Hindi makapag-decide si Sage kung anong mas hindi kapani-paniwala: na mayroon siyang tatlong malalaking chikinini galing kay Ken o na ang maangas na martial artist si Ken at ang nawawalang celebrity na si Selene ay iisang tao lamang.

Bago siya umalis sa unit ni Ken, naglagay siya ng isang baso ng tubig at aspirin sa bedside table. Sigurado siyang malalang hangover ang haharapin ng dalaga pagkagising nito and he cared. Slight.

He proceeded to Aerist Tower's penthouse that occupied the entire fortieth and forty-first floor of the building. Though he didn't live there permanently, the three-bedroom apartment was well-maintained. May staff na naniniguradong malinis ito at buhay pa ang mga laman ng aquarium.

Isang malawak na living room ang sumalubong sa kanya pagkapasok sa penthouse. Walang TV rito pero agaw-pansin ang isang puting grand piano sa gitna ng sala. One door lead to a fully-furnished guest room where his friends are welcomed to stay when they get kicked out by their pissed off parents or girlfriends. A glass sliding door lead to a terrace with an infinity pool and an outdoor bar. Tanaw rin mula sa living room ang open-concept kitchen na kumpleto sa appliances kahit hindi niya naman iyon ginagamit. Their family employed chefs that he could call any time he wanted to eat.

He proceeded upstairs where another guest room and the master's bedroom were located. Nandoon din ang entertainment room na may 70-inch TV, home theater system at sari-saring game consoles. He thought about watching a movie to get his mind off the what transpired in Ken's apartment but ultimately decided against it. Natanggap niya nang hindi gagana iyon kaya dumiretso na lang siya sa kwarto niya at sumalampak sa kama.

Lying on his king size bed while looking at the ceiling, Sage couldn't wrap his head around the night's sequence of events. Pagod na ang katawan niya pero ang utak niya, ayaw magpaawat sa pag-replay ng mga pangyayari sa unit 27G. He had too many unanswered questions and his hyperactive mind wasn't letting him rest.

He closed his eyes and the feeling of her lips on his skin invaded his thoughts. Agad siyang dumilat at bumangon. Napakabilis ng pagtibok ng puso niya. It made him uneasy. There was no way in hell that he'd let himself dwell on that memory.

Nakahanap siya ng distraction sa pagtugtog ng piano. His fingers glided through the keys as he relished the soothing music of Erik Satie's Gymnopedies.

* * *

Nagising si Sage sa ingay galing sa kusina. He didn't remember when he fell asleep or how he managed to sleep in an uncomfortable position since his head was just resting on the piano keys.

Dahan-dahan siyang tumayo at tahimik na naglakad papunta sa kitchen. He didn't remember inviting anyone over so this presence was sketchy.

The man using the stove turned to him as soon as he stepped into the kitchen. "Upo ka muna, Sage. The Haejang-guk is almost done."

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Nakahinga nang maluwag si Sage. It was just Joseph, one of the chefs employed by their family. "Akala ko naman na-discover na ng baliw kong ex 'tong unit ko. And what's Haejang-guk?"

Joseph smirked. "Ano kayang gagawin sa 'yo no'n 'pag nakita niyang iba 'yong katabi mo sa kama?" The chef placed two bowls of soup on the table. "This is Haejang-guk, Korean hangover soup."

Sage started eating but abruptly stopped when he noticed that Joseph wasn't eating with him. "Ba't 'di ka kumakain?"

"Kumain na ako. Para sa kasama mo 'yang isa pang serving," Joseph replied with a knowing smile.

Sage raised his eyebrows. "Kasama?"

"Sa dami at laki ng mga chikinini mo, itatanggi mo pa bang may kasama ka? At saka, si Mr. Roger ang nagsabi sa 'king nandito ka sa Aerist. He was concerned that you and the girl you went home with would starve."

Nabulunan si Sage sa sinabi ng chef. "Hindi ko siya dinala dito, okay? We just happen to live in the same building kaya sinabay ko na siyang umuwi," he explained in a defensive tone.

"Well, that doesn't explain the hickies."

"To be honest, I can't explain it either. We aren't dating or anything, parang sinapian lang siya kagabi."

"Okay, but you can explain why you called her pretty, right?" Joseph wiggled his eyebrows at him.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Sage. Pati pala 'yon narinig ni Mr. Roger. "'Witty' 'yong sinabi ko!"

* * *

Sage walked through the hallways of the twenty-seventh floor with the hangover soup. Masyadong maraming nilutong sabaw si Joseph at pinilit nito si Sage na bigyan si Ken ng sabaw. Pero 'di naman talaga kailangang pilitin si Sage na puntahan si Kendra.

Malapit na siya sa unit ni Ken nang mapansin niyang may babaeng nasa tapat na ng pintuan nito. Muntik niya nang mabitiwan ang sabaw dahil agad niyang sinubukang takpan ang mga chikinini sa leeg niya. Lily didn't have to see those.

"Hi, Sage," Lily said when she spotted him. She was eyeing the hickeys with a grin as she pressed the doorbell.

"Lily, I can explain!"

Tumawa si Lily. "So you've reached Stage Four. Welcome to the club!"

"What?" Sage asked, confused.

Bigla siyang kinuhanan ni Lily ng litrato gamit ang phone nito. "Hindi naman ikaw ang unang nabiktima ng Stage Four Drunk Ken." Lily showed him her screen as she swiped through some photos. Apparently, Lily, Matt, and Heidi have been recipients of the purple badge of honor. Mukhang walang pinipili si Ken.

"Napipigilan namin siya pagkatapos ng isa. You have three, na-enjoy mo?" Lily teased.

"What? No!" mariing pagtanggi ni Sage. "I was just so shocked 'cause I didn't expect her to act that way. Parang sinapian 'yong kaibigan mo."

"Yeah, she wasn't always like this..." Lily sighed but before Sage could ask about it, she changed the subject. "Anyway, thank you talaga sa paghatid sa kanya."

"Wait, so how's your mom? Okay lang ba siya?" Sage asked.

"Ah, oo, no worries. She had indigestion but she's okay now. Umuwi na siya kanina." Lily rang the doorbell again. "Medyo kanina pa ako nagdo-doorbell. Dito mo hinatid si Ken, right?"

"Yup. Tulog na siya no'ng umalis ako. Let me try." Sage pressed the button and didn't let go, producing a continuous ring.

Lily's eyes widened. "Wait, Sage! She hates—"

Biglang bumukas ang pinto ng Unit 27G at ang mga mata naman ni Sage ang nanlaki nang makita niya si Ken. Sa ikalawang pagkakataon noong araw na 'yon, muntik niya na namang mabitiwan ang dala niyang sabaw.

Of course, Ken immediately started berating them. "Punyeta naman! Sino nagsabing pwede mong pindutin nang ganyan 'yong doorbell ko? Ang aga-aga—"

"Kendra, wala kang shorts!" Lily interrupted.

At this point, nakayuko na si Sage. Kailangan niyang itago ang namumula niyang mga pisngi. Ayaw niya ring mahuling nakatingin sa Hello Kitty underwear ni Ken at mabiyayaan ulit ng black eye.

"Shit!" Ken said before slamming the door in her guests' faces.