Ginaw na ginaw si Ken nang magising siya. Her thin blanket was not enough to let her sleep comfortably. She knew the perfect temperature that would let her sleep soundly for an entire night—22° Celsius. Bihirang bihira niyang makalimutang i-set sa gano'ng temperature ang aircon tuwing matutulog siya pero mukhang nakalimutan niya iyon no'ng nakaraang gabi.

She tried to remember why she forgot and a memory returned. Sage's singing voice was deep and rich. When he sang La Vie En Rose, not a note was out of tune and his pronunciation was pristine, even when he sang the second verse in French. At iyon ang tumulong sa kanyang makatulog nang mahimbing.

Too sleepy to get up and adjust the temperature, she moved closer to the source of warmth behind her, a toned torso with a pair of strong arms which were currently wrapped around her waist.

Wait, what? Bakit nakayakap sa kanya ang lalaking 'to? Nagising ang diwa ni Ken. Nag-effort siyang pagpatung-patungin ang mga unan para maiwasan ang pangyayaring ito pero mukhang pareho silang malikot matulog. The pillows were no longer separating them and were, instead, scattered around them. Nahulog pa sa sahig ang iba.

She carefully tried to untangle his arms from her torso but he tightened his embrace. Her breath hitched but her body appreciated the extra warmth from his.

Matagal rin siguro silang nasa ganoong posisyon dahil nangangalay na ang likod niya. To avoid a cramp, Ken turned to her other side, only to come face to face with Sage. Big mistake. Their faces were now so close that their noses almost touched. Ramdam niya rin ang bawat paghinga ni Sage dahil mahigpit ang pagyakap nito sa kanya.

Napatitig si Ken sa mukha ng binatang mahimbing ang tulog. How were his eyelashes so long? Hindi matanggap ni Ken na mas maganda pa ang mga pilikmata ni Sage kaysa sa mga pilikmata niya. She moved her face closer to inspect, expecting to see eyelash extensions but to her disappointment, Sage's eyelashes were just naturally long.

Ilalayo na sana ni Ken ang mukha niya nang biglang magpalit ng posisyon si Sage habang nakayakap pa rin sa kanya. The sudden movement caused Ken's head to tilt forward until her lips landed on his.

She was frozen in shock. Her eyes were wide open and her heart fluttered in sync with the butterflies in her stomach. Lalo pa siyang nagulat nang maramdamang gumagalaw ang mga labi ni Sage.

His eyes were closed so he was probably dreaming. Napansin ni Ken ang pagkunot ng noo nito nang hindi niya ibalik ang halik. She immediately returned the kiss, fearing that he'd suddenly open his eyes if she didn't. That would quadruple the awkwardness of the situation.

It worked but not for as long as she hoped. Sage slowly opened his eyes as his lips tore away from hers. "Ken?" he groggily asked.

Fuck, nagising ang loko! Panic rushed through her veins.

His eyes weren't fully opened and he didn't seem to be in shock. An idea popped into her head.

In a last-ditch effort to salvage the situation, she answered him in the sultriest voice she could muster. "Yes?"

"Is this a dream?" he asked, his half-lidded eyes looking straight into hers.

"Would a real life sober Kendra let you kiss her?"

"No... So can I continue kissing you, Dream Kendra?"

"In your dreams, you don't kiss me. I kiss you." She pressed her lips softly on his.

Ken controlled the kiss. She had to keep it PG, bawal gumamit ng tongue. If this gets slightly more intense, he'd surely awaken fully. And she wouldn't risk waking up certain parts of him.

They had to stop kissing at some point. She kept her forehead pressed against his as she looked deeply into his eyes. She maintained the sultry Dream Kendra demeanor but in her mind, she was trying to resolve another dilemma—kailangan niyang patulugin ulit si Sage nang hindi nito nalalaman na gising talaga sila ngayon.

As much as she wanted to just punch him to knock him out, that method was out of the question. She could only think of one other way she could possibly do it and she wasn't even sure if it would work. 

"Should I sing for you?" she asked.

"Please," he replied, his voice, husky and pleading.

Kanina lang, napilit niya ang binatang kantahan siya. Now, she had to do it too. Mabilis nga naman ang karma.

"Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars..." she sang. Tatlong taon rin siyang hindi kumanta sa harap ng iba. Hindi niya inakalang si Sage ang unang makakarinig ng pagkanta niya. At least he wouldn't know that it was real.

By the middle of the song, his eyes were already closed. Pero tinapos ni Ken ang kanta. Para sure. "In other words, I love you."

Still in his embrace, she felt the steady rhythm of his chest as he breathed in and out. Nakahinga siya nang maluwag nang mapansing tuluyan na ngang nakatulog ang katabi niya.

Dahan-dahang siyang kumalas sa pagkakayakap sa kanya ni Sage. Tumayo si Ken at pinulot ang mga nagkalat na unan. Pinagpatong-patong niya ang mga iyon para ibalik ang pillow barrier sa gitna nila. In-adjust niya na rin 'yong thermostat para hindi sila muling mauwi sa yakapan at saka siya bumalik sa pagtulog.

* * *

Maganda ang gising ni Sage. Maganda rin kasi ang napanaginipan niya. The sensation of Dream Kendra's kiss still lingered on his lips. He perfectly remembered the warmth of her body pressed against his and her euphonic singing voice. He wondered if Real Kendra's voice was just as good.

Kung hindi lang ang pinagpatong-patong na unan ang una niyang nakita pagkagising niya, aakalain niyang nangyari talaga ang napanaginipan niya. Nagpakawala si Sage ng buntong-hininga. Nainis siyang ginusto niyang umasa na hindi lang panaginip ang nangyari pero napakaimposible noon dahil malamang, may black eye na siya, courtesy of Ken, kung nangyari talaga 'yon.

He got up and looked over to Ken's side of the bed but he was surprised to see she wasn't there. Instead, he found the receipt for the ice pop that she bought last night with a note at the back. Ken's handwriting was distinct. The pointed letters were spaced out and had no slant at all. The lowercase A's were the double-storey type, unlike the single-storey A's seen in most people's handwriting.

Airbender, I think you are laid-back yet too competitive for your own good. Arrogant yet surprisingly reliable. You are also the most annoying creature I've ever met and that's why you are never boring. Never mention this to anyone. You've been warned, he read.

He smiled before carefully folding the receipt and placing it inside his wallet. Nilibot niya ng tingin ang kwarto, he even checked the bathroom pero wala si Ken. Baka nagpatawag na 'yon ng helicopter dahil tumigil na ang ulan. Naligo na lang muna siya. She'd probably be back soon.

* * *

Ken went out to clear her head. 'Di niya talaga matanggal sa isipan ang nangyari noong madaling araw, lalo na kung papanoorin niya lang na matulog si Sage.

Mabilis niya ring naisulat ang opinyon niya tungkol kay Sage bago lumabas ng kwarto nila. She didn't expect that she had something good to say about him and as much as she didn't want him to know that, she found it hard to lie so she just wrote it all down. There was no way she'd tell him that in person.

She returned to their room with a cup of coffee and a croissant. Naabutan niya si Sage na shirtless habang nagpapatuyo ito ng buhok. Napalunok si Ken sa six-pack ng lalaking mahangin pero kinaya niya namang lumapit nang hindi naglalaway.

"Breakfast," she said as she placed the cup of coffee on the dresser and handed the croissant to Sage.

"What's this?" he asked, looking confused.

"Ham and cheese croissant at espresso."

"No, I meant, bakit mo ako binibigyan ng libreng pagkain? Dinuraan mo 'to 'no?" He eyed the coffee suspiciously.

Inirapan niya ito. "'Di ako magsasayang ng laway para sa 'yo. You'll be driving me back to Manila and I'm just making sure that you won't fall asleep and that we won't need stopovers for eating."

"Okay, kunwari hindi ka concerned para sa 'kin," pang-aasar ni Sage.

"Dream on," she replied. "Get dressed, para makaalis na tayo."

"Are you sure, you're done staring at my perfect body?"

"It's not perfect, ang dumi kaya ng pusod mo."

"What? Imposible," Sage said, quickly inspecting his belly button. It wasn't actually dirty. Pang-distract lang 'yon ni Ken para makatakas siya nang hindi nakikita ng binata ang namumula niyang mga pisngi.

* * *

An hour later, they were comfortably seated in Sage's car. Pabalik na sila sa Manila at nagtatalo na naman sila.

"Ako na lang kasi ang magsusuot ng mga 'yan," Ken said, referring to the pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap in Sage's car.

"Akin 'yan eh. Isa pa, I can't be seen wearing this in public," he said, pertaining to his shirt. Didiretso sila sa ospital para bisitahin si Lily at pareho nilang suot ang couple shirts na binili nila kahapon kaya nag-aagawan sila sa limited available disguise equipment.

"Normal naman sa 'yo na kung sino-sinong babae ang kasama eh. Sanay na ang madla sa kalandian mo kaya 'di mo na kailangan ng disguise."

"Hindi lang kung sino-sino ah! I have standards and all the women I've dated are hot. Hindi 'yon ang issue cause you are actually—" he paused for a moment while trying to find the right word because he didn't want to use 'hot' to describe Ken no matter how true it was. "Decent," he continued. "It's this shirt, masyadong uncool."

"'Yon lang issue mo, gusto mo maging cool? I've tried so hard to keep a low profile for the past three years. If I'm recognized and seen wearing this weird shirt and walking with the country's leading fuckboy, the press will have a field day. 'Di ka ba naaawa sa'kin?" she said.

Sayang nga naman ang effort niyang mag-imbento ng Harassment Act of 2002 kagabi kung pagpipiyestahan din naman pala si Ken ng mga tabloid ngayon pero hindi niya naman hahayaang siya ang pagpiyestahan. "Fine, hiramin mo na 'yong cap, I'll just wear the sunglasses."

Ken sighed. "Deal, thanks."

* * *

Mabilis ang pagapatakbo ni Sage ng sasakyan nang biglang mag-overtake ang isang sedan sa katabi nilang lane na sa opposite direction ang traffic flow. He was able to slow down at the last minute but the sudden change in speed made Ken yelp.

Nagulat si Sage. "Hey, okay ka lang? Sorry, it was sudden." Tiningnan niya si Ken at nakitang nanginginig ito at sunod-sunod ang malalim na paghinga.

"Keep your eyes on the road!" she shrieked in a shaky voice.

"Okay, okay, chill," Sage replied. Ngayon niya lang nakitang gano'n si Ken at 'di niya rin maiwasang mag-alala. "Tell me, anong problema?"

"N-nothing, just drive," she replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Oo," sagot ni Ken matapos magpakawala ng isang buntong-hininga. Hindi na ito nagsalita pa kaya binuksan na lang ni Sage ang radyo.

And I've got all that I need, right here in the passenger seat. Oh, and I can't keep my eyes on the road, knowing that she's inches from me.

Passenger Seat by Stephen Speaks played and for some reason, it left a very awkward atmosphere in the car. He avoided eye contact and he was sure she was doing the same.

He released a breath that he was holding in when the song ended. Sa kasamaang-palad, parang may pinapahiwatig din ang sumunod na kanta.

And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might. And I can't fight this feeling anymore. I've forgotten what I started fighting for.

Sage would usually sing along to Can't Fight This Feeling every time it played on the radio but he just couldn't right now. He threw a quick glance at Ken but her upper body was twisted away from him. Nakatingin ang dalaga sa bintana na parang first time nitong makakita ng bukid.

He prayed that the next song was anything but a love song. But to his dismay, the next song took the awkwardness to the next level.

Ba't 'di pa sabihin ang hindi mo maamin? Ipauubaya na lang ba 'to sa hangin? Huwag mong ikatakot ang bulong ng damdamin mo. Ako ang sasagip sa'yo.

For some reason, pinabilis ng kantang Tadhana ang tibok ng puso niya. Ken was leaning back in her seat, eyes closed. He doubted that she had fallen asleep that easily. Pero kung nagpapanggap lamang ito, na-appreciate niya ang contribution ng dalaga sa pagbabawas ng awkwardness sa kotseng iyon. As much as he liked all those songs, they really bothered him today.

* * *

Pinanindigan ni Ken ang pagpapanggap niyang tulog. On any other day, she would enjoy listening to those songs pero bakit sobrang awkward 'pag itong Airbender na fuckboy ang kasama niya?

Tuluyang nakatulog si Ken at nagising lang siya pagkahinto ng kotse. "Nasa'n na tayo?" she asked groggily.

"What's Lily's favorite flower?" tanong sa kanya ni Sage. She peered through the window and saw that they were parked right outside a flower shop.

"Secret," sagot sa kanya ni Ken, sabay labas ng dila.

"Ikaw na rin magsusuot ng shades kapag sinabi mo sa 'kin," Sage offered.

"Really?" Ken eyed him suspiciously.

"Oo. Here." He handed the sunglasses over to her.

"She loves tulips," Ken said, taking the sunglasses.

"Thanks." Sage smiled before leaving the car.

* * *

"Here." Binigyan ni Sage si Ken ang isang single stem sunflower nang makabalik siya sa sasakyan.

Ken was visibly surprised. "Wrong send?"

Natawa si Sage sa reaksyon nito. "Anong wrong send? Ikaw lang naman ang nandito at hindi 'yan emoji, totoo 'yan."

"Para saan 'to?"

"Ah, libre kasi 'yan no'ng binili ko 'tong tulips para kay Lily. Parang 'di naman bagay kung isasama ko siya dito sa bouquet." 

The single-stem sunflower was actually pretty expensive but seeing it reminded him of Ken at 'di niya napigilang bilhin 'yon. But there was also no way in hell that he's gonna admit that to her.

"Uhm, okay. Salamat," sabi ni Ken nang tanggapin nito ang bulaklak.

* * *

Ken made sure that most of her face was hidden by the sunglasses and the cap as they walked through the hallways of the hospital. Ang kawawang si Sage naman ang naiilang dahil wagas makatingin 'yong ibang nadaanan nila. Some even squinted their eyes as if they recognized him but were doubting their sight because of his tacky shirt.

After being stared at by a multitude of healthcare professionals and patients, they finally arrived at Lily's private room. Tawang-tawa si Lily nang makita nito ang dalawa.

"Nice shirts, guys." Lily said, smirking.

"It would have been a thousand times nicer if you were the one wearing it instead of this super grumpy friend of yours," sagot ni Sage habang nginingitian si Lily at inaabot ang mga bulaklak sa dalaga. "Para sa'yo 'to. I'm really sorry, I hope you're feeling better."

Ken rolled her eyes at his remark. "Ano, Lily, ipapaaresto na ba natin 'tong Airbender na 'to? And may extra shirt ka ba?"

"Oo, kuha ka na lang doon," sagot ni Lily habang tinuturo ang duffel bag sa may sofa. "Oh, and speaking of ipapaaresto, wanted pala kayong dalawa."

"What?" sabay na tanong nina Ken at Sage. Both of them stared at the heiress, eyes wide.

"Wow, you both look so guilty. Did you do something illegal?" Lily chuckled. "Wanted kayo sa event na 'to," she said as she handed them envelopes.

Sage opened his and found an elegant invitation card inside. Their landlord, Aero Ringo, and his ex-wife, Istanna, were getting married again.