"I wonder..."

Rook blinked at the sound of Carter's voice. Tahimik niyang pinagalitan ang sarili dahil natulala na naman siya sa kaharap. Carter was silently staring at the busy street outside, fingers mindlessly playing with Rook's car keys.

Clearing his throat, he forced himself to look away, watching as the traffic light turned green and the pedestrians crossed. Marami sa kanila ay mga estudyante na kakatapos lang ng klase.

"Hmm?" he hummed in question, glancing back when her attention to him returned.

As always, her stare burns him. It sends every fiber of his body on high alert, a small prickling sensation in the back of his neck as it starts to heat up. To be pinned underneath her gaze is a scary privilege. Her eyes, foxy and stern, feels like a blessing and an excuse for fear. Very intimidating. Kung magandang suplada na si Carter sa mga video calls nila, mas lalo pa niyang pinapanginig sa kilig at kaba si Rook sa personal.

Honestly... If his friends could feel the emotional disaster that he is when she's around, magiging biktima siya ng jokes sa buong taon.

"I wonder," she repeated, eyes swimming in amusement. "How many coffees will it take for me to finally pay you back? This is your third invitation at hindi pa rin kita nalilibre."

Rook chuckled. "Don't worry about it."

Carter hummed, still staring at him and not accepting that as an answer.

Hindi naman alam ni Rook kung paano ito sasagutin. He was never expecting Carter to pay ㅡ not because he thinks she can't or for whatever dumb reason, he just... likes to take care of her. Ang pagbayad sa mga gusto niyang kainin o inumin ay pag-aalaga na rin sa kaniya.

Isa pa, paano kung tanggapin nga niya ang paglibre nito? Will it end their coffee dates then? Wala na silang excuse pa para magkita sa labas.

At his silence, Carter decided to drop the topic. Instead, her gaze fell down to his keys, fingers softly touching the chibi cat keychain. It was a grey cat with pouty lips and a flush on its cheeks. Naalala niya si Felix dito, gano'n din ang mga kuwento ni Rook nakaraang pagkape nila tungkol sa pusa.

"You don't have a Kevin?"

Tumaas ang kilay ni Rook sa tanong. Nang malaman ang ibig niyang sabihin ay ngumisi siya't pinalabas ang wallet.

"Here's Kevin," he showed the picture of a black cat splayed over the small sofa-bed with its mouth open. "Tagabantay siya ng pera ko."

"Seems like he's not doing his job properly with how much you're spending these past few days."

Napanguso si Rook. "Hindi naman mahal ang kape!"

"Hindi mahal sa'yo." Carter corrected. "Kevin should have bitten your hand whenever you try to take money out."

"Nah. Okay lang daw kasi para naman sa Mama niya."

Carter's attempt at teasing was suddenly trashed by Rook's flirtatious comment. She tried to send him a glare but was only able to roll her eyes, pursing her lips to stop an incoming smile.

Since when has that been normal for them? To tease and flirt with each other like a couple? To have that sort of exchange without any of them batting an eye? But even if both of them noticed that shift in their relationship ㅡ the long stares, dazed smiles, and teasing comments ㅡ no one addressed the elephant in the room.

The next thirty minutes passed by with them talking about anything, unconsciously looking for an excuse to stay with each other longer. Napag-usapan na nila ang traffic light, ang batang lalaki na binigyan ng bulaklak ang kaklase at mabilis na tumakbo palayo, ang magkasintahan sa malapit na mesa na thirty minutes nang hindi nag-uusap, at ang pagsilip ng kahel na langit sa maingay na kalye ng Maynila.

"A favorite movie?" Carter paused, tracing her cup as she thought it over. "I'm not a fan of movies so I'm not really sure. Pero gusto ko 'yong medyo tahimik. Melancholic. One that relies on words, music, and the most subtle of actions."

Tumango-tango si Rook. He can imagine a calm soul like Carter to enjoy those type of movies. To watch as if it's a poem being unwrapped and told ㅡ reading line after line than hearing screams of anguish and shouts of war.

"Ikaw?"

"Wala talaga akong specific na gusto sa movies. I enjoy every genre. I like to study and compare each movie kasi-" he paused, chuckling when Carter raised a brow. "I mean, siyempre hindi naman ako critic talaga. Just like to notice the small differences or necessary similarities of each genre."

"Hm. So parehas tayong walang paborito?"

Rook has a smile on his lips when he leaned forward, with Carter instinctively leaning back even if she was already properly seated. If Rook finds her gaze a scary privilege, Carter thinks that his is relentless teasing. Those dark eyes swimming with mirth combined with his surprising ideas is dangerous. Especially when Rook puts on his puppy dog eyes, which Carter has witnessed a few times, that makes a strong-willed man weak.

"We can... Why don't we try to see if we have a movie we both like?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Carter. "What do you mean?"

"May bagong showing ngayon," Rook licked his lips, finding the courage to continue. "Wanna watch it and see if we both like it?"

Napangiti si Carter. "Hindi pa kita nababayaran sa kape."

"Pwede kang magbayad ng movie ticket." natatawang sagot ni Rook.

Carter did not answer his invitation but her smile did not fade. With a sip of his coffee, he continued to wait for her response. Siguro masyadong mabilis ang pag-imbita niya sa babae. Masyado siyang naging excited sa mga pagkuwentuhan nila the past few days that he instantly jumped at the opportunity.

And... really. If Carter was just a bit uncomfortable at the thought of both of them going to the movies together, Rook wouldn't push it. He'd be happy to take it back or... reschedule it.

With a shake of his head, he continued, "But don't worry about it, bossmam. Pwede naman nating gawin 'yon another-"

"I didn't say no."

He stiffened. "H-Ha?"

"I didn't say no." she repeated, tilting her head.

Tila nawala sa sarili si Rook ng ilang segundo at ang kaya niya lang gawin ay titigan ang babae habang nakaawang ang bibig. Carter waited patiently as his eyes widened in realization and a small, surprised gasp escaped his lips.

"You didn't say no..." he parroted, still stunned.

Hindi mapigilan ni Carter ang matawa sa mukha ni Rook. Tila ba may naglagay ng paborito nitong pagkain sa harap niya at may limang segundo lang siya para ubusin 'to o tuluyan ng mawawala.

They were so hung up in their little, private space that neither noticed a woman slowly walking their way. Ang mga mata nito'y nakatuon lang kay Carter at sa tuluyan nitong paglapit ay tila nawala lahat ng kulay sa kaniyang mukha.

"Carter?" she gasped her name, face aghast and tone horrified.

Napatingala si Rook sa bagong-dating, his brows furrowing at the unfamiliar girl adorning their school uniform. She didn't seem to notice him as all her attention was on the frozen girl. Carter, upon hearing her name in a familiar voice, tensed.

When their eyes met, it's as if cold water was poured over Carter. She visibly stiffened, her breath caught in her lungs as fear clouded her eyes. Hindi nakatakas sa mata ni Rook ang pagputla niya.

"You... what-" the woman took a step back, lips parting. "Why are you here? I haven't heard of anything from Natalie. I- I haven't returned to Cavite too so I didn't know what happened after Sir Matthew tried to-"

The chair screeched as Carter suddenly got up, interrupting the woman and surprising Rook. Without another word, she stalked towards the shop's door, with Rook hastily standing up to follow suit. Kahit na gusto niyang magtanong sa babaeng iniwan lang nila doon, pinigilan niya ang sarili dahil mas mahalaga si Carter ngayon.

He found her at the parking lot, standing in front of the car with her hands shaking. Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit at pinilit na gumawa ng ingay para ipaalam kay Carter na malapit na siya. She didn't move though, her body still angled toward the car, purposely avoiding his presence.

But her reflection in the window betrayed the secrecy she want to keep.

He could see her clearly. The way she gulped to keep every sobs down, how she bit her lips to keep herself from crying out loud, how the tears kept on spilling from her eyes, how she just appeared broken.

He wanted to grab her arm, tuck her in his arms and let her cry to him. He wanted to push her chin up and wipe those tears, tell her 'It's going to be alright' and kiss her pretty nose reassurances.

But Rook knows he can't.

So he stays contented. So he gives her the privacy she wants, and probably needs.

So he continues to stand behind her, waiting, until she finds the courage again to wipe her tears.