Tahimik akong naglalakad papuntang Cafe M. Katatapos lang ng huling klase namin at mag-isa ulit ako. Nauna nang umuwi si Lacey habang si Frankie naman ay may study date daw.

Napaigtad ako nang may kumuha ng AirPods ko. "Ay what the fuck! Tangina!"

I raised my fist, ready to punch, until I saw Iouis. Napanganga ako nang mapagtanto na ikalawang beses niya na 'tong ginawa.

"Damn. I didn't know that you like to curse," nakangisi niyang sabi.

I glared at him while taking my AirPods backs. "Hindi naman. Sayo lang, Yuwi."

He gave me a boyish smile and placed both hands in his pockets. Ako naman, sinasamaan pa rin siya ng tingin. Nasasanay na siya sa panggugulat sa akin!

"Don't do it again. Baka masuntok talaga kita!" I warned warily. Tumango naman siya at nag-peace sign, nagpapa-cute.

"Haven't seen you in a week, Maldevaron," aniya habang sumasabay ng lakad sa akin.

Yeah, a week. I guess I'm not the only who's keeping track, huh?

Marupok man ako at lowkey hopeless romantic pero may self-control pa rin naman ako. Seryoso ako noong sinabi ko na hindi muna ako sasama sa kaniya o mag o-oo sa mga alok niya hanggang sa mas maging malinaw 'tong sitwasyon namin.

"I didn't see you around."

"Yeah, I was avoiding you," mabilis kong sagot, hindi nag-iisip. Huli ko nang napagtanto ang sinabi kaya tinawanan ko na lang para kunyare nagbibiro ako.

He chuckled too. Akala niya siguro biro talaga 'yon.

I mean... I wasn't actually avoiding him. If nagkasalubong kami, hindi naman ako mag-iiba nang direksyon para hindi kami magkaharap. It just so happens that we didn't get to have any interactions.

Well... inaya ako ni Frankie na makipag-dinner kasama si Dante. Sigurado ako na kasama rin si Iouis kaya tumanggi ako. There was also this instance when Frankie asked me a favor that involves going to Iouis' university so I refused.

I pursed my lips when I realized something. I guess I did actually avoid him. Pero hindi iyon 'yong napaka-obvious na pag-iwas. I said no to situations where there's a possibility of seeing him.

"Why?" He stopped walking to ask. Natigil din ako sa paglalakad para maharap siya.

"Kasi," I answered with a shrug. Alangan namang sabihin ko sa kaniya ang mga iniisip ko, diba?

"Anong kasi?"

Binilisan ko ang lakad pero mabilis niya akong naabutan. "Kasi lang."

He didn't press on the topic further, which I am grateful for. Ayaw ko naman kasi siyang ipagtabuyan pero iniiwasan ko lang na magkainteraksyon kami na i-o-overthink ko.

"Have you eaten?"

Napatikhim ako nang narinig iyon. Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko!

Is he asking as a concerned person but platonically speaking? Or is he asking as a romantically-interested potential manliligaw?

Is he asking for conversation's sake? Or is he asking because he wants to ask me out?

I frowned at him. "Pa fall ka!"

Sabay kaming natawa. Buti na lang at iyon ang reaksyon niya. Baka hindi ko rin kakayanin kung bigla siyang sumeryoso.

"Okay, fine... go starve," he replied while raising both hands as if surrendering.

I glared at him but he only laughed. He messed with his hair while shaking his head. "There's this new restaurant nearby. You wanna try?"

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mga mata. Heto na naman! Is this a dinner date? Or just two people with a platonic relationship who's gonna eat dinner together?

"Where's you bestie?" I asked.

He shrugged and looked away. Nasa daanan na ngayon nakatuon ang kaniyang mga mata. "Cramming his readings, probably."

"And you?"

He turned to me with a meaningful smile. Nakikitaan ko ng excitement ang kaniyang mukha. "I finished it so I could get a massage."

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin na para bang batang nahihiya. "Go on! You can tease me."

Doon na lang ako natawa. Hindi ko naman talaga siya tutuksuhin. But maybe it's because he thinks that guys having a massage is a weird thing or that he has a silly reason.

"I won't! I like massages too!"

Bumuka ang bibig niya na para bang may gustong sabihin pero tinikom din iyon. He bit his lower lips before looking away.

Did he want to ask me out again?

I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment. Hinilot ko ang sentido at napailing-iling na lang sa sarili.

Ba't kasi ang malisyosa ng utak ko? If only I was nonchalant and a great actress so I could pretend to be oblivious.

But I can't do that. Mahilig akong mag-overthink.

"Hindi ka rito nag-college, diba?" I asked, changing the topic.

Buti na lang at natatanaw ko na ang Cafe M . I won't have to endure these small talks. Isang aya pa niya at baka pumayag na talaga ako!

He shook his head. "I'm here for law school and mainly because I want to be your father's intern."

Tumigil kami sa harapan ng Cafe M. He faced me and gestured to the cafe's entrance with his head.

Hindi siya sasama? Pero teka... diba ito 'yong gusto ko? Na hindi kami magkaroon ng interaksyon? Ba't parang nadidismaya ako na hindi siya sasama sa cafe? Bakit?

"I'll get going now. I still have to meet with your father," he said as if reading my mind.

May kinuha siya mula sa kaniyang messenger bag at saka binigay iyon sa akin. Binaba ko ang tingin at nakita ko ang hoodie niya. Binuklad ko iyon at nakita na official merch iyon ng law school nila.

"You might get cold inside." Hindi niya na ako hinintay na makasagot at naglakad na paalis habang kumakaway.

He turned his back and continued walking without looking back. Pumasok lang ako sa cafe nang tuluyan na siyang nawala sa paningin ko.

I absentmindedly stared at his hoodie. Ilang minuto ko na itong tinititigan at kahit nandito na ang in-order ko ay hindi ko pa rin maalis ang tingin sa binigay niya.

True to his words, I did find myself feeling cold. Nagdadalawang-isip ko iyong sinuot. And when I did, an intoxicating yet gentle scent entered my nose. Mabango iyon. Just the right intensity of a manly scent while still calming on the senses. Like a mixture of musk, wood, and green tea.

Pero... bakit niya 'to binigay? I mean, yes, he said that I might find feel cold... pero bakit? Why does he care? Or does he actually care?

Pero, hindi eh! Kung wala siyang pakialam, edi dapat hindi niya 'to pinahiram sa akin. Kasi kahit pa malamigan ako o hindi, wala na siya roon.

Shit naman, Yuwi, oh! Nanahimik ako rito!

Pero 'di bale na, baka mabait lang talaga siya. Isasauli ko na lang 'to bukas!

But for some reason, I found myself not taking off his hoodie. I even sprayed some of my favorite mists on it.

A part of my minds reasoned that it's because I want my own familiar scent to be embedded on it since I'm the one wearing it. The other part says that it's because I want him to remember me when he wears it again.

Pero paano na lang kung lalabhan niya 'to? Maybe I should wash this before spraying it with my perfume? Para kapag sinauli ko na sa kaniya, hindi niya muna lalabhan ang hoodie kaya hindi rin mawawala ang pabango ko...

Tangina, Caramel! Anong pinag-iisip mo! This is not you! Hindi ikaw 'to!

I sighed. Kulang na lang sabunutan ko ang sarili dahil sa inis. Pero kahit ganoon ay suot-suot ko pa rin ang kaniyang hoodie hanggang pagkabukas.

"Cara! Hey, Cara!" I heard someone call. I turned around and saw Benjamin, iyong sabi ni Iouis na type ko raw.

Mukhang may sasabihin pa sana siya ngunit namataan ko na ang grupo nina Iouis sa may likuran niya. Mabilis akong nagpaalam kay Benjamin bago tumakbo palapit kina Iouis.

All of his friends teased us but Dante was the loudest. Isasauli ko lang naman ang hoodie niya pero nauna pa talaga ang mga kaibigan niya. May narinig pa akong nagsabi na baka magbe-bebe time pa kaming dalawa.

We both stared at his friends who were walking away. Talagang iniwan talaga nila si Iouis at hindi niya man lang pinigilan ang mga ito!

"Can I have my hoodie back? You can ask Jamie's," aniya sa malamig na tono habang hindi ako tinitingnan.

His eyes were focused at the side while a small frown formed on his face. Nakapamulsa siya at parang ayaw talaga akong kausapin!

"Oh, come on! Na naman?" Padabog kong sabi.

Ba't parang nagseselos siya? Kung nagseselos siya, edi dapat gumalaw-galaw na siya! Hindi iyong magseselos siya na wala naman kaming label!

"Kung gusto mong walang tumukso sa amin ni Jamie, pagawan mo ng article at ipa-publish sa school paper niyo!" I suggested with a grin.

For some reason, I can't take him seriously now. Nakakatawa ang ganitong expresyon niya. Parang batang pinagkaitan ng candy.

He burst out laughing because of what I said. Biglang natanggal ang angas niya at naputol ang pagiging seryoso at suplado.

"Saan punta mo, Euro?"

"Cafe M," maikli niyang sagot at nagsimula nang maglakad. "Ikaw?"

"Hindi ko alam... samahan na lang kita," I said without thinking. Totoo naman kasi na wala na akong pupuntahan at nakasanayan ko nang pumunta sa Cafe M tuwing pagkatapos ng klase.

It's a matter of habit and not because gusto kong makipaglandian sa kaniya.

"Where's Frankie?" Tanong niya habang palabas kami ng university.

"Kasama crush niya," I answered while wandering my eyes around. Maganda rin pala ang campus nila. "Si Izarra nasaan?"

I felt his eyes on me so I turned to him. He has this curious expression on his face, as if he's wondering why I'm asking about her.

"Hindi ko alam."

I shrugged. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ko tinanong. "How about your sister and Mom? They were here, right?"

"Yup, they just visited me."

Tahimik lang kaming naglakad hanggang sa makarating kami sa Cafe M. I ordered my usual caramel macchiato while his was a caramel frappe and cheesecake. Siya na ang naghintay ng in-order namin at ako naman ang naghanap ng table.

Doon ako pumuwesto sa palagi kong inuupuan. Buti na lang at maganda ang exterior ng cafe kaya roon pumupuwesto ang karamihan sa mga kumakain. Wala akong kaagaw dito sa may bookshelf.

Nakatayo ako sa harapan ng shelves, tinitingnan ang mga libro, nang may umakbay sa akin. I flinched while clenching my fist. Kung si Iouis ulit ito na nanggugulat kahit sinabi ko nang tumigil siya, magagalit na talaga ako.

Pero nagulat na lang ako nang makitang hindi iyon si Iouis. I unclenched my fist and stared at the guy. I paused for a second and tried to recall him.

Tama nga ako at hindi na ito ang unang beses na nagkita kami ng lalaking 'to!

"I'm so sorry!" He said, equally surprised as I am. "I'm not sure if ilang beses na kitang napagkamalan."

I nodded and smiled at him. Hinintay ko siyang umalis pero tumayo lang siya sa harapan ko habang tinititigan ang mukha ko. Hindi ko alam kung ma-a-alarma ako o mako-conscious.

"You look like Jenna, my girlfriend," anito nang nakangisi sabay iwas ng tingin. "Though, please don't tell that to anyone. I'm only saying this as an explanation."

Tumango na lang ako. Hindi ko na rin nakita muli si Jenna pero itong kasintahan niya ay mga tatlong beses ko na sigurong nakaharap.

"I'm Carlo, by the way," pagpapakilala niya sabay lahad ng kamay. "Carlo Ro—"

Carlo trailed off when I turned to the other direction. I was about to accept his hand but then I saw Iouis approaching. Sabay kaming napatingin ni Carlo kay Iouis.

Nang binalik ko ang tingin kay Carlo ay wala na siya sa kinatatayuan niya. Sa backdoor siya dumaan at pumunta sa isang table sa may garden.

Hindi ko na lang siya ininda at kinuha na ang in-order mula kay Iouis. We drank in silence and it was... awkward... nakatingin lang siya sa akin habang sumisimsim sa inumin.

Hindi ko nakaya ang intensidad ng kaniyang mga mata kaya tinuon ko na lang ang tingin sa gilid ng kaniya ulo. It looks like that I'm looking at him but I'm actually not.

Buti na lang at nagsimula na rin siya ng usapan. I don't think I can stand the silence any longer. Wala pa naman kaming mga dalang mga paperworks o libro kaya nakatanga lang talaga kami sa isa't isa.

We talked about college and schoolworks and then about law and then medicine. Medyo seryoso ang usapan pero wala naman iyon sa akin.

Iouis' intelligent and it really shows when he speaks. He's articulate and well-versed with what he speaks about. Iyong alam ko talaga na alam niya ang sinasabi at hindi praktisado ang mga sagot.

Having a conversation with him is like reading a new book. Marami akong nalalaman. And it's so different with the Iouis that I know. This is the first time he showed this side of himself to me. And I like it.

Iba talaga ang dating ng mga taong magaling sa salita. It's not helping that he looks good when speaking. Tapos may sense pa ang sinasabi!

No wonder Papa likes him. The firm does have interns but I don't think Papa has his own personal apprentice. Kahit pa may hinahasa at t-in-e-train ang firm, wala na si Papa roon. Pero kay Iouis, hands on siya.

Ngayon ko lang 'to napagtanto. Maybe this is also the reason why Iouis' an effortless ladies' man. He's got it all—the looks, the bod, the intelligence, the words and even the fashion! Plus points pa na mayaman siya at galing sa prominenteng pamilya.

"What is it?" He cut himself off in the middle of his "rebuttal" to my claim about stem cell research.

Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit dito napunta ang usapan namin pero parang nagde-debate na kaming dalawa.

"What is it, Cara?" He asked again, this time with a smirk.

Kung makangisi siya ay parang hindi niya lang ako kinuwestiyon bago-bago lang na para bang nasa korte suprema kami!

Ang bilis talaga magbago ng aura at mood niya!

"Wala nga, Attorney! 'Di ba pwedeng tumingin?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at sinuklian ang ngisi niya.

"I don't mind if it's you who's staring, Doc..." he casually said as he leaned back on his chair.

His teasing yet expressive eyes didn't leave my face as he took his drink and finished it in one gulp. Wala naman siyang ginagawa sa akin pero naghuhumerantado ang kalooban ko dahil sa pagtingin niya.

Nakakainis ang kamandag niya at naiinis ako dahil naaapektuhan ako!

Our eye contact was cut off when two people took the seats beside us. Padabog na umupo ang dalawa at sabay naman kaming napatingin ni Iouis sa kanila.

Sina Dante at Frankie lang pala.

Pareho silang nakasimangot. Frankie's more on the angry side. 'Yong tipo na pinipigilan lang ang sarili na manigaw. Si Dante naman, mukhang nagpipigil na manuntok.

"Bakit ganiyan itsura niyo?"

"What happened?" Sabay naming tanong ni Iouis.

The two answered in unison and that's when I realized that we shouldn't have asked. Dapat pinakalma muna namin ang dalawa bago nagtanong. Heto tuloy, mukha kaming nasa Face-to-Face.

"I saw her making out with a guy at the library!"

"He punched my boyfriend!"

"That was your boyfriend?" Ani Dante, hindi makapaniwala. I'm not sure if he looks even mad or disappointed or disgusted.

"Obviously, not anymore!" Frankie hissed, still glaring at her cousin. If looks could kill, Dante would've dropped dead already.

But since Frankie's glare seems to have no effect on Dante, he merely shrugged while rolling his eyes. "I just saved you from a fuck boy! I know his type. He'll hurt you—"

"Of course, you know what he's like! Pareho kayo!" Frankie cut him off. Kulang na lang ay ibuhos niya sa pinsan ang inumin ko dahil sa inis.

"Eh alam mo naman pala! Bakit kapa nakipaghalikan?"

Inalis ko ang mga mata sa dalawa at kay Iouis na lang tumingin. Sakto rin at napatingin siya sa akin. Nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay sabay kaming napangiti at napailing.

I took a sip from my drink, wanting to ignore but couldn't. Buti na lang at walang masyadong tao sa area namin kaya walang nakakarinig ng pag-aaway nila maliban sa amin.

"Pwedeng pakuha ng stirrer," I said, wanting to break the tension. Hindi ko naman ganoon ka kailangan iyon pero wala na talaga akong masabi.

Surprisingly, Iouis got up and left. Lito ko siyang sinundan ng tingin.

Saan pupunta ang isang 'yon? Did he think that I was serious with that stirrer request? Mayroon naman kasi sa kabilang table at iyon ang tinutukoy ko!

Baka gusto niya lang talagang umalis dahil naririndi na siya sa pag-aaway ng dalawa.

"Oh, wow..." rinig kong sambit ni Dante sa namamanghang tono.

Akala ko ay sarkastiko iyon at para sa pinsan ngunit nang sumulyap ako sa kaniya ay sa akin siya nakatingin.

"He doesn't like na inuutusan unless it has anything to do with acads or work."

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa narinig.

So, he's saying that Iouis actually left the table just to get me a stirrer? At kung totoo man ang hula niya, anong ibig sabihin niyon? Na may special treatment ako galing kay Iouis? May meaning na naman ba 'to?

Napapikit ako at napailing.

Tangina naman, oh! Gusto ko lang naman uminom ng frappe!