SINUKLAY ni Krizzia ang buhok niya gamit ang mga daliri niya habang naghihintay kay Angelyn. They have to attend a seminar today. At sa kabutihang palad, Killian is busy with their friend. Ang huling balita nito sa kanya ay nagtatapon sila ng mga bote ng alak.

"Kri! Get in!" Angelyn shouted.

Isang artista van ang pumarada sa harap niya. The usual van na laging gamit noon ni Kyst kapag sinusundo ang mag-ina sa dati nilang school na pinagta-trabauhan. Agad siyang sumakay at tumabi kay Angelyn, she looks lively and her face glowing.

"Iba talaga kapag nasa tamang tao ka na no?" Nakangising tanong niya kay Angelyn. Pabiro niyang pinisil ang mamula mulang pisngi nito. "Ganda mo oh!"

"Marunong mag-alaga si mister e," angelyn answered and shrugged.

Krizzia grinned. "Sabihin mo muna 'Salamat Krizzia!'" She playfully said.

Pabirong umirap si Angelyn na ikinatawa niya. They keep on entertaining each other while they're on their way. Wala siyang idea kung saan gaganapin ang seminar nila, at tinamad na siyang alamin.

Nagkulitan lang silang dalawa ni Angelyn, she kept asking how's her relationship with Killian. She's too opened to Angelyn, pero hindi ganoon ka open na ik-kuwento niya ang kababalaghan na ginagawa nila at kung paano siya nito muntikan ng lumpuhin noong isang araw.

"Wala bang pag-asa si Killian sayo? Pilyo lang naman ang isang 'yon pero mabait si Killian." Angelyn said persuasively.

Umangat ang isang kilay niya. "Tangina ka, may sinabi ba akong masamang tao ang siraulo na 'yon? Isa pa, hindi ako pumapatol sa gago!" She answered. Yeah right, hindi siya pumapatol sa gago. Krizzia mentally rolled her eyes. Gusto niyang palakpakan ang sarili ngayon sa kasinungalingan na lumalabas sa mismong bibig niya.

"Hindi na siya gago ngayon!" Parang bata na sagot nito sa kanya, bahagya pang nakasimangot ang mala anghel na mukha nito.

"Para kang timang gaga!" Natatawang ani niya habang nakatingin kay Angelyn. "May tatlong anak ka na, Angelyn. 'Wag mo akong artehan!"

"Well, he's really a nice guy. I haven't seen him with other woman than you, lagi nga yatang nakadikit sayo. See? Hindi pa kayo loyal na siya sayo!"

Krizzia laughed. Sapo pa nito ang tiyan.

"Ngayon alam mo na ang pakiramdam ng ma frustrate dahil sa love life ng kaibigan mo? Gaga! Galingan mo pa ang pagbebenta mo kay Killian, hindi pa tumatalab!" Pang-aasar niya kay Angelyn.

Kung kinukuha lang agad ni kamatayan ang mga taong nagsisinungaling, siguradong siya ang nasa unahan sa listahan. She kept lying about what she really feels for his ex bestfriend. Ex bestfriend dahil matagal ng certified asungot sa buhay niya, manliligaw, at boarder sa unit niya si Killian.

She's not yet ready to admit to him and to herself that she might be feeling the same way. Krizzia's mind were having a battle. Kung nagugustuhan na ba niya si Killian dahil gusto na ng puso niya? O nagugustuhan niya lang ito dahil laging nasa tabi niya si Killian and he was just that 'Panakip butas' to her shitty and messy life.

Hindi pa siya sigurado.

Even though she feels butterflies in her stomach, that sweet sensation every time he'll touch her, t'wing tumatalon ang puso niya kapag hinahalikan siya nito.

Krizzia was scared of the possible outcome if she say those words.

"Nagtatampo ako sayo," Agad siyang lumingon kay Angelyn dahil sa sinabi nito. "We're friends for God knows how long! Bakit hindi mo sa akin sinabi na lagi kang isini-set ng mommy mo sa mga blind dates? Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin na ganoon pala ang trato niya sayo simula noong mangyari ang insidente na 'yon? Ang sabi mo ayos lang naman. But I was really surprised when she suddenly caused a scene... Tapos, nakita pa kita na halos hindi na gumalaw."

Umawang ang labi niya. Angelyn smiled and held her hand.

"It's okay, I understand. But please, if pupunta ka ulit sa doctor mo for therapy isama mo ako. Ayoko na mag-isa ka lang doon."

Mas lalong umawang ang labi niya.

"P-paano mo na-nalaman?" Nauutal na tanong niya rito.

"Let's just say... Nakita ka ng asawa ko?" Angelyn chuckled.

Natahimik si Krizzia. Si Killian lang ang may alam sa kalagayan niya, she already perfected the act of being normal even though she's shaking inside. Every day she felt like she's in a battlefield, nakikipaglaban sa takot at sa mga imahe na namumuo sa utak niya.

She was doing her best to be happy. To forget the past. But she just can't. Especially if she's still with someone that reminds her what happened years ago.

"Sa... Next Saturday, are you free?" Alanganin na tanong ni Krizzia kay Angelyn.

"I will clear my schedule and Kyst schedule for you!" She chirped.

Krizzia smiled genuinely. She's lucky that she have friends who'll stay in her side. For better or for worse.

KRIZZIA and Angelyn was too excited to learn a new teaching technique, agad silang naghanap nang maganda map-pwestuhan, 'yung makikita sila at maririnig nang maayos ang speaker. They're always been like this.

Never silang naiinip sa mga seminar na ina-attend-an nilang dalawa. As long as it will benefit them, new knowledge, new ways of teaching para hindi ma bored ang mga bata. Kids loves to play, as a elementary teacher, they need to balance both. Playing while learning.

"Hi? Ngayon lang kita nakita dito," A tall guy suddenly popped up on her side. Para itong kabuti na sumulpot. Krizzia was so sure na ang katabi niya kanina ay isang may edad nang babae.

Kinalbit niya si Angelyn dahil baka ito ang kinakausap. But Angelyn was preoccupied with her phone, mukhang kausap na naman ang asawa na hindi mapakali kapag wala sa bahay o sa school si Angelyn. In some ways, Si Kyst ay parang si Killian lang. Parang mga linta na mahirap tanggalin. Dikit ng dikit.

Mabuti nalang talaga at busy si Killian. Sumasama ang isang 'yon kapag may seminar siyang pinupuntahan.

"Oh, by the way. I'm Bryan Castillo." Pakilala nito at inilahad ang kamay nito sa harapan niya.

Alanganin na ngumiti si Krizzia sa lalaki. She felt uneasy all of a sudden. Maybe because it's a man and Killian wasn't around.

But she doesn't want to be rude. Nakipag kamay siya sa lalaki at tipid na ipinakilala ang sarili.

"Krizzia."

"Nice to meet you, Krizzia. First time?" He asked again. Hindi ba siya mauubusan ng tanong?

She doesn't feel like talking, kaya tipid lang siyang umiling.

"That's surprising! Hindi kita nakikita kapag may seminar, imposible naman na makatakas sa paningin ko ang ganyang klase ng ganda." Nakangising ani nito.

Hindi na naitago ni Krizzia ang pag ngiwi. Ano ba ang gustong palabasin nito? Alam naman niyang maganda siya, hindi na 'yon kailangan ipangalandakan.

"Want to have a lunch date with me after this? Hindi ko pwedeng palampasin ang isang tulad mo." He said.

Krizzia pressed her lips together. Pasimple na niyang kinurot ang binti ni Angelyn para makuha ang atensyon nito, talking to the man doesn't feel right. It's like she's talking to the countless man she dated.

"Good morning, the seminar is about to start in 5 minutes. Please settle down..." Tumuon ang pansin niya sa harapan. May isang teacher doon na nagbibigay ng instructions and such.

She totally forgot the man for a seconds. Kumunot ang noo niya nang maramdaman na pilit ibinabangga ng lalaki ang binti nito sa binti niya, she gulped and looked down, his hand was placed on his thighs, pero ang mga daliri nito ay pasimpleng hinihipo ang hita niya. Fear consumed her but she forced herself to be calm.

Nandito siya para matuto at mag enjoy.

"Hi, pwede ba kayong mag change seat? Nahihirapan kasi huminga kasama ko."

Krizzia sighed in relief when she heard Angelyn talking to the man beside her. Agad naman itong tumayo at lumapit sa kanya at inabutan pa siya ng malamig na mineral bottle water. She simply smiled and did not forget to thank him.

The whole seminar was fun. They learned something at excited na si Krizzia na gamitin ang natutunan niya sa mga batang tinuturuan niya. May mga fun activities pa, she have to treat Angelyn a decent meal. Kapag may group activity na ipinapagawa sa kanila, agad siya nitong hinihila at hindi hinayaan ang lalaking nagpakilala sa kanya kanina na malapitan siya. Maybe, Angelyn saw him.

Pagkatapos na pagkatapos nila. Angelyn pulled her towards the exit.

"Faster, Kyst is waiting outside!" Angelyn said in a hurry.

Kulang nalang ay kaladkarin siya nito. Nakasimangot siya habang sumusunod kay Angelyn, para siyang bata na hawak hawak nito.

"Krizzia! Hey!" Narinig niya ang boses nung lalaking kumausap kanina sa kanya. Ni hindi niya nga natandaan ang pangalan dahil wala naman siyang paki alam rito.

"Bebi!"

Krizzia's eyes widened in surprise when Killian suddenly materialized in front of her and hug her body tightly. He was smiling from ear to ear.

"What the..." She uttered. Krizzia blinked twice, hindi makapaniwala na nasa harapan niya ang asungot na si Killian.

"How's the seminar? Nag enjoy ka ba? Hmm?" Killian asked as he lift her chin.

"Krizzia! Let's have lunch..." A familiar voice said.

NAGPANTIG ang tainga ni Killian nang marinig ang lalaki na ayain mag lunch si Krizzia. His mood turned sour in a split of second, umarko ang mga kilay niya at unti unting tumoon ang mga mata niya sa lalaki.

He's tall. That's all. Kung ka gwapuhan ang pag-uusapan. He'll win, hands down.

"Who's that man? You know him?" Masuyong tanong niya kay Krizzia na nakatingin lang sa kanya. "Bebi?" Pukaw niya sa atensyon nito.

Krizzia blinked. Bahagya na umawang ang mapupulang labi nito, and damn him! He wants to kiss her until they can't breathe anymore, he wants to ravage her until they're both exhausted.

"Ha?"

"Ha?" He mocked playfully. Agad siyang umilag nang umaktong susuntukin siya ni Krizzia. "I'm asking you, who's that man?" He asked again and looked at the man who's standing few steps from them.

He was always rude when he doesn't like the person. Tinignan niya mula ulo hanggang paa ang lalaki na nakangiti habang tinitignan silang dalawa ni Krizzia, his hand automatically wrapped around Krizzia's waist. The green monster he was hiding carefully in the cage slowly resurrecting.

"I don't like him." He blurted out. Unang tingin palang ay mukha na itong gagawa ng hindi tama.

"I don't like him, neither. You don't need to be jealous? If looks could kill, that man was surely dead by now." Krizzia said and caressed his jaw.

Killian have the urge of closing his eyes, hindi sa lahat ng oras nagiging sweet sa kanya si Krizzia. Masyadong moody ang mahal niya, madalas ay palagi pa itong nauurat sa kanya. He needs to work hard.

"I'm not jealous," he said confidently. "Wala naman dapat ikaselos, alam ko naman na hindi ka papatol sa..." Lumipat ang tingin niya sa lalaki. He's still there standing. "Pangit?"

Krizzia chuckled and pinch his nose. "Tangina mo."

"What? I'm telling the truth? Bakit? Hindi ba?" Painosenteng tanong niya rito.

When it comes to insulting physical appearance, mas malala sa kanya si Krizzia. Hindi pa niya nakakalimutan ang panlalait nito sa dating principal ng school na pinagta-trabauhan nilang dalawa ni Angelyn. His heart flipped and he stilled when Krizzia initiated the kiss. She kissed him in front of that man. She kissed him in front of the people. Damn it! Heart please calm down, ayokong mahimatay sa maraming tao.

"Krizzia," The man called again and he came back to his senses. Agad na tumalim ang tingin ni Killian sa lalaki, he's still enjoying the butterflies in his stomach. "Let's meet each other again." Anito.

"Bulag ka ba? Hindi mo ba nakita na hinalikan ako? Bobo amputa." Killian burst out in anger.

"Ki!" Suway sa kanya ni Krizzia.

"I like the woman you've been holding. Sa susunod na magkikita tayo, nasa bisig ko na siya." He said.

Killian clenched his fist and wanted to hit the man's face, yung tipong maghihiram na ito ng mukha kay satanas.

"Bullshit!" Killian uttered.

"Stop, we're making a scene here. Let's go home..." Krizzia looked at him with pleading eyes.

"What? He needs to know that you're mine. And I don't share what's mine. Fuck him to death, ang tagal kitang hinintay hindi pwedeng hindi ka sa akin babagsak. Magdadabog ako Krizzia!"