"Where are we going? It's Sunday so let's have a best friend's bonding."
Maureen was still harassing me because we had just finished church. She came with me to church, which we always do. It's like we're twin sisters because wherever I go, she's with me. Whatever I do, she'll accompany me too. Our livers aren't connected but it seems like that.
"I still have to buy some groceries for the house, Mau. Papa is already working at the construction site and Mama is looking after our bakery. Since I don't have something to do, I'll just help them," I replied and got into her car.
"Hmmm, okay. I'll help you, I also love grocery shopping. But promise me that we're going to have a bonding after all of it." She looked at me with talking eyes so I couldn't refuse.
"Fine. I know you'll be the one to waste the money so you'll take care of it."
When we arrived at the Mall, we immediately went to the grocery store to buy our needs. My list of things to buy is on paper. I think I have to buy almost 200 stuffs because it was already been two weeks since the last time I went to buy groceries. I don't have time to shop sometimes, especially when I have to work overtime.
"Of all this stuffs, you didn't even bother to buy some sweet foods. Geez! Bahala ka, I'll take the delicious foods and then include them in your purchases." She first placed the cart next to me with the contents of her purchases.
I didn't look at her and continued to look for flour, Mama put another brand of it." It's up to you. Besides, I won't pay for that. I already budgeted my money for these stuffs and not including those foods."
When I turned to my side she was gone so I just sighed. I'm sure that she'll bring some sweets whenever she came back. Knowing her, she couldn't live without sweets. She even sympathizes with me when I shop, I'm not a chocolate lover.
"Sorr --- Son of a bitch! You again?!"
He raised an eyebrow at me and picked up the napkin I had dropped."You're always like that whenever you see me. Does my presence look shocking?!"
He put a pack of napkins right in my face so I slapped him.
I just rolled my eyes at him and put it in the cart."Bullshit! Why are you always appearing in a sudden?! You're not giving a signal if you're around."
"What do you want me to do? Imitating the sounds of animals? What am I stupid?!" He moved next to me and handed me a pack of EQ diapers.
"Stupid! You're always stupid. Wait, are you going to wear that one?"
I burst out laughing and even covered my mouth. He looked at me with frowned eyebrows and looked at the diapers on his hand. Pft. I couldn't imagine him wearing that one.
"Fuck! Do I look like a 3 year old kid?! It's for you. Stock up on yours so that when you are visited by a sudde---"
"Shut up! Go away! You're disturbing my grocery shopping," I replied annoyed.
"Shocks! Your voices are up to the fifth section. Guys, are you still going to fight here?! Seriously?"
We both turned our gaze at Maureen who's bringing a cart with some sweets in it. She's raising her eyebrows on us as if she's our mom and scolding her kids. Ew, yuck! I was just thinking that Caseth and I were siblings like I was sick. Good thing I don't have siblings because they're just a pain in the ass!
"He's fine! He's anywhere as if I'll be lost in the world," I answered with a smirk and took a yellow and brown star margarine.
"Wow! Are you blind? I'm a few feet away from you," he answered back and got some junk foods on the other side.
I don't know if he's really stupid because he didn't even take a cart so the ones he took fell apart. How ridiculous!
Mau left again and maybe she will go back to the sweets section. While me? I left Caseth there because I need to get canned goods for my next list. I computed my money for these stuffs last night so I know it would fit in the money that I have. Then after that, I get noodles and pancit canton for our snacks since it will be paired with our bread in the bakery. I also got some coffee because Mama and Papa like it but they can only drink it once a day because I scold them. They usually drink milk for adults because I budgeted my money for them to have a good health.
"Eating canned goods isn't healthy." Suddenly Caseth sprang to my side.
My brows frowned when he got it from my cart and put it back in the shelves."What's with you?! Why are you interfering? We always eat this kind of foods so get it back! I don't know the number taken anymore. "
"I told you, it's bad for the body. You shouldn't let your parents eat that food. They're getting older so you should feed them vegetables," he preached so I could do nothing but sigh.
"I know so give it back. I'm going to buy fruits and vegetables after this. We'll just stock it in case we don't have anything to eat." I was about to take back the can he was holding but he quickly took it away so I couldn't get it.
"Come here. I'll be the one to pick you foods. I hope you're smart in case you don't know how to choose what to eat." He pulled me while I was also towing my cart.
"Stop It! I'm going to budget my purchases as well as my money. It may not fit the ones you choose," I replied and stopped when he also stopped in front of the freezer.
He didn't listen to me and get two plastics of ham, toccino, hotdog, longganisa, and bacon. After that, he closed it and went to the other freezer to get bundle of vegetables so that I stop him.
"I won't buy vegetables here, just outside. It's expensive here and I can't afford it," I said but he didn't bother to answer me and continued picking some vegetables.
"I'm going to pay for this, I insist. Just don't say anything and let me do what I want. Is it clear?" He asked with full of authority that made me pursed my lips, stopping myself to say anything.
"W-Wait ... That's a lot, Caseth. It's enough, we couldn't eat this for the whole week." I protested and hold his arms when he was about to put the biscuits in the cart.
We stared at each other for a minute and was interrupted when something dropped on the floor. Mau was seen covering his eyes and slowly bent down then looked for the box of candy that she had dropped. When she finally reached it, she immediately stood up and took her hands away.
"Geez. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. All right, you can continue what you're doing. It looks like I made a mistake with the timing and then don't let go of the hand you're holding." She left immediately after he said that so we immediately looked at each other and looked at our hand.
We immediately let go of our hands and looked away, feeling so uncomfortable. The atmosphere was so awkward to the point that no one of us talked about it. He pulled the cart to where and I just let him while I just followed him. But... isn't it embarrassing that he is the one I bought our meals that should be my work?
"What if you just return everything you took? It's not your responsibility to buy our foods and even more so you don't have to spend your money for us," I said sincerely but seems like he didn't hear anything.
"So what if it's not my responsibility? What I want, I'll do." He pulled the cart again and he picked up a lot of junk foods.
W-What the --- I thought healthy foods?!
"You know what? I couldn't understand you most of the time. I just don't know about you." I shook my head because of disbelief.
"It's for your midnight snack if ever you're still awake and doing some stuffs. You should only eat it at night but I'll add more." After he took everything, he pulled the cart again and this time to the counter to pay.
Jusme! I might have passed out when I found out we were going to pay.
"We accept cash and credit cards sir/maam," said the cashier while computing on the laptop.
He simply rolled his eyes while crossing his arms over his chest."I know so hurry up."
"Don't be rude, Caseth. You can compute that, let's see." I gave the ones in the cart one by one for the cashier to look at and list.
"It's 15,500 all in all sir/maam."
I almost dropped my jaw when I heard what we were going to pay. I looked at him who's busy finding his credit card in his wallet. I even shook his shoulder but he didn't even look at me. How rude!
"Caseth, what? Let's just give it back because it's different. I don't need all of that," I complained to him but he gave the credit card to the cashier.
"Hey! You guys didn't wait for me!" Mau, on the other hand, emerged from where his cart was already half full.
"Don't tell me you bought it for your groceries. Didn't you say your aunt just bought it yesterday? How much is that?!" I hissed while pointing at those foods in her cart.
She just rolled her eyes at me and pushed me a little to give her some space."Come and think of it?! It's not for me, it's for you! You're saving too much and you're sometimes short of food so I bought all that. It's from me so better accept it or else friendships broken! "
Yeah! That's where she's good. If I don't agree with what she wants, that's what she will say. I'm afraid that she might do it so I couldn't do anything.
"Are we going to add this to their bills, maam?" the cashier pointed to Mau and nodded.
"Yes, please? Don't worry, I'll pay," she replied with a smile.
"It's 30, 485 is total of the groceries. So there for, you need to pay 14, 985 maam."
My eyes widened and placed my palm on my forehead. Aish! Why are the two of them so stubborn?!
After we bought at the grocery, Mau decided that we should eat at Mang Inasal first and she said it was free again. At first I disagreed and had an argument with her but as usual she still won so I had no choice. Caseth didn't even protested and just go with the flow. It's also tiring to lift these big plastics, which is their fault.
"Your phone kept on ringing, don't you have a plan to answer it? It's been a while and you haven't even looked at it." We stopped at the side of the boutique to rest our needy hand first.
"Tsk. I'm lazy to answer it. If you want you do it," he said and wondered his eyes everywhere.
I immediately kicked him and looked at him."Are you crazy?! Why would I answer your phone?! It's not mine and I didn't mean it."
"Who's that, Caseth?" Mau asked.
He took his phone out of his pocket and showed us the name written on it. It was Ziro who kept on calling him that's why Maureen suddenly shouted as if thrilled. Maybe Caseth already know why so he gave his phone to her, gesturing her to answer the call.
"No! You should answer it. Don't answer that, that's not a sensible thing to talk about."
She nudged me that made me groan. "You don't really support me, bess. Are you really my bestfriend?"
"That's why he doesn't answer Ziro's call because he has chicks." Someone suddenly arrived and it was Hades with Ziro on his side.
"Stupid! I just bought groceries," Caseth replied angrily to them.
"We were about to ask you for a hangout but it seems like you're busy," Ziro said as he approached us.
And if you're going to ask me about my bestfriend? Well, she's already dead. Chos! He was just shivering with excitement because Ziro's scent allegedly reached this far. Like, what the heck?!
"Just like that, we'll just go with you because we don't have anything to do. What, is it okay?" Hades asked smilingly.
"Nah. I'm busy." Caseth and I looked at each other as we answered together.
"C'mon, don't be so cheesy. Come on!" Mau answered that made me let out a sigh.
I don't think if it will going to be fun! I can feel the atmosphere, gosh!