The first time she noticed that it was Rook standing there instead of her brother, Carter was stunned. She couldn't gather the strength to speak or even react. But when his eyes met hers, Carter was thinking of slamming the car door close. If it wasn't for the rudeness of such behavior, she would have done so.

Kaya naman, to avoid any negative impressions ㅡ which didn't bother Carter if you ask her... or so she believes ㅡ she opted to hide her face with the lunchbox. She knows it doesn't do anything but as long as she doesn't directly receive his stares... Carter believes she'll be fine. His eyes were curious and bright that Carter fears her lifeless one would burn from that light. Isa pa... he looks at her as if she could disappear in a single second.

And that's bad. Carter, while she often intimidates people with her blank stare, isn't fond of being looked at.

Someone cleared his throat and suddenly, Carter felt her hand being pushed downwards. Rook has placed his hand atop the lunchbox, just a couple of inches away from her, and pushed the item down.

"Hey..." the next thing she saw was his bright grin. "Hi, Carter."

She swallowed the fear, calming down her fast-beating heart. "Hello... Rook."

There was an awkward silence after, not because they don't know what to say next, but because Rook just broke into a wide smile, slapping a hand over his face to quickly hide it.

"A-Are you okay?" nagtatakang tanong ng babae.

"Ah, oo, oo-"

Concerned, Carter set the lunchbox aside to step closer to Rook, hoping to see his face for any problems. Ngunit ang paglapit niya ay nagpapula sa lalaki at ngayon ay tinakpan na nito ang buong mukha.

"Okay ka lang ba talaga?" Carter was just very concerned so she tried to pry his hands away.

"A-Ayos nga lang, Carter!" Rook is just trying to keep his cool... which is failing miserably.

"Wait, bitaw- Please, hindi ko pa kayang makipagholding-hands sa'yo!" dagdag niya.

Carter stiffened, her gaze dropping down to her hand that was almost intertwined with his. Agad niya itong binitawan at iniwas ang tingin, ang mukha'y namumula ulit.

A few cars away from them, the three boys who were watching attentively, each gave their reaction.

"Tangina," Mallory made a disgusted expression. "Ew."

"Tangina," mahinang tumawa si Claude. "Ang cute nila."

"Donuts..."

Rook, now glad he's free of Carter's hands, took a deep breath. Gusto niyang ibalik ang ngiting binibigay niya sa bawat nakikilalang tao, ngunit hindi niya 'yon kaya kay Carter. There will always be a special smile for her ㅡ one he can't control and would make him utterly dumb for her.

"Anong... ginagawa mo dito?" Carter asked, trying to act as if she doesn't know Rook's connection to her Kuya.

"Ah, kasi," napakamot sa ulo ang lalaki. "Sabi ni Mal sunduin ko daw lunchbox mula sa Mama niya. Ikaw ba ang Mama?"

Rook scolded himself internally. His attempt to look like he doesn't know Carter's relation to Mal only resulted to a dumb question.

But at least... something dumb as that allowed Rook to witness her laugh.

"Do I look like a single parent to you?" Carter asked, chuckling.

Dahil sa napakagandang tawa na iyon, hindi napigilan ni Rook ang matamis na ngiti sa labi. He crossed his arms, posture now comfortable.

"Well, pwede nating kunin ang single at maging parents pareho, bossmam." he tried to shoot his shot.

Umiling-iling si Carter ngunit may ngisi sa labi niya. "Chat or not, still the same Rook. But no, I'm not the mother, I'm his sister. Pinadala ka niya dito?"

"Mm..." Rook paused. "Kunin ko daw lunch niya pero hindi ko inexpect na makita kita. Sa tingin mo ba, Carter, ito na ang tadhanang sinabi ko no'ng last?"

"What do you think?"

"Lahat naman siguro ng nangyayari sa'tin tadhana kaya tadhana na rin 'to. Which means... no one won that bet, huh?" Rook pursed his lips, teasing. "I saw you blush, bossmam. And if you ask me, then of course magbu-blush ako kasi nandito ka sa harap ko."

Carter's brow rose. "I thought you'll be cool, hm?"

"Walang cool 'pag ikaw kaharap, Carter. Nagme-melt defenses ko."

"Do you really have every smooth, flirting line in your arsenal? Hindi ka nauubusan ha."

Tumawa si Rook. "Sa tingin mo? Inipon ko 'to ng ilang taon para lang masabi lahat kay bossmam ko."

"There you go again with the owning."

Rook couldn't help but laugh again, the giddy feeling he had earlier now multiplied by two. This simple conversation... this idle chat... it's enough to satisfy him. Ang mga maliliit na bagay na 'to ay sapat na para pasayahin siya ng sampung taon.

Carter handed the lunchbox to him, "Ibigay mo na lang sa kuya kong tamad. I'm sorry you had to go all this way for his food."

Kanina, nainis ako, Carter, pero ngayon parang gusto kong pasalamatan ng sampung milyon ang kuya mo, sa isip ni Rook.

But what left his mouth was, "Okay lang. Itong lunchbox ang bayad niya, hehe, at ikaw. Nga pala, ba't ka napapunta sa Maynila?"

"I have to babysit my cousin. Her sister is more fitting but she's busy with her twins so she can't."

"Magtatagal ka dito?" he then asked, hopeful.

"Oo. Mga ilang araw din."

"Kung gano'n, since dalawa tayong nanalo at natalo, ba't di na lang natin ituloy ulit 'yon? Pero KKB na?"

Carter thought for a while. Rook assumed she was thinking it over, but Carter was actually just trying to remember what KKB means. She dived deep through Natalie's explanation in her memory archive before finally learning what KKB meant. Malapit na kasi niyang maisip na Katipunan...

Sandali niya ring inisip kung sino magbabantay kay Roan, pero naalala niyang do'n pala mamaya magsi-stay si Mal kaya iiwan niya na lang muna sa kaniya.

"That's fine with me. Where do you wanna go?"

"Just send me where to pick you up. What about your cousin?"

"Kuya is coming over tonight with Ate Venice. It's just a quick coffee so it's alright."

Ngumiti si Rook at tumango. Quick coffee... Well, he will bring her home before nine but it won't be a quick coffee.

Rather, it's his chance to finally learn and understand Carter.

When they had lunch later, inorderan ni Rook si Mallory ng pinakapaborito niyang pagkain. Nagtaka siya kanina kung bakit hindi sumama sa kanila si Ross kaya tinext niya ito kung nasaan.

hoy lunch
may class na tayo mayang 1:30
sent • 1:07 pm

matangkad, may pagkatanga:
Busog.
Rook, sorry.
delivered • 1:07 pm

sorry saan?
omg
dont tell me
masakit ba ang tiyan ng isda mo kaya namatay siya?!?!??!!
WHAT
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FELIX' EMERGENCY FOOD ROSS
sent • 1:09 pm

matangka, may pagkatanga:
Gago, 'di. Si Donut pala si bossmam.
Kala ko baka magustuhan mo, kawawa si bossmam, kaya pinaglayo ko kayo.
May crush kasi sayo.
delivered • 1:09 pm

GAGO
JAGDKAHSKAHS
GAO GAGO
ANO
WALANG CRUSH SAKIN YUN HOY
TANGEK AKDHKAHES
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
OKAY KA LANG BA
HAHAHAHAHHA GYTOM LANG YAN
TARA DITO LIBRE KITA
AT GAGO ANONG SINOSORRY MO GAGO
WALANG CRUSH SAKIN YU.
HAAHAHHAHAHA
pero seryosong usapan dude tingin mo ba meron?
sent • 1:11 pm

matangkad, may pagkatanga:
Alin ba? Hindi ko naintindihan chat mo.
delivered • 1:12 pm

ulol
tara na dito
wag ka na magemote diyan at di ka emoticon
kumain ka na
saka may tatanungin din ako tungkol sa bat mo naisip na may crush sakin si donut
BILIS
sent • 1:12 pm