I'd admit. What Justin said lingered on my mind.

Nate-tempt akong tingnan ang social media accounts niya just to get some updates on him pero nagdadalawang-isip ako. I shouldn't care this much. The moment I indulge myself was the moment I'd lose everything I worked so hard for. Natatakot akong baka masayang ang lahat at bumalik ako sa umpisa. I shouldn't look back.

Kaya buong lakas kong pinigilan ang sarili ko sa paggawa noon. I busied myself with work in the next few days. Puro sourcing at phone interviews ang ginagawa ko. Paminsan-minsan naman, ako na rin ang first interview ng applicants.

Now it was Friday. Alam kong magiging traffic ng sobra pauwi kaya tinamad na akong magdala ng sasakyan. I could wait for my brothers or just grab myself some cab kung 'di kakayanin makakuha ng ride.

"Uwi na kami, J," paalam ni Rich.

I cleaned up my work station and went out with them. "Sabay ako pababa. Need to buy food."

Nagtaas ng kilay si Sol. "Oh, 'di ka pa uuwi? Traffic, girl. Aabutin ka ng siyam-siyam sa daan n'yan."

"Mamaya pa kasi tapos ng meeting ni Kuya. Kakain nalang muna ako to kill time," sabi ko habang pumapasok kami sa elevator.

Sol clicked the G button and the elevator began its descent. "Oh. Okay ka lang sa office mag-isa?"

Tumango ako. "Yup, don't worry."

Paglabas namin ng elevator, I spotted a familiar lamborghini waiting outside the building just across the street. Murcielago 'yon kaya iniisip kong baka kay Angelo? But I couldn't see him anywhere near the car. Must not be his, then?

Naglakad na ako kasama ng mga kaibigan ko nang may naramdaman akong humatak sa wrist ko kaya napahinto ako sa paglalakad.

"Hey, don't ignore me, Jamie V."

Agad kaming napahinto. Paglingon ko, ang nakangising mukha niya kagad ang bumati sa 'kin. He looked casual enough. Nakasuot siya ng blue shirt, black pants at white sneakers pero kitang-kita ang pagka-grey ng mga mata niya dahil naiilawan 'yon ng street lamps dito.

Bumaling ako sa mga colleagues ko na curious na curious kaming tinitingnan. Nagpipigil sila ng ngiti at alam ko na ang iniisip nila. They were thinking if he was my boyfriend.

"Sige, J. Una na kami, ah. Susunduin ka naman pala ng BF mo," paalam ni Mina, 'yong katabi ko sa work station at pinakaka-close ko.

Beside me, Angelo beamed as if she announced the best news in the world. His entire face brightened up, dahilan para mapangisi na din ang mga ka-work ko.

"Uy, hindi," I corrected right away sabay siko kay Angelo. "He's not my boyfriend."

Angelo removed his grip on my wrist and immediately snaked an arm around my shoulders, purposively adding weight to it kaya napa-bend over tuloy ako sa bigat niya. Obvious na nang-aasar ang loko. Mas lalo ko siyang siniko.

"What? I am your BF, 'di ba? You said so yourself. We're best friends, 'di ba?" I could hear the laughter ringing in his tone.

"Oo nga. Wala naman kaming sinasabing boyfriend, ah?" Tumawa si Sol, lalong lumalawak ang ngiti. "Uy, defensive. May tinatago."

"'Wag mo asarin, baka matuluyan," dagdag pa ni Rich. "O pa'no? Mauna na kami, ha. Bye, Jamie V." Kumindat siya bago tumalikod at hinatak ang ibang girls.

Napangiwi ako doon. Umalis na sila bago ko pa napakilala ang kumag na 'to. I bet they were putting it off for tomorrow. I bet they were going to roast my ass tomorrow morning.

Nang mawala na sila sa paningin ko, nilingon ko si Angelo at palabirong pinagsusuntok ang tagiliran niya.

"Baliw ka talaga!" sabi ko habang inaatake ang siya.

He stopped my assault by grabbing my hands, his warm palms on mine.

"Stop," Angelo said with a laugh. "Alright, I'm sorry. I was just teasing."

Ngumuso ako. "Ba't ka ba naligaw dito? Shouldn't you be reviewing?"

"I'm hungry kasi. No one's at home and I didn't wanna eat alone. Cari's not yet done with work, too. So I thought of you."

"Last resort, huh?" I teased.

"First priority, more like." He winked at me before pulling me in the direction of his car.

He brought me to the Venice Mall. After looking around, pinili namin ang Rialto's at doon na umorder ng dinner namin.

While waiting for the food to arrive, Angelo stared at me with undivided attention. Napatitig na rin ako sa kanya. Obvious na natigil na ang travels niya. He used to have that pink flush on his cheeks before dulot ng kakababad sa araw. Wala na 'yon ngayon. He probably stopped swimming na rin siguro since graduate na rin siya.

Napaangat ang tingin ko sa buhok niya. It had gotten longer. Naninibago akong makita na nakabagsak 'yon dahil ngayon ko lang yata siyang nakita na hindi naka-gel. It looked nice, though. Mukhang laidback kaya bagay sa kanya. But I wondered kung sineryoso ba talaga niyang hahabulin niya ang buhok ni Kuya Andrei?

Sana hindi dahil pinagupit na ni Kuya 'yon after matapos ng punishment period niya.

"So, how's the adult life? Naks, kilig ako. I'm dating a working woman na," simula niya.

I raised a brow, teasing him, "This is a date? I wasn't informed yata."

He raised his brows in retaliation. "Why won't it be? Talo ka pa ba with me?"

Dumila ako na mas lalong nagpatawa sa kanya. "Happy naman. Medyo nakakapagod lang ang hiring targets pero kinakaya pa naman."

He cocked his head to the side. "They're not giving you a hard time, are they?"

"Nope. Mababait kaya sila."

"No playing favorites din? Since you're the vice president's sister?"

"Wala. Walang gano'n. Ang objective nga ng manager at supervisor ko. I like them. Happy naman ako." Then I squinted at him. "And you? How's your review? Are you even reviewing? Baka puro laro ka lang."

He snorted. "As if I can. Cari's been hounding me nonstop kaya I haven't got the time to think of anything else. Puro studies lang. Today is my first time to go out of the house for leisure in two weeks, Jamie V. I thought I was going to rot away inside that house. I hate studying." He wrinkled his nose.

I warmed at the sight of it. He looked like an adorable kid whining over something silly.

"Yet you survived two weeks. You can survive more months, dude."

"S'yempre. I need to work hard for my future. Paano na our future kids, 'di ba?" He threw a light wink at me, which I answered by giving him a funny face.

Ewan ko rito kay Angelo. Although he insisted we're best friends, mas lumala lalo ang flirting tendencies niya. Once a charmer, always a charmer talaga.

I clicked my tongue. Sakto, dumating na rin ang orders namin kaya nagsimula na kaming kumain.

"So now ka na lang talaga lumabas ulit?" I said between bites of my pasta.

He nodded. "Yeah, and it's with you. Sweet ko, 'no?"

Napailing na lang ako doon at ngumisi. Give up na ako rito.

"Nah—actually—I really wanted to see you din. Feeling ko I'm gonna die na if I don't see you anytime soon. I don't wanna sound creepy sana but nasanay na ko sa 'yo. Tas you're super busy pa sa work." Ngumuso siya. "You don't text me at all. I was afraid you'll forget me and get a new superman there."

"Ano ka ba? I'm not texting kasi I know busy ka sa studies."

"I know. That's why I went out today. 'Di ko na matiis. I was having withdrawals. Grabe naman your effect on me?" He wore that disarming grin that could affect any girl on earth again.

"Clingy naman this boy," I said with a teasing laugh.

He ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, damn. I've become Jacob the second. I have best friend complex na rin."

Napaisip tuloy ako. Lumingon ako sa kinakain ko. "Ganyan ka rin ba kay Cari?"

Angelo stopped, like my question startled him. Kumunot ang noo niya habang nag-iisip ng sagot.

"Actually? Yes and no?" he said tentatively. "I can't explain properly, e. I spend a lot of time with bes din. But it's not like this." Tinuro niya kaming dalawa. "Our connection is different? I don't know how to explain it pero parang Cari and I have this independent thing—we don't need to see each other often and it's fine. But with you, parang I get homesick. I just miss you kagad."

As his words sank in, I realized how bloody similar that was with what I was feeling din.

"Yeah, I think I can understand. Parang ganyan din ako kay Lhyle." I grinned at him. "And ayoko sana sabihin sa 'yo 'to, but clingy na nga din ako with you. I'm at my happiest when I'm with you, you know. Happy pill."

"Superman," sabi niya sabay turo ulit sa sarili. "Where's the best place in the world? Yeah, with Geon."

"That's right. With Geon." I grinned.

Bigla siyang tumitig sa 'kin. "It's Angelo for you, dummy. Don't call me that."

I furrowed my brows. "Why not?"

"Basta."

Thinking it's one of his strange quirks lang, I let it slide. I asked about his future plans instead. Nabanggit kasi ni Angelo dati na gusto niyang mag-aral ng architecture kaya tinanong ko kung mag-aaral ba muna siya o magwo-work na.

"Hm. Good question. I should work first," malumanay na sagot niya. "Studies can come later. I have all the time in the world."

"Any prospects?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I could apply in your company. DV Estates seems like a good company for engineers. Do'n din babagsak sina Jacob at Mathev, 'di ba?" When I nodded, he said, "Nice. If I get hired, then I'll be working with your boys, then."

"Ang clingy niyo, 'no?"

"In my defense, that's like the only company my mom will let me work for. She's trying to get me to join her friend's company, but nah. I hate using connections. I wanna get in using my own skills. Yeah, I may not have much and I can be a little immature sometimes but I'm man enough to not make asa with my mom, you know?"

"What about your own family biz?"

Dumilim ang mukha niya sa sinabi ko at bumagsak ang tingin niya sa pasta na kasalukuyan niyang inuubos. "There's no way I'll work there. Kaya na ni Kuya Aurel at Ate Nally 'yon."

I wanted to ask sana kung bakit. Sa tuwing pamilya niya o company nila ang pinag-uusapan kasi, nawawala sa mood 'tong si Angelo. I never got to ask about it. Alam kong 'di siya masaya sa infidelity issues ng mga tito niya, pero pakiramdam ko kasi may mas malalim pang dahilan kung bakit parang iwas na iwas siyang makasama ang pamilya sa trabaho.

When we were done eating, I offered to pay for half of the bill but Angelo already beat me to it.

"It's a date, remember?" sabi niya lang bago kami dumiretso sa sasakyan niya. Saglit niyang nilingon ang cell phone niya. "Your brother's asking if we wanna join them."

"Kuya Andrei?"

"Jacob. They're in Tagaytay. You wanna?"

"'Di pa naman ako pagod kaya sige, tara. Sunod tayo."

He grinned at me. "I like how you're always game, Jamie V."

Dumaan muna kami sa Forbes para palitan ang dala niyang sasakyan bago kami sumunod sa Tagaytay at huminto sa cafe kung saan tumatambay si Kuya Jacob kasama si Mathev.

They were just there to chill out dahil katulad ni Angelo ay na-s-stress na rin sa pagre-review ang boys.

Habang nagku-kwentuhan sila, binasa ko ang mga messages sa group chat namin. I didn't have the time to check them earlier dahil bawal gumamit ng personal phones during work lalo na't super strict sa confidentiality ang company.

There was a message from Anjo sa group chat namin.

Anjo:
Look who I saw kanina sa campus.

Maxxie:
Share.

Ahron:
Who?

Anjo sent a photo. Malayong shot 'yon but it was clear enough to see what Anjo was trying to show us. Agad akong nanlamig.

Anjo:
The beech is fucking pregnant. Spell H I G A D!

I stared at the photo, stunned. Kuha 'yon habang naglalakad si Hiromi sa campus ng Intersci. Nakasuot siya ng loose dress pero kitang-kita na ang baby bump. It wasn't that big yet, probably nasa fourth or fifth pa lang siya.

Kahit malamig dito sa Tagaytay, pinagpawisan ako at nanginig ang mga kamay ko. Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig.

I took a shaky breath.

Was the baby his?

Sila ba? Sila pa ba?

Nagkabalikan ba sila?

Imposible naman na resulta 'yon no'ng dati pa. Did that mean they continued their relationship?

I cursed myself when I caught my line of questions. Why did I care? 'Di ba ito naman ang gusto ko? I broke up with him kaya wala na akong karapatang magtanong o masaktan. 'Di ba binigay ko na siya kay Hiromi?

I clenched my hands when the pain lanced through me. I thought I was experiencing that same betrayal all over again.

But why? Hindi na dapat ako nagkakaganito. Wala na dapat akong pakialam. They could be together for all I care. That's right. I shouldn't care at all.

Huminga ako nang malalim at dinelete ang photo na 'yon sa group chat. Sinabihan ko ang girls na tigilan na si Hiromi dahil may sarili na siyang buhay.

I didn't want any remembrance of the past anymore.

"Jamie V? You okay?"

Kinilabutan ako sa bulong ni Angelo sa tainga ko. His hand on my shoulders brought me back to reality.

I turned to him, my eyes looking straight into his concerned gaze.

"What's wrong?" Mas lalo pang kumunot ang noo niya at nakita ko ang pag-usbong ng takot at alarma sa mukha niya.

Hindi ko kinaya yung lalim ng pag-aalala sa tingin niya. Bago pa kami mahalata nina Kuya Jacob at Mathev, tumayo na ako. I could feel the tears brewing in my eyes. Humiwalay ako sa table bago pa lumabas ang iyak na pinipigilan ko.

I walked out of the coffee shop with the excuse that I was going to the rest room.

Naramdaman ko ang mabibilis na mga yabag ni Angelo sa likod ko. Bago pa ako makapasok sa rest room, hinatak na niya ako pabalik at niyakap.

His arms were resting around my waist, pinning me effectively to his chest. Bumilis ang paghinga ko nang dahan-dahang tumulo ang mga luha ko.

Dammit. I said I wouldn't cry anymore. Bakit ang sakit? Bakit ang sakit pa rin? Fuck.

"Hey," he said soothingly. "Hey. What's wrong?"

Halos bumigay ako sa lambot ng pagkakasabi niya no'n. He didn't speak anymore. With his thumb, he wiped away my tears and pulled me closer to him, locking me in his protective embrace. Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko sa ginawa niyang 'yon. Buti nalang nandito si Angelo. Buti nalang kasama ko siya. What would I do without him?

All of my defenses crashed down then. I wrapped my arms around him and broke out in tears. Kung kay Angelo naman, okay lang naman, 'di ba? He would never look at me with judgment kahit ilang beses na 'ko umiyak for the same reason over and over.

Humikbi ako. Nararamdaman ko ang hagod ng mga kamay niya sa likod ng ulo ko. Angelo wasn't saying anything. He was just letting me vent it all out.

Which I did, kahit ayoko na. Kahit sawa na ako. Kahit pagod na pagod na akong umiyak para sa kanila.

Kasi bakit gano'n? I thought I was over them pero bakit masakit pa rin? Bakit parang nakakulong pa rin ako sa betrayal na ginawa nila sa 'kin?

"Masakit pa rin pala na maalala sila," bulong ko kay Angelo habang humihigpit ang kapit ko sa damit niya.

"I know, love. But it will pass," he whispered to me. "I swear it will pass. All things take time but it will."

And I believed him. In this world, kaunting tao na lang ang pinagkakatiwalaan ko at isa siya doon.