Chapter 2

Playing: Without You.

I just smiled after hearing that song. I don't know why but I remember when I was a kid, I always sang it on videoke. Movideoad was almost in love because I kept playing it.

I leaned my head against the back of my chair, happily gazing out at the vast rice fields, and the setting sun. The air conditioning inside the bus felt cold, I didn't realize that I was slowly closing my eyes and I was completely asleep because I was tired.

"To those to General Trias who are coming down, wake up!" I tried to open my eyes when I heard the conductor shout.

I rolled my eyes and looked around. It was a bit dark, I also fell asleep for a few hours, I just scratched my neck while waiting for the other passengers to get off.

I didn't want to be crowded, a few more seconds passed and some of the passengers were already out. I pulled out my bag and hesitated to go down, almost closing my eyes to the amount of light around, also a bit noisy due to the crowd.

Is this what they call manila? Immediately if the conductor took my other belongings on the bus. I stood to the side and strained to find Mareng Althea's bulk. Where is that girl?

I looked around, until I saw a woman, her hair short up to her neck. She was dressed in black and wore short shorts. I stared at it for a while until he turned to look at me.

'Anna Mandrigal? She came over and kissed my whole being. "It's you beshy, you're pretty!" He's going to shout a lot here, a lot of people, you still don't really change Althea.

"Thea you're so noisy," I stopped him. I almost fainted when he suddenly hugged me tightly.

"I miss you so much!" She said weakly, I immediately smiled and hugged him back. Thea has been a part of my life since then, we have considered each other as sisters, so we were both very sad when she moved here to Manila to take the course she wanted.

"I guess you're crying?" I'm joking. She immediately let go of the hug and looked at me seriously.

"Why is that better for me?" Its snout pierced, "what's your best soap?" She added, I couldn't stop laughing.

"Hey Thea, I'm tired from the trip, we'll talk later." Immediately if the bag I was carrying was taken away. He took the other one.

"OMG Anna, it's good that your arms weren't rude here," She said while irritably carrying the big bag.

'The weight of it. You're serious!" She added. We stopped in a corner while waiting for a ride. Later a taxi stopped in front of us, we hurried to board with my belongings, it was also a bit dark in General Trias.

"How are yoy Anna?" She asked in surprise, we have been here in the taxi for almost a few minutes. I don't know if we're just moving slowly or Althea's condo is just far away.

"Still, nothing has changed," I replied with a smile, "you Thea how are you?" When I shouted, he even gave me an irritated expression.

"I'm busy, I'm almost too old to work."

'It's really good that you're stuck here, I'm going to be fooled by being so bored. They bought my mom a condo for almost for whole family, and I was the only one. I almost talked about the equipment I guess it's because I'm so bored. "

"That's what I think, embarrassing Thea." His forehead furrowed.

"What an embarrassment!" Shout it out. Even when his mouth really beats the siren of the police.

"They'll be even happier when they find out you're with me!" She added. I smiled at him gratefully and took his hand.

"Thea... Thank you," I promised seriously while still smiling. I don't know how to reciprocate his kindness, but all I hold on to now is the word ‘thank you'.

I know Thea doesn't accept compensation if she does something good, I'm so lucky because I have a friend like her. As loud as his mouth cracked, so did the good he did.

It was like a rain from heaven for me, I am not only thankful for free housing, I am thankful because there is someone I can trust and empathize with in the new world I have entered.

"Are you really alone here?" I almost lost my temper when I saw the whole of Althea's condo. The equipment and the space will be expensive, even surpassing the residence of an entire family.

It's embarrassing to touch the equipment because it looks expensive, it's not hidden from my knowledge that Althea's family can afford it. His parents can't even go home here in the Philippines because they are taking care of their business abroad. I dropped my bag on a rectangular sofa.

"I told you, so it's good that I'm willing to accompany you here." She went to the refrigerator and took cold water, translated it and handed it to me.

I looked around, I can't deny the amazement because it was so cozy and well-kept to look at the whole condo.

"By the way, we won't have to worry about paying for water and electricity bills because mommy send money for that every month," She said, immediately frowning at me.

'Thea is too much. It's embarrassing, I have a job for— "

'Hep! Hep! Hep! Anna relax... Inhale... Exhale. It's better to save, than to have a hard time budgeting for wealth. " She came over to me and sat down next to me.

"What is it Anna... There's nothing embarrassing about this, aren't you my sister?" She said seriously and sincerely while staring straight into my eyes.

"You know what's embarrassing?" She added.

"What?" I wondered.

'That's how pretty you are, and you don't have a boyfriend yet. Hey best! Awake! Have your body needs flirt pills? We're getting older! Yes... We're getting older, you're menopause later or sooner It's up to you." She's still staring at me, which you think is disgusting because I haven't had a boyfriend yet.

I also told you earlier in the taxi that I haven't had a boyfriend yet, Thea was even more shocked by what she heard. She said she can't believe I'm NBSB. "I need to flirt while it's still early, maybe I'll be relieved in time," she added. I just ignored that.

"Hey besh... That will be your room!" At the same time teaching in one room, in fact there are two rooms here. That one is probably his.

"I've cleaned that... You can stretch it." She said and went to the kitchen.

'FUCKER!" She shouted loudly from the kitchen. I automatically got up and ran there.

'Thea? Why !?" I asked in surprise, she came out of the kitchen scratching his neck.

"Best... I'm sorry, I didn't cook our food." Irritated she approached me. Actually, I'm a little hungry too, what time is it and I haven't eaten before I left my grandmother.

"Don't worry... Come on," She even helped me get out of the square sofa.

"Let's just buy it at the convenience store downstairs," She asked, "I'm really sorry best..." It even signed peace and was cute.

"What's the matter? Keeping me here in your condo is a big deal for me!" I answered. She just smiled broadly.

"Let's go?" I invite. We smiled as we exited the condo and headed to the convenience store he was referring to.

"Choose what you want best. I'll wait for you there," Thea said while holding two ice-coffees and an ordered burger, she pointed to the empty table on the side.