The following days came, and I swear to earth that I'm trying my best to avoid Wendell in every way for Aidan's peace of mind. I don't want him to envy anyone, I don't want Aidan to feel insecure and be jealous of people who gets to be with me while he couldn't. Alam ko na maraming ginagawa si Aidan, and I don't wanna add up to his everyday stress; a wife shouldn't be a pain in her husband's ass.

But then, it's not easy to avoid someone whom you're bound to be with every day. Especially if that someone doesn't do anything to deserve a rough treatment. Wendell is just being friendly because he's all by himself, which is one thing I sure understand.

"Paris, are you finish with the papers Professor Martin assigned to us last meeting? It should be submitted today, after class," Wendell said.

Sandali akong natigilan bago ko mariing nakagat ang aking ibabang labi. Nabitin sa ere ang libro na hawak kong dapat ay ilalagay ko sa loob ng aking bag. How can I be so irresponsible? How can I forget that? Shoot. Nawala sa isip ko ang bagay na iyon. What's wrong with me? Binalikan kong bahagya ang mga bagay na siyang dumaan sa aking isipan para makalimutan kong gawin iyon. I wasn't myself because all I'm thinking about is Aidan. I'm all about him these past few days. I'm all about not getting him mad. I'm all about making him feel better.

"Paris? You okay?"

Bahagya kong tiningala si Wendell habang ipinagpapatuloy ang pag-liligpit ng aking mga gamit. Our class ended, I have a next class. Siya, alam ko ay wala na. "I'll find time later and see if I can rush it,"

Who am I kidding? I don't have time. I'm loaded. Sunod-sunod ang klase ko ngayong araw, I know to myself that I won't be able to make one.

"You can have this submitted, Paris" iniabot niya sakin ang folder na kaniyang hawak.

Mabilis akong umiling. "No, Wendell. It's yours. I can go on with the consequences if I can't make one till the end of the period."

"It's a huge points you'll lose if you won't submit one," he said. "I can make another one now, but you can't. Come on, Paris. It won't hurt if you'll accept it."

Napailing ako, hindi ko kayang makinabang sa isang bagay na pinaghirapan ng ibang tao. Alam ko na pinagpuyatan ni Wendell gawin iyon, and yes I know too that he can make one now. But that won't be as good as this one he's letting me have, wala na siya gaanong oras para gumawa. He'll rush his and will let me have something he took so much effort of creating. I can't be so heartless to let him do that, though he's right malaking kabawasan sa bahagi ko kung sakaling wala akong maipasa ngayon. But I can do something about it, I can face the consequences of my irresponsibility.

"Paris-"

"No, Wendell. Thank you but I can't accept that." Nginitian ko siya bago ako tuluyang nag-lakad papalabas ng classroom.

One thing I've kept in my mind every time is that no one's more responsible for your actions than you. It's my fault that I forgot to do what was assigned to me, so I have to own it.

But Wendell didn't let me do that. Two days later, I was so ready to be punished. But didn't come. All because he submitted his papers under my name, he created another one for him. I was surprised that I was complimented in class by Professor Martin because of the papers I have submitted; he even said that it was well written, and I wanna vomit the guilt that squeezed my stomach. I shouldn't be taking someone else's gratitude.

My eyes searched for him, and our gazes matched. He smiled, but I didn't.

"Wendell!" I called out his name just when he was about to open the door of his car.

I gave it a glance, and it was good that it was fixed. Then I turned to him, and he looked back at me with his brows shot up.

"You shouldn't have done that." I said.

"Paris, a thank you is a lot better," he shrugged.

I sighed. "Fine, thank you. But I already told you, I can handle it-"

"I accept the thank you, you're welcome." He chuckled. "Now, if you're still feeling guilty that you got a better result than me. A clubhouse sandwich down the road will be better."

He's like reading my mind. Of course, I'm guilty. I got better grades than him, while I shouldn't have gotten any. I stared at him; his eyes were full of hope that I'd say yes. Fine. I should at least thank him this way.

Wendell is so nice to me. I don't like people being nice to me because I need to give back those kinds of acts. He somehow reminds him of Aidan; he does things that Aidan does. He's funny and smart both at the same time, and there's something about Wendell that you'll feel good about when he talks.

Days rolled into months, and Wendell became someone I needed at the moment, a friend. Wendell always had a smile for every trouble. Iyon bang kahit gaano kabigat ang mga dapat naming gawin; he was there to brighten the day. And I must admit, Wendell is one of the reasons why I'm feeling less miserable while I'm away from my family.

"Good morning," masaya kong bati kay Aidan nang sa wakas ay masilayan ko na siya sa harap ng camera.

"You look happy," he chuckled. "I miss you,"

"I am happy!" natatawa kong sabi. "Two days nalang, Aidan, two days tapos nandito na kayo ni Ricos! Oh, I can't wait to see you again."

"Ako rin," may sasabihin pa sana siya nang marinig ko ang pag-tunog ng intercom sakanyang opisina, I saw him sighed irritably.

"Go get that, I'll see you it two days. I love you, call you again later!"

Marami masyadong ginagawa si Aidan nitong mga nakaraang araw at ayoko na maging pabigat pa sakanya, isa pa, masaya na ako na dadalhin niya rito si Ricos so we can celebrate his first birthday here, together, as a family.

Kinabukasan, matapos ang klase, I saw Wendell waiting for me to where I parked my car. Nakahalukipkip siyang nakatayo roon at may magandang ngiti sakanyang labi, nanunukso kong itinaas ang aking kilay.

"You got a yes smile, huh?" I said, "What's with the smile? Is it all about, Karen Hanover?"

Malakas siyang napahalakhak. "What are you? A mind reader?"

"You can say that," I shrugged. "So what's up about her? Have you already jumped off the shell to ask her out?"

He gave me a smug smile but his eyes gave me the im-not-gonna-tell-you-anything kind of look. Made me roll my eyes.

"Come on, Bakker! Say something."

"Well," he chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.

Karen Hanover is our classmate in one subject, and Wendell has this stupid crush on her. He told me that a few weeks ago, I'd been pushing him to go hit a chance, but he just wouldn't, and now that he did, already did, I'm happy for him.

"What?" I chuckled. "So, what did she say when you ask her out? How did you invite her? Come on, tell me, I'm not your friend for nothing."

Natatawang umikot siya sa kabilang bahagi ng aking sasakyan, I clicked the remote of my car so he can open the passenger side of it. "Calls for a burger."

"Oh it really is!" I said.

So we had a bite at the nearest burger house. Wendell told me things about him and Karen. I just find it funny that at the age of twenty-six, Wendell has limited experience with girls. I remember him telling me that his first date happened when he was twenty-two. And it wasn't really something like a huge real date. It was more like a plain dinner. Lasted for a couple of hours, and it was done.

"Well, I hope that this date you'll have with Karen will workout for another one and another and another," I said, sipping my fruit shake.

"Wish me so much luck," he chuckled.

"You're not getting any younger, men of your age should already be building a happy home."

"Not when you're in Med School."

Hindi ko na iyon inimikan pa. Wendell didn't come from a well-off family; he's from the Netherlands. He dedicated all his life to his studies. I understand why he doesn't pay much attention to girls; he needs to study harder than hard to keep his scholarship and at the same time support his family. At high school, he'd been working part-time in a steak house after class. And now, I know that during weekends, he's doing services at pubs so he can still help his family and himself. His determination got my respect. Hindi niya hinayaang maging hadlang ang hirap ng buhay para abutin ang kaniyang pangarap, look at him now? He's a step closer to his dreams.

That night, when I got home, I immediately received a call from Aidan on messenger. I answered it while I was removing my boots.

"Hey,"

A few seconds passed, and I heard nothing from the other line.

"Aidan,"

"Where are you?"

"I just got home, is there's something wrong?" I asked, hearing something odd about his voice.

He didn't say a word; I heard him sigh.

"Aidan? What's wrong?" malambing kong sabi.

"You from school?" he asked.

"Yeah," I didn't pay much attention to his question. "Is there a problem? We can skype-"

"Nah, you go rest." He cut me off.

"Aidan?" I feel like there's something that he's not telling me. It bothers me.

"Hmm?"

"You okay?"

"I am,"

"You're not," I sighed. "Baby, what's up? Hmm?"

"I miss you, Paris." He said. "I'll hang up, I have something to do. Goodnight."