"That was the best thing yet," ulat ni Daia nang isa-isang pumasok sa van ang mga kasamahan nito. "I think this would go up to one of the best places I went to Baler. Thanks for making this day extra special for us, Morriah!"

Napangiti si Morriah. "No problem! I only want everyone to have fun and experience Baler in its core. Baka hindi na kayo umuwi sa mga bahay niyo."

Natawa silang lahat sa sinabi ni Morriah.

"Hindi namin sigurado kung hindi kami uuwi," sabi pa ni Dominique. "May mga pasok pa kami, pero for sure, babalikan namin 'to. Would you still like to host us if next time magpunta ulit kami rito sa Baler?"

"Of course!" masigasig na sagot ni Morriah. "I would love to do that. For sure, marami pa kayong lugar na gustong makita rito sa Baler na if ever hindi niyo man mapunta on this trip niyo. Nasusunod pa naman itinerary niyo, right?"

Tumingin ang lahat kay Cara kaya nang makita nito ang mga tingin ay napataas siya ng kilay. "Oh?! Bakit nakatingin kayo sa akin? 'Wag niyo akong simulan."

"No, we're not following it anymore," sagot naman ni Daia kay Morriah. "Mas maganda kasi na go with the flow na lang kami at hindi 'yong nakaplano nga, pero pilit naman ang lahat na gawin 'yon. We won't enjoy it that way."

Nagtitimpi lang din si Cara dahil ayaw na niyang gumawa ng eksena matapos ang insidente kagabi. Nahihiya na siya kay Morriah dahil kung hindi sa pagsabog ng emosyon niya ay matatapos nang maayos ang inihandang event ni Morriah para sa kanilang mga guest ng Casa Casillas. She only rolled her eyes and remained seated next to her boyfriend. Inaabot pa ni Dominique ang kamay nito para hawak, pero si Cara na mismo ang nagtataboy ng kamay niya.

"I see. That's fine! You can have fun kahit na wala kayong pina-follow na itinerary. I love being spontaneous. Anyway, since everybody's here na na naman. . ."

"Wala si Willimar. Iwan na natin 'yon," sabi pa ni Daia.

"Hoy! Nandito ako!" Napalingon sila sa pagsigaw ni Willimar. "Grabe talaga kayon sa 'kin, 'no? Wala naman akong ginagawang masama sa inyo. Dom, pagsabihinan mo nga 'yang kapatid. Sobra-sobra na ang attitude akala mo naman kagandahan."

"Don't say that, Will," babala pa ni Dom.

"Oh, 'di ba? Ako na naman ang masama." Ngisi pa ni Willimar. Napailing na lamang ito.

"Pasensya na, Morriah," sabi pa ni Dom. "This won't happen again."

"I hope so. . ." Morriah said, putting a thin smile on her face. Hindi na ito nagbigay pa ng komento at isinara na ang pinto ng van at pumasok sa harapan sa tabi ng driver. As soon as everyone settled ay umalis na rin naman ang van pabalik sa kanilang hotel.

Morriah remained quiet and everyone inside the van. She asked the driver to turn up the radio para hindi awkward ang atmosphere sa loob ng biyahe. When the music filled the room, somehow it lifted some weight on her shoulders, but she kept thinking about Rik who hadn't responded to any of her calls or messages. Nag-aalala na siya ngayon. If she thought it right that Rik left the country without saying a word to her, hinding-hindi niya mapapatawad ang lalaking 'yon.

After forty minutes ride back home ay nakabalik na rin sa hotel ang van. Naunang bumaba na sina Daia at Kenny at tumuloy papunta sa kwarto ng boys habang tumungo naman sina Cara at Dominique sa girls room habang si Willimar ay pumanik sa kanyang kwarto. Naiwan naman si Alleah at sinundan na lamang si Morriah.

"Sorry ulit," sabi pa ni Alleah kay Morriah habang patungo sila sa reception desk. 

Napangiti naman si Morriah. "Mukhang kailangan ko na ring sanayin ang sarili ko sa inyo, though, hindi ko naman kayo sinisisi or what. No'ng buhay pa ang parents ko, we've had worst guests na kulang na lang talaga ay paalisin namin sa hotel dahil sa sobrang war freaks nila. So far, sobrang layo niyo naman do'n."

Natawa si Alleah. "You haven't see the worst of our friendship, pero let's hope na hindi rin mangyari 'yon. Anong nangyari sa mga guest na 'yon before? Did you still kick them all out?"

Umiling ito. "Hindi, pero kinausap sila ni papa. Ayaw nila magpaalis ng guests no'n so talking to them was the only way hangga't ang mga guest na lang din ang umalis and it was fine for us, basta hindi lang nila kami bibigyan ng three stars review online. As you can see, we're trying to maintain a four star review online at ang goal ko ay maging five star siya soon."

"Nice! Hopefully ma-achieve niyo 'yon soon. I think with all the things you do for the hotel lalo na 'yong mga activity na pinapa-experience mo sa guests mo, I would leave great feedback for everyone. I would give you five stars."

Morriah giggled. "Thank you so much, Alleah. I really appreciate that. You know what, I've got something for you sa reception desk. Sama ka sa akin."

Sumunod si Alleah kay morriah papuntang reception desk. Sinalubong naman si Morriah ng staff nto at ipinaalam lamang ang ibang request ng guest na siyang babalikan daw. May kinuha naman si Morriah sa loob ng drawer at inabot kay Alleah ang isang handmade bracelet.

Napanganga naman si Alleah nang tanggapin niya ang regalo mula kay Morriah. "Wait! Sure ka ba? Sa akin na lang 'to?"

Morriah smiled, nodding her head. "Yup! May tradition kasi akong ginagawa. Walang may alam nito. Kahit parents ko. I think Rik knew about it. Nabanggit ko sa kanya 'yon one time. I'm giving a handmade bracelet of shells and other stuff in it sa guest na magaan ang loob ko and you're someone that I think I could really easily get along with. There's something special in you and I hope that spark won't fade away. . ."

"Thank you, Morriah. . . I really appreciate it, too. . ."

"Excuse me!" Sabay silang napatingin sa lalaking dumating sa reception desk. Nanlaki ang mata ni Alleah at napatitig na lamang ito nang makilala kung sino ito. "Hi, Ley!"

"A-Armand. . ." she uttered.

He smiled. "Yup! Hindi ka nagkakamali."

"You surprised us, Armand," sabi pa ni Morriah. 

He chuckled. "Yes, I thought of that. I would surprise everyone upon showing up. . . But can I please transfer to another room? I requested it earlier and seemed like they haven't done it yet."

"Oh, I would check it on the system. Give me one minute. . ." sabi ni Morriah habang chine-check nito sa kanilang system ang request ni Armand.

Nakatitig pa rin si Alleah kay Mando. Hindi pa rin naman siya makapaniwala na nakikita niya ngayon ang binata. Something sparked inside of her. Inakala niyang umalis nang tuluyan si Mando. She was completely out of words. Trying ot think about it and how he ended up staying could be because of her. She can't say it out loud, pero baka iba ang rason niya. It wasn't because of her, but because of Baler.

"Ah, yes! I've got in on the system now. It's ready. We apologize if we put you in the wrong room, but we can go ahead to your new room now. Here's your key. . . I'll take you there."

"I've still got my stuff in my old room. Can I pick them up after? I will just surrender the key after."

"Yeah, won't be a problem."

"Thank you so much, Morriah. You're being so kind to us," Mando said to her. "Wanna come and see my room?" pag-anyaya naman nito kay Alleah.

Tumango naman ito. "Sure. . . I've got nothing else to do so why not?"

"Perfect!" simpleng sagot ni Mando, pero ang ngiti nito ay halos umabot na sa tainga niya.

Naunang pumunta si Morriah pata ihatid si Mando sa magiging kwarto nito. Narating naman kaagad nila ang room nito. She let him put the keycard into the door lock where it opened automatically. Pagkabukas ni Mando ng pinto ay sumalubong sa kanila ang fresh scent nito. Ikinatuwa iyon ni Mando dahil amoy five-star hotel talaga ang impression niya sa kanilang premises kahit na island vibes ang overall aura nito.

"As usual, Armand, you've got your bathroom on the left side where you have necessities. The towel is on the bed and if you would like to get another one, you can ask at the reception desk, but there would be a charge for it. Anything you'd be needing or like to request, you can direct it to the reception desk."

"Got it, Morriah! Thank you so much for your help. I will just transfer my stuff here and then give back the key to my old room later."

"Yup, that's noted. Maiwan ko na muna kayong dalawa. I'll be at the reception desk."

Nang umalis si Morriah ay naiwan ang dalawa. Inikot naman ni Alleah ang paningin niya sa silid habang magkahawak ang kamay sa likuran nito.

"This is huge for a single bedroom," komento pa ni Alleah. "Tatlo kami sa kwarto at may kalakihan din man, but this was what I meant for person space."

"Do you want to move in with me?" pag-aalok pa ni Mando. "Double bed ang kama so I think we could fit there, but only if you'd like. Hindi naman kita pipilitin."

"I think I'll be fine sa girl's room namin and I need to watch the girls out kasi baka magsabunutan na naman kagaya last night. . ." Napaupo si Alleah sa kama. "Akala ko talaga umalis ka na. What made you changed your mind? Gusto mo nang ituloy 'yong mga plano before or napilit ka nila Dom at Kenny na mag-stay?"

Napangisi si Mando at saka tumabi ito sa kinauupuan niya sa kama. "They weren't able to make me stay or the plans we had before."

"Oh. . . So iniwan mo na lang 'yong mga pinsan mo?"

"Yeah, you can say it like that. They're on their way back to Nueva Ecija now."

"So, you think you have unfinished business here in Baler kaya ka nagpaiwan?"

"Probably," anito. "But I stayed here because of you. . ."

"Huh?" Natanga si Alleah sa tanong niya saka ito natawa. "Bakit naman ako? Ano namang ginawa ko para mag-stay ka? You've got plans already. Baka sisihin mo pa ako na ako ang nakasira no'n."

He smirked, shaking his head. "No, but yes, my plans with my cousins were no longer in the picture, but I knew I made the right decision. I want to be with you. . ."

"But what you said last sa two truths and a lie game natin. . . Hindi mo nasagot 'yon. You didn't plan to come to Baler. You made a huge mistake with the girl you loved before, and you would be leaving today. It doesn't make sense to me last night tapos ngayon na nandito ka. But were you. . . talking about me when you mentioned about the girl?"

He took a deep breath, nodding his head. With that confirmation alone, hindi niya alam kung anong mararamdaman niya, but she kept herself in composure.

"Last night was a mess, you know?" he said, taking deep breaths. "It was a lie when I said I didn't plan on coming here. When I saw it on your IG story, I knew I had to come. It's also true that I made a huge mistake in leaving you, and it's true that I was supposed to leave today because last night, my cousins and I had planned to go, but I changed my mind earlier this morning."

Natahimik na lang din naman si Alleah.

"So, yeah, I stayed because of you, and I hope I wasn't getting in the way of you and that German guy you were talking the other day."

Bahagyang natawa si Alleah sa sinabi nito. 

"Ha! Why are you laughing at me? Totoo naman, 'di ba?"

Umiling si Alleah. "No. You're not getting in any way of me and that guy. That guy was full of himself. Kung nakita mo kaming magkausap no'n sa club, that was the last time we talked. Hindi ko na siya kinita ulit. I just don't feel him and I think he was only after sex. I'm not sure, pero baka 'yon ang habol niya sa akin."

Napangisi naman si Mando. "I thought foreigner's na ang magiging kakompistensya ko sa 'yo, e."

"My head never turned to anyone when we broke up," pag-amin ni Alleah. "It was always you, Armand. . ."

Mando looked deeply into her eyes. As he leaned closer to her face, they sealed it with a kiss. It didn't last for a minute, but that kiss brought so much happiness in their hearts, and both hoped, their relationship would be the end goal.