A SINGLE drop of water from a leaf touched Adamas' forehead, waking him up. Pagmulat niya, isang higanteng puno ang bumungad sa kaniya. Dahan-dahan siyang bumangon at inikot ang tingin sa paligid.

The body of water suspended by the land immediately caught his attention. It reflected the setting sun, invoking a warm orange. An impression of many treasures played before his eyes because of the sparks shining above the water.

He was beside a lake.

Isang hikbi ang narinig niya sa gilid ng malaking puno. Tumayo siya at dahan-dahang naglakad patungo sa kaliwang bahagi.

Bahagya siyang napaatras nang makilala niya ang lalaking nakasuot ng itim at puting uniform. Yakap-yakap nito ang mga tuhod at kahit hindi man makita ni Adamas ang mukha, alam niya kung sino ito.

It was Adamas . . . Laurien.

He didn't mind his nervous heart and paced toward him. Lumuhod siya sa harapan nito. Sinubukan niyang ilapat ang kamay sa ulo nito subalit tumagos lang ang kaniyang palad.

So I can't touch you, huh?

Biglang inangat ng lalaki ang ulo nito dahilan para muli siyang matigilan.

It was still surreal that they had the same face. Their hair and eyes were different, but more than that, they were nothing else but a reflection of each other.

"You look messed up." He let out a small smile while looking at the tear-stained face of Adamas Laurien. Kung puwede niya lang itong hawakan, kanina niya pa pinahid ang mga luha nito sa mga mata. Para itong bata na hindi nabigyan ng candy ng ina kaya ito ngumangawa ngayon.

Tumahimik ito saglit. Pinagmasdan niya itong pilit na pinapatahan ang sarili pero ilang saglit ay muli na namang ngumawa.

"Baboy ko . . ." pahikbi-hikbi nitong sabi.

Napakunot ang kaniyang noo.

A pig? That was the reason why he was crying?

"Human, you're unbelievable. I don't remember Noa writing me to cry over pigs." He crossed his arms and stood up.

Sumandal siya sa puno habang hinihintay ang kawangis niyang matapos sa kakaiyak.

Isa pang paghikbi ang narinig niya ngunit hindi ito nanggaling kay Adamas. Napunta ang tingin niya sa kabilang bahagi ng puno.

"Huh? Who's that? Tiyanak?" Napalingon din ang Adamas na kasama niya at dali-daling tumayo. Nabalot ng takot ang mukha nito. "Lord, naman. Ako lang mag-isa rito. Huwag mo naman akong takutin."

"Stop overthinking!" inis niyang sigaw kahit hindi siya naririnig nito.

Napahilamos na lang siya sa kaniyang mukha nang muli na naman itong umiyak.

This is not what I came here for.

But despite being a crybaby, the man still chose to walk towards the other side of the tree. But it was too slow--slower than a turtle--that no one knew how many times he was tempted to push him hard. Nababagot na siya kaya nauna na lang siyang maglakad at tinignan kung sino ang nasa kabila.

His heart leaped when he saw who it was.

It was his beloved Noa.

"My wordy Noa!" He immediately ran toward the crying woman with his arms open wide. Handa na siyang yakapin ito subalit nakalimutan niyang hindi niya nga pala sila nahahawakan. Para lang siyang multong nakatingin sa pangyayaring unti-unting pinapakita sa kaniya.

"Why are you crying, my love?" He kneeled in front of her. It pained him to see Noa crying. He wanted to hold her and wiped those tears away, but no matter how much he panicked, he could never feel her warmth.

Kaagad niyang nilingon si Adamas. "Hey! Hurry up! Console her and don't make her cry for too long, you slowpoke!"

Kaunti na lang at mapipigtas na ang pasensya niya sa lalaking atras-lakad ang ginagawa. Sumisilip ito pero kaagad namang nagtatago, natatakot na baka halimaw ang makita.

Oh, humans.

Napahilot siya sa kaniyang sintido. "I can't believe I was inspired by this scaredy cat, crybaby and slowpoke! Why did you choose this kind of guy, my Noa? Argh!"

Five minutes had passed and finally! Adamas Laurien finally walked out behind the tree and see for himself the crying woman.

Napatalon siya sa tuwa. "Finally! Argh! So frustrating!"

"Ahm . . . a-are you okay?"

Napatagil sa pagtalon si Adamas dahil sa itinanong nito sa babae. "Are you dumb, human? Of course, she's not okay. Who would in their right mind cry while feeling happy? Idiot!"

He started cursing the guy inside his head when Noa looked up. It wasn't just him who was frozen by the beauty in front of them. Sabay silang natulala dalawa habang pinagmamasdan ang kayumangging mga matang nakatingin sa kanila. Or rather to Adamas . . . Laurien.

"What do you think?" Pinahid ni Noa ang mga luha bago umiwas ng tingin.

Nang bumalik sa diwa ang lalaki, kaagad itong may kinuha sa bulsa at inabot kay Noa. "H-here, you can use this."

Noa took a glance. "Thanks. But I think you need it more than me. Mukha kang walang may-ari."

Napahalakhak naman siya matapos iyong sabihin ni Noa. Sinilip niya ang mukha ng lalaki. Lalo siyang natawa nang makita ang namumula nitong mga pisngi.

"I told you! You look like a mess." Umalingaw-ngaw ang tawa niyang literal na maririnig ang 'haha' sa buong paligid pero siya lang din ang nakakarinig.

"Don't mind my face. J-just take it," he insisted. Umiwas ito ng tingin habang ang kamay ay pilit pa ring inaabot ang panyo kay Noa.

Naglakad naman siya nang kaunti palayo sa dalawa at pinanood ang mangyayari. He sat on the ground as he witnessed their first meeting. Not only the events but also their emotions.

Both were crying, but one of them was already affected by the other. And he could perfectly see that.

"Sure ka?" sagot ni Noa.

Tumango naman ito.

Tinanggap ni Noa ang panyo. Si Adamas Laurien ay nanatiling nakatayo sa harap nito at pinanood si Noa. Walang nagsasalita sa dalawa hangga't sa tumayo ang babae. Mukhang aalis na.

"Isauli ko na lang 'to sa 'yo sa susunod. What's your name?" She glanced at his clothes. "We have the same badge on the uniform so I assume we are at the same university. Anong course mo?"

"I'm Adamas Laurien. BS Business Ad--"

"You're Adamas Laurien?!" Noa cut him off. Kumunot ang noo nito. Her emotion was clouded with annoyance.

Nagulat naman ang lalaki. "Y-yes. Why?"

Noa walked toward him and slammed the handkerchief into his chest. "Wala na pa lang next time. Thank you. Ikaw na bahalang maglaba r'yan. Wala namang virus ang luha ko kaya you'll be fine."

She then walked away, leaving Adamas Laurien dumbfounded.

'What did I do?' If he could read his expression, that was what he was saying.

Tumayo na siya sa pagkakaupo at lumapit sa lalaking tinarayan na agad ng babaeng hindi pa nagpapakilala sa kaniya. Napailing siya habang natatawa pa rin.

"What's with the bothered face? If that was me, I'd be happy." Hinawakan niya ang sariling dibdib. "I'm jealous. I wish she could slam her hand on me too."

Biglang nagdilim ang paligid niya kaya napaangat ang kaniyang tingin. Nawala ang lake pati ang lalaking katabi niya. Wala siyang makitang iba bukod sa purong kadiliman. It was like the switch turned off and all he could do was wait until a new event would unfold before his eyes.

A clicking sound from his ear caused him to blink. And when he opened his eyes, he was already inside a room, sitting on the side of a bed.

He glanced at the man coughing beside him. His skin was pale and his eyes were tired.

"Nako, sir. Sinabi ko na sa inyo 'di ba na huwag po kayong masiyadong umiyak? Alam niyo naman pong hindi nakabubuti 'yan sa kalusugan niyo," the maid said while handing him a glass of water.

Adamas Laurien took the glass. "Thank you po. Sorry hindi ko lang po napigilan ang sarili ko kahapon. Baboy ko po kasi ginawang lechon ni Asnael."

Napairap naman si Adamas matapos iyong marinig. "So we're still not yet done with the pig, huh?"

"Puwede ka namang bumili ulit ng alagang baboy."

Ginantihan lang iyon ng lalaki ng isang tipid na ngiti.

Nang lumabas ang katulong, tumayo naman ito kaagad para maligo. Nanatili lang siyang nakaupo sa kama at hinintay ang lalaki na makalabas. Biglang nag-ring ang phone nito na nasa ibabaw ng drawer na katabi niya kaya sinilip niya ang caller.

Bago pa niya makita ang nakasulat, may kamay nang kumuha nito. Tumayo siya at kaagad na tumabi kay Adamas Laurien upang mabasa ang mensaheng binuksan nito.

It was a text message from one of his classmates.

Lenton:
Congrats, dre! Nanalo department natin sa poetry-making dahil sa 'yo! HAHAHAHA NATALO NATIN ANG CREATIVE WRITING PEEPS

May naka-attach na photo sa message nito at nakasulat doon ang top three winners.

First place - Adamas Laurien, 2nd Year BSBA
Second place - Lilianoa Evergreen, 2nd Year BACW
Third place - Shanel Von, 2nd Year BSEd

Napatango naman siya at muling umupo sa kama. Naunawaan na niya kung bakit biglang nagalit si Noa sa lalaki. It was because he won in the poetry making.

"Yes!" Napatalon naman sa tuwa ang kasama niya sa kuwarto na animo'y hindi hinika kanina. "One step toward the dream!"

He squinted his eyes after hearing it. Napaikot ang kaniyang tingin sa kuwarto. Ngayon niya lang napagtanto kung bakit punong-puno ng mga papel na naglalaman ng mga literatura ang bawat pader.

Adamas Laurien dreamed of becoming an author just like his Noa. They had the same dream.

Lumabas na ito ng kuwarto. Nakasunod lang siya sa lalaki hangga't sa nagpunta na ito sa university. Pagpasok nila, kaagad nilang nakasalubong si Noa.

Natigilan ang Adamas na kasama niya at ganoon din si Noa.

"Tabi. Nakaharang ka," nakakunot ang noong sabi ng babae. Naglakad na ulit ito at sinadya pang banggain ang braso ni Adamas.

"W-wait!" pigil ni Adamas.

"What?"

Napakamot naman ito sa ulo. "Ahm, I've been thinking about what happened in the lake. Are you mad at me? D-did I do something wrong?"

"I don't know. Figure it out yourself." Noa rolled her eyes and walked out.

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Umpisa pa lang pero tagilid ka na," napapailing niyang komento. "For your information, you were the reason why she cried in the lake."

Noa cried because she didn't place first in the poetry-making competition. And when she realized that the man who gave her the handkerchief was the one who took that spot, she immediately got mad.

Buong araw, nanatili lang sila sa university. Malaki at malawak ang eskwelahan subalit parang sinasadya talaga ng pagkakataon na magkita ang dalawa. Bawat pagsalubong, hindi kinakalimutan ni Noa na bigyan ng nakamamatay na tingin si Adamas na kaagad namang tumutupi at hindi makatingin nang diretso.

Nasa loob sila ng classroom nang biglang pinatawag si Adamas ng kanilang propesor.

"Mr. Laurien, can you come to the creative writing department for a moment?"

Kaagad naman silang sumunod. Napahikab siya habang nakasunod lang sa kinakabahang Adamas. Pagpasok nila, isang babae na masama ang tingin ang kaagad na bumungad sa kanila.

Kaagad siyang tumakbo at umupo katabi ni Noa.

"You're still so pretty even when you're mad, my wordy Noa." Even though she couldn't see him, he still gave her his sweetest smile. He couldn't believe that he would have this chance to see Noa many times. He might as well take this chance to memorize every part of her face.

"Mr. Laurien. Finally, you're here. Maupo ka." The professor in her 40s gestured her hand for Adamas to sit.

Dahan-dahan namang naupo si Adamas sa sofa na katabi ng inuupuan ni Noa. Napalunok ito bago nagsalita. Nagtataka ang mga mata nito. "B-bakit niyo po pala ako pinatawag?"

"Well, as you can see. You took the first place in poetry-making competition. Despite being in BSBA, ang ganda-ganda ng pagkagawa ng poetry mo. You seem to be knowledgeable in this field. Congratulations!"

"Thank you po!" Napangiti naman si Adamas pero kaagad ding nawala nang makarinig ng palatak sa kaniyang tabi.

"And you, Miss Evergreen took the second place. Your piece was truly exceptional. One point difference lang ang scores niyo. At dahil napa-impress niyo lahat ng professors dito . . ." Ngumiti ang propesor. "I would like you two to have a collaboration that will be published under our university's publication."

"Wah! Talaga po?" Napasinghap si Adamas sa tuwa. Malawak itong ngumiti habang ang katabi niya ay walang reaksyon.

The professor nodded. "I want you two to make a one-shot story for this incoming Valentine's Day. At dahil para ito sa araw ng mga puso, dapat naaayon din doon ang gawa niyo, okay? Iyon lang. I won't give much limitation at baka malimitahan din ang creative juices niyo. Understood?"

"Opo!"

"Excuse me po, prof." Nagsalita si Noa. "Is it really necessary for us to collaborate? Can we just make a one-short story individually?"

"Unfortunately, Miss Evergreen, the department already agreed that it will be a collaboration. I think it's also more fun. You get to work with one another."

Noa just sighed. Nilingon nito ang lalaki na sakto ring nakatingin sa kaniya. Nagsalubong ang kanilang tingin pero wala pang isang segundo, inirapan ito ni Noa.

Napatawa siya dahil sa reaksyon ng kaniyang manunulat. He tilted his head to look at Adamas Laurien. "Human, my Noa really don't like you."