I EXCUSED myself from Tia and went outside while holding my phone that kept on ringing. I took a deep breath muna before pressing the answer button.

"Hello?" I said after answering his call.

"What are you up to today?" he urgently asked.

"Uhm... just visiting a friend. Why?" I asked, feeling a bit skeptical. Usually naman he won't ask what I'm up to because he will just come and see me at my office or sa unit ko.

"Can I see you today?" I swallowed hard at his question. I'm still avoiding him kasi but I know naman na I can't run away from him forever. So, I sighed before answering him.

I replied, "Okay," and then I heard a sigh of relief on the other line, as if he had been holding his breath while waiting for my answer.

"Can I pick you up at 5?" he asked again, the sound of his voice becoming more cheerful. I nodded unconsciously.

"Sure," I said casually. Akala ko he ended the call na after I answered him because it became quiet, but I checked my phone and he was still on the line.

"Cash? Hello?" I spoke, making sure he was still there.

"I'm still here..." he replied, and then he became quiet again.

"I'm going to hang—"

"I miss you," he said, cutting me off. My heart stubbornly skips a beat. I bit my lower lip, trying to control my emotions. I have the urge to just hang up the call, but my hand won't move a muscle.

Hindi ako nagsalita. I don't know what to say. I know that naninibago si Cash sa inaakto ko but what can I do? I'm just guarding myself against him.

I'm just protecting myself from getting hurt again, even though I'm aware that I've already fallen for him, really hard.

I just heard him exhale deeply before he said that he would see me later and ended the call.

I didn't like avoiding him, but... I don't want to risk getting hurt again.

#

I played with Evo after the phone call with Cash. Tia asked if I was okay, and I just gave her a pitiful smile, and she didn't ask further.

What I like about Tia is that even though she looks very curious about what's happening to me, she still opted not to ask any questions. She doesn't want to inquire. She really respects me when I don't want to talk about a certain topic, and that's why I'm returning the favour to her. Kahit na sometimes I want to ask more about Evo's dad, I'd rather keep my mum.

Nagpaalam na rin ako sakanila before 5. I was back at the Empire around 4 PM and I just took a quick bath and wore a simple blouse and skinny jeans. I'm not in the mood to dress up or anything.

Or maybe I just don't want Cash to notice that I'm putting effort into myself just because I'm meeting him. I don't want him to misinterpret anything. After all, we're nothing but friends with benefits.

At exactly 5, I got a message from Cash saying that he's already parked in front of the Empire. I grabbed my sling bag with my phone and wallet before I headed downstairs. When the elevator reached the lobby, I took a deep breath before heading outside. I immediately saw Cash leaning on the hood of his car while both his hands were on the inside of his front pocket jeans.

Napalunok ako agad when I saw him wearing casual clothes. He's wearing a simple white fitted t-shirt and faded jeans and a pair of ray ban sunglasses that made him look hotter than usual. I seldom see him wearing casual clothes but when he does, I can't help but get starstruck by how hot he looks!

Damn, this guy!

It is very challenging not to fall for this guy!

Napaayos siya ng pagkakatayo when he spotted me walking towards him. He took off his Ray Ban sunglasses and flashed a sexy smile at me.

"Hi," he greeted me.

"Hi." I greeted him back. I pursed my lips in a thin line to stop myself from showing too much reaction on how good he looks today!

Seriously. Nananadya ba siya? Is this his way para hindi ko na siya iwasan?! It is not fair!

"Where are we going ba?" I asked when he started driving. I was waiting for him to answer my question, but he just quickly looked at me and gave me a mischievous grin.

I just remained silent the whole ride. Hindi ko alam where are we going ba. I glued my eyes to the window even though I could feel Cash occasionally glancing at me.

I just want to unlove him...

I just want to go back to the starting point where I don't feel anything for him because it's just so hard... It is so painful fighting your own feelings for someone else.

I feel like fate is so nananadya because the more I'm stopping myself not to fall for him, the more I keep on thinking about him. The more I keep on reminding myself that I will only get hurt, the more I miss him.

"We're here." Cash announced, that made me go back to reality. I looked outside the window and saw that we were at the park that we usually go to when we just want to walk and talk.

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked while unbuckling my seatbelt.

"You'll see. Let's go," he said before he got out of the car. I followed him when I got outside.

The weather is nice today. Hindi masyadong mainit but as soon as I saw the beautiful park in front of me, I started craving for ice cream.

I stopped walking, trying to look for Manong na nagtitinda ng dirty ice cream before but I couldn't spot him.

"Are you looking for Manong?" Cash asked, and I gave him a simple nod.

"I'll bring you to him," he said before holding my hand and start walking. Nagulat ako sa biglang paghawak niya sa kamay ko but I didn't pull my hand from him and just let him drag me.

I was so occupied while looking at our intertwined fingers that I didn't notice that he had already stopped walking. Nabunggo pa ako sa likod niya because I was too occupied.

"Are you alright?" he worriedly asked.

"I'm okay lang," I replied.

Napatingin ako sa building na nasa harapan namin. My forehead slightly creased when I saw Manong inside the ice cream shop serving ice cream to his customers, and then I looked at the signage above.

'Serenity's Ice Cream'

My jaw dropped. My eyes widened in astonishment.

Oh, my gosh...

Did he—

"Remember when you got annoyed at me and said, 'Buy me a whole ice cream store instead, pinainit mo iyong ulo ko'? Well... here's your ice cream store, Serenity." he said, and I looked at him in disbelief.

"You—You actually bought me an ice cream store? But I was just kidding!" I beamed at him. I still couldn't believe that he actually bought me an ice cream store! Ayaw mag sink in sa brain ko what he did!

"Well, I am not kidding when I said 'okay'."

"Oh, my gosh..." I gasped, napatakip ako sa bibig ko with my shaky hands.

"I hired Manong to work here instead so he doesn't have to work under the sun all day and offered to give him 40% of the sales." Cash kept on talking and explaining to me everything, but my mind won't process anything that he is saying.

He freaking bought me an ice cream store! Tapos he even used my own name for the name of the ice cream store!

Naiiyak ako because... I don't know, I'm happy. I feel so overwhelmed by what he did! Tapos he even helped Manong!

Hindi ko na napigilan iyong luha ko and just let it continuously rolled down my cheeks. Cash saw me crying and he immediately cupped my face.

"Hey... why are you crying? Didn't you like it?" he worriedly asked. The expression on his eyes became softer while he keeps on wiping the tears away.

I shook my head. "I love it," I replied, in between sobs. Agad naman napangiti si Cash dahil sa sinabi ko and quickly pulled me for a hug.

"Thank God." I heard him mumble before hugging me tighter. Caging me inside his arms.

#

"Ma'am! Sir!" Manong said agad pag pasok namin sa loob. He has a radiant smile on his lips. He looks really happy with what he's doing.

"Kamusta po kayo?" I asked.

"Mabuting-mabuti Ma'am." sagot niya sa'kin tapos he looks at Cash, standing beside me. "Salamat ho ulit Sir sa pag bigay ng trabaho sa'kin dito. Sobrang laking tulong ho nito para sa pamilya ko. Tuwang-tuwa po ang pamilya ko, lalo na ang mga anak ko dahil nabilhan ko sila ng kumpletong gamit para sa pag-aaral nila."

I bit my lower lip para hindi ako maiyak kahit na I really wanted to cry because of what I heard from Manong. I feel so emotional while listening to his kwento about his family.

We stayed and talked to Manong for a while before we decided to leave the store na because there's a lot of customers coming in, especially little kids. There's a total of 7 staff members, Cash said. There's a manager, and Manong is the assistant manager of the store and server din. And they hired working students din to help them save money for their school.

Nakabalik na kami sa sasakyan ni Cash but I was still quiet. I still can't wrap around my head what was happening.

"Please don't cry..." Cash said kaya napalingon ako sakaniya. He hadn't started the car yet, and he was intently looking at me.

"As much as I want to see you cry with happiness, I'd still rather see your smile," he added.

"Thank you, Cash. I... I really did not expect that. Thank you for helping Manong and the other working students who work there," I genuinely thanked him and smiled at him.

"You're welcome, Serenity Rose." He smiled back at me before I felt his lips pressing against mine. I automatically closed my eyes and let him kiss me.

I guess I'm marupok na rin.

W H A T Y A S E Y