"Hi, Vina."

Lunch time, nagpasama ako kay Lola sa Sapphire. We came to talk to Vina, that as of now, sitting at the plantbox, reading a book. Fiction book.

"Hi! Xia, right? The daughter of Mayor Quiroz. Nice meeting you." She smiled at us. I pursed my lips with the mention of my father. Kilala talaga ako dahil anak ako ng mayor.

"Yeah." Tipid kong ani. Si Lola naman, nakapamulsa lang, nakatingin kay Vina at nakataas ang kilay, pinag-aaralan ang babae.

"Do you want to go to canteen? We can buy something to eat so we can bond na rin. Hi, Xia's friend!" She also greeted Lola. Lola just nod at her, didn't even greet back.

"Uh...she's Lola. And, yeah. We can go to canteen so we can have some time to bond. And it's lunch time already." I said.

"Tara na, Xi. Nice meeting you pala, Vin." Saad ni Lola saka ako inakbayan. Sumabay naman sa amin si Vina.

"Oh, wait. I forgot my pera pala sa bag. Just wait here. I'll be back. Just a second." She smiled apologetically and ran to their room.

"Seryoso? 'Yan na ang tipo ni Blake?" Lola asked me when Vina left.

"Why? There's nothing wrong with her. She's kind and pretty. Blake and her match each other." I honestly said.

"Psh." She murmured something but I didn't heard it.

"Hi! Come on!" When Vina returned, we go to canteen already.

"So what do you guys want to have?" Nandito na kami ngayon sa canteen.

"Sige na. Mauna ka na mag-order." Sabi ni Lola. Tumango naman si Vina at sinimulan ng bumili ng gusto niya. Pagkatapos niya ay sumunod naman kaming kumuha ng pagkain namin.

"Vina, uy!"

Napatingin ako kay Lola nang pilantikin niya ang kamay niya. Nabaling naman ang tingin ko kay Vina na nakatingin din pala sa dereksyon ni Blake.

"H-Ha?"

"Nakatulala ka 'dun kina Blake. May gusto ka ba 'dun?" Natural na talaga siguro kay Lola ang pagkakaroon ng maangas na tono sa boses. Akala mo manghahamon ng away, eh.

"W-Wala..." Namumulang saad niya.

"Wala, ha. Mukha mo pa lang, girl. Si Blake, noh?" Nakangising anas ni Lola. I badly want to shut her mouth.

"You know, were friends with them. I can make up with you and Blake. If I am not barging in. As far as I know, he secretly like you." I stated as I stared back at them, in Blake.

"Are you suggesting something?" She asked me.

"Ehem, pwede tayo mag-tagalog mga sismars, hehe." I laughed of what Lola said. I know she understands, though.

"Yeah. Pwede ko kayong i-set up sa isang meet up. Get to know each other, ganon. I'll just talk to him first." Nginitian ko pa siya.

"Really?!" She exaggerated.

"Ay, girl, hindi naman masyadong halatang bet na bet mo, noh?" Sarcasm is evident with Lola's voice.

"Hihi, slight. I mean, look at him. He is fit for the word 'perfect'. Every woman will fall in love with him." Nangalambaba pa siya as if she's thinking of a scenario of her and Blake.

"Ahh, so di ako woman? Pati si Xia?" 'Ayun na naman ang hindi mamatay-matay na sarkasmo ni Lola.

"Of course! He's your friend so there is a possibility of not falling into him." Pairap na saad ni Vina.

"Lola! May siomai dito, gusto mo?" Napabaling kami kay Reese nang sumigaw ito. Nakita ko naman ang pagkunot ng noo ni Lola dahil andaming napatingin sa kanya. Nagpeace sign naman si Reese saka lumapit sa kanya.

"Kailangan sumigaw? Ha? Ha?" Inambaan pa ng suntok ni Lola si Reese.

"Ito naman. Ito na nga oh! Bibigyan ka na ng siomai. Hindi na lang magpasalamat. Kung kelangan mo ng toyo, meron sa table." Kinindatan niya pa si Lola na siya namang ikinairap ng babae. "Hi!" Pagbati niya kay Vina na tinanguan lang siya.

"Linchak ka! Umalis ka na nga."

"Bleeh! Lola tanda!"

"Pakyu, Risa."

Nag-asaran pa ang dalawang magkaibigan bago umalis. Nagpaypay pa ng sarili si Lola saka muling umupo na akala mo nanggaling sa isang fight scene.

"Gusto mo, sis?" Nakangiting saad niya at pinakita sa akin ang siomai na may kalamansi. Wala pa man, nalalaway na ako. Ugh!

"I'll give it a try." I smiled at her and get one. She give Vina also.

We just talked about something while eating. Their crushes, about them going to the mall, buying clothes of their own. I can't relate. But I try to keep up.

"Kailan kami magkikita?"

Napatingin ako kay Vina nang magsalita siya. Nagliligpit na lang kami ng mga gamit ngayon.

"Wow! Crush na crush, ah!" And Lola starts teasing again.

"Uh... tomorrow? Green Coffee Shop, 8:35 am will be your meeting place and time. Kayo na lang bahala sa gagawin niyo after. Wala namang pasok bukas since weekend na 'nun." I said.

"Oh..." She smiled as if she imagined how would be there 'date' would look like. "I'm looking forward on meeting him. I can't wait!" Mahina pa siyang tumili.

"Halata nga, sis." Nakangising anas naman ni Lola kaya natawa si Vina.

"Anyways, mauna na ako. Medyo malayo pa ang Sapphire here eh. Thanks for the company. I'm looking forward of having you again. Thanks." She waved her hands before turning her back on us.

Nang makaalis siya, napabuntong hininga ako. Umalis rin saglit si Lola at hihingi lang daw kay Reese ng siomai.

"Did she agree?"

"Ay butete!"

I held my chest when Blake suddenly speak beside me. I didn't even notice his presence!

"Nakakagulat ka naman." Sinamaan ko pa siya ng tingin pero nginitian lang ako nito saka nangalumbaba sa harap ko.

"Ano? Pumayag ba?" Excitement is evident in his voice. Tumango naman ako.

"8:35 am, sa Green Coffee Shop." Pang-iinform ko sa kanya. Napatango naman siya saka nag-isip sandali.

"Can you come with me? Please! I'm nervous as fuck." He pleaded. My forehead creased, confused why needs me there.

"What? Third wheel ako? You're going to make me a third wheel?" I accused him.

"No! Of course not. You know? While waiting for her, can you please accompany me? Para hindi rin ako mainip at kabahan." He smiled at me.

Ugh! How could I say NO to this man?

"Anong oras ba?" Pagsuko ko.

"Yes! Uhmm...7 in the morning? Sa coffee shop na lang din. Thanks!" He said before leaving. He waved his hand on me when he saw Lola and Reese leaving him.

Umalis na rin naman ako kalaunan dahil malapit na ulit magklase. Baka ma-late na ako this time at may magreport na naman kay Papa.

"Who could tell me what depression is?"

Napatingin ako sa teacher namin nang magtanong siya. Tinuro niya ba 'yun?

Someone raised her hand.

"Yes?"

"Depression is a low mood that last for a long time that affect everyday life. Depressed person feels extreme sadness, loss of interest in activities, loss of appetite, and feeling of worthlessness." She said.

"And the thing that triggers depression?"

"Depression can be trigger by a sudden changes in the surrounding that may lower the mood like poverty. Depression can be also triggered when someone you love died or if you experienced abuse, physically, emotionally and mentally. At some research, they say that depression can be hereditary." We clapped our hands at her while she answer the question proudly.

"Very good, Serna." Our teacher smiled at her.

After that, the teacher continued teaching. Health pala kami. Mental health. Masyado ata akong clouded eh hindi ko naman alam 'yung reason.

"Goodbye, class."

"Goodbye, Sir."

The teacher leave already. We sat there, waiting for the next teacher. Math teacher na siguro. I was right. She even remember our test!

Mabuti na lang at naturuan ako ni Blake kung paano. Kakainis na mag-aral. Kung pwede lang akong magreklamo eh. Baka sagutin lang ako ng, 'pag-aaral na nga lang ang inaasikaso mo, tatamarin ka pa'.

Nagpatuloy lang ang araw ko. Si Blake, pasama ng pasama sa mga lakad niya kapag weekends. Minsan, sumisipot si Vina pero minsan, nagpapaalam na may emergency. Family emergency kaya hindi na kami nangialam.

[I'm really sorry if I had to cancel.] One day, tumawag si Vina habang nasa park kami ni Blake. Si Blake 'yung katawagan niya pero naka-loud speaker kaya dinig ko.

"It's fine. Fix your problems first. There's always next time for everything." Blake chuckled.

[Yeah. Maybe next time.] I even heard her chuckle too. Nag-usap pa sila sandali bago in-end ni Blake 'yung tawag dahil baka nakaka-istorbo na daw.

"Oh, eh, ano ng gagawin natin ngayon?" I asked Blake when he sat beside me.

"Edi tayo na lang ang gumala. Sayang naman 'yung dala kong pera." He smirked at me. "Ililibre kita. What do you want?"

"I can buy my own."

"But I want to buy you, too." I stared at him for too long, thinking about what he said. "Pakiramdam ko kasi, naabala kita kaya ililibre na lang kita pambawi." Dugtong niya kaya napabuntong hininga ako.

"Fine. Ikaw na bahala kung anong trip mo. I can eat anything." I said. He stare at me, raising a brow. "Anything edible." Paglilinaw ko kaya natawa siya.

"Wait here. I'll be right back in a second." He smiled at me before he left.

Hindi naman ako active sa social media kaya naman nilabas ko na lang ang aklat na hindi ko pa natatapos basahin.

"Here." Napatingin ako ulit kay Blake nang magsalita siya.

"Ice cream?" Takang tanong ko. "Saan ka nakahan---" hindi ko pa man natatapos ang sasabihin ko, tumunog ang bell ng ice cream. "Uh...thank you." Nakangiti kong saad. Tumango naman siya saka sinimulang kainin 'yung kanya.

"What is your favorite flavor in ice cream?" He asked after a minute of silence. I stopped licking mine and stare at him, thinking of my favorite flavor.

"Actually, paborito ko naman lahat. Pero Cookies and Cream ang nag-s-stand out." I answered.

"Cookies and cream? Mine is coffee." He smiled at me. I returned it, stopping myself to answer sarcastically. Wala namang nagtanong pero, okay.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ng ice cream, niyaya niya na lang akong maglibot. This park is amazing. It was my first time roaming at this park and I feel...free. I felt freedom. I felt peace.

"Gusto mo 'nun?" Agad kong sinamaan ng tingin si Blake nang ituro niya ang nagbebenta ng lobo. "Hey, I am just asking."

"Do I look like a kid?" I rolled my eyes on him.

"Aren't you?" I can hear the sarcasm in his voice, obviously pissing me. I just roll my eyes on him and left him there. He chuckle and tried to catch up. "Hey, I'm just kidding."

"Talk to shit." Saad ko at mas binilisan pa ang paglalakad.

"Xia!"