"The answer's still on process," I admitted, a little nervous to see their reactions.

It's not typical to see someone wasting their 4 years on something na hindi sila passionate about. Kapag may madugong recit, iniisip ko na lang that Quen will be proud.

"Malalaman mo rin 'yan soon." Maeve assured. I really hope so dahil mahirap lumaban kung hindi mo alam if dedicated ka talaga. Since the battlefield is not in law school but in the practice itself.

"I learned to love law in the hard way but it's worth it." singit ni Primo. It's not life if it's easy, ayon lang ang sure ako.

"If you mind, I'm just curious if anong batch ka." I asked, acting as if wala akong clue sa background niya. Mga kaedad niya siguro si Quen since nagkasabay sila humabol sa SSC, probably a year ahead of me.

"Last year, UP Law." He answered as if wala lang sa kaniya. Isko pala siya yet he did not say a word about it. Every time yata na may nalalaman ako sa kanya, parang reader na may na-encounter na plot twist.

"4th placer yan sa Bar kahit petiks petiks lang." pag-amin ni Maeve. This two, ugh, nakakapanliit ng brains! Sana sa two hours naming magkasama ay magkaroon ng brain fusion para mahawa naman ako kahit kaunti.

I teased. "Nagsalita ang 1st placer sa Arellano Law!"

She blushed and quickly diverted the attention to me. "Ikaw Ivy, saan ang alma mater mo?"

"Guess." I challenged. Para saan pa ang brains ng dalawang 'to if hindi magagamit, charot. Ganito ba talaga feeling pag hindi nasanay sa makipagsocialize sa mga smart people?

"Language and actions, hmm" Primo examined. "definitely shows a La Sallian."

"Nope, the accused is a Thomasian based on factual observation." Maeve rebutted.

"So which claim is correct?" he confidently asked, kunwaring hinahamon niya talaga si Maeve.

"Hmm," and she placed a hand on her chin as if she was in deep thinking. "Do you shoot bows or ghost?"

"I soar high." I dropped a hint. Ganito pala makipag-usap sa lawyers? Kailangan umapaw ang creative juices to fit in. Buti na lang I read some puns sa Twitter.

I was so engrossed in our conversation. 'Yong tipong funny pero if kailangan maging serious, they will adjust. We were almost done with our meals noong nagvibrate ang phone ko. Biglang namula ako sa inis noong nakita ko ung mga notifications. The audacity of this man to exist or even breathe!

You have 10 outgoing calls from Love
You received 5 new messages from Love.

How can you go without asking my permission?

Where the hell are you, Saoirse?

I need you now bitch. Hindi pa tayo tapos.

Personal matters? O baka naman lumalandi ka.

Tangina, girlfriend ba talaga kita?

All I ask is a rightful apology. Hanggang texts ba naman hindi ako titigilang murahin? Bahala siya, manigas siya diyan. I'll never do anything he asked for his miting de avance. Maghanap siyang campaign manager niya na magtitiis sa ugali niya.

I clenched my jaw, turning off my phone. Mas mabuti pang wala na lang akong makitang message galing sa kanya.

May naramdaman akong tumapik sa'kin. "You okay?" Maeve asked, worry etched on her face.

"That's nothing, don't worry." I shrugged off the drama. Pero deep inside, I can feel my veins will pop in fury.

"I just thought you are not. May time naman kami ni Primo, right?" and he agreed.

"Just an irrelevant person left some texts. Akala ko concerned and willing to apologize but I got cussed instead."

I never mentioned Quen, never will I mention that I am in a relationship with that coward. Never akong nagagalit dati pero this is too much to handle. Parang nakababa na ng self-esteem and no one deserves that.

"Kwento ko na lang another time. Almost 12 am na."

I was preparing to stand up when he spoke with a deep voice. "Paano ka makakauwi?"

I hate how clumsy I am. Muntik na 'kong matumba sa gulat. Kanina pa kasi kami nag-uusap ni Maeve, I forgot na may kasama pala kami.

"Lakad na lang ako papunta sa may sakayan." sabi ko. Although as early as now, the horrors of walking alone at midnight scares me.

"Hatid ka na lang ni Primo, I think he won't mind." at tumikhim siya.

"Sanay naman ako gabihin," kumbinsi ko. I'm sure my boyfriend would not handle this kapag nalaman niya 'to. For sure, cheating na naman ang defense niya kahit hindi niya pa alam ang context.

When we walked to the parking, Maeve is still preaching about how dangerous Manila streets are at night. Alam na alam ko iyon pero I'd rather prioritize my own safety sa anger management issues ng boyfriend ko. I am mad but it doesn't change the fact that he's still my partner.

Maeve got in her car and rolled down her windows. "Ingatan mo 'yan Primo ah? Una na 'ko, text me when you both got home."

Pasarado na rin ang café kaya't nag-dim na rin ung side ng parking. Halos limang minuto na yata kaming nakatunganga dito kasi I insisted na maglalakad na lang ako to hail a cab. And that idea didn't sit well with him.

He suddenly walked into his car. Nawalan na ba siya ng pasensya sa'kin? I just had the feeling na tumakbo agad sa driver's seat. I can't afford na maiwan dito mag-isa. Plus he's kinda scary when he's serious, no bluffing.

"Let's not compromise safety, shall we?"

Being the masunuring person I am, tumango na lang ako and put my seatbeats in place. #SafetyFirst bago #JowaNext. Saka ko na lang iintindihin 'yon kapag nakarating na ako sa bahay.

"Okay, boss." pagsaludo ko sa kanya.

Midnight driving in Manila is breathtaking. City lights dance as you drive past the buildings. At ang pinaka-highlight ay hindi gaanong traffic unlike sa umaga. Para bang may prusisyon na hindi matapos-tapos.

"Saan ka pala?" he asked, never leaving his sight at the road.

"Heritage Heights." I answered, pero naisip kong baka hindi niya alam since medyo tago ung area. Along QC na rin ung condo ko since doon malapit ung review center ko prior to the bar exam.

"How 'bout Google Maps?" he said, habang kinakapa ung phone niya sa pocket. It literally took a minute or so pero mukhang na-stuck ung phone. And that is the reason why hindi siya makapagfocus sa pagmamaneho.

Bigla na lang kami nagulat nang may bumusina ng malakas sa likod namin. I think we almost got blind because of the flashing high beam.

"Damn." he muttered. At biglang humarurot ang van sa likod pero kakalagpas lang namin sa may sign na no overtaking zone.

"Hay, kung simpleng road sign hindi na masunod, paano pa papahalagahan ung human rights?" I complained.

"Only in the Philippines, Ivy." Sabay abot niya sa phone.

His phone is an old model of iPhone, mga 2 years ago ni-release. Take note, he got a lockscreen of a picture with his cat. I slided the phone and it revealed his graduation picture with a sablay. Grabe, he look like a hot nerd there.

"Bakit walang password?" pagtataka ko. I mean, it's rare to find a phone na walang code. Ngayon lang yata ako nakakita ng ganoon.

"Katamad." He said, playing his wavy hair with his fingers.

"What if nanakaw 'yan?" I interrogated. Bothered lang talaga ako sa security niya since a phone holds contacts, texts and pictures. Pwede iyon gamitin to catfish him lalo na't he is a renowed lawyer, bar topnotcher din.

"Kakasuhan ko sila," he reasoned out.

"What if hindi mo kilala?"

"Kikilalanin ko sila."

"What if di mo nahanap?

"Edi hahanapin."

And the rest of the hour went like that. Pilosopo din pala 'tong si Primo, baka kadugo niya sila Aristotle and Plato. According to Google Maps, almost 20 minutes away na lang kami pero bigla na lang hindi umusad. My eyes are fed with the sight of car backlights. Hindi na pinatawad ang gabing ito sa traffic.

Primo shifted his eyes to me. "Mind if I play music?"

Tumango ako. May binuksan siyang secret compartment at lumabas ang cassette tapes niya. May Parokya ni Edgar, Rivermaya, Eraserheads at mga '90s band. Obviously he is an OPM guy. Agad niyang kinasa ung unang nadampot niya. Hindi na rin naman siya nakapili dahil bahagyang umusad ung daloy ng trapiko.

Umiiyak ka na naman

Langya talaga wala ka bang ibang alam

I never tried listening to OPM. Alam ko lang ung mga bands and era. But this line seems to know what I was going through. Grabe, masyadong realistic ung kanta. A good music really speaks to the heart, 'no?

Habang nagdadrive, I heard him humming to the beat. I can admit that the beat is catchy.

"Halaga title niyan," he blurted out of the blue. Then he tapped his fingers in the steering wheel. Napatingin na lang ako sa kanya noong sinabi niya iyon. I was about to ask for it though.

"Feel ko lang gusto mo," he continued. Was that telepathy? It is today years old that I knew it existed. At biglang sumabay siya sa kanta.

Kailan pa ba kaya ikaw magsasawa?

Sa problema na iyong pinapasan

Hatid sayo ng boyfriend mong hindi mo maintindihan

That's ad hominem. Gusto ko lang naman ireklamo ang songwriter ng kanta na 'to at paano nalaman ang struggle ko sa boyfriend kong hindi ko ma-gets. Just kidding.

"What kind of music do you prefer?" He inquired.

"Mga pang bad bitch, Rihanna and Beyoncé." I replied honestly. Eargasm kasi ung mga high notes nila and I feel like I am a total kween pag kinakanta ung mga songs nila.

"But you're not a bad bitch," he chuckled. That was the conversation killer since I don't know how to respond. Will I agree with him and justify that I am not a bad bitch even if I said it myself? In the end, I chose to stay silent.

As soon as we reached Taft Avenue, the roads were clear already. This long-ass ride is better than I had last morning. How ironic that the night can make you feel so alive than the morning glory.

"Malapit ba doon sa kanto ng Mercury?" he asked. Hindi ko rin siya masisi dahil medyo vague ung mga daan dito and magulo din si Google Maps. Dapat siguro hiniram muna namin ang map ni Dora.

"Yup, diretsuhin mo lang."

Delayed man ng half an hour ang byahe, at least makakarating pa rin. Worth it naman since I discovered hidden gems of music. I am more than sure that I'll listen to the '90s music scene sometime.

"Thanks for dropping me off." I sincerely said.

Then he gave a warm smile. "That's what friends are for."

Noong sinarado ko na ang pinto, I found myself grinning. What was that for? Hanggang nakarating ako ng condo, I can still feel the smile laid on my lips. Since my head is still stuck on the song, I was still humming it as I reach for my keys. Pero when I slided the key, teka— bakit bukas 'to?

I never left my door open, as in. Lagi kong dino-double check before I go.

Kung gaano ako ka-concerned sa password ni Primo, paano pa sa condo ko?

I am a security freak and I value privacy more than anything. Lahat yata ng gamit ko, may padlock. The reason why? Matindi lang talaga trust issues ko ang I don't like people touching my things. Once you left a fingerprint, I swear you'll be messing with me.

I hope wala namang nagnakaw sa unit ko. Mahigpit naman ang security dito sa Heritage Heights. Pagpihit ko ng pinto, nakapatay ang lahat ng ilaw. Anytime I feel like someone will grab me by the neck at tutukan ako ng kutsilyo. Or I am just being paranoid because of watching too many suspense movies with Quen. I never really liked it, but I had to watch.

I flicked the lights.

Still nothing. No sound or whatsoever. No single movement.

Then I released a sigh of relief not until...

"Surprise, my little bitch!"

Fuck, I cannot move my legs.

Napako na lang ako sa kinatatayuan ko. I can feel my blood rising.

The person I least expected to be here is in flesh.