Paolo just got back from his trip to the States, and he didn't come back alone.

I'm so happy for him. Deserve niya this kind of happiness. It was just a shock for all of us lang kasi the girl he's fallen in love with is Audrey, Oliver's ex-girlfriend a.k.a first love.

I watched them na magharutan in front of everyone, while we were hanging out here at home. They were honestly the cutest. I'm totally rooting for them.

"You okay, Gel?"

I turned and saw Enrique grinning at me, as he joined me on the couch. He was back din from Australia. He's staying here until January, then we're all flying to Japan for a group trip.

"Oo naman," I answered him. "How about you, how are you finding the weather back in the Philippines?"

"It's not as hot as I expected it would be." He nodded to me, smug. "I should be asking you the same thing, though. Didn't you just finish your 'Eat, Pray, Love' trip?"

I rolled my eyes. They could make fun of me all they want, but traveling to different parts of Asia and learning different kinds of cultures firsthand was the best experience I ever had.

For the past year, I was barely home.

As soon as I got back from my Sagada trip kasi last December, parang something inside me woke up. The socially awkward girl in me wanted to break out and start anew.

I always knew there was so much out there in the world to explore and see for myself. My Sagada trip proved to me that I could do it on my own. That trip gave me that push I needed to finally fulfill my dreams. I wanted to experience them all. And I did.

A couple of weeks ago lang ako nakauwi from my last Asian country, Nepal. Then, Paolo and Enrique came back na din. Hence, this get-together. The others took this chance na din to plan a trip to Japan two months from now.

"Weird, huh?" said Enrique.

"What is?" I asked, turning to him.

He laughed. "Seeing Paolo in love."

My eyes found the lovebirds again, and I smiled. "It's cute."

"You think everything is cute."

The smile on my face slowly faded away. "I used to."

I felt his eyes on me. "What changed?"

I took a deep breath, before looking at him. "I did. I'm not that timid little girl anymore who's so pure and loves everything pretty and pink. I realized not everything is cute, so we gotta appreciate those that are."

"Shame."

My body grew the slightest bit tense at the sound of Oliver's voice. I haven't seen him since I got back. He stood by Enrique's side, holding a glass of whatever it was he was drinking.

He looked more or less the same, wearing a pale blue buttoned up shirt rolled up at the sleeves with the top two buttons undone. He cut his hair shorter, though. It made him look neater, if that was possible. More grown up, too.

"I really liked that timid little girl," he added. This time, he was looking at me.

I shrugged and smiled sweetly at him, humoring him for the sake of Enrique. "Too bad, kasi she grew up na."

"I told her not to."

"If only you could make the decisions for her, 'no?"

A year ago, I wouldn't have the guts to throw shade at him like this – especially in front of company. Baka maihi pa ko sa kaba. But a year ago, that was also a different me.

"Well, she's certainly good at deciding for herself," he said, his posture was relaxed but his gaze was growing more intense by the second.

Was he talking about how I suddenly left to travel across Asia, only telling Jesse and our parents but no one else? What, hindi niya ba nagustuhan 'yon? Oh, cry me a river, Oliver.

I tilted my head and smirked. "Wish I could say the same about other people."

Ooh, the cold stare he was giving me right now was enough to freeze the whole country. I've always wondered (and admired) how he could look calm and menacing at the same time sometimes. I wanted to achieve that.

Enrique eyed us suspiciously, but then eventually decided not to ask.

"So Ollie," he said instead, breaking the silence that engulfed us, "what ever happened to that Lana girl?"

My ears perked up, but I forced my expression to remain calm and unaffected. Oliver, on the other hand, finally looked away from me and turned to his high school friend.

"Still going strong with Zeo," he replied, letting out a small laugh as he sat on the empty armchair and swirled his drink as he did so.

"Sad ka pa rin?" sneered Enrique, looking like the devil's advocate.

I kept my face blank, but I was wondering where he was going with this.

"Dude, that was three years ago." Oliver made a face, before taking a drink.

"Since it's been three years, are we allowed to talk about it or is it still a secret?"

Oliver glared at Enrique, making Enrique laugh.

"Oh, c'mon. Everybody in the group knows. I'm sure even Gel knows."

I locked eyes with Oliver for a moment before glancing at Enrique, who only wiggled his eyebrows like a troublemaker. Rolling my eyes, I turned my attention back to Oliver.

"I heard you and Kuya talk about it one night."

He watched me with narrowed eyes, obviously thinking back to that night he caught me twirling in the kitchen until understanding crossed his features.

"Birdy," he finally said.

I pressed my lips together and nodded.

"You didn't say anything, though."

I raised an eyebrow. "Should I have?"

His jaw clenched, seeing my point. "I guess not," he muttered. He brought his glass to his lips and downed his drink, before adding, "My feelings for Lana never ran that deep. I didn't fall in love with her."

"You mean, you didn't let yourself fall for her," corrected Enrique.

"No," disagreed Oliver, shaking his head and staring into space. "I just..." he paused, eyes flickering to me, "didn't."

"Ah, kaya pala you got over it pretty quick." Enrique nodded, as if that made all the sense in the world. "And those two lovebirds, you alright with that?" He nodded to Paolo and Audrey. "We all know she was your first love."

Oliver took a moment to answer. "It's their lives. I have no right to interfere. I'm just glad they're happy," he added, with a small smile.

"Still," chuckled Enrique, clearly enjoying himself, "ballsy of Pao to break the bro code knowing how you feel about it."

"The bro code won't matter if it's the right girl," I stated.

Both pairs of eyes landed on me, and I only shrugged.

Enrique nodded to me. "Touché."

"How does he know if she's the right girl?" asked Oliver, looking the tiniest bit skeptical.

With a straight face, I looked at him and said, "If he had to ask, then maybe he shouldn't be questioning whether she's the right one or not. Maybe he should be considering that perhaps he's just not the right man."

And with that, I was able to make Oliver Cojuangco shut up.