Chapter 18: Thanks

"Sir, are you their relative?" Asked the barangay officer that just got in. Obviously wearing this waistcoat that sits on a gray t-shirt.

"It's my nephew, then also the one outside."

"Is that so? Oh my, sir. Your nephew rushed to Mrs. Karie's property and made a commotion. He was under the spirit of alcohol and was not listening to anyone stopping him. So, they have called here in the barangay. "

"Is there a settlement that happened without me?"

"Oh my, Sir! He's just the stubborn one. Percy is humbled even though he is in disadvantage." He looks at Percy who was still focused on his cellphone.

"Just a moment. I'll just talk to Percy."

"All right. We're just here inside."

He approached the busy man that did not notice his approach. "Percy."

Percy was surprised seeing him. "Kuya Jonas!"

"What happened?" He frankly asked. It will all lead there.

"Ah. He thought I was stealing Jenny." Then it settled down.

Manley looked at Percy carefully because it was calm and there was no reaction. "And you fought?"

"Of course. He was in my territory and he was humiliating me. Will I let myself be beaten? I'm sorry."

"I get you, Percy." And tapped his shoulder.

"I'm just curious. Isn't it because of jealousy? I mean, isn't it—"

"Nah. I'm satisfied now, Kuya. I have a different problem than them. "

"So, that means, no hard feelings?"

"Yup. They just don't."

"Can I know what you're in trouble with? At least, to appease what Cody did." Percy looked at him straight and laughed. It caught the attention of those in front.

"My, my! It's Honey, Kuya. I talked to her friend in the apartment to tell me if there's an emergency. She didn't get to work, but it seems to be doing laundry! Thus, was rushed to the hospital when her wound open slightly. How stubborn!" No matter how strong Percy's voice was, they didn't notice Cody listening to their conversation.

Manley smiled slightly at what he heard. He admits, he misses it, but he restrains himself. "It looks like. What does the doctor say?"

"Not to be stubborn. I'm chatting with her now."

"So that's why, you can't get your attention off your cellphone."

"Oh, no. She's really demanding."

Manley stopped to see something strange in his smile. "Please don't think it in a bad way, huh?"

"Go on."

"Are you together?"

Percy stopped typing and he looked like he was saying a joke. "Kuya! We are not, and we have never been. Even her, she will says the same thing. Wait, I'm just saying goodbye to Honey." He paused for a moment on the cellphone and face Manley. "It's like this, Kuya. We are more than friends, but less than a lovers. And I'm happy with this. I maybe hurt because of rejection, but she taught me to trust myself. That things are coming at the right time.

"And now, I'm satisfied to wait. If I made an effort, and it would turn out as a failure for the fourth time, that only means, it wasn't meant to be."

Manley couldn't help but nod. Because it has a point. "I'm happy for you, especially for her."

"It should be. She's so dead to you, but ignored her!" He just laughed at what Percy said.

"I know, I know! So, let's settle this."

"Lets!"

Manley is next to Giya and Cody and Jenny are in the back. He noticed of the two at the back are ignoring each other and his irritated seatmate. He was hoping to ask what Cody really had happened, but it seemed like it's hard to talk to right now.

--

Percy woke up in the middle of the night with body aches. He feels he's being thrown ten times. He forced himself to get up and go to the kitchen to get some hot water. He wanted to sip a hot soup, because he was also soak wet in the rain and couldn't immediately change, at the same time he's been smacked too.

"Aww." He moaned as he down the stairs. "I'm getting feverish." He said in vain.

When he came down, he went straight to his feet, and was surprised to find out.

No hot water!

Percy didn't want to disturb Tita Karie, especially the whole day of caring for Sandy, who was still stressed out in action a moment ago, now, just plain water, he still expect it to someone?

After putting water in the kettle, he took in the cabinet a large pack of biscuits. This is Sandy's snacks. He will replace it when he is feeling well tomorrow.

He first sat in the chair near the stove. He was already feeling dizzy. Fortunately, he feels fine when sitting down. His cellphone rang.

International call.

Honey is the caller. He answered well and told her that his body was in pain. "Hello?"

"Oh. What news? Are you feverish?" Honey started, even though the voice was clean, he knew she's worrying.

"It's okay."

"It's obvious in your voice."

"I'm sorry." He was sorry.

"Don't be. Why aren't you sleeping?" And here she is. Starting to nag.

"I'm cold. I'm warming the water— "

"My God, Percival! Go back to your bed! You must have asked Tita Karie!"

"Eh, you know—"

"So, ask! I'll call Tita, now, go up to your room!"

"Wow, she's angry oh." He laughed softly. This is one of the many things she liked about the girl–

Oh, you might assert it again.

More than friends, but less than a lovers.

Honey is thoughtful, that at times, you will be annoyed, but, at the end of the day, you will just smile.

"Don't hang it up! Just a moment!" She commanded it before turning away from the phone, though he could hear her voice talking to his companion.

He just listened to it.

A few moments later, "Hey, Percival! Why didn't you wake me up? Now, go upstairs!" He was startled by the sudden appearance of his aunt in the dark.

"Tita?" Did Honey call it right away?

"Honey called, how young you are! Look, you have a fever! Go up! I'll just take it there after it boils!" She feel his forehead for a moment before pushing him away.

"Tita, easy. My body is weak." He laughed at the old woman.

"So rest! By the way, he hung up that call. They have guests."

"Who is it?"

"I don't know!"

"Tita. I mean, who are you referring to?"

"Honey."

"Ah." He didn't even notice when the old woman came to the kitchen.

"Come on." It begged him.

"All right!" He surrendered slowly.

--

Jenny refrained from holding her own mouths. She would have asked for hot water because she's feeling sick m, but her feet stopped slowly when she saw Percy. It was the first time she had heard the conversation of the two. Her heart seemed to pain his smile.

Should she be happy for him? But why does she feel so different?

Her anger was raging to herself! Why does everything lead to this? Why did she let lose him?

She bites the lower lip and rushes to her room– not anymore. As strong as the river flows' when there is a hurricane the tears are gone from her eyes.

"I love you, Percy!" Words she couldn't say to him.

Jenny remembers how the reaction was registered on his face as he speaking with Manley in the barangay hall. A happy smile and it's force, and–

She can't take it if he loses it.

If she was the one who can decide for everything, she was hoping the cause of those smiles is her. That every time he mentioned her name, 'his smile was sweet.

But the case in point, that looks fuzzy.

When he brought her to work, there was no room of her happiness.

However, all of that was gone, seeing the anger on Cody's face. Because she went along with it.

He wants to go back in time and correct everything.

"I hope, I listened ... to you, Honey."

Shortly, Jenny went to work with swollen eyes. Although her supervisor noticed, she showed that she was at work and really working hard. In the evening, she was planning to come home early because of the lack of customers, when a familiar car parked in front of her.

It's Cody.

When he came down, she immediately slipped out and walked away. She tried to hurry, but it was faster and he immediately grabbed her. She was moving away from him, "What is this, Jenny?"

She wants to feel sorry for the bruises and cut on the face, but not really. Every time he remembered Percy's face, that he was sick, because of Cody's beating, she was even more annoyed.

"What a joke, Cody? What do you think about it? Don't you see how impulsive you are! You didn't understand my explanations!" Jenny explained everything, but for no apparent reason, Cody attacked Percy and repeated the false accusations!

Cody looked straight at her, then in another direction. The mouth was opened as if he could not believe what she was saying. "You are my girlfriend, Jenny. I hope you know that when you didn't think about getting in his car! I don't care if you love him! Just don't go with him! It lowers my pride!" That's it.

HIS PRIDE!

"If it was just pride, then you would have gone for a soapy soap! THAT pride? You won't run out of it! You're irrational, you know that? You're like this because of Honey, I know! I know, you love her, but who brought me into this relationship? Taking advantage of my drunkenness just to not look miserable –"

Jenny didn't expect it.

Never in her dreams had anyone slapped her like this. Not even her friends.

Or, even Mark– it was only Cody.

Cody seemed to be aware of what was being done and touched the cheeks with obvious swelling. "I...I'm sorry." But the girl tapped it away.

"That's right, Cody. I do not love you, and you do not love me. Let's end it." His ears fluttered when the girl said it.

"Why? Are you coming back to Percy?! Hah! I bet, he won't accept you! You can't even say your feelings–"And this time, Cody's turn to be slapped.

"I'm not coming back because I have nowhere to go! I thank God that Honey didn't fall for you! I really regret that!" And she turned away.

"We're not done yet, Jenny!"

"We are done!"

Cody would have chased her but she immediately get in to the first taxi to stop in front of her. He look at himself in annoyance and remembered what Tony had told him,

"…Now, if you insist that attitude, I won't further elaborate. That kind of attitude, everyone surrounds you will avoid you…"

He jumped back into the car and drove.

Jenny has left him, what will he do?

One of the things he abhor was to approach and talk to his uncle, but this seemed to be his last option. He turned the car into Manley's condo.

He had just slipped on the doorbell but no one was opening. It was one in the past midnight. Traffic hit him on the road. He thought about sitting on the paved floor and kneeling on his knees, he was sleepy and didn't have the strength to travel.

--

"Time check, quarter to 3." Manley said when he see his watch. It was early in the morning, he was with Dok Kulas in the OR and just done to surgery on a patient. And even though he wanted to sleep while on the trip, he had no driver. He was drowsy getting out of the elevator, and as he turned, he saw the figure of a man sitting next to his condo door. As he approached, his drowsy gone upon looking at the man - none other than Cody.

He patted him on to wake up.

At any rate, he invited him inside the condo. He first put the bag in the room, before returning to the nephew.

"What are you doing at night time here? Do not pretend that you are lost, because right next door to my condo you are lying down. If at the hospital maybe, you can."

Cody leaned against the chair and stared at the ceiling. "Am I bad person?" He had no questions to ask. Manley's forehead frowned at the nephew.

"Why do you ask?"

"What is something I don't have that Honey likes at you?" It was here that his eyebrows were raised. Honey is being mentioned.

"But, isn't Jenny your girlfriend?" He came over and sat on the opposite couch. He does not want to contradict it, but he will not be true if he simply agrees. Then, this is the first time he asks him.

"Yeah. And that's my mistake. I thought, making her as my girlfriend, then broke her heart would lessen the pain, but… why it hurts so much? I'm not able to confess, yet." And for the first time, Cody let himself cry in front of Manley.

Manley just let him. He knew this feeling.

"Tell me honestly, is there any chance that you like her, too?" He couldn't help but smile.

"Sure. But, I restrained myself. Do you think she deserves the treat as if she was disgusting?"

"No."

"But I did. Ask Tony, he's always teasing me."

"And you didn't do anything?"

"Will I still make a move if I see you like her? I don't want to repeat my mistake, Cody."

"Yet, I repeat your mistakes."

Silence dominates them. And Manley feel new at this though before, they are close.

"What do you want? Coffee? Milk? Or, tea? Maybe, juice?"

"No, Tito."

"Did you broke up?" He guess because of Cody's confessions were said. He turned to him.

"Yes. And maybe the right thing I've ever done so far." At any rate, he smiles.

"And I'm proud of you. All right, just go to bed in another room. I'm getting sleepy."

"Operation?"

"Yup."

"All right. Good night. "

"Good night." And Cody smiled before finally entering the other room. Manley smiled as he looked at it.

It would be bad to hear that he was happy even when the nephew was hurt, because if it wasn't for it there would be nothing to learn, no one would realize, no one will listen to others.

There is nothing wrong with listening to other people, because it's bad to ignore the right people who tell you the right way.