Sigurado ako...siya nga ang babaeng 'yun. Beautiful is even an understatement to describe her. Gandang-ganda na agad ako sa kanya no'ng makita ko siya sa picture, but now that I already saw her in person...ay mas lalo lang nadagdagan ang paghanga ko.

Pero...sino ba siya? Kaano-ano ba talaga siya ni Kal? At bakit...hindi na nagpaparamdam sa akin si Kal?

Is there something going on? But no...I shouldn't think that.

Surprised was registered on Kal's face when our eyes met. It was like he wasn't expecting to see me...at all.

Bakit gano'n? Hindi ba't may usapan kami? Bakit parang...bigla nalang niyang kinalimutan?

Suddenly, I felt like coming to their house was a mistake...because I felt like I interrupted something...or maybe I was just overthinking again. I don't know...really.

"Lia, w-what are you doing here?" He asked, malamig na ang mga mata niyang nakatingin sa akin ngayon.

"S-Sorry...I-I just want to make sure you're okay. H-Hindi ka kasi nagrereply sa akin." I looked away because the girl suddenly looked my way. Kal suddenly looked alarmed because of that.

"Ihahatid na kita." He coldly said before holding my arm, gently pulling me away.

"Who is she?" I muttered the question that has been stuck in my mind for weeks already.

He stopped walking and faced me. I thought he's going to answer me...but he didn't. Instead, he heaved a deep sigh and continued pulling me out of their gate.

Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari but I know...hindi naman ako gano'n ka-manhid para 'di mapansin na may mali sa treatment niya sa akin. Suddenly, all the thoughts I've been wanting to push away, came back.

"Is she special to you?" I asked him again no'ng makarating na kami sa sasakyan niya. Muli siyang napatigil at nilingon ako nang bahagya. I tried to give him a smile to make him see I'm ready to hear anything.

He sighed and looked away before opening his car. "Levi...h-her name is Levi."

That's all he said before we drove away. He gave me her name...but he didn't answer that question. Mas pinili niyang sagutin ang una kong tanong kaysa sa huli.

I felt my tears welling at mabuti na lamang ay hindi sila agad na bumagsak. When we reached the apartment ay marami na ang tumatakbo sa isip ko. I know I shouldn't...pero hindi ko maiwasan kahit anong pilit ko sa sarili ko. I know I said I trust Kal...but I don't know anymore.

Parang no'ng nakaraan ang saya-saya pa naming nag-uusap, excited pa siyang makita ako, at ang sweet sweet niya pa kahit na sa tawag at text lang...pero ngayon...bakit pakiramdam ko ay ibang Kal na ang nasa harapan ko.

I felt scared because of the possibilities in my mind, and suddenly...my insecurities came resurfacing like a wildfire.

I went out of his car and hoped that he would also do the same, but he didn't. Ibinaba niya ang salamin ngunit tahimik pa rin siyang nakatingin sa unahan na tila ba napakalalim ng iniisip.

Baka may problema siya, I suddenly thought of that. So I decided to ask him...but before I could even do that ay naunahan na niya akong magsalita.

"I'm sorry." Those were the words he said before driving away.

Wala akong ibang nagawa kundi ang pagmasdan ang pag-alis niya and when I closed our gate...hindi ko na napigilan pa ang mga luha ko.

I had no idea what's happening. He still didn't contact me days after that, at kahit na no'ng nag-resume na ang klase ay gano'n pa rin. In fact, I learned that he's absent in class.

"Huh? Akala ko magkasama na kayo last week? Kaya nga 'di ako nang-iisturbo eh." Jae answered when I asked him about Kal no'ng magkita kami sa school.

"H-Hindi...at hindi rin siya nagpaparamdam sa akin." Nakaiwas tingin kong sagot dahil pakiramdam ko ay iiyak na naman ako. "Kaya ako...nagtatanong sayo...k-kasi baka may nabanggit s-siya sayo."

"Seryoso ba, Lia? Ano bang nangyayari sa ugok na 'yun? Ni hindi man lang nga nagsabi kay coach kung buhay pa siya! I thought he's just busy with you at nagpapakajowa!" I was startled when Jae suddenly looked so pissed. "Pero tangina, ito pala? Sana man lang sinabi niya sayo kung may problema siya, hindi 'yung ganito na parang iniiwan ka niya sa ere!"

"J-Jae...hindi pa rin naman natin alam." I tried to make him calm down, pero mas lalo lang akong magulat no'ng hinigit niya ako palapit sa kanya.

"Then... let's go to him and see what's happening." He said and pulled me with him.

I was scared and somehow didn't want to go, pero para malaman ko na rin at mabawasan na ang pag-aaalala at mga tanong sa isip ko ay nagdesisyon akong sumama nalang.

Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang paulit-ulit na pinipindot ni Jae ang doorbell. Nakailang ulit pa siya bago may lumabas na tao. Tila pareho naman kaming nagulat no'ng makita kung sino ang lumabas.

It was the girl from yesterday. She was wearing a white high waisted shorts and black tube top, nakababa lang ang kanyang mahabang brown na buhok, and she looked so fresh even with just a bare face. Diretso niya lang kaming tiningnan habang binubuksan ang gate.

"Yes?" She asked with a straight face.

"Who are you? Where's Kal?" Jae asked back at doon lang ako muling natauhan. Suddenly, I felt my hands trembling and sweating.

"Uh, he's inside...taking a shower." She answered and I caught her rolling her eyes at Jae. "Why? Who are you ba? Are you his friend or what?" She added.

"Levi...sinong nariyan?"

My heartbeat went so fast when I heard that voice at agad siyang hinanap ng mga mata ko. I saw her behind Levi with his hair still dripping...mukhang kagagaling lang nga sa shower. But that wasn't the only thing that caught my attention...

I looked at the two of them exchanging glances. Magkasama sila?

Simula ba no'ng hindi na siya nagparamdam sa akin...ay magkasama sila? Bakit?

"Kal, anong kagaguhan 'to? Sino 'tong babaeng 'to at bakit mo siya kasama?" I was surprised when Jae went to him and grabbed his collar. "I'm sure she's not a family, pero bakit nandito siya? Bakit mo siya kasama? Samantalang ang girlfriend mo ay pinapabayaan mo!"

The girl seemed so surprised when she heard what Jae said. "Girlfriend mo siya?"

Kal looked stunned to see us but seconds later, his expression turned cold as he looked at us.

"Levi..." he called her with his calm and sweet voice. "Can you go inside for a while? Susunod din agad ako."

The girl still looked stunned but she nodded. "Okay, I'll just wait for you then. Ipagtitimpla na rin kita ng hot chocolate." She smiled at him before walking away.

"Ano 'yun ha?" Jae asked, gritting his teeth. "Huwag mong sabihin sa akin na gago ka nga?"

Kal didn't answer, he just remained looking down, like he's trying to avoid our eyes. Ano ba ang nangyari at nagkaganito kami? May problema ba siya? Bakit siya nagbago bigla? Sana man lang ay sinabi niya sa akin...dahil kahit ganito at wala akong maitutulong...ay handa naman akong makinig at intindihan siya, gaya ng ginagawa niyang pag-intindi sa akin.

Tahimik ko silang pinagmasdang dalawa. Nangingilid na ang luha ko at nanlalabo na ang paningin. At habang tumatagal ay mas lalo akong nanghihina at nawawalan ng pag-asa na maintindihan siya...dahil hindi naman siya nagsasalita.

"So, hindi ka talaga sasagot?" Jae hissed. "Then...she must be special to you. Who is she? Your ex? Your first love?" He let out a sarcastic laugh before turning to me. "Umuwi na tayo, Lia. Wala tayong mapapala sa gagong 'to!"

Jae went to me and held my hand, gently pulling me with him.

Marami akong tanong, marami akong gustong sabihin, but that moment...I got scared...I got scared that his answers might confirm my suspicions. I was scared that it would all end...that's why I decided to go with Jae.

"Ayusin mo ang mga desisyon mo sa buhay!" Jae shouted at him before we walked away.