"Hiro, stop it, man! What the fuck!" 

I tried so hard to stop Hiro from grabbing Haze's collar but he was too mad to listen. Haze was just looking at him with no emotion on his face while leaning on the wall. Hiro was cornering him there. 

"What did you do to Acel?!" Hiro asked with so much anger.

This was why I didn't want to tell Hiro about Acel's little crush on his brother. I knew he would react like this because he probably thought Haze made Acel fall purposely and then rejected him... Like what he always did with other people. Somehow, Hiro knew through Acel. He was crying the other day. 

"I didn't do anything," Haze said in a low voice. 

"Bullshit. You can play with other people, Haze, but I told you! Not my friends! Spare my friends! Why did you do this?!" I walked towards them to pull Hiro's wrist away from Haze. I can't believe I was witnessing them fighting. They never fought like this before. Hiro was really just protective of his friends. Our friends. 

"I told you, I did not do anything." Haze single-handedly pulled Hiro's hand away from his collar and fixed it calmly. "I rejected him already. Twice. What more do you want?" When I looked at his eyes, I saw the pain he was trying hard not to show by having an emotionless expression. 

"You're saying it as if you were forced to reject him. By now, shouldn't you be good at that already?" Hiro scoffed and shook his head, disappointed. "Don't ever touch my friends, Haze. Of all people, I know you the most." 

"Of course." Haze nodded. His voice was almost a whisper. 

Hiro just glared at him for the last time before walking out of the house to get some fresh air. He was probably starting to calm himself. I put my hands inside my pocket and looked at Haze when he sighed. He sat down on the couch and put both hands on his face, stressed out. 

"What? Are you mad at me, too?" Haze asked me when I sat down on the other chair. I just smiled and shook my head. 

"Just try to understand him. Kakalma rin 'yon mamaya." Tumingin ako sa labas kung nasaan si Hiro. "He's just really protective. He doesn't want Acel to end up with his heart broken... especially by you." 

"Am I not distancing myself already? I don't get it." Haze sighed again, massaging his temple. "I did not purposely make him fall. I helped him a lot of times when he needed help, just like what Hiro asked me to do. I had no idea he liked me until he confessed, and I rejected him already like what Hiro would have wanted." 

It went on for days. The Juarez brothers refused to talk to each other, and it became more and more awkward for me to hang out with them. Madalas pa naman ako sa bahay nina Hiro pero nabibigatan na ako sa hangin doon. Their pride wouldn't let them approach the other first, so I did it myself. 

I asked the both of them to go out for a drink without them knowing that the other will be there. I arrived first at a rooftop bar, then Hiro followed. We were already drinking when Haze arrived. Haze was just about to leave when he saw Hiro seated in front of me, but I called him. 

"You're here already. Just drink... unless your alcohol tolerance went low already," I provoked him. 

Haze didn't even think twice and sat on a rounded table between Hiro and me in the middle chair. He silently poured himself a shot and then drank it. Hiro did the same. Both of them were so quiet I started thinking if this was really a good idea. 

Both of them already had three fucking bottles, and they were still not saying anything to each other. No one was also getting drunk. Well, I didn't expect us to get drunk. The three of us can stay here until tomorrow and still be sober. 

"Just say something. I'm getting fucking bored here," I told them. It was about time to hear something from them. 

Haze sighed and shook his head. "Fine. As the bigger person, I'll talk first..." 

"Oh, hell, no..." Hiro sounded so done with his brother. He just drank another shot and shook his head. 

"I don't understand why you're still mad when I already distanced myself from your friend the moment he confessed to me because I honestly didn't like him at all. I also went out with other people, so why are you still mad?" Haze was so calm, but it still sounded like a complaint. 

"I'm not mad anymore. I'm sorry for what happened the other day," Hiro said, looking away. "I just got mad because Acel was crying then." 

Upon hearing that, the look on Haze's face changed. He refused to talk and just took continuous shots. It was so obvious that it bothered him. 

"He was crying because he likes you, and it hurts him seeing you go out with other people. He also said he thought you liked him too because you were treating him so nicely, but apparently, it wasn't the case... that you were just nice to him because he was your brother's friend," I explained because Haze couldn't manage to ask why. 

"Fact. That's a fact. I was nice to him because Hiro told me to help him out. You were the one who told me to be nice, brother," he blamed Hiro. "How could you complain now?"

"I told you to help him out, not flirt with him." Hiro glared at his brother. I knew they were going to start again. 

"If being nice is what you call flirting, then you're a fucking flirt, too," Haze hissed, which made me massage the side of my head. Why can't they just talk properly? "I never flirted with him. I would never do that." 

There was complete silence again, so I sighed and ordered another bottle of whiskey. If they wouldn't talk, then they should just drink it out. Their anger towards each other motivated them to get into a drinking competition without actually saying that they were trying to compete. They just started drinking more. Kapag umiinom 'yong isa, iinom din 'yong isa. They were even glaring at each other. 

"Both of you are kids," I said, shaking my head. 

Five bottles of gin down and two more bottles of whiskey, and they still won't stop. I walked to the edge of the rooftop to lean on the railings and smoke, leaving both of them. I just looked at the buildings while smoking. When I came back, they were still going at it. 

Haze paid the rooftop bar more, so they would let us extend our stay there. They were fucking monsters in drinking. I was already getting sleepy while they were still drinking. Tumayo na lang ulit ako at nagsindi ng yosi. I even got the chance to get a nice view of the sunrise while smoking. 

"The sun is already out. Let's go home," I told them when I came back. "Both of you should stop. That's not water-" 

"I like him now," Haze suddenly said, putting the shot glass down on the table. "I didn't before... but I do now."

Hiro glanced at him for a moment before closing his eyes and letting out a heavy sigh like he expected his brother to say that. After that, he took one last shot before he stood up. 

"You better mean that," he said before walking away. 

Haze took another shot before he left bills in the table. Sabay kaming lumabas at sumunod kay Hiro pababa ng rooftop bar. "Do you guys want to have breakfast?" tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa. 

Good thing both of them nodded. We suddenly decided to go to Tagaytay to have our brunch while we were at it. They started talking casually while eating, which was a good sign that they already made up. I thought Hiro will be more stubborn about it. 

When we went back, we saw Acel waiting outside the Juarez residence. Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo pero ako na ang naunang lumapit at umakbay sa kaniya. "You didn't say you will visit," I said, dragging him with me inside. 

He said he just had to go to Manila to visit his family and then decided to visit us too. Haze walked past him and went straight upstairs as Acel watched him go away. Nang tumingin siya pabalik sa akin, ngumiti lang ako sa kaniya at umupo na sa may couch. 

"I haven't slept a wink." Pumikit ako habang nakasandal sa couch. "Those two just can't be stopped." 

"Did they drink a lot?" Umupo siya sa tabi ko at sinundan ng tingin si Hiro na pumunta sa kusina para uminom ng tubig. Acel looked worried for the brothers. Parang alam niya pang nag-away 'yong dalawa. 

"Until sunrise." 

I looked at my phone when it rang and I saw Elyse calling. Antok na antok na ako pero tumayo pa rin ako at nagpaalam kay Acel. I told him I'd be back after going to my sister to pick her up. 

When I dropped Elyse off at the mansion, Tita Erin asked me to join them for dinner. I didn't even realize it was almost dinnertime. Sobrang traffic sa Manila. 

"I haven't slept, so I really need to go home," I turned her down.

"Kuya, please? Wala na nga si Daddy, you won't join us pa!" When I heard that Alfred wasn't around, I considered joining them kasi hindi ko na nabibisita si Elyse madalas. That wasn't what I promised her. 

I went down the car and walked with them to the dining area. No matter how awkward it was, Tita Erin still tried to make me feel welcome. I just remained silent while eating dinner. 

"Mommy, maybe you can convince Kuya to join Dad's birthday party!" Elyse told her mom. Tita Erin parted her lips and didn't know what to do.

"Elyse, don't say that, anak," she scolded her and gave me an apologetic look. "If your brother doesn't want to, do not force him, okay? Don't do that next time." 

I just gave her a small smile to give my thanks, then finished my food. I kept on looking at the time because Alfred might be coming home in a moment now. Minadali ko tuloy ang pagkain ko at tumayo na para magpaalam. I honestly didn't know what to feel about Tita Erin's kindness. Whenever I saw her, I was just reminded of my memories when I was a child, seeing them talk behind my mother's back. 

I was so damn sleepy I already passed out when I got home. I woke up around noon with Acel sending me lots of messages to ask if I arrived home safely. Fuck, I forgot that I told him I'd be back. I was about to text him back when his last messages caught my attention. 

From: Acel 

what do i do? i heard hiro and haze talking about me yes im still here i slept in the guest room

From: Acel

WTF DUDE I HEARD HIM SAY HE LIKES ME 

From: Acel

i'm scared im omw to u

As soon as I read that last message, I heard a doorbell. Tumayo kaagad ako at pinagbuksan si Acel. He looked like he was so out of it. Nakatulala lang siya nang umupo siya sa couch, hindi nagsasalita. 

"What do I do now?" he whispered. "I... haven't been in a relationship before." 

I laughed at him and handed him a glass of water. "You should be happy that he likes you back now." 

"Huh..." he whispered, shaking his head. "It's so awkward."

***

"Why are you feeling so awkward, Ke? I thought you guys already knew each other." 

Awkward. Ang awkward. Nakaiwas pa rin ako ng tingin habang nasa harapan ng table namin si Ciandrei, hindi alam ang gagawin. I... certainly did not want to remember what I just remembered. Kaya pala kinalimutan ko dahil nararapat lang kalimutan. 

Why?! Just why would I say that?! Nakakahiya. Hindi ako 'yon. Hindi ko pinalaki ang sarili kong ganoon. I was just drunk! I didn't mean that. Tama... Tama! I can just ask like I couldn't remember since I was drunk! 

"Hi," I said. My voice even broke, which made Sam laugh. I bit my lower lip and looked away, feeling so embarrassed now. "Dito ka pala nakatira..."

"I stay here when I have classes," he told me. I forgot that his law school was located in Taguig. 

"Akala ko sa TAFT ka." Iyon kasi ang binigay sa aking address ng staff niya sa coffee shop noong naiwan ko ang plates ko. I didn't know he had another condo. 

"I have three condos," he said, laughing a little. "I'm staying here more often now since I don't go to the café anymore." 

Why did he suddenly decide not to go? Was it because of me? Because I said I wanted to get to know him more and I scared him? Pucha naman! Ayaw kong itanong dahil baka isipin niyang naaalala ko. Dapat doon ay kinakalimutan na. 

"I'll just pay in the counter." Biglang tumayo si Sam. Tiningnan ko siya, nagmamakaawang huwag akong iwan pero ngumiti lang siya sa akin. "You can sit here, Shan, while waiting for your order." 

At iniwan na nga niya kaming dalawa! Umupo si Ciandrei sa harapan ko at umiwas ng tingin. He was looking everywhere but me. It just became more awkward for us. Bakit... Bakit ko ba kasi sinabi 'yon?! 

"About what happened last time..." I opened it up. Napatingin tuloy siya sa akin, hinihintay ang sasabihin ko. "I can't remember, but if I said anything... I didn't mean that." 

He stared at me for a few seconds before laughing and looking away again. "You're not a good liar," he said, smiling. 

"Hindi ko nga matandaan!" Sinubukan kong panindigan ang kasinungalingan ko pero hindi pa rin siya naniwala. 

Natahimik kaming dalawa at tanging mga taong dumadaan at mga sasakyan lang ang naririnig ko. Kung saan-saan na rin ako tumitingin para lang makaiwas sa kaniya. It became more and more awkward as time passed by. 

"I've been busy with law school," he said after a long silence. "That's why I don't go to the café anymore. It's not about something you said." 

"Hindi ko naman sinabi 'yan," tanggi ko agad. 

"You were assuming that," he said like he knew everything going inside my mind. The side of his lips rose up and formed a smirk when he looked at my face. "Thanks for the follow back." 

"I was drunk when I did that. It doesn't count," pagtatanggol ko na naman sa sarili ko. Busy, huh... "Busy pero sa IG story niya, nagpa-party siya." I stopped when I realized that I said that unconsciously. 

Narinig ko ang tawa niya sa sinabi ko. "It was my friend's birthday," pagpapaliwanag niya. "I think you actually missed me." 

Napakunot kaagad ang noo ko at tiningnan siya, nandidiri. "Alam mo, mas mabuti ngang hindi kita nakikita sa café. Mas gumaganda ang araw ko." 

"I heard from my staff that you don't even go there anymore..." He played with his lower lip using his finger. "Were you also busy?" 

"With what?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. 

"Dating?" He raised a brow too, hindi nagpapatalo. Hindi ako makapaniwalang lumabas iyon sa bibig niya. Dating?! Ako?! Sino naman ang ide-date ko?! 

"Wala 'yan sa plano ko." Umirap ako sa kaniya at lumingon sa may restaurant para hanapin si Samantha. Bakit ba ang tagal noon? Heto na nga... Kaya naman pala ang tagal dahil may nakasalubong kaibigan at nag-uusap na sila ngayon. Iniwan niya na talaga ako rito. 

"How about today? Do you have plans today?" he asked, getting hopeful. 

"Wala, bakit?" nagtatakang tanong ko. 

Tumayo siya para kuhanin ang order niya at kinausap pa si Samantha. Pagkatapos noon ay bigla na lang niya akong sinenyasan tumayo. Sumunod naman ako na parang sira, nagtataka pa rin kung bakit. 

"Let's go," aya niya sa akin. 

"Huh? Saan?!" Hinawakan niya ang palapulsuhan ko para tangayin ako. Nanghingi ako ng tulong kay Sam pero kumaway lang siya sa akin at hinayaan ako! "Hoy, saan mo 'ko dadalhin, huh?" 

"We're going on a date," he said. Napaawang ang labi ko nang bumaba ang kamay niya at dahan-dahang hinawakan ang kamay ko. He intertwined my hand with his and walked slower so I could catch up. 

Natulala ako sa kaniya at hindi makapagreklamo habang naglalakad dahil hawak-hawak niya ang kamay ko! I felt something in my stomach that I didn't want to feel! Ano 'to?! Bakit ko nararamdaman 'to?! 

Umupo ako sa isa sa mga benches sa high street habang bumibili siya ng ice cream. Pagbalik niya, inabot niya sa akin 'yong isang cone at hinawakan na naman ang kamay ko para itayo ako. I was still so confused! Ano bang nangyayari? 

"You have five questions. You can ask me anything." He let go of my hand when we started walking again while eating our ice cream. 

"You own Yesterday's Coffee?" Iyon kaagad ang lumabas sa bibig ko. Tumango naman siya. I already knew the answer but I just had to confirm! Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. "How?" 

"My mom owned it and transferred it to me," pagpapaliwanag niya. 

"Sam said you're a Lopez-Ledezma but you're only using Lopez... Why?" Iyon din ang nakita ko sa I.D niya sa law school. Pati sa Instagram ay iyon na ang gamit niya. 

"Because my mom and Alfr-" He stopped and cleared his throat. "Because my mom and dad separated when I was a kid. I lived with my mom, so I've been using her surname until now."

Tumango-tango ako, nag-iisip ng susunod na itatanong. "Bakit Psychology?" 

"I'm interested in the mind. You only have one more question left. You better make it nice," pagpapaalala niya sa akin. 

"Have we met before?" tanong ko bigla. 

Natigilan siya sa paglalakad at humarap sa akin, mukhang gulat sa tanong ko. The more I spent time with him, the more I realized that he was pretty familiar. He looked like he didn't know what to answer.

"I'm not sure..." He looked up, thinking. "It's a small world. We might have already met." Sabagay, tama naman siya, lalo na at may mutual friends pala kaming dalawa. We probably already existed in one place at the same time. Baka nga nasa iisang party rin kami noon. 

Five questions lang ang binigay niya sa 'kin. Kung kailan tapos na, saka ako nakaisip ng mga magagandang itatanong! Ano ba naman 'yan! 

"Can I ask you questions too?" Kinain ko na ang huling piece ng cone ko nang lumingon ako sa kaniya. 

"Five," sagot ko sa kaniya. "You only have five questions." 

"Why were you eating alone the night we first met?" He was pertaining to our one-night stand. "And second, why did you agree to have sex? You seem like you're not the type to just come up with that decision." 

Nakakita ako ng milk tea stall kaya lumapit ako at bumili habang pinag-iisipan ang isasagot ko sa kaniya. I paid for them since he paid for the ice cream. 

"I was lonely," sagot ko pagkaabot ko sa kaniya ng cup. "I wanted to feel brave that night. Iyon lang 'yon. Pinagsisihan ko rin naman kinabukasan." 

"Why did you pay me?" May halong galit pa yata ang tanong niya. "Did you think I do that for a living?" 

"Huh?" Napakunot ang noo ko, hindi alam kung ano ang sinasabi niya hanggang sa maalala ko ang perang iniwan ko. "Ah, 'yong pambayad ko ng pagkain? Sira, para sa pagkain ko 'yon!" Natawa ako, naiintindihan na ngayon kung bakit siya nagalit noon. Akala niya ba ay binayaran ko siya? 

Tawa ako nang tawa at muntik pa akong masamid sa iniinom ko habang naglalakad kami. Napapailing na lang siya sa akin, hinihintay akong tumigil. Nakakatawa naman talaga! 

"Last question... Who was it? The one you're seeing in your dreams. You don't have to answer." Natigilan ako sa katatawa nang tanungin niya 'yon. I knew... At some point that he would ask that. Actually, dapat dati pa niya tinanong. 

"My ex." Binigyan ko siya ng tipid na ngiti bago nag-inat, acting like it wasn't a big deal. "Hay... Kaka-workout ko lang tapos puro ganito na kinakain ko." 

"I actually don't drink this..." He showed me the cup. Huh? Nakalahati na niya! "It's too sweet. I can do it better." 

"Bakit ininom mo pa? Akin na nga." Sinubukan kong kuhanin sa kamay niya pero tinaas niya para hindi ko maabot. "Palit na lang tayo. Ito, hindi matamis." Binigay ko sa kaniya iyong akin at tinanggap naman niya. Pinagpalit ko pa ang straw naming dalawa.

"You do realize that we already made out, right?" Tumaas ang kilay niya pero pumayag pa rin namang makipagpalit. 

Wala pa masyadong bukas na stores kasi maaga pa kaya naman tumambay muna kami roon sa may upuan. Noong nakapagpalipas na ng oras, I went to some art shop to look for some art materials and then went to the bookstore. 

"Kailan next shift mo?" curious na tanong ko. "Para alam ko kung anong araw ang iiwasan ko." 

"Come on, Kierra. If you miss me that much, you can visit my unit here in BGC," natatawang sabi niya habang nagtitingin ng libro. "I'm just finishing some readings. You can have me back in a week, princess." 

I cringed so bad and just left him there because of what he said. Sumunod naman kaagad siya sa akin hanggang sa makalabas na kami ng bookstore. "Uuwi na ako. Baka hinahanap na ako ng pinsan ko." 

"How are you going home?" Pinagkrus niya ang braso sa dibdib niya at nakangisi na naman. "I think your friend already left you..." 

Pucha, oo nga 'no?! Iniwan na nga pala ako ni Samantha pagkatapos niya akong dalhin dito! Nilabas ko na lang ang phone ko para mag-book ng transpo kaso hinawakan niya ang kamay ko para pigilan ako. 

"I'll take you home," he offered. 

"Huh?! Home?! Sa condo mo?!" Gulat na gulat ako, hindi inaasahang aayain niya na ako kaagad sa condo niya! Sinasabi ko na nga ba at may balak siya! "Ang aga-aga, Ciandrei." Tinuro ko pa ang araw. 

"Your home, not my home," he corrected, trying to stop himself from smiling. "I mean, if you want to come live with me, I'm also down for that..." He playfully winked. 

Sa sobrang hiya ko, nag-init ang pisngi ko at umiwas ng tingin. Bakit ba palagi na lang mali ang nasasabi ko?! Pinapahiya ko lang ang sarili ko. Hindi na ako 'to. 

"You want to see my unit?" he suddenly offered. "I'll also get my car there." 

Umiling ako sa kaniya. "Ayaw ko."

"Bakit? Dahil maaga pa?" pang-aasar niya at tumingin pa sa langit habang nakatakip ang isang kamay sa may taas ng kilay. "That sucks. We have to wait until evening then..." 

"Tara na nga!" inis na sabi ko at nauna nang maglakad na parang alam ko kung saan. "Bwisit... Ganito mo siguro inaaya 'yong mga ka-fubu mo..." bulong ko pa. 

"You're the first woman I ever invited there, though," he proudly said, smirking. 

________________________________________________________________________________

:)