Pabalik-balik ang lakad ko sa living room, hindi mapakali. Hindi ako sigurado kung ano 'tong nararamdaman ko. Hiya? Excitement? Pagkalito?

"Mamaya ka na kiligin!" Sigaw ni Frankie. "Kakain na!"

Kilig? Bakit ako kikiligin eh nagtuksuhan lang naman kami ni Iouis! Wala namang nakakakilig doon!

Maybe I'm just embarrassed that I had a short conversation with him about that.

"Kasalanan mo 'to!" Sigaw ko pabalik kay Frankie. "Nakakahiya! Ano na lang ang iisipan niya? Na manyak ako? Na iyon ang habol ko?"

Tumawa lang si Frankie. Hinabol ko siya papunta sa kusina at saka tinampal ang kaniyang balikat. Hindi man lang affected.

Nakita ko ang maliit na ngiti ni Lacey pero nang napansin ang tingin ko sa kaniya ay agad niya akong tinaasan ng kilay.

"Come on! That's fine... it's normal!" Pagdadahilan pa ni Frankie. It's like she's trying to comfort me but in reality, she's not. Mas nahihiya tuloy ako.

"So, did you find out? Is he part of the BDC?" Ani Frankie at umupo na sa may hapag. "BDC stands for big—"

"Okay, okay! Stop it!" I covered my ears and tried to drown her words with mine.

"—club."

Patuloy akong tinukso ni Frankie. Buti na lang at hindi katulad niya si Lacey. Dahil kung pareho silang dalawa, hindi ko siguro kakayanin.

Frankie can be childish sometimes. Lacey is serious but there's something about her that I can't point out. I mean... she doesn't talk with us but she cooks for us!

"Just admit it, Lacey! You wanna be friends with us!" Ani Frankie pero si Lacey naman, niligpit na ang pinagkainan. "Why else paglulutuan mo kami?"

Lacey only raised a brow and left the kitchen with her book.

"Nerd!" Pahabol na sigaw ni Frankie bago binaling ang atensyon sa akin. Katulad kanina noong tinawagan niya ako, bumalik ang teenager-in-love vibes niya.

"So, I have a crush," panimula niya. "His name's Gonzalo and we hanged out kanina. And then while I was at the library, he was there too pero I didn't show myself kasi baka he would think na clingy type ako... but I'm not!"

Patuloy akong kumain habang nakikinig. "And guess what?! I heard na he's gonna volunteer daw in a medical mission! So, I took the liberty of signing you up too!"

I almost spat out my food when I heard her. "You signed me up?! Without telling me?"

She nodded enthusiastically. Parang batang nanghihingi ng candy. Sandali ko siyang pinagsabihan pero hinayaan na lang. Gusto ko rin naman kasi.

"Last na lang! He's also a nursing student but he's older than us... so if things will work out well, may tutor na tayo!"

Napailing na lang ako dahil sa mga pinagsasabi niya. Pagkabukas, sabay kaming tatlo na pumunta sa university. Kailangang sumama ni Lacey dahil gagawin namin 'yong group project naming tatlo.

During our vacant, we went to the open space. May mga benches at mesa roon at doon namin sinimulan ang gawain namin.

Sa gitna ng paggawa namin ay unti-unting nagsimula ang pagbabangayan ng dalawa. Frankie still can't accept the fact that Lacey will only speak to us if it's about school.

"Why don't you wanna talk to me, ha?!" Singhal ni Frankie, naiiyak. Hindi ko alam kung nag-iinarte siya o sadyang hindi talaga siya sanay sa ganitong set-up. "We're dorm-mates! Dapat close tayo!"

Hindi ko na inawat ang dalawa dahil hindi naman sila nag-aaway. When Frankie brought that topic, Lacey went back to her own little world.

"I have to go to our firm. Pinapatawag ako ni Papa," pagpapaalam ko sa dalawa. It wasn't an excuse to rid myself of their banters, but I was grateful for it. Hindi siguro ako makaka-concentrate.

"Papa, here na me!" Masigla kong sabi nang makapasok sa opisina ni Papa. Nagulat pa siya dahil bigla na lang akong pumasok.

He smiled at me before gesturing for a hug. "Did I call you here or are you just visiting?"

"Pumunta raw ako rito sabi ni Ate Bree."

"Ah, then go to her officer."

Nagpaalam na ako kay Papa at dumiretso sa palapag ng office ni Ate Bree. Walang tao sa floor nila kaya naisipan kong tawagin na lang siya. Wala naman kasi masyadong tao rito kaya okay lang.

"Ate Bree! Nandito na ang maganda mong kapatid!"

"Hi, Cara!" Napaigtad ako sa gulat nang marinig ang boses ni Iouis. I can feel his presence behind me but I didn't move. Baka mamula lang ako dahil sa hiya. Natandaan ko naman kasi ang nangyari kahapon.

"I won't tease you about yesterday," aniya kaya hinarap ko na siya.

Bago pa ako makasagot ay dumating na si Ate. Iouis handed him one of the paper bags.

"I saw your secretary. She was in a hurry so..." he said with a shrug.

Ate thanked Iouis and started eating her snacks. Hindi man lang ako binati at inuna na ang pagkain.

Ang kapatid ang nagpapunta sakin pero hindi niya naman ako kinakausap. Sisitain ko na sana siya pero biglang nilahad ni Iouis ang isa pang paper bag.

Lito kong tinitigan ang paper bag. "Kunin mo, Cami! Manners mo nasaan!"

Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang kapatid at tinanggap na ang paper bag. Tiningnan ko ang loob niyon at nakita ang isang box. Sigurado akong waffle ang nasa loob niyon.

"Ay, akin 'to?"

Ate Bree rolled her eyes while smirking, then turning to Iouis. "Ikaw ha!"

Napailing-iling pa siya bago ulit binalik ang tingin sa akin. "Cami, here's the invitation for the annual dinner ball," anang kapatid sabay lahad ng tatlong maliliit na envelopes. "Invite your dorm-mates. And I'm not taking a no for an answer."

Pagkatapos niyon ay nagpaalaman na si Ate Bree dahil may gagawin pa raw. Nang makapasok na siya sa kaniyang opisina ay saka ako bumaling kay Iouis.

"Thank you for this," sabi ko sabay taas ng paper bag. "You don't have to kiss-ass since Papa already likes you."

He let out a laugh while messing with his hair. Napakagat-labi na lang tuloy ako. Bagay na bagay talaga sa kaniya ang porma niya.

Whites pants at light-blue and white na dress shirt, dark blue necktie na may pattern ngunit natatabunan ng kaniyang kremang vest na knitted. Sa gitna ng kaniyang vest ay nakaburda ang logo ng Ralph Lauren. Pinatungan niya ito ng shades of brown na plaid blazer.

"Chill, I'm not kissing-ass... figuratively speaking," aniya sa nanunuksong tono bago tumawa ulit. "I heard you were coming, so I bought your order from yesterday."

He handed me the iced coffee and I started sipping it. "What a memory. You even know my additional requests."

He shrugged pompously but in a teasing manner. "Duh."

It was my turn to laugh. Hindi ko inasahan na ganoon ang isasagot niya.

"Well, see you around."

We both waved at each other, only to find ourselves in the same elevator. "You're confusing, Iouis. Minsan seryoso, minsan hindi."

He shrugged, then leaned on the elevator wall. "It depends on the setting. I can be playful with you but..." he paused, probably for dramatic effect. "Seryoso ako sa 'yo."

He was serious, at first, but eventually smiled. Mukhang pinipigilan lang ang ngiti.

"Now see, you just did a quick change in a split second!"

He shrugged again, but this time, with a more confident smirk. "That's my talent, babe."

I rolled my eyes. Sakto naman at bumukas na ang elevator. Sabay kaming lumabas at nagsitinginan naman ang ibang mga staff.

"Should I add flirty to the list?"

He only laughed before waving. We separated ways since he went to cross the road while I headed to the parking lot. Nasa gitna ako ng paglalakad nang biglang mya umakbay sa akin.

Sandali akong kinilabutan dahil hindi ko napapamilyaran ang tao. I don't know why but I have a strong sense when it comes to "auras".

Hindi ko alam kung bakit at kung paano pero nakikilala ko kadalasan ang mga lumalapit sa akin kahit hindi ko pa sila nakikita.

"Hon!" Anang lalaki at muntik pa akong halikan sa pisngi.

Mahina ko siyang tinulak at lito siyang tinitigan.

"Oh, sorry!" Aniya sa dismayadong tono. "I thought you were my girlfriend. Her parents work in this firm so..."

Tumango na lang ako at hindi na ininda ang kaniyang ginawa. It seems that it was an honest mistake. Nang makaalis ang lalaki ay saka ako pumasok sa sasakyan.

Our schedule was jam-packed the following day. Late kaming nagising nina Frankie at Lacey pero dahil sa iba't ibang dahilan. Ako, hindi makatulog. May bumabagabag sa akin.

Si Lacey, nag-aral siguro. I heard her mumble something about glycolysis while making a toast. Si Frankie naman, umiyak nang magdamag. Hindi niya sinabi pero namumugto ang kaniyang mga mata.

At dahil late kaming tatlo, walang may nakapagluto ng lunch namin. But it didn't matter. We were too busy with our presentation to even eat lunch.

Buti na lang at maagang natapos ang huling klase namin. Si Frankie, bumili ng lunch at dumiretso sa library. Si Lacey naman, naunang umuwi.

Naiwan akong mag-isa sa sidewalk, bumibili ng fishball at takoyaki. Medyo marami-rami ang bumibili kaya nagpagilid muna ako. Nagmasid-masid ako at may namataang pamilyar na mukha.

"Hey, you, Maldevaron." I wasn't surprised to hear Iouis' voice. "Where's Karissa?"

I smirked and straightened up. "Wow, first name basis kayo?"

He rolled his eyes and stood beside me. Nakasandal ako sa dingding habang siya naman ay nakapamulsa at ang isang kamay ay may dalang paper bag.

"Tss... fine, where's Ms. Madrazzo?"

I shrugged. "Aba, malay ko. Nasa library ata, nag-boy hunting."

Akala ko ay aalis na siya pero hinintay niya akong makabalik. Kinuha ko pa kasi ang in-order.

"Bakit mo hinahanap? Type mo?"

"Type agad?" He asked back in a sarcastic tone. "She's not my type. But you are..."

Tamad ko siyang tinitigan at nag-fake laugh. Nagsimula na lang din ako sa pagkain. "Ha ha... what do you need?"

He smiled mischievously... and then in a charming, boyish way. "Can you please give these books to her? These are from Dante."

Tumango ako at kinuha na ang paper bag. "Bakit ikaw? Nasaan si Dante?"

"Bakit mo hinahanap? Type mo?" Tanong niya pabalik, nanunukso.

Parang baliw lang. Kung pagmamasdan ay napaka-intimidating pero kung ano-ano naman ang lumalabas sa bibig. Hindi ko alam kung bakit paborito 'to ni Papa.

"Type agad?" Sinunod ko ang sinagot niya sa akin kanina. "He's not my type. But you are..."

He smirked and neared me. He bent his head a bit. My height is above average but he's still taller than me. The distance between us is not scandalous but also too near for personal space.

"Really, huh?" He tilted his head and asked in a low voice. "So, date tomorrow?"

Now, that's smooth! Alam niya naman siguro na sinunod ko lang ang mga sagot niya kanina, diba?

"Yacht? Golfing? Hiking?"

Ah, bahala na. He thinks he's the only one who can play this game, huh? Magaling din ako rito!

"I prefer salons and spas, like having a facial and mani-pedi," I answered pompously. Akala niya siguro na hindi ako marunong makisakay!

He nodded and straightened up. "Sure, fine with me."

My eyes widened slightly. We're still just teasing each other, right?

"See you, Maldevaron," he said with a wink. He placed his forefinger and middle finger to his lips, as if kissing them, then gave me a flying kiss.

My mouth gaped open because of what he did. I was too dumbfounded to speak. Natawa siya sa reaksyon ko at kumaway na lang sabay lakad paalis.

Our conversation wasn't serious, right? Or did I just set a date with Iouis-freaking-Euro?