Sabado. Ken and Iya decided to skip class for the day. Wala kasing ibang time dahil may pasok din sila kinabukasan. NSTP and CAT are not to be taken lightly. Nakakapagod kasi ang mga ito. Baka wala na silang energy para sa mga plano nilang gawin.

Since hapon pa nagbubukas ang SC, she spent the morning with her dad, on his restaurant habang sina Ken naman ay maagang umalis para mag-hiking. Sa restaurant siya sinundo ni Hanson at sandamakmak na namang paalala ang ibinigay ng daddy niya rito.

Hans was more than happy to come with her to Star City nang dumating ang hapon. Ang kaso ay nang nasa Star City na sila, napangiwi ito sa mga rides. He bought tickets beforehand. Hindi rin niya alam kung paano ito nakalusot sa pila. Ang dami-dami kasing tao pero may ticket na ito kaagad. Ride all you want pa ang binili nito.

"Where to?" he asked.

Itinuro niya agad ang Star Flyer, which is the inverted roller coaster ride na malapit sa Ferris Wheel.

Napangiwi si Hans. "'Yan agad?"

"Kung gusto mo, yung Viking muna," she told him, referring to the huge boat ride inside.

"How about we eat first?" aya nito.

"Katatapos ko lang kumain. Saka it's not advisable to ride with a full stomach."

Hindi na matanggal ang pagkangiwi ng mukha nito.

"Ferris wheel kaya muna?"

She shook her head. "Mainit pa. Mamaya na lang gabi yan."

"Bumper car?" He was starting to look helpless.

She rolled her eyes. "Alam mo para kang hindi lalaki. 'Yan lang, takot ka na?" He looked offended but he didn't say anything. "Kung ayaw mo, maghintay ka na lang sa may Ferris Wheel. Mabilis lang naman 'to. Yung pila lang ang matagal."

Without waiting for his answer, she marched towards the line. Medyo konti pa lang ang pila at mabilis naman iyong umusad. She looked back at Hans. He was still standing where she left him.

Paakyat na siya sa platform kung saan nakalagay yung sasakyan nang biglang sumulpot si Hans. May narinig siyang nagreklamo sa likod, akala yata ay naniningit ito.

"O, akala ko ba ayaw mo?" tanong nya.

"Ayoko nga."

"E bakit ka nandito?"

"Kasi gusto mo, di ba?" inis nitong sabi. Hindi na siya nakaimik nang maupo ito.

--

Saturday morning, some place else...

Kanina pa palingon-lingon si Ken kay Ahn, making sure that she's still okay. Mataas ang hagdan na inaakyat nila, to think na burol pa lang iyon, hindi bundok.

They went to a recreational park just outside the city. Malamig doon dahil mukhang kauulan lang sa lugar. May mga hagdanan para sa mga gustong maglakad-lakad. The stairs go around, not just up and down. Maraming sideways, maraming detours. Kaya kung saan-saan sila nakarating.

He lend her a hand when she got to a steep step.

"Thanks," nakangiti nitong sabi.

"Sorry ha. Napapagod ka tuloy. Mas mabuti yatang nag-Star City na lang din tayo."

Umiling ito. "Okay lang. Mas gusto ko nga rito e. Tahimik."

Of course, he knew that. Ahn would like the forest. Tahimik kasi. Ayaw nito sa matao. She doesn't like going to amusement parks dahil sobrang ingay at sobrang dami ng tao. Ayaw nito sa lugar na kahit sarili nitong thoughts, hindi nito marinig. And they're kind of the same in that sense. Plus, he just likes to hike.

It's like hiding from the rest of the world.

"Magpahinga muna kaya tayo."

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at naupo sa upuang yari sa semento na nasa flat surface sa puno ng hagdan. Ahn sat next to him. Kumuha siya ng bote ng tubig mula sa backpack niyang dala at saka iyon iniabot sa kinakapatid.

"Here."

"Meron din ako," tanggi nito.

"Tanggapin mo na. May tubig pa naman ako."

Dalawang bote ng mineral water at isang maliit na tumbler na juice ang dala niya.

Ahn accepted the bottle, knowing all too well na mabilis siyang magtampo. He uses that a lot para hindi ito makatanggi sa kanya. Effective naman so far.

"Nineteen ka na," sabi nito pagkainom ng tubig. "Kuya," she added with a grin.

He groaned, which made her laugh.

"Huwag mo nga akong kinu-kuya."

He already fought his way out of every zone imaginable to get to this moment. Nalampasan na niya ang "kuyazone", "friendzone", "familyfriendzone" at "kinakapatidzone". He's never going back to those zones again. His aim now is to get to the "boyfriendzone", kahit gaano pa katagal. He's willing to wait. He won't go anywhere.

"Ay, oo nga pala." Ahn searched for something inside her bag. After a while of searching, she took out a blue, thin rectangular box. "Regalo ko sa 'yo."

"Nag-abala ka pa." He's trying his best not to look or sound overjoyed. Ahn gave him a gift! Sure, it was a given. Madalas naman silang magpalitan ng regalo. He gave her one on her birthday. She gave him a gift on his graduation day. Coincidentally, they both tell time.

His smile widened when he opened the box. It's a personalized silver necklace. May tatlo itong pendants: a miniature silver Totoro, and letters K and A.

"K and A?"

Bahagyang namula si Ahn.

"U-Uhm. Yeah. Kendrick Aises," paliwanag nito.

He doesn't like his second name kaya hindi niya ito ginagamit kahit saan. "Ey-ses" kasi ang bigkas ng karamihan. Nagmumukha tuloy baraha ang pangalan nya, when it should be pronounced as "Ay-ses" instead.

"Akala ko Ken and Ahn," mahina niyang sabi.

"P-Pwede rin," nahihiya nitong sabi.

--

The ride was quick, as she promised. But Hans was queasy when they went down. Gusto niyang matawa rito. It was weird for a guyu his size to have motionsickness. Ang angas-angas kasi nitong tingnan, rides lang pala ang makakapagpasuko rito.

Pipila na sana siya sa Viking but Hans begged her to save it for later. Naawa naman siya. Kaya nag-bump car na lang sila. Pagkatapos noon, medyo naging maayos na ulit ang pakiramdam ni Hans. Ito naman ang nanghila sa kanya sa horror house.

Ayaw na ayaw nya ng horror. Sya naman ang nagmakaawa rito na huwag silang pumunta roon.

"I'll ride the damn boat if you do this," sabi nito sa kanya.

Kahit nagdadalawang-isip, pumayag na rin siya. Just because she wanted to see Hanson helpless.

But it turned out to be her first worst idea of the day. It wasn't at all scary. Halata namang man-made lang lahat. Ni hindi nakakagulat. Yung tilian, hilahan at takbuhan lang ng mga kasama nila ang nagdala. Kapit na kapit siya kay Hans dahil doon. And the latter seemed to be enjoying it.

So this is why! Mabuti na lang at sasakay sila sa Viking. Gaganti siya rito.

Tatawa-tawa si Hans nang makalabas sila.

"You should have seen your face! Hahaha!"

Hinampas-hampas niya ito sa braso. "Kainis ka!"

He caught her hand. "Geez. Relax, Iya."

"Sa Viking tayo!" She pulled at his hand. Pumila sila sa Viking, na sa pasasalamat niya ay hindi pa ganoon kahaba. Hans turned pale again when he saw how the boat swings. Halos humalik na sa ceiling ang mga dulo ng bangka.

She clapped her hands nang matapos na ang ride prior to them. Agad silang sumakay at naupo sa pinakang dulo, para mas dama yung swing. Si Hans pa ang nasa pinaka-gilid kaya sigurado syang malulula ito.

"I hate swings," she heard him say, when the boat started moving. "And hammocks."

"Relax! You'll be alright!" she assured him. Sana nga lang ay hindi ito masuka. Kahiya-hiya kung sakali.

Nagsimula itong magmura nang lumakas nang lumakas ang lundoy ng bangka. Lucky for her ears, natabunan ng malakas na sigawan ang pagmumura nito. Hans was gripping the side of the boat tightly. Yumuko pa ito at pumikit.

For a moment there, akala niya ay hindi na ito makakatagal without vomiting. But he survived, hanggang sa tumigil ang bangka.

Sumalampak si Hans sa area katabi ng food stalls. Nakayuko lang ito. Hindi umiimik. Naawa naman siya. Tinabihan niya ito.

"Sorry."

He didn't move.

"Okay ka lang?"

Hinawi niya ang buhok nito. Hans finally moved. He leaned on her.

"Hans."

"Just give me a minute."

--

"Picture!"

Umakbay si Ken kay Ahn for the picture. Nakababa na sila sa may sapa. Hindi naman ito kalakihan. Maraming bato at mababaw ang tubig kaya hindi na sila lumusong. Baka kasi madisgrasya pa ang isa sa kanila. Okay sana kung sya. Kapag si Ahn, sagutin pa niya sa ninong nya.

"Dito na ba tayo kakain?" tanong nito sa kanya pagkakuha nila ng maraming pictures.

"Kung okay lang sa 'yo."

Pinabaunan sila ng pagkain kahit may mabibili naman sa labas ng park.

They laid the food on the table. Puro tuyong dahon lang ang kalat. Maraming basurahan sa buong park. At may nakikita rin sila kaninang naglilinis sa lugar. Kaya siguro kung marumi man, biodegradable lang ang basura.

"Ano'ng baon mo?" tanong niya, laughing inside at how child-like that came out.

"Fried chicken," sagot ni Ahn pagkabukas ng tupperware. "Sa 'yo?"

"Adobo." Ang walang kamatayang-adobo.

"Wow! Luto ni ninong? For sure masarap yan!"

"Gusto mo share tayo?" he offered.

Ahn smiled. "Sige!"

They ate sloppily. Nagkamay sila pareho since may tubig naman kung saan pwedeng maghugas. Good thing the place was well-maintained. Hindi makalat. Hindi rin marumi ang tubig. He was kind of glad na kakaunti pa lang ang nakakaalam sa lugar.

Pero sabagay nga naman, who would go to this park kung naglipana ang mga mall sa Maynila?

Pagkatapos nilang kumain, nagkwentuhan muna sila sandali bago sila mag-hike pabalik sa entrance. Bandang alas tres ng hapon nang mapagpasyahan nilang umuwi. Maikling oras lang yun kung tutuusin, but he was still thankful. Better this than have Iya or Paris or even his ninong around.

Ang hirap kasing ma-develop ang feeling ng isang tao kung hindi man lang niya ito nakaka-interact. So he was thankful for the chance, no matter how fleeting.

--

They rode almost every ride and went inside every tunnel on SC. Hindi na naka-get over si Hans sa pagkahilo. So after the Tornado ride, he looked so worn out. Bumili sila ng pagkain malapit sa Pirate Adventure. She promised him that they will ride no more, except for the Ferris Wheel of course.

Iyon na yata ang may pinakamahabang pila sa lahat ng napuntahan nila. Parang bituka ng manok na hindi maintindihan ang pila. Noong akala nyang malapit na sila sa hagdan, bigla itong lumiko palayo. Tapos pabalik ulit.

When they finally reached the top of the stairs, she saw Hans exchange knowing looks with the handyman.

"What was that all about?" she asked him nang makasakay sila.

"What was what?"

"That look you gave the man."

"Ah." He shrugged. "You'll see."

Hindi na siya nagtanong pa. She got busy taking pictures.

"Baka gusto mo 'kong isama?" tanong ni Hans sa kanya.

She grunted. "Fine."

Tinabihan niya ito. Umakbay naman ito sa kanya, which made her shiver. Good thing her poker face didn't give away any hints.

She smiled at the camera and clicked, same time that she felt Hans' lips on her cheek. He smiled sheepishly when she gave him an accusing glare. And then the Wheel stopped completely.

"Hala! May sira ba?"

She tried to look down but Hans pulled her away.

"Wala. Halika rito."

"Bakit?" halos pasigaw niyang tanong.

"Basta."

Napakapit sya rito nang mamatay ang ilaw sa loob.

"Hans, what's happening?!"

And then it happened. Fireworks. Halos katabi lang nila. Mali, parang nakaikot pala. The Ferris Wheel was in itself, magical enough. Pero yung may fireworks pa na pumagitna sa kanila? She could here the collective gasp of the people below.

Para syang nasa loob ng isang fairy tale.

"Did you like it?"

She saw Hans smiling.

"Gawa mo 'to?"

"Yeah. Happy birthday ulit."

Lalo na syang na-guilty. To think na hinayaan niyang malula si Hans sa halos lahat ng rides kanina!

"H-Hans I—" Am overwhelmed.

"Just a simple thank you will do."

He held her chin with his fingers and looked at her intently. While the fireworks were busy shooting up in the sky, spreading colors and smoke, her insides were exploding with feels as well.

She had never felt this way. Ever. And it was overwhelming to think that she's lucky enough to experience something like this. Some people don't. Some people live their lives not being this happy.

And when he asked that question, there was no doubt in her mind that she will only answer yes.

"Can I kiss you, Iya?"