---

It was the best time anyone could ever arrive in. I needed someone at that moment. I needed anyone. Anyone who could pull me out of these drowning thoughts.

"Cerulean!" Lannie called again, reminding me who Cerulean was—the person I was in Town in a Building. It wasn't me, but why did she call me that?

I'm Stephanie, not Cerulean. We're in the real world, not inside Town in a Building.

I searched for the source of Lannie's voice as I also searched for reasons why she called me 'Cerulean' instead of 'Stephanie.'

Baka nasanay na lang siya? Baka mas komportable na siyang gamitin ang pangalang 'yon?

"Cerulean!" I heard her once again. Nang lumingon ako sa pinaghihinalaan kong pinanggalingan ng boses, nakita ko si Lannie. She was in her mask.

She was Paris.

So as Divine and Maddie. They were Carrie and Veronica. They were by Maddie's car.

Why the heck are they in their masks?

And did they just drive around the neighborhood just to find me?

"Cerulean!" Paris exclaimed and ran to me when she saw me. Veronica and Carrie immediately followed.

"Where did you go?" Paris said, fixing my disheveled hair.

"Just around the neighborhood," I said, my tears threatening me that they would come. I didn't know how scared I was when I was alone, and I didn't know how I managed to play it cool when I saw Gideon. Or did I play it cool? The whole time, I knew, I was crying.

"Hindi ka raw nagpaalam kina Tita Michelle?" ang sabi ni Paris habang sinusuot sa akin ang mask ni Cerulean.

"P-pa'nong nakuha niyo 'to?" I asked, fixing my mask. "A-at saka, bakit ko kailangan suotin 'to? Ba't kayo naka-mask?"

"Nagpunta kami kanina sa Town in a Building. Tapos, nakita namin si Chris, tinatanong kung nasaan ka," ang paliwanag ni Carrie. "Kanina ka pa raw niya hinahanap sa buong Town in a Building, pero hindi ka niya makita. Ang akala naman namin, nasa Town in a Building ka."

"Hindi ko pa rin gets," ang sabi kong pabiro kahit nararamdaman ko pa rin ang bigat ng lahat ng nararamdaman ko.

"Pumunta kami sa bahay niyo, pero nag-stay lang si Chris sa may Tejeron para 'di niya malaman ang address mo, tulad ng kapag hinahatid ka raw niya," ang pagpapatuloy ni Veronica. I just listened to them. "Tapos, noong tinanong namin sina Tita Michelle, wala ka raw sa bahay. Nakita rin namin 'tong mask mong nasa sala, kaya tinago na namin agad para 'di makita ni Tita."

"Doon na namin nalamang nawawala ka," Paris said, hugging me. "Hindi mo kasi pababayaang nakakalat ang mask mo kung nando'n ka sa bahay niyo."

Then, it hit me. "Pumunta kami sa bahay niyo, pero nag-stay lang si Chris sa may Tejeron para 'di niya malaman ang address mo, tulad ng kapag hinahatid ka raw niya."

"Chris was with you?" ang bigla kong tanong.

"Yes," ang sabi ni Paris, "kaya you have to wear your mask."

"Sumama siya sa amin via convoy para hanapin ka," ang sabi ni Veronica. "Ang sabi niya, kinakabahan daw siya na baka nawawala ka, and it turned out, tama siya."

"Iba talaga ang love," Carrie smiled and posed as if she was daydreaming.

"You, guys, know na wala na kami, 'di ba?" I said, looking down on my nails and on my chipped nail polish.

"But he clearly loves you, still," Paris said, holding my hand.

When Paris said that, I felt like someone was looking at me by my right, so I glanced that way. Nang lumingon ako, nakita ko si Chris. He still startled me with his presence.

"Chris?"

"Cerulean," he sighed, looking at me.

"Why are you here?" I said, teary-eyed as I felt a swarm of overwhelming and confusing emotions envelope me. I was confused, I was longing for Chris, and I was scared all at the same time. "Kanina lang, you were wearing the mask of Gideon, and you were holding a gun. Then, you, like, disappeared."

Chris came closer to me, concern filling his eyes. I looked at his neck where I expected to see a tattoo with a design of a pair of footprints, but I saw nothing.

"Ang gulo," I said, shaking my head frantically. "Ang gulo-gulo. Are you even real?"

I tried reaching out to touch Chris's face, but I ended up not doing so. The heartbreak he caused me stopped me from reaching out to him. He said he didn't want to be with me anymore.

I am so confused.

"What the fuck is happening?!" I didn't know I screamed, but when I realized I did, I was already in Chris's arms, sobbing on his chest, like before.

Chris remained silent, waiting for me to calm down as I realized he did not scold me for cursing. He just waited with me, trying to calm me down to the best of his ability. He just held me tight like he was afraid to lose me again.

"Cerulean," Chris said, calling my attention, "listen."

I faced him.

"Kung sino man ang nakita mo kanina," he continued, "hindi ko alam kung sino ang nakita mo kanina, pero kung sino man 'yon, I'm being honest with you, it's not me. Nasa Tejeron ako, sa parking lot na pinagbababaan mo while waiting for your friends to return to me."

"But you disappeared," I said as tears were flowing down my cheeks. There was so much I was feeling at that moment. I was so confused to why Chris was still holding me. I thought that we were over. He said it.

"Cerulean, my lady," he said, "don't get me wrong, but I think you're seeing things."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Chris. I'm seeing things? What's that supposed to mean?

"Wh-what?" I said, shaking my head in confusion.

"I think you're seeing things that aren't real," Chris said, caressing my cheek, and it felt completely different from how Gideon, the supposed hallucination, touched my face.

"Oh, my goodness, Chris," I suddenly said, accidentally diverting the attention to something else.

"Why?" ang sabi ni Chris.

"I'm such a mess right now," I said. "Ang gulo-gulo ng buhok ko. I'm so sorry that you have to see me this way."

"There's nothing wrong with you, my lady," he sighed, hugging me. "You'll always be perfect to me."

"Cerulean," ang sabi ni Paris, "I have a question."

I turned to Paris, who was, like, frightened.

"Please tell me you were not thinking of jumping off the bridge earlier," Paris said, not as a question, as I felt Chris heavily watching me.

"No," I lied. I did think of jumping off. But I was confused that time, and I still am.

"There were so many reported cases of suicide here in the past," Veronica said, sighing. "Sa tulay na 'to mismo."

I felt Chris pulling me closer and giving me a gentle kiss on the forehead.

"My lady," he said, making me realize that he still recognized me as his lady, that I was still his, "I know that you are so confused right now, but promise me that you'll never come back to this place ever again."

"Okay," I nodded, my tears flowing as I realized he was holding me again. He was holding me like a fragile treasure.

"Thank you," he said, smiling. "Now, we go to our home, Town in a Building. I have something in mind."

"Ano 'yon?" I smiled, wiping my tears away.

"It's a surprise," he said and chuckled.

I felt happy. Even with just moments like this, I knew he still loved me. It wasn't sure or anything close to it, but it made me happy.

"Let's drive to Town in a Building, then," Veronica said, steering an imaginary wheel.

We walked our way to the vehicles. I knew for a hundred percent that I would never have the courage to ride Chris's motorcycle at that moment. I wasn't sure if I was still, truly, his lady or if I should even think that way.

Once we got to Maddie's car, I noticed what I was wearing—a simple top and a pair of black shorts. It wasn't the best to see Chris with, especially that we broke up a week ago, but it was, somehow, decent. Then, we drove to Town in a Building.

---

"Okay na 'yan," I giggled as Paris, Veronica, and Carrie pulled my hair into a neat and braided bun.

Nasa harapan kami ng salamin ng washroom ng Town in a Building, at habang nasa ilalim ng buhok ko ang tali ng mask ko, inayos nila ito.

"Oh, 'di ba, para kang bride," ang sabi ni Paris.

"Bride ni Chris," ang sabay na sabi nina Carrie at Veronica. "Pak."

"Ano ba, wala na nga kami, 'di ba?" I said, faking a smile. "Isang linggo na ang nakalipas simula no'ng ball."

"Pero in love pa rin sa'yo 'yon, maniwala ka," Carrie said, giggling.

"Hay, nako," I sighed. "Ayaw ko nang umasa, pero oo, umaasa ako."

"Gulo mo, girl," Veronica laughed.

"Labas na nga tayo," ang sabi ni Carrie. "Naghihintay na ang groom ni Cerulean."

"Tigilan niyo nga," I laughed.

Naglakad na kami nina Veronica, Paris, at Carrie palabas ng washroom, at pagkalabas namin, isang tao agad ang hinanap ng mga mata ko. Para bang kahit anong gaw'in ko, siya at siya pa rin ang hinahanap ng puso ko dahil aminin natin, mahal ko pa rin si Chris.

"Cerulean." Lumingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses, at nakita ko si Chris na may hawak na bouquet ng roses.

"Chris. . . ." I said.

"My lady," he smiled, taking a few steps towards me, "for you."

Chris handed me the bouquet of white and peach roses, reminding me they must have meanings, too, just like the way the first roses he gave me did.

"White roses mean new beginnings," Chris said, smiling widely, "while the peach ones mean sincerity."

I inhaled.

"So I'm asking you sincerely," Chris said, pulling something from his back pocket, and knelt, "will you be my lady again and will you let me have a new beginning with you?"

He held out a ring, silver and shining. The ring had a heart-shaped hold on the gem in the center. It was beautiful.

I knew my answer. "Yes." He placed the ring on my ring finger as if I were engaged to him. I hoped it would never end.

Tears came as he rose and hugged me. I couldn't hold it anymore. I was so happy. It felt like every good thing on Earth. I was so elated because of everything he did and everything he said.

"I know school stresses you, just like what Paris told me," Chris continued, "so you don't have to be here everyday."

"Chris, you're literally the price of my everyday," I said.

"And so are you," Chris said, chuckling. "You're the sweetest treat."

"But I'm not edible," I said, giggling until I realized what I just said.

"No, you are edible," he said, smirking.

"I mean. . ." I uttered, "whatever."

"But seriously, I love you so much," he smiled. "If you love her, then you should put a ring on her finger."

"Mali ata 'yang sinasabi mo," I said.

"Yes, but I like to say it like 'If you love her, then you should put a ring on her finger'," he said, placing a kiss on my forehead.

"Ahem," Paris said, clearing her throat. "Maiwan na namin kayo, ha? Third wheel, fourth wheel, at fifth wheel na kami rito, e."

"Ay," I said. "Sorry nama—"

"Hindi, it's okay," Veronica said. "Enjoy your moment. Ikot lang kami ng Town in a Building."

"Sige," I said, but before I could finish, they already strolled away into the distance.

I looked at Chris who was laughing and laughed as well. His laughter was so contagious. I wished he knew how much he made me happy. But it wasn't just the laughter and the kilig that he brought into my life. It was the purest form of happiness and daylight. And that was why he was everything to me. Because he really was everything I held on to.

Suddenly, the rain poured outside, and I could see the heavy raindrops through the open doors of the balcony.

"I think I know what is good for today's weather," Chris said.

"Ano 'yon?"

"Hot choco for you and latte for me."

---

"Uh. . ." I started after taking a sip from my cup of hot choco, "have I already told you that I was a part of an exhibit somewhere near Caloocan? In Dreamers' Gallery."

"Really?" he said in disbelief, his lips with milk foam. I reached for the tissue, laughing, and wiped the milk foam on his lips.

"Yeah," I answered, giggling. "Natigil nga lang ako, but I will make a comeback soon in there."

"I go there usually," Chris said, smiling.

"Really?"

"Yeah," he chuckled.

"You can check my works there," I smiled. "My pseudonym there is 'Stephanie IV'."

"Oh," Chris smiled and took another sip of his latte as the rain poured even more outside. It felt extremely cozy in Town in a Building's library slash café. "I think I already know your real name."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya, and I realized what I just said. I thought that he wouldn't think that my real name was something I would use in my pseudonym, but he just saw past everything.

"It's 'Stephanie,' isn't it?" he said so beautifully, and all I could feel at that moment was the swarm of butterflies in my stomach.

"You say it so beautifully," I said, covering my face with my hands. "Parang ang ganda-ganda ng pangalan ko no'ng sinabi mo."

"Because your name really is beautiful," he smiled.

"Actually," I started, planning to tell him even more, "dapat ang ipapangalan sa akin, 'Diana' or 'Dianne.' Para sa akin, mas maganda kasi 'yon."

Chris looked at me then smiled mischievously as if he knew something that I didn't.

"Why are you smiling?" I said, laughing.

"Nothing," he smiled again.

"Pero alam mo," I said, "napakasaya ko na I get to be real in Town in a Building kasi hindi ako ganito katotoo sa labas ng mundong 'to. I fake my real self."

Chris sighed, smiled, and said, "You don't have to be true at all times. Sometimes, you have to lie in order to bring the truth out of your insincerity."

"Ah, so you're into deep words and poetry," I giggled as I stood up, trying to find the section of shelves where the poetry books were. Tumayo ako nang dahan-dahan para hindi ako magmukhang magalaw, at saka ako naglakad papunta sa tapat ng isang shelf na napansin kong may nakasulat na "Rhythmic" as its title. I bet Chris likes poems that have rhyme, I thought and smiled quite slyly.

As I reached the shelf, I ran my hands along the books and stopped when my hands touched the book "Rhythmic."

"Hmm," I smiled and took it, my hands careful not to drop the book. Its pink cover was light and happy. Just like how Chris made me happy. It was all in shades of pink for someone named 'Cerulean.'

Just like how it had always been, when I turned my back on Chris, I felt a hug from my back, a gentle and loving one, as if he was longing for me.

"How did you know that I like poems that rhyme?" Chris said, resting his chin on my shoulders as I felt his slacks down my legs.

"Naisip ko lang," I smiled like success was in my very hands.

"But do you know what kind of poetry is something I truly adore?" he said, chuckling. I faced him, then he spoke. "You."

"Huh?"

"You are my favorite poem."

---

➡️ I won't elaborate much on the attached song. It was just for the first scene. I love that song. Thank you. Bye.