"Let's make this thing clear, Sheen May. I am going to say everything I discovered in exchange for us dating again."

I gasped, looking for a way out of his bait. "Tell me what you discovered and give me solid proof of it. If I am convinced, I will consider dating you again." I never let his eyes look away from me. I want him to see that I am dead serious this time, even though my heart is beating like it's in a serious war, afraid of what I will discover if I choose to uncover those traps.

"Alright, I will tell you everything after this project."

Napakunot ang noo ko. "Bakit hindi pa ngayon?"

"So you won't have a choice but to stick to me."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I don't have a choice. God knows how I really hate you," I responded.

"I know; that's why I'm here to fix everything. I want you back, Sheen."

I tried to maintain my composure despite what he said. Anne is really right; maybe this freaking man thought I was still madly in love with him. But the hell, no. Not anymore.

"Bakit? Bakit gusto mo akong bumalik sa 'yo?"

And there he is, in silence. I was about to laugh because I could see his insincerity. I may be harsh, but that's what he deserves. I am not going to let my guard down again.

"I'm not coming back, Jhunel. Never again."

I decided to leave and just go to the mall alone. Gusto kong maglakad-lakad. Masyadong maraming gumugulo sa utak ko. Actually, hindi ako pwedeng mag-isa dahil kapag naiiwan akong mag-isa, I tend to talk to myself. Discuss my problems. Overthink. Lahat sa utak ko... Ang bigat. Ang gulo. Na alam kong hindi ko masosolusyunan na ako lang.

Hindi ko namalayang nakarating na pala ako sa arcade. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako narito. Nakita ko na lang sa kamay ko ang isang punpon ng tokens. I wasn't aware because my mind is out of my brain.

I dropped the token in the coin slot and grabbed the gun to play Time Crisis 5. It is the latest installment in the popular Time Crisis series. I am not a fan of this, pero parang interesting siyang laruin dahil nasa mood akong pumatay ng tao. I mean, I should release my anger in this game instead. I should kill this bunch of guys because they are stressing me out. They did nothing but cause me despair.

Ipinunta ko ang atensyon ko sa screen dahil malapit nang magsimula ang laro. Handa na akong maging murderer nang biglang may isang lalaking naghulog din ng token into the same coin slot of the shooting game I was about to play. We became two players. I frowned at the thought that Jhunel had followed me here, but I saw someone else.

Suddenly, my mind was distracted. I am distracted by the thought that this guy is with me.

"Jhon rey..." pagtawag ko sa kaniya. He looked at me and smiled. "Can I join?"

"S-sure," bulalas ko, still in shock kung bakit siya narito.

I didn't realize the shooting game had already started. I couldn't immediately focus on the game since he was here. Like he's the real meaning of adrenaline rush. He's way too handsome to distract me. Idagdag pa na hindi naman talaga ako marunong maglaro nito. Ang alam ko lang ay kailangan kong itutok ang baril sa kalaban. Nothing less, nothing more. I was here to put my frustration in this game pero hindi ko magawa dahil ang dami ko nang kahihiyan na nakita niya, dadag pa ito.

"Use the pedal," wika ni Jhon Rey na siyang hindi ko naman naintindihan.

"P-pedal?" I asked confusedly. I saw his feet, and it is on the top of the pedal he is talking about. May apakan pala sa ibaba?

I stepped on the pedal he was pointing at, but I didn't know what it was for. Honestly, para talaga akong timang dito. I'm just stuck in a barrel, and in this situation, when I clearly just wanted to hold a gun and kill, he came. I never imagined I would meet him in this place.

"Use the pedal so you can stand up and kill them. You're actually hiding when you're not stepping on the pedal."

I gasped and nodded. So that's the purpose of this pedal I'm stepping on.

"Not like that; you should focus on the opponent," he commented.

"Nagfo-focus naman ako," I answered, and I fired my gun, pero hindi ko alam kung nakakapuntos ba ako because there was a lot of mess and heavy sounds coming from the game. Gusto ko lang namang pumatay. Why am I being pressured like this?

"Why are you closing your eyes? How can you see the opponent?" puna nya pa na siyang ikinainis ko. Gusto ko lang namang mapag-isa, bakit pa siya sasali rito? At isa pa, sa pagkakatanda ko ay iniiwasan ko siya. Bakit ko siya kinakausap? I should just leave.

"I think I am out of ammunition," I stated.

"What? Look at your screen; it's full. Doesn't your gun work? Let me see."

Nagulat ako nang lumapit siya at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Hindi, ang baril na nasa kamay ko ang hinawakan niya. Hindi, dahil nahahawakan niya rin ang kamay ko kaya technically, hinahawakan niya ako. Urgh, why am I arguing with myself?

I tried to focus my attention on the screen, even with the pleasure of staring at his hand holding mine. I recoiled when I was surprised to be shot by an opponent. I was surprised when I felt his chest behind me. He is indeed close to me. My right hand, which holds the gun, is now held by Jhon Rey's right hand, while his left hand is holding another gun. It's like he's the only one playing because he's the one holding both.

Napansin kong tumigil na ang ingay ng mga putok ng baril kaya iminulat ko ang mga mata ko at tiningnan ang screen. Tapos na. Nilingon ko si Jhon Rey upang alamin kung naroon pa siya at hindi ko inaasahang magtatagpo ang mga mata namin.

I was caught off guard. It's just a short span of time, but I feel like he has already taken me to a very distant universe. My breath became heavy and I can feel my heart beating like crazy.

He immediately got away, and so did I. I heard him clear his throat.

"Akala ko hindi talaga gumagana ang baril mo. I just realized, hindi ka lang pala marunong," pang-aasar niya, breaking the ice.

Tiningnan ko siya nang masama. Inaasar niya ba ako? "Anong sabi mo?"

"You're deaf too," he chuckles. I squinted. Is he making fun of me?

I stared at him and decided to just return the gun to the stand. A moment of silence developed between the two of us.

"Oo na. I honestly don't know how to play this game, and thank you for messing with me," I dissed, but it seems like he doesn't care about how annoyed I am. Nakangiti pa rin siya at parang nag-eenjoy sa pang-aasar sa akin.

"I am not yet doing anything. Do you want me to mess with you?" Napalunok ako at lalong napatitig sa kaniya, asking myself if I heard it right. "Uuwi ka na ba?" tanong niya.

"N-not yet." I shook my head and looked away from him.

"Are you going somewhere else?"

"O-oo."

"Where? Can I know where? Can I come along?"

I was stunned by his questions. My mind went blank. It was uncommon for a guy to ask something like that to a lady, right? Di ba? O assuming lang ako? Jumping to conclusions so soon. Should I just let him do what he wants or should I ask him what he's up to? I'm confused.

Those questions are very tricky. I don't know how to escape. As if coming here at the mall is somewhat of a mistake also.

Or am I just thinking too much?

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" he asks, giving me that innocent look. "Aren't we friends?" I'm left with no words.

"Can we be friends?" Napalunok ako. Ang mga tanong niya, tila ba nanghuhuli. Parang isang patibong.

He held out his hand waiting for me to accept his proposal. It was not long ago when I called him my Mr. Right and now he's here trying to be friends with me. Naging malinaw na sa akin na hindi ko na siya pagpapantasyahan pero bakit kung kailan ako umaatras, saka naman siya lumalapit?

I guess, being friends is good for now. At least, hindi na ako mag-iisip pa ng kung ano. Kaibigan lang. Hanggang kaibigan lang kami. I shook his hand, confirming our friendship.

A smile peeked from his lips. I could feel the warmth of his hands. My heart seemed to calm when he took my hand. I do not know why. There seemed to be a mystery flowing through my system. Hindi ko rin mapigilang isipin kung bakit ganito niya ako pakitunguhan. And I can't seem to understand, even if there are a lot of dictionaries in front of me. The answer will only come from him if I just have the courage to ask.

I'm out of breath. It seems like I'm more nervous now than when we were playing... He also held my hand earlier, but it's different now. He is literally holding my hand, palm to palm. We are holding hands. I don't want to let go of his hand anymore, somehow, I feel safe with that kind of handshake. Kung hindi pa siguro ako matatauhan na mukha na akong baliw ay hindi ko talaga babawiin ko mula sa kaniya.

"You want to eat before going home?"

Umiling ako. Tama, ayusin mo ang utak mo, Sheen May. Practice what you preach. You shouldn't be with him anymore. I shouldn't be with him dahil baka marinig niya ang tibok ng puso ko pero imbes na ang puso ko ang umingay, my tummy growled with hunger and unfortunately, he heard it. Gosh. Ilang ulit pa ba niyang mawi-witness ang mga embarrassing moment sa buhay ko?

"Your stomach isn't getting along. Come on, let's eat."

"O-okay," pagpayag ko. Guess, destiny is making its way for us to be close but I was about to go with him when my phone rang.

When I saw that mommy is calling, I answered it immediately, thinking that she just calls often and only calls when something urgent comes up.

"Mommy?" I started.

"Sheen, nasa'n ka, anak?" I seem to know the reason why she called me.

Baka narinig niya na rin ang balita, na bumalik na sa buhay ko si Jhunel. Na lumipat ito sa school ko para guluhin ako.

My family was quick to pick up news about me because apart from they have the power, business man si dad. Aside from that, I also feel like someone is monitoring my every move. Like I am being observed at any moment.

"Bakit po?" I ask to be sure.

"Your dad is looking for you."