The moment Carter entered the kitchen, she was met with her brother's irritatingly smug smile.

"Aga ah." pagbati nito.

"Maaga naman talaga akong nagigising 'di tulad mo." ani Carter na nagtitimpla ng kape. "Unlike you, I've got to man the garage first thing."

"Sa tingin ko excited ka lang kasi-"

Naputol ang sasabihin sana ni Mallory nang hampasin siya ng sandok sa ulo. Behind him, their mother looked outraged, with arms crossed and brows raised.

"Aba't tingnan mo nga naman ang nagsalita. Gising ka na mula pa alas singko pero kahit paglinis, 'di mo nagawa!" hinampas ulit ng sandok ang ulo niya. "Ayusin mo 'yong bakuran natin! Magwalis ka!"

Humaba ang nguso ni Mallory at papadyak-padyak pa nang sumagot, "Ehh, Nay! Si Carter pagawain mo! Kakagising lang!"

"Kaya nga ikaw gagawa kasi kanina ka pa gising pero nakaupo ka lang diyan! Ano ka, senyorito?! Si Carter pupunta pa sa garahe! Ikaw mag-aayos no'ng sasakyan ni Mang Juan?!" sigaw ng ina nila.

"Ayoko nga!" anito sabay sama ng tingin kay Carter. Akmang hahampasin ulit si Mallory nang bigla siyang tumayo. "Ito na! Maglilinis na!"

"Nagmana talaga 'yang si Mallory sa tatay niyang tamad!" reklamo ng ina nila at sumulyap kay Carter. "May almusal na doon sa kusina. Kumain ka at maligo bago pumunta sa garahe. Kung pwede nga, huwag ka muna magtrabaho do'n."

"Bakit po?"

Misteryoso itong ngumiti. "Basta. Sundin mo na si Nanay-" bigla itong natigil sa pagsasalita nang may makita sa labas. "Aba't, tingnan mo nga talaga 'yang bata 'yan. Magwawalis na lang, magdadabog pa na parang lima!" hawak-hawak pa rin nito ang sandok nang sumugod sa labas. "Hoy, Mallory! Galit ka pa ata, ah! Ayaw mo magwalis, ha?! Mahirap? Mahirap?"

Carter watched as her brother's pout turned into a grimace. Tila luluhod na ang kuya niya nang sermonan ng ina. Napailing na lang siya. Minsan na lang kasi umuwi, magrereklamo pa sa ipapatulong.

She went straight to the kitchen to have her breakfast. Kape lang at toasted bread para masimulan niya ang iniwang kotse ng kapitbahay kahapon. The issue was something that Carter has done a thousand times now. He reported that the car was having difficulty starting and it showed problems with the alternator.

So Carter's plan for the whole morning was to focus on Juan's car. She found her father in the garage at first, but he later went out to fix an issue on their delivery. Mukhang may problema daw kasi sa kompanyang pinag-orderan nila.

Kaya nang may marinig na ingay sa pintuan, hindi na nag-abalang lumingon si Carter. She believes it's her father who just arrived from the city. With a glance at the clock, to find out if he came to drag her to lunch, nalaman niyang dalawang oras pa lang pala siya doon. Alas diyes pa lang ng umaga.

"Pa," tawag niya sa ama. "Can you help me with the wires?"

She's about to place the new alternator in but the engine bay's a bit crowded. She could handle it, but things will be easier with her father helping.

Ngunit ilang segundo na ang lumipas at hindi pa rin niya nararamdaman ang presensiya ng ama.

Frowning, Carter turned to face the door.

At isang tulalang Rook ang nakita niya.

Nakatayo lang siya sa may pintuan, ang kanang kamay ay nasa pinto pa rin na parang kakabukas niya lang. He unabashedly stared at Carter, his eyes dragging down from her slightly frowning face, glistening neck, and overalls. Nagtagal ang tingin niya sa alternator na hawak-hawak ni Carter bago umikot ang paningin niya sa garage.

He's seen this already from all their video calls. Heck, he's seen Carter fix how many cars.

But to see it in action, to be in the same place as the grease and engines, felt different.

"Rook?"

And to hear Carter's voice again, raw and all cute-confused, just made his weak heart fall completely.

He met her eyes for a moment before his gaze dropped to her lips.

Suddenly, Rook was starving.

"Rook? Since when did you-"

Hindi na napakinggan ni Rook ang susunod niyang sinabi dahil bigla niyang isinara ang pintuan, hindi lang para matigil ang libo-libong senaryo na pumasok sa utak, pero para matago na rin ang namumula niyang mukha.

Seriously, wala na talaga siyang kawala.

Whatever they have would just leave him brokenhearted, if ever.

He can't save his poor heart any longer.

Rook has undoubtedly fallen for Carter.