"Santina told my father that something happened between us in Santorini," panimulang paliwanag ni Troy.

She eyed him with scrutiny. "Did she tell the truth?"

Umiling ito. "No. Nothing happened. Nagsabay lang naman talaga kami papuntang Santorini. She met her friends there."

She sat down. "Why would I believe you?"

"Believe it or don't believe it. It's still the truth."

"That's not very convincing."

He sat on the coffee table. "Santina's like a sister to me. That's all she's ever been and that's all she will ever be."

"But she doesn't see you that way."

"Does it matter? Kahit gusto nya 'ko, hindi ko naman sya gusto. Nothing will happen between us."

"You can't guarantee that."

Troy sighed. "I know. But there's no really guarantee with these things. I guess you just have to trust me."

Tiningnan niya itong mabuti. Can she trust him? Naalala niya yung sinabi nina Ariesa tungkol kay Tanya. Troy loved the woman, yet he cheated. Tanya became a wreck because of him. Partida pa, he did love Tanya. What about her? Mahal ba sya nito? And if love's not enough to stop him from cheating, then what will?

"I'll try," she told him.

"That's good enough for me." He smiled and tilted her chin up. "Are we good? Am I cleared? Pwede na bang..." He didn't finish the sentence on purpose. But the way his gaze lingered on her lips, she already knew what he meant.

"I'm kinda tired." She removed his hand and stood up.

"Oh, come on!" reklamo nito.

"I'm really tired. And besides, kailangan mo ring magpahinga. Wala ka pa yatang tulog."

"I can still manage."

She cupped his face. "I'm not going anywhere, so get some sleep. Please."

"Did you just say—"

Tumango siya. "Yes, I did. Kaya sumunod ka. Minsan lang akong makiusap."

He chuckled. "Okay, fine. I'll sleep."

She tiptoed and kissed his forehead. Humawak naman ito sa bewang nya.

"Don't go anywhere."

"I won't. Matutulog din ako."

Umuna na ito papunta sa kwarto. Siya naman ay nagpunta ng banyo para maglinis ng katawan. She felt icky after hours of being on the road.

Troy was already asleep when she went to bed.

--

Red felt refreshed. It was like this when they first slept together. Parang ayaw na niyang bumangon. But she's hungry. Hindi pa sila nakapaghahapunan. Nakabukas ang lampshade sa bedside table nang magising siya.

She turned to Troy. Tulog na tulog pa rin ito.

Bumangon siya at nagpunta sa kusina para maghanap ng makakain. Mag-a-alas dose na pala ng madaling araw. Ilang oras din siyang tulog.

There's food on the table. May takip lang iyon para hindi langawin. Siguro ay pumunta kanina si manang para magluto at hindi na sila ginising. She looked around to find some coffee. Sa bahay nila, isang utos lamang niya, may kape na. Dito, wala. May nakita siyang instant coffee, but she doesn't like that kind. And she doesn't know how to make a decent cup. Malay ba naman niya.

Napapitlag siya nang may biglang humawak sa bewang niya.

"Hey."

Troy nuzzled her neck.

"You scared me!"

Tumawa ito. "Sorry. Ang seryoso mo kasi. "

Humarap siya rito. "Gusto mo ng kape?"

"Sure."

"Good. Magtimpla ka. Gusto ko rin e."

He guffawed. "You're crazy." Tumingin ito sa binti niya, then he frowned. "Why aren't you wearing any pants?"

She looked down. Nakalimutan na niyang wala siyang pang-ibaba. Tinanggal nga pala niya iyon bago siya matulog.

"I can't sleep with my jeans on," paliwanag niya. "Wala kasi akong ibang damit, di ba?"

"Right. Nakalimutan ko. Meron palang damit sa trunk ng kotse. Wait, kukunin ko lang."

He went out to get the clothes. Pagbalik nito'y may dala na itong isang bag. Nilagay nito iyon sa sala, binuksan at kumuha ng laman. He gave her a pair of shorts.

"I borrowed these from Ela."

"They knew about this?"

He nodded. "Vince and Vico knew too."

"Why do you guys always leave me out? I can keep secrets too, you know," himutok niya.

"It's best that you don't know. Ayoko namang magalit din sa 'yo ang daddy mo. Mabuti na yung isipin nyang kinidnap kita kesa sumama ka willingly."

"So okay lang sa 'yong sa 'yo sya magalit?"

"I can take it," he answered with a shrug.

"And I can't?"

Lumapit ito sa kanya at yumakap. "Please don't argue with me. Kagigising ko lang."

"Nakakainis kasi kayo. I'm as involved as you all are and yet, kayo-kayo lang ang may alam ng gagawin. Nagmumukha tuloy akong tanga rito."

He kissed the top of her head. "Sorry na nga kasi." Cupping her face, he added, "Now, sit down. I'll make coffee."

Sumunod naman siya. Prente siyang naupo habang ito naman ay nagtimpla ng kape para sa kanilang dalawa.

"Nagugutom ka ba? Nagluto si manang," she told him.

Tumango ito at iniabot sa kanya ang tasa ng kape. He sat on one chair. She stood up and pushed the plates away, saka siya naupo sa tapat nito. He raised an eyebrow but didn't complain when she put her feet on his thighs. Still not satisfied, she began rubbing them against his jeans.

"Are you playing games with me?" he asked, amused.

"Why? Are you getting turned on?"

Inilapag nito sa tabi niya ang kape. He also took her mug and put it beside his. Then he scooted nearer, his face only a few inches away.

"I'm not just getting turned on," he answered. "I'm also falling harder."

That made her frown. "What?"

He cupped her face and smiled. "To put it simply... I'm saying that I love you."

--

Hindi ni Troy maintindihan ang naging reaksyon ni Red when he told her that he loves her. Akala niya ay matutuwa ito. But it was the opposite. Agad itong lumayo sa kanya at tumalikod.

"Hey, are you upset?"

Her shoulders started shaking. Hinawakan niya ito sa balikat at iniharap sa kanya. Umiiyak ito.

"Bakit ka umiiyak? I thought you'd be happy."

She covered her face with her hands.

"Red..."

"A-Are you kidding? Because I'm going to kill you if you are!" she threatened. "Damn it!" Pilit nitong pinatitigil ang mga mata sa pagluha, but her tears kept on falling.

"I'm not kidding. Bakit ka ba umiiyak?"

"Nakaka-overwhelm kasi!" She gave him a weak punch. "A-Akala ko hindi ko na maririnig yan."

"Don't tell me, first time mo lang marinig yun?"

She glared at him. "I'm not exactly lovable, am I?"

"Are you being serious right now? First time talaga?"

Sumimangot siya at sumubsob sa dibdib nito.

"My mother used to tell me all the time. But aside from my parents, wala nang nagsasabi sa 'kin nyan."

"Even the guys you went out with?"

She shook her head.

"I couldn't make them love me." Tumunghay siya. "What made you?"

He shrugged. "I'll let you know once I've figured it out. But for now, let's just leave it at that."

--

Hinalikan siya nito sa noo and she almost cried again, for it was also the first time that someone, aside from her dad, did that. It was respectful.

He held her hand right after, and walked with her back to the table. They found out na ginisang alimasag pala ang niluto ni manang. He made her taste the dish. Nalaman niya ang rason kung bakit paborito nito iyon. It was delicious. And it felt homey. She never thought that she'd feel that way towards a dish, but she did.

They ate until their bellies were full and then they went outside to stargaze.

"Walang masyadong ilaw rito kaya kitang-kita mo sila," he told her.

He made her wear a jacket, kahit ayaw niya. He insisted that it was cold outside. She didn't want to because she wanted to feel the cold breeze, pero sumunod na lang siya para hindi sila magtalo. It was a good thing that she did, because it was really chilly.

Hindi ganoon kalamig sa loob ng bahay because the wood provided insulation.

Naupo sila sa yellow and black trails na nasa gilid ng daan. It was indeed a starry night. Walang masyadong ilaw kaya litag na litag ang mga ito. May iilan ding sasakyan ang dumaraan. They sat there for a while, bago niya mapagpasyahang pumasok na dahil malamig.

She removed her jacket once they were inside.

"Hanggang kelan tayo rito?"

"Bakit? Gusto mo nang umuwi?"

"Ayoko pa."

Dahan-dahan niya itong nilapitan. She smiled seductively. Ikinawit niya ang mga kamay sa batok nito.

"I still have a lot of things that I want to do with you."

Lalong lumapad ang ngiti niya nang lumunok ito. His pupils dilated. The air felt warmer. Electrifying, even. He encircled her waist and drew her closer.

"You know you can't back out from this, right? You started it. You have to see it through the end."

"Oh, I have no intention of backing out. Do you know why?"

She kissed the corners of his mouth. His breathing became uneven.

"Why?" he asked throatily.

"Because I just realized something," seryoso niyang sabi.

He leaned closer. "And what is that?" he asked.

She contemplated for a while. Will she tell him? But what will happen then? But he said he loves me, she argued with herself. If he has the guts to admit that, then why can't she?

Huminga siya nang malalim. And then, while looking deeply into his eyes, she told him, "Troy, I think I'm in love with you too."