"When I first saw you that one rainy morning, my first impression was normal. I thought you're cute, but there was nothing really to it."

Napakurap siya nang muling narinig ang boses ni Ryu. Tila siya bubble na piglang pinitik at pumutok; nagising siya at bumalik sa kasalukuyan. For a moment there, she just froze on her feet as she stared at Ryu's smiling face. And it wasn't normal for her. She always found his smile annoying. Pero ngayon ay iba na ang tingin niya roon.

He must have put something on that udon!

Si Ryu ay muling niyuko ang mga hugasin at itinuloy. And while he did that, he continued to tell his story,

"You must be thinking why I was walking out of the school on the very first day. I actually got a phone call from my mother. She just got back from her trip to the US and had asked me to pick her up from the airport. She could have called her driver or one of her staff, but she called me. And I knew what it meant– she was with my father. I had my car with me but I decided to walk in the rain instead. I was walking to the gate, thinking about my life, when I saw you. And just like what I said earlier, I first thought you were cute, and I offered you my umbrella because that's how I was raised by my mother. It wasn't because I planned to flirt with you." Ryu paused and chuckled at that.

She just puckered and said nothing.

Nagpatuloy ito. "But you know what I thought about you as a person on that first meeting, Luna?"

"What?"

"Interesting. And you know why?"

"Just get to the point."

"I saw how you smirked when you looked at my face. And that's not what I used to see on a woman's face whenever they stare at me."

Napa-ismid siya. "Nasanay kang naghuhugis-puso ang mga mata ng mga babae habang nakatingin sa ka-guwapuhan mo, ganoon?"

Nakita niya ang paglapad ng ngiti nito. "Thanks for finding me good-looking; it came out of nowhere, huh?"

Napasinghap siya. "It wasn't a compliment, you fool!"

"Too late to take back, I already got the message."

"Oh!" Pinigilan niya ang sariling wisikan ito ng tubig mula sa nakabukas na gripo. "Just get straight to the point. Saan nag-umpisa itong kalokohan mo?"

"Hindi ito kalokohan, Luna." Nakita niya ang pagpipigil nitong ngumiti nang magpatuloy, "And honestly, I also didn't see this coming. When I first laid my eyes on you, I had no idea I would eventually fall. At tulad ng sinabi ko noon, it was a feeling that developed gradually. At nag-umpisa iyon isang linggo matapos tayong unang magkaharap."

Isang linggo matapos naming unang magkaharap?

"You became so familiar to me. Ikaw ba naman ang unang babaeng nakilala ko na in-ismiran lang ako, eh."

I smirked because I saw your diamond stud earring and it turned me off.

"That first impression somehow put a mark on my mind. But I went through a lot after that meeting, so I eventually forgot about you."

"Went through a lot?" aniya, nakuha ang interes. "Ang isang Ryu Donovan na tulad mo? Are you just trying to construct a story to get my sympathy?"

Pinong ngumiti si Ryu; ang pansin ay pinanatili nito sa ginagawa. "After meeting you in front of the school, I went straight to the airport, soaked in rainwater. At hindi ako nagkamali, naroon nga ang magaling kong tatay at dumating para sunduin ako pabalik ng America. He wanted me to start working for his company, I declined and told him I never wanted to be his puppet. Sa harap ng maraming tao sa airport, nagtalo kami. Then I yelled at his face and told him that I wished he wasn't my father. He hit me, so I left. Iyon ang huling beses na nagkita kami dahil hindi ako umuwi sa amin sa loob ng isang linggong naroon siya. At sa buong linggong iyon ay nawala ka sa isip ko. I was stressed out, I so hated my life. Sa buong linggong iyon ay hindi rin ako pumasok, I just stayed at Marco's place all day, and would catch up with the boys at night. It was so ironic, because I was able to help my friends get back on their feet, yet I was struggling with mine." Ang pinong ngiti sa mga labi ni Ryu ay naging malungkot. "Nang umalis ang tatay ko ay saka pa lang ako umuwi at saka pa lang ako muling pumasok. Sa unang araw ng pagbalik ko, oddly, it was you who I saw first. I was driving my car to the campus when I saw you walking into the gate. And for some reason, I instantly recognized you."

"At simula noon ay ni-stalk mo na ako."

"I never did, really. Sa ikalawang araw simula nang bumalik ako, sa library naman kita nakita. You were arguing with another student, and you were preaching the rules. Lagi akong nasa library tuwing hapon, doon ako naghihintay ng oras bago ang huling klase ko. I would always sit behind the door, at dahil laging dire-diretso ka lang sa pagpasok ay hindi mo napapansin ang mga estudyanteng kasama mo sa loob. Sa sumunod na mga araw ay lagi na kitang nakikita; sa gymnasium, sa cafeteria, sa field, o sa kalsada papuntang campus. Odd as it may seem, but my eyes would always find you. And whenever I see you, my gray day would instantly turn into a colorful, blessed one."

Pinili niyang huwag magsalita. Pinili niyang hindi sumagot. She wanted to listen more, she wanted to hear and know more. Kahit pa hindi pa rin siya kombinsido, kahit pa may pagdududa pa rin sa dibdib niya, gusto pa rin niyang magpatuloy sa pakikinig. May gusto pa siyang malaman.

Si Ryu ay tinapos muna ang paghuhugas. May ngiti sa mga labi, siyempre pa. Isa pa iyon sa gumugulo sa isip niya. If this man was having a hard time at home, and was consistently in a fight with his father, how could he still smile like this? How could his face still look as if he was the happiest human in the world? She just didn't get it. Where were his smiles coming from?

"If you're still confused, let me put it this way." Inabot ni Ryu ang puting basahan na nakasabit sa hook na nasa pader katabi ng lababo. Pumihit ito at sumandal sa sink saka nag-umpisang punasan ang basang kamay. "What is your favorite thing in the world, Luna?"

"Huh?"

He glanced at her and smiled. "Just answer it."

Her favorite thing in the world? Ano'ng kinalaman niyon sa pinag-uusapan nila?

"I don't know. Maybe my bed?"

"Okay. How do you feel whenever you see your bed?"

"Comforting, of course. Because I could finally lay down, rest my back, and relax my feet. I could finally rest and hug my pillow. Pero ano ang kinalaman no'n sa–"

"So whenever you see your bed, you feel relaxed and happy?"

"Yes, pero ano ang koneksyon no'n sa pinag-uusapan natin, Ryu Donovan? Ano'ng koneksyon ng kama ko sa naging progreso ng 'damdamin' mo?" Diniinan niya ang salitang iyon at hinaluan ng tuya ang tinig.

"Because it's the same for me. Whenever I see my favorite person in the world, I feel excited and joyful; I feel so alive." Ang ngiting namutawi sa mga labi ni Ryu ay naging masuyo, ang mga mata nito'y muling nagningning. "And it's you, Luna. You are my favorite person in the world."

Lihim niyang ang sarili nang makaramdam ng kilabot sa mga huling sinabi ni Ryu. Pero... hindi iyon ang tipo ng kilabot na naramdam niya para rito noon. This time, it was different.

And she couldn't properly describe it.

She was confused.

"Kahit ako ay nagulat nang mapagtanto ko kung saan na napunta ang akala ko noon ay simpleng interes lang. I thought I was only interested in you because you were the first and only woman who smirked at me upon first meeting. I thought I was just impressed by how smart and authoritative you were. I thought I was only smiling because your smiles were contagious. I thought wrong. I was smiling because of you. I was smiling because you make me happy. At kahit hindi mo pa ako kilala noon, kahit hindi pa tayo nagkakaharap muli matapos ang unang pagkikita natin, kahit hindi pa tayo nag-uusap, naging rason ka na kung bakit nagiging magaan ang bawat araw ko. At araw-araw, kahit na mainit ang ulo ko umaga pa lang dahil kausap ko na sa telepono ang magaling kong ama, alam kong hindi magtatagal ay magiging maganda na ulit ang araw ko dahil alam kong makikita kita sa campus. Kahit hindi ako gumawa ng paraang mag-krus ang landas natin, o kahit hindi kita hanapin, alam kong makikita kita. Because that's how it was in the first two months. That's how it was for us, Luna."

Umiwas siya ng tingin nang muli siya nitong ningitian. Kunwari ay umismid siya, pero ang totoo ay wala siyang masabi matapos ang litanya nito. At naguguluhan siya sa itinatakbo ng isip; ng nararamdaman.

"So... are those statements enough to explain why I am so into you?"

Humalukipkip siya. "I don't know." Then, she sneered. "Maraming nagsasabing flavor of the month mo lang ako, at kanina ay sinabi mong ako ang 'favorite' mo. You wouldn't say that if there were no others; ibig sabihin ay maraming options. At hindi sasabihin ng mga estudyante sa campus na ako ang flavor of the month mo kung hindi nila alam na dati ay may pinag-trip-an ka na ring iba. So, with that being said, I still don't believe in your intentions and I still think you're just playing games. Kapag nanawa ka na ay–"

Natigilan siya at biglang naalarma nang maramdaman ang pagtuwid ni Ryu at ang pagbaling nito sa kaniya. Napaharap siya rito at nakita ang pag-tanggal nito ng pagkakatali ng apron. He then walked towards her, slowly, while his penetrating eyes locked on hers.

Napatuwid siya at napa-atras. "W-What?"

Hindi ito sumagot at nagpatuloy lang sa paglapit.

Nagpatuloy din siya sa pag-atras, hanggang sa marating niya ang dulo at dumikit ang kaniyang likod sa malaking two-door fridge. Pinanlakihan siya ng mga mata, nakaramdam ng kaba.

"Don't you dare, Ryu Donovan."

Pero ngumisi lang ito at nagpatuloy.

Kung tutuusin ay hindi naman siya naka-kulong sa sulok. Sa kanan niya ay maluwag ang daan palabas ng kusina. Pero bakit para siyang tangang hindi makakilos at hindi makaalis sa kinasasandalan?

Bago pa niya masagot ang sariling katanongan ay tuluyan nang nakalapit sa kaniya si Ryu. Humarap siya sabay singhap nang makitang ga-hibla na lang ang layo nila sa isa't isa. Doon niya nakita ang muling pagsilay ng ngisi sa mga labi nito. At bago pa niya maisip ang sunod nitong gagawin ay dahan-dahan na itong yumuko sa kaniya.

Her eyes widened in shock.

Her body froze in fear.

Her thoughts halted in confusion.

Then her eyes lowered on Ryu Donovan's lips.

W-Why am I still standing here?

W-Why can't I move?

Pinilit niyang gisingin ang sarili sa sandaling pagkakatigalgal. Hindi niya pwedeng hayaang mangyari ang binabalak ni Ryu Donovan. She had to do something. She had to move her body, she had to wake up from this hypnosis!

"Allow me to respond to your last statement, Luna Isabelle Castillo." Ryu's voice was smooth and gentle. "I don't know why people around the campus say that you are just my 'flavor of the month' when in fact, I have never been involved with any woman since I got here. But I also couldn't blame them for thinking that way because the boys; most especially Marco, Grand, and Raven, are known to be devoted pleasure-seekers. They are the playful members of our brotherhood, and that's something no one could ever change. Not even I. So, it's pretty easy for people to assume that we are birds with the same feathers. And about you being my favorite..."

Natigilan siyang lalo nang makita itong banayad na tumawa.

"I hope you will keep that a secret between you and I, because I don't want the boys to think that a woman who I just met became my favorite person in the world. Magtatampo 'yong mga 'yon." Tinigil nito ang pagtawa at muling nauwi sa pag-ngisi. "I have flirted with a lot of women in the States and that's a fact. I was not new to relationships and flirtings and such. But this with you, Luna? This is new to me. Because for the first time since I remember, I have never been so captivated. I have never had an intense crush on someone until I met you."

Hindi niya pinahintulutan ang sariling patuloy na matulala sa mga naririnig mula kay Ryu. Hindi rin niya hinayaang pumasok sa utak ang mga sinasabi nito. She let his words go into her right ear and go out to her left. Ayaw niyang bigyang halaga ang mga salita nito dahil kahit ano pa ang sabihin nito'y hindi pa rin niya ito paniniwalaan.

Nasa ganoon siyang pag-iisip nang nagawa niyang itaas ang isang kamay at akmang itutukod sa dibdib ng lalaking kaharap nang magawa nito iyong pigilan. Ryu caught her wrist to her amusement. At lalo pa siyang namangha nang hindi nangyari ang inakala niyang mangyayari.

Dahil ang isang kamay ni Ryu na siyang may hawak sa apron na hinubad nito kanina ay itinaas nito at dinala sa kaniyang likuran. Para siyang loka na sinundan ng tingin ang kamay nitong iyon, at nang makita niya ang dahilan kung bakit ito lumapit sa kinaroroonan niya'y muli siyang pinanlakihan ng mga mata.

Nasa tabi ng two-door fridge at nasa kaniyang tagiliran... ang wooden basket na sa tingin niya'y lagayan ng maruruming mga apron at basahan. And Ryu went there to dump his dirty apron. Nagkataon lang na umatras siya at doon mismo sa parteng iyon nahinto. And Ryu took that chance to tease her!

Muli niyang hinarap si Ryu na sa pagkakataong iyon ay nakatayo na nang tuwid. Muli ay may ngisi sa mga labi nito.

"You didn't expect me to kiss you, did you?"

Napasinghap siya kasunod ng marahas niyang pagbawi ng kamay mula rito. Gusto niyang sagutin ang sinabi nito, pero wala siyang maisip na isagot. Besides... he was right. She thought he would kiss her, at nakahanda sana siyang gulpihin ito kung ginawa nito iyon!

She probably wouldn't be able to beat him, but she would defend herself even if it killed her nonetheless!

Umirap siya, at imbes na sagutin ang sinabi nito'y umiwas siya at umalis sa kinatatayuan. Buti ay nagawa na niyang gumising sa sandaling pagkatigalgal at naikilos na ang katawan. She didn't know what happened to her earlier. Sa malalaking mga hakbang ay tinungo niya ang pinto palabas ng kusina, pero bago pa niya iyon marating ay muli niyang narinig ang tinig ni Ryu na nagpahinto sa kaniya,

"I could easily kiss you right there and then, you know?"

She looked over her shoulder and leered at him. Pero muli ay wala siyang naisagot dahil nakita niyang wala na ang ngisi sa mga labi ni Ryu. Ang anyo nito ngayon ay naging seryoso.

"But I didn't do it because I wanted our first kiss to be special, and that would be the time when your heart becomes mine." That's when he grinned sheepishly, and that's when she was finally able to get her thoughts together.

Tinapunan niya ito ng masamang tingin. "Alam mo, kahit papaano ay nakuha mo na sana nang kaunti ang tiwala ko, eh. You have been so good and thoughtful I felt I was safe with you. Pero itong pinagsasasabi mo ngayon ang sumira ng lahat. Now I'm back to thinking you're a perv. At naiinis na ulit ako sa 'yo!"

Hindi na niya hinintay pang sumagot ito; mabilis na siyang tumalikod at nag-martsa palabas ng kusina.