After that whole singing and eating, mom was beyond enthusiastic  to have earned more than the expected outcome of money that day. Twice ng daily earnings kasi nung nakuha namin mula sa efforts nina Asrow at Shaira no'n. Lubhang gumaan yung pakiramdam at loob ni mama nang dahil doon. She was beyond thankful for them.

Simula din nung araw na 'yon, palagi kaming sinasamaan ng tingin nung tindera sa kabilang carinderia. Sus, napaka-inggitera ng ate gurl niyo. She's the one who made us her enemies so it's her loss. 

Around that week, almost all of us are busy studying for our exams again. Shaira and I would usually hang out at the library and study together. Hindi ako makapokus sa pag-aaral ko minsan kasi hirap din si Shaira mag-aral o magmemorize ng mga terms, etc. Kunwari, may isang lesson na akong tapos but she's still behind two lessons at sa isang oras naming pag-aaral, halos pagtuturo sa kanya ang nagagawa ko, pero okay lang sa'kin, kasi si Shaira 'to eh, kaibigan ko 'to.

"Uy girl, pa'no ba 'to?" Shaira asked as she handed me a Mathematics question, that wasn't from any of our lessons.

Kinunutan ko siya ng noo. " 'Teh, iba ata inaaral mo ah."

"Ay hehe, nung isang araw kasi sabi sa'kin ni Castriel, hindi siya mag-aaral ng isang araw 'pag nasagot ko 'to 'tas pwede akong tumambay sa bahay nila." Nakangiting saad nito.

"You'd sacrifice his one day worth of studying just so he could hang out with you?"

She smiled bitterly. "H-Hoy, ang panget namang pakinggan niyan! 'De, halos araw-araw na kasi siyang nag-aaral ng walang pahinga... So, I just want him to rest with me, kahit isang araw lang naman..."

"Sus, mang-tsatsansing ka lang." I scoffed.

"L-Luh! Ulol! Porke't ikaw, araw-araw mong nakikita crush mo!"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Wala akong crush!" I denied back.

"Meron kaya! 'Kala mo naman matatago mo sa'kin eh ultimate, everlasting, utmost, optimum, apex, acme, zenith, cutest best friend mo kaya ako!" She said sooo many irrelevant words that I almost forgot my own name while listening to her.

"Magbasa ka na nga lang diyan! Mamaya na 'yang landian eklabush!" 

Sakto, nasita ako nung masungit na librarian namin dahil sa singhal ko. Her eyes went as wide as an owl's and her teeth gritted as she glared down at me. Napaka-strict at sungit ng babaeng ito, parang hindi dumaan sa pagkabata eh.

"Ayan, 'buti nga sayo." Inirapan ako ng magaling 'kong kaibigan at nagkunwaring nagbabasa, eh baliktad yung librong hawak niya.

"Boba," Pabulong ''kong sinigaw sa kanya bago ko siya pinitik sa noo.

Pagkatapos ko siyang turuan ng husto, kumain kami saglit ng mga street foods sa labas. Dapat nga mag-MMcDo pa 'tong kaibigan ko pero ako yung nagpumilit sa kanya na street foods nalang kasi masarap naman 'to, lalo na yung kwek kwek 'tas kikiam ugh.

Dinamihan ko yung sauces nung sa'kin kasi gutom na gutom na talaga ako no'n. Teaching and studying at the same time is tiring and energy draining. Tapos, meron pa akong shift sa cafe kaya mas dumoble yung pagod ko.

"Ang hilig-hilig mo talaga dito, hindi nalang ako magugulat kung magiging fishball size 'yang mukha mo, malapad." Pagbibiro nito bago tumawa.

I snorted. "Kaysa naman sa kikiam mong ilong."

"Ano?! Ang tangos-tangos ng ilong ko, FYI!"

"Proud ka na niyan?"

Inirapan ko siya ng malupit bago ako nagpatuloy sa pagkain ko. Naka-benteng fishball na ako no'n 'tas limang kwek-kwek palang. Mukhang mauubos agad yung baon ko ngayong Linggo dahil dito ah, ang sarap kasi 'tas sakto, bagong luto pa lahat.

"Kuya, sampung kwek-kwek nga po at limang fishball, 'tas ako na po magbabayad sa inorder nung dalawang 'to."

Bahagya akong lumingon sa kanan ko at nakita ko yung pinaka-kupal na lalaki sa balat ng mundo. He was wearing his jersey shirt and shorts and he looked like he just finished his practice today based on his visible sweat on his neck and his slightly wet black hair. Panira ng araw ah.

His next move almost made me choke on my fishball. He gave me the food he just ordered from kuya, what the f*ck!

"What are you f*cking playing at?" I sternly asked him as I gave him a glare.

"What? Alam ko naman kasi na paborito mo mga 'yan kaya gusto ko lang sana ilibre ka," Dire-diretso niyang sinabi, halatang hindi natatakot sa tingin ko sa kanya.

"So? Wala na tayo ah,"

"As a friend kasi, Cally."

"You're less than a friend to me, Clark."

He chuckled. "Funny you should say that because we've been friends since childhood, you know?"

"And you exchanged my trust for your lust."

Doon nawala yung mga ngiti niya 'tas inirapan ko na siya pagkatapos. Tinawag ko si kuya na nagtitinda 'tas sinubukang bawiin yung binayad nung impaktong 'yon, kasi ayokong tanggapin yung marumi niyang pera. His entire being is disgusting in my eyes.

"Hoy, ginugulo mo nanaman ba yung kaibigan ko, ha? Aba, aba, mali ata yung binabangga mo! Ano, ano, sige! Wala akong muscles pero kaya kitang pabaliktarin, bobong Clark!" Shaira bravely said as she threatens the guy.

"Nilibre ko lang naman kayong dalawa, ano bang masama doon?" Naguguluhan na tanong ni Clark. 

"You should do better than that if you're trying to win my friend back!" Shaira growled. "Ano, sa tingin mo magpapaka-rupok nanaman sayo si Cally? Ganun ka na ba ka-confident sa sarili mo? Lubayan mo na nga kami, lubayan mo na siya! Napakabasura mo, jusko. And FYI, may nagmamay-ari na ng puso yung kaibigan ko so back off, cheater!"

"Shaira!" Pagsita ko sa kanya. She just said something irrelevant and the students, who are also eating street foods, heard it!

Kumunot yung noo ni Clark. "May nagmamay-ari?" Then he looked at me with a confused face. "What? Who?"

"None of your f*cking business." I answered back. 

"Si Asrow ba?" He asked as he pushed his tongue on the side of his cheek. I didn't answer him so he kept on asking about the guy I like. "Si Asrow? Seryoso ka? Tangina Cally, bakit si Asrow pa? Hindi mo ba alam yung tunay niyang ugali, ha?"

"You know nothing of him so shut up," I irritatingly said with my deadliest glare.

"Legit na si Asrow?"

"Ano bang pakielam mo?!"

"Hindi mo ba alam na hindi ka naman no'n-"

"Uh, excuse me? Hi?" May lalaking gumitna sa pagitan namin ni Clark. He was wearing a yellow hoodie and was holding his backpack on his right hand. Based on his I.D, he looks like he's the same year as us. He then looked at Clark and said, "Nakakaabala ka kasi ng mga estudyanteng nanahimik na kumakain dito. Lahat kami pagod na pagod tapos may mag-eeskandalo? I would like to kindly ask you to leave now before the situation gets worse."

Doon ko lang napansin na halos lahat ng estudyante na nasa labas ay nakatingin na sa'min. Our voices must've been that loud and it's all that cheater's fault! Nadamay pa kami, potek!

Clark clicked his tongue. "Tangina, bahala na nga."

Tumalikod na si Clark at aalis na sana kaso tumigil siya saglit sa kanyang kinatatayuan nung narinig niya yung mga salita nung lalaking pumigil sa'min.

"You do know that all cheaters are trash and good for nothing animals, right? Know your place and leave your ex alone. You have lost her once and so, you will never have her again."

I stared in awe at this guy. He dismissed Clark with authority present in his voice and aura. Tumakbo na agad si Clark pagkatapos niyang marinig yung sinabi nito. Felt embarrassed? You deserve it all, you asshole.

The guy turned to us with a lovely smile, "Okay lang ba kayo? Gusto niyo ireport natin 'yun?"

"No need," I said and smiled back. "Salamat ha?"

"Buti nalang talaga at umeksena ka do'n, kasi halatang ayaw na nga ni Cally na ginugulo siya pero patuloy pa din talaga!" Shaira pouted in response. "Ugh, the audacity of cheaters. They should've thought of their actions first before executing it."

He chuckled. "That's true. I'm Archimedes by the way, Archimedes Aguilar but you guys can call me Archi in short. And you two?"

"Shaira," Nakangiting sinabi ng kaibigan ko. "Ang cute 'no? Kasing cute ko hehe,"

"Pero di pinapansin nung crush," I snorted.

"Cally naman eh!"

Archi's eyes suddenly sparked upon hearing my name. "Cally? Ikaw pala si Cally? Legit ba?"

"H-Ha? Magkakilala ba tayo?" Naguguluhang tanong ko sa kanya. Ni minsan kasi, hindi ko pa siya nakikita kaya hindi ko alam kung ano yung dapat 'kong ireact dito.

He chuckled again. "Ah no, but I do know and heard things about you."

"Ano 'yun?!"

"They're good things, so don't worry about that." He calmed me down. "Our talk's short but I need to go. I still need to memorize some medical terms, but it was nice talking to you guys. You can call me if that guy's still bothering you."

"S-Sige," I said. I still don't know how to react with that guy. Saan niya naman nalaman pangalan ko?

"Bye, Doc!" Nakangiting bati ni Shaira dito.

Dumiretso ako sa trabaho habang iniisip yung lalaki kanina. Have I met him before? Hindi ko naman siya nakita nung party nina Asrow, tapos wala naman akong kaibigan sa Medical department. Hindi ko din naman siya nakikita sa mga sports team namin, so saan?? Baka inaccept ko siya sa Facebook dati? Nag-aaccept kasi ako basta may mutual friends. Baka dahil doon nakilala niya ako?? Ugh.

The next day, Shaira and I worked on our research project together. Small project lang siya kaya feeling ko matatapos namin 'to agad in a week or so. Nahirapan lang ako kasi panay salita at suggest lang ang nagagawa ko dahil na kay Shaira yung laptop, siya yung nagtitipa. 

Matagal ko na din kasi gustong bumili ng laptop kaso ang bibigat nila sa bulsa. Halos isang buwan na sweldo 'yon, eh sa kaso ko kasi, binibigay ko sweldo ko kina mama diretso, pandagdag sa mga gastusin sa bahay. May mga naipon naman na ako dati pero binigay ko din sa kanila lahat kasi mas kailangan nila 'yon.

Shaira's here but I can't rely on her forever.

Kaya maya-maya, nagsimula akong magsearch ng mga laptops gamit yung computer doon sa library. Nagcacanvas lang naman ako ng mga presyo sa mga nearby malls and stores para may idea agad ako kung magkano ang kailangan 'kong ipunin na pera. Madaming magaganda tapos may mga sale nga na laptops kaso, nasa 40k pa din yung presyo.

"Ang pinakamura lang ata dito ay nasa sampung libo..." Bulong ko sa sarili ko at parang mini-laptop lang siya, halos kasing size ng notebook. Pero okay na din kasi hindi ko naman kailangan ng sobrang 'laki.

"Asus? Lenovo? Dell? Vivo? Ay boba, phone 'yon." Pagbabasa ko habang nagscroscroll.

Minasahe ko yung leeg ko dahil nangawit na ito kakatitig sa screen. Sakto, napahikab pa ako ng malakas kaya napatingin yung iba sa'kin. Tinakpan ko naman agad yung bibig ko dahl sa kahihiyan na dinulot ng bunganga ko.

"You do know that this is a place for learning, not for yawning, right?"

Nagsitaasan ang mga balahibo ko nung narinig ko yung boses na 'yun. Even without turning back, I know who that person is. He took a seat at the vacant seat next to me and looked over at my screen to see what I've been busying myself with. Because he was near me, his scent immediately ran through my nose.

How come he still smelled nice when we've been staying at school since morning?!

"Ohh laptops? You're looking for one?" Tanong nito haban nakatitig sa screen.

I snorted. "Obvious ba? Kaya nga puro laptops yung nasa screen eh."

"Malay ko ba? Baka mamaya, may crush ka naman pala sa isa sa kanila eh."

"Tanga ka ba, tao ba mga laptops??"

"Ikaw nga 'di tao, pero crush kita."

I was taken aback by his sudden attack of words. He was smiling at me from ear to ear, I couldn't even tell if he was joking or not! Pero asa naman 'no.

"Playboy," I rolled my eyes off of him. "Doon ka nalang sa mga binabayaran mong gumawa ng mga home works mo. I'm busy."

"Huh? I already stopped doing that."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa kanya. "Ha? Kelan pa?"

"Since last year,"

All this time, akala ko na ginagawa niya pa din 'yon, yung may binabayaran siya para magka-scholarship, magka-high grades and such. I didn't know that he actually stopped doing that shit. That was surprising of him. Wala naman siyang nakwento sa'kin tungkol doon kaya wala akong ideya.

Unless, he doesn't think I'm trustworthy enough...

"Why?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Ayaw mo no'n? Easy work for you,"

"I want to work hard for the things I want to have starting from now on," Sabi nito habang nakatitig sa'kin. 

"Naninibago ako sayo Asrow haha! Did someone change you or something?" Nagtatakang tanong ko. His answers from last year were different from the present.

"It's you."

"Ha?"

Ngumiti siya ng bahagya sa'kin. "Well there's this person who showed me that hard work can never be competed with insincere works. She always did things that bore great things, not only for her, but also for her other family and friends. I... also want to do things like that, so that's why..."

"Wow, ang inspirational naman ng babaeng 'yan." Sabi ko habang tumatango-tango sa kanya. 

"Yeah, she's truly inspirational to me." He said, without his eyes drifting away from mine. "Plus, can I come to your carinderia sometimes to sing? And to eat?"

Muli ko siyang tinaasan ng kilay. "What for?"

"Watching you guys strive to work hard everyday just to earn money just made me rethink of what I told you back then. Pinalaki kasi akong spoiled, nakukuha ko agad lahat ng mga gusto ko. Ni hindi ko man lang natutunan yung halaga ng pera noon." He bitterly said as he remembered his past life with his family.

"What did you tell me back then?" I smirked, trying to tease him.

Kinunutan niya ako ng noo at pinanliitan ng mata. "... Wala,"

"Weh? Let me hear it nga? Ano nga ba ulit 'yon? 'Not my problem, it's their life, not mine.' ." I mocked his tone. Wala kasi siyang pakielam na puro siya gastos ng gastos, porke't madami siyang pera.

He blew both of his cheeks and pouted at me. "Bully,"

"Wow ha, nagsalita? Inosente ka gurl?"

"Well, according to the World Wide Web, Wikipedia, Chegg, Brainly, Coursehero, Merriam Webster, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and others, I am the most innocent person in the whole wide world and it's 99% scientifically proven by numerous scientists." He grinned and acted smart with his answer.

Pinitik ko siya sa noo kaya napawi agad yung ngiti niya sa kanyang labi. "A-Aray! Bakit ba?? Minsan lang naman ako mag-ganon!"

Tinakpan ko agad yung bibig niya dahil nakatingin ng masama sa'min yung masungit na librarian. Ang 'talas ng pandinig niya, nasa pinakadulo na nga kami 'tas siya nasa entrance, pero rinig niya pa din yung mga boses namin. Baka may CCTV camera bawat table kaya nalalaman nila agad kung sino yung maingay.

My heart almost dropped when Asrow suddenly kissed my palm. In shock, I immediately removed my hand form his mouth and felt my blood going through my cheeks. What the f*ck just happened?!

"B-Bwiset ka!" Pabulong na sigaw ko.

Binigyan niya ako ng isang ngisi. "You wouldn't let me go so I had to do that."

"Tse!" Muli ko siyang inirapan at tinutok ang pokus sa screen.

While I continued on researching, he stayed by my side and would sometimes play with my hair or with my fingers. I let him do that because I don't have anything against it. Plus, he seems bored. Mukhang wala siyang klase ngayon.

"Kung gusto mo, maghulugan ka para sa laptop mo," He suddenly suggested. "Mag-dodownpayment ka muna 'tas babayaran mo siya buwan-buwan. It's an easy process, trust me. May kakilala ako if gusto mo."

My eyes immediately lit up with his suggestion. "Talaga? Matutulungan mo ako?"

"Yeah, I'd break a rock into two for you."

"Sige, sana mabalian ka ng buto at matamaan ng kidlat."

"Hindi pa nga ako nakakasira ng bato, pero tinamaan na agad ako sayo."

"Take your corny pick-up lines outside and go," Inirapan ko siya. Matagal na siyang bumabarat sa'kin pero wala namang meaning amp.

"Bakit mo ba pinapaikot-ikot yung mga mata mo? Kung anu-ano tuloy mga nakikita mo, eh nandito naman na ako?" He said with determination present on his face.

"Nandiyan ka nga, pero 'di ka naman ramdam." I fired back. Bumabarat pa din siya eh!

"Do you want to feel it?"

"Alin?"

He instantly grabbed my right hand and pulled it closer to his chest, where his heart lies deep inside. His heart... was beating loudly than usual.

"Do you want to feel and see how I show my affection to you?" He asked as his eyes stared deeply into mine once again.

I was speechless. I parted my lips but no words came out from it. I was mesmerized by this man, as he gazed profoundly into me. 

Napaka-unfair naman ni Asrow. He could make my heart race without making too much effort! This growing feelings inside of me is too much for me to handle. Day by day, my small blossom of fondness of him kept on expanding. But I don't want this to grow too much...

Because I don't want to hope for something that never existed. 

***

Asrow promised me that he'd go and talk to his friend about the laptop I had in mind. Ang pinili ko ay yung notebook size lang at yung kasinglaki lang ng tablet. 'Yun lang kasi yung kaya ng budget ko sa ngayon. Wala akong planong humingi ng pera sa mga magulang ko, kailangan kayanin ko 'to ng mag-isa lang.

Paunti-unti nalang ako mag-iipon ng pera para sa laptop na gusto ko. Sa ngayon, wala pa sa isang libo yung pera ko eh, kaya sana pumayag yung kakilala ni Asrow na maghulugan ako ng isang libo bawat buwan.

 Sa kasalukuyan ay nasa cafe ako. Kakatapos ko lang magtake ng exam kanina. Medyo natagalan pa ako pero 'buti nalang at hindi ako nalate sa shift ko sa shop. Miyerkules ngayon kaya nandito yung magkakatropa na sina Drew, Aragon, Silas, at Milo. Mukhang kakatapos lang din nila mag-exams kasi dalawang Linggo silang hindi nagpakita dito para mag-aral ng husto.

"Ate Cally, namiss kita!" Drew bluntly said with a grin.

"Hindi ka niya miss, 'wag kang epal. Sabat ni Milo dito, kaya sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"Can't we all have peace and quiet here?" Aragon suggested while drinking a sip from his beverage.

I giggled at the four of them. "I actually... missed you four a lot. It was oddly quiet here when you guys didn't show up for two weeks."

"Oh diba, miss niya ako!"

"Tangek, tayong apat kasi."

Nagbangayan yung dalawa kaya tinawanan ko lang din sila. These four are truly friendly and lively people. Their cultivated friendship is beautifully crafted with trust for one another and their love for bicycles. 

Kinalabit ako ni Silas kaya napunta sa kanya yung atensyon ko. "Cally, kamusta naman si ano... Uhm, yung friend mo?"

"Sus, nahiya ka pang sabihin yung buong pangalan eh." Pang-aasar ko dito. 

Naririnig-rinig ko kay Shaira na chinachat daw siya ni Silas kasi gusto daw siya makilala pa. Gusto niya din ata manligaw sa kaibigan ko eh kaso, malakas yung amats niya kay Castriel eh.

Ganun talaga mga tao 'no? Kung sino pa yung mga gusto natin, sila pa 'tong hindi napapa-sa'tin.

"H-Hindi niya kasi ako nirereplyan eh," Nalulungkot na sagot nito. "Galit ba siya sa'kin?"

"No, she's just busy. May exams na din kasi kami." I answered back and smiled at him.

His face immediately enlightened up upon hearing my answer. "Weh? Talaga? Legit 'yan ha? Sana mareplyan niya na ako kasi gusto ko talaga siya, Cally."

I don't know if he knows that she has a big crush on Castriel but I didn't say a word about it. Baka mamaya hindi niya pala alam, edi nagulpi pa ako ni Shaira. I don't know what's on her mind at the moment but I guess she has a reason for not rejecting Silas.

Napatingin-tingin ako sa paligid ng cafe, nagbabaka sakaling makita ko yung taong hinahanap ko kanina pa. He's not here today. Alam 'kong walang practice yung volleyball team ngayong araw dahil sinabihan ako ni Shaira tungkol doon. She just updated me because she wants me to know how Asrow's doing.

"Ayieee, hinahanap si Asrow." Pang-aasar ni Drew bago siya humalakhak. "Crush mo?"

"Ayieee, inggit ka lang daw." Milo fired back. 

"Tanga! Sa gwapo 'kong 'to, maiinggit ako sa kanila??"

"Nasa'n kagwapuhan? Nasa pwet mo na ba?"

"Ulol! Mukha ka lang tisoy eh!" 

I laughed at the two of them before answering Drew's question. "H-Hindi ko crush si Asrow, okay? Tinignan ko lang kung nasa paligid ba natin yung manager ko. Baka magalit kasi sa'kin 'pag nakita akong nakikipag-chikahan dito." I lied.

Nagsitinginan yung apat ng sabay-sabay. They all have blank faces. Anong meron??

"Ate Cally, 'di mo talaga nagugustuhan si Asrow?" Tanong ni Milo.

Tumango ako sa kanya, kahit na nagsisinungaling lang ako.

"Pero type mo ba si Asrow, kahit kaunti lang?" Tanong naman ni Silas sa'kin.

Napaisip ako ng bahaya doon. The four of them kept on staring at me, as they anticipated my answer to their question. Shaira's the only person who knows about my feelings for Asrow and since they're Asrow's friends, I can't let them know about it. I can't risk my feelings just yet. 

"H-Hindi," I lied again.

Sumimangot yung apat ng sabay-sabay ulit! What the heck, that's just creepy!

"Kawawa naman si Asrow," Drew sighed in dismay. "Hindi pa nga nag-uumpisa yung laban, talo na agad."

"Let's go out to the bar later," Pag-aaya ni Aragon bago siya bumuntong-hininga.

"Libre ko kayo," Silas offered.

"G ako diyan, let's comfort our bro." 

"Ha? Anong meron?" Naguguluhan na tanong ko sa kanila pero 'di naman sila sumagot sa tanong ko dahil sobrang malulungkot yung mga mukha nila. They looked like as if someone just died or something.

"Pero ate Cally, paano kung may manligaw sayo- Oops, hindi ako ha!" Pagdedepensa agad ni Drew. "Tapos hindi mo siya type, may pag-asa ba siya?"

"Why would you ask me if he has a chance? Diba gusto niya ako kaya dapat niya ako paghirapan?" I raised my eyebrow. I'm just sick of this mindset. Porke't ba hindi namin type yung guy, hindi na sila magtatry na ligawan kami? Ano 'yun? Manliligaw lang sila 'pag may tsansa? Tapos 'pag nireject naman, kami pa 'tong may utang na loob sa kanila. That's not how love works, my dears.

"Oh sorry," Drew apologized. "Hindi naman sa ganun pero..."

Aragon stopped his friend from talking. "Let me rephrase his question. So let's say, a man wants to court you and if he proved his love for you no matter how long it may take, then you also fell in love in the process, will you accept him to be your boyfriend?"

"Duh, na-in love nga eh. Ba't ko pa papakawalan kung ganun?" Sagot ko.

Nagsingitian yung apat kaya mas lalo akong nagtaka. I seriously don't have any idea about why they're all acting like this. 

Umalis na ako sa table nila kasi kailangan ko na mag-asikaso ng iba pang orders sa counter. the four of them looked livelier after I left. Parang may pinag-uusapan silang nakakatuwa o nakakakilig... At mukhang nag-aasaran din sila kasi sinasapak ng paulit-ulit ni Drew si Milo sa ulo.

I ignored them and focused on other customers. Nagkwentuhan pa kami ni Suzy dahil may nanliligaw daw sa kanya. She hasn't told me who that lucky guy is but she said that he's from my school. Sino kaya doon?

My shift at the cafe suddenly ended without me noticing the amount of time that had passed by. Ako nalang yung natira sa cafe no'n kasi sa'kin binilin nung manager namin yung susi. May lakad kasi siya ngayon kaya kailangan niya ng katulong. Busy din si Chef Luiz 'tas si Suzy, makikipagkita pa daw sa kanyang manliligaw kaya no choice ako. 

I locked the door and kept the key inside my wallet so I wouldn't lose it. Pagkalabas ko ng cafe, sinalubong ako ng isang lalaki na nakasandal sa dingding habang may hawak-hawak na isang malaking box. Nakasandal din ang kanyang bisikleta sa dingding.

But there was something new to him; he was wearing a white polo shirt and slacks. The way he looked at me made me weak at my knees. His entire appearance just shouted dominance and superiority. His mellow eyes drifted from the cafe, then to me. When he started walking towards me, I couldn't help but stare straightly into him. What was he doing here? 

"Hey," Bati nito sa'kin.

"Bakit ka nandito?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

"Sinusundo kita, masama ba?" Tanong nito, pero inirapan ko lang siya. "And... I already talked to that person I was talking to you about and he agreed on the laptop."

He handed me the big box. Nakabalot ito sa pulang panregalo at meron pang berdeng ribbon. Pero, parang hindi naman ganito kalaki yung notebook size na nakita ko sa internet nung isang araw. I scanned the box and saw a small note attached to it.

What the hell?!

Agad 'kong kinausap si Asrow. "Why did you buy me a Macbook Pro?!"

"My treat," He smiled. "Hiya ka pa eh, gift ko na 'yan sayo."

"HUH?! Gift mo Macbook?? Ulol ka ba?? This isn't the laptop I asked you to get me and I don't have any money to buy this thing!" Singhal ko sa kanya habang nangangatog ang tuhod ko. Ang mahal kaya ng Macbook! Jusko, parang limang notebook size laptop ata katumbas nito o higit pa!

"It's a gift, so chill." He said in a soft voice. "Besides, this is way better than the laptop that you had in mind."

"B-But..." Tinitigan ko muli yung box. I don't even deserve this laptop, this costs too much for a student. Plus, why would he spend this much money on me? Magkaibigan kami oo, pero hindi naman sa puntong magbibigayan na kami ng gantong mga bagay.

"Bakit mo ako binigyan nito?" I asked bluntly.

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "Why you ask?"

"Duh! Laptop 'to, parang hindi naman 'to normal na binibigay lang basta-basta eh. May kailangan ka ba sa'kin?" I eyed him suspiciously.

He stared at me for a moment before bursting out of laughter! Napahawak siya ng mahigpit sa kanyang beywang habang patuloy pa din sa paghalakhak! Hinampas ko na sa kanyang balikat pero hindi pa din tumitigil! I even tickled him on his hips but it's not effective!

"Ikaw siguro yung sinasabi nilang, matalinong bobo hahaha! Pang-aasar nito sa'kin.

"Luh, baliw ka ba?!" I pouted at his joke.

"Oo, baliw na baliw ako sayo, sana alam mo 'yon."

He suddenly held my right hand and made me look at him. This time, he wasn't laughing anymore and instead, he looked serious. He looked at every inch of my face, as if he's studying my features and imperfections. He gave my hand a small squeeze before sighing.

"... I want to court you Cally." He blurted out.

"H-Ha?" Nagtatakang tanong ko. My cheeks immediately blushed upon hearing the word, court.

"I'm not lying about this, Cally. I really want to court you. I want you to know that I like you a lot. I don't know when it started but whenever I see you, my heart races and I find myself wanting to spend a lot of time with you more." He confessed as he cupped my cheek with his other free hand. "Ang cheesy nito, pero seryoso talaga ako Cally. Wala na 'tong halong biro o barat."

"Will you let me court you? Let me show you the man you changed from the very start."