Someday Soon, With You

Chapter 9

Mira glanced at the sliding door in her office and looked at her officemates. It’s not really her office, it was a small library with all books and pamphlets of their organization. She just happened to be assigned at that spot, and she likes it. It’s far from everyone and quiet. But last weekend, Dolores did open her eyes. She stood, took her cup and went to the water dispenser to make her coffee. Its three in the afternoon.

“Hi” she greeted the first person she saw in the kitchen.

“Hi Ms. Mira” the girl greeted back.

“What’s your name again?” she asked her.

“Oh, I’m Phoebe, Ma’am” the girl politely replied.

“You don’t have to call me Ma’am” Mira smiled. “You can just call me Mira, or Ate Mira” she continued. This is a start, she thought. (*Ate is a term used to address an older sister) “How old are you?” she asked.

“I’m 24 this year. It really surprised me, you don’t usually talk with us” Phoebe commented.

“Yeah, you’re usually just cooped up in your office” a guy behind her commented.

“Hi, Wei” she replied to him smiling. “I know I enjoy being alone, but I’m trying to communicate now” she explained. “I’ve been working here for a few years and it would be nice to have friends in the office” she continued.

“That’s nice” Wei commented. “Do you want to come with us later? We’ll have dinner together” he invited her.

“Not today, I have prior engagements but I can go tomorrow after work. We can start with some snack and a milk tea” she suggested.

“Okay, tomorrow” Wei and Phoebe agreed.

“Okay” she replied as she went back to her office. This is nice, she thought. That wasn’t so hard.

After office, she smiled and waved to Phoebe and Wei. She could even hear them saying tomorrow, reminding her their scheduled get-together.

“Why are you smiling?” Archi asked her on their way to the gym.

“I made friends today” she proudly said. “Two friends!” she beamed.

Archi laughed. “That’s good to hear. Did you have quizzes today? Or did the teachers like you?” he teased her.

Mira ignored him and continued, “tomorrow we’ll be going out for a snack so I won’t be coming to practice” she told him.

“Hmm, okay. So should I come with you, or—”

“No, I will be going there with them. But please fetch me after. He-he” she asked him.

“Okay” he said smiling. “What made you agree to come with them?” he asked.

“Actually, it was me who asked them to come with me” she replied.

Archi looked at him almost in disbelief. “Really? Who are you?” he asked again.

“Well, it was Tita Dolly who suggested I should have other friends, and I think she’s right. What do you think?” she asked him.

“As long as you’re not pushing yourself too hard” he answered.

“I’m not” Mira assured him.

Practice was as usual, they played three on three games. Yuan also taught her basic receiving techniques.

During break, she went to TJ. “Hi TJ, can I talk to you?” she asked him. Andrei was with him but when he started to walk away, “you too, Andrei” she added. TJ and Andrei looked at each other, confused. They all sat on the floor and she continued, “Do you have girlfriends?” she asked.

“Oh” Andrei replied, still looking confused. His eyes went from Mira to TJ and back to Mira.

TJ was also just staring at her when he saw Yuan about to join them. “Yuan, go!”

“What?” Yuan asked.

“We’re having ‘talk’!” Andrei told him.

“It’s too late for us! Save yourself! Run fast and run far!” TJ shouted which made Yuan turn back and run from their direction.

She rolled her eyes. “What was that about? I was just asking if you have girlfriend” she said.

“We don’t, we’re staying in school and studying really hard, Mom” TJ replied smirking which also made Andrei chuckle.

“I just want you to introduce me so I can have a girl-friend. I am the only girl here” she explained. The two made an ‘oh’ sound and nodded.

“We both don’t have a girlfriend” TJ answered.

“yet” Andrei continued.

TJ looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. “I thought she have a boyfriend” he asked Andrei.

“For now”, he answered which made TJ’s forehead crumpled.

“What do you mean ‘for now’? Are you planning something?” he asked him.

“She’s mine to begin with” Andrei replied with a bit of a smirk.

Mira was listening to them wide-eyed. “What’s her name?” she asked.

“No, she’s his friend” TJ told Mira. “She’s your friend, you don’t want to do this” he continued telling Andrei.

“TJ, doing nothing might feel like the better choice now, but soon you will come to regret it. I’m telling you, when you don’t do your best, you will always think of what might’ve been if only you did your best” Andrei explained. Mira and TJ continued listening to him, she doesn’t always hear Andrei talk this long, or TJ. “It might be too late for you, but not for me. I got a second chance, buddy” Andrei smiled at TJ.

“What’s too late for you?” Mira asked TJ.

“Nothing” TJ quickly replied.

Mira shrugged and went back to Andrei, “so, are you going to introduce me?” she asked him.

“Soon” Andrei answered smiling.

Mira clapped her hands smiling. TJ was looking at both of them with disbelief, “you’re egging him” he said to Mira.

“I’m not! I don’t even know what was happening. I just want a new friend” Mira explained. But TJ looked at her unimpressed. “I want to know more about it” she told Andrei. Andrei smiled at her.

“What are you talking about?” it was Archi who suddenly showed and sat next to her.

“We’re having the ‘talk’” she answered smiling.

“Ah” Archi replied.

“Well, usually it was the dad that gives the talk, Mom” Harold said who appeared with Mathew.

She laughed.

After practice, they all went to have dinner at McDonalds near the gymnasium and went home. They were driving home when Archi asked her, “what were you talking with TJ and Andrei about?”

“Well, apparently there was this girl Andrei likes but is already taken” she answered.

“And how did you get him to talk about that?” he continuously asked.

“I was asking them if they have a girlfriend, so you know, they can introduce me. He-he” she sheepishly replied.

Archi smiled at her. “You’re really taking this seriously” he commented. “Did you know Andrei have twin brothers” he started.

“Twins?!” she exclaimed. “That must be nice”

“I don’t know anything about them, though. You can ask Andrei yourself” he said still smiling.

“Okay” she replied.

Mira started to go out with Phoebe and Wei from time to time get snack, or have lunch with them. She also learned that Wei’s artistic, he gives Mira lessons from time. She also got to know more about Andrei. Apparently, he is from a rich household. He said it’s a complicated family matter, and that he decided to live by himself. His oldest brother, Santi, the older of the twin, got to manage every business their family have while Theo, the younger twin, likes to work behind the scene and just support Santi. The girl Andrei likes is Kathlyn, she was his high school sweetheart but they grew apart and now Kathlyn has a new boyfriend.

“So, you’re planning on winning her back?” she asked Andrei. She’s having a snack date with him, TJ and Yuan. Archi’s having busy schedule that month than usual because it’s the ‘Fire Prevention Month’ and he has attend to seminars, conduct symposium to various offices and schools.

“Yes, it won’t be that hard” Andrei confidently replied.

“If you’re so confident, why did she have a new boyfriend in the first place? Maybe she doesn’t like you that much” she told him. She heard TJ and Yuan laughed.

“I made a mistake” he started and when he saw Mira glared at him, he defensively continued, “I didn’t cheat on her. It was a different mistake. But she had enough of my drama so she decided to move on” he explained.

“You know, do you ever consider that she might be happier with her boyfriend now? Maybe it’s for the best” she suggested.

TJ snapped twice his fingers and pointed to Andrei, “See? That’s exactly what I told you” he told Andrei.

“I love her. If she turned out to love him more than me, fine. But if there’s a bit chance that she might just be confused, then I just want her to know that this time, I am committed. That I am willing to take all the risks to be with her now”

They all made an ‘hmmm’ sound. “What about you, TJ?” she asked.

“What about me, what?” he asked.

“Who is that girl you like” she asked.

All eyes are on TJ, and it’s making him uncomfortable. “I don’t want to talk about it. She’s happy, the end” he answered.

“What made you like her?” Andrei asked.

“Yeah” it was Yuan. “The great Tristan James, in all his salty glory, liked someone” he continued laughing. Andrei and Mira also started to laugh. TJ just rolled his eyes.

“Liked? Or likes?” Andrei continued.

“Ooh, you still like her” Mira asked.

“I told you I don’t want to talk about it. But fine. I like her still. She’s exactly the opposite of me. She’s sweet, that’s all you’re going to get” he said with a finality in his tone.

They all made an ‘ooooh’ sound. “What does she look like?” Yuan continued asking.

“She’s beautiful” TJ replied.

“So, you’re not willing to make any move like Andrei?” she asked him.

“No, she’s happy. Why would I?” he replied.

“What about you, Yuan? Do you have anyone you like? Or girlfriend?” she started to change the subject to Yuan.

“Yes” he quickly answered. “He’s not my girlfriend, but I like her since high school, she’s very beautiful, she was our club manager in high school. And she’s taller than me” he proudly describes.

Mira laughed. “Did you ever try to court her?” she asked.

“I confessed my love to her a hundred times” he started. “And I was rejected every single time!” Yuan continued with so much pride. They were all laughing at him.

“TJ” she started, “if you ever felt ready, will you tell us about that girl you like?” she asked TJ.

TJ stared at her, thinking about it. Andrei also stared at how TJ will react about the request, he knows TJ is not one to make lousy promises. “When I’m ready, I will tell you” TJ replied to Mira.

“Really? It’s a deal then?” she extended her hand and TJ reached and shakes hand with her.

Yuan also reached their hands and said, “that’s a deal” and Mira started laughing again.

After they had their snack, they all went to accompany Mira home. TJ was driving, he borrowed his brother’s car, Mira was sitting next to the driver and Andrei and Yuan were sitting in the back seat. Mira invited them in when they arrived at Archi’s apartment, and offered them coffee. They agreed to stay a bit.

“Do you need help?” it was TJ who appeared behind her.

“Sure, later after I finish making them, you can carry two cups, so I don’t have to use a tray” she replied.

“Can I ask you something?” he asked her. Mira glanced at him quickly and nodded. “I noticed there were still pictures of Archi and Aro displayed in the living room, doesn’t that make you uncomfortable?”

Mira paused stirring the coffee for a while, “not really” she answered and continued stirring. “I haven’t given it any thought, but it just felt like they belong there” she answered. TJ made an ‘hmm’ sound and took two cups and walked to the living room. She took the other two cups and gave one to TJ as soon as she got there. She stared at the pictures hanging in the walls, and she’s right. It just felt like they belonged there.