"Mukhang pawis na pawis ka, p're ah."

"I was doing some light jogging." Klaus smiled. "You... look like you entered a marathon."

"Wala lang 'to. Light jogging lang din." mayabang na reply ni Rook.

They did not believe him, of course. Rook was drenched in sweat. Gulong-gulo din ang buhok niya. Carter saw him run towards them as if he was being chased by some godzilla-looking serial killer.

"Rook," agad siyang tumingin kay Carter nang tawagin. "Come here."

He didn't think twice and walked closer until his legs touched Carter's knee. She gestured for him to bend and he did. Inangat niya ang kamay at inilapat sa noo ni Rook. Pumungay ang mata ng lalaki sa ginawa niya. He didn't move, even as Carter tried to wipe away his sweat or when she raked her fingers over his hair.

"Your hair's messy." 

Mas yumuko si Rook. "Ayusin mo, miss."

Klaus watched as the both of them drowned in their own world. Nang hindi niya na makayanan ang malumanay na tingin ni Carter at namumulang pisngi ni Rook, ay tumikhim siya.

Rook glanced up at him, a bit annoyed. 

"Manliligaw ka ni Carter? I never saw you around her before." ani Klaus.

"Ikaw din," Rook cooly answered. 

"Minsan lang kami mag-usap e. But..." he glanced at Carter and an evil thought crossed his mind. "Gusto ko din siya."

Carter stared at him blankly. She knows that Klaus didn't mean it romantically, but he insinuated it that way. Alam rin naman niya kung bakit. The guy basically teases her anytime she doesn't talk about Natalie, at ngayong nakahanap ng biktima, si Rook naman ang balak pagtripan. 

However, "T-Talaga? Gusto mo din si Carter?" Rook looked excited when he asked. Then, he laughed. "Siyempre naman. Hindi kita masisisi niyan! I mean, si Carter 'to! Sino ba ang hindi magkakagusto?"

Klaus tried so hard to hide his surprise. Ni hindi man lang nagselos ang lalaki!

"Yeah, that's why I planned to invite her for coffee since it's her birthday." he persisted.

Carter's brows shot up. Siya pa din ba magbabayad? Aba't, madiskarte din itong si Klaus!

She stood up, grabbing Rook's arm. "Don't listen to him-"

"Hindi, Carter, okay lang. Birthday mo ngayon!" ani Rook at tumingin kay Klaus. "Tara, p're. Saan tayo magkakape?"

"Sasama ka?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Rook. "Siyempre?"

"Uh... I wanted it to be our date-"

"Date din namin ngayon."

"Okay... but your date doesn't have to be now-"

"From twelve in the morning to eleven fifty-nine date namin today, bro." Rook interrupted again, his voice becoming serious.

The both of them had a staredown. Carter sighed, and as she was about to drag Rook away again, Klaus agreed. Wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang samahan ang dalawa papunta sa cafe. 

Klaus looked so confused as Rook's icy statement earlier disappeared and he was back to being a goofy guy. He didn't even cut in between Klaus and Carter but decided to walk in her free side. Nakikinig siya at nakikisali sa usapan ng dalawa.

"Ano sa'yo, Carter? Order anything. I'll pay." Klaus asked, gently smiling at Carter.

"Sama ba ako sa libre, p're?" Rook cut in.

"Birthday mo din ba?"

"Ah, 'ge. Tanong lang. Huwag magalit."

Napabuntong-hinga ulit si Carter bago sinabi ang gustong inumin. She excused herself first to find some vacant table from them. She's used to people staring when she's with Rook. He's charismatic and handsome, so it's normal for people to take a second look. Klaus was also well-known on the campus, lalo na't kasali pa ito sa banda. But with them both looking like they just got out from the gym, with their hair tousled, the number of stares doubled.

Nang matapos silang mag-order, Rook immediately sat beside Carter, leaving Klaus to sit in front of her. Their topics of discussion was simple and mundane. Nakapag-share din si Rook ng mga detalye about sa trabaho niyang kina-interesan ni Klaus. He even shared that they're going to surprise Carter today, kaya ni-point out naman ng isa na kasama lang nila ang isu-surpresa. 

Rook never shared any hostility towards Klaus, despite him saying and acting that he likes Carter. He was outgoing and easy. More often than not, dahil nakahanap ng kapwa simp, all Rook could talk about was Carter. 

"Yeah, even though Carter can be quite snobbish, mahilig pa rin siyang tanungin ng mga kaklase namin sa mga areas na hindi nila maintindihan. Carter is a good teacher too." sang-ayon ni Klaus.

"Hehe, kaya nga. Siya din nagturo sa'kin paano magmahal ulit."

Carter and Klaus gave him a blank stare. Gusto sanang magcringe in disgust ng isa pero ayaw naman niyang sirain ang napakasayang mukha ni Rook. 

Klaus sighed. He wanted to tease the guy, but he's the one losing his marbles. He glanced at Carter to ask about Natalie and end this when he noticed something. Napangisi siya.

"Carter," mahinang tawag niya sa babae. He leaned over the table and was close to touching her face. "You've got-"

Carter frowned. She was about to ask what's wrong when Rook inserted himself between them. He slightly stood up on his chair to face her, his left hand on the table and the other resting on the top of her chair. Saglit siyang napaatras dahil sobrang lapit na ng mukha nilang dalawa. There was a ghost of smile in his face as he stared into her eyes, glancing on her lips before looking back her. Namungay ang mata ni Carter sa malumanay na paghawak ni Rook sa pisngi niya. His thumb brushed her cheek.

"May pilikmata, miss."

"Oh." Carter unconsciously stuttered. 

Her chair squeaked as she pushed herself away from the table. Iniwas niya ang tingin sa nanunuksong mata ni Rook. Her face feels hot.

"CR lang ako." she excused herself.

Pinanood ng dalawa na mawala ang babae sa paningin nila. Rook slumped back down, dragging Carter's chair closer to him and putting his arms around it. He did all that while staring at Klaus, as if he was declaring a challenge. 

Klaus leaned comfortably in his chair and smirked. "You good, dude?"

"Never been better." nakangiting sagot ni Rook. Kinuha niya ang inorder na kape ni Carter at sumipsip doon. "But... Klaus, right?"

Tumango ang lalaki.

"Don't bother. Gusto din ako ni Carter."

Klaus closed his eyes. Ang yabang din ng lalaking 'to ah! Manliligaw pa lang pero ang assurance sa relationship, sobra pa sa magkasintahan!

Carter came back before he could answer. Tinitigan ni Carter ang katabi na sarap-sarap sa kapeng inorder niya. She noticed how Rook was all over her personal space now. Magkatabi na ang upuan nila. With a sigh, she sat down the chair, letting his hand rest on her shoulder and she leaned back on his arms.

"Gusto mo?" tukoy niya sa kape.

"Masarap, bossmam. Ano inorder mo?" Rook asked, pushing his coffee towards Carter. "Palit tayo."

"That's french vanilla." she sipped on his drink. "What's this? Iced Americano?"

Tumango si Rook at mahinang natawa. "'Yan kasi inorder mo last time."

She rolled her eyes, accidentally landing her gaze on Klaus who was staring disgustingly at them. Nang mahanap ang mata ni Carter, he mouthed, 'Seryoso?'

Carter ignored him. Kasalanan niya 'yan.

"Anyway, it was nice seeing you, Klaus, but I have to go. Baka kung ano na iniisip ni Natalie doon."

Klaus eyes' sparkled at the mention of her friend's name. Kaagad itong tumango. They bid their farewells outside the cafe at may handshake pa ulit na ginawa ang dalawang lalaki. Rook offered to walk her to the apartment. Aalis din siya at magkikita na lang daw sila doon sa resort dahil baka ipakulong siya ni Natalie kapag nakita. 

Konti lang ang dumadaang sasakyan kaya tahimik din ang nangyaring paglalakad. Hinawakan ni Rook ang kamay niya at itinago sa bulsa ng jacket. They quietly savored the noises around them. The sounds of shop doors opening and closing, the conversations from a couple behind them, and the joyful greetings of strangers. 

"Close ba kayo no'ng classmate mo, bossmam?"

Napaisip si Carter sa tanong. "I guess? He's the closest classmate I have since we talk outside class."

"Nagte-text din kayo?"

"Well, yeah. He has some questions about our lesson sometimes. Minsan naman..." nagtatanong kay Natalie, Carter wanted to add but she just laughed it off. "Wala. Mga walang-kabuluhan."

Natigilan si Rook kaya sinulyapan siya ni Carter. He was looking at her with pure accusation in his eyes. 

"So masaya din siyang kausap, bossmam?!"

She tilted her head. "No...? Not really."

Napangiti agad ng malaki si Rook. "Siyempre, miss! Ako lang ang hyper at masayang nagti-text sa'yo. 'Saka... may pagkaseryoso din ang lalaking 'yon."

"Yeah, that's what I like about him too. He's fun but he knows when to get serious."

Muling bumalik ang offense sa mukha ni Rook. He pointed at himself. "A-Ako din naman, bossmam. 'Diba may times na seryoso din ako?"

Carter couldn't help her chuckle. She knew it was impossible for Rook to not have any reaction since Klaus announced that he likes her. Pero... masaya din siya na hindi masyadong nagseselos si Rook. There were a lot of instances in the past where she would be flirted or courted, but Rook would handle it maturely. May pagka-isip bata minsan ang pagselos, but he was never hostile. Siguro nga, it's because Rook is certain of his position in Carter's life that no one could possibly be a threat. 

Napailing siya't lumapit sa lalaki. She tiptoed to reach his height. Pinitik niya ito sa noo.

"I thought you weren't jealous? Haven't I assured you enough?"

Ngumuso si Rook. "Gwapo kasi 'yon, Carter, tapos may pagka-ako. Katext mo pa. Tapos... hindi mo pa din naman ako sinasagot."

He looked so sad and heartbroken that smiling at his reaction may be insensitive, pero hindi mapigilan ni Carter ang sarili.

Hm... Maybe her assurances still weren't enough. She thought.

"Nagtanong ka ba ulit?"

"Ha?"

Carter took a small step back. She tilted her head and looked at Rook, teasingly.

"Sabi ko," ngumiti siya. "Nagtanong ka ba ulit para sagutin ko?"