Sage, who was still soaking wet from the rain, Ken, who was still wearing his jacket, and a man in his mid-forties were all standing in the lift. Tiningnan ni Sage ang boteng hawak ng lalaki. Paubos na ang laman no'n kaya siguradong lasing na ang bagong sakay. As much as he liked their landlord, hindi ito masayang ka-bonding 'pag lasing.

Inakbayan ng lalaking lasing ang dalawa. "I didn't know you were together pero bagay kayo! Naku, Sage, alagaan mo 'tong si Kendra, ah? Alam kong may pagka-amazona 'to pero matindi naman talaga ang pinagdaanan niya no'ng—"

Agad na tinakpan ni Ken ang bibig ng lalaki. "You're very drunk, Mr. Ringo. Magpahinga ka na kung ayaw mong tuluyang mamahinga 'pag tinuloy mo pang sabihin 'yang mga bagay na 'di na dapat inaalala."

Tinanggal ni Mr. Ringo ang kamay ni Ken. "See what I mean, Sage? May kakaibang appeal talaga 'tong girlfriend mo. She reminds me of my wife..."

Sage's suspicions were confirmed. Of course, he was drinking because of his wife. Ex-wife, to be accurate. He remembered how Mr. Ringo almost lost three luxury cars and this very condo, Aerist Tower, after Istanna filed for divorce.

Sage and a few friends were in a casino for his cousin's stag party. Sasali sana siya sa isang poker game nang makita niyang natatalo at balisa si Mr. Ringo. Agad niya itong nilapitan.

"Sir, it's time to stop gambling," Sage said as he stood beside the brokenhearted man.

"No! Kailangan kong mabawi ang Aerist, marami kaming alaala ni Istanna doon. It was even named after us." Mr. Ringo's voice was shaky.

Sage understood the man's desperation and loneliness. After all, he knew what it was like to lose someone you love. "How about I play for you?" he asked. "Wala ka na po sa focus at hindi rin effective ang pokerface mo."

"Please win it back for me."

"I will, so just sit back and think of how you'll win her back." Sage winked and took Mr. Ringo's place at the poker table.

Hindi naman misplaced and confidence ni Sage dahil nagawa niyang mabawi ang lahat ng ipinusta ni Mr. Ringo sa mga sumunod na laro noong araw na 'yon. As a thank you, binigay sa kanya ni Mr. Ringo si Erica, 'yong puting Aventador niya.

* * *

Ken wanted to correct Mr. Ringo's wrong assumption about her relationship with Sage pero ayaw niya nang pahabain pa ang pag-uusap nila. Baka kung ano pang nakaraan niya ang ilantad ng landlord nila.

The elevator door opened at the ground floor. "Why don't you both have a drink with me?" Mr. Ringo said as he dragged the pair out of the elevator and into the lobby.

The staff in the lobby looked alarmed when they saw that the owner of Aerist Tower was drunk again but Ken knew that they already had a procedure for incidents like this. Lumapit agad ang dalawang guard para alalayan si Mr. Ringo papunta sa sofa. May tinawagan naman ang receptionist, probably someone to prepare the owner's unit.

Nagsimula nang maglakad palayo sina Sage at Ken pero hindi sila ganoon kadaling pinakawalan ni Mr. Ringo. "Wait! 'Di ba iinom pa tayo? 'Wag 'nyo muna akong iwanan, please. Iniwan na nga ako ni Istanna, iiwan 'nyo rin ba ako? Isang shot lang, promise."

Mr. Ringo has always been kind to her and she didn't want to offend him but sometimes, he goes overboard with his antics. Naalala ni Ken ang huling beses na nakasama niya si Mr. Ringo.

She was excited to watch Istanna, a very talented jazz singer. But she didn't expect to be mesmerized by the pianist who played while she sang. The way his skillful fingers danced across the piano keys to produce beautiful sounds captivated her. That was when she first saw the fuckboy. Lily wasn't feeling well so she gave Sage's concert ticket to Ken.

Ken was enjoying Istanna's rendition of "Fly Me to the Moon" when she heard sobbing from the row behind her. Lumingon siya at nakita si Mr. Ringo. Nag-iisa lang ito sa buong row at malamang, binili nito ang lahat ng seats sa row na iyon. He was holding a bouquet of violet hyacinths as tears continued running down his cheeks.

Agaw-eksena ang pag-iyak ni Mr. Ringo at nakita ni Ken na naglalakad na palapit ang isang security guard kaya nilapitan niya si Mr. Ringo para subukang patahanin ito.

"Mr. Ringo, tahan na po. Halos isang taon na po kayong divorced, baka oras na para mag-move on," Ken said while patting his back awkwardly. Hindi siya magaling mang-comfort.

"Kendra, I have loved her for over twenty years and I know that I'll love her for more than twenty more," he said while wiping his tears away. "I will do whatever it takes to win her back."

Biglang tumayo si Mr. Ringo at tumakbo palapit sa stage sa gitna ng performance. Sumunod si Ken para pigilan ang kung ano mang kaguluhang maaaring mangyari at sabay pa sila ng isang security guard na humawak sa magkabilang braso ni Mr. Ringo nang maabutan niya ito.

Kung ano man 'yong grand gesture ang hinanda ni Mr. Ringo para sa ex-wife, hindi na ito natuloy dahil pareho sila ni Ken na pinalabas ng concert hall.

Apparently, Aero Ringo had pulled stunts like this in Istanna's other events and her security detail was on the lookout for her ex-husband. They were also informed that the singer had filed a restraining order against Mr. Ringo.

Ken will never forget the sorrow in his eyes on that day.

Nagkatinginan sila ni Sage. Mukhang alam din nito kung gaano ka-unstable ang may-ari ng Aerist Tower kapag lasing. Sabay nilang ibinalik ang tingin kay Mr. Ringo at umiling.

"Please, Sage? Please, Ken? Isang shot lang. Promise, mag-momove on na 'ko pagkatapos nito," their landlord begged.

Tiningnan niya ulit si Sage at nakangiwi ito sa kanya. Bumuntong-hininga si Ken. Mukhang pareho silang may kahinaan sa pagtanggi kay Mr. Ringo.

"Isang shot lang," Ken said, holding up her index finger.

"And promise that you'll rest after this," Sage added.

Mr. Ringo nodded eagerly as he pulled out a shot glass from his blazer's pocket and poured some alcohol into it. Kung bakit ito may shot glass sa bulsa, walang nakakaalam.

Nauna si Sage uminom at inubos nito ang laman ng baso sa isang lagok lamang. Nilagyan ulit ni Mr. Ringo ng laman ang shot glass at saka naman uminom si Ken. Whatever it was, she was sure it wasn't just vodka. Wondering what that absurd alcohol concoction she ingested was, Ken turned towards Sage and saw him watching her reaction with a grimace. Napansin din ng binata ang kakaibang lasa.

Mr. Ringo refilled the glass after Ken drank all its contents. "I'm sure, nakulangan kayo." He laughed. "Wait here, kukuha pa ako ng mga baso para sabay-sabay tayo!" Without waiting for a reply, he ran off to the staff lounge.

Ken wasn't surprised that Mr. Ringo wanted to continue drinking with them. She just sighed as she tried to think of a way out of this situation.

"Act dizzy," Sage suddenly said. "Galingan mo, magpanggap kang matutumba."

"Ano?" Ken replied with a questioning look.

"Just do it para makaalis na tayo. Game, parating na siya!"

As soon as Mr. Ringo arrived, Ken touched her temples, swayed a little and pretended to fall. She braced for the impact of hitting the floor but Sage expertly caught her in his arms.

"Chicken, are you okay?" The concern in his voice sounded so real that even Ken had to hide her surprise as she tried to ignore how her heartbeat accelerated.

"Nahihilo ako, Sausage. Uwi na tayo, please," Ken replied. She gripped his shirt and noticed how drenched it was. "And you're still wet, kailangan mo nang magpalit. Ayokong magkasakit ka." Tinapatan ng boses ni Ken ang concern sa boses ni Sage.

"We really need to go. Next time na lang po natin ituloy 'to," Sage said.

Tumango si Mr. Ringo pero mukhang naguguluhan ang expression nito. She couldn't blame him, 'Chicken' and 'Sausage' were weird terms of endearment.

Naglakad na ang dalawa pabalik sa elevator. Sage pretended to support his fake girlfriend who clinged onto him.

Nang masigurado niyang hindi na sila nakikita ni Mr. Ringo, agad na binitiwan ni Ken ang braso ni Sage. "Don't you dare call me 'Chicken' ever again," she said.

"Sure, Chicken," he replied with a smirk. Sinuklian iyon ni Ken ng irap.

"'Di ka rin naman makaka-free taste kay Sausage," dagdag ng lalaki.

Nanlaki ang mga ni Ken at handa na siyang hampasin si Sage pero biglang nag-ring ang phone niya. Namutla siya nang makita ang caller ID pero wala siyang choice kung 'di sagutin ito. She accidentally turned on the loudspeaker.

A shrill voice filled the air as they stepped into the elevator. "Today was a disaster! You stupid, stupid girl! Sinasabi ko na nga ba, walang kwenta ang—" Ken managed to turn off the loudspeaker with fumbling fingers but it was too late. Automatic nang na-drop ang call dahil walang signal sa loob ng elevator. Pero hindi niya naman na kailangan pang marinig ang kasunod no'n. Sigurado siyang kailangan niya nang maghanap ng bagong trabaho.

The elevator stopped on her floor. Ken was about to walk out of the elevator when she felt a hand grasp her wrist.

"Wait, I know something that can cheer you up," Sage said. Mukha ba siyang basang sisiw na pati ang lalaking ito, naawa sa kanya?

Ken turned to look at him. Hindi niya alam kung ano na namang kalokohan ang naisip ni Sage pero na-curious siya. "May libre bang pagkain?"

Sage chuckled. "Is pizza okay?"

Ken smiled weakly and nodded. It had been a long day and for once, she just wanted to take it easy. Sage was probably one of the most easy going people she knew. Surely, it wouldn't hurt to learn a thing or two on how he stays so carefree.

* * *

They reached the fortieth floor and entered the penthouse. Ken expected Sage's unit to be a bit more extravagant but she preferred the simple yet cozy atmosphere that it offered.

"Call the pizza place, palit lang ako ng damit," Sage said. "Don't worry, I'll pay," dagdag ng binata nang taasan niya ito ng kilay. He disappeared into a room.

Ken dialled Pizza Hut's number as she sat on the leather sofa. Her call was placed on hold dahil wala pang available na agent para kumuha ng order niya. In-activate niya ang loudspeaker at nilapag ang phone sa sofa para hindi siya mangalay.

Biglang lumabas si Sage ng kwarto na mukhang may hinahanap. He was topless and Ken couldn't help but stare at his six-pack abs. Ito na ba ang "something that can cheer you up" na sinasabi niya kanina? Kanin na lang kaya ang ipa-deliver ko? Pwede na 'tong ulam eh.

Sage coughed and she quickly averted her gaze, ashamed of her thoughts. "Century," he said, followed by a chuckle.

"Huh? Anong century?" naguguluhang tanong ni Ken nang maka-recover siya sa abs ng binata.

"Century ang kinakain kong tuna."

At that moment, bumalik ang mga alaala mula sa nakaraang gabi, from how Sage got her home, to how she tried to seduce him, and to how he almost gave in. Nanlaki ang mata ni Ken. Ibang level ng kahihiyan ito. Kung lalamunin man siya ng lupa o tatamaan ng kidlat, this was the perfect moment.

Nakahinga siya nang maluwag nang marinig ang call center agent na sa wakas ay sinagot na ang tawag niya dahil hindi niya na alam kung paano haharapin si Sage.

"Thank you for waiting. Welcome to Pizza Hut delivery. Can I get your order?"

"Tatlong rice po—ay, sorry! Isang large pan ng Hawaiian Supreme, please."

"Is there anything else, Ma'am?"

Tumingin siya kay Sage. "Okay na 'yan, I have beer in the fridge," he said.

"That's all," sabi ni Ken sa babae sa linya.

"Can I have your address?"

"Penthouse, Aerist Tower, 409 Ayala Avenue, Makati City."

"And your name, please?"

"Ken."

"May I have your last name, ma'am?"

Natigilan si Ken. Nakalimutan niyang hinihingi nga pala ang pangalan kapag nag-oorder at bakit ba kasi siya nag-loudspeaker? Sage was looking at her intently.

"Hermoso," she said.