Inside the shower, Adi leaned back against Zed's chest and breathed. His hands were on her waist, he was inside her moving slowly, and kissing the back of her head. Both were panting, letting the warm water run over them.

When everything finally slowed, Zed turned Adi around to face him. He held her face with both hands and kissed her deeply. Adi felt a flutter stir in her stomach . . . something she hadn't felt in a long, long time.

They kissed slowly, lips locking without tongues . . . just . . . lips, slow, nothing more. Adi pulled away and pressed her forehead to Zed's chest as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

"Aal—"

"You can stay." Adi looked up to Zed. "Sabay na lang tayo umalis mamayang umaga. Just . . . ."

"Okay." Zed kissed her forehead.

Habang nakahiga sa kama, nakadapa si Zed at nakatingin kay Adi na nakatagilid na nakaharap sa kaniya. Nakabukas ang lampshade sa tabi ng kama, tahimik, malamig, at pareho pa rin silang inaantok.

"Thank you," Zed said slowly, shut his eyes, and smiled. "Gisingin mo 'ko kapag aalis na tayo, ha?"

"Hmm." Adi exhaled and nodded. "Good morning."

But Adi didn't expect they'd sleep more than they should have. It was already past one in the afternoon, and Zed was still sleeping beside her. Sobrang himbing, nakanganga pa nga. Pareho silang nakadapa, nakatagilid, at nakaharap sa isa't isa.

Zed looked peaceful while sleeping and Adi had no guts to wake him up. Tumayo siya at pumasok sa bathroom para mag-toothbrush, ngunit ikinagulat nang sumandal si Zed sa pinto, nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Hapon na gagi," anito na kinusot ang mata. "Dumating na ba parents mo?"

Tumaas ang dalawang balikat niya at hindi nakasagot habang nagtu-toothbrush. Tumabi naman si Zed sa kaniya, kinuha ang mouthwash na nasa sink at basta na lang iyong tinungga at nagmumog kasabay niya. Nang matapos, pareho silang nakaharap sa salamin at mukhang inaantok pa.

"Pahatid lang ako sa condo," ani Adi at humikab. "Ang dami ko dapat errands today." Natawa siya. "Wala man lang akong nagawa."

"I can come with you." Sumandal si Zed sa lababo at nagkrus ang braso. Humikab din ito at sinuklay ang buhok gamit ang daliri. "Wala akong gagawin ngayon. Saan ka?"

Umiling si Adi. "Just groceries and laundry."

"Sama 'ko."

Adi declined and asked Zed to prepare so they could leave. She wasn't sure if her parents were home, and she was ready for an explanation, but luckily, as per the helpers, her parents left early to do some errands.

Pareho silang nasa living room ni Zed nang lumapit sa kanila si Ate Minda, isa sa helper ng mga magulang niya. "Nagpaluto si Kuya Jerry ng lunch n'yo, Adeng."

"A-Alam ni Daddy na—" Tumingin siya kay Zed na yumuko.

"Oo, pumasok kasi kanina sa kuwarto mo ang mommy mo para sana gisingin kayo," sabi ni Ate Minda. "Nagpaluto sila ng menudo. Naglagay na rin ako sa container para maiuwi mo raw sa condo mo. Tara, kain na kayo. Nakahain na rin ako."

Umalis si Ate Minda at muli niyang tiningnan si Zed. "Lunch muna tayo. Baka magtanong si Daddy 'pag hindi tayo kumain."

"Kakahiya, gagi."

Mahinang natawa si Adi. "Ngayon ka pa nahiya."

—

Weeks later.

Everyone was congratulating Zed after the final grades were released. At the same time, coaches and managers talked to him privately regarding the captain position, which he gladly accepted. Kaagad rin namang sinabi iyon sa team nila, walang naging pagtutol ang kahit na sino at naging masaya pa.

Zed was thankful for everyone's support and understanding.

Inside the court, they were eating pizza. His treat. Masaya ang lahat, naglolokohan, maingay, at nagsasayawan pa. Pare-pareho silang excited para sa next season, ang huling season din na maglalaro siya para sa Eastern University.

It was a long journey. From primary school to college, he had been loyal.

Wala siyang binayarang tuition simula noong high school dahil sumabak na rin kaagad siya sa paglalaro. He was an athlete, he had allowances, scholarship grants, everything.

Kaya naman ng mga magulang niya. His father was a former professional player, too.

Naupo siya sa bench at sumandal habang pinanonood ang mga kaibigan niyang masayang nagkukuwentuhan. Bumaba naman ang tingin niya sa phone. Walang notification mula kay Adi. Nag-message siya, nag-send ng screenshot galing sa university portal para ipakitang nakapasa siya, ang signed document mula sa athletics department, at ang kasiyahan sa gym, pero walang reply.

Binuksan niya ang phone, tiningnan ang message dahil baka nakaligtaan lang niya ngunit wala. Isa pa, hindi delivered ang messages.

It was just two in the afternoon, and he was supposed to pick Adi up at six. Ilang oras pa siyang maghihintay kaya naman nag-relax na rin muna siya sa gym kasama ang mga kaibigan.

"Sabi na nasa professor minsan ang problema, e." Naupo si Led sa tabi niya at iniabot ang isang coke-in-can. "Sobrang saya namin na kasama ka pa rin namin next year. Actually, nag-aalala na kami. Nawalan kami ng gana noong sinabi sa 'min na may possibility na baka wala ka. Nakakatamad."

Mahinang natawa si Zed at umiling. "Parang tanga," pagbibiro niya. "Basta galingan n'yo naman, manonood pa rin naman ako sa inyo kung sakali man. Pero wala, e." Tumaas ang dalawang balikat niya. "Magaling naging tutor ko."

"Nakuwento ko nga kay Sachi." Malapad na ngumiti si Led. "Laman nga raw ng feed niya noong nakaraan si Miss Adi dahil nakasama na naman sa post ng university pages. Maraming nag-akala na student, e."

"Ayos lang naman 'yon, basta sana 'wag nila bastusin," aniya sa mababang boses. "Kaya hindi rin ako nagbubukas ng social media, e. Baka mapaaway ako parang noon."

Malapad na ngumiti si Led. "Oo, baka mapatawag ka na naman sa office."

Zed waited for Adi's response the whole afternoon, nothing . . . until he received a message an hour before six. Hindi raw ito magpapasundo at mayroong kailangang puntahan. It was a simple message, but he knew something was off. Wala namang iba sa message, pero iba ang naramdaman niya.

Instead of overthinking since Adi wouldn't tell him anything, he decided to go with his friends to grab some dinner. Halos kumpleto sila at naramdaman niya ang kasiyahan ng teammates niya dahil siguradong makapaglalaro siya.

He was relieved, overwhelmed, and happy, but there was something bugging him. Hindi siya mapakali. Nagkakasiyahan lahat, panay ang check niya sa phone. He knew he was waiting for a message, someone's message . . . but it was almost midnight, nothing.

Hindi siya uminom tulad ng mga kaibigan niya at maagang nagpaalam para maghanap ng restaurant na bukas pa. Nakabili siya ng wanton mami, siopao, chicken wings, at pizza. Bumili na lang din siya sa convenience store ng softdrinks, chips, at ice cream bago dumiretso sa unit ni Adi kahit na hindi siya sigurado kung gising pa ito.

Zed messaged Adi that he was outside, nervously knocked twice, and the door opened with the third knock.

"Hi," bati niya at ipinakita ang dalang paper bags. "Midnight snack?"

Niluwagan ni Adi ang pinto at tipid na ngumiti. Walang kahit na anong sinabi, basta na lang din siyang pinapasok sa loob. Nakita niyang nakabukas ang TV at nanonood ito ng Suits. Bukod pa roon, nakakalat sa lamesa ang mga libro at mga papeles.

"What brings you here?" Nagkrus ang braso ni Adi.

Ibinaba ni Zed sa lamesa ang mga bitbit niya. "Hindi ka kasi nag-reply. I texted you. I passed the finals, also got the confirmation I'm the team captain."

"Congrats." Adi smiled faintly. "Ready ka na ba sa last year mo?"

"Kain tayo?" Zed asked Adi to sit down and started opening the food containers. "Soup, pizza, etcetera."

Naupo naman si Adi sa sofa, ngunit may kalayuan sa kaniya. "Bakit ka nandito? You could've just sent me—"

"I sent you messages," pinutol kaagad niya ang sasabihn ni Adi. "Screenshots of my grades and contract—" Huminto siya. "Hayaan mo na, pero ayon nga. Thank you. Nakapasa ako dahil sa 'yo and—"

"It's all you," sagot naman ni Adi. "Congratulations."

Kinuha ni Adi ang remote at tinanong kung puwede ba itong manood ng TV habang kumakain sila. Alangan namang sabihin niyang hindi kaya nakinood na lang din siya. Ramdam niya ang katahimikan, hindi niya lang alam kung bakit. Walang conversation, isang tanong at isang sagot na para bang nangangapa siya kung magsasalita ba ulit siya.

The silence between them was deafening. Adi was eating noodle soup, but busy watching. Ni hindi ito tumitingin sa gawi niya. One congratulations, that was it.

"Vacation n'yo na rin ba bukas?" He tried so hard to think of a good conversation. "Kami wala na ring pasok simula bukas, kailangan ko lang ayusin ang magiging schedule ko para next semester."

"May one week pa," Adi responded without looking at him. "May paperworks na aayusin. We only have two weeks to prepare for the new school year."

He remained staring at Adi who didn't stop watching. She was wearing a satin pajama, her hair was loose and parted in the middle, her bare face had visible freckles, and her eyes looked . . . dull.

He wanted to ask what was wrong, but didn't know how. He couldn't find the right words, and he didn't want Adi to be uncomfortable. Him inside her unit, past midnight, was already uncomfortable enough.

Tahimk na lang din siyang kumain, nanood, at nang tumayo si Adi, sinundan niya ito ng tingin. Dumiretso sa kusina para uminom ng tubig bago pumasok sa bathroom. Pareho silang tapos na ring kumain kay isa-isa niyang iniligpit ang kalat sa coffee table nang makita ang papeles mula sa nakabukas na folder.

Both folders had a label on their sides. School year schedule and the other had a label—Hult International Business School.

He stopped collecting the trash and frowned. He had no idea where it was, but his heart pounded as if someone was trying to knock him out. Hindi niya maintindihan, pero parang ang bigat-bigat.

Saktong lumabas ng bathroom si Adi at nagtama ang tingin nila. Bumaba ang tingin nito sa lamesa kung nasaan ang folder bago ibinalik ang titig sa kaniya.

"Master's in Marketing. Natanggap ko noong isang araw," sagot ni Adi na nanatiling nakatayo.

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagligpit. Kinuha naman ni Adi ang mga folder mula sa lamesa.

Sinundan ni Zed ng tingin si Adi na inilagay ang mga papeles sa isang drawer. "T-Tanggapin mo?"

"I'm considering it." Humarap si Adi sa kaniya. "But I'm considering other things."

"Pero gusto mo?" diretsong tanong niya.

Tumango si Adi dahilan para sa malalim na paghinga ni Zed. Ayaw man niya ngunit naramdaman niyang parang may sumuntok sa dibdib niya, parang nanikip. Ngumiti siya, ipinagpatuloy ang pagligpit, at sinabi kay Adi na aalis na rin siya. Nakaupo ito sa sofa, nakataas ang dalawang paa, at nakapatong ang baba sa sarling tuhod.

"Ayaw mong mag-stay?" tanong ni Adi.

Zed was actually torn whether he should stay or not. He suddenly felt ill, like something inside him broke . . . he didn't know. There was a hollow feeling, like he was about to throw up, and he hated it. But instead of leaving, he sat down.

"Ang ganda ng offer, perfect sa 'yo." Ngumiti siya. "Mukha rin kasing stressed ka sa pagtuturo, maybe you need a better environment. Like a new life . . . ." Huminto siya at sinalubong ang tingin ni Adi. "New experiences."

There was a long silence. Both stared at each other until Adi exhaled.

"Pinag-iisipan ko pa. I'm interested, but not a priority. I have a priority here that I can't just leave behind. Besides," inihiga ni Adi ang ulo sa sariling tuhod habang nakatitig sa kaniya, "natatakot akong mag-isa. I'm not used to being alone and . . . hindi ako sanay na sobrang layo."

Zed looked down, playing with his thumb. "It's a good opportunity."

Adi chuckled. "I know." She smiled. "What if umalis ako? You wouldn't miss me?"

He pouted and shook his head.

"Hindi talaga?" Adi frowned, but smiled.

Again, he shook his head.

But he exhaled and tsked. "Saang bansa ba kasi 'yan? Need ba visa?"

Adi smiled widely, nodding. "Massachusetts. Sama ka?" she joked.

"Oo ba. Fuck basketball. Sama na lang ako sa 'yo."

—
T H E X W H Y S
www.thexwhys.com