Celine was worried. It's like this every time. Tuwing pagsasabihan niya si Kelvin, nagtatampo ito at bigla na lamang hindi magpaparamdam. She didn't ask him to stay away. She just asked him to give her and Yuan some alone time, because it feels like he's acting like a third wheel. Ayaw naman niyang gawin iyon sa kaibigan niya. Naranasan na niyang maging third wheel dati. It's not a very nice feeling.

Pero heto nga't ilang araw na siyang walang naririnig mula rito. Kapag nagtatanong naman siya kay Janelle, sinasabi naman nitong nagkakausap ang dalawa. They even have lunch together. Maybe she worded her feelings wrong? Why was he acting so sensitive anyway?

"Uy."

She lost her train of thought when she felt Yuan nudged her. He gave her a worried look. Nakatunganga na naman siguro siya.

"Ha?"

"You're spacing out. Okay ka lang?"

"Oo. Sorry. Ang tahimik kasi."

Kapag nandoon si Kelvin, hindi pwedeng manahimik sila kahit ilang minuto. He makes sure to fill up the room with his voice, kapag nananahimik na silang dalawa ni Yuan dahil sa trabaho. Sila kasing dalawa, kumportable kahit hindi nagsasalita. Basta may music.

"Nami-miss mo?" tanong nito.

She shrugged. "Konti."

"I-text mo kaya? Papuntahin mo rito."

"Okay lang?"

Yuan nodded. "Oo naman. Kaibigan mo naman 'yon."

She's thankful that Yuan understands. Basta huwag lang sobra siguro o araw-araw na nandoon si Kelvin. Gusto rin naman niyang maka-close nito ang mga kaibigan niya, especially Kelvin and Janelle. Pero ayaw ni Janelle rito at si Kelvin naman, nagtatampo.

-

"Hindi naman nagri-reply," simangot niyang sabi maya-maya. Usually, it would take about a few seconds before Kelvin replies. Palagi iyon. Kaya nga alam kaagad niya kapag nagtatampo ito.

"Tawagan mo kaya," Yuan suggested.

"Baka hindi sagutin."

Yuan handed her his phone. "Call from my phone."

She thanked him and dialled Kelvin's number. Sa pangatlong ring ay sumagot ito. It's noisy on his end so he's definitely not at home. Iba't ibang boses ang naririnig niya sa background, tapos parang may tumutugtog na banda.

"Hello? Who's this?"

"U-Uy."

"Yes?"

"Ako 'to." He didn't answer right away. "Kelvin?"

"Yes. Hi."

"Galit ka ba? Hindi ka kasi nagri-reply."

Yuan got up and mouthed that he'll just get coffee for the both of them. It was scary being alone in that room, but she needed the privacy.

"No. I was just busy. Sorry," sagot nito. "I actually meant to call you. Tuloy pa ba kayo sa Wonderland?"

"Oo. Ikaw ba?"

"Yeah. I guess I'll see you there? I'm bringing date. And Janelle and Marlon will also be there. We can have dinner together."

"Okay. Sige. Sabihan ko si Yuan."

"Okay. See you then," he said then hung up.

--

Kelvin sighed. Hindi talaga pwedeng lumipas ang isang linggo na completely walang interaction with Celine. Why is she like that? The moment he pulls away, saka ito magkukusang lumapit sa kanya. Kaya tuloy hindi siya makalayo-layo.

"Hey." Naramdaman niyang may tumapik sa balikat niya. He looked up and saw Gaile smiling down on him. "Tapos na 'ko."

Naupo ito sa tabi niya. He's been going to this resto bar for three days straight already. Noong gabing nagkita sila ni Kate, he stayed for a bit longer para makilala ang singer na kulay asul ang buhok. Now, they're already friends.

Gaile's not hard to talk to. She's actually very nice. Siguro dahil sanay na rin itong nilalapitan ng tao.

-

Her singing stint ends at nine thirty. Tuwing matatapos ito sa pagkanta, pupunta ito sa table niya tapos magkikwentuhan sila. He learned that Gaile's also coming to the Wonderland concert that coming Saturday. Aayain sana niya ito because he has VIP tickets, but she told him na may VIP tickets din ito na bigay ng manager nito. So, they agreed na mag-aya pa ng isang couple to go with them to the concert and because he doesn't want it to be Celine and Yuan, inaya na lamang niya si Janelle at ang boyfriend nito.

Janelle already met Gaile and the two got along just fine. Although, gusto pa rin ni Janelle na huwag niyang sukuan si Celine.

Magandang distraction si Gaile from Celine. Instead of going to Celine's place like he used to, sa resto bar na lamang siya tumatambay to see Gaile. At kapag kausap niya ito, nakakalimutan niya si Celine. Well, almost. She still enters his mind every now and then pero hindi kagaya nang mga nakaraang araw na halos ito na lamang ang laman ng utak niya maghapon.

"Nga pala, I invited some friends to join us for dinner before the concert. Is that okay with you?"

"Sure!" nakangiti nitong sagot. "The more, the merrier."

Kapareho niya itong madaling makisama sa tao. Magaan kaagad ang loob nito sa iba, kaya naman magaan din ang loob ng iba rito. Kahit si Janelle na iffy at first, nakapalagayan ito ng loob. Gaile's blue hair was a big help. Janelle couldn't stop raving about it.

-

He was actually not going to mention that he'll be bringing someone to the concert, but there's just this urge to show Celine that he's not that into her... though she probably doesn't realize that he's really into her. Still... he couldn't help but brag that he'll be going out with someone. Ilang buwan na rin kasi mula noong huli niyang relationship.

He's okay with being single. Hindi naman malungkot ang maging single. Siguro sa ibang pagkakataon, mai-enjoy niya iyon. Ang kaso, kaya lang naman siya single ay dahil may ibang gusto 'yong babaeng gusto niya.

Napabuntong-hininga siya. Si Celine na naman...

--

Saturday.

Celine met up with Yuan during lunch. She didn't know if it actually counted as a date, pero libre nito at silang dalawa lang. Hindi naman siya nagtanong dahil nahihiya siya. Iba kasi kapag alam mong nanliligaw sa 'yo 'yong tao tapos lalabas kayo na kayong dalawa lang. There are expectations, it's inevitable.

Lucky for her, Yuan's very casual about it. He didn't treat it as a date, which lessened the pressure. Chill lang sila, like two workmates hanging out.

Kahit hindi siya masyadong nag-ayos ay okay lang dito. Unang concert niya ang pupuntahan nila mamayang gabi, so she didn't know what to wear. Also, wala rin talaga siyang magandang masusuot dahil puro jeans at shirts lang naman ang meron siya. Karamihan sa mga blouse niya, work appropriate. And wearing a dress would be too much for her.

But Yuan's okay with her wearing a simple shirt and jeans. In fact, he's wearing the same thing. Dahilan nito, nakatayo lang naman sila sa concert kaya hindi na niya kailangang todo ayos.

-

They met with Janelle and Marlon bandang alas kwatro ng hapon, then Kelvin and his date arrived before six. Maganda ang date nito at mukhang astig. She's wearing a pair of distressed denim shorts, a loose white tank top that barely covers her tummy and a pair of black combat boots. May stud earrings din ito, choker at spunky bracelet. And then, to top that off, she has blue hair!

She would never, in a million years, try that. Hindi kasi siya cool kagaya nito.

Kelvin introduced them. Gaile Caceres daw ang pangalan nito and she works as a part-time singer sa isang resto bar at may banda rin ito. They immediately liked her because of that.

-

Sa isang restaurant, na kaunting lakad lang ang layo sa venue, sila kumain. While eating, they talked about a lot of things, including what to do on holy week, sa darating na Abril. She originally planned on spending it at work, kasi ayaw niyang umuwi sa kanila. As much as possible, gugugulin na lamang niya sa trabaho ang holiday niya.

Hindi naman sila required na pumasok, but they were encouraged to do so, dahil hindi naman damay ang US doon.

"Sayang. Aayain ko pa naman sana kayo sa Palawan," Kelvin told them.

"Sama!" Janelle exclaimed. Kumapit ito sa fiancé nito. "Babe, sama tayo!"

Napakamot ng ulo si Marlon. "Titingnan ko pa. Hindi kasi pwedeng lahat kami naka-leave sa holy week."

Kelvin turned to them. "Kayo?"

"Hindi ko sure, e," sagot niya. Binalingan niya si Yuan at tinanong, "Ikaw, gusto mong sumama?"

"Oo. Okay lang."

"Sumama na kayo para marami tayo!" sabat ni Janelle. "Para triple date!"

She kinda liked the idea. She's never been to Palawan so nakaka-excite kung iisipin na makapupunta siya. And it'll be for a few days. Ilang araw na puro pagliliwaliw lang ang gagawin nila.

"I can talk to Jake, if you want," Kelvin told them. "May counterpart naman kayong team sa US, di ba? They can do your job for a few days."

Nagkatinginan sila ni Yuan. Yuan smiled and nodded. So she said okay as well. Nang mapapayag nila si Marlon ay nag-set na sila ng date para makapag-file ng kanya-kanyang leave. Sagot na raw ni Kelvin ang hotel accommodations nila. Pamasahe na lamang ang gagastusin.

--

Agad silang nagpunta sa concert venue pagkakain. Sa isang open area ang concert. Nasa harapan ang stage at divided ang sections. Pinakamalapit syempre ang VIP, then followed by another section, and then, yung pwesto nila ni Yuan.

Yuan's still apologetic dahil malayo sila, but she told him not to worry. After all, may large screen naman para sa close up ng artists.

Puro mosh pit ang nandoon, walang upuan. Kung gustong maupo, libre naman sa damuhan. But who would want that though? Matatakpan sila for sure.

The concert started at eight and it will end at twelve midnight.

Bago pa man mag-opening song, inaya na siya ni Yuan sa ilang food stalls para bumili ng makakain nila. Ayaw nga sana niya dahil busog pa siya, but Yuan insisted.

"Nakatayo lang tayo the whole time. Bababa agad ang kinain mo. Magugutom ka rin mamaya."

"E di mamaya na lang tayo bumili."

"Gusto mo ba talagang umalis sa pwesto mo habang tumutugtog ang Up Dharma Down?"

She shook her head.

Bumili sila ng iced tea na nasa cup. Isang litro yata ang laman noon dahil sa laki. Tapos hotdog sandwich at nachos. Saka sila pumasok sa area nila at nakipagsiksikan papunta doon sa pinakang-una.

Maganda ang lighting sa stage. More on purple, blue and green ang kulay ng mga iyon kaya medyo malamig sa mata. The sky isn't exactly clear. May kalat-kalat na ulap na parang nagbabadyang umulan any moment, but people don't seem to mind.

There's an exciting atmosphere and everyone's expectant to get the best of what the night was to offer. Maya-maya lamang ay nagsimula nang tumugtog ang unang banda. People are jumping up and down. Nakataas ang kamay ng mga ito, sumasabay ang talon sa pagpitik ng drumsticks.

She, on the other hand, couldn't jump because of the food on her hands. At busog pa rin siya.

--

As the night progresses, she found herself loosening up more. The iced tea became beer and although nakakarami na siya ng inom, hindi siya nakakaramdam ng pagkalasing. Siguro ay dahil na rin sa talon siya nang talon at kanta nang kanta and the beer just becomes the sweat coming out of her pores.

It was indeed a magical night and the highlight for her was when UDD took the stage. Kahit medyo umambon ay wala siyang pakialam. They sang her all her favorite songs, and she and Yuan sang along with their already croaky voices.

As Armi sang their hit song Tadhana, Yuan put his arm around her waist and slow-danced with her under the drizzle and she thought that he would kiss her, but he didn't. He just stared at her, his eyes asking if it was okay, but she didn't get the message right away. And so when the song ended, and the magic faded, she just stood there, baffled at the kiss that didn't transpire.