You can listen to the music attached above (Gorgeous by Taylor Swift) while reading this for a better reading experience. 😉

🥝💜🥝

DIANA'S POV

It's only five in the morning but I am already wide awake. I texted David first thing when I woke up and asked him how is Franki doing, and he told me that she's still sleeping. She was asleep since six in the evening last night, and I'm getting worried because it's more than ten hours now.

Veronica is still sleeping beside me. I haven't told her about this yet and I am sure that she will be dismayed. I have to think of a good excuse. We are supposed to go to the mall this afternoon for some groceries and shopping as well as finding a gift for our friend Jamela for tonight.

Around ten in the morning, David updated me that he'll be out for a casting session in Q.C. and in the evening he will be attending a mini-reunion with his highschool friends in Bulacan so he will not be there to take care of Franki. Speaking of wrong timing.

I am so itching to visit Franki already but Vee is still sleeping. I have already taken a shower and donned in my black jeans and my favorite black shirt with a gaping design under the neck. As I was frying hotdogs and eggs for Vee's breakfast, I felt her hugging me from behind, to my surprise. I was so deep in my thoughts that I haven't noticed her presence approaching me.

"Good morning, my love." she greets me in her just-woke-up voice.

I turn to her and smile, "Good morning. How was your sleep? Did you finish that project for your client?"

"Actually, no. I will be finishing it this morning." she peers at my face and smiles, "Looks like you're fine now. Are you ready to get drunk tonight?" she flashes me a challenging grin.

I raised a confident eyebrow at her, "Was there a moment that I wasn't ready?"

"That's my girl," Vee chuckles at my remark. She's actually one of my favorite drinking buddies.

My smile is then replaced by a wary expression. "Speaking of the party tonight...David called me a while ago."

Her expression darkens in a split second. "What did he say?"

I wait for like three seconds before answering her question.

"I have to come back to the condo."

She lets out an audible sigh. "Why this time?"

I look down the frying pan and concentrate on what I am cooking before nonchalantly spilling it, "Franki is sick, and he has some important errands. He wants me to take care of her,"

"What is she? Eight?" her voice is soft but dangerous. God, what have I gotten myself into?

She is obviously pissed off right now but why would I be affected when I cleared something between us last night?

"I thought we already talked about this last night, Vee?"

"Oh...right." she folds her arms in front of her chest. "We're just friends now. I see. I don't have any rights to stop you with anything."

Oh God, here we go.

"I really don't like this. You know how allergic I am to this kind of talk, right?"

She stayed silent for a few moments before finally softening out.

"Okay, fine...I'm sorry. But how about the shopping?"

"I'll be updating you, I promise."

"I'll be counting on that, Diana Mackey."

Great. The pressure is on.

She then leaves me in the kitchen and proceeds back to her room.

After having breakfast with her— that was full of tension, by the wag—I finally booked a Grab taxi back to Dave's condo. I could have driven myself but my car and motorcycle were parked in that building.

I pass by the mall to buy some dark chocolates for Franki. It's her favorite kind of chocolate because it is low in calories and is good for the health as well. I mean, she is sick, right? So she needs this. The first aid kit and medicine drawer are both packed if she will be needing it later.

The weird feeling in my lower tummy intensifies as I get nearer and nearer to the condo. I'm not sure if I want to poop or I'm just really nervous. This is the same feeling I get whenever I come out from the curtains behind the stage and walk like I own the world during pageants.

But I am not doing a pageant right now. I am just about to take care of a sick woman.

It was past one in the afternoon when I finally reached my brother's condominium building. Holding the basket of fruits and chocolates in one hand, I preen my hair and check my reflection from the screen of my phone for one last time before finally pressing the doorbell.

Why are you getting conscious, D? You're already gorgeous like what everyone says.

I pressed the doorbell twice before I heard footsteps and movements approaching the door.

I almost dropped my jaw when the door finally opens. Franki's looks took me by surprise.

She is looking so hot in her red-orange tank top and very short white skirt...like a really short one. Her hair is slightly straight this time from ironing and...is she wearing blush-on?

"Oh my gosh! I'm so glad you're here!" she cheerfully exclaims in her thick, raspy accent and throws her arms around my neck as if we haven't seen each other for like sixty-nine years.

I am smiling from ear to ear as I hug her back...tight. Damn, she smells so fresh and sweet. With my glinting but questioning eyes, I then rake her form from head to toe.

"I thought you're sick?" Seriously, she looks like she is down for a casual date.

Diana, that's how the normal Franki dresses up—not the sick one. Stop assuming things.

"I was! But I'm fine now!" she says in a high-pitch voice, and my heart dropped when she did a little graceful twirl with her arms outstretched.

Okay, so the cutie and bubbly Franki is back. I have to stop myself from grinning because there really are no traces of being sick to her face and aura...

"Oh," I breathlessly chuckle before handing her the basket, "I bought you some fruits and chocolates,"

"Awww... you're so sweet!" she appreciatively takes it from me.

"I'm so glad you came, Diana," she says as we finally settle down the couch. "I mean, I'm still not comfortable with being alone here, you know."

"I'm pretty sure you're not alone here... if you know what I mean." I tease her.

"Diana!" she exclaims with bulging, scared eyes while gently shoving me.

"Don't worry Franki. I'm pretty sure Dave has gotten rid of all the bugs here."

"So anyway, how's your friend...what was her name again? Vianca?"

"No...It's Veronica..." My smile fades when she mentioned it.

"Oh, right. Veronica. She really needs company, huh?" She is jutting her lips to the side as she gives me a sideways glance.

"Well, yeah..." God, I have to change the topic. "Have you eaten your lunch na ba?"

"Actually...not yet. And I am craving for your chicken adobo again."

"Do you want me to cook it for you now?"

"Yeah. Dave and I went for groceries last week. I have the complete ingredients in the fridge. I was planning to cook it myself and will apply what you've taught me but I'm really not that confident yet."

"Sure, let's have another round of lessons. I'm starving already."

"I have already marinated the chicken." she proudly informs.

"Really? Since when?"

"Last night,"

David told me that she was asleep since six in the evening yesterday...Did she plan for this or I am just being delusional?

"Great. That's great. The longer the marinating time, the tastier the chicken will be,"

"Yeah, I remember that."

"The chicken will absorb most of the flavors from the soy sauce, garlic, and vinegar."

She skips to the fridge to take out the bowl of marinated chicken while I prepare the frying pot over the electric stove. She bends down and leans her elbows on the countertop with a bottle of Pringles in hand. When I turn to her, her screaming cleavage meets my eyes again, prompting me to look away in reflex.

"You really know a lot of dishes, huh. You can vlog it sometimes, I'm sure it will be a hit," she suggests in her raspy voice. I can really feel her fixed gaze on me as she demurely eats the chips.

I think the pot is now hot enough. My eyes search for cooking oil. My shoulders drop when I found the bottle resting on her other side on the countertop. I want to reach for it but doing so will make my arm get in contact with her chest...her teasing chest.

"Can you hand me the oil?" I casually ask instead. I am good at holding and keeping my emotions to myself so I bet she won't notice that I am affected.

"Oh, sure," she straightens up and picks it up. I then hold my breath when she presses her soft body against my side and proceeds to tilt the bottlehead over the frying pot.

I slightly step back because she really is leaning against me with her breasts pressing against my arm. The smell of her hair and perfume reaches my nostrils again and I think I am addicted to it already.

"Just tell me when to stop..."

I blink at what she has said, kind of disoriented at the very moment. "Ano? (What?)"

She tilts her head towards me and now our faces are inches away from each other.

"The oil, Diana. I'm not sure how much should I pour in." she corrects with an innocent expression like she has no idea on what she is doing to me.

"Oh," A soundless chuckle comes out of my mouth. "Right."

"Okay, that's enough. Perfect." I instruct when she finally pours the oil in. She is just watching me while I start to heat the garlic and onion. She then helps me add the chicken bits and again leans a little harder on my side this time as she stirs the contents for me. I keep on trying to concentrate on the chicken that I am cooking and not on the sexy chicken beside me.

"I need the soy sauce..." I trail off as my eyes search for the bottle.

"Oh, the toyo? It's here." She again leans on my side with her hand on my shoulder as she tiptoes and reaches for the drawer of the cupboard that is directly just above my head. The baby scent of her flawlessly white armpit reaches my nose and I immediately cock my head to the other side when the fleshy upper part of her left breast got in contact with the tip of my nose.

Is she doing this on purpose or what?

After mixing everything, I start to stir the contents until they are cooked, while she is just completely looking at me, her full attention on me. I couldn't look at her direction because I'm pretty sure that I will just melt if I'll meet her teasing eyes and screaming cleavage again.

She is just too close and I can't freely move around...

"How do you know how much vinegar and toyo you have to put?" she asks while we let the chicken simmer for another five minutes.

"Just keep on tasting it till you get the exact flavor that you want..." I answer while acting like I am immensely intrigued by the bottle of salt that I am holding.

"Hmm. Then let me taste it..." she utters with a hint of suggestiveness. I felt my ears reddening after giving her a quick glance and realize that she is actually looking at my lips.

Damn it, Franki. Why are you such a flirt???

Nah. It's just the bubbly and playful Franki being back.

I finally am able to breathe properly when she proceeds to prepare the table. I notice her putting the plates beside each other.

As soon as the adobo is done, I place the pot on the table and casually move the plate across hers. I don't think that I would be able to control myself if we're gonna eat beside each other. I bet she'll be clingy again and I might do something inappropriate again that could pose as a danger to my heart...

"Dave called me last night and told me that you were looking for me," I just want to clear her intention out.

"Yeah. Because I just miss you."

I almost choke on my water at the unexpectedness of her answer.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay po?" she immediately gets up and walks around the table towards me to repeatedly pat my back and shove her worried face near mine.

My God, hindi ko talaga kinakaya ang babaeng to! (My God, I really can't handle this woman!)

The song that was playing in the Grab car a while ago plays back in my mind for some reason.

🎵Whisky on ice, Sunset and Vine
You've ruined my life, by not being mine
You're so gorgeous
I can't say anything to your face
'Cause look at your face
And I'm so furious
At you for making me feel this way
But, what can I say?
You're gorgeous🎶

"I'm fine, Franki. Don't worry." I pick up the glass of water again even if it's empty just to avoid her stare and pretend that I am drinking the most delicious water in the world. She finally returns to her seat and we continue eating.

She keeps on trying to have eye contact with me but I really am uncomfortable to look straight into her eyes for more than a second.

🎵Ocean blue eyes looking in mine
I feel like I might sink and drown and die🎶

We talked about some random stuff again, with me letting her open the topic. She really didn't mention anything about our kiss and I am not sure if she remembers it or not. My instinct is telling me that it' a yes because she really is extra flirty today. I mean, I have already confessed that I like girls and she wasn't surprised by it so...

"So how was Sky last night?" I ask instead of opening about her hangover and our clubbing. God, why am I so weak when it comes to her?

"He actually didn't come with us yesterday. He had some emergency errand, but I think he has a date. He was smiling while chatting on someone and then minutes later he told us that he'll not come with us."

"Oh really?" I am partly intrigued.

"I mean, why would he stay when you'll not be there?" she throws me a knowing gaze.

"Oh trust me, Franki. It's not about me..." I throw her the same kind of gaze back.

"I think I know what you mean, but I don't want to judge him..."

I think we are thinking the same thing, but I don't care about it at the moment.

"Let me wash the dishes," she offers when we're done eating moments later.

"No, I'll do it. You're not yet fine." I try to take the plates away from her.

"Do I look like I'm not fine?" she says with her chest out.

You look fine as fuck, Franki.

"No, I insist," I say with a stern smile and she just chuckled with defeat.

She chooses to sit on the side of the couch facing the side of the sink in the kitchen counter so I am directly seeing her.

I am in the middle of washing the dishes and I had a second look when I realize that her knee is bent in front of her as she paints her toenails with red nail polish. The shadowy thing between her legs is peeking from across the room and I almost gape at it to see it clearly.

Is she wearing undies or not?

Jesus.

My throat dries up in an instant, but I try to maintain my composure as I start to rinse the plates with trembling hands and pouted lips. There is silence between us except for the sound of the water from the faucet...and my racy heartbeat.

I wanna take a look again but I'm afraid that she'll catch me. The back of my neck warms up from the suppression.

Just as I was about to finish the rinsing, I wasn't able to stop myself from taking another look. My head is still angled down but I lift my eyes up to see that she's still painting her nails quietly. I squint to take a better look through the shadow and realize that she's actually wearing black lacy panties.

Are you disappointed?

I squint my eyes to take a better look but I felt like my heart jumped out of my chest when I met her naughty eyes.

Oh fuck me she's fucking smirking at me right now. Can these newly-washed shiny plates swallow me right now?

Chill, Diana. Fight her.

To save myself from the embarrassment, I smirk back at her and look at her like I want to fuck her.

I want to throw a little party right now from the victory I've felt when she immediately looked away as if she became uncomfortable.

Franki...Just so you know, there's at least two players in every game...

After wiping my arms, I then join her on the couch and take the bottle of Pringles in the table. She is now on her last toe and I can feel the slight tension right now.

"You really love red nail polish, huh?" I comment to break it. I then bend my knees on sideways and face her direction.

"Uh-huh. For my toes. For my fingernails, I prefer it nude."

Nude...Okay.

I really want to hug and kiss her right now...I mean, the moment is perfect. We are both alone but what if she will reject my advances? Or worse, push me way?

"I'm sure it will suit you no matter which color it is," I compliment her. She lifts her head up and smiles at me. Her eyes then went down to the bottle of Pringles in my hand.

"I'm sorry, do you want more?" I offer while gesturing my finger with the chip on her way.

To my surprise, she slides closer towards me then leans her face in. Good thing I am still on my right mind because I seriously thought she is going to kiss me.

"Ahh..." she opens her mouth and I immediately pop in a chip in it.

"This is so yum!" she exaggeratedly commends while chewing and looking straight into my eyes again.

"So...Diana. Do you wanna go out tonight? I mean, my boyfriend will not be around until tomorrow so..."

I nervously adjust on my seat.

"Ahm...I'm going out tonight with my friends...And it's actually an exclusive birthday bash for one of our friends..." I say in a low voice as I am trying my best not to look into her eyes. I don't want to disappoint her.

"Oh! it's fine. Abi's texting me to hang with her friends Lou and Kiara tonight so..."

I instantly turn my head towards her with alertness and took back what I have said,

"I actually want to say that it's better if you'll take more rest here but if you really want to go out and meet new friends, I can introduce you to them."

"Really?"

"Yes, I'm sure they won't mind."

"Oh my gawd! Thank you! I'm sobra excited now!" She chimes in as she throws her arms around me for a happy hug.

Shit. This is my friend's party, and Vee will be there but how can I say no to this woman?

Oh, God. Franki...Why are you doing this to me?

What to do now?

*****To be continued*****

A/N:

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