"Carterrr! Hello, hello!"

She couldn't greet back, phone in her hand and close to her ear. Thankfully, Rook didn't press for her to speak and rambled on.

"Bilis mo sumagot, bossmam ah. 'Di naman sana ako tatawag kaso ano... bumulong si guardian angel sa'kin na tawagan daw kita kasi- Felix, no! Don't touch that vase! Magiging homeless tayo 'pag nahulog 'yang vase ni Mama- Fuck. Felix, bumaba ka! Bossmam, sandali lang ah..."

Still unable to say anything, Carter listened to the chaos that settled on the other line. Naririnig niya ang walang-humpay na mura at sigaw ni Rook, gano'n na din ang hiss ni Felix at ang paglapit siguro ni Kevin sa phone dahil naririnig niya ang mahinang pag-'meow' nito.

Then she heard a door open and click before another voice came, "Rook. What the fuck are you doing? Bumaba ka nga sa stool na 'yan."

"Kuya! Ano ba naman kasi 'tong bahay mo, ba't nakaka-akyat si Felix dito?!"

"Ha?"

"Oh, tingnan mo! Nasa taas si Felix at baka matulak niya pa 'yang vase ni Mama. Lagot ka Kuya- Hala, gago, huwag ka lumapit. Charot charot lang."

"I'm not in the mood to play with you. Bumaba ka kasama 'yang pusa mo. Ano nga ba ginagawa nila dito?"

"Bakasyon, hehe. Namiss nila si Uncle. 'Di ba, Felix? Andito na Tito Knight mo oh, baba na." Silence. "Kuya, tawagin mo."

"Felix, come here."

There was a pause before Rook's scream filled the silence. Narinig niya ang mahinang pagtawa ng kuya nito at ang mahihinang reklamo din ni Rook. Tinalunan daw ng sariling pusa.

"Kevin, you too, come... Oh?"

There was some rustling sound, accompanied by another cat's small yelp, and the voice became louder.

"You're calling someone...? Hmm? May girlfriend ka na?"

Rook made a startled yelp on the background.

"Kuya, bitawan mo phone ko-!"

"'Bossmam ko'? What the hell is with this name?"

"Kuya!"

"Hello?" Now Carter could hear the voice clearly. "Ginayuma ka ba ng kapatid ko?"

"Shit! Kuya!" There was some rustling and a door slamming before Rook's heavy breathing filled her ears. "... Bossmam?"

"Mm?"

Rook sighed dramatically. "Bossmam..." he quietly whined. "Narinig mo?"

Carter's only answer was a chuckle.

It was enough for Rook to panic, stuttering a number of curses. "Kainis kasi na Kuya." reklamo niya. "I was supposed to just quietly drop Felix and Kevin. Akala ko gabi na siya dadating. He usually doesn't come home this early..."

"Mm. Why are you leaving Felix and Kevin to him?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Carter nang hindi kaagad sumagot si Rook. He's always been quick to answer, even if it made no sense most of the time. She glanced at her phone to see if the call's still going. Baka kasi naend niya nang 'di nalalaman.

Then, he quietly spoke. "Carter, may problema ba?"

"... Ha?"

"You sound... different. Parang may nangyari. Bossmam, are you alright?"

Natigilan si Carter. Nakuha ba iyon ni Rook dahil lang sa boses niya? She didn't cry or anything, even in her own ears, her voice sounded the same. But how could this guy find out that something's bothering her?

"Miss? I mean, kung hindi ka komportable sabihin 'yon, okay lang naman-"

And just that very moment, when Carter was getting ready to answer, the door to the office opened. She was instantly frozen and her grip on the phone tightened.

"Carter?"

"May maitutulong ba 'ko sa inyo, Miss...?"

"Ano 'yon? May narinig akong lalaki. Sino 'yon? Inaaway ka ba? Resbakan ko?... Mas gwapo ba ako?"

His last question made Carter smile. Nawala din iyon nang maalala na nasa harap siya ng teacher. Now though... instead of seeing the past in front of her, all she could see was a young, unfamiliar man. And now, she could see the nameplate clearly: Matt Santiago.

"Miss...? Do you need something?"

"Ano 'yan? Ba't tawag niya din sa'yo Miss. Hmp." Rook grumbled under his breath.

Fighting another smile, Carter answered. "Wala po. Hinahanap ko lang ang admission office."

"Gano'n ba? Nasa kabilang building 'yon, malapit sa forum. You can just follow this path and there'll be a signage there."

"Ah, sige. Salamat po."

He smiled. "Walang problema."

"Carterr!" Natalie screamed, rushing over to them. Gulong-gulo ang buhok niya at mukhang malapit nang umiyak. "Ba't ka biglang umalis?! Kinabahan ako no'ng mawala ka- Oh, S-Sir Matt, good morning po."

"Good morning, Natalie." nakangiting bati ng professor bago sumulyap kay Carter. "Carter, huh... Ikaw ba si Miss Carolina Therese?"

Rook's breathing hitched on the other line.

"Opo..."

"Hmm. I see." he seemed to be deep in thought. "I guess that's the reason why you're in front of this office and why you looked afraid of me earlier. Don't worry, though. That asshole can't go near you anymore."

Siniko ni Natalie si Carter. "Kwento ko sa'yo maya." sabay bulong nito.

The professor's stern expression dissolved into a gentle smile in a second. "Well, the office is that way, ladies. Sigurado naman akong alam na ni Natalie iyon. Mas marami pa siguro siyang time sa gala kaysa sa klase."

"Hehe, siyempre po. Ano... uh, priorities." napangiwi si Natalie nang tumaas ang kilay ng professor sa sagot niya. "Charot charot lang po! Alis na po kami, Ser. Ito-tour ko pa ang bago nating student, hehe."

Before the teacher could answer, she broke into a sprint with Carter in hand. Natawa silang dalawa nang huminto, ang dating pag-aalala ay biglang nawala. Carter even forgot that she was in a call with Rook until he spoke.

"Carolina Therese full name mo?"

Natigilan si Carter. Hindi pa ba 'yon alam ni Rook?

"Mm." silence answered her. "Why?" she pressed on.

There was Rook's nervous laugh on the other side before she heard something loud and his brother's startled voice.

"What the-! Why the fuck did you slam your head to the door, Rook?!"