Nagtungo ang dalawa sa parking lot. In-unlock ni Sage ang puting Chevrolet Corvette niya gamit ang remote key saka pinakilala kay Ken ang kanyang minamahal na kotse. "Meet Monica, my Monday Baby," proud na proud na sabi ni Sage habang hinihimas ang hood ng makintab niyang sasakyan.

"Pati ba naman sa kotse, babae pa rin ang nasa isip mo. Why did you even name a car?" Ken asked, rolling her eyes. "Papakilala mo rin ba yung medyas mo?"

"It's fun to name things. Gusto mo bang pangalanan 'yong medyas ko?"

Ken gave him an eye-roll. "And you do everything for fun?"

The question made him pause. Natahimik si Sage nang halos isang minuto habang iniisip kung paano siya nakarating sa puntong ito at ang babaeng naging dahilan ng current attitude niya. I've got the looks, the wealth, and the charm. Why would I bother doing something that wouldn't be for fun? It's been six years and it's not like she's ever coming back, he thought.

"Huy! Ang lalim na 'ata ng iniisip mo. 'Di mo naman kailangan sagutin, mukhang nahihirapan kang mag-isip ng point in time na hindi lang for fun ang ginawa mo." He must've spaced out for a while because Ken looked at him weirdly. She probably didn't expect his silence.

"Of course, I take things seriously too. Seryoso ako sa panliligaw ko kay Lily." In other words, this was for fun but Ken didn't need to know that.

"Yeah, right."

"But I'm really serio—"

"Just drive, marami pa tayong gagawin." Binuksan ng babae ang pinto ng passenger seat at saka sumakay. Sage also got in and started driving.

* * *

Ilang minuto na siyang nagmamaneho pero parang personal chauffeur lang talaga ang tingin ni Ken sa kanya dahil 'di man lang ito nag-effort mangausap. "So... paano ba ako makakakuha ng pogi points ngayong araw?" he finally asked.

Ken rolled her eyes at him for the nth time today, clearly not amused by anything he said. "May beauty pageant sa Pasig branch. Pero for some reason, last minute na umatras ang karamihan ng mga contestant. 'Yong isang contestant na kakilala ni Lily, magba-back out na rin sana pero napilit niyang sumali. Kaso, wala siyang dalang mga gamit na pang pageant. Hiindi rin sumipot 'yong isang judge at ang emcee so you'll stand in for the judge." Kumunot ang noo ni Ken. Something's bothering her.

"And part of your job is fixing this situation?" Sage asked.

"Yes. The Special Resolutions Unit was created for these types of situations."

"So you need my help?" Malaking ngiti ang ipinakita niya kay Ken.

"No, I don't," sagot ni Ken na ibinalik ang malaking ngiti sa kanya.

"Really? 'Di mo kailangan?" He sucked in his cheeks to prevent himself from smiling. Sigurado siyang kailangan ni Ken ng tulong at pride lang ang pumipigil dito. "Parang ayoko nang gawin eh."

"Then I'm sure someone from Lily's long line of suitors will be willing to do it." She crossed her arms but she didn't sound very confident.

Wala ka kayang choice, Sage thought, grinning as he saw through her bluff. "Hindi mo pala ako kailangan eh. Sige, makakababa ka na."

"What?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Ken at naiwang nakabukas ang bibig nito.

"Paulit-ulit? Hindi mo ako kailangan 'di ba? Makakababa ka na," paghahamon ni Sage habang ngumingisi.

She exhaled sharply. "Fine, I was bluffing. Ikaw lang ang choice na meron ako ngayon. So can you just do this? Please? For Lily?"

"Of course, I'll do it. Binibiro lang kita," he said. "Tinamaan talaga 'ko sa best friend mo eh."

"Thank you," she said curtly.

Mga sampung minuto na silang tahimik nang umabot sila sa EDSA. As usual, malala ang traffic kahit hindi pa nag-uumpisa ang rush hour. Hindi na gumagalaw ang mga kotse at halata ang pagkainip ni Sage sa mabilis na pagtapik ng mga daliri niya sa steering wheel.

Sage broke the silence with a huge sigh. "Talk to me, please. Mamamatay na ako sa boredom."

"I'm not interested in talking to you. Magpapadala na lang ako ng flowers sa lamay mo."

Sage groaned but didn't continue the conversation. If he was going to die of boredom, she was going to die of annoyance. "Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo," he started singing. Pinandilatan siya ni Ken pero hindi siya huminto. Nang makanta niya na 'yong buong pamilya ng shark, inulit niya 'yong kanta from the start.

That's when Ken broke. "Are you fucking kidding me?" Huminga nang malalim ang dalaga. "Fine, mag-usap na tayo. Ano bang gusto mong pag-usapan?"

"May bubuyog ba talaga sa flowers? May illegal ingredient ba talaga sa chocolate?"

"Walang bubuyog. Walang illegal ingredient."

His jaw fell at how nonchalantly she admitted it. "So nagsayang ka ng flowers and chocolates?"

"Of course not. Binigay ko sa cleaning lady 'yong flowers. Birthday niya naman no'ng araw na 'yon at allergic si Lily sa isang ingredient sa chocolate so binigay ko na lang 'yon sa receptionist."

"Then why did you lie about—"

"Wait, salitan tayo para fair. Ako naman magtatanong," Ken said. "This Corvette is your Monday Baby so you have others?"

Nagulat si Sage sa tanong. The girls he dated didn't care much about the cars but Ken sounded genuinely interested. At doon siya nakasigurong hindi niya type si Ken. But he was happy to talk about his babies. "Yeah, I have one for each day of the week. Erica, my Tuesday baby, an Aventador, is my favorite. Then there's Rita the Audi R8, Tina the SL-Class Benz, Sandra the 360 Spider, Mary the NSX and Jessica the 718 Boxster."

"Cool, I kinda miss my Aventador..." Ken said wistfully. "Wait, your cars are named after Mambo No. 5 girls?" she asked, left eyebrow raised.

"Yeah, ang witty ko 'no?" Sage replied, grinning. "So you had a car but you can't drive?"

"Magkaiba ang 'can't' at 'don't'," sabi ni Ken. Hindi na nga ito nag-elaborate, nagpalit pa ng topic. "Anong hidden agenda mo, bakit mo nilapitan si Lily?"

"Wala akong hidden agenda. I met her at a charity ball, nakasayaw ko siya at nakausap. We had chemistry so ayokong palampasin 'yong chance na mas makilala pa siya."

Ken narrowed her eyes at him. In-expect na ni Sage na hindi ito maniniwala. "What exactly—"

"Ops, ako na magtatanong. Gusto mong fair 'di ba?" He smiled. "You are way too overprotective of Lily. Like, are you in love with her or something?" He looked at her directly in the eyes with such intensity that she shifted in her seat.

Ken cleared her throat. "Kung in love ba ako sa kanya, titigilan mo na siya?"

"Hey, it's my turn to ask!"

Abang na abang si Sage sa sagot ng dalaga na hindi niya napansing gumalaw na ang kotse sa harap nila. Bumusina 'yong kotse sa likod nila.

"The pageant starts at six. Kailangan pang mag-prepare no'ng contestant. We should hurry," Ken said, looking at her watch. They stayed silent the rest of the ride.

* * *

4:10 na no'ng dumating sila sa mall. Halos tumakbo si Ken pagkababa nila ng kotse. "Get an evening gown. Ikaw nang bahala sa kulay at style basta 32-24-34 'yong vital stats. Magkita na lang tayo dito nang 4:45. Use this to pay." Iniabot niya kay Sage ang isang black na card. "Special Resolutions Unit" and the logo of Zafiro Inc. were embossed on it.

Tumatakbo na palayo si Ken bago pa makasagot si Sage. He watched her leave with a mixture of surprise and amusement. How could she casually order him about? Kapatid at nanay niya lang ang mga babaeng nakakapag-utos sa kanya nang gano'n kadali.

* * *

4:40 palang pero nakabalik si Ken sa meeting place dala ang binili niyang makeup, swimsuit, at stilettos para sa contestant. Nandoon na si Sage, dala ang isang garment bag.

"Good, you're here," she said. "Puntahan na natin si Lily." She started walking towards the activity area and Sage followed.

"Wait, 'di mo ba i-che-check 'tong gown?" Sage asked when he caught up with her.

"Pwede na 'yan. Bahala na 'yong contestant magdala," she said dismissively. Sila na naghanda ng lahat ng gamit, isusuot na lang ng contestant. Magrereklamo pa ba 'yon?

"Ken! Sage!" Lily ran up to meet them as when they reached the activity area. "Ang tagal n'yo. Malapit nang mag-umpisa 'yong event."

"Don't worry, Lily. I'm here now." Kumindat si Sage habang pinapakita ang malalalim nitong dimples. Umirap si Ken.

"Thanks, Sage. I hope I can return the favor someday," sabi ni Lily. She then turned to Ken. "Kumpleto naman ba 'yong nabili n'yo?"

"Yeah, nandito na lahat. Nasa'n ba 'yong kakilala mong contestant?" Lumingon-lingon siya sa paligid, naghahanap ng babaeng mukhang may 32-24-34 na vital statistics. Those were her measurements too so kapareho niya siguro ng physique 'yong contestant. Wait, what? Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Ken. Bakit pareho sila ng measurements at bakit hindi niya napansin 'yon 'agad?

She turned to Lily. A dangerous smile was plastered on her best friend's face. "I thought you'd realize earlier, Ken. Ikaw si Contestant Number 20. Good luck!"