CHAPTER 7
Aurora closed the roof of her car when the boxes were all transferred on the trolley. And Ade took the take-out they brought. The trolley seemed quite heavy to push. It's a good thing then that they got help. She locked the car before entering the building. Ade and Max following behind her. Max was managing the trolley. He needed to be extra careful because of the things inside those boxes.
Most students that were coming in and out of the building when they entered turned their head at the young man who were pushing the load. Of course, because they were all girls in the building. Some even called his attention and he nodded in response. He's famous. A campus heartthrob maybe.
She heard the receptionist's kind greeting to them. She gave her a small smile and held her head up as she strutted to the elevator. She noticed a signage that blocked them. The receptionist hurriedly went out of her desk and removed the signage.
"Ho prenotato l'ascensore, signora Aurora. Il tuo amico mi ha detto che hai ancora alcune cose da trasferire e un ospite che ti aiuta." (I reserved the elevator, lady Aurora. Your friend told me you still have some things to transfer and a guest to help you.)
Whispers started to arise from the people in the lobby and some were from the people who was waiting to use the lift. Her ears caught why she was treated like VIP, who is she and was acting like a princess. It also unfair that there were people who was there to use the elevator first.
She wanted to roll her eyes but she didn't have her shades anymore.
"Thank you, signora Trina." She expressed her gratitude for what she did.
She shrugged her shoulders from all the things she heard. It's not her fault that the building's management chose to do the extra mile for her. She didn't ask them to. She was even surprised but thankful for the thoughtful act towards her. And it's a bit embarrassing to make Max wait when he was offering help for free.
"Nessun problema, signorina. In qualsiasi momento." (No problem, signorina. Anytime.) Trina moved out of the way and opened the elevator for them.
Aurora stepped aside to let Max go first with the trolley. Then she followed and Ade entered last who pressed the button to their designated floor. She was in the front and she held her head high. People were still looking at them until the doors closed.
"Would these fit in your room?" Max asked suddenly as they were going up.
"Yan nga din iniisip ko, signorino." (That's also what I'm thinking, signorino.) Ade seconded.
Aurora turned to her right side as Ade was there. Max was to her left. She's at the center front. The trolley was right behind her. "Kung hindi (If not), let's send them back to your dad." She stated, smiling.
Ade's face instantly changed. "Pero (But), signorina—"
"—I'm kidding!" She laughed at her friend's reaction because her eyes widen in horror if that would happen. "Let's just see." She shook her head from Ade's funny scared face. It seemed like Ade still wasn't use in her taunts.
Max tried to resist a smile. He nearly laughed at Ade's reaction from what his childhood friend said. Aurora's rich laughter resonated in his ears. It seemed to echo in his mind even if it he just heard it for a few seconds. They're fun to watch. It's obvious that Aurora often teases her friend.
The elevator pinged at its destination and Aurora was the first to step out. She went straight ahead and stopped at the second door from last, to her right. The corridor was wide and the place looked clean. The newly painted walls still had their odor. At the end of the corridor was a terrace with chairs and two tables. The building was decent enough from when Max looked at it while he exited his car. But it's not up to his standards for Aurora to stay. For people like them.
Aurora opened the door with her key and fully pushed it inside. She was the first to enter. Ade followed.
Max pushed the trolley right outside the door so it would be easier to transfer the things inside. The room was bigger than an ordinary dorm. Much bigger. Obviously, she requested the things around. From the beds to the other furniture that were not typical in a dorm room. He also noticed a guitar put on a stand beside her bed and a keyboard at the corner. So, she plays until now. She's really fond of music and she had a very gifted voice too.
"Is that a balcony, signorina?" Ade exclaimed excitedly and put the things in her hand on the vanity desk. She went and opened the black-out curtain. Light instantly came through the glass door. It was a bit blinding.
Aurora put her things on the bedside table and sauntered back to the entrance. She assisted Max in settling the luggage down. Ade was in the balcony. Excitement made her forget about her things. She just let her then.
She pushed the luggage to the side of Ade's bed. "Please put the boxes here."
Max followed her and he turned to a corner, there was a long table ready for the things to be put there.
"Signorina, the highway below can be seen here. We can watch out for your car." Ade stated. After a few moments, she got back inside. "This room is spacious, signorina. Thank you for the wide space." She sauntered in their direction.
"This is your area, Ade. For your things. And that wardrobe is yours." She pointed across the room. There wardrobe at the left side was Ade's, the right one was hers, near her bed.
Ade incessantly thanked her but she told her to focus her attention in helping Max instead, who was unloading her things.
"Sorry." Ade made a sheepish smile at Max when she started to assist him.
"It's okay. The space is enough for your things. You don't have to worry then. You don't need to send them back home." Max grinned upon remembering the look on Ade's face earlier. Then his head snapped at Aurora's direction when he heard her chuckling at what he said. Obviously, she remembered her friend's reaction too.
She walked into another corner with the take-outs. It could be their kitchen.
There were two boxes left and they weren't heavy. He finished quickly.
"Maraming salamat talaga sa tulong, signorino. (Thank you so much for the help, signorino.)" Ani Ade.
"It's nothing. If you two need anything, just call me. Aurora already had my number."
"Yeah. Never even pressed it once." She replied as she got back. They never had mobile communication since they always see each other in their family gatherings, which happens very often.
"Then it would be useful now."
"It's better you, signorino, than any other people outside. Especially from the building across us."
"Yes. It's much safer that way." He agreed. "By the way, I'm going then so that you two could get some rest."
"I know you've eaten already. Still, do you want to have some tea?" Aurora offered.
"Tea? Do we already have it, signorina?" Ade chimed in.
"The ref is already loaded, Ade. And we have our own kitchen." She replied.
"Talaga? (Really?)" Her face brightened and she sprinted past the two of them towards another door at the hallway.
He was right. It was their kitchen.
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Ref (refrigerator) - Filipinos usually use the term 'ref' rather than 'fridge'.