"Anong plano mo ngayon, Mando? Sasama ka na ba sa amin until the end of this trip?" tanong pa ni Daia.

"Kung anong gagawin niyo," sagot ni Mando. "I know you guys planned a lot of things."

"Ay, wala na 'yon," sagot ni Cara. "Hindi na namin sinusunod ang ginawa kong itinerary so we're just doing what we wanted to do. Kung may plano ka namang gawin, keri lang. Sabihin mo sa amin since this is your time na rin to lead this."

Napangisi si Mando. "It wasn't the same as before na ako ang gumawa ng itinerary, but what can I do ba? Hindi niyo pa napupuntahan ang Balete Tree, 'di ba?"

"OMG! We should go and see it tomorrow," sabi pa ni Cara. "Kahit may white lady pa na magpakita sa atin, keri lang."

"Ikaw iaalay namin do'n, Car," biro pa ni Daia.

"Oh, 'yan na naman kayo, e," saad ni Dom. "Mag-aaway na naman kayong dalawa. Tumahimik na nga lang kayo."

"Ikaw tumahimik, kuya. Cara and I are okay now."

"Kaya nga, 'di ba? 'Wag mo simulan ulit," babala pa ng kapatid nito sa kanya. Irap na lang din ang natanggap niya sa kapatid. 

"Wait! I think I've listed one of the places na pwede mag-chill. No extreme activity. Mag-iikot lang. Upo. Usap. Kung ano gusto niyong gawin. It's Joker's Hideaway and I believe their main attraction was the mini golf courses. Gusto niyo ba 'yon? If you guys aren't looking for hardcore fun at chill lang."

"Pwede naman," sagot ni Alleah.

"Syempre, pwede sa 'yo 'yon, Ley. Jowa mo na nag-suggest, e," sabi pa ni Daia.

"Anong jowa?!" she exclaimed. "Hindi ko jowa si Armand, 'no!"

Napangisi naman si Mando sa pagdepensa ni Alleah.

"Sus! Do'n din naman pupunta 'yon," sabi pa ni Kenny sabay tawa.

"Kayo talaga. Hindi kami, ha? We're just friends now," paglilinaw pa ni Mando.

"Kung 'yan ang gusto niyong narrative, okay," sabi pa ni Daia. "But, go ako ro'n sa sinasabi mong mini golf courses? I think that's fun. Magkano ba ro'n? Baka naman sa five hundred isa?"

Mando scrunched his face, shaking his head. "No, it's not. Nasa fifty pesos lang ata ang adult so it won't pierce a hole in our wallets. Kahit libre ko na kayo, it's fine by me."

"Naks naman! 'Yan ang gusto namin sa 'yo, Mando, e," sabi pa ni Dom saka tumayo at niyakap ang kaibigan. "Kukuha rin bang beer?"

Hinampas naman ni Daia ang kapatid nito sa braso. "Mukha naman 'to! Aalis naman tayo. Makiki-party tayo sa malapit na club diyan sa town. I hope they'll host the best one for us."

"E, kung hindi kasi kayo nag-away ni Cara, sana na-enjoy natin 'yong party kagabi ni Morriah," sabi pa ni Dom. "Ang gulo niyo kasi, e. Nagsorry ba kayo sa kanya?"

"I did," sagot ni Daia.

"Ako rin," sabi naman ni Cara. "Isama na lang natin siya mamaya kung wala na siyang work. Treat natin."

"Yaman naman ni Cara. May pang-treat na," panunukso pa ni Daia

"Well, if it wasn't of me, hindi rin naman mangyayari 'yong gulo kagabi so that's the best thing to do."

"Let's stop talking about what happened last night," sabi ni Daia. "Let's just move forward and enjoy the rest of our trip here. Hindi naman 'to forever and we've only got a few weeks left so how can we have fun kung magkakagalit tayong lahat, 'di ba? I promise, I'll behave na, but you know naman kung sino ako."

"I agree with Day," ni Alleah. "Let all the negativity go. It's what we want naman no'ng plinano natin na pumunta rito, e."

"Sus!" usal ni Cara. "Nasabi mo lang 'yan dahil nandiyan na si Mando, e. No'ng pagdating natin dito sa Baler, e, halos wala ka ngang energy? Parang gusto mo na kaming iwanan, pero ngayon, I love the energy, Ley! Keep it up. 'Wag ka munang umuwi, Mando. Kailangan pa namin ang energy ni Ley."

Natawa naman si Mando. "Hindi naman ako uuwi. Mag-stay ako rito kung hanggang kailan kayo mag-stay. Kung may plano rin kayo na pumunta pa ng ibang lugar, I would go with you guys."

"E 'di, ayos pala! What if ituloy natin 'yong Baguio mo?" suggestion pa ni Dominique.

"Gusto niyo ba?" tanong ni Mando.

"Gusto ko," saad ni Daia.

"Kahit one week pwede na 'yon," dagdag ni Kenny.

Nilingon ni Mando si Alleah. "Sasama ka ba?"

"Hay, naku, Mando. Hindi mo na dapat tinanong 'yan. Kung kasama ka, sasama 'yan," panunukso pa ni Daia. "Kanina nga lang sa tour namin, silang dalawa ni Morriah 'yong magkasama. Nagsama 'yong mga iniwan."

"Grabe ka naman sa akin, Day," ani Alleah. "At least bumalik 'yong akin."

"Grabe ka rin kay Morriah, ha?" balik naman ni Cara. "Pero teka, umalis na nga ba talaga si Rik? Ang sad naman kung umalis na siya."

"Ohhh! Speaking of the devil," ani Daia. "Tingnan niyo sa mga likod niyo, pero 'wag kayong papahalata." Sabay-sabay namang lumingon ang lima kung saan ay nakita nila si Morriah na kasama si Rik. "Sabi ko nang huwag magpapahalata, e? Mga kupal talaga kayo sa instruction."

Napansin din naman sila nina Morriah at Rik kaya lumapit ito sa table. Tumayo ang boys at sinalubong ng yakap si Rik dahil inakala nilang umalis na nga ito nang wala man lang pasabi.

"We thought you already left Baler," sabi ni Dom. "We were waiting for you early, bro! Where have you been!"

Natawa si Rik. "I was in Manila. I drove Deni there to catch her flight. She was scammed by the van driver she booked."

"Oh, she didn't mention she would be leaving Baler today," ani Cara.

"She didn't expect it, too, but there was a problem with her flight and they rescheduled her flight early so she had no choice, but to leave. She said she would be back, but she would rather be in Siargao or El Nido."

"I see! Iba rin ang night life sa Siargao," sabi pa ni Kenny.

"Para namang nakapunta ka na ro'n, Kenny?" sabi pa ni Cara sa kanya.

"Nakikita ko lang naman!" depensa pa ng kaibigang lalaki.

"We would let you have your dinner muna, guys," sabi pa ni Rik.

"Oh! Pupunta kami sa party later. Baka gusto niyo mag-join?" pag-anyaya pa ni Daia.

"Sure! Walang problema. Just let us know when we will leave."

"Okay, Morriah!"

Sinundan ng anim ng tingin ang dalawa at naupo sa isang table sa corner. Magkaharap sila ro'n at may lumapit na staff at nag-order ng makakakain nila. Hindi nila maalis ang tingin sa dalawa dahil pansin nila ang kakaibang ngiti ni Morriah. It wasn't the same the first time they arrived, pero no'ng bumalik si Rik ay sobrang genuine na ng tawa ang nakikita nila sa babae.

"I think nagkabalikan din sila," panghuhula pa ni Daia.

"Mukha nga," dagdag pa ni Cara. "'Di ba nag-usap kayo kanina ni Morriah, Ley? May chinika ba sa 'yo?"

Umiling si Alleah. "Wala naman. Though she was worried na umalis si Rik nang hindi nagsasabi sa kanya so I think those smiles and laughs meant something."

"Parang 'yong sa 'yo," sabi pa ni Daia. "Hindi rin naman ganyan 'yong mga ngiti mo no'ng wala pa si Mando, e. Level up ka naman, girl. I think ibang klase ang dala ng Casa Casillas sa love life ng mga tao. It brought people back together. Same to us, sis!"

Nag-apir pa si Cara at Daia at ginawa na lamang katatawanan ang naging tampuhan nila.

"I have something in mind and I'm not sure if you would like it. . ."

"Hm? Come on, tell me. Whatever that is."

"Would you like to move in with me?"

His eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Yes, I'm sure, and I think it would be better for you to stay here rather than in a hostel. Can you get a refund for the remaining days there?"

"I think, but I have to talk with them if I can get a refund since I booked there for a month."

"Ask them tomorrow and let me know as soon as possible."

"I will. . .  Is there any reason why were you asking me to move in with you?" he asked, but the smile on his face was already present. 

"If I wanted to work out this with you, I need you close to me," pag-amin ni Morriah. "I know what we had before can't be replaced and everything changed since then, but we can start over and do something better. If my parents would be here, they would be so excited to see you."

"If they were here, you're now a Sommerdijk."

She pressed her lips together. "I know you understand why I did it."

"Yeah, and I don't blame you for prioritizing yourself and your family. I tried my best to support you. I wish I could've done more for you. We were about to have the best time of our life back then."

She giggled, nodding her head.

"Can you imagine we would live in Manila? The fact that you're already looking for a condo there. We planned it all out together and maybe we could continue all the plans we had before, right?"

"Of course. . . There's no one in this world I would love to do those plans. I'm twenty-six and I told myself I would never fall in love with anyone again and put all of my life in building Casa Casillas back to what it used to be. Do you think I'm making my parents proud for what the hotel looks like right now?"

He chuckled. "I'm sure they're more than proud of you, Mo. You've done so much."

"Yeah, their death anniversary will happen three days from now," anito. "Would you come with me and visit them? Let's bring them some flowers, prayers, and some foods they like."

"Yema Cake!" Rik said. "I remember that one. Your father liked that sugary cake even though he shouldn't be eating it at all. I would look for one in the town. I'll come with you. I'm excited to meet them again."

"They would be happy to see you again. . ."

Saglit lang din ay dumating ang order nila Rik at Morriah. Nagsimulang kumain ang dalawa. Hindi naiwasan ng mga magkakaibigan na panoorin ang dalawa lalo na't sinusubuan pa ni Rik si Morriah ng pagkain nito.

"Ang landi rin nila, 'no?" komento pa ni Daia. "Sana all ganyan kalandi."

"Parang sinabi mo naman na kinulang sa landi si Kenny," halakhak pa ni Cara. "Oh, 'yan, Kenny, ha? Narinig mo si Daia. Kailangan mo pang landian para naman hindi na niya panoorin si Morriah at Kenny."

"Ano bang klaseng landi ang gusto mo, babe?" Ngisi pa ni Kenny.

"Get a room, guys!" angal pa ni Dominique. "Kadiri kayong dalawa."

"Sus! Para namang hindi ko kayo nakita ni Cara no'n na lumabas ng CR sa club," natatawang usal ni Kenny.

Yumuko naman si Cara aty tinakpan ang sarili ng kamay ko. "Oh, don't look at me. Iba ang iniisip niyo, okay? How about 'yong nagpunta kayong dalawa ni Kenny sa beach tapos topless si Kenny pagbalik at bukas pa ang zipper?"

"Okay, okay, stop na," pag-awat pa ni Dominique. "I think we're all just horny now. Gusto niyo na ba pumunta na sa club?"

"Tara na," sabi pa ni Cara.

"Sasama ba sina Morriah?" tanong ni Alleah.

"Kumakain pa sila, oh," sagot ni Daia. "Susunod na lang naman 'yan sila or else, baka iba rin ang gawin nila, 'no? 'Wag na natin hanapin kung hindi sila sumunod sa atin sa club later because they could be doing something more interesting!"

"Shut up, Daia," sabi pa ni Dom. "Isa pang marinig ko na ganyan ang sinasabi mo, papabalikin na kita sa Manila."

"Sus!" Tawa pa ni Daia. "Makaawat sa akin?"

Hindi na lang pinansin ang kapatid niya. Nagpaalam naman ang anim kina Morriah at Rik na papunta na sa sila sa club at kung susunod man sila, they know where to go. The clubs in Baler were pretty much alive at night, and people would hop on to nearby clubs and where everyone is.

"Are we going to join them?" tanong pa ni Rik. "I think we can do something more than partying at the club. What do you think?"

Morriah giggled. "Lower than your voice. They might hear you."

Rik chuckled. "Well, I guess, we're not coming with them. . ."