The year was 2003. It was the first day of school. Bagong salta ang pamilya ni Andy sa bayan. He missed the summer classes but his parents insisted on enrolling him in the local high school. He thought that he would still go back to Manila to continue his studies, pero lahat silang magkakapatid, doon na sa probinsya pinag-aral.

He had a chip on his shoulder back then, so sure that he would be one of the most brilliant students in that high school. He graduated first in his class back in 6th grade. Hakot ang special awards. Athlete. Panalo sa debate. Paborito ng mga guro. First section since grade one. He really thought he was going to dominate all classes just because he assumed the teachings in the city were more advanced than in the province.

He did get half of it right. Some of the lessons that were taught, especially at the start of his freshman year, napag-aralan na niya. Kaya suki siya ng recitation. Pero nang tumagal, nakasabay din ang mga kaklase niya. Mabilis maka-pick up ang mga ito. Lalo na iyong kulot niyang kaklase sa bandang unahan. Palaging nakataas ang kamay nito kapag nagtatas siya ng kamay.

The silent competition between them was instant. Kapag wala nang makasagot, sila na lamang dalawa ang pagpipilian ng teachers. And even when he already got the correct answer, she would sometimes chime in to add to what he said. One of the teachers liked their dynamic, that it became a recurring thing.

"Correct, Ms. Palomino. Mr. San Gabriel, may idadagdag ka?"

Iyong plano niyang maging bida-bida sa klase, nauwi sa seryosohang aral dahil sa kaklase niyang ayaw magpatalo.

He knew what having a crush meant. At his age, he was pretty aware of feelings that budding hearts were attuned to. He just didn't think it was that.

Ang crush kasi niya noon ay si Jewel. More accurately, ang akala niyang crush niya noon ay si Jewel. Maganda si Jewel. Saka magaling sumayaw. Matalino rin, pero hindi nakikipagkumpitensya sa kanila. Tuwing may program sila sa school, ito ang pambato. Jewel was also voted as the muse of the class. Siya naman ang escort.

And then, Niki came out of nowhere. Challenged him everyday. Annoyed him with her brilliance. She looked okay, nothing special about her looks. Except for that head of curly hair that looked unkempt... but on purpose.

Maybe because they were pitted against each other often that he became hyper-aware of her. Kasi palagi siyang nakaabang kung magtataas ito ng kamay. Kasi nasanay siya sa boses nitong palaging sinasalungat ang mga sagot niya.

He made sure to always get her paper to check during quizzes. He would often leave annoying notes whenever he was sure he would get a higher grade. Makaungos lang siya ng isang puntos, akala mo award na ang nakuha niya.

In his head, he was just being competitive. Iba na pala iyon pero hindi niya alam. He was not aware of that feeling until later.

Nang maging first honor si Jewel, naging magkaibigan naman sila ni Niki. Studying brought them together against a common enemy (who was not even aware that they viewed her as a threat). They realized then that outside their studies, they have so much other stuff to talk about (and argue about).

Maalaga si Niki. Mahilig naman siyang manlibre. They naturally clicked as friends.

–

It was Andy's first time having a girl (space) friend, who also happened to be his rival and his crush (na hindi pa rin niya alam na crush niya). Naturally, he was not sure how to treat her. Sometimes, he would treat her like a guy and he would be gross and annoying. Sometimes, he would treat her like a girl and he would help her carry her stuff and walk her home from school.

Niki didn't mind how she was treated, as long as she was treated with respect, like a friend.

But to the people around them, iba na pala ang dating ng actions nila sa isa't isa. Their classmates assumed that he was courting Niki. An assumption that they both denied incessantly, from the moment the rumors started until today.

He never admitted to Niki that he had an off-and-on crush on her. He didn't want to make things awkward between them. The feelings didn't linger too long to develop into anything, anyway.

It comes and it goes. Whenever it is there, he lets himself feel it and then lets it go.

Who knew old feelings could resurface just like that? Andy's silly little crush on Niki might have come back because of the test date they just had. Hopefully, it wouldn't linger for long. But that kiss did surely linger.

It lingered while he was picking up pieces of popcorn off of the floor. It was still there while he arranged the bouquet of flowers into a vase. It stayed while he was washing the dishes.

And even when he was already lying on his bed, staring at the glow-in-the-dark stickers on the ceiling of his room, it was still there.

He touched his cheek. Maybe it was time to admit to himself that those feelings never left?

–

Andrew

I think I like Niki.

Mike

Whoa. WHOA

PJ

😳

I mean we knew it all along.

Buti naman inamin mo na sa sarili mo

Mike

Anong plano mo?

Will you tell her?

Andrew

No

PJ

Why not?

Andrew

Because it's Niki

Mike

What do you mean, bro?

Babae pa rin si Niki

Andrew

Niki is Niki

She's in her own category

PJ

And what category is that?

Andrew

Just Niki

She's just Niki

Mike

What does that even mean lol

Andrew

It means that nothing has to change

PJ

Bakit mo pa sinabi samin yung feelings mo wala ka naman palang gagawin

Andrew

Wala lang haha

Gusto ko lang may mapagsabihan

I can't tell her

Obviously

So you'll do

And don't tell the others

–

Niki was up early the following day. Past seven gumising si Andy para magluto ng breakfast since he doesn't eat breakfast early and Niki wakes up at around 9AM. Pero pagkalabas niya ng kwarto, kakarating lamang nito galing sa labas.

"Morning!" she greeted, quite exuberantly.

"Morning," he muttered as he stifled a yawn. "Ang aga mo naman yata?"

"Ah yeah. Nag-jogging lang ako," sabi nito. Although he already knew that because she was in her active wear and she was sweating profusely. Humihingal pa ito.

Sa ilang buwan niyang nakatira sa unit nito, first time niyang makitang mag-exercise si Niki except for that time when he was encouraging her to exercise with him.

"I made coffee," nakangiti nitong sabi bago ito pumunta ng kwarto nito para kumuha ng bihisan.

"Sana dinamay mo na yung breakfast," sabi niya pagkalabas nitong muli.

Niki stuck her tongue out before heading to the shower.

"Maliligo ka na? Mamaya pa date mo."

"Maliligo uli ako mamaya," sagot nito. "Luto ka ng tuna omelette ah. Isangag mo yung rice sa ref," utos nito bago ito pumasok ng banyo.

Sighing, Andy took a few cloves of garlic to mince saka inipon nito ang ingredients para gumawa ng tuna omelette.

–

Andy spent the entire day working. He was kinda glad that he had work. Distracted siya maghapon so he didn't have time to think about anything else other than work. He only saw Niki once when he was cooking lunch and she came out because she was already hungry.

When he looked up at the clock again, pasado alas sais na.

"Shit." He clicked his tongue. He immediately shut his computer down and clocked off work before heading out to check if Niki had already left. Naabutan niya itong naglalagay ng mascara sa banyo.

She gave him a smile when she noticed him standing on the doorway. Humarap ito sa kanya at ipinakita ang suot pati ang makeup. "What do you think?"

"You'll do," he replied dismissively, which made her scowl. Nginitian niya ito. "Saan kayo magkikita?"

"Susunduin nya raw ako sa lobby. Ano'ng oras na ba?"

He looked at the clock in the living room. "Almost 6:30PM."

Napamura nang mahina si Niki. She pushed him aside and then, she dashed back to her room to get her shoes. Sumalampak ito sa sofa para magsapatos. While she was fumbling with her shoes, her phone rang.

Sinilip niya 'yong screen. "It's Jake."

"Pasagot naman. Pasabi pababa na 'ko."

"Okay," Andy said with a shrug before picking up the call. Jake was understandably surprised when he heard his voice, but he didn't have time to explain. Niki will surely tell him later. Sinabi lamang niyang pababa na ang kaibigan niya.

Niki snatched the phone from his hand and sprinted towards the door. "Don't wait up!"

–

Andrew

She's out on a date

Mike

Dude

PJ

You let her?

Andrew

Ako yung pumili ng date nya haha

She finally used that online app I recommended years ago

Mike

You're really serious about not wanting anything to change huh

Andrew

I guess

PJ

Magkasama pa rin ba kayo sa bahay?

Andrew

Yep

Until she finds a job

Mike

Is she looking for one?

Andrew

Napagod

She's taking a break from that

PJ

Pano yun?

Shoulder mo expenses?

Andrew

May ipon si Niki

Akala mo dun

PJ

But how long does she plan on being unemployed?

Andrew

She just needs to feel like herself again

Maybe this date would help

PJ

–

After making dinner, Andy and Ponkan sat on the couch to watch TV. He let Ponkan sit on his lap while playing with his chew toy habang siya ay kumakain ng chocolate eggheads for dessert.

But he was not paying attention to the show. He was busy checking his phone every five minutes.

To: Niki

How was dinner?

To: Niki

What was he like?

To: Niki

Ihahatid ka ba?

She has not replied to any of his texts. It was making him worry. Binuhat niya si Ponkan at saka nilaro-laro. Ponkan nibbled on his finger while he was playfully smacking its head. "I think your mom is enjoying the outside too much."

"Meh-ek-ek," sagot nito.

"Me-eh."

"Meewww."

He lifted Ponkan to his chest and sniffed his head. He instantly regretted it when he started sneezing. Medicine helps, but it doesn't cure. Isinalo niya si Ponkan sa sofa saka siya tumakbo sa kwarto para kumuha ng gamot, sneezing all the way there and back to the living room.

Pagbalik niya, sa sulok ng sofa siya sumiksik at hinaharangan niya si Ponkan gamit ang paa niya para hindi ito makalapit. But the kitten was wily and persistent. Ilang beses itong lumusot sa ilalim ng binti niya para kumandong sa kanya.

Ponkan, and cats, in general (he assumed) likes to be as close to their owners' heads as much as possible. Ponkan was no different. Minsan nga magigising na lamang siyang nangangati ang mukha dahil doon natutulog ang pusa.

He used to be Niki's kitten, pero siya ang trip na trip nitong guluhin. Ponkan especially liked sleeping on his keyboard while he worked.

–

Andy didn't realize he had already fallen asleep until he felt Ponkan's warm tongue on his cheek. He pushed the kitten away before sitting up with a grunt. He was squinting at the clock, trying to make up the time, and when he finally saw it, napatalikwas siya ng bangon.

The TV didn't change its volume. Hindi pa naka-triple lock ang pintuan. Niki would have woken him up kung nasa bahay na ito. Pasado alas dyes na ng gabi. Halos apat na oras na itong nasa labas ng bahay.

To: Niki

Di ka pa uuwi?

From: Niki

Hey!

Sorry we lost track of time

Pauwi na. Lapit na ko sa condo.

Andy turned off the TV and put Ponkan in his room before getting the unit's key and heading downstairs to wait for Niki in the lobby. Saktong pagkababa niya ng elevator ay namataan niya si Niki na lumabas ng sasakyan sa may entrance. Jake, her date, also got out of the car. Nag-usap sandali ang mga ito tapos ay tinanggal ni Niki ang mask nito at lumapit kay Jake.

She kissed Jake on the cheek and bid him good night. Nanatili itong nakatayo sa labas hanggang sa paandarin ni Jake ang sasakyan. He saw a glimpse of her smiling face when she turned to walk inside the building, before putting her mask on.