"You look angry."

"I don't look like anything except being handsome and yours."

Natawa si Carter. "Ano daw..." umiling siya't nakangiting nagpatuloy. "Look at yourself in the mirror. I can clearly read murder in your eyes."

"Miss, eye reader ka na ba? Wala ang mga optometrist sa'yo."

"Rook. You're not answering my question."

His playful smile dropped at the stern voice. Nakanguso siyang nagkibit-balikat. Even with all the playful act he's doing, Carter can't help the notice the furrow in his brow and the glare in his eyes. It wasn't directed at her, but whenever they stopped talking and he would glance away, she could read his expression.

Normally, it wouldn't bother her. But Mallory came home pissed off to, asking when she'll come home and slamming the door to the guest room close, without any explanation. Ngayong nakita ni Carter na mukhang galit din si Rook... sabay sa nangyari kanina... hindi niya maiwasang mangamba.

"Don't worry. It's not-" he paused. "I'm just a little mad."

Clearly, Carter didn't buy it. But she did play along.

"Nainis ka kasi nagwalk-out si Kuya at hindi ka natuloy sa paglalasing?"

Carter smirked when Rook perkep up, offense written all over his face. He pointed at her before exclaiming, "Hindi ako umiinom marami!"

"Mm-hmm."

"Hoy, Carter! Bossmam! Miss!" sunod-sunod na tawag nito, inaakalang 'di nakikinig ang natatawang si Carter. "I don't drink a lot! Lasing is not the right word because I drink a moderate amount! Sometimes, 'di pa nga moderate, little lang!"

"Like how mad you are? Just a little bit mad-"

"Fuck, little isn't even enough to describe how fucking angry I am right now. Putangina talagang Claude 'yon, dapat sinuntok ko siya ulit kani-" natigilan si Rook at napatakip ng bibig, ang nanlalaki niyang mata ay agad na napunta kay Carter. "Ano... uh... tangina."

She propped her chin on her palm, smiling lazily. "Hmm. Claude said something, didn't he?"

Iniwas ni Rook ang tingin. Ayaw niyang magsalita dahil hindi niya kayang magsinungaling kay Carter.

He silently blamed himself for looking angry. Dapat pala nakipaglaro muna siya kay Kevin at Felix bago tumawag para mukha siyang relax. He was too excited earlier and he did forget it... but seeing Carter and being reminded of what happened... hindi niya mapigilan ang magalit.

The fleet of emotions that crossed his face reminded Carter of what happened three years ago. The storm that crashed her life, making the peaceful sailboat undergo hell, and how it took too many risky turns and sleepless nights to eventually find a silent ocean. How it was so hard to calm down the restless waves. And when that ruined boat drifted in the peaceful current, she just wanted it to be her constant.

Her room. Her house. The garage. The park during midnights. The same safety all over again. The same constant to prevent any disorder.

"It's been three years." she broke the tense silence that overcame the conversation. "I didn't forgive. I didn't forget. But... I can't just keep holding on to something of the past, right?" smiling bitterly, she added. "If I did, how would I move on?"

Rook stared at her.

"I don't want to be miserable forever, Rook. I..."

She was always waiting.

In the middle of this ocean that never seems to end, her pitiful sailboat was always waiting. For the right time to move. For a signal to walk ahead. For the sun to uncover those gloomy clouds.

She was just drifting along waters when a ripple happened.

And the tide of you came crashing forward.

"Ayokong maging galit lagi. Kaya... ano," she bit her lower lip, stifling a small, sad smile. "Sinusubukan ko..."

She started with Claude. Not to forgive him, but to finally make a closure to whatever's left ㅡ whether it was his guilt or regret.

"Carter..."

Rook calling her by name was rare. She blinked at him, caught off guard by the serious expression in his face.

"Gusto mo mag-ice-cream?"

She stared at the screen, as Rook took his keys and started heading outside, not even waiting for an answer.

"Mm." she hummed in defeat.