It was a few months ago before the incident happened.

Casey innocently entered the premises of the diner where Martin works as a part-time helper. She was wearing a school uniform, she was studying culinary arts, same as what Martin was aspiring to study as well. The only difference is Martin has decided to take HRM to focus on working for hotel management as what his parents wants him to do.

Knowing that Martin works their as a part-time employee, Casey founds out that there was an opening for a part-time helper. It was not to her parent's knowledge that she'll apply for a job that day. In fact, Casey is quite a rebel herself and she wants to have independency. The black sheep of the family as what most people would call her.

"Good morning!" Casey beamed a smile to Martin as he was busy wiping the tables the previous customers has vacated recently. "Nakita ko yung post na may opening daw dito?"

Martin saw her and he smiled as well. "Ah, oo ako nag-post nun sa bulletin board sa campus. I'm glad it got your attention. May balak ka bang mag-apply o may ire-refer ka?"

Lumapit si Casey kay Martin at pinanuod niya ito sa pagliligpit ng mesa. "I'm interested. Gusto kong mag-apply."

Tumango si Martin. "Sasabihan ko yung boss ko. Maupo ka muna, hintayin mo ako rito."

Martin pointed an empty table by the corner. For him, it was the best spot to sit, lalo na at nasa tabi ito ng bintana at makikita mo ang view sa labas. He usually recommends it to newcomers pati na rin sa mga kaklase niyang nagagawi rito.

And knowing that a beautiful college student comes in to apply for a part-time job with him made his day much better. The days of working with older staff that he can't fully vibe with has been over. Tapos na ang mga araw na palagi na lang siyang nakatangla sa breakroom kapag wala na siyang gagawin.

Martin saw Casey as a prospective friend rather than a colleague. He thought he have seen her somewhere in the campus, if she founds the poster sa bulletin board kung saan siya nagpaskil nito noong nakaraang linggo, she must not be the typical college student that he usually see dining in here.

"Sure," Casey smiled as she followed his advise.

Nakangiting bumalik si Martin sa kusina. Naghugas siya ng kamay at nagtuyo nito bago siya pumasok sa office ng boss nila. As he entered the door, naabutan niyang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana ang boss nila habang may kausap sa telepono.

Landline phone calls, calls that Martin assumed to receive only professional conversations. It was one of the things he does before but not for now.

Martin's boss noticed him when he entered the door. Alam nito na oras na hindi kumatok sa pintuan si Martin, he must have something really important to tell him to even bother knocking.

Ngunit sa sitwasyon ngayon, Martin waited for his boss to finish talking to someone who's on the phone as well. He know as well it was some serious business matter that he can't bother to disturb. Respect begets respect as what they both know from each other.

"One moment," Martin heard his boss saying before covering the mouthpiece of the landline phone to give him attention. "Ano 'yon?"

Ngumiti si Martin. "May applicant po tayo, boss."

His boss' eyes widened due to surprise. Dahan-dahan siyang tumango. "I'll get back on you, pakisabi sa bago nating aplikante na pumunta rito. I'll just finish this important call."

"Duly noted, boss!" Martin beamed a smile before leaving the room.

Nang umalis si Martin sa office ng boss niya, he immediately went outside and caught Casey looking outside of the window, probably admiring the view.

Naglakad si Martin papalapit kay Casey. "Ang ganda ng view dito ano?"

Casey was a bit surprised when she heard Martin's voice. "Oo nga, hindi ko alam na kita pala rito yung campus natin."

"Mula nang mag-start ako rito mag-parttime, dito ako lagi pumupuwesto kapag malapit na akong umuwi. Ang sarap kasing tingnan ng view sa labas, masyadong nostalgic, kalmado, parang ayaw mo na ngang umalis," Martin genuinely smiled at her.

Tumawa si Casey. "Grabe naman sa ayaw mo nang umalis. Gaano ka na ba katagal nagtatrabaho rito?"

"Ilang buwan na rin, hindi ko naman binibilang. Gusto ko kasi yung ginagawa ko, lumilipas lang yung araw nang mabilis," napakamot ng ulo si Martin, he was not expecting Casey is the type of girl who would continue the conversation.

"I see, baka feeling ko ma-enjoy ko rin 'to, if matatanggap ako."

"Oh, ngapala pinapatawag ka ng boss ko, mukhang i-interview-hin ka niya sa office niya," Martin suddenly remembered what his boss asked him to do.

"Sure," Casey smiled.

Agad na sinamahan ni Martin si Casey papunta sa office ng boss nila. He even led her to the kitchen at pinakita niya kung gaano kalinis ang kusina nila. Gusto man niyang ipakilala sa mga katrabaho niya si Casey ay hindi pa niya magawa dahil hindi niya pa ito masyadong kilala.

As they reached the door to his boss' office, Martin slowly knocked. Sa kanilang dalawa lang ng boss niya namamagitan ang rule na wala nang kakatok oras na may importanteng bagay silang kailangang sabihin sa isa't isa.

As expected, his boss was already done with his call and he opens the door, greeting Casey with a huge smile on his face.

"I didn't know we have such a fine lady applying to work with us," Martin's boss classically greeted Casey.

Tumungo si Casey. "Good afternoon po," anito.

"Pasok, maupo ka rito." Martin's boss guided Casey where she would sit.

Sumunod naman si Casey sa kaniya at umupo ito sa upuan. She was admiring the way how Martin's boss displayed all of his collection of souvenirs coming from different coffee shops that he has been throughout the whole country.

When Casey is all comfortable sitting by the table in front of the desk of Martin's boss, Martin bade goodbye to both of them as he closes the door behind him.

Martin closes his eyes, praying that the odds will be with Casey. Kilala niyang pihikan pagdating sa mga aplikante ang boss niya, there are several applicants that got turned down by his boss for some certain reason he wouldn't disclose to him. Sinasabi lang nito sa kaniya na hindi sila tatagal sa trabaho at wala sa kanila yung quality na hinahanap niya.

Nobody knows what that quality his boss was looking for. Kahit si Martin ay hindi malaman kung anong quality ang mayroon siya na nagustuhan ng boss niya para tumagal siya rito.

In the end, Martin decided to finish his work while his boss conducts the interview with their newest applicant.

Inabot din halos ng kalahating oras ang interview ng boss ni Martin at ni Casey. It turns out na natanggap si Casey and Martin's boss explained to her a lot of things she's gonna expect to do in her job. He has given her requirements to collect and submit and her schedule already.

Natuwa si Martin nang makita niyang lumabas nang nakangiti si Casey habang may hawak na brown envelope. "Natanggap ako!" She smiled at him.

Kulang na lang at yakapin siya nito sa tuwa. The hug happened in Martin's head though, he kinda likes her in that short period of time.

"Congrats!" Martin told her.

"Ikaw raw pinakamahusay na employee niya rito?"

Napailing si Martin. "Hindi naman."

"Ang galing mo naman pala mag-trabaho. Ikaw raw yung isa sa mga pinagkakatiwalaan ng boss ninyo rito," ani Casey.

Kaunting-kaunti na lang at mamumula na gaya ng hinog na kamatis ang mga pisngi ni Martin. Sige pa, shower me more compliments and I'll explode, as he even thought.

Walang nagawa si Martin kung hindi mapakamot na lamang ng ulo. He wasn't even sure how to handle this situation, paano ba naman, kung hindi siya kakausapin, hindi siya usually magsisimula ng conversation. To the extent na dito lang siya nag-start maging conversationalist.

"Actually, I'm not really that good. But it takes time, and practice," ang sabi pa ni Martin. Quite humble.

"Humbleness yarn," natawa si Casey. "Char!"

For some reason, Martin felt the butterflies in his stomach trying to claw their way outside of his body. He wants to burst like a balloon as he couldn't handle the string of emotion raging inside of him.

Namula na nang tuluyan ang kaniyang mga pisngi. He was perplexed of what emotions should he show to the lady in front of him. Kulang na lang at matunaw siya sa kaniyang kinatatayuan.

"By the way, your boss told me that my training schedule should start next week. May mga requirements kasi siyang kailangang ipapasa sa akin," Casey showed him the brown envelope. "To be honest, hindi ko alam kung saan ako magsisimula rito. Mind if I ask for your help?"

"O-oo, sige. Tutulungan kita," ani Martin.

"Salamat..." Casey trailed off. "I forgot you didn't even tell me your name."

"Akala ko nabanggit na ni boss sa 'yo?" Martin asked her.

"Hindi eh, nabanggit ka niya sa akin bago niya ako i-interview. Pero hindi niya nabanggit ang pangalan mo," ani Casey.

Tumango si Martin. "I see, well, ang pangalan ko ay Martin."

"Martin," Casey slowly nodded her head. "Your name sounds cool. Nice meeting you, Martin."

"Nice meeting you as well, Casey."

With that, Casey prompted Martin for a handshake.

Martin hesitantly accepted it, thinking if his hands are sweaty, but in the end everything went perfectly fine between them. Nagkapalagayan naman sila nang loob. Unbeknownst to them, meeting between the lines of their background stories has strangely make their paths entwined with great dangers.

When their hands let go, their fate has been sealed already...