Michael broke up with me.

We were only a month into college and he already decided to call it quits. He couldn't focus on his studies daw because of me. Distraction daw ako.

And it was time to end it, he had said.

Of course, I cried and bawled my eyes out. He was my first boyfriend, my puppy love. As corny as it might sound, I thought we were going to be forever.

I've been holed up in my room for days. Hindi ako lumalabas at all.

Jesse was getting more worried. He kept looking at me with an expression that he only made when it came to me. He didn't look like his usual easygoing self.

Enrique and Paolo took turns in convincing me to go out.

Paolo told me to get drunk, na parang gusto ko nang gawin. And what shocked me was, Jesse didn't mind. Gusto niya din na lumabas ako ng room ko and let my emotions all out kahit na kailangan ko pa ng alcohol in my system to do so.

Even Frankie and Ingrid, Enrique's cousin and girlfriend who belonged to their group of friends, came by to give me a girl talk. It helped a little. Pero tumutulo pa rin yung tears ko even after they left.

Jesse wanted to hunt down Michael. Seriously. Si Paolo naman, full support sa kanya kahit sabihin kong 'wag nilang gawin. Buti nalang I was able to hold them back.

Then, Oliver came.

After a year of training, lumalabas na yung muscles niya. They were getting defined. He looked good. Pero for some reason, nagiging bad boy yung dating niya. But he was far from it, especially with that gentle face of his.

I could hear Yaya Amor offering to cook food for Jesse outside when Oliver came into my room. I made sure na walang tumutulong sipon sa nose ko before I faced him. My eyes must have looked so red and puffy sa kakaiyak, though.

He sat on the edge of my bed. He wore a gray plaid shirt over a white sando. He had on a simple silver band necklace underneath.

Neither of us spoke. Inaantay ko words of encouragement niya, but also knowing na it wouldn't work on me. At least, not for now.

He sighed. "First love, huh?"

I only nodded in response.

From my angle, kitang kita ko ang features ng mukha niya. Singkit siya, pero he had long eyelashes. Matangos ang nose niya, straight yung slope. His lips were perfectly shaped and soft looking. He had a strong jaw, making him look even hotter.

I could see his adam's apple bob up and down when he swallowed.

"My first love left me to go to the States," he said quietly.

I blinked. Talaga? That happened to him?

"Alam kong hindi magwo-work so I agreed with her that it was over."

There was no sadness in his voice, only acceptance. Gosh.

This was the first time na narinig ko si Oliver not being sad over something that he should be sad about. This was the first time na na-realize kong hindi siya yung type that would do something. He was the type who'd accept things, even if it cost him his happiness.

"Bakit hindi ka nag-try?" I asked him then.

"Because I knew that some things are just better off over."

"So you accepted it nalang?"

"Yeah."

I frowned, still trying to understand.

"Pero wouldn't you be happier if you stayed together kahit na long distance?"

He shook his head. "It would've made things worse if we forced something that was bound to end, anyway. Papahirapan lang namin sarili namin kung ipipilit namin."

That shut me up. Masakit, pero may point siya.

"You wanna meet my current love?"

I tilted my head. I didn't know na may girlfriend siya.

"It's not what you think," he said, reading my thoughts.

So hindi niya girlfriend? What, then?

"Dress up," he added, standing up. "Be ready in ten minutes. Alis tayo."

I glanced at the clock.

"But it's already past midnight. Hindi ako papayagan ni Kuya."

Wala parents namin at home. They worked so late na sa hotel nalang sila tumuloy para closer to their office. They did that often, so sanay na kami.

"We'll see," was his only reply as he walked out of my room.

Turned out, my brother trusted Oliver enough to let me go with him in the dead of the night. I had no idea where we were going. I only knew na it was nice to go out.

Iyon bang, randomly going out at night and having a mini road trip or whatever without Jesse hounding me kung nasan na 'ko. It wasn't much of a road trip, though. Lalo na when I found out where we were.

Oliver brought me to Double O Seven.

In his Dodge Challenger.

And he had a race.

First time ko to go here. I've always heard about it kasi pinaguusapan nila sa house. Or ng mga classmates ko lately in college. Pero hearing about it and seeing it were so different.

I knew Oliver was Blue Blur. So I expected the people here to know him. They cheered him on for the upcoming race, patting his back as if kilalang kilala na nila siya.

This was his world. And he brought me here.

To be honest, proud ako sa kanya. I was happy din na sinama niya ako dito. Kaya naman I didn't realize I was smiling until I saw his eyes land on me.

"You ready to race, Angelica?" he asked, a smile playing on his lips.

Hindi ko gets yung question niya. He asked as if I was included in the race. Didn't make any sense, kaya nag-shrug nalang ako sa kanya.

He nodded to his blue Challenger.

"C'mon."

My eyes widened sa sinabi niya.

Wait... "What?"

"Papatayin ako ni Jesse kapag iniwan kitang magisa," he explained, walking back to his car and opening the passenger's door for me.

Everybody's eyes were on us, whispering. Lalo na yung guy na kalaban niya sa race, looking at him like he lost his mind. Walang nag-expect na gagawin 'to ni Oliver e. Hello? This was a street race. Not a cruise. What was he thinking?

"Papatayin ka ni Kuya if I died on that thing," I countered, crossing my arms and feeling the thrill at the back of my spine. My stomach was in knots from excitement, despite my better judgment.

He smiled – a real smile.

My heartbeat accelerated, kasi ito yung first time kong makita yung smile niya na hindi polite or tipid. I've heard him laugh before, but haven't really seen it for myself. Too bad kasi bago ko pa ma-devour yung smile niya, he already looked away and covered his grin.

Oh, my gosh. Ang cute niya.

I wanted to shake him like a big stuffed toy tapos sabay sabi ng phrase like the one in the movie Despicable Me, 'He's so fluffy, I'm gonna dieeeee.'

"Safe ka," Oliver assured me, as he looked me straight in the eye. "I promise," he added, flashing that super cute smile of his.

I bet my eyes twinkled and I could've sworn his grin turned wider.

So what else pa nga ba magagawa ko? Of course, sumakay na 'ko. I didn't have to be so pakipot pa kasi I wanted to know what it felt like to be in a race. I ignored the looks I got nalang.

Um, perks of being his friend?

As soon as he got inside, he checked my seatbelt. Ang lapit ng face niya. I could smell him. Gosh. Ang bango bango niya talaga.

Sorry if I'm mentally cheating on you, Mic –

I didn't have a boyfriend na nga pala. My chest hurt a little, but then Oliver tapped my knee to get my attention.

Gosh. Goosebumps all over.

"Grip the seat," he ordered.

I quickly nodded and did as I was told. Huminga ako ng malalim, just as a girl with sexy clothing walked to the middle of the street. Very short leather shorts and only a tube.

I wondered if hindi siya nilalamig?

"Wala ka namang hika, 'di ba?" he asked, his tone hinted na parang nagdadalawang isip na siya on dragging me here.

I shook my head.

"Isn't she cold?" I murmured, referring to the girl who raised her arms up.

I heard a chuckle beside me. Tumingin ako agad kay Oliver. Kaso it was dark so hindi ko pa rin siya nakitang tumawa masyado.

"Brace yourself."

With lightning speed, Oliver put the car in gear and we were suddenly lurched forward. After the initial shock, I felt like I was in heaven.

Totoo. I felt like lumilipad ako. Gusto ko yung tingling sa stomach ko. I liked the rush. We were going so fast that my heart felt like it was pounding against my chest. I welcomed every emotion that came through me. Nangingibabaw sa lahat, though, was the need for more.

I finally understood kung bakit 'Blue Blur' si Oliver.

Everything I saw was basically in a blur.

I couldn't even see the guy na supposedly kalaban ni Oliver, kasi it felt like may sarili kaming world. Before I knew it, nakabalik na kami and the car was slowing down tapos the crowd surrounded us. I slowly climbed out after Oliver, my knees wobbly from the rush. Hindi pa rin nagso-slow down yung heartbreat ko.

I knew I wore the biggest smile, knowing that I found something I really liked to do that might turn into love. And I did. I loved the speed.

I felt a warm hand at the small of my back. Lumingon agad ako and saw Oliver. He wore a concerned expression, totally ignoring the people who were patting him na parang sanay na siya and he couldn't care less.

"Okay ka lang?" he asked in a soft voice.

I nodded and beamed at him.

"Thank you, Ollie!"

Sa sobrang tuwa ko, I hugged him. I was just so happy na wala akong care at my sudden outburst. I jumped and put my arms around him to express my feelings of gratitude.

And the best part? He let me.

"Feeling better?" he chuckled.

I giggled. "Oo! I think na in love na 'ko sa street racing."

"Good."

When I pulled away, he flashed me that super cute smile I didn't know I would grow to admire. I was entranced. Mas dazed ako this time kasi he was closer now than he was earlier. Nakaharap pa siya sa'kin so I could clearly see it with my own two eyes.

Lumakas yung heartbeat ko. Napuno yung stomach ko ng butterflies. All I wanted to do was reach up to his face and touch his smile that made my knees turn Jell-O.

From that moment on, I knew I had a crush on Oliver Cojuangco.