The stadium erupted after Valerian Hermoso blocked the ball from getting into the goal. The score was 3-2 and the Philippines kept their lead. Sage cheered with the crowd. Usually, kasama niya si Jasmine manood ng football games ni Valerian pero may lagnat ang ballerina ngayong araw. Niyaya niya si Lily pero busy daw ito.

Aside from the game, the camera would sometimes focus on random audience members for reactions. He looked at the screen and discovered just what Lily was busy with. After the referee held up a yellow card, the crowd camera focused on two familiar figures. 

Madalas, makikita 'yong mga fans na nagwawala, todo sigaw, at nakasuot pa ng jersey ng players but there they were, Lily and Ken, looking perplexed, as if not at all familiar with the sport. Mukhang nagkamali ng focus ang cameraman.

Nag-zoom out 'yong camera at saka na-realize ni Sage na malapit lang ang kinatatayuan niya kila Lily. They were just three rows in front of him so pinuntahan niya.

"The yellow card serves as a caution to the player. He shouldn't have argued with the ref," Sage said when he reached them. Mabilis na napalingon sa direksyon niya ang dalawa. Para silang nakakita ng gwapong kumain ng buhay na chicken. Nginitian sila ni Sage. "Lily! Kendra! What a pleasant surprise."

"I wouldn't call it 'pleasant'," sagot ni Ken. "And you don't get to call me 'Kendra'."

"Ken, don't start a fight. Hi, Sage!" Lily said, turning to Sage. "Uh..." Her eyes darted back and forth between Ken and two other people who seemed to be with them. Para bang sinusubukang gumamit ng telepathy. Their subtle gestures didn't escape Sage's eyes. Halatang may tinatago ang mga ito.

Lily finally cleared her throat. "By the way, 'di pa pala kita na-i-introduce sa dalawa pang members ng Special Resolutions Unit. This is Heidi and this is Matt."

"Nice to meet you, Sage. I'll just pretend that I don't know who you are, para less awkward," Heidi said, grinning as she shook his hand. Sa apat, mukhang si Heidi lang ang football fan. Suot nito ang jersey ng national team. Pero sa contour ng makeup at blowout ng buhok, para itong mag-ba-bar hopping sa BGC pagkatapos ng game.

"I remember you from Ken's vid—" Siniko ni Ken si Matt. "Ngayon lang pala kita nakita sa buong buhay ko. Pleased to meet you," Matt said, shaking his hand. That elbow looked painful, Sage felt sorry for the guy.

"So, are you guys football fans? If you want, I can introduce you to the team if you want," Sage said.

"Really?" Lily said. Her pitch changed and her head tilted a bit. She didn't seem like an actual fan to Sage pero mukhang interesado ito.

"Yeah. 'Yong pinsan ko, si Valerian, he's part of the team."

"Right, Hermoso nga pala 'yong goalkeeper. Kung okay lang talaga, we would be so honored to meet the national team." Lily smiled sweetly at him. Nakita niya na dati ang ngiti ni Lily pero may iba sa ngiti nito ngayon. Halatang may kailangan. But it didn't bother Sage, may kailangan din naman siya.

"Alright. But in exchange, you have to go on a date with me. 'Yong tayong dalawa lang, walang kasamang Ken," Sage said. In his peripheral vision, he saw Ken cross her arms and roll her eyes.

"Deal! Kailan—" sagot ni Lily.

"No deal!" Ken stepped in between Lily and Sage. "If you really like her, bakit kailangang humingi ng kapalit?"

"Kung hindi ka laging humahadlang, hindi ko kailangang humingi ng kapalit."

Lily clasped her hands. "Okay, Sage. Let's go on a da—"

"Wait, how about we discuss this first? Group meeting muna, except si Airbender!" Ken dragged Lily a few steps away and gestured for Matt and Heidi to join their huddle.

Sage stared at them as he chuckled in amusement. What shady thing could these people be doing at a football game?

* * *

"Ken, what is your problem?" Lily sighed. "Free pass na 'to papunta sa target."

Ken groaned. How can Lily trust that fuckboy? "Hindi natin kailangan ng tulong ng Airbender na 'yon!"

"Okay, so what's your plan? Paano natin makakausap 'yong target?" Lily crossed her arms.

"Gagawan ko ng paraan."

"May paraan na. Magpapakahirap ka pa?" Bumuntong-hininga si Lily. "Let's just vote on it. Okay?" Tumango sina Matt at Heidi.

"Who thinks we should accept Sage's help?" Lily asked.

Matt and Heidi raised their hands as Ken glared at them. "Really, guys? Heidi, don't you just like his dimples?"

"Hm, he does have nice dimples... pero hindi ako ang nakapansin no'n, Ken. Ikaw ah!" Heidi wiggled her eyebrows at Ken who quickly turned away from her.

"Tch, dimples are actually a deformity," she said. Kay Matt naman siya lumingon. "Matt, 'di ba type mo si Lily? Hahayaan mo ba siyang i-date ng isang fuckboy?"

"That was ages ago, Kendra. At kung type ko pa man siya, I'm sure you won't let me date her either so tanggapin mo nang talo ka sa botohang 'to," Matt replied.

"Pero—" Ken was interrupted by the referee's whistle that signalled the end of the game.

"Three against one so tatanggapin ang tulong ni Sage. Meeting adjourned," Lily said as Ken groaned again.

Bumalik silang apat sa kinatatayuan ni Sage. "So, can we congratulate the team in person?" Lily said. "And kailan mo pala gustong mag-date?"

"Anytime you're free, Lily. Kahit araw-arawin natin." Sage's smile showcased his dimples. "Tara sa locker room." He led the way as Lily walked beside him. Ken was right behind them with Matt and Heidi.

Sage momentarily looked back at Ken and stuck out his tongue. Sinuklian iyon ni Ken ng irap.

* * *

Matapos niyang ipakilala sa football team sina Lily, they split into smaller groups. Two midfielders started chatting up Lily. Kausap naman ni Heidi si Tristan, ang team captain at ang dalawa pang forward. Sa mga ngiti at hairflip ng dalaga, naging obvious kay Sage kung para kanino ang ayos nito ngayong araw. Unfortunately for her, it seemed like her flirting was not very effective 'cause her target was periodically stealing glances across the room. Towards a certain someone that he was also stealing glances at.

Ken was leaning against the wall with Matt, far from the small groups in the room. Based on their expressions, they were discussing something serious. Sage wasn't surprised by this, he had always gotten an anti-social vibe from Ken. But today, they've been acting really sketchy.

Valerian approached Sage. "Mukhang tinuloy mo nga talaga 'yong balak mong lumandi para sa task ni Lolo."

"Yeah. So pakisabihan na lang sina Luke at Nate na 'wag na silang magsayang ng effort sa pagporma kay Lily. Siguradong sa 'kin naman ang bagsak niya," Sage said confidently. "How about you? May progress ka na ba?"

"I've brought it up pero hindi pa ako binabalikan ni Tristan tungkol diyan."

"Good luck pero maghanda ka nang pumayag sa one great favor ko," Sage said confidently.

Valerian laughed. "I bet she doesn't even know what you actually want. So good luck sa 'yo. What if she hates you after finding out your true motives?"

"Don't worry about it, I'll be smooth, Val," Sage said. "By the way, punta ka sa birthday ko next week ah. And tell the team that they're invited too. Unlimited free drinks." Sage grinned.

"Ayos! Thanks, Sage. Wait, 'yong kamukha ni Selene, pupunta ba?" Valerian asked.

Sage raised his eyebrows. "Selene? Sino 'yon?"

"Oh, right. Nasa UK ka nga pala no'ng sikat siya dito." A sly smile formed across Valerian's lips. "Come to think of it, para siyang girl version mo."

"What do you mean?" Sage had never heard of this Selene but he was, sure as hell, intrigued. At sino 'yong sinasabi ni Valerian na kamukha ni Selene?

"She dated a lot. Parang ikaw na hanggang second monthsary lang ang maximum length ng relationships. Kung nagkasabay siguro ang timeline n'yo, you would've dated her. Pero mga one week lang, considering both of your dating habits."

"Wait, so bakit siya sumikat?" Sage asked.

"She was an Instagram model. At sobrang sikat niya. Mas marami pa siyang followers kaysa sa 'yo pero hindi siya pumayag na lumipat ng platform. A lot of mainstream media outlets tried to court her pero wala, ayaw niya. Sa IG lang talaga siya nag-promote pero 'pag siya nag nag-promote, siguradong bebenta."

"So where is she now? Ba't 'di ko siya kilala?"

"Selene deactivated her account three years ago. 'Di na rin siya nag-attend ng parties or na-picture-an kasama ng kung sino mang dine-date niya. Even if you try to do an internet search, you won't find her."

"What? Imposible naman. It's very hard to remove something from the internet." Nilabas ni Sage ang phone niya at nagsimulang mag-type ng search query. "Anong last name no'ng Selene?"

"That's the hard part, actually. Walang nakakaalam," Valerian replied. "Kahit si Tristan na fanboy ni Selene, hindi alam 'yan."

"Tristan? Wait, so 'yong sinasabi mong kamukha ni Selene..." Lumipat ang tingin ni Sage kay Tristan at nakita niyang naglalakad ang team captain palapit sa babaeng kanina pa nito paulit-ulit na sinusulyapan.

Sage's legs moved on their own. Naglakad rin siya palapit kay Ken at sakto ang dating niya para marinig ang sinabi ni Tristan sa dalaga. "Pwede ba kitang ayaing mag-date?"

Nanlaki ang mata ni Ken. "Ako?"

Tristan nodded as he placed a hand on his nape. "I'm sorry if I'm being weird. Kamukhang-kamukha mo kasi siya, I couldn't help it."

Sa putla ng mukha ni Ken, para itong hihimatayin. "Ka-kamukha nino?" Sa tono ng dalaga, parang alam na nito kung sino ang tinutukoy ni Tristan. And she was dreading it.

"Uhm, ni Selene. Muntik na nga akong magpa-autograph kanina eh," Tristan said.

At this point, Lily and Heidi also came over and were standing beside Matt and Ken. Nagtinginan silang apat. Lily raised an eyebrow, Heidi tilted her head, and Matt pursed his lips. Sage had no idea what their body language meant but what shocked him most was what Ken said next.

"I'm not Selene and I'm nothing like Selene but if you still want to go on a date, kailan ka free?"