I was about to ask Jhon Rey to be with me for lunch, but he had already left. Hindi siya nagpaalam? Or maybe it was urgent. Anyway, I'll just ask Anne.

"Jhunel was absent?" Bungad niyang tanong sa akin.

Tumango ako. "We had a little problem earlier, and he walked out."

"Why?"

I told her everything that happened earlier this morning.

"Oh, I see. Maybe he needs time. It's a good thing you didn't follow him. Anyway, did your future husband already leave you, and if so, where is he?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Sabay na lang tayong kumain."

"Wow, parang wala kang choice."

Natawa naman ako sa sinabi niya. Naglakad na kami papunta sa cafeteria. When we finally sat at our table and began eating, Anne questioned me abruptly, "So how was your wedding preparation?"

"Hmm... okay naman. Everything is fine. My dress and the rings are ready, and our parents are the ones who have been so busy these past few days preparing documents for renting a venue," I elaborated.

She gave me a couple of nods. "Well, a wedding is some kind of a hassle if you're planning it alone. Thank God, they were helping you out since they wanted it in the first place, so they should have also helped the majority."

"Yeah," I agreed. "I have no idea about wedding ceremonies and such, so I really need a hand."

"So you're finally doing it. I can't believe that you're at that stage of your life. Pakiramdam ko I lost a lot of moments with you. Bakit hindi tayo maghold ng bachelorette's party or bridal shower?"

I grinned. "As if we had a lot of friends. We're just two, Anne."

"Then let's do it even if we're just two. Let's go to the bar, and let's party!" Her eyes lit up in excitement.

"Have you, for some reason, forgotten that I am expecting a child?" I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, right. I forgot! I'm sorry, baby. Your auntie is now becoming forgetful." She caressed my tummy like she was talking to my baby. "But don't worry; I'll give you a lot of gifts when you come out."

Natawa naman ako kasi kinausap niya 'yong tiyan ko.

"Anyway, basta pumunta tayo sa bar pero hindi tayo iinom. Promise." Itinaas niya pa ang kanan niyang kamay. Muntik pa nga 'yong kaliwa, buti napansin niya kaagad. Si Anne talaga!

"Tsk. I know you, Anne! Hindi mo ako maloloko! Siguradong iiniom ka!" I yelled while giving her the look.

"Syempre! Kapag kinasal ka na, mapupunta na 'yong focus mo sa asawa mo and sa baby mo, mawawalan ka na ng time sa akin. Isama na lang natin si Derrick so kahit malasing ako, may maghahatid sa 'yo. Basta, labas tayo!" she insisted. Wala pa ngang inuman na nangyayari pero parang may amats na siya.

Hindi ako sumagot dahil iniisip ko pa kung papayag ba ako sa gusto niya. I saw her change her expression. She frowned. "Aaron told me that they had a bachelor party as well."

I was in awe. "Jhon Rey never brought it up."

"Eh di huwag mo ring sabihin sa kaniya. And we'll do it the same night as theirs para hindi nila malaman na umalis din tayo," she insisted. "Please? I promise I won't invite a man, and I'll take care of all the preparations so you don't have to think about it."

I asked her while sipping an orange juice, "Why are you doing this?"

"I'm doing this for you so you can at least enjoy."

Hindi ako kumbinsido. "Really? Then what's in it for you?" I teased her. I can see that she's kind of hiding something. I mean, her hidden agenda was why she was into doing a bachelorette party for the both of us.

She sighed in defeat. "Tsk. Aaron is going out of his academy not because of me but because of their event. I always told him to at least make some time to meet me personally, but he always declined, like I wasn't that important to him."

Natawa ako. "So you're like this when it comes to him?" Hindi ko inakalang naiinggit pala ang matigas na katulad niya.

She bit her lip.

"Fine, fine. Let's do this, but promise me you will not bring someone else, and let's just go to a simple restaurant instead and not to a bar."

"Alright! Alright!" Ang laki ng ngiti niya habang tumatango matapos akong mapapayag. She was also slapping her hands on the table. Sa bagay may point naman din siya. Kapag natapos na ang kasal, hindi na lang sarili ko ang aatupagin ko, kundi pati ang asawa ko at maging ang anak ko.

Bumalik na kami sa room after lunch. Narinig kong nakabalik na rin daw pala sila Dean from the tour. Bibisita pala ako sa kaniya mamaya.

I saw Jhon Rey came back and I tried to smile at him, pero tinanguan niya lang ako bago siya umupo sa upuan niya. I turned to look at him, but all I caught was him staring at the board. What's with him?

Siya nga 'tong hindi nagsasabi na may bachelor's party sila. Anyway, hindi naman niya ako kailangang i-inform kaya hindi ko rin sasabihin sa kaniya na lalabas din kami ni Anne.

I hurried outside after the afternoon class was over to visit the dean's office. Baka kasi umuwi na rin si Dean. I should take this chance to apologize to her.

I knocked and I heard her command me to enter. Oh, so she's still here. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto bago pumasok. After briefly looking at me, she returned her focus to the files in front of her.

"What brought you here, Miss Velasco?" she asked while still looking at what she was doing.

I bit my lip and tried to muster up the courage to start. "I want to apologize for what I did last time, Dean."

She gave a nod. "Can you bring me those files beside you?"

"Y-yes, Dean." Agad kong kinuha 'yong isang tumpok ng file na hindi naman ganoon kabigat at saka ko dinala papunta sa table niya.

"Oh," bulalas ko nang mapansin ko ang pangalan ni Jhon Rey sa papel na nasa unahan. "Jhon Rey?"

Dean glanced at me. "That information is for UAAP trainees," she mentioned.

"But Jhon Rey has already quitted," I said with a glimpse of regret.

"But Jhon Rey has already resigned," I said with a glimpse of regret.

"Yeah, I heard that too. What a waste."

I took another look at Jhon Rey's document and noticed his 2x2 picture. Napangiti ako. Ang cute naman mukhang mabait.

Pero nawala ang ngiti ko nang may mabasa ako. "He's an athlete and once dreamed to be a professional basketball player," basa ko sa nakasulat sa document ni Jhon Rey.

"Yes, hindi ba niya nasabi sa 'yo? He was actually a pro player at his previous university, but because he was stubborn, he got fired," kwento ni Dean na siyang ikinagulat ko.

"Tinanggal po siya?" I repeated it out of shock.

"Yes, I'm not sure if it was because he was so devastated at the time, but he really changed a lot after he was separated from his ex-girlfriend."

I continued to stare while scowling. "Dean, h-how did you learn all of this information about Jhon Rey?"

"Oh, have I not mentioned it before? Jhon Rey is my nephew. His mother and I are sisters."

I was surprised to just notice how she resembles Jhon Rey's mother. It was because they were siblings! Woah! I had no idea that I was currently speaking with a member of Jhon Rey's family, and when I realized this, I was mortified.

"Ah, I remember now why I never told you; it was because of that reaction. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

I merely smiled a little because I was at a loss for words.

"Is that all that brought you here? To apologize?"

I nodded. "Yes, Dean, I do sincerely apologize for how I have acted."

"Alright, promise me you won't do it again. I'll see you at the wedding."

Napanganga ako. So she will be there too? The nervousness rushed through my system.

I bid her farewell so that she wouldn't be bothered by what she was doing.

Grabe. So kaya pala ganoon na lang 'yong way ng pakikipag-usap ni Jhon Rey sa kaniya before because she was his aunt and kilala na siya nito. Now I know why Jhon Rey previously claimed that Dean could reject him from transferring here since she knows what he's like, and who can turn down their relatives, right?

Well, Jhon Rey is a good man, though.

Sometimes, when he chooses to be one.

I nearly laughed to myself because of those thoughts, but my smile disappeared immediately when I ran into someone. Jhon Rey's face appeared when I turned to look up.

"Oh, you're here?" I mumbles.

"Yup, I searched for you after you abruptly left the room."

"Bakit mo 'ko hinanap?" Tanong kong muli bago ko siya sinabayan sa paglakad.

"Dahil ihahatid kita pauwi."

"Huwag mong sabihing pinalayas mo na naman si Derrick? Pareho kayo ni Jhunel! Mawawalan na ng trabaho 'yong tao dahil sa inyo."

"Jhunel na naman," bulong niya na narinig ko.

"Huh?" Nilingon ko siya at nakita kong magkasalubong ang mga kilay niya. "What's your problem?" I asked.

"It's always been you."

I shrieked. Ako ang problema niya? Ano na namang ginawa ko?

Pumasok na siya sa kotse niya at ganoon din ako.

"What did I do?" inosente kong tanong.

"You," he firmly said. "Binitiwan mo ang kamay ko para habulin si Jhunel."

I was too stunned to speak.

So that was it? Kaya pala simula no'n ay parang hindi niya ako pinansin.

"Tsk. Akin na. Give me your hand. Let me hold it again," sambit ko at hinawakan ang kamay niya. Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti. Pakiramdam ko muli na naman kaming nagtake ng isang step towards each other.

"Ganun na lang 'yon?" he questioned me, seeming unsatisfied with what I had done.

"Why? What do you want?"

"Kiss me."