"Carpe diem," she heard him say. Ken was still trying to remember the meaning of the Latin phrase when he suddenly kissed her. The feeling of his soft warm lips on hers gave her butterflies.

Her brain was telling her to pull away but her body refused to cooperate. So she found the middle ground—sulitin ang pagkakataon tapos awayin si Sage mamaya.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Ken closed her eyes and deepened the kiss, moving her lips in sync with his. He responded with the same amount of enthusiasm that made a faint moan escape her lips. Matagal na pala siyang hindi nakikipag-momol.

Sage, being the fuckboy that he was, took advantage of her increasingly parting lips. Naramdaman ni Ken ang pagpasok ng dila nito sa kanyang bibig.

Doon siya natauhan. Naalala niyang hindi niya dapat 'to ginagawa. Bigla niyang tinulak palayo si Sage at kasabay noon, bumukas ang mga ilaw sa kalapit na building. The lights pulled her back into reality.

"What the hell are you doing?!" she exclaimed.

"French kiss, should I teach you?" he calmly replied.

"I know how! Bakit mo 'ko hinalikan?" Her heart was still racing as she searched his eyes for the answer.

* * *

Hindi rin alam ni Sage kung bakit. The intensity of her gaze made him bite his lip.

Was it the way she blinked or the way her cheeks flushed in the cold night air? Was it the way her upper lip twitched when he said something conceited or the way her silky hair bounced when she turned her head? He noticed all these little things that made his heart skip a beat and he suddenly had the urge to kiss her. Maybe it would calm down his heart that threatened to leap out of his chest. But he was wrong, kissing her made it worse.

Pero hindi niya pwedeng sabihin 'yon kay Ken, baka kung ano pang isipin no'ng babaeng 'yon. Wala naman kasi itong dapat isipin, 'di ba?

"I..." he started, unsure of how to continue.

Nakataas ang isang kilay ni Ken habang hinihintay ang sagot niya.

"Practice!" he blurted out. Na-pressure siya sa titig ni Ken at sinabi niya na lang ang unang naisip.

"Practice?" she repeated.

"Para 'pag hinalikan ko na si Lily," he said, feeling like an idiot for what he just said. For a moment, he thought he saw a hurt expression on her face but he couldn't be sure because it was quickly replaced by a smirk.

"Sa yaman mong 'yan, nag-aavail ka pa pala ng libre," she said.

"Anong libre?"

"Mangarap," sagot ni Ken. "'Di mo mahahalikan 'yon."

"You underestimate me. Siguro ayaw mo lang mahalikan ko siya kasi maiingit ka," Sage replied.

"Ano namang nakakainggit doon? You're a bad kisser." She didn't say it convincingly, though.

"Says someone who actually moaned while being kissed. First kiss mo, 'no?" Contrary to what he implied, Sage was actually surprised by the way she kissed. Kayang sabayan ni Ken ang intensity ng halik niya and it disappointed him when the kiss came to an abrupt stop.

"First kiss ko?" She scoffed. "It's really nice that you don't know Selene."

Naalala ni Sage ang mga tanong tungkol kay Selene. He took out his phone and showed Ken a video clip. "So ikaw talaga 'to?"

Halos lumuwa ang mga mata ni Ken sa nakita nito. He couldn't blame her. Who would want to see a video of herself obviously intoxicated and sucking face in public?

"How do you even have a three-year-old video file from halfway across the world? Bakit hindi pa 'yan nade-delete?"

"You have your resources and I have mine," he replied, flashing her a mischievous grin. "Sagutin mo na lang kasi ang mga tanong ko."

"Pa'no kung ayaw ko?"

"Pa'no kung i-post ko 'to sa social media?"

"Pa'no kung itulak kita mula dito sa fortieth floor?"

"Chill! Wala namang ganyanan."

"Kung ayaw mo ng ganyan, don't blackmail me."

Sage was amused at how Ken always has an answer but annoyed at how it was never the answer he wanted to hear. "Kita mo ba 'to?" he asked, pointing to the hickeys she so casually placed on his neck. "Ikaw ang gumawa niyan or maybe it's Selene. It's so hard to think of you two as one person."

"I know what I did and I'm sorry, I was very drunk. Alam kong hindi excuse 'yon para maging iresponsable pero 'yon na talaga ang paliwanag eh. Being Selene is a part of me that I'm not very proud of." She sighed. "That video makes me cringe. Kaya please, paki-delete na 'yan."

"Ayoko nga, ang hirap kayang makuha nito."

"Dapat lang. Pinatanggal ng pamilya ko ang lahat ng photos, videos, posts, ads, and anything you can find na may kinalaman kay Selene at tama lang na ginawa nila 'yon," she said. "Kung may tanong ka pa, I'll be answering them as long as they're not about the incident three years ago. I guess I owe you more information for those disgusting marks on your neck."

Ngiting tagumpay ang naiwan sa mukha ni Sage. He didn't really think that the hickeys were disgusting but he was glad it made Ken guilty enough to share information. "Kung ikaw nga si Selene, bakit walang nakakakilala sa'yo kapag lumalabas ka? I've seen photos of Selene pero mukhang wala namang naganap na plastic surgery."

"Kahit natanggal na ang ninety percent ng evidence na nag-exist si Selene, may mga nakakaalala pa rin naman sa kanya. Tristan, for instance, recognized me immediately. Reactions to Claire's tweet were mostly about how they've finally found the missing Selene and it's actually why I asked Matt to delete those videos and photos."

"So it wasn't because you're embarrassed that I kissed you?"

"Not really, wala namang effect sa'kin 'yon," she said with nonchalance.

"Pero 'yong kanina, may effect?" he teased.

"Wala," Ken replied stiffly. "I really need to warn Lily, para makaiwas na siya sa halik mong walang dating."

"You—" He started to say something but he was interrupted by his own sneeze. Nag-umpisa na rin siyang sipunin matapos ang isa pang malakas na bahing.

Ken looked concerned. "Sinisipon ka."

"Whisky can cure colds. Kukuha lang ako sa loob," Sage said, starting to stand.

"So may alak ka ngang mas hard! You lied to me."

"Kailan ko ba sinabing wala? Pinapili lang kita kung mas gusto mo ng five percent or thirteen percent."

Sage left before she could retort. Kumuha siya ng isang bote ng Jack Daniel's at dalawang basong may yelo. Pinag-isipan niyang mabuti kung paiinumin niya si Ken ng whisky. Sure, seeing her go through her drunk stages was entertaining but he worried about Stage Four, hindi para kay Ken pero para sa kakayahan niyang tumanggi sa tukso.

Ken seemed to be in better control today and she wasn't drinking on an empty stomach so he decided to just go with the flow and let her drink to her heart's content. Bahala na ang babaeng 'yon kung magka-hangover na naman ito. She wouldn't need to go to work anyway.

Tulala si Ken nang bumalik siya sa poolside. "Here," he said, handing her a glass of whisky. "Iinom mo na lang 'yang iniisip mo."

She was startled by his voice but she quickly accepted the glass. "Cheers," Ken said as they clinked their glasses and drank the whisky.

"Ahh." The rich flavor and the heat travelled down his throat.

"Exactly what I need," she said, satisfied.

"Ayos, nasa mood ka na ba?" Sage said with a grin as he refilled their glasses.

"Mood for what?"

"You know..." He winked suggesstively.

Her eyes widened. "You per—"

Her outrage was cut by his hearty laugh. "Ang saya mo talagang asarin!"

"Can you not make weird flirty jokes?" Ken said with a click of her tongue.

"Bakit, malapit ka na bang mahulog sa 'kin?" he joked.

Ken paused for a while, as if stunned by his question. She then bit her lip and bowed her head before answering. "Nahulog na at alam kong wala kang balak saluhin ako! I don't want to be part of your collection, Sage."

Sage froze. He heard the pain in her voice. They stayed silent for almost a minute. He stared at her but she was staring at the ground and her hair was covering her face. He saw that her shoulders began to shake. "Shit! Umiiyak ka ba?"

Mabilis siyang lumapit kay Ken at hinawi ang buhok nito. Saka niya nalaman ang tunay na dahilan ng panginginig ng mga balikat ng dalaga.

Hindi na napigilan ni Ken ang pagtawa at isang malakas na halakhak ang pinakawalan nito. "Surely, you knew that I wasn't serious," she said in between fits of laughter. "Anong akala mo, ikaw lang ang may kayang makipagbiruan nang ganyan?"

Relieved, Sage laughed with her. It wasn't the first time that a girl confessed to her. He never had trouble outright rejecting a girl's confession or accepting it and having fun with her for a short time. Pero no'ng si Ken ang gumawa, natakot siya. Kasi for the first time ever, hindi niya alam ang gagawin.

Yet despite his relief, there was a slight disappointment that persisted in him. But, of course, he refused to acknowledge it 'cause there was no logical reason to feel that, right?

* * *

Nakaubos na sila ng tig-dalawang can ng beer, isang bote ng wine, at kalahating bote ng whisky. Sage was feeling a bit tipsy as he observed Ken. Her face was a bit flushed and she seemed to be playing with the liquid in her glass.

"So nasa mood ka na bang sumagot ng mga tanong ko tungkol kay Selene?" tanong niya.

"Sige, para matapos na," she replied, taking another sip.

"Kapag may nakakakilala sa'yo, dine-deny mo lang talaga na ikaw si Selene at naniniwala na sila?"

Ken giggled just like how she did the previous night. She must be tipsy too. "Kung 'di pa naririnig ang boses ko, I simply do this."  Ken used her index finger to touch her chest and dragged it on her cheek starting near the edge of her mouth and ending near her ear. WIth her closed fist, she made clockwise motions on her chest. "This means 'I am deaf, sorry' in sign language. Effective 'to, 'di ka na talaga nila kakausapin," she explained. "Pero kung nakita na nila akong magsalita, I just simply deny it and walk away."

"Maparaan," Sage said, very impressed with how Ken dealt with those who recognized her.

"Well duh, it's me," she said with confidence, probably from the alcoholic drink. "May tanong ka pa?"

"Madami pa."

"Okay, I'll answer one last."

"Answer ten."

"One."

"Seven."

"One."

"Five."

"One."

"'Di ka ba marunong makipagtawaran? You're supposed to meet me halfway," Sage said, irked by her refusal to cooperate.

"Fine, dalawang tanong ang sasagutin ko. Take it or leave it."

He sighed and accepted defeat. She seemed drunk but not drunk enough to narrate her life story. He'll just have to make the most out of what he can get. "If you were disowned, how did you afford your unit in 27G?"

"Well, I was thrown out of our house with only my clothes and my car keys. Binenta ko 'yong sports car para sa down payment ng unit and I continue to pay for it monthly. Pero dahil wala na 'kong trabaho, magpa-practice na siguro akong maging taong grasa," she finished with a bitter laugh.

"Mabait naman si Mr. Ringo, I'm sure he can be flexible with the payments." Sigurado rin namang kukupkupin ito ni Lily kung mawalan man ng tahanan si Ken pero may kakaibang pangambang naramdaman si Sage nang maisip niyang lilipat si Ken ng tirahan.

"Sana nga pero ayoko nang isipin 'yan." She took a large gulp of whisky. "Last question."

He badly wanted to ask her about why she got disowned or about the guy in the photo in her bedroom but he knew that those were off limits so he asked about her previous career instead. "Why did you stop modelling? Hindi ka na sinuportahan ng pamilya mo, mas nangailangan ka na ng income, why quit a job that pays?"

Ken paused, probably to filter her answer. "I'm the blacksheep of the powerful clan that disowned me. I'm sure Selene's career wouldn't survive if they intervened. And after that incident three years ago, I'm pretty damn sure they would've intervened." Bumuntong-hininga ito. "But to be honest, I also got tired of the social events that came with the job. Araw-araw may party and I couldn't afford to keep my personal stylist and makeup artist. I even had fake relationships, it's so exhausting."

Saktong sakto si Selene sa description ng type na laging pinapatulan ni Sage—rich, popular, stylish, and wild. Ken wasn't exactly any of those at the moment but he found her way more interesting. "If you can't do your own makeup or put together your own outfits, then is Selene a fake and the real you is the one I know?"

Humiga si Ken sa tabi ng pool at muling tumingin sa mga butuin. "You've used up all your questions and you don't know me that much anyway," she said softly.

"I know you enough to have kissed you twice," he said with a cheeky grin as he turned to look at Ken, only to find her eyes closed. Wow, tinulugan siya.

"Gawin ko na bang tatlo?" he said, glancing at her slightly parted lips.

Sage quickly turned away after realizing what he just said. He groaned as he ran his fingers through his hair. Fuck, ano bang problema ko?