Chapter 13: Aren't you...?

Honey slap her face. Percy was fine but she didn't let him go because of conscience. She was being eaten. And to add, that Jenny ignoring her since they came home this morning. Percy told her what happened and his guess that his chances are might gone.

"Oh, coffee. You stressing yourself too much." Cody dropped a cup of hot coffee on the table opposite her.

"Thanks."

"Is your plan epic?"

"Actually, no. He was able to said what he wants but it looked like Jenny was the one who declined. " She frowned before taking out and slowly drinking the coffee.

"Are you sure?"

"She even ignoring me!"

"Relax! So are you going to plan C?"

"No more. That's too brutal. That's why I'm also avoiding talking to Percy. I'll forget, then he'll remind me!" She placed her elbow to the table.

Cody sat down at the end of the table and then laid down his cup. "That only means my friend is persistent." There is a melody of pride in its voice.

"Anyway. Are you the same as Percy?" Honey's changing the topic of the conversation. She thought, they were friends and it was not far that the two agreed on the same thing. In contrast, the reason of why they became friends.

"In terms of what?"

"To women. You know? You're best friends and everything, that's why. I just thought."

The young man stood up at the table and swallowed several times. "What makes you think that way?"

"I just thought! Ey, not listening! " Honey teased.

Cody would have defended himself when Honey's cellphone rang and went for a moment to talk to the caller.

--

"Bro, it's just me, hmm. You are all alone in the office why didn't you make a move?" Percy's sermon on the other line. Cody moves the phone away with Percy's loud voice. His friend rarely shout and if that happened, there's only two meaning it; frustrated with anything, or tired. All he didn't know was which of the two.

He rubbed the upper part of the nose between his eyes. "Why should I?! What if basted or none at all?!"

"Cody, you know. WHEN DID YOU GET SCARED?!" He gasped to Percy's another shout.

"I'm scared of something, you know!"

"Yes. On the needle." And its followed by laughter.

"While you're in the clown!"

"At least me, I admit. But, you?"

"Then, I'll admit it too."

"Procopio, listen. That's different from confessing feelings for a woman. Think about it carefully, huh? You like lechon but you are forbidden because of your high blood pressure. But! You've moved on it and now you like the vegetable salad you used to hate and says I am not even... a goat! Think, you're just going to admit that you like vegetable salad, it didn't have to like you either!"

He sigh heavily stronger than he had ever been. What kind of example did Percy give? Lechon versus vegetable salad? If it could be a combination, wouldn't it?

"First of all Percy... Cody. Cody! Second, it's really different! And finally, how is the food included?!" Cody couldn't help but raise his voice. He called him and told what he had talked about with Honey. He's asking for advice, but he felt like he was just tripping over it.

Probably, infected with the girl.

"Its because of Honey... She made vegetable salad for dinner because of Tita's blood test result is quite high."

"Percy, I'm asking a good advise on how I can tell her!" He insisted.

"You're crazy, Cody! I told you already! Take the risks! And the consequences! You will know if there is hope or not. But still, be thankful that you said so."

Suddenly Cody felt a conscience. He remembered that the friend's strategy also seemed to be plop.

"Haven't you talked yet?"

"Even Honey. It's really pisses me off. But, nevermind it. Just stick to your goal. All right, I'll hung up. Honey's bothering me to eat that salad."

Cody didn't know where the sudden twitching of strange emotions came from in his chest. He is Percy's friend and it's clear in the clearest water that Percy wants is Honey's friend!

But why does it hurt?

"Good night."

"Good night too."

--

A few days passed and Jenny's still ignoring Honey and Percy. She was very hurt because she feels the two of them were playing on her. What she did not understand, there's a part of her regretting. The two are close and it's likely they fall on each.

Even she wants to retract what she had said, her pride prevents her.

Her co-worker and close friend Mary noticed that something was bothering her. They were in the employees room and did not notice that she was approaching. Mary shook her shoulder. "Hey! What are you staring at?"

The girl gasped and smiled immediately. "It's you, Mary. Are you going home?"

Mary opened her locker. "Yes. My shift is over. You? You're done a while ago, right?" Because Jenny still didn't change her uniform.

"Get dressed!" Jenny immediately opened the locker and took the casual clothes and went straight to the bathroom.

Mary noticed its anxiety and being absentminded. She also took her clothes and waited for her to finish, and she changed too. Mary saw her again and sitting on the floor and staring in the bag.

"Jen, come on. I'll listen." Mary said she offered a sincere smile.

Jenny smiled and slowly stood up. "It's fine, Mary. Thank you. I just really want to think."

"Is it about Mark?"

"I wish it was just about him, but no."

"Okay. I'm not going to ask you anymore. But let me take you up to the town, huh? At least, it's close to your house."

"Why?"

"You might suddenly commit suicide!"

Jenny just laughed at Mary's behavior. In the meantime, she stop thinking about her problems.

--

Manley wanted to punch himself over and over again until he understood himself. It was late at night and here he was. Standing opposite a house he never thought he was going to. Why is he here? And what is the reason that drives him?

In fact, he didn't know the right answers.

He rubbed his face again on countless times.

What did I think and went here instead of picking up Thea? He sighs in frustrations. He was about to get in the car when…

"Doc Manley? Is that you?" He faced it and was so disappointed that he felt that it was not the person he had intended in the area. "You are, Doc!"

"Hello? You're Miss Gonzales' friend, aren't you?" He asked panicking. He was not ready for the pace of the conversation.

"I am, Doc. Jenny Cortez po. You've been my doctor once." Jenny smile. "What are you doing here at this time?"

Goodness! What do I say?

"Uhmm... I was lost. I can't use the cellphone GPS because it's low battery. That's right!"

"Oh, Doc. You should knock that house. It was only ten o'clock, so they were still awake except for the kid with us here. Watching drama, of course, courtesy of honey."

"I'm embarrassed trouble anyone."

"Where are you going, Doc?"

"In the Boso-Boso."

"Oh, it's far, Doc. It's still Manila, here. You should reschedule your trip, come on in." Suddenly he felt shame and shook his right hand.

"No, it's okay. I'm just going home."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. At least I didn't go astray in the mountains of Rizal, right? Hehehe." Jenny's frowned at what he had said and nodded.

"All right. All right, I'm going in, Doc. Take care."

"Ah, thanks for the help."

"You're welcome."

Now that he was left alone, he chose to ride and leave.

--

Jenny was hoping to tell Honey what happened, because she was probably have an out of this world's comment. But she moved her feet backwards to the scene she saw. Percy is putting a quilt on Honey who is fast asleep leaning on the uncomfortable position while sitting. Percy's smiling and staring at Honey's face for a long time. Her heart feels heavy as he gently pulled the strands of hair blocking her face with a smile. "Get some rest."

Jenny quickly ran to the side of the door and hid when he was about to leave.

Her breathing was back to normal as she felt his footsteps upstairs. She approaches her friend, how heavy she's feeling upon remembering the scene.

Wrong! It's wrong to feel this way! She chant to herself as the flow of tears she never expected.

--

It's only been a few days and it's Jenny's birthday. She didn't know how to celebrate her birthday without ignoring any of her friends. She could not count how many sighs she had released.

"Jenny, table number 2!" Their manager shouted and she quickly took out the small notebook and ran the distance. "Good morning, sir. May I have your order?" She politely asked it.

But that's just how surprised she was at the man who lowered the menu in front of her today. It's Cody!

Don't tell me, he likes me?!

"I'll call you when my client shows up." He answer that triggers its handsome face. She nodded and excuse herself.

Jenny was leaving the restaurant when someone walked along her.

"I hope you won't mind. Aren't you jealous? Annoyed?" She was startled by Cody's questions that without even drinking or eating, she was choke at her own saliva.

"Why?" A smile paints across Cody's lips though it was a strange smile.

"Because I am. I know, it sounds odd but because their closeness is getting in my system."

She looks at him and at some point, she understands what he feels. "Anyway. I saw Doc Manley in front our home. I think he wants to talk to Honey."

"That's another one. Obviously Honey likes her. How am I able to win her attention if there's a lot of hindrance?"

"So, is Percy a hindrance?"

"My! He's getting there!"

"Even honey."

"Wait, does that mean you're jealous?"

Jenny grabbed her mouth when she realized what she said. She even admitted he likes Percy! "Ahm, I'll explain!"

"You don't have to. My friend is in love with you. And that bastard will wait until his last breath. The problem is, his closeness with Honey. And there are lots of relationships that started as friends and worked out better. Please, weigh your feelings. But don't take too long. I'll try my best to win her, no. I'll do my best.

"I actually want to take you home, but I'm still going to dinner meeting. So, I'll go ahead."

"All right. Thanks."

"Alright! Take care!"

"You too."

He waved for the last time before getting in on his car parked in the distance. As she watched his car leave, she realized many things.

But, she was struggling.

Sure, she has feelings for Percy.

There was still a part of her that cried not to.

Still hoping for Mark.

Jenny doesn't want Percy to be a rebound because if there's a better chance than now, she would let herself fall for him. And Jenny also does not want to cause possible misunderstandings of her rashness.

And...

Itwas wrong for her to feel annoyed for her friend. When they were both unemployed, it made way for them to live because they're far away from their families. In sadness, Honey was there. Listening and advising even when she is not following any of it.

When it hurts, she's ready to go and defending her. Like what happened between her and Mark.

Her other friends will never do that,

It's only Honey.

But Honey never cried to her. She didn't even know if Doc Manley was her problem. Although she is often said that she's BH (broken hearted) to the young doctor, she often ignored and laughs at it.

Cody is right.

It should not too long.

There are many possibilities.

--

Tony turned to the hallway left and stopped and retreated. He thought he was seeing things but no. He saw Honey.

She was bored leaning against the wall and waiting to whoever. He decided to approach her because it was a month since she saw her. Although they're taking sometimes on the phone, it is very rare because of the woman's work.

"Honey!" He greeted her as he approached. "Long time no see."

Honey's face glisten that fit to her dress wearing. "Hey, Doc Tony!"

"It's just Tony."

"We're in the hospital, Doc."

"No worries. Friends, aren't we? Anyway, what are you doing here? " Tony asked as she frowned and cross her arms.

"Percival was almost lost his conciousness a while ago. We had food tasting."

"Wait. Are you getting married?"

"Nothing like that. It's because his love of his life's birthday, my friend. We intend to pay back and 'the gimmicks we did, for Jenny to notice him were all for naught, he's gonna surprise her and the birthday is tomorrow." Honey explains it in the most irritated tone.

"And what makes him almost faint?"

"Allergic to peanuts. Jenny's favorite is peanut butter. Guess what, he tasted it. You know he ate half that jar!"

He laughed as he tapped on her shoulder. "Chill! So, what does the doctor say in the ER?"

"Spend a few hours until his dextrose is gone."

"It's a good thing you brought him immediately here."

"If he dies without being properly honest, I will kill him again!"