Dahan-dahang tumigil si Chantal sa paglalakad. She let her bag sag from her shoulder and blankly stared at the road ahead.

This is the worst thing of all.

Drawing a deep heavy breath, she can't help but think about what just transpired today.

She forgot about her lunchbox at home. Nasira ang makina ng jeep na sinakyan n'ya kaya na-late s'yang pumasok. She accidentally dropped her phone at the stairs and now it's broken. Hindi rin n'ya na-save ang ginawang presentation kagabi kaya wala s'ya choice kundi ulitin ito.

At ngayon... nawala ang wallet n'ya kaya hindi s'ya makasakay ng jeep pauwi.

She continued her steps - heavy steps that express utter exhaustion and despair. Inaabot s'ya ng one and a half hour sa pagbyahe papasok at pauwi. Anong oras kaya s'ya makakarating ngayong nilalakad n'ya ito?

Chantal bit her lips and tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

Being this helpless and pathetic isn't like me.

Inilagay n'ya sa harap ang bagpack at muling hinalungkat ang laman nito, still in denial of this unlucky situation. Sinubukan din n'yang halughugin ang bulsa ng bagpack - nagbabakasakaling may barya sa loob nito.

Pero imbis na barya, iba ang nakuha n'ya sa side pocket.

"Hershey's... kisses?"

It's from Kris. He gave it to her during dismissal but now it's out of shape.

She gently opened it and ate it anyway.

It's so sweet against her tongue yet the bitterness inside her heart is raging. The unfairness of it makes her head swirl into different emotions and it was comforting enough to let her armors down.

"Chantal!"

Sniffing, she stopped walking and looked back to see the person who called her.

He was chasing his breath and the sweat from his face glistened. Nevertheless, it was outshined by the way his lips curved into a smile. "Naabutan din kita!"

Chantal blinked in surprise. "W-What are you doing here?"

Kris let out a final deep breath and chuckled. "Patawid na ko nung makita kita. Teka, 'diba malayo bahay mo? Ba't ka naglalakad!?"

She was about to answer him but her mouth stayed closed. Does she really need to share something that was completely out of his concern?

Chantal looked down and swallowed - nalalasahan pa n'ya ang tamis ng chocolate.

Kris frowned with worry and concern. "Hey... okay ka lang?"

She bit her lip and her hands shook.

Maybe... maybe it won't be bad?

"I'm... not okay."

Just this time.

Chantal lifted her head and looked at Kris. As if something snapped inside, she began to free her tears. "P-Please help me. Nawala 'yung wallet ko kaya wala akong pamasahe pauwi."

Kris stared at her as she continued to cry. Slowly, he brought his hand up and gently pat her head.

Shocked by the gesture, Chantal stared back.

He smiled. "I want to wipe your tears away because it pains me but this isn't about me and what I feel. This is about you."

Kris stooped down a bit to level his eyes to hers. "That's it. Just like that. You can call for help and you can cry,  okay?"