“You know, you should really start settling down,” Marcio said as he moved the crib one last time. He observed it for a second before turning to me again. “I mean, you have a house, you have a stable job, and cars, you have everything, except a wife.” He caught himself then added. “Or a husband, which whatever you want.” I gave him a smile. “What I’m trying to say is that, you’re turning 30, you should start settling down.”
“Thank you so much for your concern, my good friend,” I bowed. He scoffed me. “And I hate how that crib is bunch up over there. Really, Marcio, you should move it closer to the window.”
“Honoree thinks the sun will be too much for the baby,” Marcio said.
“Sun is a natural light for the baby, move it there,” I pointed to the window. “It’s healthy for the baby.”
He sighed and once again walked to the crib to move it again. “Anyway, don’t try to ignore my question. Answer me.”
“Well,” I watched him move the crib, “I do have someone in mind, and I do want to settle down.” I smiled. “It’s complicated.”
“It’s always is for you,” he observed the crib then moved it a little more.
I chuckled. “Whatever, Marcio. Not everyone is fated like you and Hon.”
“So, who is this person?” Marcio turned to me with a satisfied sighed.
I observed the crib and smiled. “Now that’s better.”
He sat on the rocking chairs they put in there so they can be with the baby when she’s born. Honoree is five months pregnant and their life is very exciting now, I’m sure, after years and years of trying, six to be exact. “Having a kid is so hard.”
“The kid’s not even out of the stomach yet and you’re already complaining?” I laughed as I sat next to him.
He side eyed me then shook his head. “Zade, everything is stressful when you are happy yet don’t know what it is.”
“Ah, yes,” I looked at the crib just as Marcio was doing. “I understand that.”
“This person of yours,” Marcio looked at me. “Tell me about him.”
I smiled. “He’s… a very good person. He is. He works hard, timely, smart, and good looking.” I playfully wiggled my eyebrows. Marcio shook his head with a smile. I turned back to the crib. “But he’s… he’s so sensitive, in his own way. He thinks he doesn’t deserve much because of all the things that happened to him. He doesn’t see himself much either. He puts himself down a lot, but is so hot when he carry himself highly. Whenever he carries himself like that, I get the feeling that he could have anything he wanted, but limited himself because he doesn't think he could. I do wish he could see what I could.”
“Wow,” Marcio said, his eyes on the crib as well. “You’re in love, man.”
“It’s the result of lust though,” I said. “It might not be love, something like this did happened before.” Noting on the past with Momo.
“Can’t be,” Marcio smiled. “You paid so much attention to him. You have it bad for him, huh?” He smirked toward me.
“Whatever,” I smacked his arm.
He burst out laughing. I warmed up just by hearing those laughters again. After we stitched back our friendship again, we both sensed the differences in it from our childhood to the now relation. There were conversations we never had, yet now we are conversing about my private life, something I thought I would never get to do with my childhood friend.
Then he settled down and said, “Somehow,” he thought about it, “the things you said about your boy, they all seem to fit Damir.”
My hands almost slip from the rocking chair, but I caught myself before falling onto the floor. I just look at him.
He shrugged. “Damir’s like that. You know, he’s training to be the president of the market section, but he’s prolonging it because he doesn't think he’s good enough for it.” Somehow, it had slipped my mind that Marcio and Damir knew each other long before Damir and I started this, or even before Momo and I still fucked. “But he is. He’s so good at predicting the money market and setting up the right tools. Yet, he refuse to be the president.” He sighed. Then waved his hand at me. “But it could just be that the CEO is persisting me to get him to accept the job. He’s been on my mind lately, maybe that’s why.”
I stayed silent, shocked that I haven’t heard any of this from Damir nor my job. Ah, that might be because I have been occupied with the Food and Drug department, they are working me up because of the south branch.
Marcio turned to me suddenly. “Don’t tell me - “
I turned to him then smiled.
Marcio let out a breath of surprise then turned back to the crib. “I invited him over for dinner too.”
“He told me,” I said.
“When - “ Marcio wanted to asked but stopped himself. “Nah, never mind. Don’t answer me that. I’m just a little surprised. Damir?” He stood up. “Didn’t you hate him?”
“I don’t hate him. I used to think he was annoying because he was always clinging to Momo, and when you are fighting for Momo’s attention, he was annoying.”
“Ah, but now Momo’s off limit, so he’s okay now?” he said then shook his head. “Lust, could be.”
I laughed. Then there was a ring, Hon exclaimed Damir’s name and welcomed him.
“Come on,” Marcio said.
“You sure?” I asked. “Your shock’s gone yet?”
He laughed. “Yes.” he reached a hand to me, “Come on.”
I grabbed it, “Thank you.”
As we walked to the living room, I caught Damir giving Momo a kiss on the mouth. Narciso eyed him. He then went to Narciso and gave him a kiss too.
“Don’t be like that,” Damir said. “It was just a greeting.”
It was Momo who pulled Damir off of Narciso. “Hands off, Damir!”
Damir laughed. I couldn’t help but chuckled as well. He heard me and turned toward me as Marcio and I entered the living room. “Zade!” He gave me a hug. As I accepted the hug, Marcio smiled slyly toward me. Then he pulled away and kissed me, right there and then, and I accepted it as well.
“Okay,” Marcio said outloud.
“There’s a baby here,” Hon said. “Just so you know.”
“The baby,” Damir said as he pulled away from me and took off his coat and scarf, “is not out yet, so it’s fine.”
“She can still listen and such,” Hon said. Then she turned to me, “You like the room, Zade?”
“Yep,” I answered. Damir sat down so I sat down next to him. “It’s about time that room get some action in it.”
Hon shook her head. “I hope she isn’t as active as she is right now in my stomach.”
“It’s a fact,” Narciso said, “that the baby’s going to be like it was when in the stomach.”
“Don’t ask me for help, Hon,” Momo added.
“Some kind of best friend you are,” Hon said and we all laughed.