"Next time raw sa may Balete Tree tayo dadalhin ni Rik," kwento pa ni Alleah nang makabalik sa hotel room. 

Bumagsak sa kani-kanilang higaan sina Cara at Daia. Damang-dama nila ang pagod. Pakiramdan nila na buong araw silang naglalakad nang walang tigil. 

"I thought na mas better na 'yong Balete Tree na nga lang sana 'yong pinuntahan natin ngayon," sabi pa ni Alleah na ikinaintriga ng dalawa nitong kaibigan. Mabilis silang napabangon sa pagkakahiga at saka napataas ng kilay si Alleah. "Okay? Bakit naman ganyan kayo makatingin sa akin, ha? Wala akong sinabing masama."

Daia grinned. "Well, you know, the thing that happened earlier! Kikiligin na sana ako, pero naalala kong break na nga pala kayo so effort wasted."

"Anong na-feel mo no'ng nakita natin si Mando kanina?" tanong ni Cara.

Napakibit balikat naman si Alleah. "Wala naman?"

"Mukha mo utot, Ley!" sabi pa ni Daia. "Anong wala. If I was on your position, hindi lang wala lang mafi-feel. If that was me and Kenny on your position, baka sinuntok ko pa 'yon hangga't sa mag-nose bleed siya.Dapat triny mong sinuntok 'yon kanina. Laki ng ngiti, e. Pupunta rin pala ng Baler."

"Feel ko dahil sa IG story ni Ley," sabi pa ni Cara. "'Di ba ni-like niya IG story mo tapos nalaman niyang nandito tayo kaya ayun pumunta rin sila rito. Siguro inakala niya hindi magkikita ang landas natin. Pero bakit ka naman nagtatago sa likod ni Rik kanina? Kala talaga namin nawala ka."

Hindi nagbigay ng komento si Alleah at pumasok na lamang sa loob ng banyo.

"Girl! You can't avoid us! Kailangan mong sabihin sa amin 'yong feelings mo!" sigaw pa ni Daia.

"Hayaan na lang muna natin siya," bulong pa ni Cara sa kanya. "Feeling ko hindi pa talaga nakaka-move on si girl. The way I found her hiding behind Rik was funny. Pero kung ex mo na naman, 'di ba, you don't have to be hiding from that person at ipakita mo na masaya ka na without him."

Napakibit balikat naman si Daia. "Ewan ko lang! It's just been a month. Nasa plano naman talaga natin na kasama si Mando and now that he's here. . . I guess the original plan is back."

"Original plan?" takang tanong ni Cara. Napakunot pa ang noo nito sa sinabi ni Daia.

"Yes, hindi ka ba inform no'n? I think Mando and Alleah prepared the itinerary na beforehand. Akala ko nga kinuha mo lang sa kanila 'yong plano."

Napailing na lamang si Cara. "No. I didn't know they had one. . ."

On the other hand, Alleah who was inside the bathroom was taking her time to collect herself. Nakatingin lamang ito sa salamin saka humugot nang malalim na hininga. She washed her face off with cold water from the sink. What happened earlier runs back in her mind once again. Hindi na niya sana ginawa pang magtago sa likod ni Rik. She should've shown him that she was fine without him, but she got scared and couldn't do anything.

Habang sa kabilang kwarto naman ay tuwang-tuwa ang dalawa nang malamang nasa Baler din si Mando. They can now finally do what they all initially planned. 

"May pupuntahan tayong bar mamaya, 'di ba?" tanong ni Dom. Tumango naman si Kenny. "Bakit naman hindi natin iinvite si Mando mamaya, 'no? Sabi niya three days lang naman sila so might as well do it. Nakaka-miss din ang kagaguhan no'n, e."

"I-text mo na dali," sabi pa ni Kenny. "Basta siguraduhin mo lang na hindi magiging awkward mamaya dahil sa kanilang dalawa ni Ley."

"Ayos lang 'yan," confident pang sabi ni Dom. "Akong bahala kay Ley. Hindi naman ata sila magsusuntukan do'n."

"Ikaw bahala."

"Kaunting support naman diyan, Kennard," sabi pa ni Dom.

"Huh? Ano naman gusto mong sabihin ko? I was just caring for our girl. Alam mo naman na si Mando ang nakipag-break kay Alleah, e. If you want to do it, do it. Basta sinabi ko naman sa 'yo kung anong pwedeng mangyari. It could be worst. Labas na ko diyan."

"Pero sabi mo i-text ko. Ang gulo."

"E 'di, 'wag mo nang i-text," pagbawi pa ni Kenny. "'Wag mo na lang talaga yayain. In the first place, hindi naman natin siya kasama rito sa Baler, e. May sarili silang ganap. Hindi naman tayo kasama sa plano nila. We should just let him be."

"Well, fuck it. Bahala na," ani Dom.

While working at the front desk, biglang sumulpot si Rik sa harapan ni Morriah. Gulat na gulat pa 'to nang makita niya. She thought she wouldn't get herself used to seeing him in their hotel back again. Hindi rin naman niya mapigilan ang sarili kapag nakikita niyang nakangiti si Rik sa kanya.

"Why would you always part your hair like that?" Morriah questioned.

Rik felt a twinge of offense. His hair was neatly parted down the middle, framing a thin face with a jawline that could make anyone swoon. And those green eyes—so deep and mesmerizing—held her gaze captive, making it impossible to look away.

"I liked your hair brushed up," Morriah suggested.

"Oh, you liked mine brushed up?" Rik grinned.

"Oh, never mind," she said, shaking her head. "Act as if you didn't hear anything from me. Do whatever you want."

"Okay. I know I can do this hair for now. I liked this one, you know."

"Whatever you say," Morriah said, looking up so boredly at him. Ibinalik niya rin agad ang tingin sa laptop at itinuon do'n ang atensyon niya. "You can actually go home now. You can go back here tomorrow morning to accompany more of our guests."

"Sure, but I can't accompany you now?" he questioned. 

Hindi naman siya sinagot ni Morriah. She knew he won't leave her alone. Gusto niya rin naman 'yon. She missed the way Rik was being so playful around her. That's what she missed about him. However, she was scared that going back into a relationship with him wouldn't be a good thing because after all, she was the one who called the engagement done.

Dahan-dahan namang isinara ni Rik ang laptop niya. She was surprised when he did that.

"What are you doing?! Can't you see I'm working?" 

"I know. I can see it," he said, putting a thin smile on his face. "I know you've been working for the past few months to get your parent's business to thrive again and you were doing it right. I can see that. All your guests seemed to love you and what you have done to our—I'm sorry, to your hotel. You know, we had this conversation before that we would take over your parent's business in the future, but you're doing it right and you're so good at it."

"Thank you. . ." tipid pa nitong sagot. "Now, just like what I said, you can go home now. . ."

Rik shook his head. "Let's have some fun tonight. What do you think?"

"I'm not going out with you, Rik. I'm still working."

"You can call someone to fill in for you," he suggested. "I'll call Mara to do the front desk duty."

"No, Mara's busy in the back room."

Rik signed and Morriah looked at him, shaking her head. Muli naman niyang binuksan ang laptop at sinimulan muli ang ginagawa. She couldn't focus at her job right now knowing that Rik was in front of her.

Mayamaya lang din ay nakita ni Morriah ang limang magkakaibigan na papalabas ng hotel. She tried to get their attention and they found Morriah and Rik together. Sa isip-isip nila ay muli nang nagkakamabutihan ang dalawa. Alleah thought Rik working at the hotel was the best move he had done to get back to her.

"Pupunta kami sa club," sabi pa ni Dominique. "Free ba kayo?"

"I'm working—" Morriah said, but was cut off.

"We're free," pa-anunsyo pa ni Morriah. Nilingon naman niya si Morriah na may malaking ngiti sa labi. "See? This is the sign that you need to get loose sometimes off work. What do you think, Mo? Should we come with them?"

Napabitaw naman nang malalim na hininga si Morriah. "Fine. I'll call Mara."

"Yes! Dank je, schat," Rik said, smiling.

She rolled her eyes at him. Saglit naman niyang tinawag ang staff na magbabantay sa front desk habang wala siya. Nang makabalik naman siya at in-inform nito ang staff sa gagawin niya. 

"I know what you called me," Morriah said as she walked with Rik. "Schat means babe, right?"

"Oh, did I say it? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I guess, I was just excited—"

"It's alright," she interjected. "You don't have to say sorry every time I don't come to your terms. You know me well, Rik."

"Yeah, I know you well. . ."

"Let's go, guys!" pagtawag pa ni Dominique.

"Wait, I'm going to join you, guys!" Napatingin naman sila sa lalaking humabol sa kanila at nakita nila si Willimar. "Kanina ko pa kayo hinahanap. Now is a good time, right?"

Walang sumagot sa kanya.

"We're going out to party," sagot naman sa kanya ni Rik. "If you're going to mess up a good night, you'll get knocked out once again."

Napailing naman si Willimar sa kanya habang hinampas naman siya ng mahina ni Morriah sa braso.

Umalis naman ang walo at tumungo sa kalapit na party club kung saan naabutan nilang nagsisimula nang dumagsa ang mga tao. Seemingly, everyone lost everybody upon entering the premises. Rik didn't lose Morriah's hand as they got separated from the rest of their group.

"I don't think we'll see them again tonight," Rik said, trying to look for them in the crowd. "Anyway, do you want to get some drink? My treat."

"Sure. . . You know mine."

"Of course. Come with me. I don't want you to get lost."

While both of them lost everyone else, Alleah got lost as well, and unfortunately for her, she bumped into someone whom she didn't want to see for the night. Nakipagtitigan na lamang si Alleah kay Mando at mabilis na iniwas ang tingin saka naghanap ng paglulusutan, pero hindi naman siya makaalis.

"Did you come alone?" Mando asked. Iling naman ang isinagot nito. "Dom told me they'll be here. I came by myself and I thought you'd come."

"Oh! Hey, Kyle!" mabilis na pagtawag ni Alleah sa atensyon ng isang lalaki na hindi kalayuan sa kanila. "I'm so happy you came!"

Labis naman ang ngiti na nangibabaw sa labi ni Kyle. "Hey, Alleah! I'm so happy to see you again. . ."

Alleah finally made her way to Kyle, leaving Mando in his place, to join Kyle and his friends. She texted Kyle earlier to see her at the club later and found out they were going as well. Meeting Kyle was an opportunity for her to get rid of Mando's memories and the fact that he could see her with another man would be enough to let him know kung ano ang sinayang niya.

"Nasa'n na ba sila?" tanong ni Cara kay Dominique. "Magkakasama tayo, e."

"Hindi ko alam kung nasaan na sila. . ." ani Dominique habang tinatanaw ang mga kaibigan. 

"Alam mo naiinis ako kay Daia," anito.

"Oh, me too," ani Dominique.

"Hindi. Iba pa," dagdag ni Cara. "May sinasabi sa akin kanina na meron na palang plinano sina Alleah at Mando noon about sa Baler trip natin tapos akala niya 'yon ang ginawa kong guide para gawin 'to. E, I started it all from the scratch. Nagmadali pa ako dahil kaunting time lang ang magagawa ko, but the fact that they've been planing it for months. Nakakainis!"

"That's just Daia," sabi pa ni Dominique. "I hate her sometimes, but she always makes up for it."

"Nasayang lang ang effort ko," ani Cara.

"Oh, come on, babe. Don't say that." Niyakap na lamang ni Dominique si Cara. "Let's just have some fun and forget about all the things that happened."

Napabitaw na lamang nang malalim na buntong hininga si Cara.

"Here's your drink," Rik handed over the glass of apple juice with one shot of vodka to Morriah. "Let's just one do glass for tonight so what happened last night won't happen again. Cheers?"

"Cheers," Morriah said, tossing their glasses together. 

Both drink their alcohol and Morriah couldn't avoid looking at Rik. Napansin naman ni Rik ang pagtingin ng dalaga sa kanya. The night is still young and the alcohol doesn't affect their mind and body yet, but something was pushing Morriah to do something but resisted doing so. She quickly avoided his gaze and put her attention to the drink, and later on, hearing out a fight had started, and one of them was Morriah's new guest, Willimar, who got himself in a fight once again.

***