"DON'T PICK anything stupid," I warned him as he kept on grinning while browsing the book with different tattoo ideas.

He threw me a glance for a second and was still grinning. He just ignored me and continued browsing through the book that he was holding. Did I make a bad choice by asking him to do this?

Napa-face palm nalang ako habang hinahantay si Cash na mamili ng ipapa-tattoo sa'kin. I saw him calling the tattoo artist and pointing at the book – whatever tattoo he picked for me, and I saw the tattoo artist look a bit surprised before nodding his head at Cash.

Oh, God. Anong pinili niya?! Should I back out na kaya?

The tattoo artist printed the tattoo that Cash picked. He also decided to put the tattoo on my left back shoulder, kayahindi ko talaga makikita. Pinag-usapan namin na we can't see our tattoo until tomorrow when we wake up.

I winced at the first touch of the needle into my skin. I just bit my lower lip as hard as I could.

"Does it hurt?" he asked, looking a bit worried nang sinimulan na akong tattoo-an. I nodded my head, and his face became more worried while looking at me.

Cash took a stool and sat in front of me before grabbing my hand and squeezing it. Hinayaan ko nalang siyang hawakan at paglaruan iyong daliri ko dahil ramdam ko iyong sakit ng karayom. Sabi kasi noong tattoo artist sa mga maninipis na balat at buto ang pinaka-masakit.

Sinadya siguro ni Cash na piliin iyong likod ko para makaganti sa mga ginawa ko sakaniya noon.

"Did you know that there are 54 holes in a Skyflakes cracker?" Cash suddenly blurted out. My forehead creased slightly.

"Ha? Anong sinasabi mo?"

"Do you know how many potato chips are in a can of Pringles?" he asked again, out of nowhere. Umiling ako dahil hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang nagtatanong nang ganito si Cash.

"There are exactly 100 chips," he answered, smiling.

Cash kept on spatting nonsense questions at me so that I lost track of time. I don't even feel any more pain while getting the tattoo on my back shoulder. He successfully distracted me while getting tattooed. And then, after a few more minutes, I heard the tattoo artist say, "I'm done."

Nilagyan ng cover iyong tattoo sa likod ko at sinabi sa'kin iyong mga dapat kong gawin bago ako tumayo sa pwesto ko.

"Thank you," I said to Cash. He just gave me a smile.

I told the tattoo artist what I wanted for Cash. I decided to put his tattoo on his right upper shoulder, and I picked a minimal design of a wolf inside the moon, which I saw on IG not too long ago, which means "I have a soft side and a wolf side."

Bagay na bagay sakaniya.

Cash is a mix of a soft guy and a tough guy. You would never expect that he has a soft and gentle personality that could warm your heart with his sweet gestures. I've witnessed it a lot of times. You will not notice it because of his tough façade, but if you really pay attention to him, I swear, you will see that he has the softest heart.

His eyes were fixed on mine dahil sinabihan ko siyang huwag sisilipin iyong balikat niya. I tried to distract him – just like what he did for me, but he keeps on saying that he's okay and that it doesn't really hurt. Pero kanina ko pa nakikita iyong pag clench ng jaw niya. Pinipigilan lang niyang ipakita na nasasaktan siya but It must've been really painful dahil may shading pa iyong pinili ko.

Oops!

Natapos na rin si Cash at siya iyong nagbayad para samin. I told him that I had money naman but he insisted.

"Where are we going next? You might have another crazy idea for us to do," he said in between his laughs. I frowned at him. And he just laughed at me even more.

We're both sober na. I guess getting a tattoo could make you sober up quickly.

"We have to go back na. We left Curtis alone with them." I said while we were walking back to Sapphire.

"He's old enough. He could manage."

"Cash! Pinsan mo kaya iyon!" I exclaimed, and he just gave me a shrug.

Pagbalik namin sa Sapphire, ganon pa rin. There are still people drinking and dancing, but there are fewer people now. We got inside and we easily made our way back to the table, but when we got in, wala na silang lahat.

"Iniwan nila tayo?" hindi makapaniwalang sabi ko.

"I think so. They're not in here anymore," he replied. I fished my phone out of my bag and saw A LOT of missed calls from Kuya Baker, Arlo, and Curtis. Uh-oh!

"What are you two still doing here? Akala namin umuwi na kayo." Kenzo said this when he saw us. Palipat-lipat iyong tingin niya saming dalawa ni Cash.

"Uhm... naglakad lang kami sa labas. Nagpahangin," I lied, but Kenzo just gave us a meaningful smile, as if he knew that I was lying.

"Kanina pa sila umalis?" tanong ko.

"Yup, They couldn't contact either of you two, so they thought that you had gone home already." Kenzo explained. "And Sera, I think you should call your cousin. He looks like he was ready to kill someone a while ago," he added while chuckling, and I swear I turned pale because of what he said.

"We're leaving, dude. Thanks!" Cash immediately told Kenzo. He just nodded at us before Cash held my hand and pulled me outside the bar.

We got inside his car and his familiar scent made me feel alive again.

"Lagot ka kay Kuya," I told Cash after a few seconds. He started driving. Madaling araw na kaya wala nang masyadong sasakyan sa labas.

He looked at me with a puzzled look for a second, then said, "What? Bakit ako?"

"Ikaw kaya iyong nanghatak sa'kin palabas ng bar." I retorted, and that made his forehead crease more.

"What? You were the one who suggested getting a freaking tattoo," he said, facing me when the traffic lights turned red.

"But you agreed to get a tattoo. And besides, Kuya won't get mad at me because I'm his cousin kaya. So... good luck," I said with a teasing smile on my lips. His lips parted in disbelief.

Hindi na nagsalita si Cash buong byahe. I hold my laughter, dahil mukhang mapipikon na siya sa'kin. Of course, hindi ko naman hahayaang magalit si Kuya sakaniya, no! I'm not like that. I won't let him take all the blame, and I'm sure Kuya won't get mad at him. They're best friends.

He parked the car, and I looked outside the window and saw that we were in Kuya's condo!

"What are we doing here?"

"To talk to Baker," he answered before quickly walking inside the building. It's freaking 2 in the morning!

"Puwede namang bukas nalang," sabi ko habang nakasakay kami sa elevator. Hindi niya ako pinansin at seryoso lang iyong mukha niya. I bit my lower lip. Did I scare him too much?

He walks so fast that I get left behind. I saw him immediately knocking on the door.

"Let's not just talk to Kuya tomorrow, huh? He might be sleeping—"

"What are you two doing here? I thought you two went home early?" Kuya said upon opening the door. He had a scowl on his face, and his eyes were half-open. He's already asleep!

"It's nothing Kuya... Just go back to sleep," I replied immediately while tugging Cash's arm. So we could leave now, but Cash wouldn't budge.

Kuya's brows furrowed while looking at Cash.

"I..." Cash trailed off. My heart is beating so fast! Lasing pa ba siya? I'm scared of what he's going to say. "Have you seen my cousin?" he asked instead, and I sighed in relief.

"I dropped him off at your parent's house," Kuya replied, with a skeptical look. Nagpaalam na rin ako agad dahil mukhang nagdududa na si Kuya samin. He kept on staring at us with a suspicious look in his eyes. Mabuti nalang mukhang hindi naman galit na galit si Kuya gaya ng sabi ni Kenzo. Exaggerated lang si Kenzo!

I texted Curtis on our way to Empire. I'm glad he didn't tell Kuya that he was staying at my place. Baka malagot na talaga silang mag pinsan!

"Goodnight. Thanks for tonight!" I told Cash when he dropped me off at the Empire. I could feel my eyes closing already. I just want to lie in my bed and sleep.

"Serenity!" Cash called. I turn around to face him. He was staring at me like he wanted to say something to me, but he couldn't.

"Cash?" I called after a minute.

"I really had a great night and... you look really beautiful tonight," he said before immediately going back inside his car and speeding off.

What was that?

#

"Earth to Sera!" Curtis said while flicking his finger in front of my face.

"H-ha? Did you say something?"

He rolled his eyes at me. "You've been dozing off since this morning."

"Sorry... I couldn't sleep last night." I said before sipping from my cup of coffee.

"Are you still stressed about your application?" he asked, and I just nodded my head, kahit na hindi naman talaga iyong ang iniisip ko.

I can't stop thinking about Cash. We've been seeing each other a lot lately... like a lot.

He even invited me to their company party even though I don't work there. He even asked Arlo to accompany me, so they won't be suspicious, but I don't think it's working because Gael has been bugging me about my relationship with Cash. I feel like she knew something, even though I told her a thousand times already that Cash and I were friends only.

I think I need to stop seeing him for a while. I don't like how I'm feeling right now. I have to guard my heart at all costs... He is really nice and sweet, and I don't like that he's starting to have an effect on me...

Tapos every time I will see my tattoo pa, it reminds me of him. Because he personally picked it for me and he picked the perfect tattoo! It was a symbol of "balance and serenity" with a little rose underneath, and it was so beautiful.

"I will talk to Kuya and ask if he can check the status of your application," Curtis said.

"Thank you," I said, smiling. We are in a coffee shop just right in front of The Empress. Nagpaalam si Curtis para puntahan at kausapin si Kuya Crew about sa application na pinasa ko sa The Empress almost 2 weeks ago.

If I won't get hired here, I have no choice but to apply nalang sa VM Corp.—which I'm pretty sure na maha-hire ako kasi si Cash mismo ang tatanggap sa'kin once na malaman niyang nag-apply ako sa company nila. He's actually pursuing me to work for their company instead.

I was waiting for Curtis to come back when I saw a little boy crying outside the coffee shop. I was sitting right next to the window. I stood up from my seat and quickly went outside the coffee shop.

"Hi. Are you okay?" I asked the little boy. His face was full of tears.

He shook his head while he kept on crying.

"May kasama ka ba?" tanong ko sa bata habang nakaupo ako para magkapantay kami. Agad siyang umiling and called out to his mama. I hugged the little boy and tried to calm him down. Ang pula na ng mukha niya at puno ng luha iyong mukha niya.

"Come. Let's wait for your mama inside. I'm sure she'll come back." I said as I held the little boy's hand as we went back inside the coffee shop, praying that this little boy's mom didn't leave him here intentionally.

W H A T Y A S E Y