I woke up to the smell of coffee. I immediately got up and walked out of the bedroom. Agad kong nasilayan ang gwapong mukha ni Jhon Rey na gumagaw ang kape. At kung hindi ko nga siya nakita ay hindi ko maaalalang narito ako sa pamamahay niya. Napangiti ako nang makita ko siyang naka-shirt.

Pero napatigil ako nang maalala ko ang nangyari kagabi. Napalunok ako habang hinahawakan ang mga labi ko. I still can't believe that thing happened. I am so stupid for making that move. I should never leave the room from now on.

"Coffee?" pag-aalok niya nang mapansing gising na ako. Kung paano niya ako kausapin ay para bang wala lang sa kaniya ang nangyari kagabi. Or maybe I'm just making it a big deal when it's just a kiss. But it's really embarrassing whenever I remember it!

"S-sure."

He gave me a cup of hot coffee and smiled. "You're blushing," he commented. How could I not?

Hinawakan ko ang pisngi ko. "I am not." At sinubukang itago sa kaniya ang mukha ko. "It's my natural face when I wake up."

"So you woke up being naturally beautiful?"

Inirapan ko siya. "I look like this everyday!"

"But you're getting prettier in my eyes."

A sigh escape from my lips. Is he trying to mess with me again?

I tried to change the topic, remembering the purpose of why I live here in his unit. Simply to gather information about him.

"So technically, coffee is your breakfast?" I asked as I sipped my coffee and have a sit in front of him. Pinaglalaruan ko pa ang mga paa ko na sumasayaw sa hangin na parang bata. I am wearing a pink shirt and shorts while he's wearing a lose white shirt and sweatpants.

"Yup, how about you?" tanong niya. Sinilip niya ako bago muling itinuon ang paningin sa isinasaling niyang kape. That's when I learned that the coffee he was making before was given to me.

"I prefer tea. Since I live with my parents, I'm accustomed to heavy breakfasts. After I eat, that's when I drink tea," sagot ko.

"You should have told me earlier. I got tea here." He showed me a bag of imported teas inside the cupboard.

"It's alright. Caffeine will not instantly kill me if I drink this much," biro ko.

He nods. "Would fried egg and bacon be fine for your breakfast?" He opened the refrigerator and picked up the ingredients he told me about.

"You know how to cook?" I asked while my eyebrows are raised. "Nope, I just know how to fry. I'm living by myself, so I should know the basics. How 'bout you?"

"Well, I know how to cook. I'm a woman after all. My father told me that I should learn how to cook because one day I'm going to get married. I will be the one who cooks for my husband." Tumayo ako bago kinuha ang non-stick pan at inilagay sa kalan. I saw the leftovers of our Japanese foods yesterday, especially the fried rice so I should reheat it.

"I see," he responded.

We were both in front of the stove. Siya ang nagluluto ng ulam samantalang ako ay ang nag-iinit ng mga natirang pagkain na pinaplano kong kainin ngayong agahan.

"Actually, my favorite breakfast meal is a fried egg, sunny-side-up, well-done, and a fried cheesy hotdog," paliwanag ko.

"You love processed foods?" he presumed.

"Nope, maybe I'm just used to eating that because it is hassle-free to cook."

"You know, you need to reduce the consumption of processed foods. It's also bad for the body. Those foods are hard to digest," he explained.

"I know, all too much is bad, but just as I was saying, that is all my favorite food."

We immediately finished cooking, and I was shocked when I saw the egg he fried and also the bacon. I burst into laughter because I wasn't expecting the quality of what he had prepared. I can't stop laughing because it is all burned. I didn't notice him earlier because I was consumed by what I was preparing. I shouldn't trust his basic knowledge of cooking because it is really funny.

"Why? What's wrong? Why are you laughing?"

But instead of answering him, I just laughed out loud. Every time I get to see the breakfast he made, I can't help myself. The yolk of the sunny-side-up egg is still raw, but the sides of it are already burned. The same goes for the bacon.

"Nothing. I just—I don't mean to laugh at your cooking skills but next time, let me do the work."

I've never laughed like this before. He seems to have caught my smile.

"Stop laughing. You are making me feel bad." He scratched his head. "If it's disgusting, then don't eat it." He was about to get the plate of what he prepared when I snatched it.

"There's no way we'll waste this food." I grabbed a bite and continued eating. I just can't stop laughing, even if I suppress myself. It was as if I knew his weakness now. His cute little flaw.

We ate together and had a little conversation. It's a good thing that what happened last time was never brought up.

Then we agreed that I'd take a shower first because I am that slow to prepare. So as he was taking a bath, I was fixing myself and drying my hair.

We went to our university together. As I'd expected, our classmates gave us those insulting looks, as if they were judging us if something fishy had happened. I took a breath and tried my best to calm down. I chose to ignore them and focus on myself. I sat on my chair, and Jhon Rey sat beside me.

"Ano sa tingin mo? May nangyari o wala?" rinig kong bulong ng kaklase ko.

"Mukhang meron. Mukhang pagod si Sheen."

"Same as Jhon Rey."

"Pustahan tayo."

I stare at them. Sending my message: a death threat through my eyes.

Can they just mind their own business? They always try to raise an issue, especially about me. I do not know why they are doing that or how it will benefit them.

Mabuti na lang, dumating na 'yong professor namin kaya naman nagsimula na kaagad ang klase. I tried to keep my composure and focus on the class since our final exams are near.

The class was finished, and our lunch break came. I had the opportunity to talk to Anne Marie. We both decided to talk in the cafeteria while having our lunch.

"So you're having this romantic relationship with Jhon Rey?" agad niyang tanong nang makarating kami sa cafereteria. In the same spot where we often sit during lunch.

"No, it was just a lie, Anne. We're not in a relationship. We're just friends," I clarified.

"Then bakit sinabi mo 'yon sa ex-boyfriend mo? Are you really trying to use Jhon Rey to move on?"

I shook my head. "No, of course not. It was just... I wanted Jhunel to stop bothering me anymore, and that's the only way that I thought of during that time."

"Then why did Jhon Rey hug you in front of the class? Are you two showing off?" Her eyebrows were raised while her arms were crossed.

"I don't know why he did that; maybe he's also taken by the moment. Aren't you happy that I am no longer doing the sociology project with my ex-boyfriend? Aren't you the one who's more worried about the fact that you told Jhon Rey about my address to fetch me?"

"Did I?" Her eyebrows met just like mine instantly. "I am worried about you, but I never gave your address to Jhon Rey."

"Oh, really?" nagtataka kong tanong. "Maybe I was wrong. He told me, my friend gave it to him. I thought he was talking about you. But the point here is, maybe that was meant to happen, me saying that Jhon Rey and I are dating because that made Jhunel disappear. He was always pestering me that he wanted me back. He doesn't know how and when to stop. I wanted my life to be at peace, but what was he doing? He was harassing me again. Forcing me to date him."

"So that's what you're going to do," saad niya. "You'll use Jhon Rey."

"No, Anne, I am not using anyone. I just want Jhunel to know that we will never ever get back together, but I won't use Jhon Rey. I was only with him because of this sociology project. After this, you won't see me again following him," I explained.

"Then what about you claiming that he's your Mr. Right?"

"I won't pursue him anymore, Anne. I'll stop fantasizing about things, and I'll just focus on my studies. I just hope Jhunel will never bother me again, even after he learned what I told him was a lie."

Bumuntong-hininga siya habang mariin na nakatitig sa akin. Hindi ko rin inasahan na magiging ganito kaseryoso at kabigat ang pag-uusap naming dalawa. "I've already said this before; if you want this to finish, go on and talk to your ex-boyfriend. Give him at least this chance so you can hear him explain."

"No, you know what he did. He hurt me many times. Nagsinungaling siya sa akin. I almost committed suicide because of what he had done to me. It's not so easy to forgive, Anne. If he wanted to fix it, he should have done it before and never waited for this long. He deserves all the pain in this world."

"But what he did to you doesn't give you the right to hurt him back. I know it is really hard to forgive and forget, but I am just concerned about you. Kung magpapalamon tayo sa galit, kung palagi nating iisipin ang mga sarili natin, hindi tayo makukuntento at mapapayapa. Hindi tayo magiging masaya."

Tears streamed through her eyes which caught me surprise. Sa tagpong iyon ay hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. It is the first time that I have seen her tears reach her cheeks. I didn't know what to say, and even comforting words were nowhere to be found.

I could see the pure loneliness in her eyes. Wala akong magawa para patahanin siya. Hindi rin ako makagsalita para amuin siya.

Gusto kong tanungin kung may pinagdadaanan ba siya dahil nitong mga nakaraang araw na iniisip ko ang mga problema ko, nakalimutan ko siyang tanungin kung kumusta naman ang lagay niya. Now she's crying in front of me and this situation snapped me back that I was selfish.

She's my friend but I don't think na nagagampanan kong maging kaibigan para sa kaniya. Lalo na ngayong hindi ko rin alam kung paano ko siya tutulungan. She's not really vocal with her feelings but I feel that it was me who should be blame too. I never give her a chance to tell herself, it was her who always asked me.

"What's wrong?" tanong ko at hindi ko na ring napigilang mangilid ang mga luha. Umiling siya at muli kong naalala na she was built different. Kahit na nahihirapan na siya, hindi niya sinasabi. "You know that I'm always here, Anne. Tell me, what happened."

"I can't."

Napasinghap ako. Then that hits me. May problema nga siya. "Alright. I won't force you. Tell me when you're ready."