Tutok na tutok si Kelvin sa phone niya nang maramdamang may tumama sa ulo niya. He looked up to find Jace looking at him sternly, a thick folder in his hand. Iyon yata ang tumama sa ulo niya.

"What?" he asked.

"Magtrabaho ka," sagot nito.

"I am working."

"Really?" Tumaas ang kilay nito. "On your phone?"

Of course, Jace didn't believe him. Alam nitong kanina pa niya ka-text si Celine. It's almost lunch time pero wala pa siyang natatapos. And Celine needs to sleep. But he can't stop replying to her messages.

"Don't make me confiscate your phone, Kelvin," Jace warned.

He stuck his tongue out. Jace rolled his eyes and walked off. Alam naman niyang hindi nito kukumpiskahin ang phone niya. Jace can't do that. Pero hindi na rin niya aantaying mapilitan itong gawin iyon.

He should really start working.

Galit na si Jace, he typed. I'll text you later, okay?

Okay. Tulog muna ako, she replied.

Not really wanting it to end, he called her. Last na! he mouthed to Jace. Jace impatiently tapped his fingers on the table as he said 'good night' to Celine. A ten-minute good night at that.

--

This 'date' thing is really making Celine lose sleep. She doesn't want to complain because she likes going out with Kelvin. Gusto lamang niyang makabawi ng tulog pa-minsan-minsan.

Naging routine nila iyon simula noong Lunes. Inaagahan ni Kelvin ang pagpasok para sakto sa pag-uwi niya. Then, they'd have breakfast. Alas nueve na siya nakakauwi ng bahay.

Tapos, magka-text pa sila hanggang tanghali. Madalas nga niya itong makatulugan dahil antok na antok siya.

Then, she'd wake up at 5 in the afternoon dahil sabay din silang magdi-dinner. Kaya kape siya nang kape tuwing gabi, to stay awake.

Kelvin noticed this last Thursday night. Hikab kasi siya nang hikab over their dinner. Kaya nang mag-Biyernes, hinayaan na lamang siya nitong matulog nang maaga.

She slept for almost 11 hours. Gutom na gutom siya pagkagising. There were tons of messages and missed calls from him when she checked her phone. Halos drained na ang battery noon dahil dito.

She charged her phone and quickly took a bath. Twenty percent pa lamang ang battery pero kinailangan na niyang umalis dahil hinihintay na raw siya ni Kelvin sa office. Even Yuan was making her hurry. May dala raw kasi itong pagkain.

Sinuklay lamang niya ang basang buhok saka nag-polbo pagkatapos magbihis. But when she looked in the mirror and saw her reflection looking drab, she slumped on her chair and sighed.

She can't let him see her like this.

"Ugh!"

Ginulo niya ang buhok at saka muling tumingin sa salamin. Why does she have to look so drab tonight? Why does she even care? He doesn't. Pero iyon siguro ang pagkakaiba ng mga lalaki sa mga babae. Girls will always be self-conscious.

Itinapat niya ang basing buhok sa electric fan at saka madaliang pinatuyo. Then she put on a light makeup, just enough to not look so pale. Palagi siyang ayos na ayos simula noong Lunes. Ngayong Biyernes na, saka naman siya nagmukhang tinamad. Even her jeans look so frumpy that night.

Magpapalit pa sana siya ng damit nang tumawag na naman si Kelvin. Nagdali-dali na tuloy siya pagpasok.

--

Naabutan niya ang tatlong kumakain sa pantry. Mukhang inaantok na si Kelvin nang dumating siya. His eyes look so droopy.

"Bakit ang tagal mo?" kunot-noong tanong ni Yuan sa kanya. "Muntik ka na naming ubusan."

She raised an eyebrow. Sa dami ng pagkain, kahit pati 'yong guard sa lobby, pwedeng kumain. She made a mental note to give the old man some pizza later.

"Have you eaten?" Kelvin asked.

Umiling siya. "Mahihimatay na nga ako sa gutom, e."

His eyebrows furrowed in concern. Pinaupo siya nito, ipinaglagay ng pasta at pizza sa paper plate saka sinabihang kumain ng marami.

"Umuwi ka na. Mukhang antok na antok ka na," sabi niya rito.

"Kanina ka pa kasi hinihintay," singit ni Kiko.

"Kumain ka nang marami, okay?"

She nodded. "Oo na. Sige na. Umuwi ka na nang makatulog ka."

He reminded her again to eat plenty. Kahit sina Yuan ay sinabihan nitong pakainin siya ng marami bago ito umalis. Yuan and Kiko were all smiles when Kelvin left. They even imitated the scene earlier. Natawa na lamang siya dahil sobrang cheesy pala.

"Kayo na ba?"

"Hindi."

"Bakit?" kunot-noong tanong ni Kiko. "Hindi mo pa sinasagot? Parang kayo na kasi."

"Hindi naman nagtatanong, pa'no ko sasagutin?"

"So, ano 'yan?" tanong naman ni Yuan. "M.U-M.U. na lang? Nako, magulo 'yan. Parang kayo pero hindi."

"Pwede kang magpaligaw sa iba," dagdag ni Kiko. "Pwede rin syang manligaw sa iba. Kasi hindi naman kayo."

"May understanding naman kami. Yata."

"Pero hanggang understanding lang. Pa'no kapag naging misunderstanding sya one day?"

"Huwag na nga nating pag-usapan 'yan," she told them. "Nawawalan ako ng ganang kumain."

--

Kelvin didn't join her for breakfast the next day. She figured that he's still asleep. So pag-uwi niya sa bahay, natulog agad siya. Nagising siya nang magtanghali dahil sa init ng kwarto niya.

She checked her phone and saw that he called again. Tinext niya ito para ipaalam na gising na siya. Right after sending the message, tumawag ito ulit. Inaaya siya nitong pumunta sa bahay ng parents nito for lunch. Susunduin daw siya nito in an hour.

Nagmadali siya sa pag-aayos. He told her to dress nicely or to bring extra clothes (whichever she wants), because they'll be going to Antipolo later to attend a birthday party. Friend daw nito noong high school na sampung taon na nitong hindi nakikita. He didn't want to feel left out so he asked her to come with him. Para raw may kausap ito. Pero hindi siya naniniwalang mali-left out ito roon. Si Kelvin pa. He's Mr. Congeniality after all.

--

When they arrived at the house, Celine received a warm welcome from Kelvin's family. Even his dad, her boss, was welcoming. She never felt more at home.

As usual, masarap ang pananghalian, at animo'y piyesta sa dami ng nakahanda sa lamesa. After the scrumptious meal, Kelvin's brothers led her to the gaming room to teach her how to play console games. She couldn't keep up but they didn't seem to care.

Matapos ang halos isang oras na pagtuturo ng mga ito sa kanya, tinawag naman siya ng mommy ni Kelvin para turuan daw na gumawa ng fondant decorations.

Enjoy na enjoy siya dahil lahat ay nakisali, even Kian and Kristoff. Nang matapos sila, inilagay nila iyon sa isang bilog na chiffon cake. Kelvin told her that they'll bring it to his friend's birthday party.

Alas singko ng hapon nang umalis sila. Sa sasakyan, panay ang tanong niya tungkol sa mga kaibigan ni Kelvin. Alam kasi niyang kailangan niyang pakibagayan ang mga ito. She was hoping that they'll like her, as if she needs their approval to be with Kelvin. Ganoon naman kasi talaga. Malaki ang say ng mga kaibigan sa mga ganoong bagay. Mahirap kasi kapag hindi siya magugustuhan ng mga ito.

Kelvin told her that he hasn't seen them in ten years, kaya parang strangers na rin ang tingin nito sa mga iyon ngayon. Hindi raw nito alam kung kagaya pa rin ba ng dati ang mga ito o kung ibang-iba na ang mga ito sa dati.

"Iba naman kapag high school friends," she told him. "Kami nga, e, kahit hindi madalas magkita, kapag nagkita-kita naman, parang hindi nagkahiwalay ng ilang taon. Familiar na kami sa isa't isa."

"Depende pa rin siguro sa friends."

"Huwag kang mag-alala. For sure, gano'n pa rin sila. May nabago lang, pero may familiarity pa rin. Mas mag-alala ka para sa 'kin. Baka gisahin nila 'ko mamaya."

He smirked. "I won't let that happen, don't worry."

--

They arrived at the venue moments later. Kelvin told her that his friend rented the whole place for his birthday party. Akala niya ay family and friends ang nandoon. Sit-down dinner, gano'n. Or buffet. She was surprised to see people drinking and smoking inside.

There's food all right, pero pampulutan lang. Hindi pa naman sila kumain bago umalis kina Kelvin dahil akala nila'y kainan ang pupuntahan nila. Inuman lang pala.

Kelvin led her to where his friends were.

She frowned at the dresses the women were wearing. They were either too short or too tight. And too revealing.

She felt a little left out in her knee-length dress. Mukha siyang magsisimba.

Kelvin immediately became the center of attention, especially among the women around. She could tell by the looks they're giving him that they're thinking of ways to bring him home. The only thing stopping them from making a move was the fact that he's holding her hand.

"Happy birthday, Dino!" Kelvin greeted.

Dino, the birthday boy, was more than happy to see Kelvin. He even accepted the cake although no one seems to want to eat it. Binigyan nito kaagad ng maiinom si Kelvin. The latter accepted, but said that he'll only drink that one shot because he still has to drive home.

Tinagayan din siya pero hinarang iyon ni Kelvin.

Everyone's eyes were suddenly on her.

"Bago mong girlfriend?" Dino asked Kelvin.

Kelvin didn't answer the question. He introduced her instead. Kagaya ng hinala niya, iyong mga lalaki ang dating kaklase ni Kelvin. And some girls mingling on the side. Pero 'yong mga nakaupo kasama nina Dino, mga ka-date lang ng mga ito. The girls are eyeing her with envy, and a little disgust, she thought. She chose to ignore them.

--

Habang nagkikwentuhan ang mga ito, siya naman ay kuha nang kuha ng finger food dahil nagugutom na siya. Sumasali lamang siya sa usapan kapag tinatanong siya ng mga ito.

They were pretty interested with her mother's work, lalo na nang ikwento ni Kelvin iyong attempt nitong maglinis ng isda.

"God! You're such a girl!" Dino commented.

"It's hard, I tell you! The fish was slippery!"

Dino just laughed it off.

Maya-maya ay biglang tumunog ang phone ni Kelvin. He ignored it the first time, but the caller was persistent. It turned out to be Jace.

"I have to take this," he told them. "Excuse me."

Kumapit siya sa braso nito. She gave him a pleading look.

"I'll be back, I promise."

Sumimangot siya.

"You'll be all right." He kissed her cheek before leaving.

--

Celine felt outnumbered. Kabi-kabila ang tanong ng mga ito sa kanya. But she knew that they're just interested in her because she's with Kelvin. Nevertheless, she answered every question as safely as she can.

Everything was going well, until Dino gave her a shot glass.

"Hindi ako umiinom," tanggi niya.

"Oh, come on. It's just tequila."

She grimaced.

"Please? For the birthday boy?"

Kelvin's still not around. Natagalan na ito sa labas kaya wala na siyang nagawa. Isa lang naman.

Who'd have thought na napakatapang ng pinainom ni Dino na tequila sa kanya? She almost coughed the alcohol out.

Inabutan siya ng isang kasama nito ng isang baso na may lamang iced tea. Nakakakalahati na siya nang mapansin niyang iba ang lasa ng iced tea. They were all grinning when she put the glass down.

"Ano 'to?"

"Beer," one girl answered.

Halos masuka siya nang malasahan iyon. Pakiramdam niya'y masusuka na siya sa nalaman. One girl took pity on her and handed her the pineapple juice.

"May halo rin 'yan," Dino said.

Pakiramdam niya'y pinaglalaruan siya ng mga ito. She was glad when Kelvin finally came back. He was furious when he learned that they made her drink.

"Sa kotse na lang ako," sabi niya rito. But he insisted na umuwi na lamang sila. Inalalayan siya nito pabalik sa sasakyan, then he drove off.

Hilong-hilo na siya sa daan. Ang lakas ng epekto ng mga alak na ipinainom sa kanya kanina.

"K—"

Too late. She vomited all over his dashboard. Kelvin immediately stopped the car and helped her get out of the car. Sumuka siya sa tabi ngdaan. Her head was spinning. What did they put in her drink? O dahil lang ba sa gutom siya kaya ganoon ang reaksyon niya sa alak?

He muttered his apologies habang hinahagot nito ang likod niya. When she was done, pinahiga siya nito sa backseat. She couldn't remember what happened next.