I thought the excruciating moment with Lukas had ended, but nope, they invited both Austin and me for dinner. Austin who was looking after me came to me asking if we should go and accept their invite because he knew I wouldn't want to sit with them, but I thought it would be nice for them to see me happy and finally free from Lukas' horrible lies.

We accepted their dinner invite, which I think I am regretting now.

"Do you still want to go?" Austin asked, standing in front of me while playing his finger with mine. "We really don't have to go if you don't want to. We can join the others for dinner, I think Brad mentioned we'll be out for dinner at Cantina Luna. I told them we would be out as we were invited by some tourists. Don't worry I didn't mention he was your ex."

"Okay. . ."

"After that, Brad said if the dinner ended early, we could meet them at the El Lobo. What do you think?"

Napakibit balikat naman ako saka ko ipinaibabaw ang kamay ko at hinawakan ko ang kama niya. Iniangat ko ang tingin ko at saka nagtama ang mata namin. It was a little heavy for me. I haven't told Austin what Lukas and I discussed earlier at the beach because I feel like I was still left hanging into the air.

I didn't get the closure I wanted.

"Come here, sit next to me," I told him as I patted the spot next to me.

"Alright," he uttered, didn't even let go of my hand and just sat next to me. "What's going in on your head? Tell me."

I took a deep breath, simply trying to get some courage. "Well, if you found me and Lukas talking earlier, I was ready to let go of everything we had, but I feel like I was still gripping into that rope where once I let go, I would end up the one who was bruised. Maybe I was scared. Still, I am. . ."

Austin held my head and let it rest on his shoulder while he was tapping my leg with his hand.

"I know it's scary, loving someone wholeheartedly then getting it broken and shattered by the same person was agonizing so I wouldn't blame you if that's how you feel. But hey, you were able to talk to him earlier. I'm so proud of you for taking up so courage to do so."

I smiled when he said that. "Thanks. . . I really don't know what to say earlier. He was very apologetic and all, but he seemed like he already moved on from it. I wasn't. He was happy. . ."

"Aren't you happy?" Austin questioned, his brows furrowed as I looked into his face.

Mabilis akong napaayos sa upuan ko at hinawakan ang magkabilang braso niya. I shook my head as I disagreed with what he asked me. "No, no. . . I mean, I'm happy! Of course, I am. Why wouldn't I be? Complicated past relationships could get in the way, but I can't just ignore how good life is. I'm happy! But I think I would be happier if you would kiss me."

"Ooh," he swooned and laughed. "Are you challenging me, Danny?"

I smiled, possibly blushing right now. "Well, what do you think?"

"Get here," he said.

He put his hand on my face and leaned closer to me. The next thing he did was kiss me on my lips. I closed my eyes when I felt his lips on mine and I think that brought me somewhere else I wanted to be. It was a quick one. I think it was just around ten seconds when he parted his lips from mine and then a smile I couldn't wash out of my face.

"How's that?" he smirked.

I giggled. "Love it."

"Now, let's go for dinner?"

I nodded. "Yes. . . Let's go."

Even though there was still hesitation flying around my head, what could go wrong this time? A lot in my head, but if I don't do anything stupid, I think I'll be good. Nandiyan naman si Austin so I don't think he would leave me hanging just like that.

I looked in the mirror, I wore a plain white polo and khaki short pants. I thought I should only wear some sandals. On the other hand, Austin was wearing a fitted blue shirt and topped it off with a white polo and left it unbuttoned.

"Are you staring at my crotch?" Austin questioned and looked down. "Was it visible?"

Agad kong iniangat ang tingin sa ulo niya. "No, no!" Pag-ilingin ko pa. "I was just looking at you. . . I think that pair of rose shorts looked so good on you."

"Thanks for that. . . I really thought you were aiming at your dinner already."

"Austin!" I exclaimed. "Loko-loko 'to."

He chuckled as if that joke was only meant for a joke, but I don't think it was. I wouldn't take Austin for granted. Ayokong madalain kung anong meron kaming dalawa. This friendship that bloomed between us is what I should be cared about. Darating din naman sa point if we ever crossed that line, I'd let that happen. I don't want to see Austin as a rebound. He was nice and kind to me. I'll just take what we have right now.

As we stepped out of the room and the others started asking where we would go, Austin was my spokesperson who told them where we were going. Siya kasi ang sinabihan ni Lukas kaya sumusunod na lang di ako.

Before we jumped onto the bike, Kady came rushing in our direction.

"Now, tell me, you guys have been hanging around so close lately. Is this the new friendship we have to look out for? Or maybe something?" She squinted her eyes as if she meant something to that. Austin and I looked at each other, conversing through eyes on who would speak about it. "Don't worry, I'm just being so nosey. Go on, enjoy!"

"That's so weird, Kades," Austin commented.

Kady laughed. "Whatever, Aust. Anyway, if the dinner ends early, join us at the club later. You know already where to go."

"Sure!" he clicked his finger and winked at Kady. "We'll be there."

"See 'ya later, Kades!"

"Enjoy, guys! Don't kiss!" pabiro pa nitong sigaw nang makaalis kami ng driveway.

Natawa na lamang kaming dalawa sa sinabi ni Kady habang tumatakbo palayo ang motor. I couldn't hide my face and I knew I was blushing as I could feel my ears heating even though the wind was blowing us as we passed on the road.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal nang marating namin ang resto kung saan namin ime-meet sina Lukas at ang mga kaibigan nito. I didn't join them at the Cloud Nine earlier. Nanood lang ako at kinausap ang ibang lokal do'n. Marami pa akong nalaman tungkol sa beach at sa surfing competition kaysa naman ituon ko ang atensyon ko sa manloloko kong ex.

We met them at the Lighthouse Restaurant, it was just what the restaurant called and different from the lighthouse we went to. Ramdam ko ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Austin might've noticed that when he grabbed my hand and smiled at me telling me that everything would be alright.

The way he made me feel better was something magical I found in him. We walked together inside the resto and a staff greeted us, Austin just said we were there for Lukas Palermo and they quickly assisted us to where they were seated.

As soon as we found them all, I felt like there was a lump in my throat that I couldn't swallow. It was so awkward that Austin and I just sat in the vacant seats next to each other.

"Thank you for joining Austin and Danny," Lukas said. "Glad to have you here."

"Thanks for inviting us as well," Austin responded.

I only gave a slight nod and smiled. When I glanced at where Quentin was sitting, he quickly shifted his attention away from me. If I had just known it beforehand, I wouldn't have even fallen his charm and led him on to me.

"Just a disclaimer, we have ordered our food," Davide said. "We weren't able to wait for you, but don't worry, we've got everything on the menu so you've pretty got a lot of choices."

"No worries," Austin said.

"Is there any seafood in it?" I asked. "Luk—Austin was allergic to seafood."

"Oh, you are? We ordered some shrimp, but there were still meats for you guys. Most of their dishes are chicken and beef so I think you'd love it."

I almost choked on myself when I was about to mention Lukas' name, but I don't think anyone noticed. Hindi naman nila pinansin dahil saglit lang din naman nang dumating na isa-isa ang mga in-order nilang pagkain. To my surprise, it seemed like it was for a family meal. There were nine heads around the table, and those other friends seemingly didn't want to interact with us.

I was quiet the whole time. Hinahayaan ko na lang na magsalita si Austin dahil siya halos ang nakasalamuha ng mga 'to dahil sa surfing lesson. When I excused myself to go to the restroom, no one really cared so I went alone. Nang makapasok ako sa restroom ay tumungo ako sa sink. Saglit lang ay may sumunod na pumasok and I was expecting to see Austin to see, but it was Quentin.

He stood beside me in the sink while I washed my hands.

"Hey. . ." he started.

I looked at him through the mirror. "Hey. . ." But it felt so awkward that I knew I had to break it up. "Hey, I'm sorry if I had gone cold to you and made you surprised that I was with Austin now. Well, I'm not sure if you knew—

"I knew," Quentin cut me off.

"How did you know?"

"Lukas told me, earlier before we go here," he continued. "He told me you were in a relationship with him before he came out with Davide. I didn't know that. We have been friends for five years now and I haven't heard anything from you. That's why it surprised me that you ran away and never responded to my calls or texts anymore."

"I'm sorry if it ended that way." I bit my lower lip, ashamed that I didn't think of explaining it to him. "I also didn't know you were friends with him. . ."

"So, if you knew that I was friends with Lukas, you wouldn't have come to me, right?" I admitted it by nodding my head. He pressed his lips together. "I get it. I was hurt, not gonna lie, but there should be no hard feelings between us, right? Still, we've got a fun time together."

Napangisi naman ako sa kanya. "Yeah. . ." I winced.

"Let's just be friends?" he asked.

I swallowed and looked at his hand offering a handshake. Tumango naman ako at nginitian siya. "Sure. . . Let's be friends." I took his hand and shook it off.

We laughed it off, but I felt like he was still inside of me when I shook his hand. That was weird thinking about him pulsating inside of me.

"I saw you talked to Lukas earlier. . . Have you guys mended it all?"

Napakibit balikat naman ako. "I don't know. . . It seemed like he already moved on, but I was left here in this space alone. I was hoping I could still talk to him. . ."

"I hope you get to find some closure with him, especially now you're with Austin."

"Thanks. . ."

"Let's go back outside, they might be wondering where we are now."

"You should go first, I'll take a leak first. . ."

When he left, pumasok naman ako sa isang cubicle saka ako umihi. Later on, I heard someone came in, but instead I'll hear the water from the sink runs, I heard smooches and gasping of air. Nang lumabas ako ng cubicle ay nakita ko sina Davide at Lukas na naghahalikan. Nabato ako sa kinatatayuan ko at natigilan din silang dalawa at tumapon ang atensyon sa akin.

They laughed it off and apologized for what they did. Tumungo naman si Davide sa isang open urinal saka umihi habang tumungo naman ako sa sink at naghugas ng kamay. Davide stood next to me and washed his hands after and kissed Lukas on cheeks then left the restroom.

I was left inside the restroom with Lukas and I don't know what to feel. Nangangatog ang mga tuhod ko.

"You were so happy. . . Out and proud with Davide, 'no?" I started.

Napangisi naman ito at napakamot sa gilid ng kilay gamit ang hinlalaki niyang daliri. "Yeah, I am. . . Sorry, if you've seen that. We thought you went back with Quentin in the table."

"Lukas, I want to ask you a question and I want you to be honest with me." I tried not to break my voice, but I could feel my emotion running up to my throat. His face fell straight serious looking at me. "Did you really love me, and so why we ended up like this?"

He sighed. "I have loved you, Danny. It was real. . . But I would lie if didn't tell you that sometimes it wasn't making me happy anymore. When we were together, I was going out with Davide. One night, it just happened. I felt something in him more than when I was with you. I'm sorry if that comes so bad to you, but that's how I felt. I should've been honest with you, but I wasn't, and I'm sorry for that. In our relationship, it wasn't your fault at all. It was me."

Hearing everything he said made me pull a thorn out of my chest so that I could finally breathe easily. But I should've cried, begged for him to stay, and other things that made me want to pull him back in my life, but I didn't do any of those stupid things.

"Let your heart feel the love you deserve and I think Austin is giving that to you. All the love I couldn't give, he will be the one who will fulfill that to you. I wish I could. . ."

"I really want to hate you. . . And even kill you for what you did to me, but that would be the stupidest thing I would ever do for love. But that's all I wanted to hear. Thank you for being honest with me, Lukas. I hope Lukas will also give you the happiness you were looking for."

He smiled, nodding his head. "Thank you. . . Can I hug you?"

"For the last time? Sure. . ."

He opened his arms to me and I just went to him and let him wrap his arms around me. I will miss this warmth, but letting this go will also be a good thing for me.

I know I could do it.

After a while, we heard someone coming in so Lukas and I quickly parted away from each other and saw Austin peeping his head from the door.

"There you are. . ." he said and finally came inside the restroom. "You were taking so long. . ." But then he realized that I was with Lukas so he stopped talking.

"Are they looking for us?" I asked him.

"Xander said they'll be there in the next thirty minutes so do you think we should go now?" he asked. Nilingon ko naman si Lukas.

"Go on, guys. I don't want to keep you here if you've got someplace to go to, I don't mind."

"Thanks, Lukas. I really appreciate the dinner and all. Have fun in the rest of your stay here in Siargao."

"Thanks, Austin. You, too, Danny. Thank you. . ."

I smiled as we left the restroom. Nagpaalam na rin kami sa iba at saka kami lumabas ng resto. Isang malaking hininga ang pinakawalan ko at napansin naman iyon ni Austin.

"Was it good to talk to him?" he asked and I nodded. He tapped my hand as I hooked it on his arm. "Good job, Danny. I know you can do it."

"Thanks to you, too. . ."

"What do you think did I?" he asked. "It's all on you. I'm just here to support you. . . But funny how they believed we were in a real relationship, huh?"

I laughed. "Yup! They were easy to be conned, but we made it believable, too! So, congrats, partner!"

He chuckled, as he uttered the word partner then we went through his bike.

That dinner started so awkwardly, but it ended how I really wanted it to be. I guess, confronting Lukas really filled the hole in my heart and finally those thorns were out of my chest. I know it wasn't easy to move on, but I already did my part, the next thing I could do is to make myself happy and live the life I wanted to be, especially here in Siargao.

"Are you ready?" Austin asked.

I wrapped my hands around his belly. "Ready!" And then, Austin drove the bike away heading to our next destination. Wish it would be a place where we could really make it real, but nah, impossible to happen.

***