"He did what?!" I nearly jumped off my seat as I heard Mrs. Escalante's surprised question. "Grandma, let me explain" Philip has transformed from a jerk to a cute puppy real quick. Now I've got a grasp of his weakness.

As I want to enjoy the scene right now it didn't last since I saw Mrs. Escalante's glare as if she wants me to explain instead of her grandson.

As much as I wanted Philip to bear it alone. I didn't have a choice since Mrs. Escalante is waiting for my explanation so I ended up telling her the details including the dating incident that I despise the most.

"How about that boy named Bailey? Did you also hired him to sing backstage?" Philip got nervous as Mrs. Escalante asked that question.

'Bailey? Is he the same Bailey that I know?'

"Of course not grandma, he's a regular singer here at our cafe and he can be seen on-stage. It's been three years since I've done that mistake. Can't we just forget about it?"

'He's lying, but at least he admitted his mistake from three years ago'

I nearly laughed out loud as I saw Philip covering his mouth as he just admitted to his mistakes three years ago in front of his grandma.

"Oh boy, you messed up! You are grounded! I'll confiscate all your credit cards and you'll be penniless for the next three years. As for the cafe, I'll assign a new manager to manage it. Now get out of here before I could do something that I would regret."

Philip has no choice but to obey his grandmother. He decided to leave maybe to give her grandma a space but before that, I recieved a death glare from him as he leave the cafe. As if I'm going to be intimidated by that.

Seriously? Philip is still being grounded at his age? I just realized that he is not an independent person after all. At least, as far as what I think he is.

Philip is three years older than me so I already expected that he is already capable of managing the cafe but I did not expect that he has a limited freedom.

"I am sorry for the ruckus." Mrs. Escalante apologized. She sat down as she massaged her forehead with her fingertips. I was worried that she might faint so I hurried to get some water for her to drink.

"You should rest Mrs. Escalante. I'll be fine here alone" I said as I waved to a waiter to assist Mrs. Escalante to somewhere she can rest. I was about to leave as I made sure that Mrs. Escalante is resting, Bailey suddenly showed up from nowhere.

"Bailey?"

He was surprised seeing me at the cafe that he almost dropped his guitar that he's holding. "Oh nerd, what are you doing here? Grabbing some snacks? Welcome to our cafe by the way"

So he's really the Bailey who is hired to sing backstage? I chuckled as I heard that, he's acting all mighty in the university when in fact he's a fake. I'll let him live with his lies and let all this slide since I don't really want to ruin my current mood.

"I just grabbed some snacks so that I have something to eat all the way for my research." I just replied while I motioned the waiter to come over and pack the muffins that I didn't have the chance to eat because of the incident earlier.

"Can I come with you, I really don't want to go home yet" I don't know if that's really his reason but I just agreed since I don't really know this neighborhood. Kailangan ko ng makakasama baka kasi makatagpo ako ng masamang tao diyan sa daan mahirap na.

Tahimik lamang namin nilalakad kung saan mang daan kami napapadpad dahil na rin siguro hindi namin alam ang sasabihin sa isa't-isa hanggang si Bailey na mismo ang pumutol sa katahimikan.

"Are you still mad at me for what I've done at the auditorium that day?"

I remained quiet as I don't find the right words to say. I can't admit that I acted harshly on him that day when he did nothing wrong.

"Well I'm sorry for being inconsiderate, I should've considered how you'll feel before acting up"

I tried to cut him off but I didn't get the chance as he kept on talking. I guess he's not that bad at all, maybe he is just acting that way as he's surrounded with people who holds power.

For a person who's not powerful enough, I understand him. Maybe he's just being cautious and conscious on how he should act around people.

"You know what? You're really nice, why are you trying to hide that fact and treat people badly when clearly you're not bad?"

He sighed as he heard my question, finding it difficult to answer. I just look straight down the road as I didn't expect an answer, maybe he's just uncomfortable enough to bring it up. But as I gave up on knowing his answer, he unexpectedly spoke up to answer the question.

"You know how the university works, they're so obsessed of superiority that they wouln't mind if they hurt the feelings of people who's inferior to them"

I nodded as I agree to what he just said, but I am not satisfied, I want to know if he'll be honest with me if I asked further questions. I am curious if he'll come clean.

"But why are you afraid to show that nice side of yours? I mean, you are a popular singer in the university, they wouldn't mind seeing you being nice, would they?"

He looked at me weirdly as if I said the weirdest thing ever and smiled. What's with this boy? He's creeping me out.

"You have such unique perspective under your sleeve lady." I cringed as I heard the word lady from him so I shook my head to shake it off. He left my question unanswered so I guess he's really dodging it.

Is this city really that bad to the point that they're all obsessed with superiority that those who is not superior tried to be someone else?

This City is a lot worse than what I thought. I thought I could finally escaped from the toxic people in Phoenix City but Palladium is three times worse that Phoenix.

It must been so hard for Bailey to hide his true identity to the rich people in Palladium University he's lucky he's stil not caught by one of our classmates.

We're just in one city, it won't take long for them to find out, even I found it out accidentally, he's just so lucky for I am not like others who love to gossip.

"Palladium City has such a prestigious title but the people who lives in it is not prestigious at all. They act like a mafia boss in a black market. In fact Phoenix is much better than Palladium. I mean, there are also bullies in Phoenix but not all of them thinks highly about themselves"

Tumawa siya na para bang may nasabi akong katawa-tawa. Halos hindi na siya matigil kakatawa na akala mo'y mababaliw na. Napangiwi ako dahil sa nakikita ko.

"I'm sorry, I just find you so stupid. Bakit naman kasi pinili mo pang magpunta dito kung mas maayos pala sa kabila?"

Seryoso? Yun ang dahilan kung bakit siya tumatawa? Isa sa napansin ko sa mga tao, ang bababaw ng mga kaligayahan nila. Wala namang nakakatawa pero tumatawa sila.

Hindi ko alam kung natural lang ba sa kaniya ang tawanan ang kung ano-ano o nahawa na siya sa kahibangan ng mga tao dito?

"I had no choice, nandito ang business ng pamilya namin. Isa pa, marami na akong napagdaanang pasakit sa Phoenix kaya I didn't exactly came here unprepared"

I smiled to myself as I realized that Bailey is just fun to be with. Ang gaan lang pala niyang kasama, hindi tulad nung una ko siyang makilala sa campus na sobrang yabang, wala naman palang maipagyayabang. Maliban sa boses niya.

"Nginingiti mo diyan para kang baliw. Naalog ba yang ulo mo habang pinagdadaanan mo yung mga napagdaanan mo nung nasa Phoenix City ka pa?"

Tignan mo to, kung makapagsalita parang hindi siya nagmukhang baliw kanina habang tumatawa mag-isa. Hindi ko na lamang siya pinatulan at nagpatuloy nang maglakad.

Marami-rami na rin kaming napuntahang bahay para manghingi ng mga kasagutan tungkol sa environment crisis. Hindi pa nga naging madali ang pakikipag-usap namin sa kanila dahil sinasarhan agad nila kami ng pinto kapag nakikita nila yung itsura ko.

"I had fun today. Kahit na sinamahan lang kita para gawin ang research mo, gumaan ang loob ko. Nakakaentertain kasi kung pano ka nila pagsarhan ng pinto tuwing magdodoor bell ka. Natakot ata sa mukha mo"

Pinagpapapalo ko siya dahil sa sinabi niya kahit hindi naman kami gaanong close. So ano? Sinamahan niya lang ako para mging entertainment niya at para pagtawanan ako? Konti nalang talaga iisipin ko nang may pagka loka-loka tong taong to eh.