"Ready ka na?" Niki asked Andy while she was setting up the camera on the tripod. Nakaupo ito sa sofa, nakatingin sa kanya.

Andy shrugged in response. Pinindot niya ang video button at saka siya pumiwesto sa tabi ni Andy. She sat on the couch with her legs crossed beneath her. May hawak siyang cue cards. Nakatagilid siya rito.

Andy clicked his tongue and motioned her to come closer. Umayos siya ng upo. "This is supposed to be Q and A. Magkaharap dapat tayo."

"It's not my interview, Niki. They're asking about us," he argued. Sighing, Niki scooted closer. Umakbay ito sa kanya habang nakikibasa sa mga tanong.

They announced their relationship last Valentine's Day. Her post got flooded with a lot of comments from their online followers, so Niki thought of addressing all questions in one video. Inipon ni Niki ang mga tanong para isahang sagot na ang magagagawa nila.

"First question," anunsyo niya.

"Hm-mm." Andy put his chin on the crook of her neck.

"From rein_cathzy: Kelan ang kasal?" She read aloud. Natawa siya sa tanong. "Grabe, pwedeng kalmahan natin? We just got together."

"You chose the questions," he reminded her.

"I just listed down all the questions." she told him. Then, she turned to face the camera. "Before we answer that, we just want to give you our thoughts on marriage."

Andy leaned back on the sofa. Tiningnan niya ito para ito ang unang sumagot.

"Me, personally, I want to get married and start a family," he told their audience. "Niki doesn't want to get married. She thinks it's a trap."

She smiled at the camera. "Yeah. I want to keep my freedom. Marriage just feels so... limiting. But..." Tiningnan niya si Andy. "...if it's with the right person who will make me feel safe and will make me feel like I will not lose my freedom, then why not?"

Andy's lips curved up to a smile. He took the cue card from her hand and read the second question. "From NotaSimpleGirl: Sino ang unang umamin?"

Nagtaas siya ng kamay. Tumawa si Andy.

"Funny story–"

She glared at him. "Shh!"

"Let me tell them, please!"

"Nakakahiya! Basta ako unang umamin. Yun na yun."

"Tell them how you did it."

Umiling siya. "They don't need to know that."

Andy gave her a pleading look. "Please?"

Niki inhaled and closed her eyes. She let out a sigh and looked back at the camera. "This is why you shouldn't get a golden retriever for a boyfriend."

Tumawa nang malakas si Andy. Napangiti naman siya.

"Okay. So... I confessed to him on my birthday. He was washing the dishes and I had this silly idea..." She hesitated for a bit. Andy put his hand on her thigh and squeezed it. He nodded, encouraging her to continue. "I uhm... I placed a broom on the floor between us. And I said..."

"You stepped over it first."

"Right. So I stepped over it... and I said, 'I'm crossing the line'". Tinakpan niya ang mukha pagkasabi noon. "It was embarrassing, I know."

"It was hilarious!" Andy said in agreement. "I will remind her every year on her birthday."

"Please don't!"

Natatawa itong lumapit sa kanya at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. His hand was now on her waist. He gave her the cue card back.

"Okay. Moving on. From _euphoriality: What's your favorite thing about your partner?"

"I'll answer this one first," sabi ni Andy sa kanya. "My favorite thing about you is... everything about you."

Niki made a face. "Please don't give a cheesy answer."

"I'm not kidding," seryoso nitong sabi.

"I know. But can you be specific?"

Andy pulled her closer to him. "Okay. Hmm... I guess if I have to be specific, it would be your willingness to try. You don't say never. You just say not yet. When you don't know something, you try doing it. You tried cooking for me. You tried crocheting hats. You tried... making a vlog. I know it's frustrating when things don't go your way, but you don't let the fear of failure paralyze you."

"But I do."

"Only sometimes." He smiled and gave her a peck on the lips. "Your turn."

Niki wrapped her left arm around his waist. "For me, my favorite thing about Andy is that he makes me feel safe. He is my safe space. And it didn't start last month. He's been this way ever since we became friends, so alam mong totoo. Saka hindi lang ako yung nakakaramdam nito. He's like this with everyone."

"One of the women I've previously dated didn't like that. Kasi bakit daw mabait din ako sa ibang babae," kumento ni Andy nang may kasamang tawa.

"Para sa akin naman kasi, if I'm always scared to lose you to someone else, then I shouldn't be with you in the first place. Kasi kung madali ka naman palang maagaw, then it wasn't worth having you."

Andy nodded. "From i_am_angel4: Oh this is for me. For Andy, if Niki hadn't made the first move by crossing the line, would you have done it? I was actually already thinking about it. She confessed to me past midnight. Ang plano ko mga kinabagabihan pa ng birthday nya." He let out a laugh. "I've always wanted to tell her how I feel. But I was hesitant because I was her safe space. And I didn't want that to change."

"Aww." She touched his cheek. "But you know what? While you were so scared that everything would change, I was hoping that they would."

Niki read the next question: "From: _euphoriality: Anong advice niyo sa mga taong inlove din sa bestfriends nila? For me, honestly, depende sa gusto mong mangyari. If you just want to unburden yourself and you're okay with whatever outcome, then tell them. But if you don't want things to change, then keep your feelings to yourself. Or feel it out. Baka naman naghihintayan pala kayo."

"Ako ang advice ko... don't feel entitled to their love. Loving them doesn't mean that they will automatically feel the same."

"I'll read the next one again. From rozen_elish: when was that time you knew you're romantically into him/her? And— Finally! You were like the slow burn dramas I watch where I want to hold both your heads just for you two to kiss already at mag-aminan na. But let me just say that I just know Niki did the first confession 😂." Niki smiled at the comment. "Honestly? For me, it was when Andy kissed me."

"Really?"

"Hm-mm. Alam mo yung para syang isang pinto sa bahay na palagi mong nadadaanan pero di binubuksan. The possibility is always there. I just refused to consider it for a long time," sagot niya. "Ikaw? Kelan?"

"Hmm..." Tumingala ito. Tumingala rin siya. Andy tilted his head back down and answered, "Ako kasi... it comes and it goes e. I like you then I don't. Then I like you again. Then I don't again. But the last time that I felt it, it wasn't going away."

Niki looked back at the camera. "If you're going to ask if I had a crush on him in high school, the plain truth is that I was more annoyed by him than anything. That was before we became friends. Kapag nagiging friend ko naman na ang isang tao, nagku-compartmentalize na ako sa utak ko. Kapag friend, friend lang. Kapag boyfriend, boyfriend lang.

Nagkaka-crush lang din ako sa isang tao kapag hindi ko pa sya gaanong kilala. I know Andy inside and out and I just recently found him attractive. I mean, he's attractive. Conventionally, pero..."

"You're blabbering."

"Sorry. Edit mo na lang." Niki handed him back the cue card for the next question.

"Ang dami naman nito. From yerilala: Ideal date nyo pong dalawa? Alin po mas prefer nyo hiking or beach together? Theme po ng wedding nyo in the future? Question for Andy. Bakit di mo sya sinubukan ligawan dati?" Napakamot si Andy sa ulo. "Do you want to answer first?"

"Ikaw muna."

"Okay. Uhm... Ideal date? Concert ng favorite nating 90s singer. Any of them. We know all the words to their songs and we would just sing our hearts out. Also, hot air balloon rides. Between hiking and the beach, I'd prefer the beach. Wedding theme? Superhero theme? Pwede ba yun?"

"Seriously?"

Tumawa ito. "I'm kidding. I don't know. Niki will plan the wedding and I'll just do whatever she tells me to."

"So wala kang input, ganon?"

"Meron naman. Siguro. I really don't know yet. And a question for me... I think I've answered this already?"

"Cut na lang natin tapos isunod natin sa tanong yung sagot mo kanina?"

He shrugged. "Okay. Your turn."

"My ideal date is a movie marathon. Yung tipong magdamag. Andy will make all the snacks."

"She's not that hard to please," Andy said to the camera.

"I'm really not. Basta may effort at alam na gusto kong gawin, okay lang sa 'kin. I can dress up or dress down. Okay lang sa 'kin."

"Even naked?"

"Shh!" She covered his mouth with her hand. "Uhm, yung next na tanong? Ah, right. Beach or hiking. Honestly, gusto kong maka-experience ng sunrise sa tuktok ng bundok, pero ayokong umakyat ng bundok. So I guess I'll just settle with the sunrise and sunset at the beach. Saka gusto ko ng early morning conversations at the beach, yung bago pa lang sumikat ang araw.

"Wedding theme? Whimsical. Gusto kong magmukhang fairy sa kasal ko."

"I didn't know that."

"Now you do. Next question. From ColouredBows: to Nicky. Nung "friends" pa kayo, never ka ba talaga nagselos? Actually I did get jealous a few times. But it was because I thought may aagaw na ng posisyon ko as the best friend. And there was even a time that I was really insecure because Andy seemed to like this girl, to the point na nagka-cancel sya ng mga lakad namin, bihira nya na akong maalala... ayun. I think we almost had a falling out because of that. But then, one time, naligaw ako somewhere in Caloocan. Wala pang Grab noon so I didn't know what to do. I called PJ. Then PJ called Andy. And Andy came to get me. He was on a date with his girlfriend that time. Tapos a few weeks later, nag-break na sila." Tiningnan niya nang mataman si Andy. "Was it because of me? Sabi nina Jewel ako raw ang dahilan."

"I think so. I can't really remember since it's been a long time, but it's probably true," Andy answered. "Next? Malapit nang matapos."

"Yeah."

"From Chiaraaawr: To Andy, what's your fave food? Or if ever, mag-aaral na talaga si Niki magluto, anong ipapa-luto mo? Haha. My favorite food is menudo. Kumpleto with raisins, peas, potatoes, bell peppers... but Niki has to cook menudo for several consecutive months para makuha nya yung tamang timpla na gusto ko."

"And that's why si Andy na lang palagi ang magluluto," biro niya. "Okay. She also has a question for me. To Niki, aling trait/s ni Andy (bukod sa marunong sya magluto) ang nag-pa-fall sayo? Andy has so many attractive traits. But they didn't necessarily make me fall. I have liked them about him ever since. His love for his family. His humor. His fidelity in his relationships. His care for people. I think it's good to remember that good qualities could exist in people and you still won't fall for them. And likewise, people could be awful and you could still fall for them. Because attraction isn't something we can choose or control."

"Okay. Last from hachidel: To Andy. 1. What song reminds you of Niki? 2. If you only have a day to spend before dying, what would you do? 3. Are you fine with adopting more cats in the future? 4. If Niki is a line in a poetry, is she " the scarlet kiss of the sunset" or "the embrace of the night sky?" And why? 5. Can you share the name of your spotify playlist dedicated to Niki? Ang dami," natatawang sabi ni Andy. "Okay. For number one. The song that reminds me of Niki is yung 'She's Always a Woman' by Billy Joel. The first time that I heard the song was during prom. It was a slow dance. Niki was dancing with someone else and I was dancing with someone else. When I heard the song, I immediately looked in her direction. Kaya tuwing naririnig ko yung kanta, napapatingin ako sa kanya. Number two, if I only have a day before dying, I would spend it writing letters to everyone I love. Three, if Niki wants more cats, then we'll have more cats."

"Very good answer."

Andy grinned. "Number four. Between the two lines, she's the embrace of the night sky. Just because an embrace could last the entire night. And lastly, I don't have a Spotify playlist yet. But I do have a playlist of the songs she likes to listen to."

"My turn!" she exclaimed excitedly. Huling set of questions na iyon. At iyon ang pinakamaraming tanong from one user. "To Niki 1. What ice cream flavor reminds you of Andy? 2. Who would you save first in a burning building: a paralyzed Andy or the poor adorable cats who can't shout for help? Hehe. 3. What's the best food combination you enjoyed the most that other people find weird? 4. If you're born again in a different world, are you going to be a "dame slaying dragons and monsters of the sea" or "an exiled princess who wants to reclaim her throne"? 5. Can you share a song that sums up everything you want to say to Andy? Hmm... sa ice cream flavor, si Andy siguro yung kesong puti flavor. Kasi hindi nakakasawa. Number two: I would definitely save the cats–"

"Ouch!"

"Ay wait. Paralyzed ka nga pala. Hmm... I guess I'll just hug them all and we can get burned together."

"I'd want you to save yourself, though."

"And live with the guilt of leaving you behind?"

"Leaving me?" kunot-noo nitong tanong. "So you're choosing the cats over me?"

"The cats are easier to carry, Andy," sagot niya. Tinapik niya ito sa balikat. "You'd want me to save myself, di ba? I can save the cat while I save myself. I can't carry you. Let's be realistic."

Andy looked dumbfounded.

"Next... uh... best food combo? Hmmm... siguro manggang hilaw saka pork binagoongan. It makes sense, di ba. Alamang plus mangga. Question four... I'd rather be slaying monsters. Because it means that I am strong and powerful. Kapag exiled princess, ang posibleng mga kaaway ko dyan ay mga tao rin. And lastly, a song that sums up everything I want to say to Andy? Hmm..."

She picked up Andy's phone and looked into his Spotify account. Nang maglilimang minuto na ay wala pa siyang nakitang kanta, kinuha na ni Andy ang phone nito.

"Sa separate video na lang. Aabutin tayo ng maghapon kung pag-iisipin ninyo ng isang kanta si Niki. It'll come to her when she's not looking for it," Andy said to the camera. Then, he looked at her. "Let's end the video here?"

"Okay. Pero yung kanta."

"Yeah, you'll let them know once you find it."

Ngumiti siya rito. "Okay." Then she stood up and ran to the phone. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang may mapansin siya. "Hala!"

"What's wrong?" Tumayo na rin si Andy.

Bumagsak ang mga balikat niya nang makumpirma ang hinala. "It didn't record!"

Lumapit ito sa kanya at tiningnan ang phone. He checked the files and gallery to locate the video, but it was no use. It didn't record. She must have double clicked the video button earlier. She let out an exasperated sigh. All those answers... gone.

"Let's just do it again. Maaga pa naman."

"E sayang yung sagot. Baka maiba."

"It's okay. I'm sure we'll get good clips." Andy propped the phone back to the tripod. Pinapunta siya nito sa sofa. "Okay. Recording na."

"Are you sure?"

"Oo nga."

"Let me just check–"

Andy clicked his tongue. "Trust me. I've triple checked." He walked towards her and sat down next to her. Ibinigay nito sa kanya ang cue card. "Game?"

"Kapag ito hindi na naman na-record ah."

Tumawa si Andy. "I promise you it's recording."