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We didn't encounter much traffic as Kailey drove both of us to the bar she was telling me. The lights of the city gave me a confusing feeling. Pakiramdam ko, hindi tama, pero hindi ako nagkaroon ng tapang na sabihin 'yon. I mean. . . just think about it. I was already beside Kailey, who was driving while singing along to her—probably—favorite song.

Because when I looked at her face, she seemed to be so much enjoying in singing along with it. Her eyes aren't bothered by the traffic lights and by the highway. Her fingers were lightly tapping on her steering wheel to the rhythm of the song.

"And suddenly, you're all I need, the reason why I, I, I, I smile. . . ."

Wait. What? I know this song.

I used to. But I forgot the title.

The song ended with a few more lines, and there, she was not like a boss of mine. I glanced at the hidden smile on her face as watchfulness gradually masked it. She looked like the girl I always admired back in our second year of high school.

"Naaalala ko 'yan," I said, starting a joke. "Pero hindi 'yong title."

"Smile."

"Oh, okay."

"I'll try not to play anything that will remind you of Peter," she giggled with the bossy tone in her voice disappearing.

I nodded, smiling. As if I am hurt by him, I wanted to say.

"Bakit ba tayo pupunta sa bar?" I quickly asked before I could say it.

Kailey grinned a little, and it gave me no clue to why. She shrugged as I looked away from her face. Nakita ko ang bahagyang pagliko ng kotse niya papalapit sa bar. While making sure her car is perfectly parked, she said, "Is it bad that I want you to join me?"

I shook my head as I unfastened the seatbelt. Kailey was leaning forward to unfasten my seat belt, pero nagawa ko na. She looked away and stepped out of the car. I opened the door by my side and stepped out of her car.

Then, I heard her say, "Actually, I was expecting a sorry from you because you never go to places like this. You perfectly fit the title 'The Good Girl'." She, like, repeated what she just said earlier.

We both shut the doors close at the same time, and she continued, "But I didn't know that this could actually be a good, like, move on step."

"Because you can find love in places like this?" I asked, letting her lead the way towards the door of the bar. . . or pub (or whatever you want to call it) after securing the car.

"Hindi naman," she said. "Pero it can be."

"Love hates me."

"Hindi naman siguro," she said, looking at me. "Peter is just. . . I don't know."

As we entered, the bar welcomed me with its lights. Some people swayed on the dance floor as the music accompanied them. Some drank alone. Or with others. The scene was obliviously new to me. And that didn't mean that I longed for exiting the door I just recently entered. Hindi rin naman masama kung susubukan mo ang mga bagong bagay, 'di ba?

"You'll drink with me, okay?" she said, her voice a little less vibrant than the loud music. I just gave her a shrug that felt less emphasized, probably, since I feel a chilling feeling on my shoulders. It wasn't a comforting feeling, but oh, boy, I liked it.

I wasn't prepared to drink. To be honest, hindi pa ako nakakainom. Ever. But is red wine from your mother's bottle counted?

We finally arrived at the front of the counter. The dark bottles behind the bartender caught my attention, but the music and the way people danced were more interesting. If breaking up with Peter did hurt me, maybe, I would want alcoholic beverages. But it didn't, and. . . I think I'd still like a taste.

"Glenn," Kailey said, already handing a glass of, maybe, cocktail to me. I took it without a doubt, but of course, I was still nervous.

Not used to this type of drink, I took a cautious sip from the glass as I sat on one of the stools in front of the counter. Kailey patiently stared at me as the flavor sank in my taste buds. I distanced the glass from my lips. She was still looking at me like I was her little responsibility. Like I was one of her paperworks she always watches intently.

"What do you think?" she asked, finally taking a sip from her powerful-looking glass. I don't know why I called it "powerful."

"I don't know," I said, smiling. Bravely, I took a long sip of my drink, and my nostrils were just, like, telling me it was wrong.

"Hindi siguro alam ng parents mo 'to, no?" Kailey said.

"H-hindi na ako bata," I giggled. "I am already twenty-one years old."

"I'm turning twenty-two," she said as if it's just a joke, "this July."

I didn't know that. I should prepare for it. She's a friend, so. . . I really should prepare.

After my first drink, I decided not to drink another one. So did Kailey. I wondered if I ruined her night of alcohol. She said that she would drive us home since I never went home late. Alam niyang gano'n talaga ako. I didn't find the bar amazing for so long. The music and the people having fun made me feel like I wanted to go home. My interest faded before I would admit it. But I would drink more if I was brave enough.

"You don't seem to enjoy it, do you?" Kailey said, stealing my attention from the sight of the dancing people. This experience wasn't like the one from the books or movies where you find your ex, but I didn't really want that happening to me. Ew.

"Pagod lang siguro ako."

"Let's go home, then," she said, and I nodded. I imagined the ambiance of our home. It was all I ever needed after a tiring day from work. Not a cocktail, not a bar. It's good though.

One bad thing crossed my mind. Peter. I wondered what he looked like every time na sasagi ako sa utak niya. And he didn't have a girl on this day. On Hearts' Day. Hah.

Duh, he's probably with that girl.

We exited the bar, and I heard my phone ringing. I thought of how long. Lagot ako kay Mama. Kahit na nga ba hindi na ako minor. I answered the phone as I slowed my pace down. Kailey, on the other hand, glanced at me before turning fully to me.

I took a look at the caller's name, and all it showed were a series of eleven numbers. It was just then that I regretted that I absent-mindedly answered the call. Hindi 'to si Mama.

"Hello, Glenn?"

I didn't answer back at the sound of the familiar voice.

"I'm so sorry," Peter said. "C-can we talk tonight? I'm on my way to your house."

"Glenn, we can fix this. Alam kong we can still fix this," he continued.

I swallowed. He really does the wrong things, doesn't he? Lagi kong pinapaalala sa kanya na 'wag na 'wag siyang tatawag or magme-message kapag nagda-drive siya. Sinabi ko ring 'wag na 'wag siyang tatawag sa akin, saying he was sorry. Ugh.

I wanted to say that I wasn't at home. That I was on a date with someone, but that would be crazy, knowing that Kailey was the only one with me at the moment. Hindi ko rin gustong marinig ni Kailey 'yon. That would be so awkward.

"Please let me talk to you," Peter whispered through the phone, his voice trying to be stronger every time it fails.

Kailey mouthed, "Who's that?"

Nilayo ko ang phone sa akin.

"Peter," I whispered and ended the call. I did not speak to him, and I thought that was enough to drive him away. I thought.

"Kahit diyan mo na lang ako sa labasan ibaba," I said as we walked to her car. "I'll commute."

"Bakit?"

I looked at her.

"Peter is going to our home," I said. "Mas maganda siguro kung 'di ka madadamay. Thank you nga pala."

"Ano'ng ibig sabihin no'n?" ang tanong niya.

"Kukulitin niya na naman ako," I said, realizing how that "madadamay" sounded over-the-top. But it's not.

She didn't respond. Looking down, she was like puzzling something. Her ways always seemed to be wicked about love. And cunning, the word she described as not-so-evil. When she told me that back then, I agreed before she even gave the points. I would always remember her every time I hear people use "cunning" in their sentences. She used to hate the teachers who discussed that cunning is a negative word. She would lean sideways to me so she could whisper her insights to me. Because—maybe—I would always listen.

"I have an idea."

I nodded, knowing that her mindset is always efficient. She opened the door for me, which left me puzzled. There was no choice left for me. I had to trust Kailey. Anyway, matagal naman na kaming magkaibigan.

We fastened our seat belts as we left the bar behind.

I took a glance at my watch to look quite calm, and I finally asked, "Ano 'yong idea na 'yon, Kailey?"

"I hope you trust me," she replied, still smiling at the windshield. I trust you, but duh, I have to know, I wanted to say. Maybe she would scream at Peter. She could scare him. She could. . . do pretty much everything she wanted to, but no matter how much guesses I could think of, the ideas don't give off Kailey vibes.

"Men are, sometimes, trash," she mumbled.

"Okay, Kailey, whatever."

She laughed as her car made its unfamiliar turns. I was sure we were heading to my home, and I was not doubting even a bit. But I didn't know what she was planning. I don't think it's something bad though.

Our surroundings started to morph into my city. The streets looked way more familiar with its old streetlights, suggesting that she took a shortcut. Soon, I learned that the bar we went to was actually closer to my home than our office was.

"Naaalala mo pa 'yong address namin?" I asked upon seeing our street from afar.

"Actually, no," she said. "I was just a bit familiar with it."

I pointed to our house as I said, "Doon kami." She drove closer to our gate as she gave her car a smooth halt. But then, just as we were about to leave the car, raindrops seemed to faintly knock against the roof of Kailey's car.

"Oh, my. . ." she whispered as she grabbed the umbrella between us. "Diyan ka lang. You don't have an umbrella."

How did she know?

When Kailey was already outside the car, she slammed the door close and swiftly walked to my side to open the door by my seat before I could. She carefully grabbed my arm to help me step outside with the big umbrella protecting us.

As Kailey was closing the door, I saw a familiar figure standing in the rain. It was manly, and it was just a pair of meters away. He allowed the rain to wet him like those in the painful scenes of movies, but this wasn't painful. Maybe it was, for him, and I was too happy at the moment to even think about it. . . to care about it. Happy? Maybe careless.

"Glenn," I heard him call.

Before I could look back at Kailey—who was, like, willingly holding the umbrella for the both of us—she put her free arm around my waist and led me towards our door. I felt her touch a little ticklish since it caught me off guard, but I tried my best to conceal it.

Our windows had shown me that our house was poorly lit at the moment. Mukhang tulog na sina Mama. And that was a good thing. I didn't want them seeing and worrying about any part of the scene Kailey had prepared in her pretty mind. She wasn't even talking!

I grabbed the keys from my bag and unlocked the door. I looked back at Kailey as I felt Peter's eyes studying us and our actions, trying to keep it cool.

"Thank you," I whispered, expecting she would immediately leave with a smile.

But she pulled me closer and planted a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Good night." I felt the air become warmer. It hugged my ears with a humid feeling. Or is it my cheeks?

With her voice a bit louder and clearer than it should be, she said, "Sweet dreams." It sounded lovely and sweet. . . and flattering, just like how a lover should say it.

With that, she walked away from me with a sweet way of walking. She gave me one last look, and it, like, lingered through my cheeks after turning into heat. Naguluhan ako sa ginawa niya, pero hindi ko na lang ito pinahalata. Tuluyan na akong pumasok sa bahay namin habang narinig ko ang pagtawag ni Peter sa akin.

"Glenn, we have to talk!"

Peter walked closer, showing his "kaawa-awa" self and said, "Please give me a chance, Glenn."

"A chance?" I innocently asked, looking back at him.

"Please, Glenn," he said, walking towards me. His white shirt was one straight from the laundry—partly showing his chest muscles, his hair was dripping wet, and his leather shoes, I would bet, were drenched in rain.

"Leave," I said, but he didn't move. "Leave!"

His eyes went wide, but I knew he wasn't shocked. He knew I was going to say this, and he surely didn't want it.

"You heard her, right?" Just when I thought that Kailey had already left, she went closer to me, her big umbrella still in her hand.

"I think you should leave what's mine," Kailey said, her eyes directly at Peter.

A sad expression was on his face, and without any other word, he left and seemed to have disappeared in the rain. I had a feeling that he didn't believe Kailey's show, that he would come back on another day. But at least, I didn't have to worry about him. For now.

And before I could notice it, I saw Kailey entering her car, leaving me blankly staring through the rain's misty presence.

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