When the day of the auction came, everyone was excited except for Hans, who was quietly sulking at one corner. Well, hindi lang pala ito. Aubrey's also sulking. When she didn't agree to be auctioned, si Aubrey ang napagdiskitahan na ipalit sa kanya.

She had to agree because she and Hans begged her to.

Gabi na nang isagawa ang auction so hindi lahat ng estudyante ay pumunta. Pero halos puno pa rin ang auditorium, kung saan ito isinagawa. Nasa bandang unahan siya.

She waited for a while before Aubrey and Hans were auctioned dahil nasa bandang gitna ng listahan ang college nila. When it was finally their turn, Aubrey was the first one to be revealed.

She was wearing a blue dress na may crisscross design sa likod. It was fitting on the upper body, but the skirt was kind of billowy. Aubrey looked so pretty and she could see the appreciative stares from the guys in the crowd.

The bidding started at 500. Kanina pa niya na-realize na mas kuripot ang mga lalaki kesa sa mga babae. Ilang beses kasing nag-alangan ang mga ito bago tumaas ang bid. She thought it would stop at 2000, which was the highest bid by far, but surprisingly, it kept on escalating.

Tumigil lang ang bidding nang makarating ito sa 6300. She cheered with her classmates as the host call on the winner. The guy looked so geeky. Alam niyang pilit ang ngiti ni Aubrey sa nakapanalo rito. But she had no choice.

They were escorted to the backstage, kung saan naroroon yung mga tapos na at yung mga io-auction pa lang. Huminga siya ng malalim habang hinihintay ang pag-a-announce sa pangalan ni Hans.

"Our next 'item' for the bidding is a 21-year old Tourism student..."

Nagsimula nang magsitilian ang mga babae sa audience. Yung mga katabi niya, naglalabasan na ng pera. Tumawa yung host.

"Mukhang sikat siya a!"

"Kaloka ang mga fans!" kumento ng co-host nitong babae. "Kailangan pa ba nating i-introduce? Mukha namang kilala na nila e."

"Huwag na nga!" kunwari'y naiinis nitong sabi. "Labas ka na lang dyan kuya!"

The crowd booed collectively.

"O, ipakilala mo raw ng maayos."

"Oh-kay!" mataray na sabi ng host. "As I was saying, our next item for the bidding is a 21-year old Tourism student. Tall and very good-looking, sa tingin pa lang, busog ka na. Are you ready to empty your pockets for... Charles Hanson Madrigal?!"

Napangiwi siya sa description. She was sure that Hans didn't like that either. Mukhang sikat nga ito kahit sa ibang colleges. Ang lakas ng tilian, lalo na nang lumabas ito mula sa backstage.

Pakiramdam niya ay nalaglag ang panga niya sa sahig. Hans, in his usual getup is hot enough. But in a suit? Susme! Sa pagtingin pa lang niya rito, para na syang nauubusan ng hangin. He looked impeccable! The suit was hugging his body like a second skin. At dahil matangkad ito, nagmukha itong modelo.

Nagkatinginan ang dalawang hosts.

"Kaya naman pala ang lakas ng tilian!"

Pinalapit nila si Hans sa unahan. Lalong lumakas ang hiyawan.

"Hi Charles!" greeted the girl.

"Hello," tipid na sagot ni Hans. He didn't even bother telling her na Hans ang palayaw nito.

The host giggled. "Kasali ba ako sa bidding?" she asked the people near the stage.

"Huwag na! Swerte mo na nga kasi nakalapit ka e!" saway ng co-host nito.

Hans was looking uncomfortable. Nakatingin lang ito sa sahig. She suddenly felt sorry for him.

"Anyway, Charles, kumusta naman? Are you feeling nervous?"

Umiling ito. "No, just a bit uncomfortable."

"Ay, bakit naman?"

"I'm not used to this."

"Okay lang yan. You'll get used to it."

"Ang tangkad mo 'no? Saka iba yung puti mo. Mamula-mula." Sinipat ng babae ang mata nya. "At yung mata mo, medyo iba ang kulay. May lahi ka ba?"

"Yes, meron. My dad's half-Swiss, half-Filipino. Tapos ang mommy ko naman, ¾ Spanish saka ¼ Filipino."

"Ay taray! O, alam nyo na ang magandang gene combination ha!"

Kumapit dito ang female host saka ngumiti. "Charles, I'm sure most of the girls here are dying to know... are you single?"

Some were able to refrain themselves from squealing while waiting for his answer. Kahit sya ay hinihintay din ang isasagot nito.

"Yes."

Naramdaman niyang parang may kumirot. Nakaramdam siya ng tampo. Yes, technically, he's single. And she has no right to feel sad about it since kagagawan naman niya iyon. But she can't help but be sad because of it.

She saw Hans hold the mic. "Single. But not available. I'm already courting someone. Just waiting for her to say yes."

Habang unti-unting nadismaya ang iba, sya naman ay unti-unting napangiti. That was very sweet of him. Siniko siya ng katabi niyang kaklase.

"Aww... ang sweet naman. Sorry girls, hindi na raw sya pwede."

"Naku, baka bumaba ang bid mo nyan. Sana hindi mo muna inamin," sabi sa kanya nung baklang host.

Tipid na ngumiti si Hanson. "Okay lang."

Nakatawag sila ng pansin nang biglang sumigaw ng malakas yung katabi niya at itinuro siya. She was chanting 'Nandito ang future girlfriend!'. Gusto niyang lamunin ng lupa ng oras na yun, lalo na nang tumingin halos lahat ng tao sa gawi niya.

"Ay! Keber. Pretty naman pala," the gay host commented.

The host cleverly wrapped up the conversation and jumped to the bidding. Ia-announce pa lang sana nito ang starting bid nang may sumigaw bigla ng '1000!'. So they decided to go with it. And it kept on piling up, dahil kahit mga beki, nakikisali.

It was not until nasa 9K na ang bid nang dalawa na lang ang natira, isang babaeng naka-salamin at isang beki.

"Nine thousand five hundred!" anunsyo ng bakla.

"Nine-seven!" sigaw nung babae.

"Saradong 10K!"

Umingay lalo sa auditorium. Binigyan na nila si Hans ng upuan kasi sa tagal ng bidding, mukhang ngalay na ito. But he didn't take the seat. Aligaga na rin ito. He'd probably prefer the girl over the other one.

"Eleven thousand!"

"Shit!" narinig niyang usal ng katabi.

"Twelve thousand!" counter ng isa.

"Twelve-five!"

"Twelve-seven!"

"Twelve-eight!"

"Twelve-nine!"

"Thirteen K!"

If she knew how to whistle, she would. May ilang napapapalakpak. May ilan namang nailing na lang. 'Lalaki lang naman yan!' narinig niyang sabi ng nasa likuran niya.

"Sino yung babae?" tanong niya sa katabi. The girl doesn't strike her as the type to be so into Hans.

"A, yun? Si Rayne yun. Simula yata pasukan, crush na nun si Hans e. Yung may alam ng ganitong event, start pa lang ng school year, nag-iipon na."

"Grabe naman. Sayang din yung pera nila. For just one date?" naiiling niyang sabi.

"May mga tao kasing mababaw ang kaligayahan."

"Sayang kasi. Pang-tuition na rin yun e."

"May pera naman yang si Rayne. Balita ko, kakapag-publish lang nya ng libro e."

"Fifteen thousand!" Bumalik ang atensyon nila sa auction nang sumigaw ng ganoon si Rayne.

Marami ang tumingin sa karibal nito, naghihintay yata ng counter-bid. But the latter just slumped back to his chair.

"Fifteen thousand going once... Going twice..."

Everyone cheered for Rayne when the host announced that she won a date with Hans.

--

She texted Hans na uuwi na siya nang matapos ang fundraising event. Humigit-kumulang 40K ang nalikom nila. The highest was Hans'.

To: Hans

Congrats. Uwi na 'ko. :)

Halos kakasend pa lang niya nang mag-reply ito.

From: Hans

Wait for me

Naupo siyang muli sa may entrance ng auditorium dahil sa text nito. She had to wait for almost twenty minutes. When he came to her, naka-lilis na ang manggas ng damit nito. He was holding his coat and tie. She saw relief in his face when he saw her.

"Ang tagal mo."

"Sorry. Ang dami kasing kumakausap sa 'kin dun e," naiinis nitong sabi.

"Congrats ulit."

Hans scowled. Tumawa naman sya.

"O, bakit? Hindi ka ba masayang nanalo ka?"

He pointed at his face. "Mukha ba akong masaya?"

"Chill."

Hindi na sya nagreklamo nang umakbay ito sa kanya. Mukhang pagod na pagod ito. They walked to the parking lot with a lot of eyes tailing them. She was very thankful nang makasakay na sila ng kotse nito. But Hans didn't drive off immediately.

Sumandal lang ito at pumikit, habang hinahayaang lumakas ang aircon.

"Okay ka lang?"

Hans sighed. "Don't put me through that hell again."

"Hindi ka man lang ba nag-enjoy? Sa 'yo yung highest bid. Sikat na sikat ka e." And she can't contain her jealousy because of that.

"Wala naman silang halaga sa 'kin kaya bakit ako matutuwa sa atensyon nila?" tanong nito, nakapikit pa rin. He reached out for her hand and held it tightly. "Atensyon mo lang naman ang habol ko."

She was glad that his eyes were closed. At least he couldn't see her cheeks turn red.

"Hans."

He didn't answer.

"Hoy, huwag mo 'kong tulugan."

"Five minutes lang please. Ang sakit ng mata ko."

It was probably because of the lighting earlier. They kept on hitting his face with the spotlight.

"I have to tell you something," she told him, after 5 minutes.

"I'm listening."

Huminga siya ng malalim.

"Gusto ko nakamulat ka."

He opened his eyes and looked at her.

"O?"

Dahil naka-seatbelt na ito, she just got off from her seat and leaned close to him.

"I love you too," she said, before kissing him on the lips.