Rook didn't notice his phone vibrating because he's in the middle of a dilemma. Sa ngayon ay inaalala niya lahat ng asian drama na pinanood niya para tips para pakiligin ang mga babae. He's already got the first one when they arrived at his car.

Mabilis siyang lumapit kay Carter na nakatayo sa may passenger seat at pinindot ang car key. He was about to open the door when Carter beat him to it, sliding into the passenger seat smoothly. Sobrang smooth na tumingin ito sa kaniya pagkatapos at bahagyang sumimangot sa pagtataka. She stared at him and at his outstretched hand.

"Uh. Gusto mo ako magdrive?"

"Ha- Hindi, hindi." tumawa si Rook at napakamot sa ulo. "May lamok kasi. Papatayin ko sana."

He made a pinching gesture with his outstretched hand as if trying to catch an invisible mosquito. Carter looked at him strangely before nodding, letting the subject go.

Halos bugbugin ni Rook ang sarili sa pagkahiya ngunit nang maalala ang seatbelt move ay nabuhayan siya. Of course! How could he forget the legendary and most-successful-of-all move? Sa 'pag-ayos niya ng seatbelt ni Carter ay maglalapit sila at talagang makikita na niya ang babae na magblush.

Rook made an internal evil laugh at that plan. In a blink, he was already seated. Inayos muna niya ang seatbelt bago pumikit, ngumiti, at bumaling kay Carter.

"Tul-"

He stopped when he noticed that she's properly seated with seatbelt on.

Nakalimutan niyang baka nga mas may alam pa si Carter kaysa sa kaniya sa sarili niyang sasakyan.

"Hm?" she hummed in question.

"Tula. Mahilig ka sa tula?" bawi niya.

Carter was surprised at the random question but she paid it no mind. "Hmm. Sometimes, I like reading them. Sometimes, I find it a bore. I guess it depends on their style of writing."

"Ah..." he absently nodded, turning the engine on.

"Ikaw?"

Rook thought hard about that. "Siguro kagaya rin sa'yo. While I like reading books, the genre I enjoy isn't really for a lot of poems. So... I've never had a strong opinion on it." ngumisi siya. "Siguro 'pag kailangan sa lit essay, magbabasa at idi-digest."

Carter chuckled and the sound were a blessing to Rook's ears. One might thought it'll distract him, but it only sharpened his focus while driving. Kailangan niyang protektahan ang konting tawa na 'yon.

"I believe so. You're another kind of tula for me."

Kung aso si Rook, his ears would be twitching and tail be wagging in excitement now. "May kind of tula ako sa'yo?"

"Oo. Tula-la. Kanina ka pa wala sa isip eh."

While it sounded ridiculous, Rook couldn't help but break into a wide smile which later turned into a fit of chuckles. Hindi din mapigilan ni Carter ang mapangiti sa tawa niya. Tila ba nawala ang bigat ng pag-aalala na buhat-buhat niya mula kanina.

Coming home after their first interaction bombarded Carter with worrying thoughts. It was easy to feel light-hearted and comfortable in their chats because they are not aware of each other's presence or identity. Alam niya kung sino nga si Rook ngunit mayroon pa ring pader na nagse-separate sa kanilang dalawa. However, when they met, that wall shattered.

Aside from officially meeting each other, it was also a given that the way they treat each other now would largely depend on their first impressions. And Carter, being the socially-anxious girl who hasn't stepped out of the house for months, it's her time to overthink.

But the atmosphere that they're having in the car wasn't bad, in fact, it was just the same as chatting with Rook. Napakagaan sa pakiramdam. It was also funny to realize that her own worries would be her own comfort.

Huminto ang kotse sa red light.

"Malapit na tayo."

"Mm..." Carter nodded, staring hard at the traffic lights.

She didn't know she was still smiling until he said it next.

"Bossmam,"

Tearing off her gaze from the lights, she met his eyes.

Tila nabato si Carter sa kinauupuan nang lumapit si Rook. His hand slowly approached her face, and as much as she wants to close her eyes, she kept them open to see what he'll do. Rook's eyes never left hers, but it dropped down for a minute, before a finger softly touched her upper left cheek and he grinned.

"May pilikmata." umayos siya ng upo, a relieved smile on his face."Ganda mo pala 'pag nakangiti, bossmam."

The light turned green.

Carter was more than relieved that Rook has to continue driving so he couldn't see the heat that was slowly rising in her cheeks.