"Attorney Lopez," Niko called. And there, he stood in his plain white uniform. Walang kupas, his resting bitch face still drives the demon in me.

As if maloloko niya ako sa maamo niyang tingin. Parang siyang lamb befriending a wolf. Kung ikukumpara kaming dalawa, ako pa 'yong mukhang evil sibling. Looks can be deceiving, that's a fact.

Still, the nerve of this guy to call me attorney!

Hindi pa siya nakuntento at naglakad-lakad pa sa condo ko. His movement can be compared as walking at the beach, na parang bang he is feeling the sand beneath his toes. Then, my graduation picture caught his attention.

"Ateneo law," he dramatically paused. "How did you survive?"

I clenched a fist. "Kung pumunta ka lang dito para mang-inis, I don't mind you walking out my property."

Tila ba wala siyang narinig. Instead, he made himself comfortable sa pag-upo sa red swivel chair ko. Bahagya niya pang itinaas ang dalawang braso niya at sinandal ang ulo niya roon. I never invited him to come over and now, he's acting like a guest.

"Good thing you are still using our last name." He mocked. His eyes never left on my engraved name plate.

"Do you know how much I despise it?" I arched my brow and glared at him.

An evil smirk was curved from his lips. "Do you hate me that much?"

The little Nikodem is here, invading my private property in the middle of a tiring night.

He provoked my parents to kick me out of the house and to cut all of my credit cards. The thought of having their daughter as a lawyer is never appealing. Hindi na rin ako nagulat doon. They evaded the law by making connections to the powerful.

The moment I enrolled in Ateneo, I signed up for a battle. Now, they don't want to take a glimpse of me.

Earning the license isn't a trophy for them, more like a nightmare.

"Nasaan na ngayon ang pinagmamalaki mong boyfriend?" He challenged, initiating an eye contact.

Mas lalong uminit ang tensyon sa aming dalawa. Talking about Quen is a sensitive topic for me, lalo na noong nabastusan ako sa treatment niya these past few days.

"Lahat tinalikuran mo para sa kanya." At padabog siyang tumayo.

He slammed the table with his hand. "O ngayon, patunayan mo!"

I thought I made a bigger connection dahil sa law school. Mas naging worthy ako maging partner of a future politician. The Quentins are glorified for their governance. But now, I am seeing the other side. Never did I thought that I will reach this certain point of hating him.

"It looks like Romeo can't save his Juliet this time," he smirked.

"If Romeo drank the poison, are you gonna be Juliet and drag yourself to death?" He chuckled as if there's no tomorrow.

Fuck his analogies. Parang nasa trial ako kung saan ginigisa ako sa kaso at lahat ng evidences make sense.

Ang tangi kong alam ay kusa na akong dinala patungo sa kanya. Hindi na ngayon ang panahon para kimkimin lahat ng galit ko. All these years, I stayed silent. At ngayon, wala na akong pakialam sa sasabihin nila.

"Baka nakalimutan mong ikaw," I emphasized. "Ang rason kung bakit wala akong pamilyang mauwian."

His jaw clenched. "Ikaw ang rason. Hindi naman ako ang tangang hindi marunong makinig."

"Hindi kasi ako kagaya mong sunud-sunuran." I replied, rolling my eyes.

"Nasa dugo ko ang maging medical practitioner, ikaw ba ginusto mo 'yan?" He asked, this time with pure sincerity.

I was left dumbfounded. May punto siya. Hindi ko naman talaga alam kung bakit ba ako nagpapatuloy. O baka naman may rason talaga ako na hindi valid. Ma'am, pa-void po!

"Your career is rooted from passion. If hindi mo maramdaman dito," he patted his chest. "You'll never be happy."

"Matatanggap ko pa if you resisted dahil ginusto mo. But clearly, it's the contrary."

No one gave me this heartwarming talk before. Every word seemed like bows aimed at my heart. I tried to control the tears and replied shakily.

"Ang sakit mo naman magsalita. Hinay-hinay lang."

His tone shifted from furious to concern. "You never listened to me. Hindi mo naman kailangan i-prove ang sarili mo in order to be loved."

As if on cue, bigla na lang tumulo ang luha ko. I never want to be vulnerable pero ramdam kong I held my emotions too much. Hindi na tama.

"Shhh," pag-aalo niya. At bigla niya akong hinagod sa isang yakap.

The mighty walls of Saoirse was broken down into pieces. I don't even know what the chain of events will lead me to.

Greedy partner, crazy stalker, new social circle, brotherly reunion and career realizations.

"Nandito na ko, Ate. You'll never be alone, I promise."

"Cross to heart? Hope to die?" He nodded willingly.

As I dozed off to sleep, I hold on to the truth. The night will never be the same again.

—

I woke up to the smell of bacon. Never akong na-motivate bumangon dahil may breakfast. Usually takeout lang ang pagkain ko or I don't eat anything at all. Today, ramdam ko talagang every morning is a new beginning.

"Morning!" I greeted him with a smile.

"Good mood?" Niko asked, flipping the bacon. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya nakakuha ng food dahil madalas walang laman ang ref ko.

"Yup, did you get up early to cook?" I asked, peeking at the dish.

He spoke in a singsong. "Uhuh"

Nakakapanibago lang how we treat each other. I mean, we are literally the best of friends until I decided to go against my own family. To be honest, I never felt that Nikodem is the youngest, ako kasi usually ang pinoprotektahan niya.

"Where did you get the bacon, though?" I asked. Obvious naman na bumili siya pero I just want to continue the conversation. Wala na kasi akong maisip na topic.

"Neighbor." Tipid niyang reply. Wait, did he really knocked in the next door to ask for food? Mukha bang kailangan ko ng charity sa luxurious condo na 'to?

"Seriously? Sino doon?" I confusingly asked.

Sa apat na taon ko dito sa Heritage, I hardly knew everyone. Bukod sa busy sched, ayaw ko lang talaga makipaghalubilo. Fake friends ain't worth the time.

"The name's Maeve Fonseca, does that ring a bell?"

If Maeve's my neighbor, why did I never noticed? Small world lang talaga.

"Yup, she's an acquaintance of mine. Kilala mo din?"

Tumango siya. "Of course, naging dance troupe rin siya noong high school."

After, he turned off the stove and placed the breakfast in front of me. Iba pa rin 'pag homemade ang luto kahit pa prito lang 'yon.

Umakma akong tumayo para kumuha ng plato pero siya na rin ang nag-volunteer. I mouthed a little thanks.

He winked. "Sabi ko sayo babawi ako diba?" Siya na rin ang naglagay ng rice sa plato ko.

"Why don't we invite Maeve? Nakakahiya naman na nanghingi kang food tapos hindi natin siya iimbitahin." I said, almost gibberish since I am munching on my food.

Bigla siyang napahinto sa pagsubo niya. "Oo nga pala, teka."

Natawa na lang ako ng malakas noong tumakbo siya palabas ng condo. Hindi niya narealize na naka-boxer lang siya at apron!

Ilang sandali lang, kasama niya na si Maeve na bumalik. She's wearing pink silk pajamas and a cute pair of bunny slippers. Para silang nag-sleepover ng kapatid ko, kaso lang hindi nainform si Niko.

"Hi Maeve! Pagpasensyahan mo na kapatid ko, nangangatok para humingi ng food."

Umiling siya at tumingin sa kapatid ko. "Friends naman kami ni Niko. Okay lang."

"You don't really mind his attire?" I questioned. Siguro hindi pa talaga narerealize ni Niko na he's just wearing his Spiderman boxers and an apron. I can't imagine a friend knocking at my door with that get-up.

Pinasadahan siya ng pansin ni Maeve and bigla siyang namula. "Okay na okay sis."

"Benta ko na ba sa'yo?" I kidded pero tumango ng mahina si Maeve.

Mukhang magkakalove-life na yata ang kapatid ko. As long as it's Maeve. Sister-in-law ko ba naman ang bar topnotcher. At least mapupunan niya ang brain cells na ipinagkait sa akin. Charot!

"Narinig ko 'yon." panloloko ni Niko. "Seriously, you don't want me to change clothes?"

She giggled. "I've seen more than that, Niko!"

"Kainin mo na," paninimula ni Niko. "Ako—ang luto ko."

Grabe, ang kalat! As a typical tita would say, I shouted. "You two, get a room!"

The rest of the hour went like that. Maeve and Niko kept giving each other glances and teases. Para silang may mini reunion. But somehow, they compliment each other.

—

I was glamming up at the moment. Inimbita ako ni Maeve as a plus-one to a party. She did not disclose any information about it. Basta semi-formal theme. Sure naman akong hindi lang so-so ang events ni Maeve. If this party will gain me connections, I'd be more than glad to come.

"What do you think is better, blue or red?" tanong ko kay Maeve.

"I think red suits you better," turo niya.

Nude makeup had always been my style. Sinigurado ko na sharp ang ends ng bob ko. My gold pumps complimented my burgundy laced cocktail dress. I finished off the look with gold hoops. I've always wanted to look sophisticated.

"May igaganda ka pa pala," Niko joked, handing me the YSL gold clutch.

"Ganyan talaga pag 4 years na 'di nagkita," I joked. Those years can be compared to the loops of a ride. It was the depressing law school and no friends stage. Thank heavens, I made it alive.

"Iwan ko muna condo ko sa'yo, Niko," sabay bato ko ng keys. "No girls."

"No girls talaga kasi 'yong girl ko kasama mo," he winked at Maeve.

Maeve is a stunner. She's wearing a green v-neck maxi dress with black stilletos. Nakalugay din ang buhok niya, kulot ang tips.

"She's a beaut," bulong ni Niko sa'kin noong palabas kami ng pintuan.

Pagkasakay ko sa Mercedes-Benz ni Maeve, biglang nagvibrate ang phone ko. Puro notifications.

You received 69 messages from Love.

Sagutin mo na messages ko.

Over my dead body! Hindi ko siya kakausapin hangga't walang proper apology, period.

You received a message from Niko.

Ate, favor naman :>

Saoirse: Spill the beans.

Niko: Reto mo 'ko. Thanks! ^_^

Saoirse: Pag-isipan ko.

Niko: K.

Hindi ako nainip sa byahe dahil medyo madaldal din si Maeve. Usually law stuff ang topic niya at mga favorite niyang Netflix series. Panoorin ko daw ung How to Get Away With Murder pati 'yong You. Sa totoo lang, mas gusto ko pang manood ng Gossip Girl.

"Saan ba kasi talaga tayo pupunta?" pangungulit ko sa kanya.

"Good things come to those who wait," she said.

Along Makati na rin ang route namin. Mga isang oras na akong clueless kung saan ang destination namin.

"Feel ko talaga kidnapper ka," pambobola ko. Tawa na lang siya ng tawa sa pinagsasabi ko. Hindi ko kasi mahanda ung sarili ko kung anong klaseng crowd ba 'yon.

She smirked. "Ang ganda ko naman para maging kidnapper." Points taken.

"Curious pa rin ako kung paano ka nakakapagdrive ng naka-heels," I admitted. Seriously, how?

4 inches ba naman kasi 'yong stilletos niya. Sa bagay, ako nga nakapag-marathon ng 3 inches. Iba talaga ang mga talent ng mga babae. I stan.

"Sanayan lang 'yan. Medyo nakakangawit lang."

"Malapit na ba tayo?" I asked for the nth time. I won't deny that I'm getting nervous, at the same time, excited din.

She nodded. "Yup, I think magiging masaya ka sa makikita mo later."

"Dapat worth the wait and frustration 'yan," biro ko. Agad kong nilabas ang compact powder ko at nag retouch. Pinagpapawisan na talaga ako sa init galing sa labas. Kahit May na, pang-March pa rin ung heat.

A few minutes later, nakarating na rin kami. BGC na rin ung area na ito since I noticed a chain of bars kanina. All I can say is nasa five-star hotel kami. Never pa akong nakapunta rito but the building screams extravaganza.

As soon as fixed her heels and applied a layer of red lipstick, she teased. "You ready?"

"Of course," I answered.

Deep inside, I feel all my internal organs shaking. Sobrang overwhelmed lang ako that I'm starting to socialize again. Solitude phase can give a peace of mind, pero iba rin ang nararadiate na energy with friends.

The moment na nakapasok na kami sa hotel, I can't help to stare at the chandeliers and abstract paintings on the wall. Sobrang aesthetic. The front desk is no different too, covered with white marbles and gold.

Whatever's in store for me, I'd be really ecstatic about it. So far, I like what I'm seeing.

The receptionist greeted us in all smiles. "Welcome to Hilton Hotels, Ma'am! How may I help you?"

"I heard that my friend's party requires a card to enter," she informed. "26th floor"

The fact that it's an exclusive party makes me shiver in a good way.

Chineck ng receptionist ang list, then she inquired. "Names po, Ma'am?"

"Maeve Fonseca, Ivy Gonzaga."

Saglit lang ay inabot niya na ang card namin. "Enjoy your event po here at Hilton."

Maeve handed me the card and I happily accepted it. Matte black lang naman but the font is engraved in gold color. Okay, this is it! The night is young.

But my jaw dropped when I read the contents on the lower part.

This serves as a guest pass to the pre-election party of Primo Castillano.