Chapter Text
“Pisti, ang likot naman, eh!” Colet huffed with a laugh as her best friend, Maloi, bumped their hips against each other. The sound of the spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove filled the small kitchen of Colet’s condo unit, along with the upbeat rhythm playing from the speaker in the living room.
“Kapag itong sauce natin nasunog, walang magrereklamo ah?” Colet challenged, her smile reaching her eyes as her gaze drifted over to Maloi. The soft glow of the kitchen lights highlighted the curve of Maloi’s jaw, her hair flowing in waves over her shoulder as she danced to the beat.
Her thoughts broke when she heard a happy sigh leave Maloi’s lips, the kind of sigh she always let out whenever she was in a good mood. It made Colet smile a little, but she didn’t let herself dwell on it. Not now. Not when the familiar feeling in her chest was something she had learned to ignore over time.
“Ang bango naman niyan,” Maloi complimented, flashing her that easy smile that always made Colet’s stomach twist a little.
“Malapit naman na maluto ‘to. Patapos ka na ba sa garlic bread?” Colet asked, steadying her voice as she tried to ignore the fact that Maloi was now leaving her side and moving over to where she had placed her phone down. “Kumusta ka diyan?”
Maloi could only shrug, her attention already shifting to the notifications lighting up her phone screen. “Ah, may nag-chat lang about sa org.”
Colet didn’t need to ask who it was. Judging by Maloi getting distracted with her phone and her obvious holding back of her kilig, Colet knew it was the dancer who had joined their org a few weeks ago.
It wasn’t a big deal. Colet was used to it. She wasn’t the type to get hung up on things like that.
“Ayan siya eh, humaharot nanaman eh hindi pa nga kami nakakakain,” Colet joked, her tone light as she reduced the flame on the sauce so she could take over the garlic bread station.
Maloi glanced at her, pouting as she tried to hide the way she was blushing like crazy. “Hindi ako humaharot ha! Eh nagtatanong naman talaga siya tungkol sa org!” she said defensively, though the silly smile on her face was already a dead giveaway.
Before Colet could react, Maloi’s phone buzzed again. She picked it up from the counter, and her fingers quickly swiped across the screen.
Now, with her back turned towards Colet, Maloi bit on her lip as she tapped away. “Nagtatanong naman siya ngayon about sa schedule,” she explained as Colet busied herself preparing the garlic bread before putting them in the oven. “Nakakahalata na ako talaga dito, lahat sa akin tinatanong.”
Colet gave a short laugh while keeping her eyes focused on spreading the butter-garlic mixture on the bread. “Eh kasi nga crush ka niya.”
Maloi rolled her eyes, laughing while trying not to let Colet’s comment get to her head. “Or baka approachable lang talaga kasi ako.”
Colet stayed silent, focusing all her attention on the bread and the sauce. It wasn’t jealousy, she told herself. Not exactly. She didn’t care if Maloi was into someone else. She didn’t. But there was this dull ache whenever Maloi’s smile was directed at someone other than her.
Her fingers tightened around the butter knife as Maloi's soft giggle echoed across the room, her voice light and airy like a breeze. Colet’s heart skipped, then sank, and she quickly turned her focus back to the bread. She couldn’t let it bother her. Not tonight. Not when everything had to feel normal.
Before Colet could react, Maloi’s phone buzzed again. She picked it up from the counter, her eyes flicking to the notification on her phone.
“Halata naman kasi na may gusto 'yan sa'yo. Biro mo, nakaka-keep up siya sa all caps mong pag-chat,” Colet joked, her tone light, though the words tasted bitter as soon as they left her mouth.
Maloi rolled her eyes, laughing while trying not to let Colet’s comment get to her head. “Sus, at least 'di tulad ng isa diyan na daig pa kuripot sa pagiging matipid mag-chat.”
Colet stayed silent, focusing all her attention on the bread and the sauce. It wasn’t jealousy, she told herself. She didn’t care if Maloi was into someone else. But there was this dull ache whenever Maloi’s smile was directed at someone other than her.
“Huy, okay ka lang ba?” Maloi asked, her tone softening as she looked at Colet. There was an obvious spark of concern in her eyes. This time, Colet turned her head to meet Maloi’s eyes, giving her a soft, faint smile. “Oo naman. May iniisip lang.”
Maloi gave her a skeptical look, finally setting her phone down after hitting send on her last message for Mikha. “Sure ka ha?”
“Oo naman. Iniisip ko lang mga need natin ipasa next week,” Colet replied as she prepared to put the baking tray in the oven. When she was met with nothing but silence, Colet turned around again, only to see Maloi smiling as she was on her phone.
There was obviously no way she’d get through to her friend, so Colet decided to finish cooking their dinner alone. Colet slid the tray of garlic bread into the oven with a click, the faint sound of the timer clicking into place adding to the warmth of the moment. She wiped her hands on the dish towel, trying to distract herself from the ache she felt in her chest whenever Maloi’s attention drifted back to her phone.
It had been like this lately. Maloi’s smiles and bright, excited energy whenever Mikha’s name came up always made something twist inside Colet. But it wasn’t anything new.
“Baka naman, uyab,” Colet called out with a teasing tone as she puttered around the kitchen, “Baka naman pwede tayo makapag-dinner tonight?”
She could hear the shuffle of Maloi moving to the couch. The guilty tone in her voice when she called back almost made Colet smile. “Sorry, ang dami niyang tanong bigla kasi!” Maloi squealed. “Wait, ako na mag-set sa table!”
Colet just chuckled, shaking her head as she started to plate the pasta. She heard Maloi’s quick footsteps behind her as she grabbed her phone and slipped it into her pocket, her smile a little shy.
“Okay na ba?” Colet asked, turning to look at her as she slid the steaming plates of pasta onto the small table.
Maloi pouted, putting on her best puppy-dog face. “Spoiled na spoiled nanaman ako sa’yo eh,” she teased, “Parang prinsesa naman ako talaga.”
Colet laughed lightly, pushing the plate of garlic bread closer to her. “Eh alam mo naman na lagi kang spoiled sa akin.”
Maloi grinned at her, looking at her plate like it was the greatest thing on earth. “The best ka talaga. Thanks, uyab.”
Colet almost flinched at the word. She hated how that little nickname always caught her off guard. They’ve always called each other that, she reminded herself. She was just her best friend.
The garlic bread was warm, and the pasta was perfectly done. The familiar sounds of them eating together felt like the safest thing in the world. They always laughed about the same things—how Maloi would talk with her mouth full, how Colet would always over-serve them. Little things that made their friendship so easy, so natural. And yet, in this moment, Colet couldn’t help but feel like an outsider in her own life, watching Maloi with her smile and excitement about Mikha.
For now, though, she pushed that feeling aside, taking a deep breath and just enjoying the moment. The sauce was perfect, the bread was perfect, and Maloi was perfect—just the way she was.
Colet paused mid-bite, her fork hovering just above her plate. Maloi’s laughter rang through the room, a little too loud, a little too carefree. Her heart squeezed in her chest, a familiar ache creeping in. She shook her head slightly, forcing herself to smile. The smile felt thin and fragile, but it held steady. “I’m fine,” Colet whispered to herself. “It’s fine.”