Chapter 30

. ₊ ⊹ . ₊˖ . ₊

Nacia:
I love you, Palawan!

Kiran:
?

Nacia:
I love youuuuu
CARDI B!!!!!

Kiran:
???????

Nacia:
I
LOVE
YOU
KIRAN!!!!

Halos i-umpog ko yung ulo ko sa lamesa nang mabasa ang mga pinagc-chat ko kay Kiran. I must be going crazy because I don't remember chatting Kiran those words! Pero alam ko naman na ako lang 'yon dahil ako lang naman ang may alam ng password ng cellphone ko! At alam ko na yun din ang mga phrases na paulit-ulit kong sinabi nung gabi na 'yon.

Hindi ko alam kung kanino ko ito ipagsasabi. Alam ko na kapag nalaman ni Mineth at ni Ruby ang ginawa ko, they'll tease me further. Baka nga lumipas na ang taon, tanda pa rin nila ang katangahan ko na ito.

Kung kay Agape. . .oh my god! I feel so guilty. She was nothing but kind to me but I felt like a snake slithering through their relationship! Dapat akong umamin sa kan'ya, I should come forward and say that it was just a drunken mistake! At kahit pa lasing ako, it should never be an excuse to behave that way!

I wanted to explain through chat and apologize for my behavior. Gusto ko sana sa personal pero hindi ko naman alam kung may oras si Agape. So, I searched for her online but I couldn't see her profile. Kahit sa friend list ni Kiran ay wala siya.

I looked for Kiran's relationship status. . .and saw that it was single.

Dahil ba 'yon sa akin?

Did they break up because of me?

Lalong sumidhi ang nararamdaman kong inis sa sarili. I couldn't forgive myself. I broke them apart. Ngayon pa talaga kung kailan medyo close na kami ni Agape.

I decided to finally talk to Mineth to asked for an advice, kahit kay Ruby sana kaso busy ang isang 'yon. Gusto ko nga tanungin kung kilala ni Jakob si Agape eh, baka naman dahil jowa naman ito ng kaibigan n'ya.

Nacia:
Hello, Jakob!
Kamusta ka?
Alam mo ba Facebook ni Agape? Girlfriend ni Kiran?

Jakob:
Long time no chat!
Sino si Agape????

Nacia:
Girlfriend ni Kiran?

Jakob:
May gf yon???
Ah, di ko alam ah!
Ikaw pa rin iniiyakan nun
sa inuman eh.

Nacia:
Yung maganda
May mahabang itim na buhok
Parang member ng rockband
kung manamit minsan.
May bangs!

Wala ka talagang kilala?

Jakob:
Ah talaga ba???
Parang iba naman yan sa type nya
Ang type n'ya ay mahilig magsulat, may salamin, medyo mahinhin, tapos may tatlong libro na naka-publish tapos sinaktan lang siya nung college pa sila.

Nacia:
Po????

I sighed exasperatedly after I groaned. Humilig ako sa sofa at napapikit dahil hindi ko alam paano hahagilapin si Agape. I really want to apologize to her first.

The door of our shared condo unit slowly opened and it revealed Mineth who had her eyebrows furrowed as soon as she saw me. Nagtanggal siya ng sapatos at nilagay ito sa shoe rack.

"What's with the long face?" tanong n'ya sa akin. "Kabado ka ba bukas? Ano palang nangyari nung mga nakaraang meeting? I got sick so I wasn't able to get any updates as well. Bukas pa lang ako a-attend doon."

I sighed as I looked at her remorsefully. "I think I did something bad."

"Such as?" aniya.

"I said I love you to Kiran," I groaned and closed my eyes once again. "It was a drunken mistake!"

Mineth blinked at me numerously and with an unimpressive eye-roll, she managed to dismiss me off. "Oh please, kaya pala napaaga ang flight nung isa. Agape was complaining that she had to wake up early to fetch Kiran."

Napadilat ako at lumingon sa kan'ya. "May contact ka kay Agape?"

She shrugged. "I have her number, and we share messages every now and then."

"Can I have her number?" I asked, almost hopeful.

"I'll ask her first," sabi ni Mineth at kinuha ang cellphone n'ya mula sa kan'yang bulsa. She fidgeted on her phone and as soon as her notification beeped, agad siyang tumango. "I'll forward it to you."

As soon as I received her number, my heart started to pitter-patter against my chest. I was forming a long conversation inside my head, I was already begging on my knees in my inner monologues—then she messaged me first.

Agape:
hello, ganda 😼
Ito na ba simula ng talking stage natin? 🥵🥵🥵

Nacia:
Can we talk?
In person?
May aamin ako.

Agape:
OKIII 😲
sige, send ka lang ng deets kung saan

To say that I was nervous, would be an understatement. I was near the air conditioner, my feet curled as I waited for Agape to arrive. I was wearing a modest cardigan with a white inner top and beige slacks. Napabuntonghininga ako, luckily I haven't had my hair cut so if all things failed today, I might as well direct my emotions to my hair and start a brand new life.

Agape was wearing a white sleeveless top and baggy pants. Wala siyang make up. . .and I could feel her discomfort when people looked at her. Maganda pa rin naman siya. . .she was actually angelic sans makeup.

"Hello!" Agape greeted me as soon as she saw me.

I stood to greet her but she immediately enveloped me into a warm and cozy hug. Nanatili akong tuod sa aking kinatatayuan dahil hindi ko alam paano ibabalik sa kan'ya ang kan'yang yakap kung nanglalamig ako.

"N-nakauwi na pala si Kiran?" pambungad ko.

Tumango siya. "Maaga siya umuwi. Ang alam ko ay bukas pa dapat ng umaga at hahabol lang sana siya sa meeting n'yo ng hapon, pero mukhang change of plans."

She looked at me knowingly, a flit of emotion swirling through her dark eyes. It is as if she knows that I'm partly to be blamed.

"Nagsabi ba siya sa 'yo?" tanong n'ya sa akin

Umiling ako. "Nagc-chat siya nung isang araw na may meeting nga ng Monday. . .pero hindi ko alam ang uwi n'ya. P'wede naman n'ya i-move yung meeting kasi baka pagod din siya sa byahe."

She shrugged and slowly sat on the chair in front of me. Her eyes scanned the menu and immediately went to get her phone. "Nag-order ka na ba? Sabay na tayo?"

I had some matcha latte while Agape opted for some strawberry latte. I ordered some potato fries whereas she ordered a cheesecake for sharing. Matapos namin makapag-order ay naghari na naman ang katahimikan.

Tumikhim si Agape. "So. . .why did you call me?"

My eyes closed as I sighed. "I'm so sorry. I said 'I love you' to Kiran accidentally. I was drunk. . .but it's not an excuse. I respect your relationship. . .kaya patapusin mo lang sana itong movie at ako mismo ang lalayo."

Halos hingalin ako nang ilabas ang lahat ng 'yon. I felt her shifting her weight from her seat.

I could feel my heart pounding against my chest, feeling the lingering remorse and guilt. My eyes felt the sting of her silence. Handa na ako sa lilipad na palad sa aking pisngi. I was bracing myself for the groundless rumors that would start as soon as her hand marks my cheeks.

Her eyebrows shot up. "Huh?"

Umangat ang tingin ko sa kan'ya. "M-maiintindihan ko kung galit ka. Alam kong mali ang nagawa ko—"

"Ah. . ." She nodded slowly. "Hindi naman. I mean, if that's how you feel towards him. Gets ko na kung bakit uwing-uwi siya."

Doon ako natigilan, it was as if we were not having the right conversation. This was not the reaction that I was anticipating. Walang bakas ng kahit anong galit ang mukha n'ya.

My heart almost skipped a beat. "I. . .Please know that I have no intention of ruining your relationship with him. It was a drunken mistake."

She eyed me, and almost barfed out a laugh. "All this time. . .you thought I was dating Kiran?"

"Sabi n'ya girlfriend ka n'ya," I said.

She shrugged and played with the straw of her drink. "Really? When?"

"No'ng unang beses na magkita tayo. . ."

She blinked numerous times before she eyed me suspiciously. "I don't recall?"

"Pinakilala ka n'ya bilang girlfriend n'ya. . ."

Her eyes slowly turned to slits. "I'm sorry but I didn't hear it that way."

Oh.

OH.

My lips tightly pressed together. "You mean. . .you're not his girlfriend, romantically?"

Umiling siya. My breathing hitched before I finally let it out. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pakiramdam ko ay traydor ang aking mga emosyon. I shouldn't be happy. . .but god, hearing that from her made me almost teared up.

She smirked at me. . .as if sensing the relief in my voice. "Well, Kiran isn't the type to date around, he has a lot of baggage that he carries to himself. Magmula nang magkakilala kami ay wala naman akong nakilalang girlfriend n'ya. . .well, he used to date a writer."

"Right. . ." Umiwas ako ng tingin.

"Kiran doesn't want anyone to know that they have the power to hurt him. . .because all his life, he thinks he trusted the wrong people," Agape continued stirring her latte. Sumimsim siya rito bago umangat ang tingin sa akin.

"Naiintindihan ko 'yon dahil napaligiran din naman siya ng mga taong. . .mahirap pagkatiwalaan," sabi ko sa kan'ya.

Naiintindihan ko si Kiran. Maybe he thought that if he created a boundary between the both of us, then whatever happened in the past wouldn't happen again. It won't be like a broken track, being played over and over.

"Kakaunti lang ang hinahayaan ni Kiran sa buhay n'ya. . .even to us, his supposed-to-be-friends, he's quite distant. Ang Lola n'ya noon ay inaabuso siya, ang nanay n'ya ay mas gustong makasama yung panganay, at ang tatay n'ya ay naaalala lang siya kapag wala yung panganay. . .Kiran's had it hard," Agape mumbled, and his life felt like it was a piece of literature that we're trying to decipher.

"Sinabi n'ya 'yan sa 'yo?"

Umiling siya at napatingin sa kan'yang pagkain. "Nakwento lang sa akin ng ibang tao. . .hindi naman nagkukwento 'yan si Kiran."

My heart tightened with pain. Doon ko napagtantuan na totoo ang sinabi ni Rien tungkol sa gawa ko, I focused on the writer's pain and life. . .that I made the director's side unknown. Pero dahil din siguro wala masyadong nakukwento si Kiran.

"When he told me that you had the same offer," I forced a smile, but it barely held back the bitterness I felt. "Nainggit ako no'n sa 'yo dahil nagawa mong tanggihan 'yon. At masakit para sa akin dahil alam naman n'ya. . .sinabi naman n'ya na alam n'yang wala akong choice noon. I didn't agree to it as well, because I valued him above money. Pero kung pati ang kaligtasan ng mga taong mahal ko ang nakasalalay. . .saan ako lulugar?"

Tonton was hurt intentionally, for the sake of Killian's plan. Wala siyang pinalampas na kahit ang batang kapatid ko ay dinamay n'ya para mapasunod sana ako.

He couldn't get me through money. . .so he went to another path, which is more bloody and dangerous. If he can't control you, he'll try to control your surroundings. . .therefore it would be as if you were restrained by your own loved ones. Na imbis sila ang tumulong sa 'yo, sila ang pagpaparamdam sa 'yo na mag-isa ka.

He couldn't get through his son's head, so he's trying to control the one that he loves. . .and up to this day, hindi ko alam kung bakit gano'n ang takbo ng isip ni Killian. I know there's a reason but I don't know when the curtains will reveal why he thinks that way.

"Kiran probably feels like shit because all his life, he had always been compared to Kile," sabi ni Agape. . .the way she said Kile's name, I looked at her reaction and she flinched. "Kaya hindi n'ya maiwasan ang magkumpara dahil buong buhay n'ya ay wala namang ginawa ang ibang tao kung di ikumpara siya sa iba."

"But he should know how it hurts to be compared. . ." I said as I took a sip of my drink.

Agape shrugged. "Hurt people hurt people. . .I know he's trying not to project his anger and hurt towards you, but all his life, no one taught him how to handle his emotions or even how to address that he was hurt. But maybe. . .sa 'yo lang din kasi siya nagkukwento?"

Her eyes flew towards me knowingly. Doon ay para akong naestatwa. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko iiwasan ang topic na ito, dahil pakiramdam ko ay may alam na rin siya tungkol sa amin.

I bit my lower lip. So, she knows our history. I feel like an open book to her now. Para bang may mga mahina akong tinago pero nakita n'ya kung saan ko nilagay ang mga palatandaan ko.

My gaze flits over her. She seemed laidback, relaxed, and almost unbothered. Kaya lalo akong kinabahan. This girl is hard to read.

"Baka galit nga siya sa akin," I said, "and he's just saying that he's not because Kiran is kind despite his rude mouth."

"I don't think so. Kiran. . .always thought of you fondly," sabi ni Agape at patuloy na hinalo ang kan'yang inumin. "When I met you, I knew that you were the only girl he had ever laid eyes on. You probably can't feel it because you're being consumed by misplaced guilt. . .but I hope you know Kiran has never been angry at you. He's just hurt."

My eyes widened a fraction.

Ngumiti si Agape. "Siguro. . .tanggap naman n'ya yung desisyon mo noon, ang di n'ya tanggap ay kung bakit ganito ang sitwasyon n'yo ngayon. He's just hurt right now. . .but I don't think he's angry at you, or he doesn't care anymore."

My shoulders sagged. "I doubt."

She laughed heartily. "Ano ka ba? You're probably not aware but he looks at you differently. I know the way he looked at you so well. . .of longing and with need. . ."

Bahagya siyang nanahimik. Malalim ang iniisip at napansin ko na halos matupi na ang kan'yang straw sa sobrang pagkababad sa inumin n'ya. It was a straw made of paper, kaya mabilis talaga itong mayupi.

"Agape?" I said, when I caught her slowly staring into nothingness.

Ngumiti siya nang mapakla. "I know someone who looked the same way. . .sa ibang babae. It's as if it's a sin to want you, need you, to hold you because you're divine."

My throat constricted.

"Hindi ka ba. . .tinitingnan nang gano'n?" I asked in a small voice.

Kiran told me that she had the same offer, but she declared that it wasn't entirely true. That she wasn't loved by a Conjuanco, therefore she shouldn't have had an offer from Killian.

Her eyes flinched, it was a subtle twitch of her eyes but it revealed the deepest hurt, longest wound, and  ugliest scar that she was trying hard to conceal.

Sanay ako na madaldal si Agape, pero nakakatakot pala kapag tahimik siya, because her thoughts are lingering around her. Her feelings were revealing themselves. . .and it makes me feel how deeply she feels hurt right now, for another reason that I don't know.

She moistened her lips and I saw how she cleared her throat, as if she's trying not to cry. She smiled. "It must be nice. . .to be a Conjuanco's first love, huh? It probably feels heavenly. . .sayang hindi ko mararanasan."

. ₊ ⊹ . ₊˖ . ₊

Nacia:
We're cleared now? 🥹
I'm really sorry for
misunderstanding things.

Agape:
yeees
go lang te
subo mo na bes
yours na sya 🙏

ikaw ang good sa
kanyang evil 😼

aaaand no need to say
sorry palagi !!!

wag ka maging apologist 😼

I sighed in relief and braced myself for tomorrow. Hindi maalis sa dibdib ko ang kaba na baka kung anong sabihin ni Kiran. I have no intention of trying to. . .I don't know. I don't know how to face him while knowing that he's single.

Because the realization that Kiran was single made a familiar sensation settle between my thighs. It was as if knowing that he's free and is not liable for any relationships currently. . .made him hotter in my eyes.

Ang alam ko ay naka-move on na ako. But I'm acting like a girl in her puberty. . .so horny as hell.

Problemado ako nang mapagtantuan ko na ang tagal ko sa banyo, I was scrubbing my body as if it would lessen the heat that I was feeling. Iniisip ko na lang na hanggang ngayon ay ramdam ko pa rin ang epekto ng bacardi sa aking sistema.

It was Monday morning, I was expecting that the atmosphere would be light because everyone just had their weekend. Mababakas sa mga mukha ng empleyado na bitin ang pahinga nila pero wala pa masyadong gawain na nakatambak dahil magsisimula pa lang ang buong linggo na ito.

I couldn't stay focused, I was trying to align my thoughts with the meeting later. Yet, the tint of a black beneath my eyes couldn't hide my sleepless night.

I was wearing a white V-neck long sleeve white shirt and partnered it with black slacks. My hair was straightened by Mineth earlier, kaya lalong kumimtab ito. I also wore some makeup such as skin tint, blush, and lip gloss. I was gifted with perfectly trimmed brows so I just needed to maintain its shape, I rarely did my brows.

My line of thoughts were disturbed as soon as I went inside the conference. I was usually earlier than expected, dahil kinakabisado ko pa sa isip ko ang mga dapat kong sabihin.

"Good morning," bati sa akin ng isang baritonong boses.

The air whiffs a familiar scent of lavender. . .so I looked up and saw Kiran adjusting the temperature of the air conditioner.

Kiran's. . .what the hell?

Kiran was wearing a brown collar button coat with a black shirt underneath it, his long legs were covered by his beige slacks. Maayos ang istilo ng buhok n'ya. . .and for pete's sake, did he get himself a full-blown tan?!

I never had any preference with skin tone. . .but seeing him perfectly being tan made me feel. . .things that shouldn't be felt.

"You're early. . ." he drawled as his eyes scanned me from head to foot. "Have you eaten yet?"

I don't know if it's the lack of sleep? Pero bakit ang lambing ng tono n'ya?

"Ah. . ." I struggled to find any words to say. Para akong nakakita ng anghel sa harap ko ngayon! Why is he being. . .so welcoming?! Hindi ito si Kiran!

"Kamusta Palawan?" pambungad ko, I tried to slip a smile from my lips but his eyes momentarily stuck on me.

He smiled back. Putangina.

Si Kiran ba talaga 'to?!

"Palawan pa rin. . .it was nice," sagot n'ya sa akin at bahagyang ngumuso. "I ordered some coffee, and it's on the way. Want to come with me to get it?"

I blinked numerous times before it dawned on me that he's asking me to come with him. Walang pakundangan ay agad akong tumango. I tried to fix my posture because Kiran walked like he's a model on a runway. Halos lahat ng mga mata na dumadaan sa amin ay napapatitig sa kan'ya.

Kinuha namin sa reception yung mga kape. It came in bulk so everyone had their own cup of coffee, akala ko pa naman ay para lang sa magmemeeting mamaya. . .pero mukhang nagpakape si Kiran sa buong building!

I struggled to open the lid of my coffee. Kaya nagulat ako nang huminto si Kiran sa paglalakad at humarap sa akin.

"Can I help?" he asked in a soft tone which made me widen my eyes.

There's something in Palawan that bewitched him! Bumait talaga siya!

Tumango ako. He slowly got the cup from me and helped me with the lid. Kumuha rin siya ng tissue at pinulupot ito sa mismong baso ko bago ibalik sa akin.

I was blushing like a kid who got noticed by her crush. My feelings were swirling inside my chest. Halos hindi ko magawang tumingin sa kan'ya dahil sa pinaghalong hiya at kilig.

"Good mood si Sir!" tukso nung gwardiya. "Siya pinaka-unang pumasok kanina eh. Siya pa yata nagbukas ng opisina."

Humagikhik ang kasama nitong gwardiya rin. "Nakatanggap siguro ng matamis na I love you galing kay misis!"

A tint of rose spreaded across my face as the realization made me look at Kiran. Ngumingiti talaga siya! Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat kong maramdaman dahil. . .anong mayroon sa Palawan?

We went back to the conference room. Doon ay medyo bumigat ang pakiramdam ko dahil nandoon na sila Brian. They were earlier than expected, maybe because this time they knew that Kiran would be here.

"Good morning," bati ni Brian kay Kiran, his eyes were solely on him,  ignoring me entirely.

Bahagya naman akong yumuko dahil doon. Tumingin sa akin si Kiran bago nilagpasan si Brian, he didn't greet him back.

"Good morning," bati ni Kiran kay Rien na nakaupo na rin sa upuan nito.

Rien's eyes followed me and he slightly cocked his head to Kiran's direction. "Morning."

Rien was sporting a casual look with a white polo and black slacks. Napatingin ako sa damit ko. . .halos parehas kaming dalawa, but maybe because it was common. Ito na lang din ang natirang damit ko dahil hindi ako nakapag-laundry no'ng weekend.

Malapit si Rien sa akin kaya naman pagkaupo ko ay agad siyang lumapit upang bumulong.

"Anong nakain ni Kiran?" he asked.

I looked at him. "Ha?"

"Bakit siya. . .mabait?" Rien's eyes turned to slits. "Naninibago ako."

I cleared my throat. "Maybe he enjoyed Palawan. Maganda rin ang mood n'ya sa akin kanina."

Rien caught me looking at Kiran and mumbled. "Right."

The meeting finally started, and unlike the first few meetings that we had. Mas maayos kong nilahad ang mga naisip kong ideya. I was waiting for Kiran to say anything against me, but he just listened attentively. Ni wala siyang sinabi na maaaring gamitin para hindi umusad ang mga ideya ko.

"That's all. . .if there's questions, I'll gladly answer them," kabadong lumingon ako sa kanila.

Kiran only looked at the papers in front of him. Binigyan ko sila ng hardcopy ng files ko para may matitingnan sila kung sakali.

"So, you want to change the ending?" mahinahong tanong ni Kiran, his eyes still glued on the folder that has my ideas on it.

Brian showed their claws. Nakita ko ang mga ngisi sa labi nila, as if they knew that this would be my downfall.

I slowly nodded. "Yes. . .but before I proceeded with it, nagtanong ako kay Rien kung p'wede 'yon, at kahit siya ay nag-agree."

"I think aiming for a good end for two tragic people would tug the viewer's heart more. . ." Rien said, to back me up.

Umangat ang tingin sa akin ni Kiran. A small smirk crept on his face. "Alright, let's change the ending."

I blinked at him.

Gano'n lang 'yon?!

Brian frowned, the furrow of his brows made it seem like he was not satisfied with how Kiran reacted. Nagtaas siya ng kamay, lumingon naman sa kan'ya si Kiran.

"Yes?" Kiran coldly asked.

"I think we should retain the original idea. Ang mga tragic endings ay forte rin ni Rien. . .and I think Nacia can write it that way as well because it's the reason why her books sell. Hindi ba doon sila kilala?"

"I agree with Brian," si Tomas.

Tumango naman yung ibang kasamahan nila. It was as if they were in unison. I scoffed to myself. I know that they're agreeing with him only because they're driven by their need to protect their ego and pride. They won't side with me and believe my ideals, not because they think I'm wrong but simply because it's me who presented it. And they would believe anything that he said because they're unable to accept that they might be wrong with siding with him in the first place. Gano'n ang Pilipino eh. Masyadong ginawang totoo ang Filipino pride.

"But a shift could also broaden their horizons, people would look forward to a change in scenery," Kiran said. "I want this film to be made because it should be put out there, it should make a change in someone's life—not because it should sell and be forgotten over time. Alam ko naman na kailangan mabawi ang puhunan pero kung wala rin itong puso. . .I don't see the need to create this movie."

Natahimik sila roon. It was as if Kiran's decision was already firm from the start, kaya kahit anong sabihin nila ay hindi na ito lulusot sa kan'ya.

Kiran's gaze hardened towards them. "Also, I've heard about your unprofessionalism and rudeness towards my team. Nacia and Rien are part of this film. Walang pelikulang magagawa kung wala ang mga writers, they're the core of this film. Ilang araw lang akong wala ay pinakita n'yo na ang ugali n'yo."

Brian's eyes widened but he couldn't butt in. Nanatili siyang nakayuko gaya ng mga kasama n'ya.

"Disrespect my team once more," banta ni Kiran habang malamig ang titig n'ya sa kanila. "You might as well find another project to work on because I detest unprofessionalism."

The meeting adjourned peacefully. Para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib nang humilig ako sa swivel chair at napapikit. Finally, we could work on writing the script already. Halos patapos na kami sa pre-production! Sana payagan ako sumama sa mga site visits!

"Nacia," someone called me.

Dumilat ako upang silipin kung sino 'yon. I saw Kiran looking down on me and my heart lurched against my chest. Bumagay sa kan'ya ang pagiging tan. . .it perfectly made him more masculine.

"Y-yes?" I stuttered.

Ngumuso siya at nilahad ang kan'yang kamay. It was full of keychains. Most of them were handmade, some were from wooden material, and the colors varied but all of them were mostly beautiful.

"I bought you some keychains," sabi n'ya sa akin. "Kasi ang alam ko mahilig ka sa ganito."

My cheeks flushed as I nodded. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo at kukuha sana ng isa kaso halos ibuhos n'ya sa aking mga kamay ang mga keychain.

"It's all yours," he said.

"Really?"

Tumango siya.

My heart, once again, pounded rapidly. Halos hindi ko magawang i-angat ang tingin sa kan'ya.

I saw Rien looking over our direction. He slightly chuckled as he moved towards me.

"What's that? Pasalubong?" Rien teased, a knowing smirk on his face. "What about me?"

Kiran eyed him, almost as if Rien was a fly that he couldn't wait to swat off. "Wala na. Kiss na lang sa 'yo."

Rien stuck out his tongue. "Sige, akin na kiss ko."

I looked at my keychains. . .and it felt unfair. Sa akin ay keychains tapos kay Rien naman ay kiss?

Sinauli ko kay Kiran yung keychains. "Kay Rien na lang itong mga ito."

Kiran's eyes widened and shook his head. "What? Lahat 'yan ay sa 'yo, bibilhan ko na lang si Ri—"

"Akin na lang yung kiss," matapang kong saad at ilang beses pang kumurap-kurap. Nanalo na naman ang makamundong pagnanasa laban sa akin.