Sage arrived at the Zafiro family mansion five minutes earlier than their agreed meeting time. His Lamborghini Aventador entered the large iron gates and went down the long driveway until it reached Lily's contemporary home.

Nakita niya si Lily na naghihintay sa tapat ng kanilang mansyon. He parked the car and alighted with a bouquet of red roses na inabot niya kay Lily.

"These are beautiful, thank you," sabi ni Lily. "Am I dressed appropriately? Ayaw mo kasing magsabi kung saan tayo pupunta kaya hindi ko alam ang isusuot." She was dressed simply, wearing a striped dress and a denim jacket, paired with espadrilles.

"You look perfect," Sage replied with a smile.

"Thanks, you look good too," sagot sa kanya ni Lily. He was wearing an olive green Henley shirt, dark denim jeans, a beanie,  and brown leather lace-up boots.

"Ilalagay ko lang 'to sa vase, baka masira kung dadalhin ko pa sa date. Pasok ka muna," she said as she led him inside the house.

A large family picture was hanging on one of the walls. Lily and her parents had serious expressions and were dressed very formally in the photo. If Sage didn't know better, he'd think that they were a royal family.

He sat on one of the velvet sofas in the living room and observed. Sumunod sa contemporary architectural style ng bahay ang interior design sa sala. Maaliwalas din dahil sa natural light na pumapasok sa malalaking bintana. The wooden floor and the faux fur rug gave a cozy feeling to the place.

Naagaw ang atensyon niya ng isang photo album sa ibabaw ng coffee table. "Pwede ko bang tingnan 'to?" Sage asked.

"Sure. Tinitingnan din namin 'yan kagabi. Do you want anything to drink?" sagot ni Lily habang naglalakad papuntang kusina.

"Water lang, thanks," Sage said as he opened the album. Most of the pictures were of Lily in her high school days. Kitang kita sa mga litrato na marami itong extra-curricular activities noong nag-aaral pa. She was part of the student council and the photography club. May ilan ring mga litrato na magkasama sila ni Ken, or more accurately, ni Selene. And damn she looked hot in a shimmering ball gown during their senior prom.

"Anong nginingiti-ngiti mo diyan?" Nagulat si Sage nang may magsalita sa gilid niya. He didn't notice that someone was leaning on the sofa and was right behind him, also looking at the photos. "May balak ka sigurong kumuha ng picture diyan para magayuma si Lily, 'no?"

Lumingon siya at napatayo nang makitang tama ang hinala niya sa boses narinig niya. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Ken was standing behind the sofa, in an oversized shirt. Mukha pang bagong gising ang dalaga. "Mas welcomed pa ako dito kaysa sa 'yo 'no. Kung makatanong ka parang bahay mo 'to ah," mataray na sagot sa kanya ni Ken.

Sage stared at her. Napalunok siya nang mapansing may kulang sa suot ni Ken. "Wa-wala kang..." Hindi niya alam kung paano itutuloy iyon nang hindi napagkakamalang ng manyak.

"Walang?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

He swallowed and tried to concentrate on her face. 

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng dalaga nang ma-realize ang tinutukoy ni Sage. "Oh my God! Bakit mo tinitingnan?!" She quickly covered her chest with her arms and ran back to Lily's room with reddened cheeks, leaving Sage confused.

Bumalik si Lily na may dalang isang baso ng tubig. "O, bakit ka nakatayo?" tanong nito nang makita si Sage.

"Bakit nandito si Ken? Please don't tell me that she's going to be a third wheel." It's not that he didn't enjoy Ken's company. 'Di niya man aminin, naaaliw siya kapag kasama ang competitive na taong 'yon pero kailangan niya na talagang magka-progress kay Lily.

"Ah, siya pala 'yong narinig kong tumakbo," Lily said. "She slept over after she insisted on teaching me self defense moves. Baka daw may gawin kang kababalaghan. But don't worry, 'di 'yon sasama, I keep my promises, remember?"

Nakahinga nang maluwag si Sage. "That's good to hear and by the way, 'di mo kailangan ng self-defense moves ni Kendra, I won't do anything to hurt you or make you uncomfortable."

"We'll see, let's go!"

* * *

He handed Lily a box just as he started driving. "That's for you. I have my own pero kailangan mo 'kong turuan gumamit," nakangiting sabi ni Sage.

Lily carefully opened the box and gasped in delight when she saw the 35mm SLR film camera. "OMG, this is so cool! I used to develop film rolls in a darkroom with a friend." Excitement was evident in her voice. "Wait, anong ibig mong sabihing tuturuan kitang gumamit?"

"I want to learn from the expert." He smiled. "Sabi ni Ken magaling kang photographer eh."

"She's just exaggerating," Lily replied bashfully.

"Ang humble mo talaga," Sage said with a laugh. "It's fine if you don't want to teach me, just enjoy taking photos."

"I guess, pwede naman kitang turuan ng basics. Natuwa talaga ako dito sa film camera, thank you."

"I'm glad you liked it. Come to think of it, ngayon lang kita ulit nakasama na wala si Ken ever since our first meeting at the charity ball."

"Yeah, you seem to have developed an interesting relationship with her. Mas maraming beses mo pa siyang nakasama eh."

"Selos ka?"

"Oo naman, I can't help it."

"Wait, really?" Nagulat si Sage sa sinabi ni Lily kaya bumagal ang pagpapatakbo niya ng kotse. She was always nonchalant about him courting her. Laging biro ang trato ng dalaga sa mga banat niya kaya hindi niya inaasahang nagseselos pala ito. He should be happy that she's finally giving in but he's rather conflicted.

"Oo. I kinda feel like inaagawan mo 'ko ng best friend," she said with a chuckle. "Baka mamaya, kayo na pala ang best friends."

Mali pala ang pagkaintindi ni Sage, assuming kasi. Hindi naman pala si Ken ang pinagseselosan, siya pala. Natawa rin siya pero itinanggi ang paratang ni Lily. "Kendra and me, best friends? Baka kailangan mo nang magsalamin kung hindi mo nakikita kung gaano 'yon ka-high blood sa'kin."

"You may think so but I think she enjoys arguing with you. Actually, gusto kitang pasalamatan kasi you keep her occupied. After that incident three years ago, she was just constantly passive and distant, with only me, Matt and Heidi as her friends."

"Really? I find her aggressive, don't you?"

"Sa mga pumoporma lang sa 'kin pero napansin ko ring mas intense sa'yo kumapara sa mga dating manliligaw."

"Kasi ako ang pinaka may chance sa'yo?"

"Not really," she replied bluntly.

Itinawa na lang ni Sage ang latest rejection galing kay Lily. "I'm hoping this date improves my chances of being with you," he said. "Anyawy, can I speed up? Medyo malayo ang pupuntahan natin eh."

"Yeah, sure. Napakabilis magpatakbo ng sasakyan ni Ken dati, noong nagda-drive pa siya. I'm pretty used to it. Actually, she used to have the exact same car model as this," Lily said, running her hands on the glove compartment. "Saan ba tayo pupunta?"

"It's a surprise." He smiled before getting lost in his thoughts. Naalala ni Sage ang araw na nakilala niya si Ken. She was obviously interested in cars. Hindi niya maiwasang ma-curious sa mga nangyari sa buhay ni Ken na naging dahilan ng malalaking pagbabago  nito. He wanted to ask Lily but he didn't want to appear to be too interested in her best friend. Hindi niya alam kung bakit napakarami niyang gustong malaman tungkol kay Ken kahit wala namang silbi sa kanya ang impormasyong 'yon.

Sage suddenly shook his head when he realized that he was, again, thinking about a girl while he was on a date with another girl. Ang malala pa, it's the same girl he was thinking about during his previous date. 

Si Lily na ang kasama niya ngayon, ang magdadala sa kanya ng pagkapanalo sa hamon ng lolo niya at sa pustahan nila ng mga pinsan niya. Pero bakit si Ken pa rin ang tumatakbo sa isip niya? He was so frustrated that such a girl could throw him off his game.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to clear his mind. He looked at Lily and found her sleeping serenely. Mag-best friend nga sila ni Ken, parehong mabilis makatulog.

Sage felt awful when he realized that he might have ignored Lily while he was thinking about Ken kaya ito nakatulog. Hindi niya na ginising ang ka-date, baka napuyat din kasi sa sleepover.