Julie lang ang kumain. The two were just drinking coffee while watching her eat.
“Jules, what’s your plan for today?” Maqui asked. Julie took a sip from her glass of orange juice bago sumagot.
“I’ll be going to school. May exam ako today eh.” She replied.
“Sabay na tayo. I have an exam din eh.” Elmo said.
“Yun naman pala. So I have nothing to worry about since kasama mo naman si Moe.” Maqui said. “So I guess, I’ll just see you later?” dagdag pa nito at saka na hinalikan sa noo si Julie. “Be good okay?” she said. “Ikaw din, Moe.” And she ruffled Elmo’s hair at saka na umalis.
