Chapter 16: Cody's Hesitation

"I made a mistake." Jenny bites her lower lip to stop herself from crying. She knows them and these guys are wondering why Honey is not there when she he is always excited about these get-together.

And it's surprising if they give her an earful sermon.

She noticed Sheena curling up with her right arm down. That means something.

Annoyed,

Or else, angry.

"You know dear, our Honeymooncake is the most transparent of all of us. So, how did you made a mistake?

"Is she angry with you for one mistake? Knowing her, your first mistake, she will understand it. Even up to third mistake. So, will you explain to us, what the heck had happened?" She raised her gaze at what she said.

"Sheen is right, but don't lie!" Vera threats that adds to the emotions she is feeling.

"All right, girl. We won't eat you. But Vera, she will punch you when you have not answered." Said Milanna.

She held out all the courage in her heart just to say the words, "I was angry with her."

"Then?"

"Uhmm ... there was a man who as asked for Honey's to ... to get close to me. They have a lot of plans ... that even when getting sick... the man... they still at it. I was angry because I felt, they played me." She close her eyes after speaking. She felt a thorn blocking her throat.

"WHAT? JUST BECAUSE OF THE GUY?! MY GOD, JENNY! You know Honey and she never agreed to help a man, unless she really knew him!"

"Vera, calm down. You can even scold her without shouting!" Sheen is noted.

Vera waved on her face as if it were hot even when there's air-conditioning inside the café. "I can't. You know her. Jenny. Ever since, she's like that. That's why our parents likes her. She will think about us–"

"I KNOW THAT, VERA! What if you were in my situation? Every now and then the guy express his feelings? You think, that ... that ... that they has something in them! Because they are close! As in!

"If you just saw it... She was never that close to our friends and classmates back then. Almost everyone was intimidated about her. Even us at first.

"But what I saw is different. They're perfect for each other. And if I'm still enter the scene, like–"

"Do you like the man, girl?" Milanna cut off what she says that surprised her.

She didn't even answer it right away.

"My God, Jen! Just admit that yes, or not to the man! Whether it's a pass, or basted!" Sheena added.

"Why don't you just simplify it? You are jealous of their closeness. You're jealous of Honey!"

"You could be close to him if the first time you feel like you had something for him, Honeymooncake would have been here."

"Perfect what you said, girl!" Milanna's words seemed to be an icebreaker.

"Answer, Jenny."

She was surprised at Vera.

"Ahm. It's because Mark and I just broke up and I don't want him to be rebound or, anything between us." She answered facing the floor.

"I can't say, we're not upset or mad about what happened, Jen. But we are friends. So once you hear that Honey is coming home to her house, quickly, meet to her whatever the time"

Jenny couldn't help but cry.

"What are you crying about? Thank us, Honey is not here. I punch you instead but not because she will cry too!"

Sometimes, they think that Vera is a lesbian for worrying too much. But no. Because Honey was her best ever friend.

"Not anymore." She wiped away the tears immediately.

"Jenny, dear. I wish you could talk to us if you can't tell Honeymooncake, huh?" Jenny nodded in response and included sniffing.

"And girl... Don't think too much. You're going to be that ugly, girl!"

--

It's been almost a month since Honey left. The house was quiet except for Sandy's frequent cries. She seems to miss her Tita Honey. Tita Karie could do nothing because they had no communication with the girl.

Before Percy's car could enter the garage, he could hear his niece's cry. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the fact that Sandy never stops crying unless when was sleepy, or tired.

"Tito!" Sandy cried when she saw him right next door.

"Our baby is crying again. What happened?" He patted her head and carried her.

"I miss Tita Honey."

"Ssh. Hold on." He stopped but she cries even more.

He had already texted Honey about it and agreed, just to keep it secret. He placed his hand on the child's ear and whispered. "If you won't stop crying, I won't share a secret!"

Sandy smiled suddenly and calmed down. "No more." Although sobbing, she seems to believe it.

"Have you eaten?" Sandy shake her head "Let's eat together. I'll just get dressed. Where's Lola?"

"Cooking."

"I'll leave you to her, huh? Tito will just get dressed." She quickly nodded and wiped the face with the end of the dress.

At noon, there was not much to do in the office so he told Sir Hugo he's picking up his niece and if she could stay there. He also claims that he's been assigned on watching over his niece.

About an hour later, they also came to the firm. Sandy is excited.

What is the secret he is referring to here?

After Percy got dressed, he ate again. He could feel the silence. With no honey to beat, ask for a dish, or just watching.

She also rarely saw Jenny. He came home, she was still at work. He'll come in, she's still asleep. Although he wanted to see her, he can restrain himself.

"Tito? The secret?" Sandy whispered to him after washing the dish. He just laughed.

"Get in your room." And he carries Sandy, at the same time, "so only us will know." He whispered.

She seems excited.

When they arrived at the room, he placed her sitting in the bed where they sleeping together with her grandmother. "It's like this, Sandy. I'll call your Tita Honey, but she says, it's just a secret, otherwise, we can't." He added a sad expression for her to listen to him.

"Promise! I'll behave!"

"Very good. When your grandmother came here, and you were clean already, go to bed early. To wake up—"

"Yes! Get to bed early!"

"All right. I'll get you, tomorrow. So you should be beautiful when you meet."

"Yes!"

"All right, I'll go out. Wait for Tita, huh?"

"Yes!"

He smiled out of the room and informed the elder that he would take her.

"Good afternoon, Lolo!" Sandy greeted him warmly and blessed at Sir Hugo. Because the firm is small, he's sharing the room with Architect Hugo. They have a living room of no more than five can fit, which is their reception area.

Far from his office in his friend's company.

"Hello, little miss. Are you Sandy? " Old Hugo's gentle question. Especially he only has child and the whole family is in America.

"Lolo, I have a present for you." She cheerfully said and show the drawing. "Tito said, you love to draw, so do I! Is it good?"

The old man's heart seem melted to what the child's given. He misses his grandchildren beyond.

A beautiful sun with a home, swimming pool, and a large garden. There's different animals. "Very pretty, little miss. When did you do this?"

"A while ago. Teacher said we were going to draw. That's for you! " And his heart really melted by the child's great kindness.

"Thanks, little miss."

"Sandy, go at Tito's table. There. Behave."

"Yes!" And she runs there.

"Thank you very much, Sir." He look at him crying.

"Percival, thank you too. I suddenly missed my grandchildren. All right."

"I'm going to buy some snacks, what do you want?"

"You don't have to."

"Come on, sir. Sandy will cry if we eat alone."

"All right. Because you force me."

"What do you want?"

"What does the child want?"

"Jollibee."

"Then, same. No soft drinks to me."

"Yes!"

After ordering, he confronted the laptop and called the Facebook his friend using today.

"Why taking so long?" Sandy's excited question. Restless.

"Relax, Sandy."

"Yes." It took them about an hour to talk. But Sandy was the only one talking to her that he had already make way.

--

Cody groaned as he watched his uncle and friend talk. Come on, they're no longer friends. Since he left his company, they have never spoken like before. Sometimes, they had a chance to meet at a seminar, but, even greety, they didn't.

He is in a hotel today because Tony has been married to her fiancée Veronica for almost 9 years.

Can you imagine that?

How have they been able to endure each other for so long?

It is impossible to have no clutter, no jokes, and no conflict.

"Why don't you approach them and talk to them?" He was surprised at the speaker. Tony's in posture.

"Hey, congrats!" He greeted him with a pat on his arm.

"Thank you. Good thing you came, I thought you would reject me because there the two."

"Yes. The new year just entered it's not good to refuse right away."

"I agree. So, I heard, do you have a girlfriend? 'Her best friend?" Cody was startled by the question and laughed.

Because of the speed of news.

"Nope. I'm still courting—"

"Just a piece of an advice, Bro. Don't make her a rebound. In Percy's story, Honey was deeply concerned about her friend–"

"How can you be sure if things are rebound?" He emitted strong sighed.

"Cody, so is your uncle. He rebounds Betty. Too hurt by the rejection and when Betty show her motive, he just grabbed it. Don't repeat his mistakes."

"And I'm not."

"You are, Cody. With so much going on, I know we all get hurt, but should that always be? When you get hurt, you'll l it hurt others? That's immaturity."

"You are not in a position to tell me. Excuse me, I will leave –", it would be right for him to turn away when Tony left the words:

"Honey is critical. She been involved in a hit and run."

Although his system alarmed, he chooses by acting like it's not affecting him at all.

"What is the sense of saying that? Go to Percy, he's the boyfriend!" He shouted that it had caught the attention of people nearby.

"He was the one who told me. And I'm telling you this, is because you deserve to know!"

"Stop me, Tony!"

"You heard him, Kuya Tony. Anyway, I have to go. I said goodbye to Ate Nica. I'm in a hurry."

"All right. Take care, Percy."

When he was sure Percy was away, he pulled Tony out of the reception area. "Explain, Tony!" Cody whispered here as if begging.

Tony felt Cody's concern. "She was in an accident. Hit and Run. She had been in the hospital for almost a week. Her boss told Percy that Honey was coming home one night."

"What?! It's been a week? Why did you just say that now?!"

"But, are you courting her best friend? And, I just found out."

"When?!"

"Percy come home from London–"

"Percy again?! What does he have that he always knows?!"

"Look! You just heard his name, you raised your voice immediately! Cody, think of it! How close are you?"

"Of course, it was that man's fault!"

"He is innocent!"

"He isn't!"

Tony slap himself, literally, to what Cody's behavior showing. There seems to be no enough explanation for this. He took a deep breath. "Cody, what they had is only platonic. No more, no less. Now, if you insist that attitude, I won't further elaborate. That kind of attitude, everyone surrounds you will avoid you. My wife needs me, excuse me." He looked at his wife as if looking for something. She probably wouldn't see him.

Cody was left behind Tony as he approached his wife. He felt chest pain in their sweet sweetness.

While Manley was in the distance, and watching him. He also felt sorry for the nephew's attitude, but when he once attempted, he was angry and allegedly stole the woman he loved again.

Just like Betty.

He was blinded by pain and rejection then, which he also wanted others to experience.

Then, she came.

In fact, he did not love Betty, because she also admitted that her feelings for him was shallow. That she likes Cody.

He freed her, and let them be.

But Cody didn't listen, so he said the hurtful words he still regrets. The reason their closeness is broken.

If only he could travel, maybe, he already did.

He advised himself not to enter such things.

But no.

It happened.

And it is unlikely that it can travel on time, especially to deceive it.

"I'm sorry, Cody." He whispered in the air.