The deadline of our essay about environmental crisis is just around the corner so I am out to conduct my reasearch. I prepared questionnaires as a medium of getting data for my research, I could use google forms but there is no certainty that I'll get response so I will get the needed data personally.

It would also be nice since I am new to Palladium City, I would have a chance to roam around the city while conducting a reaearch. I hopped on a bus as it arrived at the station, I've been waiting for it to arrive for hours so I'm relieved that it's finally here.

I immediately find my seat as I got in. For some reason, the bus seat is arranged, compared to other bus that you can sit everywhere you want.

I didn't mind as long as I can travel at peace but I think it wouldn't be possible as I saw an old woman standing while the young man beside her is sitting peacefully and quietly playing a mobile game letting the old women tingling from standing for too long.

"Lola, dito ka na po sa upuan ko, mukha po kasing nangangawit na po kayo eh" magalang na alok ko sa kaniya ng upuan ko. I was about to leave my seat when an old man stopped me by grabbing my hand.

"Are you really going to give your seat to that old woman?" He asked with a disgusted face, I smiled at him as I brush of his hands from my arm.

"Yes sir, if you don't want to sit with her you might want to be generous by giving me your seat and let me sit with her instead" I replied as I smiled widely.

"Are you saying I should be the one standing there?" He asked as if he is still needing a confirmation for what I've meaning to say. "Wow, the level of your common sense is very high sir. But yes that's what I am trying to say" I replied playfully expecting that he would actually give his seat but he did not.

This man is far from being gentle, I wonder if he has a wife, because if he does, I'll wonder furthermore for how did he get a wife for having that kind of attitude.

"Whatever!" He just said admitting his defeat as he covered his face with the newspaper he's reading a moment ago.

"Sigurado ka ba hija na magiging ok ka lang sa pagtayo?" Tanong ng matanda nang may pag-aalala sa kaniyang mga mata. "Oo naman po, kanina pa ho ata kayo nakatayo diyan eh, maupo naman po kayo" I replied as I help her carry her bags filled with gardening materials.

'I guess she's going back from gardening' I'm glad that I offered her my seat. Maybe she's already tired and it's just sad that no one helped her when she badly needed it.

"There are really dumb ungrateful people out there who just waste their influence for unknown people" biglang saad ng lalaking kanina lang ay naglalaro ng mobile games.

"At least I am using my title to help those people in need, not some moron out there who fully hold onto their power as if it will leave their side. Why? Are you going bankrupt?" Napansin kong napadiin ang paghawak nito sa kaniyang telepono na nangangahulugang nainis siya sa sinabi ko.

He's about to respond but I cut him off by grabbing his collar and whisper to his ears. "Or should I make you go bankrupt? I'm sure the Marquez can hold that much power right? You might want to refrain from your cheap acts because I am a daughter of a Marquez"

I am not sure of what kind of power the Marquez holds but seeing the boy's reaction, they might be powerful. Powerful enough to make people shiver.

I pressed the button as I saw the bus stop. I guess I'll just start here since it is near our residence. I realized that the old woman that I helped is also getting off the bus so I helped her carry her stuff so she can drop off comfortably.

"I guess you're also dropping off here hija" she approached while stretching her body. "What a long and tiring drive, you can put those bags down" she intructed while motioning her hand down.

"It's alright, I can help you with these" I insist not letting go of her bags. "Are you sure? Baka naman makaabala ako sa'yo hija. Tama nang tinulungan mo ako sa bus kanina" she looked at me worried as she lift the other bag.

"Ayos lang po ako, kung tutuusin hindi ko rin po alam kung saan ako pupunta. Bago lang po kasi ako dito sa Palladium City" pagpapaliwanag ko dahil hindi ko nga rin naman kasi talaga alam kung nasaang parte ako ng Palladium City.

"Saan ba ang punta mo? Gusto mo bang sumama muna sa akin sa cafe namin? Malapit lang iyon dito" hindi pa man ako nakakasagot ay iginiya na ako nito papunta sa kaniyang cafe kaya hindi na ako umangal pa.

"Lola, bakit po mas pinili niyo pong tumayo sa bus kung nagmamay-ari naman po pala kayo ng cafe?" Curious na tanong ko rito nang makarating kami sa sinasabi nitong cafe.

Napakalaki kasi ng cafe na pagmamay-ari nito saka halatang mamahalin.

"Walang nakakakilala sa akin dito. Kilala nila ang cafe pero hindi nila kilala ang mga may-ari maliban sa apo ko, socializing to people are just tiring, they're all bragging about their fortune, they feel high all the time, akala mo nakahithit ng marijuana. Buti nga at nakilala kita, bihira lang dito ang katulad mong high-class na hindi mayabang" she said and laugh.

I smiled for hearing what she said, meron rin pala talagang mga tao dito na hindi puro superiority ang inaatupag. Maybe they're just rare so I can't find them anywhere.

"Eh Lola, nasaang parte po ba tayo ng Palladium City? Nagcoconduct po kasi ako ng research tungkol sa environmental crisis at hindi ko po alam kung saan ako magsisimula" tanong ko dahil ako man ay hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisimulan dahil na rin hindi ako nakapagplano kung ano ang aking gagawin.

"We're here in Borealis hija. Borealis, Palladium. I can be your first respondent if you want" she replied with a smile

As we are talking about environmental crisis, I happened to ask about his son, I noticed that she is alone managing her cafe today.

"He will arrive later. I will introduce you to him when he does. For now, I'll make you my specialty, blueberry muffin so you just stay here" she happily replied. Before I could protest she already fled from our table so I just sat comfortably.

As I wait for Mrs. Escalante, the lady who own this cafe. I smelled a familiar scent. An extraordinary blueberry muffin's scent. I don't know why it smelled familiar but I think I already smelled it before.

Maybe I already got a taste of those muffins from home. The family also loved muffins of any kind so maybe, just maybe, one of the muffins are from here.

Thirty minutes later, Mrs. Escalante is heading back to our table so I approached her to help her carry the muffins she baked. "Ang dami naman po nito, baka po hindi ko maubos" biro ko rito. Nang mailapag namin sa mesa ang mga drinks at muffins ay siya namang pagtunog ng bell.

"O ayan na pala ang aking apo eh" Mrs. Escalante said while I was setting the table. I raised my head to see who is her grandson, kanina pa namin siya pinag-uusapan kaya kahit papaano may namuo nang curiosity kung sino siya.

My mind went blank as I saw who it was, it's as if my world turned grey for meeting him again. Now I kno why the muffins smelled familiar.

"Philip"

"You know him hija?" I regained my composure as Mrs. Escalante asked that question. I just nodded as an answer as a result of my inability to speak to that specific moment. Para bang nalunok ko ang sarili kong dila dahil di ko mahanap ang tamang salita na dapat kong bitawan.

"Sam? Is that you? What a pleasant surprise!" He greeted as if I was his old acquaintance "Oh yeah, how pleasant to see you here" I just replied as I swallowed my pride

'It's not pleasant at all'

I can't be seen by Mrs. Escalante being awkward towards him as she will realize that something is off.

"How did you knew each other?" Mrs. Escalante asked. I inhaled deeply and smiled before answering her question pero bago pa man ako makasagot, nagsalita na si Philip. You know what he said?

"We used to date three years ago in Phoenix City" holy moly? He dares to bring up our fake, one-day relationship casually? I want to punch him straight to the face but I can't cause any ruckus here as it would be improper.

"If so, how come you didn't introduce her to me before?" Mrs. Escalante asked one more time but I am the one who answered this time. "Alright you two just sit here, and I'll give you some space. I'm sure there's a lot of things for you to catch on" he said as she left giggling.

"You haven't changed, you are still the nerd I used to know" I scoffed as he said that with his mischevous grin. "As if you're any better. You are still the jerk I used to know" I replied which he didn't quite expected.

"You looked the same but you seem - different" he grabbed the iced coffee on the table as he said that. What? Is he expecting that I'll shed tears and act cheesy if I saw him? What does he think I am? A desperate loser?

"So? Are you still making someone sing at the backstage and tell them that only instrumentalist are allowed on-stage when in fact there's another singer who's lypsyncing the voice coming from the backstage?" I asked as I saw the stage filled with instruments.

"He did what?!"