Territorialismmmmmm

The bell rung at agad napatayo si Jo sa kinau-upuan nito, Gia is done showering but she's still busy upstairs, obviously, kasi it's been almost an hour at hindi parin siya bumababa.

Jo didn't bother to call her best friend and went straight to the door, nang buksan niya ang gate ay agad tumambad sa kaniya ang dalawang malalaking paper bags na ikinagulat niya, she stepped back not knowing what to say

She cleared her throat "yes po?"

"JO!"

Her eyes widen "Sabrina!"

Sabrina who was carrying the bags lowered it and gave Jo a full smile "gulat ka no?"

Jo cannot help but reciprocate the smile "what are you doing here?" She asked full of excitement

"Ahm, should I answer now or will you let me in?"

"omg yes come in, I'm sorry, here let me help you with that" Jo took the other bag from the girl's hand and went inside

"What are these for?" Tanong ni Jo pagkatapos niyang mailatag sa counter ang dala dala ni Sabrina

"For you"

Jo gave her a look

"For you, nga"

"Omg, don't tell me I was so drunk I made you do this"

"You mean you blackmailed me? kinda"

"Sabrina!"

"I'm kidding, no, you didn't, but, I just thought" Sabrina tucked her hair and Jo's eyes couldn't seem to detached from the gesture"I thought you'd like some sweets, alam mo na, it was a wild night"

"w-wild night?"

Sabrina nodded habang isa isang nilabas ang mga snacks na nabili niya, she didn't hear a reply from Jo and realization hit her

"No! Not that wild wild night" Sabrina gulped

"A-Alam ko! Why are you so defensive!"

"Wha- No!"

"Oo nga kasi!"

"Hindi nga, ikaw ang pangit ng iniisip mo"

"Aba at ako pa?"

they both heard a grunt, it was low and sharp, they both looked at the same direction, watching as Gia opened the fridge, took a pitcher of water and clicked her tongue, while pouring a glass of water she faced the two, and nonchalantly said "ang ingay." Then walked away.

Sabay nilang tiningnan ang isa't-isa and said the same thing.

"She's mad"

....

"Ikaw na kasi"

"Sabing ayaw ko"

"eh mas close kayo"

"walang kinalaman yun"

"lintik"

"Sabing ayaw ko"

"Fine! I'll do it" it sounded as if she was forced, but she knew deep inside, she couldn't resist Jo, talk about that B energy.

(bottomesa.)

They were at the corner, nagtutulakang sumuyo sa nakakatanda sa kanila

Sabrina slowly walked closer towards Gia who's sitting at the sofa

"Hey G hehe" she subtly gulped "I'm sorry kanina, we were just..... teasing each other hehe"

"Teasing? smells like gay tension to me" Gia answered casually

Sabrina bit her lip, trying to calm herself down as she feel the heat rising on her face, her mouth agape after hearing that "what the— shut up!"

"Hoy! anong pinag-uusapan niyo ha" Jo interrupted which saved the girl from feeling more embarrassed

"None of your business" anya ni Gia

"Sungit, bad mood ka lang kasi wala shota mo dito eh"

"Ano?" Gia said, a little calmy, more threatening

"Walaaaa, ito naman hindi mabiro eh" she jokingly poke Gia but retrieve her hand nang tiningnan siya nito ng masama "hmp, sungit" Jo complained under her breath.

Sabrina just looked at her with a subtle smile, nang tiningnan siya ni Jo ay agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin and then she sat next to Gia "sorrry naaa" she said with her pabebe voice then gave Gia a side hug

Gia can't help but make face "oo na, get off me"

"So okay na tayo?" Agad umupo ng maayos ang dalaga, waiting for the older girl's confirmation with a full smile

Gia nodded as if she didn't have a choice

"Sus hindi mo talaga ako matitiis, G!"

Jo was still standing, looking at them.  A smile forming on her lips, naalala niya nung mga panahong hindi pa sila close, she can't believe she's watching these two bickering, never did she imagined na aabot sila sa ganito.

"Hoy pasali naman!"

And guess what?

You guess right.

The poor gal couldn't handle the stuffy feeling of being mauled by affection with these two younger girls.

But she has no choice, or they'll annoy her for the next 24 hours.

Kaya naman, she let the girls indulge the feeling of showering her with attention.

mag want to sawa kayo mga beh.

.....

After eating her 3rd cheetos ay unti-unti nang inilalayo ni Sabrina ang supot na may laman pang chichirya.

She's worried.

Because Jo's appetite with these kind of foods is not normal.

Not normal as in UTI.

Sila nalang din naiwan sa sala ng tumawag si Kuya Wes, they're at their friends din and Gia's mom is attending an event.

the two of them finally calmed down after  tickling each other earlier(mostly sila lang dalawa, kasi ang tanging kiliti lang ni Gia ay ang matitigas niyang kamao) kalaunan ay naubos din ang mga lakas nila and decided to watch Netflix.

"Jo" tawag ni Sabrina

"Ohhhh?" Joan answered in between munching, not bothering to look at Sabrina as she was busy watching a tv show

Sabrina, who's impatiently asking, waiting for the other girl to give her the attention she wanted, but not saying it, instead, the rejection she felt by Jo choosing the TV show than talking to her, all the disapproval and unsaid words, were expressed through a click of her tongue "tsk"

It made Jo paused chewing, no words, just pure comprehension. She put her food down, licked her fingers clean, which made Sabrina's gaze linger unnecessary longer....

Jo scoot closer to her, then casually leaned her head on Sabrina's shoulder which made the other girl froze, not wanting to move a muscle, scared na it might disturb Jo.

But that's not just the scary thing, what if Joan can hear or feel her heart beating?

She gulped slowly.

"Sab"

"Hm?"

"Thank you"

"sa alin?"

"Sa foods"

"small things"

"How can I repay these small things your showing?"

"not necessary." Sabrina tried her best to sound as if she's not bothered by Jo's presence, as if she's the chill girl

but honestly she's not.

"Hey Sab"

"mmh?"

"Are you free this Saturday?"

Sabrina's heart is thumping so much, not realizing that they both shared a single worry

that after that question there is silence

and the sound of their hearts, beating.

Jo didn't hear a reply. Agad siyang umayos ng upo, looking for the familiar face she's been leaning on

They both shared a long stare

Just waiting

and

waiting

Until...

"Get a room you two"

They both look at the same direction, finding the older girl standing there, watching the two of them, not really doing anything and doing everything at the same time.

"A-Ano?" Jo stuttered

Gia rolled her eyes at ngumiti ng nakakaloko "sabi ko, we have to go"

"Now?" Sabrina asked trying to brush off the awkwardness

"Yes. Unless, gusto niyong maiwan at mai-solo ang bahay namin."

"No, thanks!" Sabay na sabi ng dalawa at agad nag busy-busyhan, not sure what to do, and so sure of one thing to do...

not stare at each other with Gia around.

.....

They rode a cab on the way to grocery store bago pumunta sa bahay nila Shiloh, Gia said may ipinapabili daw ang nobya.

"What are we getting again, G?"

"Batteries"

The two nodded

"Jo, call ate Maya, she said she'll pick us up, tell her our location nalang. Choose anything you like, I'll go grab some drinks muna"

"Okaaay, sab tawagan ko muna si ate Maya dun sa may bandang entrance, mahina kasi signal dito sa loob"

"I'll come with you nalang"

"No, it's okay, pili ka nalang ng gusto mo"

"Are you sure?"

"What? I'm not gonna get lost Sab, I'll be back" Jo laugh after saying that at nagpatuloy nang naglakad papalabas

Sabrina just looked at her as she completely disappears from her sight, the other girl just continued looking for stuff she'd like pero she knew what she wants is not for sale.

When Joan reached the entrance, she tried calling her Ate but she realizes na wala na pala siyang pang call

"Shit" she hurriedly walk towards where she left Sabrina, she was busy with her cellphone at hindi namalayang may nakasalubong pala siya

"oh my god, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, are you okay?"

Pinulot niya ang mga gamit na nahulog ng babaeng nakabunggo niya, she didn't see her face but she knew it's a girl...

because she smells like vanilla and roses.

"Here" inabot ni Jo ang nahulog na mga gamit nito, finally seeing who the girl was, she seems familiar, but Jo brush off the thought hastily "I'm sorry, I'll watch where I'm going next time" she smiled apologetically

The other girl reciprocated her smile "it's not completely your fault, I should be watching where I'm going too" she took her things from Jo, carefully "the name's Mara"

Jo was slightly taken aback from the sudden introduction but remained composed

"Oh, hi, I'm Joan"

"Joan? Pretty name." she extended her arm and Joan, still a bit surprise, accepted it "Nice to meet you, Joan"

"N-Nice to meet you too" after shaking their hands, Jo politely let go of her "so, ahm, I'll get going then, I'm sorry again"

Before Jo leaves, the other girl softly grabbed her arm "Can I get your number?"

"Ha?" Jo responded unsure of what she just heard

Then someone interrupted "Jo, andiyan ka lang pala, Gia is looking for you"

"Oh Sab, I'm sorry I was just.."

"It's okay, halika na?" Sabrina gave the other girl a look, intentionally grabbing Joan on her waist

It surprised Jo, but went along with it anyway "we need to go, Jo"

The other girl just nodded and smiled "I'll see you next time then"

Nagkunot ang noo ni Sabrina after hearing that, she raised an eyebrow clearly bothered. something she should be hiding.

Her grip, encircling Jo's torso, was gentle

"oh sorry, I should've asked this earlier but better late than never, you're single right?"

but the gentle grasp didn't last long, when it tightened subtly, like a tender touch shifted into a secure, reassuring grip.

like Jo will be stolen any second

that she'll slipped away

The girl asking, purposely traced her gaze to the both of them, landing on Sabrina's eyes, as she smirked slightly.

Sabrina was about to answer but Jo went first

"Yes, I'm single"

Mara nodded in approval and smiled sweetly, she was about to say something when Sabrina interrupted

"But not for long."

She let go of Joan's waist, grabbed her hands at hinila siya papalayo, walking back to where they should be, holding her tightly, securely.

Taking what's hers.