Chapter 5
Her Best Friends & Him
I
Early morning, Yhera hurriedly get out of the elevator of the condominium where she stays. It is a twenty-Eight (28) story condominium at the heart of Makati City, with full amenities that a tenant or condo owner would ask for. She loves the lap pool, the gym, the mall inside, with a cinema, grocery, restaurants, and a lot more. She just moved - in here just two (2) months ago after fully paying the one (1) unit to its previous owner. Oww, how she loves her life right now. A good career ... a supportive family ... happy friends ... travels ... a good home and a lot more to thank for. She doesn't need a headache. She doesn't need a man beside her except her two (2) great male friends... Tony and Buddy.
Hamming like she used to do when in good mood, Yhera's voice was almost in its full magnitude of joy. She started hamming a song while walking to the car park of her condo to look for her Montero. She was even smiling as she remembered Buddy.
Buddy will be coming home. He's been in Australia for almost three (3) years now. Buddy is her great friend for almost a decade now. They met in an organization and at the onset, both of them feel light about each other. She could tell Buddy everything that she feels and Buddy was her crying shoulders. Buddy is single. Too career-driven and looking forward to earning his millions; Buddy has no time for love according to him. Yhera is confident; Buddy is a friend, a brother he longed for. Their friendly love for each other is just so sincere that Yhera knew, it would last for a lifetime.
They will surprise Tony. Tony has no hint that Buddy is coming home.
As Yhera arrived at Ninoy International Airport, she was already too excited. She stayed at the arrival area to wait for Buddy. Minutes later, she saw the tall, big frame of Buddy walking going to the letter T arrival area.
Oblivious of her surroundings, Yhera shouted Buddy's name while waving her right hand.
Buddy laughed as he saw Yhera's childlike act. Ahh, his best friend never changed after all. Still like a little child, who giggles when she's happy and excited and never cares if she became careless of her acts from time to time. Considering her career status, she should be too elite and classy, but she's not. She looks classy whatever she wears but attitude-wise, she is a very down-to-earth woman. Buddy sighed... that is why she loves this woman like her sister.
Yhera hugged Buddy tightly; she missed her dear friend so badly!
"Buddy, how are you... my gosh, I missed you BFF!" Yhera was too excited to notice someone on the Y lane, whose eyes were fixed to her when she shouted Buddy's name. The man's eyes grew more chinky as he walked hurriedly out of the Y lane following now Yhera and Buddy, who were walking going to the parking area.
His driver was already at the parking lot too based on the SMS message he received from him minutes ago. The man walked with a hurried stride almost going ahead of Buddy and Yhera.
Yhera was oblivious. She was too darn happy to be aware of anyone in her surroundings. She was giggling with joy while telling how Tony will be surprised. Tony is in his condo unit right now just near Yhera's home. Per Tony's last message, he will be doing his routine swimming for the day for at least an hour then afterward, he will prepare some snacks so that Yhera has something to eat when she arrived. Yhera called Tony a while ago letting him know that she will be coming over to his condo to discuss something.
"Wow, classy Montero Girl!" Buddy exclaimed as he saw Yhera's car.
Yhera laughed, "Just bought it five (5) months ago, after getting my stockholder's share in the office hahaha."
"Hmmmppp, big time!" Buddy smirked and patted Yhera's shoulder as a sign of admiration and happiness. He is happy that somehow his BFF was able to surpass those painful moments in her life.
"Thanks Buddy, wanna drive?" Yhera said while handing to Buddy her car key.
"Nope, want to sit and relax hehehe"
Buddy falls asleep on their way to Tony's place.
"Buds wake-up, we are here," Yhera tagged Buddy's left arm to wake him up.
"Uhuh, I fell asleep, sorry. This is Tony's place?"
"Yap yap, come on, it's time to surprise that swimming fish friend of ours," Yhera laughed at her joke, seconded by Buddy. They were both laughing as they alighted from Yhera’s Montero car.
As expected Tony was so surprised upon seeing Buddy. They are three (3) inseparable friends. Actually, Tony and Buddy have been friends since their college years. Tony has a girlfriend already, 'though he said he is not yet into marriage.
Yhera felt so light after leaving her two (2) friends. Buddy must rest even a little while before they go out to eat dinner and have some fun. She smiled and hummed her favorite song … Top of the World!
II
Greenbelt, Makati City is such a nice place already; Buddy inhaled deeply. The last time he visited this place it was already beautiful and relaxing... Now it is more relaxing. It has been improved more. There is already a man-made waterfalls park, where the water dropped so serenely into a man-made lake. There at the lake, are colorful boats where you can rent for One Hundred Pesos, for such an exciting 15 minutes boat ride while circling the whole greenbelt waterfalls park.
"Hah... amazing!" Buddy exclaimed.
"Yes, indeed Buddy, this waterfall park makes this place more relaxing now, it was just finished a year ago." Yhera, explained. "Want to have a boat ride while waiting for Tony?"
Buddy nodded to Yhera's suggestions.
While enjoying the boat ride for almost 15 minutes already, Yhera felt like someone was watching them from a distance. Instinctively, she tried to search for such and found a set of chinky eyes, vividly looking at them, with such unfathomable expression. Yhera's heartbeat rose instantly as their eyes locked. She chuckled.
Buddy noticed his friend's moment of uneasiness. He followed the direction where her eyes were focused and his eyes squinted with curiosity.
"Who is he Yher? ahhemm, someone special, jealous?" Buddy was teasing Yhera.
Yhera without denial nodded. "He is special, 'though we are just an acquaintance, not even friends."
"Would that be a problem? Wave your hand Sweety and smile at him, go!"
Yhera was stunned by such suggestion of Buddy but thinking that there is nothing to lose anyway, smiled and waved her hand to Seigfred who is still intently looking at them.
Unsmiling, Seigfred waived his right hand too.
"By the look in his eyes, I have a feeling that he wanted to kill me right now," Buddy whispered to Yhera. Yhera smiled more to such Buddy's comment.
Seigfred waited for them to finish boating. As they came near, Seigfred automatically offered his hand to Yhera to assist her alight from the boat.
"Oopppsss," Yhera shouted as she almost fell to the water as the boat moves when Buddy stood up. Good thing, Seigfred's reflexes were too quick, he instantly swept- off Yhera and almost hugged her.
"Ahheemm," Buddy falsely cleared his throat that astonished both Seigfred and Yhera, who are still hugging each other but automatically disengaged from one another after hearing Buddy's voice behind them.
"I'm here Yhera, who is this guy hugging you right now hmm?" Buddy pretended to be serious.
"Errr, Buddy meet Mr. Seigfred Yee, Seigfred this is Buddy," Yhera almost stammered.
"Ahh, hi Seigfred, nice meeting you, known Yhera for long?" Buddy asked while offering a handshake to Seigfred.
Seigfred accepted Buddy's offered handshake, "Not quite, and you?"
"Well, we've been together for so long." Buddy's reply that made Seigfred's eyes grew more like a thin line.
There was silence afterward, then Yhera saw Tony coming.
"Tony!" she happily shouted as she waved her hand to her other best friend.
Yhera introduced Tony to Seigfred too.
"You seemed familiar to me Seigfred," Tony stated trying to recollect from his mind where he met Seigfred.
Seigfred only smiled. Yhera kept her mouth closed.
"So, would you be joining us Seigfred?" Buddy asked.
Seigfred did not reply, instead looked at Yhera.
Yhera looked at her best friend and by the look in her eyes, she wanted to slap her best friend's face with a teasing smile.
"Ahh, Seigfred, you might have an appointment," Yhera instantly looked at her golden wristwatch.
"Nope, I already canceled it, the moment I saw you," Seigfred's voice was firm as he intently gazed at Yhera.
"Very well then, come with us Seigfred," Tony, hinting on something, answered with an amused smile.
Atty. Yhera wanted to kick Tony when she heard what he said. She looked at him with her two big rounded eyes and raised eyebrows. Her best friend just shrugged his shoulders and gave her a mysterious smile.
“Let’s go then. It’s my treat.” Seigfred looked at Atty. Yhera and winked at Tony and Buddy, who laughed both to Atty. Yhera’s disbelief.
“Come on Seigfred, I am as hungry as a bear now,” Buddy laughed more as he put his right arm around Yhera’s shoulders, almost squeezing her.
Seigfred saw what Buddy did and his heart tumbled; he wanted to punch the smiling face of Buddy, right at that moment. His jaws tightened and his teeth gritted.