It was just 5:15, and Zed was already near Adi's campus and stayed in a nearby café, watching his games from last season. He was one of the mythical five last year and won a different competition, too.

Binasa niya kanina ang mga ibinigay ni Adi sa kaniya. Maayos ang pagkakagawa, naka-bulletpoints, walang mahabang explanation, at direct to the point. Binabasa pa lang niya, naiintindihan na niya, malayo sa kung paano i-explain ng professor na nagbantang ibabagsak na siya.

Nag-angat ng tingin si Zed nang mapansin ang tatlong babae sa harapan niyang lamesa. Nakatingin sa kaniya ang mga ito, mukhang nagkukuwentuhan, at ngumiti nang makitang nakatingin siya. Isang tango at isang ngiti ang ibinigay niya ngunit hindi inaasahang lalapit ang isa sa mga ito para magpakuha ng picture.

Zed agreed and one by one, the women took pictures with him. Wala namang kaso. Sanay na rin naman siya. He then thanked the ladies and went back to his seat.

Hindi siya nag-message kay Adi na nasa malapit lang siya para hindi ito magmadali. Kung tutuusin naman kasi, siya ang may malaking pabor.

Habang komportableng nakasandal sa upuan, nilingon niya ang menu ng café at naisipang bilhan ito ng white chocolate frappe, lasagna, at isang slice ng hazelnut crepe.

Bumalik siya sa panonood ng dati niyang mga laro. Medyo apektado rin kasi ng sitwasyon niya ang practice niya nitong mga nakaraan.

Time went by and it was six. Nagmaneho siya papunta sa harapan ng university ni Adi, saka lang siya nag-message na nasa labas na siya at naghihintay. Ten minutes later, he saw Adi walking with someone. Maybe the guy was a professor, too. Someone older.

He observed and saw Adi smiling from ear to ear.

"Ganda," bulong niya sa sarili habang nakatitig kay Adi.

Malapad siyang ngumiti nang buksan nito ang pinto. Nakangiti, binati siya, at itinanong kung kanina pa ba siya. Isinuot nito ang seatbelt, ibinaba ang sunvisor, at nagsalamin.

Nagsimula siyang magmaneho. "Saan pala tayo?" tanong niya. "Gusto mo ba sa isang cafe or—"

"Sa unit ko," sagot ni Adi na nakatingin sa kaniya. "Gusto ko na magtanggal ng sapatos, makeup, at magpalit ng damit. Okay lang?"

"Sure ka?" Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Zed. "Sure kang okay sa 'yong doon ako?"

Tumango si Adi. "It's not like you'll steal or something." Humikab ito. "Mag-order na lang tayo ng pagkain, but I got us something."

Patagilid niyang tiningnan si Adi na may kinuha sa paper bag. It was from the same café where he stayed and showed him two slices of hazelnut crepe.

Zed chuckled lowly, confusing Adi.

"Bakit?" Adi frowned.

"May paper bag sa backseat, sa baba." Zed smiled widely. "Kunin mo."

Kaagad namang inabot ni Adi ang paper bag at nanlaki ang mga mata nang makita ang logo ng cafe. "Galing ka r'on?"

Tumango siya. "Got you a frappe, lasagna, and hazelnut crepe." Mahina siyang natawa. "Masarap ba? Tatlo na 'yang crepe natin."

"Favorite ko," ani Adi na ngumiti. "Pinabili ko lang sa co-professor ko kanina kasi gusto ko sanang kumain, kaso busy ako. Hindi pa ako kumakain."

Zed noticed how Adi spoke in a low voice, tucked her hair, and avoided eye contact. He didn't push anything, just to not make things awkward, and kept driving. Sinabihan na lang niya si Adi na kung nagugutom na ito, puwede namang kainin ang isang slice ng crepe o lasagna, ngunit tumanggi ito at ininom na lang ang frappe.

Sinabi niya rin kay Adi na nabasa na niya ang notes at marami siyang naintindihan, mayroon lang siyang ilang tanong. Adi listened and told him to not rush and slowly grasp the lesson, para daw hindi siya mabigla. Sinabi rin nito na marami silang time at unti-unting hihimayin ang bawat lesson para mas maintindihan niya.

Pagpasok sa unit ni Adi, kaagad nitong tinanggal ang sapatos at nagpaalam na mag-half bath muna bago sila magsimula. Naupo na muna siya sa sofa, ibinaba ang iPad na dala niya sa lamesa, at binasa ang messages ng coach niya.

Zed wanted to assure everyone he would be playing next year. He would. That was for sure. Ilang teammates na rin niya ang nag-message na hindi siya puwedeng mawala next season. Kinausap na rin siya ng manager nila kung kailangan niya ng tulong, sabihin lang dahil hindi rin puwedeng malaman ng sponsors nilang mawawala siya.

"Serious."

Nagtama ang tingin nila ni Adi na nakasuot ng pajama at simpleng T-shirt na may cartoon print. Naka-bun ang buhok nito at dumiretso sa working table para kunin ang sariling iPad bago sumalampak sa carpeted floor ng living room. Sumunod siya at naupo sa tabi nito.

Amoy niya ang mint at lotion pati na rin ang pamilyar na pabango nito.

"I'm glad naintindihan mo ang notes na ginawa ko." Ngumiti si Adi at isinuot ang salamin. "We're gonna start gradually here . . . ." Itinuro nito ang isang paragraph. "The goal is the same as traditional marketing. Connect, communicate, and convert. The only difference is the speed, the data, and the ability to talk to thousands of people instantly."

Nanatiling nakatingin si Zed kay Adi, hindi sa itinuturo nito. He was observing her side profile, noticing the way some of her baby hairs were visible, the loose hair on the right side, and the worn-out glass frame.

"That's digital marketing." Adi gazed at him sideways. "Are you even listening to me? Kasi kung sa 'kin ka magfo-focus, hindi ka talaga makakapasa. Basketball or me?"

Ipinatong ni Zed ang siko sa lamesa at ang ulo niya sa nakakuyom na palad. "Bakit mas madali kang mag-explain? Also, these notes . . . ." Itinuro niya ang nasa screen. "Na-gets ko kaagad kanina habang binabasa ko. I've been struggling to understand these for weeks and—"

Adi noticed how Zed struggled to tell her about it, but she understood. "Maybe you're just stressing about it. You're scared you'll fuck this up, or maybe hindi ikaw ang problema. Don't beat yourself up too much, Almazan. Inaasikaso mo naman na, just . . . enjoy it now."

Zed didn't say a word and asked her about the lessons he couldn't understand. Nag-explan siya tungkol sa bulletpoints na inayos niya, at kung saan ito nahihirapan para doon sila mag-focus.

Naiintindihan niya na nahihirapan si Zed sa attribution, return of investments, funnels, and segmentation na kasama sa marketing analytics na isa sa problema nito. Reasonable. There were thousands, if not millions, of data to review and interpret.

She tried her best to simplify based on Zed's understanding, and it worked. Nagbigay siya ng test, nasagot naman kaagad nito.

"See? You'll be able to answer your midterms with that." Adi rested her back on the sofa behind her. "Send mo sa 'kin ang ibang lessons n'yo so we can prepare for them in advance. Same with your other subject."

"Both subjects? You'll help me with both?" Zed frowned.

Adi nodded. "Masyadong mahaba ang two hours para sa isang subject, unless you want the time reduced na lang, and we'll focus on just one subject. Okay rin naman, like an hour per day?"

Zed looked down, thinking. "Am I taking much of your time, Adi?" he said in a low voice.

"Not really," she responded truthfully, but squinting. "I have time."

Tipid na ngumiti si Zed at sandaling nagpaalam sa kaniya kung puwedeng makigamit ng bathroom. Pumayag siya ngunit sinundan ito ng tingin dahil napansin niya ang pagiging hindi komportable nito at halos hindi makatingin sa kaniya nang diretso.

Tumayo na rin siya para ayusin ang pagkaing pina-deliver nila. Tapos naman na sila, bago man lang umalis, makapag-dinner sila. At habang inaayos ang pagkain sa bowl, nilingon niya ang pinto ng bathroom at nagtama ang tingin nila ni Zed.

"So, what's wrong?" Adi asked. "Are we comfortable doing this? Buong lecturing time, you were just listening. Mas madalas ka pang nakatingin sa 'kin and I'm uncomfortable, but I wanna know what's on your mind. Hindi natin 'to itutuloy nang hindi tayo komportableng dalawa."

Zed's eyes were on her, while breathing heavily, and he did the deadly triangular gazing on her. She did the same, matching the energy, but her heart was beating so fast knowing what was next. He stepped forward, slipping both hands to her jaw, and kissed her lips. It was deep, warm, and Adi responded instantly, both hands holding onto both his wrists, and her manicured nails sank into his skin.

The kiss deepened, bodies closed to each other, and Zed lifted Adi with ease. Her arms around his neck, legs wrapped around his waist, lips locked. He carried her carefully, lips never breaking, carried her toward the sofa, and carefully sat down.

Si Zed na rin ang unang bumitiw at pinagdikit nito ang noo nilang dalawa. Malalim ang bawat paghinga, ramdam ni Adi ang pagdikit ng katawan nila.

She licked her lips, hair loose, eyes shut.

"Nahihiya ako," Zed muttered under his breath. "Nahihiya ako, halos wala akong mukhang maiharap sa 'yo na ganito ang sitwasyon ko. Nahihiya ako kasi . . . ." He pulled away, staring at her. "Parang ang tanga-tanga ko na hindi ko man lang—"

Adi stopped Zed by kissing his lips. "Mas iisipin kong tanga ka." She kissed the side of his lips to his cheek. "Kung hindi mo gagawan ng paraan. Despite the uncertainty, you're here tryi—"

"Why . . ." Zed planted one kiss on her lips, "do you always say the right words?" On her jaw. "I know I'm a failure and—"

"You're not." Adi pulled away and shook her head. Her palm was on Zed's chest, pushing him. "I don't see you as a failure. Not even close."

Eyes were fixed on each other, forgetting the hot soup on the counter. They were under the sheets, wrapped in each other's warmth. Zed moved with slow, steady intention, and Adi met him with soft breathing.

Not rushing into anything . . . just breaking a much-needed distance.

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T H E X W H Y S
www.thexwhys.com