"Kendra Selene Hermoso doesn't sound so bad," Sage said as soon as Ken ended the call.

Hindi umimik si Ken.

"But Lily Andrea Hermoso sounds a lot better," he added.

"Maybe she'd be happy to be your step-grandmother. After all, idol na idol niya 'yong lolo mo," she said, smiling sarcastically at him.

Hindi inasahan ni Sage na makakasagot nang ganoon si Ken pero nang makita niyang ngumiti ito, he realized na ang pakikipagtalo sa kanya ang makakatulong kay Ken na makalimutan ang kung ano mang masasamang sinabi ng babaeng tumawag kanina. "I don't want her to be happy, I want her to be the happiest so she can marry me instead."

"Ano namang masaya sa pag-aasawa ng fuckboy na walang trabaho?"

"Oh, don't worry, pareho kaming magiging CEO. I have plans."

"CEO ng architectural firm kasi puro drawing ang plans mo?"

"Just wait and see."

"I won't wait for something that's not gonna happen," Ken said with an eye roll. "Please put on a shirt," she added.

"Gusto mo bang hawakan muna 'to bago ako magsuot ng shirt?" Saged pointed to his six-pack. "Parang maglalaway ka na kanina eh. Ito ba ang dahilan kung bakit gusto mong maging Hermoso?"

"Nakakita at nakahawak na ako ng mas matigas pa diyan so itago mo na 'yan. Isa pa, sure ka bang hindi talaga Hermoso ang apelyido ko?"

Walang halong tono ng pagbibiro sa boses ni Ken at 'di rin naman 'to kailanman nakipagbiruan sa kanya. Did they really have the same last name? Common ba ang apleyido niya?

He didn't really know anyone with the same family name that wasn't related to them but before he could come up with a plausible theory, he saw her grinning at his confused expression. So she was really just messing with him. Nagpakawala siya ng hiningang hindi niya napansing pinipigilan niya. Wait, bakit siya nakaramdam ng relief?

"Ano, natakot ka bang baka dumagdag ang makikihati sa mamanahin mo?"

"No, I'll survive without the Hermoso fortune," Sage replied.

"'Cause you'll be hired by an escort agency?"

"Tuna endorser," sagot ni Sage, sabay labas ng dila. "Why did you even use my last name?"

"'Di ko lang napaghandaan. Usually, I prepare a fake last name but I forgot that it's needed for a delivery, I kinda panicked and I saw you. Anyway, please don't think that I have dreams of taking your last name."

"Don't worry, Chicken, I wouldn't give it to you even if you begged."

"And stop calling me 'Chicken' in that fake sweet tone, nakakasuka."

"Sa bagay, boses ko palang, nakakabuntis na eh."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng babae at iyon na ang signal na huling hirit niya na 'yon. Tumayo si Ken at napaatras naman si Sage. Mukhang papakitaan na siya ng taekwondo moves at unti-unti niya nang pinagsisisihan ang pang-aasar. "Wait, wait, joke lang 'yon, Chi—I mean, Ken," he said with a nervous chuckle.

"Tss, weak."

Ken's phone started to ring and her smirk faded when she checked the screen. "I need to take this call. Pwede bang doon muna ako sa terrace?" she asked. Her anxiety about the phone call was evident in the way her voice shook and Sage felt a pang of guilt for being annoying earlier.

He nodded and Ken went outside with the phone on her ear. Bumahing si Sage kaya naman naisip niyang magsuot na ng pang-itaas. Kuntento naman na rin siyang nakita niyang matulala si Ken sa abs niya.

Sage glanced at his watch and it was ten minutes to nine. Sumilip siya sa glass door na papunta sa terrace. Nakasara ang ilaw sa labas kaya't silhouette lang ni Ken ang nakikita niya at mukhang hindi pa tapos ang tawag. Minabuti niya nang tumawag sa isang kakilala habang busy pa si Ken.

"Teri," he said as soon as his call was answered. 'Di uso ang 'hello' sa kanila.

"What do you want, Sage?" A calm female voice answered him.

"Ipasara mo lahat ng ilaw sa buong Makati."

"What? You know that's impossible." There was a mixture of curiosity and surprise in her voice.

"So may hindi ka pala kaya?" he taunted.

"Masyadong imposible ang pinapagawa mo. Para saan ba?"

"Hmm, fine. Kaya mo ba kung sa may area lang ng Aerist Tower? Kahit dalawang oras lang, I'll compensate everyone who'll get hassled."

"I'll see what I can do. You owe me."

"Just call me whenever you need anything. Thanks." Sage ended the call with a smile on his face. Malaki ang tiwala niya sa powers ni Teri.

* * *

Lumapit siya kay Ken nang makita niyang tapos na itong makipag-usap sa cellphone. He saw her quietly wipe away some tears but he didn't comment on it. Hindi rin umimik si Ken nang lapitan niya ito. Nakadungaw ang dalaga sa railing. She stared intently at the sidewalk, 40 storeys below.

"'Di ka naman siguro tatalon." Sage broke the silence.

"I just got fired," she replied in a monotonous voice. "I'm officially unemployed, just like you."

"Eh 'di sabay na tayong mag-apply para maging tuna endorser. You have pretty decent abs too."

That made Ken chuckle. Hearing her laugh gave him a feeling of accomplishment.

Sa gitna ng tawanan nila, unti-unting nagpatayan ang mga ilaw sa mga kalapit na building at nabalot sila ng kadiliman. Teri was able to pull it off, Sage really owes her one.

Ken looked around, alarmed. "Bakit biglang dumilim? Nakikiramay ba silang lahat sa pagkawala ng trabaho ko?"

"Uhm, Earth Hour kasi kaya nagbabawas ng energy consumption ang buong Metro Manila," Sage lied.

"Cool," she replied absentmindedly.

"Wanna see something cooler?"

Ken gave him a puzzled look.

"Look up."

Ken slowly turned her head up and gasped, instantly awed by a sky full of stars. The new moon and the absence of the city's artificial lights made the stars look brighter.

"Ang ganda." Her eyes were filled with wonder as a sincere smile formed on her lips.

"Sobra," sabi ni Sage kahit hindi naman siya nakatingin sa kalangitan dahil sa katabi siya nakatingin.

While Ken was completely fascinated by the stars, Sage was captivated by something else.

* * *

They both stood on the balcony in a comfortable silence until Ken decided to break it. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Na maging chill all the time, naka-drugs ka ba?"

Sage paused for a while before he answered. "Gusto mo ba talagang malaman?" She nodded eagerly.

"Do you believe that our loved ones who have passed away watch over us from above?" Sage asked, returning his gaze to the starry sky.

"I've never thought about that," she answered.

"Well, if it's true, then I just want her to see that I'm happy," he said. His voice was uncharacteristically wistful and sadness was evident in his eyes.

'Di inakala ni Ken na nalulungkot din pala ang mga fuckboy. She didn't want to pry but she couldn't help but ask. "Pwede bang itanong kung sino siya?"

"A childhood friend who died of pneumonia." Kaya pala nag-overreact si Sage noong naulanan sila kanina.

"Your first love?"

"Oo. Kaya naiinis talaga ako 'pag may nagsasabi ng 'first love never dies'."

"But true love can bury it alive."

"Huh?"

"'Yon ang kasunod na line ng 'first love never dies' at masyadong literal ang interpretation mo," sabi ni Ken. "Halatang 'di ka maka-move on."

"Hindi ah, matagal na akong nag-move on! Kaya nga gusto ko si Lily, 'di ba?" he said defensively.

Ken just stayed silent. His tone made it hard to believe him pero ayaw niya nang makialam.

"Tell me about your first love," Sage suddenly said.

Ayaw magkwento ni Ken pero nang-guilt trip si Sage. "Please? Napasaya ka naman ng stars, 'di ba?"

"Childhood friend rin."

Naghintay si Sage ng katuloy pero wala hindi niya na dinagdagan 'yon. "Ang tipid naman ng sagot mo, huwag mong sabihing si Lily 'yan kaya ayaw mong ikuwento," Sage said.

Ken was spared from answering when they heard the doorbell ring. Their pizza had arrived.

* * *

Nakalubog ang mga paa nila sa infinity pool habang umiinom ng beer at pinagmamasdan ang mga bituin. "Wala ka bang mas hard dito?" Ken asked.

Sage narrowed his eyes at her. "Are you sure you want a stronger drink?"

"Yeah, dapat mas malakas sa beer ang pang-celebrate ng unemployment," she said.

He exhaled after a long pause. "Pwede na ba ang Riesling sa'yo?"

"White wine? Wala na bang may mas mataas na alcohol content?" reklamo niya.

"Thirteen percent or five percent, your choice," he said smugly.

Kung meron mang mas nakakalasing na alak si Sage, hindi niya masisisi ito kung ayaw nitong mamigay. Stage Four must've traumatized him. "Fine, five percent," she said and he went back into the penthouse.

Hindi na nagpaka-choosy si Kendra. Gustuhin niya mang uminom hanggang magka-alcohol poisoning dahil wala na siyang trabaho, mukhang pipigilan siya ni Sage. Dadamihan niya na lang ang intake para magka-effect.

It took less than a minute for Sage to return to the poolside with a chilled bottle of Riesling and a pair of wine glasses. Sage poured the wine in front of her and they clinked their glasses. Agad na kinuha ni Ken ang isang baso at inubos ang laman nito in less than ten seconds.

"Hinay-hinay lang, Kendra. Wine 'yan, hindi tequila shot," Sage said, shaking his head.

He casually placed his hand over her hand which was holding the wine glass by the stem and guided it to make swirling motions. "You need to swirl the wine like this," he said. "This allows oxygen to penetrate the wine para mas sumarap pa 'to. This also helps in aromatizing the wine. Mas ma-eenjoy mong inumin 'yan kapag naamoy mo."

Ken stiffened and her eyebrows furrowed as she felt the warmth of his hand enveloping her own. Naghuhuramentado ang puso niya pero parang wala lang kay Sage.

She cleared her throat which made him immediately withdraw his hand. "Uhh, I think that's enough swirling. Try smelling it and take a sip," he said.

Ken released a breath that she didn't notice she was holding in. Sinunod niya ang sinabi ni Sage pero hindi niya nalasahan ang pinagkaiba. How could she possibly focus when she was worried that her heart might leap out of her chest?  "Wala namang epekto 'yong kaartehan mo eh."

"'Di mo kasi ginawa nang maayos," sabi ni Sage. He began to reach for her hand again but Ken quickly pulled back.

"It's fine, just the way it is," she said, taking another gulp of the wine and avoiding his eyes.

Inubos nila ang natitirang alak sa mga baso sa katahimikan. The unexpected body contact brought an awkward atmosphere but they gradually relaxed during their next round of white wine.

"You know, it's not that bad," Sage said.

"Ang ano?" Ken asked.

"Ang matanggal sa trabaho mo."

She scowled. "You don't understand, you privileged punk. You have unlimited cash to spend on things you don't even need without having to work for a single centavo.

"What I meant was that if they fired you because of a single minor incident, then they don't deserve you," Sage explained.  "Nakikita ko ang dedication mo sa trabaho, sumali ka nga ng beauty contest on the spot and went on a date with someone just to investigate a company issue. Dapat humanap ka ng tatapat sa effort mo."

Napangiti si Ken sa sinabi ng lalaki. It was true, she was underappreciated at work. Maliban sa dalawang miyembro ng team niya at kay Lily, hindi masyadong pabor sa kanya ang iba pang empleyado ng kumpanya. They all believe that she just got her job because she was best friends with the owner's daughter, not because of her skills. They were just probably waiting for her to fuck up a bit so they can have an excuse to fire her and the incident today was their golden opportunity kaya naman gumaan talaga ang loob niya sa sinabi ni Sage.

"Salamat," Ken said, giving him a smile that reached her eyes.

"Anytime," sagot naman ni Sage.

His compliment made her loosen up a bit and they started chatting about random things like vegetables they hate and their pet peeves. They got to know each other a bit in the process. Sage hated peas, Ken hated bell peppers and both of them hated slow walkers they can't overtake.

* * *

They were both undeniably enjoying each other's company. For almost two hours, they forgot that they were supposed to dislike one another. Ubos na ang Riesling at magkatabi silang nakahiga sa gilid ng pool habang nakatitig sa mga bituin nang muling magpasalamat si Ken.

"Salamat talaga, Sage," she said, turning to him and looking him in the eyes.

"For?"

"Cheering me up kahit lagi kitang tinatarayan at binabara. If you need anything na walang kinalaman sa pagpapa-cute kay Lily, I'd help you. I owe you one."

Hindi umimik si Sage kaya nagsimulang mag-overthink si Ken. Oh my God, what did I just say? Nagpasalamat na ako kanina, ba't ko ba inulit? Shit, sobrang awkward nito, ba't di siya nag—

Nagulat siya nang biglang tumayo si Sage. "Actually, I have two requests," he said. "Una, tumayo ka."

It was a weird request but she complied anyway. "Ano 'yong pangalawa?" sabi niya nang pareho na silang nakatayo at magkaharap.

"Don't punch me," he said.

Ken raised an eyebrow at him, confused. His hands snaked around her waist as he pulled her closer. She was too shocked to push him away. And though she would never admit it, she didn't really want to do so.

"Carpe diem," Sage said, closing his eyes and kissing her on the lips.

* * *

Ken jolted awake at the sound of her alarm clock. Her heart was racing as she instinctively touched her lips. "'Tang inang panaginip 'yan," she said, followed by a sneeze.