---

"Dear, ano ba nangyari? Nakatulala ka na naman diyan?" ang biglang bati sa'kin ni Lannie pagkapasok niya sa bahay namin. "Parang hindi na ilang buwan ang lumipas no'ng nag-break kayo ni Chris, ah?"

"I mean 'si Cerulean at Chris'," she added, as if it wouldn't hurt me even more.

"May bago na siya," I said, looking down. "Sabi niya. And sabi rin niya back then, he won't pursue more romantic relationships inside Town in a Building after ours. But he just did."

"What? Wawa ka naman," Lannie jokingly said then cackled.

"Yeah," I replied. "Pero sabi rin niya, 'di pa talaga 'sila,' you know what I mean? Takot daw siya sa commitment."

"Aw, that's. . . sad," Lannie said, facing me more.

"Pero bakit ako magseselos, 'di ba?" I said. "Wala na kami. Or kung mayroon mang 'kami' in the first place."

"All I experienced was a relationship that wasn't even mine," I added. "And I think, even if Cerulean or I may not be the best girlfriend for him, I know that. . . nobody can replace the Cerulean he loved—if ever he did."

"Yes, gurl, tama ka riyan," she said, reassuring me as I still couldn't help but frown, even with the words I said. "At least kayo, naging official. Eh, sila, hindi official."

I looked up to her to see her reaction, and all I saw was the smirk she always had on her face whenever she would say something that would make you really think and realize things. And. . . I think that made me feel relieved. Call me selfish and all, but thinking about how any other girl will experience Chris's care and love, goodness, it makes me so scared and mad. I didn't want any other girl to experience what I experienced. And I hated the thought of it because it was so selfish.

"Oo nga," I said upon remembering Lannie's words. "Oo nga. You're right."

And with that, I think I felt better even just for a bit.

---

After walking down the strip-carpeted floor by the black screen where the mask codes were written on and after writing my mask code, I stepped past the bleeping checking machine you walk through in malls as well. And like any other day, I immediately saw Chris, waiting for me, but this time, he was sitting amongst the chairs and tables on the first floor.

That made me smile. Damn. It's crazy how this man can absolutely make me fall head over heels for him by just being himself. I wish I act like I am not so whipped for him though. Magmumukha lang akong tanga.

Pero buti na lang talaga ay panaginip lang 'yong naghiwalay na kami ni Chris. I would literally be so broken if ever that happens. I will never know how to handle that. And good thing, hindi ko na masyadong maalala ang details ng panaginip ko dahil ayaw ko nang maisip pa ang thought na hindi na ako o si Cerulean ang mahal ni Chris.

"Hey," I greeted as I smiled at Chris, who was looking down the table with his face partly hidden from me.

"Hey," he looked up at my face as I sat opposite to him. "How's your day?" He clenched his fists and pulled and hid them away from me. In the most obvious way.

"Uh. . . I'm okay," I said, grinning. "How about you?"

Umiwas muna ng tingin sa'kin si Chris bago niya sabihing, "It's fine."

"Hindi nga?"

I reached out for his arm and tried to pull it as gently as I could.

"No," he said, looking down.

"Why?" I asked. "Ano'ng nangyari?"

"Wala nga," he said hesitantly.

"Kung wala talaga, patingin ng kamay mo," I said, and with as much hesitation in his voice, he laid his hands on the table.

"Wala nga kasi," he said plainly.

"Promise?" I said, looking directly into his eyes. I carefully touched his hands and held them gently. Intertwining my hands with his, I smiled a little because I felt his palm against mine. For a while, I forgot what I was asking him, but it came back to me soon.

"I punched somebody at school," he calmly said, just like how I wanted him to speak when he tells me the truth. "Out of frustration. With the same hands you are holding right now."

I don't mind, I wanted to say.

"Why?" I casually asked, still caressing his hands as we spoke.

"Someone told me you liked someone else," he said, while I giggled. "Ibang Cerulean pala 'yon."

"Wow, ha," I laughed as I pinched his pinky finger. "Kaloka ka."

"Yeah, seriously," he said, laughing.

Damn, bakit ako kinikilig bigla? Nakasapak siya, Stephanie, nakasapak. Natutuwa ka pa no'n?

"Ay, basta," I said, trying to put the smile off of my face. " 'Wag mo nang uulitin 'yon. Nakasakit ka pa tuloy. You know that you are. . ."

I paused and continued, ". . . the only one."

Chris smiled and held my hand tighter. He stared at me like I did something wrong, and for a while, he had me thinking.

"Don't tempt me to kiss you." Those words escaped his lips once again.

Huh?

"Stop biting on your lip, Cerulean."

Oh. "Sorry," I said, giggling.

"Anyway, a while ago, when you weren't here yet, it was announced that we must go to the third floor for some announcements," Chris said, still holding my hand, and I could still feel the butterflies in my stomach.

"Anong oras daw?" I asked.

"Later pa," he said. "Mga 5:15 PM."

I glanced at the purple strap of my watch then at the ticking watch itself. 4:49 PM pa lang.

"Tingnan ko muna 'yong Secret Mailpost ko," I said. "Baka may ipinadala sa'kin si La—si Paris."

Muntik ko nang masabi 'yong totoong pangalan ng pinsan ko. Damn. Buti na lang ay parang wala lang kay Chris, at mukhang 'di naman niya napansin.

"Sure, sure," he said, "let's go."

We soon stood up and headed to the elevator where the city outside waited for us to greet it through the glass wall of the elevator. Upon entering, I witnessed the darkening city due to the time. The sunset. The slow escape of light. The city lights.

"Did you already check your Secret Mailpost?" I asked as I turned to Chris, from the glass wall between us and the city.

"Yeah," he said. "I rarely checked it back then, and I used to get pretty much a handful of flirty letters, but now that I, like, show the world that I have a gorgeous lady by my side, I don't get letters like that anymore. Thankfully."

"Grabe naman pala," I laughed. "Pogi mo raw kasi," I mumbled.

"Ano sabi mo?" Chris asked teasingly as the doors of the elevator opened.

"Wala," I grinned.

We exited the elevator, my hand in his, our footsteps at a normal pace. I led the way to my Secret Mailpost, BP29, and as soon as we got there, I immediately keyed it open. Like what I expected, a letter lay inside. Baka nga galing 'to kay Lannie. I took the envelope and took a look at what was written on it.

-

From: William
To: Cerulean Hathaway

January 18, 2018 | 4:47 AM

-

As I read the things written on the envelope, I opened it, curious about why this William would send me a message.

"William?" I mumbled. Siya rin kaya 'yong William na magpapainom sa akin dapat ng kung ano mang drink na 'yon? Siya rin kaya 'yong nasapak ni Chris?

I snorted at the thought.

"Who is that?" Chris said, his voice stern.

"It said, 'William'," I replied as I unfolded the letter inside the envelope.

-

Hello, my lady, how's your day? I am currently craving for something on the menu of Joan's Sea Cookery. Care to dine with me? My treat, of course. Kaibigan kita, e.

William

-

After I read the letter (and probably, after Chris did as well, by being behind me), it was snatched from my hand, and I immediately realized what that was. Chris took the letter, as I gave him a look, and shredded the paper into, like, a hundred pieces. The way he did it looked animated, and I wouldn't be joking if I would tell you that it looked cartoonish. With that, I just looked at him in shock, but I was laughing.

" 'Tang ina, wala akong paki kung nagugutom siya!" ang sigaw niya. "Magutom at mag-crave siya hanggang sa mamatay siya! Kaibigan?! Gago ba siya?"

I stopped laughing, and I was just lost in his eyes filled with anger. But I wasn't scared. I don't know if I should ever feel this way, pero kinikilig ako.

"He's freakin' flirting with you!" Chris said, locking my Secret Mailpost's padlock, pulling the key from it, and gently placing the key in my hand despite him being mad.

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit niya ako pinadalhan niyan," I said, honestly, as I kept the key of my Secret Mailpost. "Hindi nga kami friends, e. The first and last time we met was when he asked to drink with me. Promise."

Chris suddenly held me by my shoulders, and for a while, I was convinced that he was finally mad at me, but I was utterly wrong. He moved closer and planted a gentle and caring kiss on my forehead.

"I trust you, my lady," he said. "I'm mad at him, not at you. Not at you at all."

Unconsciously, I started biting on my lip to suppress a smile from forming on my lips. Damn, sobra na ang kilig na nararanasan ko para sa isang araw.

"I really wanna kiss you right now, my lady," Chris said, eyeing my lips. "But when I kiss you for the first time, I want it to happen in front of the altar."

I inhaled sharply.

"So stop biting your lip," he said, chuckling. "Baka mahalikan na agad kita, sige ka."

With his words, I became aware of what I was doing, and so, I stopped biting on my lip.

"Sorry, haha," I laughed, looking away.

"Anyway," he said, segueing away from the kissing topic, "let's go to the third floor now before it becomes 5:15 PM."

"Let's go," I said and reached for his hand, which he didn't hesitate to let me hold.

Chris and I made our way to the elevator, where we once met with no clue to who each other was. I would never get over how we first met. His perfume. His gorgeous mask. His piercing eyes. The game we played—Truth or Dare. The embarrassing dare he gave me.

"Buti walang biglang nagtatanggal ng mask ng ibang tao rito, 'no?" I said, completely out of nowhere, completely trusting him that he wouldn't do it to me.

"Yeah, it's forbidden and punishable by being banned from Town in a Building," he said. "It's a right of a Citizen of the Building to be safe from privacy invasion."

I was about to turn to stare at the city outside when Chris called my attention.

"We're here now," he said, holding my hand as we headed out of the elevator.

"So yeah," I heard the speakers blast. "We will be having a good venue if not here in Town in a Building where we will all meet up and wear formalwear."

" 'Yan na ba 'yong announcement nila?" ang tanong ko kay Chris.

"Yeah, I think so," he said.

"This meet up is special, however," the speaker on the Mic-Taking stage said, "because we will be all meeting without our masks. It is also our suggestion that the color of what you will be wearing will be the color of your mask."

"Hala, kailan naman 'yon?" I heard people say. Maybe it's time to panic as well?

"But don't worry," the speaker said. "This suggestion of ours will be happening ten years later. So yeah, that's it. Thank you for your time in coming here and listening to our announcements. Have a nice day!"

The speaker then made her way off the stage and I heard Chris whisper, "Soon, my lady, we will finally leave the town of lies with our hands intertwined."

"Wh-what do you mean?" I asked, facing him.

Chris just gave me a warm smile, took my hand, and said, "Let's go, my lady? Hatid na kita? Although, this is not what I meant with what I said earlier."

"H-ha?"

"Yeah, what I said a while ago has a long-term meaning, which, I think, is something you won't understand yet."

"Yeah, you're right, I don't get it, but—"

"Hahatid kita? Yes," he said, leading the way as we walked to the elevator.

"Hahatid sa bahay namin?"

"Malapit lang sana sa bahay niyo," Chris replied. "Just like what I said before, I won't take advantage of your address or city. Hahatid kita. . . kung okay lang sa'yo."

"Sure," I said, with zero hesitation.

"Okay, thank you, my lady," he smiled. "Thank you for trusting me."

"Of course."

Moments passed, and without me noticing, we were already outside Town in a Building. Chris was leading the way to the parking lot where most of the street lights parallel to the parking lines are bright. One street light, however, was flickering, and I stared at it as we walked towards a black motorcycle.

"That's yours?" I asked as Chris was already holding the motorcycle.

"Technically," he said. "I am supposed to drive this around only when I am already eighteen, but I already know how to drive, so yeah. I don't have a license yet, but yeah. Hope you trust me."

"I do, you know that."

"Anyway, I won't let you risk anything including your life, so wear this," Chris said, handing me a black helmet. "You can remove your mask, I won't look."

"O-okay."

Adorably, Chris covered his eyes and turned around to keep me out of his line of sight once he opens his eyes. Trusting Chris and his risks completely, I removed my mask and placed it inside my shoulder bag where my Scrapbook of Moments greeted me. Then, I wore the helmet Chris gave me, pulling the tinted visor down of the helmet down to cover my face.

"Okay na," I said, giggling. "This is, like, very rebellious."

I could feel the butterflies in my stomach because of his utter respect by not looking at me when my face is bare.

"Do you like the feeling?" he asked, facing me yet not looking at me even though the helmet's visor was tinted.

"Big yes," I giggled.

"That's my lady," he smiled and turned around again to remove his mask, so as soon as I saw him removing his mask, I turned around and away to keep him out of my sight. I waited for a while and waited. . . for his signal.

"I'm done." That's it.

I turned around to see him already wearing his black helmet. Also tinted. I feel so safe around him. Around a stranger. He soon sat on his motorcycle seat and keyed it.

"Sakay na," ang sabi niya, kaya naman sumunod na ako at sumakay sa motorcycle niya.

I held onto his shoulders, careful not to do anything that might distract him from driving.

"You ready, my lady?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied.

Then, we rode off as I just realized I was with a stranger. . . literally, on the ride home, but I felt safe.

---

➡️ Please listen to the song. 🥺 Pleeeeeaaaaase? It's "Overdrive" by Conan Gray, and I really picked it out for this chapter. Thanks! Have the nicest day existing!