Magandang-maganda ang mood niya dahil sa messages ni Hans a few days ago. He also added her on Facebook—finally! But she didn't want to appear too excited kaya kanina lang niya tinanggap ang request nito.

But they didn't interact on the site. Ni hindi ito nagpasalamat sa pag-accept niya sa request nito. Ngali-ngali nga niyang i-unfriend ito agad, but it would be immature of her. Hindi kasi niya mapigilang mag-assume na maglululundag ito sa tuwa o kung ano man. Maybe she over-expected.

When night came, nag-prepare siya for the odd ball. The skirt of her costume is a bit too short, with jagged hem. She felt so exposed so she put a pair of stockings, para man lang covered yung pakiramdam. It was also a bit chilly so she brought with her a jacket. Medyo off nga lang sa costume dahil pink ito, so she decided to just wear it kapag uwian na.

Compared to some people at the ball, she looked pretty normal. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na hindi rin napapatingin ang mga ito sa kanya. Partly because of her bell shoes. Hindi niya alam kung saan nakahanap ang mommy niya ng round bells na inilagay nito sa kulay green niyang flat shoes.

Her hair was tied up in a neat bun and was adorned with a few stems of baby's breath.

There are food stalls inside the venue, but they sell weird stuff in accordance to the night's theme. Mabuti na lamang at kumain siya sa bahay.

"Iya!"

"Hi, Aubrey," pasimple niyang bati kay Aubrey. She instantly recognized her in spite of the blond wig. Aubrey's portraying Sailor Moon tonight. Nagulat siya nang bigla na lang itong lumapit sa kanya. Ilang araw din kasi silang hindi nag-usap. 

Hinila siya nito sa braso. "I wish I could be you even just for tonight. You're so lucky!" she told her, giggling.

Napakunot siya ng noo. "Bakit?"

Aubrey grinned. "Have you seen Hans?"

Her heartbeat accelerated when she heard his name. Umiling siya rito. Akala nga niya ay hindi ito pupunta ng odd ball. Why would Hans want to attend an event like this?

"Pumunta pala sya," she replied, secretly glad that he did.

"Yeah, he's outside." Pagkasabi noon ay hinila siya nito palabas ng venue. "Sabi nya uuwi rin daw sya. He just wants to show you something."

Nakita niya ito sa hindi kalayuan. Medyo madilim sa pwesto ni Hans pero base sa height at tindig, alam niyang ito iyon. He's wearing something on his head. Aubrey gave her a little push bago ito bumalik sa loob.

Wala syang nagawa kundi lapitan si Hans, because it would be more awkward kung basta na lang nya itong tatalikuran.

"Hans?"

He emerged from the dark. And she mustered all her self-control to swallow back the laughter. He's wearing pink rat ears. May drawing na tig-tatlong whiskers sa mga pisngi nito. He's also wearing pink overalls with a white tee inside.

"Hi." Nahihiya itong nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Who are you supposed to be? Minnie Mouse?" natatawa nyang tanong.

He grimaced. "I was aiming for Hello Kitty."

Hindi na niya napigilan ang sarili sa pagtawa.

"Hindi kaya daga si Hello Kitty!" sabi niya.

Hans blushed. "In my defense, hindi rin naman pusa si Hello Kitty." She grunted. Naiinis siya sa nagbalitang hindi pusa si Hello Kitty. Her childhood was ruined because of that. She saw his gaze linger on her outfit. "I see you went as Tinkerbell."

There's a hint of smile playing on his lips. Of course, hindi naman clueless si Hans. He must have known why she wore that outfit. So she did not bother denying his silent allegations.

"Yeah. Since you wore that, I guess we're even," she said, trying to sound casual.

"I guess so." He shrugged. "Anyway, uuwi na 'ko."

"Huh? Sayang ang outfit mo!"

Umiling ito. "You already saw me."

"Kaya nga. Why not let the whole school see it too?"

Hans frowned. Akala niya ay magrereklamo ito. She was actually waiting for him to utter a curse, because that will somehow break the spell. It's just too good to be true. Hans is never too good to be true. He's too bad to be a dream. That's what he is and he's supposed to stay that way.

Because in reality, guys don't just change because of some girl. Or do they? kontra niya sa sarili.

"Pero okay lang kung ayaw mo," bawi nito. "Sige, babalik na 'ko sa loob. Ingat sa pag-uwi."

Agad niya itong tinalikuran saka siya pumasok muli sa loob. But to her surprise, he followed suit.

Cause this is the real thing

Love changes everything

This is the night when every hearts exploded

The real thing

Slow down; it's happening

'Cause you got time to burn

In the heat of the moment

May ilan na napatingin sa entrance pagpasok nila. Most of the students were dancing. They all have these punch-filled cups in the air, bobbing their heads to Boys Like Girls' Real Thing.

That summer radio

Fireworks off the patio

A 3 AM, string of green lights in a row

And the real thing

Love can change anything

If you can just let go (let's go)

(The real thing, the real thing)

She tried to blend in, but it's hard when a cute guy in pink suit is following her. Halos lahat ng madaanan at makabunggo ay lumilingon o tumititig. It was quite uncomfortable and flattering at the same time. Hans had never been this persistent. He used to be just forceful, minus the effort. But tonight was different.

Jamie's alive

She's got him rushin' through her veins tonight

So hit the lights

It feels too good to ever say goodbye

Napagdesisyunan niyang maupo na lang. Hans sat beside her.

"Are you thirsty?" he asked.

Nang umiling sya ay nanahimik na lang ito. Hans didn't get up the whole time. Tumayo lamang ito nang tumayo sya. He asked her to dance a few times pero ilang beses din siyang tumanggi, not because she didn't want to. Gusto lang niyang subukan ang pasensya nito.

Hindi naman niya pwedeng sisihin ang sarili for being suspicious about his intentions. Ilang beses na rin kasi siyang naloko nito.

But Hans was patient. Hanggang sa mag-uwian ay hindi siya nito binigyan ng sakit ng ulo. It was almost midnight when she went outside again. Gusto niyang magpahangin muna sandali bago siya sunduin ng papa niya. Hindi niya kayang magpuyat. Ken will be staying until morning.

Hindi siya natatakot kahit madilim. Alam kasi niyang kasunod niya si Hans. Maybe she should be afraid of him. She tightened her jacket around her. Or maybe I should be afraid of myself. Because she knew she will be carried away again.

"Iya."

Huminga muna siya ng malalim bago niya nilingon si Hans.

"Why did you get a haircut, Hans?"

He frowned. "Bakit? Hindi mo ba gusto?"

"Paano kung sinabi kong mas gusto kong long-haired ka?" she challenged.

"Then I'd get hair extensions."

She sighed. "Why are you doing this?"

"Why not?"

"Because it's not you," sagot niya. "Are you trying to fool me again? I'm telling you now, it won't work this time."

"I'm not fooling around, Iya. I'm not trying to trick you. I just want to be better for you."

"Why?"

"Gustong-gusto mo talagang sinasabi ko sa 'yong gusto kita, 'no?"

She felt her cheeks heat up. "T-That's not it."

He was about to counter it, when her phone rang. It was her dad, telling her na nasa labas na ito ng school.

"I got to go," paalam niya kay Hans.

He walked her to the gate. Ilang metro na lang sila from the lit pathway when he stopped.

"Iya."

"Bakit?"

He bit the inside of his cheek and gave her a sheepish smile.

"Can I have a good night kiss?" nag-aalangan nitong tanong. "Kahit sa cheeks lang."

"H-Hans."

"How about a good night hug?" His eyes are practically begging for her to say yes.

Marahan siyang umiling.

"Good night handshake?" Inilahad nito ang kamay nito sa kanya.

"O-Okay."

She shook his hand and the next thing she knew, nahila na siya nito at nahalikan sa pisngi.

"Sorry. Couldn't help it," he said. He gave her a coy smile and backed away. "Good night, Iya."

She walked towards her father's car in daze. Saka lang niya nabasa ang text ni Ken asking where she was nang nasa loob na siya ng sasakyan.

"Iya, are you okay? You look flushed," puna ng daddy niya.

"I'm okay, pa. Mainit lang po," sagot niya.

"Seryoso ka?" natatawa nitong tanong. Mukhang hindi ito naniwala sa dahilan niya. It's clearly cold outside. Pero nang mapansin nitong pinapawis siya ay hindi na ito kumontra sa sinabi niya.

She was so sleepy when they got home. Lahat ng antok na naramdaman niya kanina ay bumalik nang makapasok siya ng kwarto. Halos nakapikit na siya habang nagbibihis. Nang sa wakas ay nakapaglinis na siya ng katawan, pabagsak siyang humiga sa kama.

But before she could fall asleep, she received a message from Hans, which took her drowse away completely. It made her stay awake up until 4am.

From: Hans

Iya, you make my heart ache.