The food Andy brought Niki lasted for a week. He promised he would bring her more on the first of January so Niki didn't spend much on food from Christmas up to then. As promised, Andy went to her place again on January 1. Dala uli nito ang isang backpack na may lamang damit pang-isang araw at isang ecobag na puro pagkain.

"Ano'ng oras ka uuwi bukas?" tanong niya rito habang inaayos nito ang mga tupperware sa loob ng ref.

"Sa isang araw ako uuwi."

"Why?"

"Birthday mo bukas," sagot nito. "Speaking of which, do you have any plans tomorrow?"

Niki shrugged. At her age, normal nang hindi mag-celebrate ng birthday. Paulit-ulit na lang kasi. At bakit naman siya matutuwang tumanda na naman siya nang isang taon? "I'll sleep," she told him.

"Kahit ilang araw kang matulog maghapon, hindi ka na tatangkad, Niki."

She stuck her tongue out.

–

@jewelngsilangan and 2 others liked your post.

@jewelngsilangan commented on your post.

@jewelngsilangan Happy birthday @nikifrancia!! Happy new year to you both!

"Really? You had to choose that picture?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at Andy. He snapped a picture of them a while ago while they were out strolling at the nearby park. They just had a big dinner and wanted to digest the food they just ate. Naka-leave sila ni Andy hanggang kinabukasan. He would go home to spend the weekend with his family while she would sleep away the rest of her Christmas vacation.

"Yeah. I looked good in that picture."

"Birthday mo ba? Dapat pinapili mo 'ko," himutok niya. It was not an ugly picture, but she could have definitely posed better.

Niki received a lot of greetings from her social media accounts. Wala pang alas dose ay tunog na nang tunog ang phone niya dahil sa mga mensahe. Some of her friends even called her and she had to explain to each and everyone of them why Andy was with her. It couldn't be helped that the old rumors about them would resurface.

Andy sat down on the bench nearby and Niki followed suit. He let out a sigh. Busog pa rin si Niki. Hindi pa bumababa ang kinain niya. She knew Andy felt more bloated because he ate more. She didn't know why he stopped walking though. It was not a rigorous walk that would warrant a rest.

"Tinawagan ka ng parents mo?" tanong nito maya-maya.

Niki shook her head. "They don't have my number."

"But they know your online accounts. They didn't contact you?"

"I've blocked them."

Bumuntong-hininga ito. Niki knew Andy wanted to say something about her situation. He had expressed his concerns a few times already. And it would always end up with them fighting about it. So, he was probably restraining himself from starting another argument.

Andy is a big family guy. He grew up in a loving home. Expressive ang pamilya nito. They share their feelings with one another. They say sorry if they did something wrong. Forgiveness also comes easy for them.

He couldn't understand why she couldn't be the bigger person.

"Niki... it's been years."

"Don't start."

He leaned forward slightly, eyebrows furrowed with concern. "I'm just saying that maybe you're–"

Niki got up and started walking away. She didn't need to hear the rest of it. Gusto ni Andy na patawarin na niya ang pamilya niya. Andy believes that one should tolerate their family despite everything. There is no sin too big to not forgive. No pain too unbearable to not forget. His filial and familial loyalty were the product of his good upbringing.

"Hey! Wait up!"

Mas binilisan niya ang paglalakad. She couldn't run. Sasakit ang tiyan niya. So Andy caught up easily.

"Hey! Okay, I'm sorry. You're right, it's not my place to say anything."

She finally stopped and glared at him. "Your family and my family are different, Andy. Your virtues and beliefs do not apply to me. You, of all people, should know that!"

He raised his hand in a gesture of surrender. "Okay. You're right. I'm sorry."

Niki pressed her lips together and sighed. Tiningnan niya nang mataman si Andy. He means well, but sometimes he crosses the line. But he means well.

"Fine. But don't mention it again."

He finally smiled and nodded. "You want some ice cream?"

Niki rolled her eyes. "Do you want me to vomit?"

Andy laughed and grabbed her by the arm. "Come on."

–

From: Myles

Teh, sorry di ako makakauwi agad. Nagkasakit kasi si mama so need ko mag-stay para mag-alaga. 🙁

Niki received that message from Myles on the week she was supposed to go back to Manila. She has received a few text messages from Myles since then. In February, Myles said that she might not be able to come back anytime soon. This meant that Niki had to shoulder all the expenses in the unit and also the rent.

"Still no word from Myles?" Andy asked over the phone.

"Wala pa."

"March na."

"Kaya nga e." Hindi na niya siningil si Myles for two months, pero baka hindi na kayanin kung mas matagal pa itong wala. Myles was a nice housemate, but Niki needed the money. Hindi niya pwedeng galawin ang savings niya. It was only for emergencies. And her money was already budgeted for everything, down to the single peso. "I'll give her until the end of the week."

–

From: Myles

Sorry ate Niki 🙁 Nag-resign na po ako sa old job ko para dito na po magtrabaho. Ipa-rent out mo na po yung room ko. Kukunin ko na lang po yung mga gamit ko dyan kapag nakaluwas ako.

To: Myles

Hey... it's okay. Alagaan mo na lang nang mabuti ang mama mo. Thank you for updating me.

"She's not coming back," Niki told Andy over the phone. Bumuntong-hininga siya. Gusto pa naman niya si Myles. She was the best tenant. On time magbayad. Malinis sa bahay. At masarap magluto.

"Ano'ng plano mo?"

"Magpu-post ako ng listing tomorrow and hopefully, may mag-inquire ng weekend."

"Hey... may usap-usapan kasi sa office na baka mag-suspend daw ng work. Na-inform na ba kayo?"

Niki started biting her lip. Just a week ago, it was declared by WHO that there was a viral outbreak that started in Wuhan, China. It was so bad that it made the global news. Niki couldn't help but think about those zombie movies where the outbreak would start in one small place and then, rapidly infect the world.

Of course, it was not a zombie virus. Sabi ng iba, para raw SARS. Paulit-ulit ang impormasyon na nakakalap niya online kaya hindi niya alam kung pansamantala iyon at kung isolated case lang.

It was making her anxious, lalo na at napapabalita na rin na may ilang naghu-hoard ng groceries.

"Possible daw. Pero pinauwi na sa amin yung laptops at PCs last Friday. So baka nga? Uuwi ka ba, if ever?"

"I want to, but I'm needed here," sagot nito. Niki was sure that if Andy's work would allow it, he would be the first one to go home to his family. "Ikaw, wala kang planong umuwi?"

Niki let out an empty laugh. Siya? Uuwi? Ilang taon na siyang hindi umuuwi sa kanila. Sanay na siyang mag-isa. And they were not reaching out either. Alam niyang nakikibalita ang mga ito kay Andy. He couldn't hide that. But it was a one-way communication. Niki has never returned the favor, even when Andy offered.

"Right..." sabi nito nang marinig siyang tumawa. "Well, if you need anything, just call me, okay?"

"Who else would I call?"

–

Niki made the right call to buy tissues, alcohol, and other necessities that day. The following day, March 12, 2020, the president announced that the whole city would be on lockdown. No one was allowed to go home. Checkpoints were placed in certain areas. Bawal lumabas nang walang mask. She didn't think it was possible. In a snap, the world just... stopped moving.

Jewel Marie Sarmiento made a post.

I'm so glad I took the risk of going home last week. Stay safe, guys! 😭

Mike Philip Chua commented Sana all nakauwi

Andrew San Gabriel commented 30 days lang naman di ba? Plano kong umuwi next month once ma-lift yung quarantine.

Niki typed in her comment.

Nicole Frances Palomino commented @Andrew San Gabriel Iiwan mo ko ditong mag-isa? 🥺

Andrew San Gabriel commented @Nicole Frances Palomino Sama ka? Seryoso to

Nicole Frances Palomino commented @Andrew San Gabriel No haha. Pero magdala ka ng pasalubong pagbalik mo ng Manila.

–

The thirty day quarantine that everyone thought would end quickly extended to a couple of months. Nagsisi si Andy na hindi siya nakauwi agad bago malagay sa lockdown ang buong Metro Manila. Pero bukod sa araw-araw naman siyang ina-assure ng parents niya na okay lang ang mga ito sa probinsya, hindi rin niya maiwang mag-isa si Niki.

People stayed in their homes, except for the health care workers who were allowed to still go to work. His job and Niki's, they were not categorized as "essentials". Fortunately, their company was big enough that they were allowed to continue working at home.

The rules of the lockdown kept getting modified. Andy suspected that they would be allowed to go out soon, but still with strict limitations.

Niki would call him almost everyday. Mukhang nalulungkot itong mag-isa. Base sa kwento nito, she couldn't consume anything other than fried or canned food. Niki never bothered learning how to cook. Kaya isa sa requirements nito sa tenants nito ang magaling magluto. But since Myles was not coming back, mukhang nagtitiis na lamang si Niki sa mga de-lata.

Maswerte ito na walking distance lamang ang isang mall mula sa condo unit nito. Siya naman ay maswerte dahil mayroon siyang sasakyan. Ang saya sanang mag-joyride kasi walang traffic. Wala ring masyadong polusyon. Wala halos makikitang tao sa kalsada. The normally congested streets of Manila were finally able to breathe better for the first time in a long time.

Andy knew that Niki was doing fine since she was a homebody. Sa kanilang dalawa, siya ang palaging kating-kati ang paang gumala. During their calls, he would always express his want to travel. And sometimes Niki would agree because she was a little bored.

Siya lamang kasi ang nakakausap nito nang madalas. He would always call her after work. Sometimes, she would call at night. But never during working hours kasi pareho silang busy.

So Andy was a bit surprised when his phone started ringing at three in the afternoon.

"Hey, did you butt-dia–"

He heard her stifled sobs on the other line. Niki rarely cried. She always wanted to project this image of a strong and independent woman. Sa problema nito sa pamilya, isang beses lang itong umiyak sa kanya. She would never let people catch her in her vulnerable state. So Andy became extremely worried when he heard her choked sobs and shaky breaths.

"Hey..." he said softly. "What's wrong?"

Pumalahaw ito ng iyak. It was new to him. He has never heard this kind of cry before. The sound of her voice was laced with panic and anxiety. Takot. Andy was already looking for his keys while trying to sooth her when she finally managed to push some words out of her mouth.

"I... I got... laid off today," she whimpered.

It was followed by irregular and quick breaths. She sounded like she was hyperventilating. Andy was already starting to panic. He didn't know how to handle this one.

"What do you want me to do?" tanong niya.

"I don't know!"

He exhaled. "Niki, you have to breathe." She was still breathing quickly through her cries, almost choking in her own tears. Andy relaxed himself. He should stay calm. Niki needed him calm. "Sabay tayo, okay?"

He inhaled deeply. Niki was still crying but he repeatedly inhaled and exhaled until she caught on and started breathing with him. Maya-maya pa ay kumalma na ito.

"Tell me what happened."

In between her sniffs, she told him that their company decided to lay off some people because of the pandemic. Only those who perform extremely well or have high positions in the company have been retained. She was part of the 67 people who didn't make it.

Bibigyan daw naman ito ng separation pay. Equivalent of her one month's salary for the years she has worked for the company. But given the situation right now, Niki didn't know if it would be enough. Ilang taon pa kasi ang ihuhulog nito sa condo unit bago nito iyon mabili. Mukhang mahihirapan din itong maghanap ng trabaho.

"What should I do, Andy?" may pag-aalalang tanong nito sa kanya.

"Do you want me to come over?"

She sniffed. "Yes. Please."