"Oy, grabe! Na-miss ko 'to!" I shrieked when Tonet pulled me to where we are supposed to eat before heading home.

Two stalls of street foods were parked at the side entrance of our university and it totally slipped my mind that it has been a while since I indulged myself into it.

"I know you would!" Tonet grinned at me and we reached Manong Jose's food stall. "Manong, dalawang piso pong fish ball at tatlong pisong kwek-kwek."

"Ako po, manong, tatlong pisong fishball atsaka dalawang pisong squidball." I said and opened my bag to pull out some coins from my purse.

"Ako na po magbabayad sa kanila, Manong." A male voice said and I raised my eyes to meet his. He was smiling while handing out his payment. On his hand was a cup of fishballs and on the other are two sticks of kwek-kwek and squidball respectively.

"Ne, ito na ang squidball at fishball mo. Anong sauce mo pala dito?" Manong Jose asked and I returned my attention to him.

"Ah, sweet po." I said and he poured sauce into it. "Salamat ho." I got it from him and Tonet was quiet as she observed us.

"Salamat rito, pogi!" Tonet finally said as we went to sit on a long vacant wooden bench just outside the university gate.

It was only then when I realized that he hadn't left us and was walking with us as we sat down.

I pulled a stick of my fishballs and bit on it. I almost moaned in delight as I tasted it.

"You're welcome, Louise." He chuckled and I blinked. He, too, bit on his squid ball and looked out front.

"Huy, besh. Baka matunaw." Tonet whispered beside me, giggling.

I frowned at her and she gestured to keep her mouth shut beside me. She continued eating and I did the same.

"Salamat. Hindi naman na kailangan-" I started but he cut me off.

"- that's my way of paying off after bumping into you at the faculty room. Bayad na ako." He said and stood up. "See you around, Louise, Antonette." He nodded at her and left us gaping at his reaction.

"What was that, Michelle Louise Tiongco?" Tonet exclaimed when he was out of earshot.

I winced at her loudness and I could only glare at her and she shrugged, flashing me a sheepish smile when some students turned to look at us.

"Anong nangyare! How come the famous, Daniel Gregorio, has talked to us so casually a while ago?" She pressed me on the details and I told her what happened while eating our snacks.

"It was a no biggie, actually. Pareho kaming preoccupied siguro that time." I said as I finished the last of the street foods we are eating.

"At least, he has some decency to make up for it. Himala at walang mga fan girls sa labas ngayon." She pointed out and I nodded.

True enough. Daniel is quite famous with girls.

He is a university athlete. Specifically, a member of the Men's Volleyball Team. That explains his popularity.

"Baka naman nagkataon lang. For sure, they might actually be taking shots of him secretly." I said and pulled out my bottle of water.

"Sabagay. May point ka dyan." She nodded. "So, taralets na?"

I stood up and brushed off some dirt on my pants before we leave the place. I removed my eyeglasses as specks of dust entered it.

"Saglit." I said as I wiped the lens clean and returned it back immediately. "There! Tara na!"

"Paano ka pala uuwi niyan? Lumipat ka sa condo, di ba?-" She observed as I walked her to the waiting shed.

"-Actually." I grinned as the familiar blue Honda stopped in front of me and Beau was waiting for me at the Driver's seat.

"Sino siya, besh? Gwapo!" She whispered when he quietly and patiently waited for me.

"He's my cousin." I blurt out, cautious of what to tell her.

Even if I have known Tonet for two years, I still don't want to let my guards down. Especially after what happened to our family.

Me and my ate have talked about it lately and we cannot give our full trust to anybody.

Even my friends.

"Michelle." Beau said and it was enough to tell that he is being impatient already.

"Bye, Tonet! See you tomorrow!" I said in a hurry and hop in beside him.

"Hello, cousin." He smirked and drove home.