Nagising ako sa malakas na pag iyak ng aking telepono. I groaned out of frustration kasi wala naman akong pasok ngayon kaya sino ang umiistorbo sa tulog ko?

I looked at the caller ID and it was fucking Kaito! I swear this dude knows how to get on my freaking nerves. It's annoying.

Wala akong choice kung hindi bumangon at sagutin ang kaniyang tawag. Mamaya talaga pag uwi niya sasakalin ko 'to! Istorbo sa tulog amputa. Nagpuyat pa naman ako kagabi para manood ng isang series.

"What do you need? Ang aga aga mong sirain araw ko."

[Wow, good morning to you too. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?] Tanong niya pa at napakagat na lang ako sa aking labi dahil sa inis. Tangina, tumawag tawag tapos hindi agad sasabihin kung ano kailangan.

"Of course I fucking did! Sinong hindi maiinis kapag ginising ka ng maaga sa halip na matulog pa ng mahaba! A tata wa totemo urusai. " Sigaw ko sa kaniya and I heard him chuckle. Kuhang kuha niya talaga ang inis ko!

[Sa sobrang inis mo sa akin, ginamit mo lahat ng lengguwahe na alam mo!] Pangaasar niya pa at hindi ko naman na siya sinagot dahil baka mamura ko pa 'to ng wala sa oras. [Anyways, can I ask you for a favor?]

"You calling me early in the fucking morning is already a favor, dipshit."

He sighed, [I'm sorry, okay? I just don't have someone to get my textbook and wallet from our apartment.]

Alam ko naman na sabog ako pero alam ko rin na tama ang pagkakarinig ko. He said our apartment! What the hell.

[Can you bring it to me here at my university? And also withdraw money from my ATM. Wala kasing ATM machine rito sa university para maiwasan ang nakawan ng pera.] He said and I stood up before walking like a zombie to get my towel. [Ano? Maibibigay mo ba sa akin?]

"What's in it for me?" I asked kahit nasa loob na ako ng CR, ready nang maligo. Dapat bilhan ako nito ng bagong cellphone e!

[Ililibre kita ng lunch mo, at may malaking utang na loob ako sa iyo kapag ihahatid mo sa akin ang gamit ko.]

Umirap naman ako bago huminga ng malalim, "Sino kasing tanga na nakalimutan ang wallet at textbook?" I groaned. "Ano pin number ng ATM mo?"

[Birthday ko.]

Tumaas naman kilay ko, "Mukha bang alam ko kung kailan birthday mo? I don't even know you and we live under the same roof!"

[Tsaka mo na ako sigawan kapag nabigay mo na sa akin ang kailangan ko. We can get to know each other when we both have free time, Rienne. Sana sinabi mo na gusto mo muna ako makilala 'di ba? Hindi 'yong susungitan mo 'ko tuwing susubukan kitang kausapin.] Seryosong usal niya.

Ang kapal naman ng mukha niya! Wala naman akong sinabi na gusto ko siyang makilala a? Mas okay nga na ganito kami. We're strangers that hates each other. Hindi ko siya planong maging kaibigan.

"Oo na, tangina!" Sigaw ko.

[Zero-One-One-Seven. Iyan ang pin number. I trust you on this so don't take away any money. I'll message you the exact amount that you have to widraw. See you later.]

Naligo kaagad ako at ang suot ko ngayon ay isang color blue floral puff sleeve cropped top with a high waisted denim shorts. I also wore white sneakers and got my butterfly patterned shoulder bag. Nilagay ko roon ang wallet ko, susi ko, cellphone ko pati power bank.

Tinanggal ko lahat ng mga nakasaksak sa saksakan at pinatay lahat ng ilaw bago ilock ang pinto. Naiinis talaga ako! Dapat nakahiga lang ako ngayon e.

Pumunta muna ako sa ATM area namin sa lobby at nag withdraw ng pera niya. Binilang ko pa iyon bago ilagay sa bag ko, baka kasi sabihin na ninakaw ko pera niya e hindi naman ako pinalaki ng magulang ko para gawin iyon.

His university is almost 40 minutes away from here and I was so hungry while I was in the uber. Wala pa akong almusal e! Medyo inaantok din ako dahil napipikit pikit na ako pero naisipan kong imessage si Kaito para sabihin na siya magbayad ng uber ko.

Fleu_: Mahal

Pinikit ko ang mata ko agad at hinintay na lang ang reply niya. I was waiting for a vibration pero mukhang wala. Nasa klase kaya siya ngayon?

I waited for a few more minutes until he replied.

R.Kai: ?

Agad naman ako nagtaka dahil iyan ang nireply niya. Binasa ko ulit ang message ko at nanlaki ang mata ko nang mapagtantong kulang ang sinend ko sa kaniya! What the fuck, Anathasia Fleurienne?! Gano'n ka ba kalutang ngayon. Kung ano ano na naman ang iisipin ni Kaito!

Aasarin niya na naman ako mamaya niyan. Putangina naman.

Nagmessage pa siya ulit at agad ko ito tiningnan.

R.Kai: Mahal?

Sumimangot ako dahil hindi ko alam kung pinagtritripan ako ni Kaito o sadyang clueless siya kung bakit ako nag message ng mahal.

Fleu_: Ang mahal ng uber.

R.Kai: I'll pay. Where are you na ba?

Fleu_: Still twenty minutes away. Which entrance am I going to enter?

R.Kai: Main gate. Diretso ka lang, kapag tinanong ka ng guard sabihin mo girlfriend ka ni Kaito Ren.

Muntik na ako masuka! Ano ba 'tong gusto nito. Sinira niya na nga araw ko tapos hihiritan niya pa ng ganito?

Fleu_: Nakakatangina ka talaga minsan.

Pinatay ko na ang phone ko at pinikit ang mata ko at pagkamulat ko'y nandoon na ako sa harap ng main entrance. Binayaran ko 'yong uber gamit pera ni Kaito bago bumaba ng kotse.

The guard greeted me and he asked for my ID and I said I don't study here. Kinausap ako ng matagal nitong guard na ito and it was already getting so annoying so I used the card that Kaito said.

"Please let me in already. My boyfriend, Kaito Ren, has been waiting for me inside." I said at mukhang nagulat si kuya guard at tiningnan ako paa hanggang ulo bago ako patuluyin.

Nahiya na rin ako dahil alam kong may nakarinig na sinabi ko iyon. At 'pag kumalat iyon, I'll be known as Kaito's girlfriend.

I texted Kaito that I was already on their campus and he told me to meet him at the main building. Mayroon namang directions dito kaya madali na lang makapunta roon sa main building.

While I was walking, I observed the people on campus. They have their own circle of friends or groups while studying on the grass, benches, tables. It reminded me of my friend days back then.

Napansin kong pinagtitinginan ako ng tao rito dahil siguro na bago ako sa paningin nila. Wala naman akong paki. I don't give a fuck about other people's opinion.

Nakita ko na si Kaito na naglalakad palapit sa akin. He was wearing their formal uniform. Ayaw ko sanang aminin pero... ang pogi niya. Black and maroon ang kulay ng blazer niya pati necktie. His hair was pushed back and it was—sexy gorgeous.

"Are you done staring, Rienne?"

Umiling ako agad bago umiwas ng tingin. Binigay ko sa kaniya ang libro niya pati ang pera niya at wallet.

"You owe me big time," I glared at him and he smiled.

"Ano ba gusto mo? Mahal?" He said at nalaki ang mata ko bago ihampas sa kaniya ang shoulder bag ko.

"'Wag mo 'ko ganiyan ganiyanin, Kaito Ren! Ginising mo ako ng maaga kaya ako sabog habang kausap kita!" Pagdidipensa ko sa aking sarili at tumawa naman siya bago ako akbayan.

"Gusto mo ba ng mahal? Ano ba gusto mo?" He asked at tinanggal ko ang kaniyang akbay sa aking balikat dahil pagiisipan kami ng maraming tao.

"Bahala ka riyan! Mamaya na natin pagusapan. Uuwi na ako ulit—"

"Fleurienne!" Narinig kong may tumawag sa akin kaya agad ako lumingon sa direksyon kung saan nanggaling ang boses. I saw Hiroshi walking with a guy and the girl that Kaito dumped. Si Airi. She also looks stunning sa uniform niya. Sayang hindi siya gusto ni Kaito.

I waved at Hiroshi at kitang kita ko ang pilyong ngiti ngiti niya. "This is Sachi, and I know you already know Airi."

"Hello, Sachi. Nice to meet you." I said and gave him a slight smile. Nilingon ko naman si Airi at tinanguan siya.

"Well then, I better get going. I'll see you later, Kai—" Hindi ko natapos ang aking sasabihin dahil bigla akong hinawakan ni Hiroshi. This dude really thinks we're close, huh?

"No, don't go yet! You should come and join us to eat lunch. We're going to have sushi and ramen," pag aya sa akin ni Hiroshi kaya alanganing tumingin ako kay Kaito hoping to get some help kaso it seems like he also wants me to join them.

"Come on, sagot ko na ang pagkain mo. Sasama ka lang oh." Kaito convinced me and I thought about it. Hindi pa pumapasok ang allowance ko kaya wala nga akong pera pang kain kaya wala akong choice kung hindi sumama sa kanila.

Tumango ako at ngumiti, "Okay... Watashi wa anata-tachi to issho ni ikimasu, tonikaku himadesu."

Nagulat silang lahat maliban kay Kaito dahil marunong akong magsalita ng wika rito.

"You know how to speak nihongo?" Tanong noong Sachi. I nodded at him before starting to walk beside Kaito. Siya lang naman 'yong taong kumportable kong kasama maglakad dahil kasama ko siya sa isang apartment.

When we arrived at the restaurant, napansin kong tatabihan sana ako ni Sachi pero inunahan na agad ni Kaito. Hindi ko akalain sasabihin ko 'to pero buti na lang at katabi ko siya. Because I know for a fact that the Sachi guy, he definitely wants me.

While eating lunch, tahimik lang akong nakikinig sa kanila. They were talking about school at siyempre hindi ako maka-relate dahil hindi nga ako nakatapos ng kolehiyo ko.

"Rienne, what program did you finish?"

"I... uhm..." Tumingin muna ako kay Kaito and it looked like he was also looking at me confused but in his eyes, I saw a glimpse of curiosity. Ano kaya magiging reaction niya kapag sinabi kong hindi ako nakapagtapos pero ako ang nagtatrabaho para sa kaniyang nanay?

"I didn't finish college," Mabilis kong sabi bago umiwas ng tingin. There was a moment of silence before Hiroshi spoke.

"Naze daigaku o sotsugyō shinakatta nodesu ka? Financial problems?"

Hindi ko alam kung sasagutin ko iyon. Everyone was looking at me and I was pressured. I don't know what to do. I don't trust them enough to know my personal issues. Siguro kung si Kaito okay pa but those three strangers I'm eating with right now... wala akong tiwala.

"Okay, let's not talk about it." Basag ni Kaito sa katahimikan. "Rienne, you don't have to answer the question, hmm?" He said softly to me and I nodded.

Nanahimik na kami while eating and the tension was too much for me so I had to excuse myself to go to the bathroom.

Pagkatapos ko umihi, nagulat ako dahil nasa labas si Airi at inaabangan ako. "You scared the shit out of me." I said and she just looked at me like she wanted to say something. "Do you need anything, Airi?"

"Do you like Kaito-san?" She asked and I was puzzled for a second before remembering that this girl likes my annoying housemate.

"I don't. He's all yours," I said before I tried to walk past her but she held my wrist.

"He can't be mine if he wants you."

Natulala ako saglit sa kaniya pero narealize ko na impossibleng magustuhan niya ako kasi ayaw niya sa akin. Kasama ko siya lagi e, alam ko kapag gusto ako ng isang tao. The way he treats me... the midnight snacks? Ginawa niya lang 'yon kasi may extra siyang pagkain at sa akin niya pinapaubos.

Kaya hindi ako naniwala kay Airi pero sinagot ko pa rin siya, "I don't care if he wants me. I don't want him."

"You should."

Doon na ako napikon, why should I? Hindi ko naman kasalanan kung hindi siya gusto ng taong gusto niya e.

"I don't so let go of me." I said before walking back to the table. I could see that there's still tension between the three of them pero mukhang hindi na siya tungkol sa akin. Ano ang nangyari?

Nilingon ako ni Kaito and he was looking at me with dark eyes. May ginawa ba akong mali?

"Rienne, I think it's time to leave. Let's go," Kaito said before getting my purse and his things. I was looking at him with a cofused face but still nodded.

"Do you still have class? Are you going to take me home?" I whispered to Kaito and he nodded.

"I can take her home," Sachi said and Kaito placed his hand on my waist and pulled me close. I winced because his hand was cold, but I wasn't uncomfy. Kasi mas pipiliin kong siya gumawa niyan kaysa si Sachi. He looked like someone who's going to take advantage of me!

"No. I'll be the one to take her home."

Naglakad na kami palabas ni Kaito ng restaurant and when we were about to get inside his car, sinigaw ni Sachi ang pangalan ko.

"Can we talk? It will be quick."

Tumingin ako kay Kaito and he shrugged before going inside his car.

"I'm just here to ask you about Kaito."

"What? Are you going to tell me that he likes me too? I already got the memo, Airi told me," I said before rolling my eyes.

"No. I'm here to ask what if Kaito likes you? He doesn't like you yet but what if he finds himself thinking if he likes you."

I thought of it.

It still seems impossible but...

"If he hears his thoughts in silence... and really does like me. It's a one in a million chance even so.. we'll see how far we could go."