Truth be told, heeding Uno's suggestion actually did me good, aside from the fact na inaasar-asar ako ni Chen dahil masiyado raw ako nagpadala sa sinabi ng huli. I just let her tease me though, since breathe of fresh air din naman, lalo na sa part niya. A lot has happened the past few days, we deserve to have a break.

Biochemistry wasn't easy, o siguro dahil hindi ko pa masiyadong sineseryoso ang pagbabasa—the terms weren't really new for me since I graduated in Medical Technology, but I wasn't really buying it. Maybe it was the pressure—I didn't really know anymore. Ayos na rin naman 'yung pagbabasa ng kaunti, at least may introductory na ako.

That's one thing I never do when I don't feel like doing it—study. Pakiramdam ko kasi I'm just killing time for two hours tapos the rest of the day, I'll just slouch tapos I'll totally forget everything that I've read. Every time I study, I'll always... always set days tapos do'n ko lang talaga itutuon 'yung attention ko, and then probably two days before examinations, I'll let myself rest. If it didn't help, I think I won't graduate as a Summa Cum Laude.

"Seryoso ka, 'yun na 'yun? I can manage watching you dread yourself naman," Chen asked laughing as she slouches on the pink bean bag near me.

I shrugged, "I don't wanna force myself," I said. "Mas lalo ko lang makakalimutan."

Chen chuckled, "Crush mo na si Uno 'no? Suddenly you want to impress the guy."

"Baliw," I said, crinkling my nose as I set aside my books on the study table. Napaupo na lang ako sa gilid ng kama ko. "What's there for him to be impressed? I literally do stupid things all the time, that includes me looking like a stupid underdog for the Manumbayaos."

Chen looked at me, "Crush mo nga?"

"Hindi!" I said in defense. "Hindi, okay? I was just asking."

"Wala namang mali pag inamin mo."

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. "Alam mo ang kulit mo."

She laughed, "Sure," she said. "If it wasn't really obvious, I won't even bother you about Sanchez."

"My god," I said. "Hindi nga!" Mas lalo tuloy siyang natawa sa reaction ko. I frowned upon watching her laugh, pero sa huli nakitawa na lang din ako.

At least she's happy with me.

Something Alfonso Isaiah Juarez can never.

"Tsaka, how can you fall with someone na nakasama mo within just a span of 2 weeks? Baliw."

Chen shrugged her shoulders, "Matagal mo na siyang kilala."

"I literally know nothing about him aside from him being a vocalist and a Law student!" I protested kasi totoo naman! I never liked meddling with personal lives, tsaka we weren't close since, four years ago lang din naman sila nagkakilala nila Uno, kaming tatlo lang talaga 'yung magkakadikit noon. Nobody took the risk to befriend me ever since I was in grade school, and they didn't even want to talk to me! Sobrang adamant ko lang yata talagang makinig sa pagtugtog nila every after class hours sa music room, kaya ang ending, hindi na nila kami napaghiwalay.

And then Uno came to the picture—just months before the tragedy.

I wanted to keep it from everyone somehow—but I didn't really want to keep it from Dash and kuya Kirk. I asked Zachary to keep it from them the moment he found me after I asked for help.

Na akala ko hindi malalaman ni Fallon.

But I was so stupid that I sent Zachary to his own death table the moment Fallon caught him helping me.

Kasi akala ko tapos na siya. Kasi akala ko hindi na siya babalik.

They didn't... kill him. They just wanted me to see how badly they can injure everyone. And I wasn't even in the right state of mind that I asked Anna for help... na akala ko tama.

Akala ko tutulungan niya ako.

Sure, they helped Zachary to live. They paid every bill that they charged sa hospital even though it took them millions—the catch? I promised them to keep away from my friends... for two years... they prescribed me medicines that I shouldn't even be taking.

They were literally brainwashing me.

They were forcing me to forget... everything that happened.

Na hindi totoo 'yung nangyari...

But, how can I?

How can I forget that one night... where every little right I had as a person and not even as the Vice President's granddaughter were violated? And he didn't even care about the power I had over him...

I could've had him killed.

Instead, they sent him abroad. Tapos ako 'yung kinulong.

Saan ka maghahanap ng hustisya sa bansang pinamumunuan ng mga taong pati mismong kapamilya ay pinagkaitan?

Akala nila nakalimot na ako...

But I will never forget.

"Brandi... Brandi, you're shaking..." Sinubukan kong ngumiti kay Chen, but still, it didn't help. It was as if I was just trying to mask what I was really feeling. "Why... don't you tell your father?"

I shook my head.

"Can't give him another piece of headache, right?" I said, my lips quivering.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have... triggered you."

"No," I said. "They're nightmares, Chen. At kahit... ano'ng subok kong pigilin ang sarili na makalimot, bumabalik pa rin. Paulit-ulit. Parang sinasakal ako hanggang sa hindi na'ko makahinga... It's not your fault that I can never forget. It's theirs... it's Fallon's. It's the Juarez'. No one else."

Weeks passed like a hurdle. I busied myself studying in advance para naman may magawa ako, since I still have two months left before the real game starts. I was beyond glad din since maraming clients sa firm nila Anna the past few weeks, kaya madalang din kaming magkita, and dad... well, he won't be coming back anytime soon. Hindi naman na 'yun bago. Minsan bigla na lang siyang umuuwi after a three-year business trip abroad, tapos isang gabi lang din siya magpapalipas.

I was getting worried about his health... but maybe he just wanted to exhaust himself just so he wouldn't be in contact with Lolo.

"Brandi... kain na," nakangiting sabi ni Manang habang may hawak-hawak na tray ng pagkain. The aroma of the food was so enticing kaya agad kong itinabi yung mga libro sa lamesa ko. "Nagluto ako ng Kare-Kare, paborito mo."

I smiled.

"Thank you, manang," I said, helping her put the tray on the table.

"Seryoso ka masiyado. Wala pa naman pasukan, nak."

I sighed, "Yung kaibigan ko po kasi."

"Ah, si Uno ba 'yun? 'Yung naka-salamin na matangkad?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Manang was already old, and she has told me once na hindi siya masiyadong magaling umalala ng mga pangalan ng kaibigan ko kaya kailangan ko pa siyang bigyan ng listahan kung sino... I never wrote Uno's name on it. And he never even visited our house, kasi sabi niya noon naiirita siya (aside from that one time na sinamahan niya ako noon na mag-enroll tapos 'yung isa na tumambay lang kami sa gazebo—manang didn't even see him since I prepared snacks!), kaya sa café malapit sa bahay namin siya madalas tumambay...

And why was I even trying to recall!? Goodness.

"Paano niyo po nakilala?" I asked, trying to not sound na I'm obviously interested.

"Bumibisita siya araw-araw no'ng nakaraang Linggo, sabi niya 'wag ko na lang daw ipaalam sa'yo at busy ka raw kakaaral. Natatawa pa nga siya no'ng sinabi niya 'yun, sabi niya baka siya raw dahilan bakit ka na-pressure," natatawang sabi ni Manang. "Kaibigan din pala nina Zachary, iyon? Ngayon lang siya napagawi."

Napangiwi ako. May sama kasi ng loob sa'kin 'yun manang.

"Ah... lagi lang pong busy. Law student po kasi." Napatango naman si Manang at napangiti bago nagpaalam. I immediately grabbed my phone habang kumakain at saka minessage si Uno. That ass! Ano ba'ng trip niya sa buhay niya!?

I didn't really expect na magre-reply siya since mga ganitong oras 'yung scheduled review niya. I wasn't even sure if he's trying to be this cool-law-student-wanna-be na kunwaring matutulog tapos kapag tinanong, mae-ace niya. Nagulat tuloy ako no'ng biglang nagri-ring na 'yung phone ko.

"Problema?"

I hissed, "Ba't ka napapadpad dito!?"

I heard Uno clicking his tongue from the other line, "Wala. Just wanna check. Baka namatay ka na kakaaral. I didn't say study every day, Brandi."

Naningkit ang mga mata ko, "I know my habits, Mr. Know-It-All."

He chuckled, "Skim lang, Brandi. That's what I do. The reviewers weren't written by me, I got them from my frat."

"Y-you're in a frat?"

"Not the usual kind... we're more into studies, we don't do hazing shit. You don't have to worry."

I sighed in relief.

Wait... what?

"Don't worry about me," he said. "Ikaw, okay ka lang? Haven't seen you for three weeks so I drop by. Last week lang 'yung every day, 'wag kang piling."

I rolled my eyes, "As if I'd feel entitled just because you visited me, Nikkoi," I said, taunting him by mimicking Irish's voice. He laughed... and if I wasn't still considered a fool, maybe I am now.

Today.

I just found Uno Sanchez's laugh contagious and... compliment-worthy.

God... why!?

"You have time?"

"Ha?"

"Ngayon. Wala kaming band practice... may time ka ba?"

"What do you mean?"

Uno chuckled, "Kakain lang."

Napairap ako, "Tataba ako tsaka kumain na'ko," I reasoned out, kahit alam kong mukhang tanga dahil mabilis akong tumayo para maghanap ng pwedeng isuot. Which I suddenly found absurd! Wala naman kasi akong pake sa mga sinusuot ko noon dahil bumabagay naman daw lahat sa akin. Tapos biglang... shit.

Ano ba kasing nangyayari sa'kin? Obviously, this isn't something Brianna Andi Montemayor-Manumbayao would do.

"Then... let's get fat together," he said, laughing.

"As if," I said.

Screw you, Sanchez.

***

Just when I thought na binibiro niya lang ako kanina—he was pretty honest for saying na sabay na lang kami tumaba because apparently! He brought me to a buffalo wings restaurant! Hindi rin ako makatanggi—I freaking love... wings.

Shit lang. Nananadya talaga, e.

"How come you knew!?" I hissed habang nagpa-park siya ng kotse. Halos ilang oras ko pa yatang pinilit si Gio na kay Uno na lang ako pasakayin, 'yun pala binabantayan ang pagsakay at pagbaba ko sa main entrance ng mansion para lang masigurado na safe ako—ang ending tuloy nagpasama na lang kami kay Gio sa sasakyan ni Uno, tapos the rest convoy na lang.

Ngumisi lang si Uno at bumaba na sa kotse pagka-off niya ng engine. He immediately went down, nakita ko pang natawa si Gio no'ng sinamaan siya ng tingin bago ako pinagbuksan ng pinto ni Uno.

"I'll be alright, Gio," I said. "Don't mind me..."

Gio smiled, "The area's well secluded. Security isn't a problem here," he said. "We'll be guarding outside. Just don't try to run away."

I laughed, "The last time I tried to run, you almost got fired. Won't do it again, promise," I said. Gio nodded at sinamahan na kami papunta sa entrance. Truth be told, sobrang konti lang din ng tao, since the restaurant's more of a reservation basis-type. I was just eyeing Uno habang paakyat kami. Apparently, the restaurant also has a VIP area upstairs. Not bad at all... it looked very elegant, but not the formal-type of elegant. More on the casual side lang talaga. It was built for important people who are probably bored of the never-ending violin and piano music, and the long gowns and tuxedo you needed to wear just to enter a five-star restaurant.

"It's a new place," he said, out of the blue no'ng makaupo na kami. "It opened a week ago. Kumain kami after a gig, Zachary suggested the place."

I nodded, "When did you book a reservation? 'Di mo man lang sinabi para hindi ako nabigla..." Kasi nahihirapan na naman akong i-figure out ka.

He smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "Kahapon lang," sabi niya. "Figured you like wings," he added, laughing.

I hissed, "Di naman ako matakaw," I said.

"Sure," he said, mocking. "Sabihin mo kay Zach nagsisinungaling siya."

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata, "and you believe him!?"

"Brandi, there are girls who can eat like 10 rounds of buffalo wings and never get fat," he said. "That's you."

"I hate you," I said.

He shook his head, "Nope," he said, as-a-matter-of fact.

Truth be told, he wasn't wrong.

"Why do I feel like there's a catch?" Natawa naman si Uno sa sinabi ko habang nagse-serve ng pagkain 'yung waitress. I couldn't help myself but to admire the foods served. Pakiramdam ko tuloy kahit hindi talaga ako tabain, tataba talaga ako sa lahat ng in-order ni Uno. Jusko.

"Mukha ba'kong naghahabol ng utang, Brandi?"

I laughed.

"Mukha kang lola na hindi titigil pakainin 'yung apo niya maubos lang 'yung handa."

I watched his jaw clenched which made me laugh more habang sumasandok ng kanin... Oh my god, kakakain ko lang ng Kare-Kare, pero pakiramdam ko nawala lahat ng pagkabusog ko.

"Quits na tayo," I said. "Ang dali mong mapikon."

He clicked his tongue, "Dami mong alam." I stuck out my tongue before eating a mouthful of rice. Feeling ko jina-judge na ako ni Uno deep inside.

Uno scoffed. "Kala ko ba kumain ka na?"

"Shut up," I said, ignoring him and transferring all my attention to my holy food. Holy crap, this is so good.

Akala ko iinisin pa'ko ni Uno, but he let me off the hook, and so I ate my food in peace. Minsan, I'd catch him just staring at me, but I'd rather choose to ignore it. Alam ko namang walang meaning 'yun.

May Irish pa.

Kaibigan lang kami.

Finally, magkaibigan na kami.

Ayaw ko lang sirain 'yun.

"Like it?"

I nodded my head habang umiinom ng iced tea. Ano ba'ng hindi masarap dito? Even their house special iced tea's heavenly good!

"Ako kailan?" Halos maibuga ko 'yung iniinom ko kay Uno dahilan para mapahagalpak siya ng tawa, which was totally new. Pakiramdam ko nga kailangan ko pang i-record na tumatawa si Uno. Para siyang out of this world alien.

"Joke. Joke lang," he barely said since he was still laughing. Napairap na lang ako.

I scoffed. "Ganiyan ka talaga mag-joke?" It was so weird! I mean, alam ko namang walang meaning pero mabibigla ka talaga kasi hindi mo naman aakalain na may gano'ng side si Uno. Feeling ko tuloy pwede na'kong gumawa ng Uno bucketlist para may iche-check ako tuwing gabi kapag may ginawa na naman siyang kagaguhan.

And it's just so weird for me to see him feel like he's so free to do whatever he wants.

Uno paused for a while to catch air before he emptied his glass of water.

He smiled.

"You probably won't like it pag nagseryoso ako."

I arched my brow, "You're serious every time," I said. I can't even figure you out.

He shrugged, "I guess you just need to figure it out."