"Ooh, your boyfriend dropped you off again," Maria teased.
"Shut up," Ayisha muttered, already heading toward the kitchen.
She placed the plastic bag on the table. "Here's the meat."
"Thanks, Ayisha. How much was it?" Mark asked.
"Five hundred fifty pesos," she said, holding out her hand.
Mark chuckled and handed her the money.
"Thanks, Mark." She stuffed the bills into her pocket and walked off, humming under her breath.
"Who is he?" Josh asked from behind.
Ayisha stopped and turned. "Who? What?"
"The guy you were with earlier."
"Oh." She shrugged. "That's Simon. You haven't seen him before?"
"I think I was absent that day."
"He's my friend," she said, giving Josh a light pat on the shoulder. "Come on. Let's get back to work."
__________
10:41 p.m.
The restaurant was quiet by the time they finished closing. Chairs were stacked, the lights dimmed, and the smell of dish soap lingered in the air.
"Thanks for helping me close," Ayisha said as she locked the door.
"Wala 'yon," Josh replied. "I was already here anyway."
He hesitated, then added, "You don't usually stay this late."
"Well," she shrugged, kicking a small rock as they walked, "I felt like it."
They walked side by side down the street, neither in a hurry. Traffic was lighter now just the occasional tricycle passing by, music faintly playing from somewhere nearby.
Josh glanced at her a few times before finally speaking again.
"About earlier… Maria was just joking, right?"
Ayisha snorted. "About Simon? Yeah. People like teasing."
"Oh," he said, nodding. "So… he's not—"
"He's just my friend," she cut in easily, not even realizing how quickly she answered.
Josh let out a quiet breath. "Okay."
They reached the corner where they usually split ways. Ayisha slowed down.
"You can head home from here," she said. "It's late."
"Yeah," he replied. Then, awkwardly, "You too. Be careful."
She smiled. "I will."
Josh lingered, shifting his weight. "Ayisha."
"Hmm?"
There was a short silence. Not uncomfortable, just unfinished.
"See you tomorrow," he said finally.
"Yeah," she replied. "See you."
Ayisha turned and walked away, already pulling her phone out of her pocket.
Josh stayed where he was for a moment longer, watching until she disappeared around the corner. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling stupid for expecting more than that.
'She's older,' he reminded himself. 'And she already has someone.'
Still, he couldn't help smiling a little.
Because even just walking home with her felt like something he wanted again.