"Rise and shine! Today's another day for me to shower you with my love."

I stared at the ceiling as I lay in my bed, arms and legs stretched out along each corner. I took a deep breath as I heard Kidlat ramble on in my exoMails, sending me the cheesiest and corniest messages I have ever heard.

"Why aren't you replying?"

Sigh. Just another day of getting annoyed with Kidlat. He is really already getting on my nerves.

"Are you still asleep?"

"Please wake up. I miss you."

Ugh, this is already driving me nuts. I waved my arms and legs as if I was wading in the water, my annoyance with Kidlat already through the roof. I screamed internally before finally replying, "Hey, I just woke up."

"You're finally awake!"

"Have you eaten?"

I rolled my eyes at all the messages I received from Kidlat. Why do we need to keep messaging each other? Is it really that required?

"I'm getting really sad that you keep ignoring my messages."

I almost stumbled out of my bed as soon as I heard the voice I always wanted to hear. My bed immediately fixed itself as soon as I stepped out of it.

Agui stopped reaching out for months now, which is only fair, since I never once replied to his messages after his indirect rejection. But now he is back, and my mind and body have once again reacted to his voice like a servant responding to her master.

"Do you have any plans for our rest week?"

"Do you have any plans for this coming rest week?"

Kidlat and Agui messaged me almost at the same time, their voices sounding like they were in a chorus. This coincidence is too enticing to let pass, and I just know that this is the right time for my past and present to meet each other.

*****

Kidlat insisted that he fetch me in my station, despite him being one station further from me. He needed to board the Kalunduyan twice for him to do that, and I do not really get why I cannot appreciate the gesture–I feel nothing but annoyance and feel like he was so clingy.

Meanwhile, Agui said that he will be late, and will meet us in the JUICE, Co. Hub instead. I still wish for him to be the one I get to ride Kalunduyan with, though.

"I really can't wait to meet Agui," Kidlat said, smiling, when we finally boarded and sat by our chosen seats. We were in the same box, sitting opposite each other. "I feel like you're so excited to see her, and I'm so happy to see you filled with such joy."

"Oh, yeah," I said in sing-songs as I drummed the table in Kalunduyan with my hands. "It feels good to finally see him again. I haven't seen him in months."

"Him? I thought this friend of yours is a girl," Kidlat pointed out with obvious confusion on his face. I saw him clench his hand in the process.

"I never said that," I countered. "And it's weird that you assumed that I could only be friends with a girl."

"I-It's not like that," Kidlat answered with a strained look on his face. He then shook his head and said, "Silly me for assuming that your dear friend was a girl."

I squinted my eyes at the hint of sarcasm I heard from him. "Are you trying to say that I fooled you into this?"

"N-no, my dear. I just thought that Agui was a girl because you spent lots of time with him before," Kidlat answered in almost a whisper, hands now rubbing each other. "I just don't get why you were too eager to see him, almost giddy, even."

"Then you're wrong! Agui is a guy, and believe it or not, guys and girls can be friends," I said, almost too defensively, as I folded my hands in my chest. I then frowned at him for better measure so he would not push the topic further. "I don't get why you're making a molehill out of this. That's immature. Don't you trust me?"

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to act like this. I trust you so much," he said as he tried to hold my hand, but I pushed him away. I saw his pained expression, but I did not really feel guilty about it. "I admit I have my own reservations about this, but I don't want to lose you just because of this. Let's not fight over this anymore, okay?"

I just nodded in response, feeling smug that I felt like I had him wrapped around my finger. He looked away, and I followed his gaze through the tinted windows of Kalunduyan, the figures outside looking like hazy colors in a crazy dream.

"Are you sure about this?" Kidlat finally spoke up after being silent during the whole trip.

We finally reached Station 7, with the eerie Balete trees still sending chills through me. I found myself clutching tightly to Kidlat's arms, his bony arms feeling like they were about to fall off at any moment. His free hand clasped my hands, rubbing them, and all I could think about was the day that Agui did the same thing for me. I just knew then that I miss Agui's hand in mine, which is warm and full of reassurance, compared to Kidlat's hand, which was damp, cold, and quite unsure.

"Y-yes. I-I've already reached the end of it. It's worth it," I answered, my voice almost faltering from fear. "I swear, JUICE, Co. Hub is to die for."

"If you say so," he answered. "I just want to make sure that you're safe."

*****

JUICE, Co. Hub was still the same as when I last saw it a few months ago, which was also the time when Agui and I last saw each other. It was the same building, almost hidden from view by the foliage covering it, save from its glaring neon sign flickering about.

"There were more people than I expected," I heard Kidlat say, with hints of awe in his voice. I felt him clasp my hand almost automatically. "Let's hold hands. I don't want you to get lost."

But my focus was no longer on him, but on the person I instantly recognized among the sea of people flooding through JUICE, Co. Hub's entrance. He was there, sporting the same mischievous smile that danced around his eyes, his playful demeanor contrasting with his crisp, white attire that made him look heavenly.

I wriggled my hand free from Kidlat's clutches, and I ran towards Agui, shoving the people away, practically parting the sea that came in between Agui and me. And when Agui was within arm's reach, I instantly jumped at him, folding my arms around him. He caught me and twirled me around, and I could feel everyone's eyes around me. But I did not care; all I cared about was being held by Agui and feeling his tight embrace around my body, making me feel hot and whole. We could have stayed like that for all eternity, not until I heard Kidlat clear his throat.

"I assume that it's Agui?" he said coldly as I tidied myself after Agui brought me down.

"Yes, and you are?" Agui responded with the same coldness he received from Kidlat.

"Pia's boyfriend," Kidlat said firmly, not letting go of Agui's gaze. "I'm Kidlat Maningas."

"I didn't know she got herself a boyfriend now," Agui responded, not taking the hand that Kidlat reached out to Agui for a handshake.

"Now you know. Got any problem with that?"

Agui just shook his head as he looked at him, then at me, then he gave me a wink.

"Doesn't seem like it, but okay? Let's go?"

"What does that even mean?" Kidlat was about to lunge at Agui, but I stopped him by hugging him.

"Not here," I whispered.

*****

Seeing the interior of JUICE, Co. Hub upon entering seems to relieve the palpable tenseness of Kidlat's body. His puppy eyes grew larger as he took in everything, and I could swear the glow on his face was from the happiness of seeing the place rather than just being illuminated by the small hanging lights.

"This is ... whimsical."

I snuggled on his right arm, guilt washing over my body with the way I acted earlier. He looked shocked with my sudden show of affection, but just smiled and caressed my head gently, which made me feel worse. I just smiled back, hoping he would no longer feel bad about the difference between how I act towards him and towards Agui.

I saw Agui wave at us, coaxing us to sit with him at a table I knew too well was what we occupied when I last saw him. Kidlat tensed once more in response, pulling me closer to his direction. I could not blame him, though, with the way I acted earlier. I just went with it and sat together with him, with him ending up facing Agui and me at the other end of the table.

"You're now more lovey-dovey than earlier," Agui said with a smirk and a nod. "That's nice."

Kidlat clenched his fist, but I held his clenched hand and pressed on it. That calmed him down.

"Same order?" Manang Tala told Agui and me. Agui and I just nodded, but I suddenly remembered that Kidlat has not been here before and did not even have an order he had before.

"Kidlat... he—" I tried to say, but Manang Tala cut me off.

"He'll need passionflower tea to calm his nerves," she said simply. "You there. Come with me. Let's get you some water."

"I don't need that," Kidlat answered, still intently looking at Agui.

Agui just grinned in return, which made Kidlat clench his fist some more, my hand on his, no longer calming him down.

"You'll need it," Manang Tala pressed further. "Come with me."

Kidlat looked at me, trying to find someone who would take his side. But I just nodded and said, "It's okay. Just go."

And he did, the chair screeching as he pushed them hard.

I looked at Agui and he tapped the seat next to him, to which I obliged. All my guilt with how I was treating Kidlat seemed to go away, and all I could think of was winning over Agui.

"You don't seem ecstatic being with that guy," he said, his hand creeping towards mine. I flinched and felt hot, but I did not move away. I let him place his hand on top of mine, then started caressing the back of my hand.

"W-we shouldn't do this," I said without daring to let go. My insides are mushy with just his touch, and I hate how much my body responds to his.

"Yet you're being like this," he said in a calloused voice. "I know you like me, Pinta."

My body tensed at him, calling me Pinta. I was almost ready to throw myself at him right there and there, but my conscience would not let me, let alone thinking that we were in a public place.

"Yes, I like you, but—"

The clinking sound of shattered glass did not let me finish what I was about to say, and I felt like I was a deer in the headlights as I saw Kidlat's face as broken as the glass on the floor.

"I'll clean this up, don't worry," Manang Tala said while picking the pieces to the floor. "See? That's why I told you that you'll need water to drink and wash your face with."

I barely saw Kidlat's eyes flooding with tears as his body tensed some more and he ran away from us. I looked at Agui in disbelief before chasing after Kidlat, guilt washing over my body again. Why was I always at Agui's mercy?

"Kidlat!" I shouted at the top of my lungs when I finally saw his back, now hunched in grief, turned against me.

I ran towards him, and all I could see was defeat in his grief-stricken face.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," was all I could say. How could I give comfort to someone whose pain I myself have caused?

"No need to say sorry–I've always known it will come to this," he said in between hiccups, tears still flowing down his face uncontrollably. "I'm just sad that it happened earlier than I expected."

"I don't understand... What do you mean you knew?"

Kidlat let out a faint smile. The pain I caused him was apparent in his earnest eyes that stared right into mine.

"Ever since we've been together, you never told me you loved me back," he said as he patted the top of my head. "Not even once."