It had been three days after Primo's party. I can hardly remember what happened pagkatapos noong dancefloor scenario. Maybe I passed out? Or I was too drunk to figure out?

Basta ang alam ko, I woke up in my room and untouched. Ang kaibahan lang, someone took off my shoes and my makeup. But let's not talk about that.

I never talked to neither Maeve nor Primo. Sa tingin ko ay wala rin akong makekwento sa kanila. After all these pretentions and mixed up feelings, I just wanted to be alone.

For now, I need to deal with my frickin' hangover. Ang traydor talaga ng Smirnoff at Hennessy kahit kailan. Baka nawala na lang ang tolerance ko. Who knows?

Love is calling...

I picked up agad in the first buzz. Halos isang linggong walang pansinan kay Quen. He deserved it. But we need to clarify a few things out.

"Saoirse," he called. Ten seconds passed, I still can't find the right words to say.

"I've missed you."

Guess what, Quen? You're not alone.

"Why did you call?" I asked, hoping he would apologize.

"I said I missed you," he admitted. "Bakit mo ko binabaliw ng ganito?"

Tangina. I can feel all the shivers from my spine. Did my absence affected him that much? Did he finally realize his mistakes? I can't stop being tense pero hindi ko pinahalata. Besides it's a call, mas madaling pekein ang emotions.

Before I could even speak, bigla ulit siyang nagsalita.

"I apologize, babe." He uttered.

My face lifted up as soon as I heard those words.

Finally, the Stefan Quentin III apologized. Does it really take a week for a guy to say sorry. Ganoon ba ka-late mag-function ang utak nila? No offense intended.

"For what?" pakipot ko.

Of course, I want to hear it from his own words. Para masabi ko ring he is really owning up sa pagkakamali niya.

His words lingered in my mind. Sobrang nasaktan ako sa mga sinabi niya. I knew he never wanted to make me feel miserable. So this time, I wanted to be the bigger person and break my silence.

"First, I degraded your career. You had a fair share of haters. Your partner is even against you." His voice trembled at the end.

I want to fight off my tears so badly. I'm 25 pero still a crybaby. Bahala na, wala namang nakakakita.

"I won't say it's okay because it's not," pag-amin ko.

Sugarcoating is not the right thing to do. Tapos na akong ipagsawalang-bahala ang mental health ko.

"Say something I could do for you," he wooed.

I kept silent. Sana lang he could do something to ease the pain. But deep inside, ang sarili ko lang naman ang makakagawa ng paraan.

Pinatay ko na lang ang call nang walang pasabi.

Thoughts kept coming through. 'Yong feeling na gusto mong huminahon but you can't. Hindi ako makagalaw sa kinahihigaan ko. I can't even stop crying! Buti na lang may tissue box sa bed side.

Nakaramdam ako ng uhaw. I immediately stood up and look at myself in the mirror. Sobrang tamlay ko and all I see is a miserable woman. Wala na ngang dilig, ang dami pang problema.

Kumuha lang ako ng cereals and made myself comfortable sa sofa. I turned the TV on and it revealed a news flash.

Ciudad de Real's miting de avance will be held the next day.

Ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. Mga pangyayaring malaki ang epekto sa bayan. It can be for the good or worst depende sa results.

Sobrang imposibleng magtago from the Quentins.

I wonder how it is not to be a partner of a public figure. Will it create a difference to me? Will they love me for who I am and stay? Or baka hindi naman talaga ako kinakaibigan?

Social media, news broadcast and even my friends.

The Quentins truly made an impact with their reputation. Whether it's bad or not, they still gained popularity. The real challenge is how they will utilize it.

I heard a knock at my door. I ran to check the peephole. There, I saw Quen with a bouquet of yellow roses. The moment that I opened the door, binaba niya ang dala-dala niya and hugged me tightly.

He tucked my hair in my ear and whispered. "Bati na tayo, please."

I frozed. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin. Do I still need to hug him back? Say it's okay even though labag iyon sa kalooban ko?

Naramdaman ko na lang na akong kusang yumapos sa kaniya.

I looked at him. "Please tell me you came here to apologize."

"I am, babe." He pulled from the hug. "Promise, hindi ko na uulitin."

Mukhang nakuha ko na ang assurance na gusto kong marinig. I'll let this one pass. Kapag sumobra na siya sa limits niya, I'll make him pay. He owed me my freedom and relationships for years.

"Flowers for my baby," he handed the bouquet.

I accepted it and noticed the vanilla scent. "Yellow roses, huh? What's that for?"

"Forgiveness. I want you to feel my sincerity."

I badly wanted to roll my eyes. I was mad, take note, past tense. Hindi ko talaga mapigilan lumabas ang attitude ko sa mga ganitong matters. Maybe it would take a while to bring back my old state.

"Okay, then." I slammed the door pagkapasok niya sa condo. Damn, my hands can't even behave itself.

Prente siyang naglakad sa condo ko habang nakapamulsa. He was staring at my walls as if he owned them. I really don't mind. Siya rin naman ang bumili ng condo ko and gave me all my needs. Even though I didn't ask.

Lumapit siya sa gold vase. "You're enjoying at my luxury?"

I arched a brow. "You gave the luxury. Now, it's mine to claim."

Ayoko na ng gulo so I shrugged off the topic. "What do you want to eat?"

"Sirloin steak," prangka niyang sagot.

It doesn't sound right to me. Kakabati lang namin, now he puts up a sick joke? He perfectly knows that I don't cook at lalong wala ako sa mood makipag-joke.

"What?" pagtataas ko ng boses. I was so annoyed to the point that I wish I heard it wrong.

"Steak," he paused. "Do you need an audiologist?"

"Baka ikaw. Akala ko ba you're apologizing."

I laughed sarcastically. "You're the great pretender, then."

He leaned his back on the wall sabay humalukipkip. "Aren't we all?"

I gave him a deadly stare. What is he up to?

Lumapit siya at hinawakan ako sa braso. "I'm kidding, babe."

"Get off your filthy hands off me." I shouted angrily.

Sobrang seryoso ako ngayong araw. I feel humiliated and helpless. As if he's fucking with my head by not minding what I feel. He was about to argue but got interrupted by the buzz.

You have received 2 messages from Maeve.

Where you at, sis?
Endorse kita sa law firm namin.

He scowled. "Sino 'yan?"

Telling him about Maeve and Primo will do no good. But hanggang kailan ko kayang i-keep up ang act na 'to?

"Just a colleague," I said. "Nothing much."

Turning off my phone would be the best idea. Pero bago ko iyon patayin, Quen snatched it from me.

"You must be hiding something." He spoke with a hint of dismay.

Gusto ko na lang ipikit ang mata ko so I won't see his reaction. I hope na hindi niya alam ang connection ni Maeve sa opponent niya. Or else, I'm doomed.

His brows furrowed. "Maeve? The Maeve Fonseca?"

"How did you know her?"

He thought for a second and shook his head. "Impossible. Probably a coincidence."

Baka siya pala may itinatago. How can he be related to Primo's bestfriend? That's an odd relation. I want to trust Maeve but I should be more cautious.

Tumango na lang ako. My curiosity is bugging me a lot. I feel like there's some sort of buried information somewhere. But I still need to prioritize on finding a job and Quen's miting de avance.

"Is she a friend?"

Hindi pa man ako inaamin ay sumagot na siya agad.

He smirked. "Friends? They're gonna leave you when you're no use, babe."

Tumayo siya sa upuan niya and got a red wine from my rack. I can't help but to notice how unfair it is. His glass was almost full, while I got less than half of wine.

"Are you still hoping for a social circle? After all the shits we've been through?"

Mahinhin kong inabot ang wine glass ko. I bought the wine but I got a little amount. So unfair.

He gently wrapped his arms around me. I don't know what's with Quen. Right now, I feel icky kapag hinahawakan niya ako.

"Let me tell you a not-so secret," he whispered.

"Tayo lang ang magkakampi. Hindi ako ang kalaban."

He checked his watch. "I need to go, babe. Kailangan ko pang i-rehearse ang questions sa debate."

I thought it was confidential. 'Yong tipong on the spot ang bigayan ng questions. Why did he got an access to that?

I grabbed his wrist. "Paano–"

"No questions, please." And left a peck on my cheek.

—

Pagkaalis ni Quen, I quickly got my phone from the pocket. To be honest, I feel like there was something off with Maeve.

Is she on Primo's side or the opponent?

Should I take the advice to keep the enemy closer?
Ni hindi ko nga alam kung sino ba talagang ang enemy dito.

At hindi ko rin alam bakit ba sobrang affected ako sa connections nila. If there's a reason why I'm doing this, malamang curiosity 'yon. Sana lang ay hindi madawit ang pangalan ko if things get rough.

But who am I to worry? I barely had something to lose.

A social climber with a bad reputation is all I'll ever be in their eyes kahit anong pagsusumikap ko.

Calling Maeve...

Thank heavens, she picked up agad!

"Ivy?" bati niya. She was breathing so hard as if tumakbo siya sa marathon.

"Mhmm," ungol ng lalaki sa background.

Dumulas ang phone ko sa kamay noong marinig ko 'yon. Naka-speakers pa naman ang call since I was making noodles.

"Still there, sis?" she asked. "Fuck, I'm so sorry. Nakakahiya!"

The man scolded. "Baby, mamaya na 'yan."

"Shhh," pagsaway niya. "Can you just shut up?"

"I'll meet you up in 15 minutes sa lobby. Punta tayong law firm."

"Gotcha." I chuckled.

Oh my virgin ears! What the fuck was that?

Then, it hit me na nasa katabing condo lang pala sila. Sobrang awkward ng feeling pero at least, hindi gumiba ang walls sa lindol nila.

Hindi ko lang in-expect kay Maeve na may ganoong side siya. Baka 'yon ung reason why she left the party too early. Baka he's the intimidating guy I was talking about before. Kaso lang, I can't identify which one kasi madilim rin sa venue.

I blow-dried my hair and made it sleek. Typical nude make-up but I painted my lips red. Focal point dapat 'yon. That was my divine physical feature.

Nagsuot lang ako ng white pantsuit and finished the look by wearing a classic red stiletto. I can't help but to notice the dark circles under my eye. Pinatungan ko na lang ng sunglasses. I've been through a lot these days!

I was five minutes early in the lobby. Sobrang bored ko, aaminin ko namang I'm not patient at all.

The first minute seemed fine until I realized an idea. Maybe I can start up digging about the connections as early as now.

Naglakad ako patungo sa lobby. I've been here for years at sobrang ka-vibes ko rin ang receptionist. She could be a little help. Baka sakaling may useful information akong makuha.

Ngumiti agad siya noong nakita niya ang gawi ko. "Hello Ma'am Sersh! What can I help?"

I removed my glasses. "What time did Stefan Quentin checked-in dito?"

"4:13 pm," she said. Tumango na lang ako at kinuha ang call logs ko.

Love
5:15 pm
Messenger Call

What the hell did he do in an hour? My room is in the 20th floor and may elevators naman. He knows no one here, the last time we checked. 'Yon talaga ang requirement namin noong naghanap ako ng malilipatan. He wanted to secure my privacy.

"Can you keep this as a secret and not disclose anything to your boss?" I asked.

Wrong move naman kasi talaga 'yong ginawa ko. That's illegal. Pero she agreed, dapat lang naman. She's gonna lose her job if nakarating 'yon sa boss nila.

Kumunot ang noo ko. It can't possible be that he's cheating on me with Maeve. Sobrang busy ni Quen to even juggle with that. On the other hand, hindi naman mukhang cheater si Maeve. The girl have principles in life more than I can decipher.

You have received a new message from X.

I know what you're thinking, Saoirse. You want to connect the dots? Try me. I don't disappoint ;)