It had been another day of eating lunch alone for Yvo. He had been so used to having her around that it felt so unnatural when she wasn't. If he were honest with himself, he had missed the way he smiles at her, how those two eyes disappear under her cheeks. Her cheeky laughter and her candid personality.

He had passed by her earlier at the hall. It was obvious that she was avoiding him. She pretended she didn't see him and looked the other way when they passed by each other. Yuka was having it rough, he knew. Kanina ay pinanood niya lang sa malayo ito habang naglulunch mag-isa ang babae. It was not the Yuka he was used to seeing. She was in low-spirit, always keeping her head down and never making eye contact with anyone. Pinag-uusapan si Yuka sa buong campus at ang video na lumabas, it had even been making rounds in the internet. She was the topic of every gossip now and it infuriated him that nobody was doing a damn thing about it. He had updated the office earlier about the issue and they told him that they were looking in to it. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nila alam kung sino ang may kagagawan sa nangyari. He'd even suggested who they should be investigating. This was an elite university and the school take what had happened seriously. Because to him, it doesn't feel like they were.

"Yvo." He heard a voice from behind him as he was busy with sequencing a genome for the latest drug they were researching.

He took his eye off the screen of the monitor and turned to face the man. Tate stood in front of him with hands in his pockets.

"Hey." He gave him an awkward nod. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?"

"Yuka has not replied to any of my messages. Hindi din niya sinasagot ang mga tawag ko." Tate said in a low tone. It was slowly driving him mad.

"Hindi na din kami nag-uusap ni Yuka." Sabi niya.

"Man, I don't know what to do. Paano kung hindi na ako kausapin ni Yuka?"

"I think she just needs a little time to herself." Yvo let out a deep breath.

"Alam mong siya lang ang sineryoso ko ng ganito. I've never been this serious with any woman. Why did you fuck her?" There was an undertone of resentment in his voice. Whether it was for Yvo or the situation they were in, both of them didn't know. Nobody knew who's fault was who.

"I'm sorry..." Yvo felt guilt. If it hadn't been for him, the two would have still be okay. Even though he was drugged at that time, he couldn't help but feel that it was him who had ruined his bestfriend and Yuka's budding relationship. "You know I'd never do anything to ruin your relationship with her. Hindi ko ginusto ang nangyari."

"Goddamn it!" Tate shouted out of frustration. His own bestfriend had slept with her woman. His own damn bestfriend. The easiest thing to do was to put the blame on Yvo, be mad at him, but he was just as much of a victim as them.

"Mahal ka ni Yuka." Yvo quietly said. "Hindi na natin maibabalik ang nangyari, it already happened but if she hadn't been drugged, I don't think she'd want to sleep with any man other than you. Kung anuman ang nangyari noong gabing iyon, it won't change the fact that it's you who she loves."

He was right. It was just sex that had happened between them. There were no feelings involved and none of them barely remembers what had happened. Just pure mindless sex that didn't mean anything.

"I love her too." Tate softly said, his eyes lowering to his feet.

"I know." Yvo took in a deep breath. "If there's anything I can do to fix your relationship with Yuka, I'd gladly do it. Whatever it is. Kung kailangan kong lumayo sa inyo, gagawin ko. No question asked."

"Are you done with your work?" Tate asked.

"Yeah." Yvo shrugged, his eyes averting back to the computer screen. He was nowhere near done but he thought this was far more important right now. Mababalikan niya naman itong ginagawa niya bukas.

"Let's talk this over dinner." Aya ng kaibigan sa kanya.

"Okay." Yvo simply answered and turned off the computer.

Yvo took off his lab coat and walked with Tate to the parking lot. There were only few cars left at the parking lot as it was already seven in the evening. At this time, there were only few classes being held. There was nothing but heavy silence between them, both not knowing what to say to each other.

"It was Ciara's fault, that dumb bitch. Sinira niya ang plano ko. I told her to keep an eye on Yuka." The voice of a woman made both of them stop mid-step.

Yvo and Tate stared at each other, the conversation caught the men's attention when Yuka's name was said. Just two cars away from them were Tracy and Janno having cigarette, walang kaalam-alam ang dalawa na may nakikinig sa pag-uusap nila.

"Bakit din kasi pinabayaan mong mawala sa paningin mo si Yuka? Alam mo ba kung gaano kamahal ang pill na iyon? It's the newest and most potent molly ever made. Did she even drink it?" Janno asked.

"I don't know! Sabi ni Ciara kinuha naman daw niya! We could've made a real sex video this time kung hindi dahil sa tanga-tangang babaeng iyon! I gave her one simple task! She even had the guts to ask me kung magkaibigan na ba kami after telling me na alam na ni Yuka na I was behind this! I swear, she's as dumb as a brick."

"Ibig sabihin na alam ni Yuka na may nilagay sa inumin niya? Fuck! She did take it!" Janno's face twisted into a scowl. "She probably fucked another guy."

"Well, I hope she gets STD." Tracy chuckled.

"I was supposed to be the one to fuck her. Ang usapan natin you'll give her the pill and you take her to me. It's that simple."

"Why are you this desperate to have her, Janno? Ano ba ang meron sa babaeng yan? We already have the blowjob scandal you had with her out. Hindi pa ba enough iyon? Everyone already knows what a whore she is."

"I want a real sex scandal, not a fake ass blowjob video. Kaya malakas pa rin ang loob ng babaeng yan dahil walang napatunayan ang video na iyon. I don't even think she cares." Janno shook his head. "A video of me fucking her. That's what I want, Tracy. Don't you understand? Nobody plays me for a fool and get away with it."

"Why does it turn me on to see you this mad?" Tracy purred seductively as she threw what was left of her cig to the ground and crushed it with her heels. "You want to go to my pad?"

Janno shrugged apathetically.

"You son of a bitch!" Tate couldn't stop himself from charging towards Janno. Hinawakan niya ang lalaki sa kwelyo and he almost lifted him from the ground. Tracy stood there, watching with eyes wide in shock. "You'll pay for what you did to Yuka! I will fucking kill you!"

"Putangina mo, bitawan mo ako!" The man tried to struggle free from his hold. Dumukot ito mula sa bulsa ng baril, Tate let go of him when he saw the gun being pointed at him. He took a step back and raised both his hand to show Janno that he was surrendering. Tate may have a more superior physique but he was no stupid. He wouldn't stand a chance against a gun and he didn't want to dare to, one flick of a finger and it would fly to his head and blow his brain out.

"Ano? Nasaan ang yabang mo ngayon?" Janno smirked.

"Janno, watch out!" Sigaw ni Tracy when she saw Yvo sneaking up from behind him. Janno turned his head to Yvo's direction and before he could do anything, he was immobalized when his arms were pulled and held together to his back. A fire was shot and Tracy let out a scream.

"Tate..." Yuka walked into the room to find him sitting on the chair in front of the police's table.

She was at home, watching a TV series in her bedroom when she received a call from the police. Nang banggitin nito ang pangalan ni Tate, Yvo, at Janno ay hindi na nagdalawang-isip si Yuka na pumunta, she dropped her popcorn and her remote control and went straight to the station.

Agad na napatayo si Tate mula sa kinauupuan at lumapit kay Yuka. He cradled her face with his hands and his eyes lit up eagerly as he looked at her.

"Buttercup, I thought I won't see you again." He said in the softest of tone. "Bakit hindi mo sinasagot ang mga tawag at messages ko sa'yo?"

"I... I just needed time, Tate." She answered as she tried to stop herself from throwing her arms around the man standing in front of him.

"Si Tracy at Janno ang naglagay ng drug sa inumin mo. We recorded their whole conversation. He was planning to have sex with you and have it on video."

It somehow didn't surprise her at all. It sounded like something Tracy and Janno would do. The two were evil to the core. They were the kind of people who have never been told no all their lives and never experienced hard bounderies, whose sense of entitlement and power were astonishing that they had no problem ripping apart anyone who comes in the way of what they want.

"Janno accidentally shot Yvo." Sabi ni Tate.

Yuka's eyes widened in surprise at what she had heard and then concern took over her. "Kumusta na si Yvo? Nasaan na siya?"

"He's fine. Nasa ospital siya ngayon. Nadaplisan lang ng bala ang balat niya, he's been treated." Sabi ni Tate.

"Ano ba kasi ang nangyari?" She asked.

"I confronted Janno after hearing his conversation with Tracy about the drug they put on your drink. Hindi ko alam na may baril pala siya, Yvo held his hand to his back and the gun shot him. Janno and Tracy are locked up. We can press charges for what they've done to you... to us."

Yuka stiffened at what she had heard and worriedly glanced at the police officer behind the desk. "Sinabi mo sa kanila ang nangyari?"

"Not yet. I want you here when we report it." Sagot nito sa kanya.

Sunod-sunod na umiling si Yuka. "Ayokong may makaalam."

"But Yuka, you're just going to let that go?"

"Ano ang gusto mong sabihin ko sa kanila na nakipagtalik ako sa dalawang lalaki ng gabing iyon?" She said in a low growl. She was more angry at herself more than anybody else. She was ashamed that she had let that happen.

"They don't have to know-"

"But they will. Uungkatin nila ang lahat ng nangyari noong gabing iyon. Please, Tate, I don't want anyone to know." Yuka pleaded, her eyes watering with tears. She wanted to forget what had happened that night. Ayaw niya nang balikan ulit iyon.

Tate let out a deep sigh. Si Yuka pa rin ang magdedesisyon nun dahil siya ang higit na naapektuhan. For God's sake, she was a virgin until that night. Tate was an open-minded person but he knew that a woman's first should only be with a man she feels comfortable giving her body to. Yuka had hers while she was not in her right state of mind. Ayaw niyang tanggalan ulit ang babae ng karapatan na magdesisyon para sa sarili niya.

"Okay. Just don't cry. I hate seeing you like this." Tate's voice was gentle and soothing. He pulled her towards him in a tight embrace. "Yuka, you're going to drive me crazy not answering my messages and calls."

"I'm sorry..." Mahinang sabi niya at pumulupot ang mga bisig niya sa lalaki.

A bullet had grazed against the skin of his left leg but it did not penetrate. Luckily it was just a light scrape, nothing serious. Securities went running towards the parking lot after hearing the gun shot. Janno was immediately handcuffed and taken by the police while he was ushered to an ambulance. Tate was with him when he got to the hospital but was invited by the police to give out his statement of what had happened at the parking lot.

"Yvo..." His head lifted up to see Yuka standing by the door to the small room he was put in. His wound had already been cleaned and bandaged. Halos nadampian lang nga siya ng bala, his injury was non-life threatening. He'd just been prescribed an antibiotic just to be on the safer side and other than some bruising to his flesh, he was all good.

"Kumusta ka na?" She spoke again when he had not responded to her calling his name.

"I'm doing good now." He answered. "Nilinis lang ng doktor ang sugat. I'm just thankful there's no bullet to dig out of me."

"Buti naman kung ganon." Yuka nodded her head.

"You sure you're okay, dude?" Tate asked as he appeared from behind Yuka.

"Yeah." Nagbaba siya ng tingin. "The doctor said I'm ready to go."

"That's good."

"Ano'ng nangyari kay Janno?" He curiously asked.

"He's still in jail." He quietly said and averted his gaze to the girl. "Yuka doesn't want to press charges."

"Kalimutan na natin iyon. Ayokong may makaalam tungkol sa... sa nangyari." She shrugged, her gaze uncomfortably shifting elsewhere. "I just wanted to make sure na okay ka lang. Kailangan ko nang umalis baka hinahanap na ako nina Ate."

"I'll drive you home." Tate offered.

Yuka nodded her head.

"I'm just going to take her home. Babalikan kita." Said Tate.

"It's okay. Tatay will pick me up."

Tate nodded his head and wrapped his arm around the small of Yuka's back.

"Yuka, Tate..." Tawag ni Yvo nang tumalikod na ang dalawa para umalis. The two paused. "I hope we'd all just forget about what had happened. Kung kailangan lumayo ako sa inyo, gagawin ko. But please, I hope whatever happened that night wouldn't affect whatever you two have. It was a mistake and we all know it."

"Yeah." Tate agreed.

The two began walking again. Pumunta sila sa parking lot at sumakay sa kotse. It was a quiet ride, a thick tension in the air. Yuka didn't know what to tell Tate, ni hindi niya alam kung paano niya pakikisamahan ang lalaki pagkatapos sa nangyari. The car came to a halt when they were outside Migs' house.

"Yuka, whatever happened that night, hindi magbabago ang tingin ko sa'yo." Tate shifted so that he was facing her. Kinuha nito ang kamay ng babae at hinalikan. "You're still the woman I fell in love with. Please don't ask me to stay away from you because I won't be able to. Let's start over again. Kung anuman ang nangyari noong gabing iyon, kalimutan natin iyon. Ang mahalaga ay ang nararamdaman natin sa isa't-isa. Don't you have feelings for me anymore?"

"O-of course, I do..." She blinked. "Pero Tate-"

"Shh... that's enough. That's all I want to hear." Tate kissed her forehead and then reached over his glove compartment. He took out a black velvet rectangular box. Binuksan iyon ng lalaki. Inside it was a white gold necklace with a round diamond pendant.

"Tate!" She gasped as the diamond shone in the dark. She was no jewelry expert but she could tell just by looking at it that that thing had cost a fortune. But this was Tate, it was probably just pocket change to him. Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa lalaki.

"Let me put this on you." Kinuha ni Tate ang kuwintas mula sa box.

"Are you sure gusto mong ibigay sa akin yan?" She asked.

"Who else would I give this to?" He chuckled as he put the necklace around her neck. "It fits you perfectly. I knew it would look beautiful on you."

"Tate, oh my God!" Napahawak siya sa kuwintas nang ma-lock na ito ng lalaki. She took out her phone and looked at herself through the front camera. "Ang ganda..."

"It was you who I had in mind when I picked it out." He let out a soft smile. "I want to give you something to remember me by even when we're not together. I thought a ring but that can wait. Naisip ko na lang na necklace para palagi akong malapit sa puso mo."

"Oh, Tate." Naluluha-luhang sabi ni Yuka. Despite what had happened, she knew his feelings for her was still as pure. Pinatunayan lang nito sa kanya na hindi lang sex ang habol ng lalaki. It wasn't just physical. It was something more.

"Give me a chance, please? I still want to court you, Yuka. We'll take it slow, I promise." He said with pleading eyes. "What do you say?"

She wrapped her arms around him and that was all the answer he ever needed.

Yvo took in a deep breath and exhaled as if he had breathed out all the guilt that had been weighing on him since that night. He had fucked his bestfriend's woman. Tate may have been the most open minded person he had ever met but he knew it affected him. As much as they wanted to think that it was just sex and that it meant nothing, they still fucked. It would still linger at the back of his and Tate's mind that they had gone to bed with the woman his bestfriend was in love with.

He stared at the door where the two had left. Ilang minuto pa ay nagmamadaling pumasok ang ina niya mula sa pinto. The ever beautiful Miranda Cordova, his mother's beauty hadn't wither a bit even with a look of worry was drawn upon her face. Age had only refined and perfected the woman's look, making her appear more sophisticated. One of the recognized models in her youth, she was still as relevant to the modelling world as she was before being the long-time brand ambassador of a haute couture house.

"My baby..." Agad na tumakbo sa kanya ang ina at niyakap siya. He took his mother's hand and his bent down so that his forehead could touch the back of her hand. "Ano'ng nangyari sa'yo? Who did this to you? Sabi ko naman kasi sa'yo, mag-iingat ka palagi? How did this even happen?"

"Nay, I'm okay." He gently stroked his mother's hair. "It's just a scratch."

"Ano'ng sabi ng doktor? Nakakalakad ka pa ba." She asked, worriedly. His mother had always been protective of him and her little sister. His father was a chill guy which was good as it balances everything out.

"Nay, I already told you, galos lang ito. Nothing serious. Nakakalakad ako." He chuckled, trying to make light of the situation so as not to freak her mother out even more. "I had a small wound and some bruising because of the impact of the bullet but other than that, I'm perfectly okay. I can walk, do you wanna see?"

"No! No, baby! Umupo ka na lang diyan. Let me take care of you. Ano bang gusto mo? We'll buy whatever food you want. I'm sure nagugutom ka na." She asked as she brushed her fingers through his hair.

"Anak." His Tatay walked into the room with worry on his face. "Okay ka lang ba? You scared Nanay and I."

"Tay, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Sabi niya. Nang lumapit ang ama ay nagmano din siya dito. Tristan playfully ruffled his son's hair. Besides the gauze bandaged on his calf, the boy looked perfectly fine.

"Ikaw naman kasi, sabi ko sa'yo palagi kang mag-iingat." Andi scolded.

"When I told you to always be careful, I also meant outside of bed." Sabi ng tatay niya.

"Tristan!" Andi's eyes widened at her husband. She still thought of Yvo as her baby boy, not a mature sexual being. She couldn't think of his baby boy like that.

"I was just kidding." Tristan, who had made it a habit to tease his wife, chuckled.

Yvo chuckled along with his father. Andi couldn't help a smile as she shook her head, her eyes going back and forth the two men in her life.

"Doon ka muna sa bahay natin so we can take care of you." Paglalambing ni Andi sa anak.

"Nay, I'm going to be okay. You don't have to take care of me." He gave his mother a warm smile.

"But I want to." Andi held her son's hand.

"Oo nga, kahit ngayon gabi lang." His Dad agreed.

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. An older man, probably in his 50s, carefully walked into the room.

"May we help you?" Tristan arched a brow as he looked at him. It wasn't the doctor he spoke with earlier.

"Ako ang ama ni Janno." Sabi ng lalaki. "The boy that had accidentally shot him."

"What do you want?" Tristan asked the older man.

"Nandito ako para pakiusap na huwag niyong kasuhan ang anak ko. My son is the university's best athlete, he has a bright future ahead of him. Ayokong masira iyon dahil sa isang record. He made a mistake pero baka pwede naman natin ma-remediyohan yan. Wala naman hindi madadaan sa pag-uusap."

"Ayaw namin makipag-usap ngayon. I'll just have my lawyer contact you." Sabi ni Tristan.

The man's back straightened as if trying to restore dignity. "I have a lot of connections. Pumunta lang ako dito dahil akala ko ay madadaan ko sa magandang pakiusap pero mukhan ayaw mo. I guess I'll have to use those connection."

"Get the fuck out of here." Tristan lost his cool at what he had heard. The man had the guts to talk to them like that after his son had shot his. He had no idea what he was getting himself into.

"You don't know who you're dealing with." Naningkit ang mga mata ng lalaki.

"Neither do you." Sagot ni Tristan. "Are you threatening me, asshole?"

"Do you feel threatened? Dapat lang. Mataas ang posisyon ko sa crame. Kung gugustuhin ko mailalabas ko ang anak ko doon."

"I have in my contacts the PNP Chief. Baka gusto mong makausap?" Hamon ni Tristan. The Lavignes, his brother-in-law's family, had a tight relationship with the PNP Chief as it was Axel's father's bestfriend. The reason why despite the billions the Cordova had when Coco was taken to jail, they could never get them out.

The man paused as if trying to calculate if what Tristan had said was true or he was just bluffing. Meanwhile, Yvo's brain was running a million miles a minute.

"I won't press any charges." Yvo said. "But I have one condition..."