Puyat na puyat man ay maaga akong pumasok kinabukasan para personal na idaan ang revised paper ko sa Editorial Office dahil talagang makakasapak na ako kung ire-reject itong muli ng Ricos na iyon.

I knocked twice on the door before hearing Ricos's voice from inside.

"Come in."

Itinulak ko ang pinto at humakbang papasok, nakita ko siyang mag-isa sa loob ng silid at inaayos ang laptop niya sa lamesa. It looked like he had just gotten in. He didn't even bother lifting his gaze as he spoke.

"What can I do for you, Miss Mutia?" His tone was calm, indifferent. And damn, he already knew it was me.

I clenched my jaw, walked up to his desk, and placed my papers on the table with a little more force than necessary. Pilit na kinukuha ang atensyon niya dahil hindi pa rin nababawasan ang inis ko sa kaniya. "I already revised it. Just like you wanted."

Ricos finally glanced up, his eyes flicking to the papers in front of him before returning to his laptop.

"Okay," ni hindi man lang niya iyon pinulot at sinilip. Nagpatuloy laman siya sa kung anong ginagawa niya sa kaniyang computer. "I'll read it when I get the time."

"Ano?" Hindi makapaniwala ko siyang pinagmasdan. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my cool. "Ricos, I need you to read it now."

He looked at me, one eyebrow raised, but didn't say anything.

"If you don't approve it today, I'm going to get kicked out of the club!" Nagmamaktol na talaga ako dahil kulang na kulang ang tulog ko at totoo naman ang sinabi ko. Kung hindi approved ang papers ko ngayon ay talagang goodbye Journalism na ako. "I've been up all night working on this. Alam mo kung gaano ito kahalaga sa akin."

He leaned back in his chair, kalmado man ang anyo ay hirap na hirap pa rin akong basahin siya. Hindi ko alam kung galit ba siya o kung may pakialam man lang ba siya. Humalukipkip pa siya habang pinagmamasdan ako. "And you think that means I should drop everything to read it right this second?"

"Yes," I replied bluntly, crossing my arms too, mirroring his posture. "You know this is my last chance. I don't have time for you to take your time. Pinaulit mo 'yan sa akin kaya ngayon ay pahalagahan mo rin ang oras na ibinuhos ko para dyan."

Ricos sighed, glancing back at his laptop for a moment before looking at me again. "Rhea, I told you I'd read it. You're not the only one with deadlines, you know. Hindi ko kasalanan na tatlong ulit kang pumalpak. Marami rin akong kailangan gawin, hindi lang 'yan."

I felt my irritation flare, but I tamped it down, determined to stay as calm as possible. "I get that, Ricos, but if you don't approve this by today, I'm out of the Journalism Club. I won't even have a chance to submit it to the committee. You know the deadline is today."

Oh! What was I doing?

A sharp realization hit me like a slap to the face. I was getting nowhere by being aggressive. I knew better. Kung bakit rin kasi ang iksi ng pasensya ko kapag si Ricos ang kaharap ko. Hindi naman ako madalas na ganito.

I wasn't good at arguing my way through situations—I was good at charming people, at making them see things my way with a smile and just the right amount of pleading.

I sighed, letting my frustration drain away as I softened my expression. Lumapit ako at naupo sa isa sa dalawang silyang nasa harap ng lamesa niya. Kung hindi ka makuha ng galit ko'y sige na nga, lalagyan ko ng kaunting lambing at kabutihan ang approach ko.

"Ricos," I began, my voice quieter now, almost apologetic. "Please, I really need you to take a look at it. I've been working so hard on this, and I can't afford to lose my spot in the club. Just... take a few minutes, that's all I'm asking."

Ricos looked up, one eyebrow raised, as if he could see right through me. His lips quirked, just slightly, and I could tell he knew exactly what I was doing. "Really? You're going to try this now?"

Kalma lang, Rhea. Kahit pa gusto mo nang kotongan ang lalaking 'yan, kailangan mo ang pag-sangayon niya sa iyo. Habaan mo pa ang pasensya mo sa Castañeda na 'yan. Makukuha mo rin ang gusto mo.

I gave him a small, almost defeated smile, shrugging as if to say, what can you do? "Can you blame me? I'm desperate."

Sandali niya akong pinagmasdan na tila ba lihim na tinitimbang ang magiging susunod na desisyon. He removed his thick-rimmed glasses, rubbing his eyes softly with the tips of his fingers. He looked tired. Really tired. And for a moment, I couldn't help but notice how good he looked—with or without the glasses. His dark brown hair was slightly tousled, giving him a more relaxed, almost disheveled look, which, annoyingly, suited him. Nerd! Nerd pa rin siya! Pilit kong isiniksik iyon sa aking isipan.

"Fine," Ricos muttered after what felt like forever, setting his glasses down on the desk. He glanced at me briefly, his tired eyes meeting mine, before picking up my paper. "I'll take a look at it now."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, relief flooding through me. "Thank you,"

Nadadaan ka naman pala sa lambing, eh!

I leaned back in the chair, watching him as he flipped through the first page, his eyes scanning the text.

He was focused now, talagang inaanalisa ng husto hindi lang ang mga sinulat ko kundi maging ang paraan ng pagkakasulat ko. He read in silence, his fingers brushing the edge of the paper as he turned each page. The quiet stretched between us, the sound of his breathing and the occasional rustle of the pages the only thing breaking the stillness. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan kabahan sa ginagawa niyang pagsusuri sa gawa ko. It wasn't just about getting his approval anymore—it was about seeing if I'd really managed to improve. If I'd proven myself to him.

Kung paano iyon naging mahalaga ay hindi ko rin alam.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally looked up.

"This," he said, tapping the paper with his finger, "is much better."

"Talaga? Hindi na garbage?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko bago ko pa mapigilan ang aking sarili.

Ricos nodded, though he still didn't look particularly impressed. "It's more balanced, more objective. Sinunod mo nga ang sinabi ko sa'yo kahapon."

I felt a surge of relief, but also pride. I had worked hard on this revision, and hearing him acknowledge that—no matter how grudgingly—felt like a small victory.

"Does that mean it's approved?" I asked cautiously, not wanting to get ahead of myself. Pero utang na loob naman, Ricos. Please naman na!

Ricos gave me a tired smile, finally reaching for his pen. "Yeah, it's approved. I'll sign it now, but remember—no more half-baked articles. Next time, come with something like this from the start. Para hindi ka na paulit-ulit pa. Ikaw rin ang nasasayangan ng oras."

I nodded, watching as he signed his name at the bottom of the paper. "Thank you!"

He leaned back, rubbing his temples as though he was ready to collapse from exhaustion. Kinuha ko na ang papel nang bitiwan niya iyon sa lamesa. Pinagmamasdan niya pa rin ako na parang may gusto pang sabihin.

"Ricos?" Medyo nagtatakang tanong ko nang hindi pa rin siya magsalita.

He then let out a soft sigh before speaking. "Next time, Rhea... don't ever offer yourself just to get what you want."

I blinked, taken aback by his words. "What?"

"You know what I'm talking about," he said, his tone serious. "Yesterday, when you suggested going on a date in exchange for approving your paper. Don't ever do that again."

I could feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment as the memory of my desperate offer resurfaced. "I didn't mean it like that," I mumbled, but even I knew it was a weak defense.

Umiling si Ricos, hindi pa rin natitinag sa ginagawang paninitig sa akin. "It doesn't matter how you meant it. Guys might take advantage of you if you keep doing stuff like that. And trust me, you don't want that."

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. There was no mocking in his tone this time, no smugness. Just raw honesty that always hit me harder than I expected.

"I just... I was desperate," medyo nahihiya kong pag-amin, bumaba ang aking tingin sa hawak kong papel kung saan naroon na nag kaniyang munting pirma. "Hindi ko lang alam kung paano ka makukumbinsi kaya ginamit ko na lang ang pagkakaroon mo ng crush sa akin."

"My approval isn't worth a date. Nothing is." Mariin niyang sabi. "You're better than that, Rhea. Nakita mo ngayon, kaya mo naman palang gawin ng tama ang papers mo."

I felt a strange mix of emotions swirl inside me—embarrassment, gratitude, and something else I couldn't quite place. I hadn't expected this from him. From Ricos, of all people. He'd seen through my act, called me out, and given me advice I didn't even realize I needed.

Tama naman siya, eh. Ang baba masyado ng ginawa kong iyon kahapon. At tama rin siya, kung iba pa marahil ay nasamantala na ako. Agad na papayag sa alok ko. But Ricos? He was decent enough to know what was ethical and right.

"I won't do it again." Iyon na lang ang tanging nasabi ko.

He gave me a small nod in return, a silent acknowledgment that the conversation was over.

"Good," he muttered, his gaze flicking back to his laptop as if he was already moving on to the next task. "Now get out of here. I've got work to do."

Matapos maaprubahan ni Ricos ang papers ko ay naging maluwag nang muli ang schedule ko. I had time to go out with my friends and enjoy a bit. Sa mga sumunod na araw ay abala pa rin naman sa academics, pero ngayon, kahit paano ay may oras nang lumabas.

Kaya naman hindi na ako tumanggi nang ayain ko ni Darius na manuod ng cine Sabado ng gabi. We had dinner first, tapos ay dumiretso na kami sa cinema. He even let me pick the movie, syempre iyong romantic-comedy ang pinili ko. Kaming dalawa lang, ang akala ko pa nga noong una ay may mga kaibigan niyang kasama pero hindi. Katwiran niya ay medyo matagal niya akong hindi nakasama ng solo kaya gusto niya kami lang ang mag-date.

"I figured it's been a while since we had some time alone," he said, flashing me that charming smile of his. "Just you and me tonight."

I smiled back, though a part of me felt a little uneasy. We settled into our seats, waiting for the movie to start. Wala masyadong tao sa loob, siguro dahil pangalawang linggo na ng palabas na ito sa sinehan. Darius wasted no time putting his arm around me, leaning in for a kiss. I let his lips land on my cheek, trying not to make it awkward, but I felt a little stiff. Hindi ko lang gustong gumawa ng eksena dahil baka may makakita pa sa amin, kahit pa nga ba madilim naman ay medyo lumiliwanag depende sa mga commercial at trailer na lumalabas sa screen.

He leaned in closer, whispering in my ear. Medyo nakikiliti ako pero hindi pa rin ako gumalaw. "I missed you, babe. It's been too long."

I smiled slightly. Mas lumapit pa siya kaya doon ko na siya itinulak ng bahagya. "Dar, people might see us."

He just smirked, ignoring my comment, and leaned in again, this time pressing his lips to mine quickly. It wasn't rough, but it wasn't exactly gentle either. I sighed and shifted my attention to the oversized drink I had bought for the movie, pretending to be interested in it as I took a long sip through the straw. Para rin hindi niya ako mahalikang muli. Sana lang ay hindi ko agad ito maubos dahil ayaw kong panay ang cr ko mamaya kapag nagsimula na ang palabas.

"Come on," he whispered again, his voice low and teasing. "Just one more. I really missed you."

I glanced around nervously. "I said no, Darius. Someone might see us. Nakakahiya!"

He smirked, clearly not taking me seriously, and leaned in again. Before I could push him away, I heard a soft voice from behind us, just barely loud enough to make out.

"Don't watch them, Ricos!" the voice, clearly a woman's, said with a laugh.

My heart dropped. Ricos?

Bago ko pa mapigilan ang sarili ko ay napalingon na ako sa pinanggalingan ng tinig. Sure enough, seated just a row behind us, was Ricos. The faint glow from the screen illuminated his face, and his sharp eyes were fixed pointedly on me. Sa tabi niya ay nakita ko ang nakababatang kapatid niyang si Riley na nagpipigil ng tawa habang nakabaling sa screen ang atensyon.

I felt my stomach flip. Of all the people to run into here—Ricos?

Mabilis kong ibinaling muli sa harapan ang aking tingin. Sumubok na naman si Darius, itinulak ko lang muli. Medyo iritado pa ako dahil nga sa nararamdaman kong pagkapahiya.

"Stop, Darius," I muttered, my voice tense. "I said no."

"What's wrong?" he asked, sounding confused and maybe a little annoyed. He hadn't noticed Ricos behind us. "I just want to kiss you. What's the big deal? Girlfriend naman kita, ah?"

"I just... not here," I said, glancing nervously over my shoulder, hyper-aware of Ricos's presence. "Manuod na lang tayo, puwede?"

Darius sighed dramatically, but leaned back in his seat, halatang dismayado. Wala nga lang siyang magawa dahil ayaw kong magpahalik. Kahit nang magsimula na ang palabas ay hindi pa rin mawala sa aking isipan si Ricos na nasa aming likuran. I could almost feel his presence, and it bothered me in ways I didn't want to admit. I shouldn't care that he was here, watching, but I did. Ano naman kasi kung nakita niyang naghahalikan kami ni Darius? Eh, boyfriend ko naman ito. Alam sa buong school iyon. Alam niya rin dapat.

I forced myself to take another long sip from the oversized drink, my lips glued to the straw as Darius's hand wandered up my arm. He wasn't even watching the movie. His eyes were on me, his hand inching toward my waist, and every so often, he'd lean in, attempting to steal a kiss. But I was stubborn. I kept my lips firmly on the straw, blocking his advances with the cold plastic in my hand.

"Rhei," nanunukso nitong bulong sa tabi ko. "Pahalik na... Wala nang makakapansin sa'tin."

Kala mo lang! Si Ricos sigurado akong nakasunod pa rin ang mga mata sa amin. Nararamdaman ko! At kahit na wala rin si Ricos doon ay hindi pa rin ako papayag. Nakakahiya kung may ibang makakakita nga ng mga ginagawa ni Darius.

I shook my head subtly, pretending to be engrossed in the film. "Later,"

Iyon na lang ang sinabi ko para lang matigil na ito sa pamimilit. Kahit pa nga ba wala pa rin akong balak magpahalik mamaya. Nagawa kong takasan ang mga pamimilit ni Darius dahil sa hawak kong inumin.

But halfway through the movie, disaster struck. I felt the straw hit the bottom of the cup with that unmistakable slurping sound. The drink was empty.

Dammit.

I cursed inwardly, panicking slightly. If Darius found out the drink was empty, he'd know I had been stalling. Worse, he might start pushing harder for those kisses I was determined to avoid.

"Cr lang ako," paalam ko kay Darius bago agad na lumayo sa pagkakayapos nito bago pa ito makapagprotesta.

I grabbed the cup and stood up, making my way toward the aisle. I could feel Darius's eyes on me, but more unsettling was the brief glance I caught from Ricos as I passed. He didn't say anything, but I felt his gaze lingering, and it made my skin prickle. I hurried out of the theater, clutching the empty cup like it was some kind of shield.

Once I was out of sight, I exhaled deeply, tossing the empty drink into the trash as I made my way to the bathroom. Inside, I leaned over the sink, gripping the edges as I stared at myself in the mirror. My reflection looked flustered, and my face was warm, not just from the tension with Darius but from the entire situation.

Agad akong naghilamos. Hoping to cool down both physically and mentally. I rubbed my neck where most of Darius's attempted kisses had landed, the water soothing the slight warmth from his touch.

"This is ridiculous," I muttered to myself, patting my neck dry with a paper towel.

Ang nakakainis pa ay mas nababahala akong naroon si Ricos kaysa sa mga paghalik na ginagawa sa akin ni Darius. Bakit ba kasi ako apektado? Siya ang may crush sa akin! Not the other way around!

I sighed and shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away. There was no point in getting caught up in what he might or might not be thinking. I needed to get back to Darius and finish this date without losing my cool.

With one last glance in the mirror, I straightened up and headed back toward the theater.

Nagulat pa ako nang makita si Ricos na naghihintay sa labas ng cr. He was casually leaning against the wall, holding a giant drink in his hand. The light from the nearby snack counter helped me see him better. Walang salita na inabot niya sa akin ang inumin.

I stared at it for a second, unsure how to react. "Uh, thanks. Pero nakarami na ako niyan. Mabigat na ang tiyan ko, Ricos."

Inwardly, though, I was thankful. I had needed an excuse not to go back in empty-handed, and now he was giving me one. Still, I couldn't help but feel awkward about the whole situation. Why was he even here?

Ricos raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Magpapahalik ka na lang?"

His words caught me off guard, and my heart skipped a beat. I hadn't expected him to confront me about what had just happened in the theater. Ano naman sa kaniya? Kung maghalikan man kami ni Darius sa loob ay ayos lang naman dahil boyfriend ko naman ito. Si Ricos... Ang reaksyon niyang iyan ang hindi ayos. Kahit pa nga ba hindi ko gusto ang mga ginagawang paghalik sa akin ni Darius kanina ay parang ang epal niya pa rin.

"If you were my boyfriend," I said, a little sharper than I intended, "wouldn't you want to kiss me, too? Just like Darius was trying to do?"

Ricos's gaze darkened, his eyes shifting down to my lips. There was a heavy pause, bigla ko tuloy gustong pagsisihan ang ginawa kong pagtatanong. Nanatili na kasi sa aking mga labi ang kaniyang tingin. Tinamaan na naman ako ng hiya.

"I would," sagot niya sa mababang tinig. "But I wouldn't keep pushing once you said no."

I felt my pulse quicken as I searched his face for any sign of a joke, but there was none. He was serious—dead serious. I swallowed, suddenly feeling the weight of what he had just said.

There was something unsettling about the way he looked at me, not in a creepy way, but in a way that made me hyper-aware of every inch of space between us. The casual, nerdy Ricos I thought I knew seemed so distant now, replaced by someone far more intense, more complicated.

Pilit kong hinamig ang sarili ko at sinalubong ng buong tapang ang kaniyang mga tingin.

"Ricos," mahina kong tawag sa kaniya dahil may dalawang dumaan sa kabilang gilid namin. "Ano bang pakialam mo?"

His eyes flashed, and he let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck like he didn't want to answer that question. "I don't care what you do with Darius. I just don't like seeing someone push when you've clearly said no."

I frowned, unsure if I believed him. There was something else there, something he wasn't saying. But I wasn't about to push further, not now. My mind was spinning too fast, trying to process what had just happened, what he had just said.

Kinuha ko na lang ang inumin na ibinibigay niya para matapos na ang usapan na hindi naman dapat nasimulan pa. "Thank you,"

Ricos just nodded, stepping aside to let me pass. I could feel his eyes on me as I made my way back toward the theater. Sumunod rin naman siya sa akin ng may sapat na distansya.

Ganoon pa rin ang naging pag-iwas ko sa advances ni Darius nang makabalik ako. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang kabahan habang nakatuon na ang atensyon sa palabas. Sayang, mukhang maganda pa naman ito pero hindi ko natutukan ng maigi.

It didn't take long for things to go back to the way they were before I'd left. Darius wasn't really watching the movie—he was watching me. I could feel his gaze on the side of my face, and it only made me more uncomfortable. His arm, which had been casually draped over my shoulder earlier, was now lower, resting on my waist. I tried to focus on the film, but every time Darius moved, it was like a spotlight was shining on the fact that I didn't want to be here, doing this.

Gusto ko nang umuwi!

I swallowed hard when I felt his hand slip under my shirt, his fingers brushing against the bare skin of my waist. It wasn't aggressive, but it was enough to make me tense up immediately. My breath hitched, and I stared blankly at the screen, the scenes of the movie playing out in front of me pero hindi ko iyon magawang panuorin talaga dahil mas kinakabahan ako sa mga susunod na gagawin ni Darius.

"Darius," pilit kong itinatago ang kabang nararamdaman. "Huwag dito!"

Mas lalo pa siyang sumiksik sa akin at ramdam na ramdam ko ang mainit niyang hininga sa aking tainga. "Relax, babe. No one's watching."

Hindi pa rin niya inalis ang kamay sa ilalim ng damit ko. Ramdam na ramdam ko pa rin ang pagkakadantay ng kaniyang palad sa aking balat and it made my skin crawl.

I swallowed again. "I don't think this is the place."

Sinabi ko lang iyon para sana'y tigilan niya na ang ginagawa.

"Later, then?" he asked, almost like he was counting on it. "We'll have more privacy after this."

Damn. I really should've made an excuse not to come. I could feel my stomach twisting into knots as I thought about what would happen after the movie ended. If I got into his car, he'd want to make out, and I didn't want that. Not tonight. Not like this.

Oo, sa ilang buwan na relasyon namin ni Darius ay naghalikan na kami. Necking, too. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ako palagay na gawin namin iyon ngayon. Dahil na rin siguro mas agresibo siya ngayon kaysa sa mga naunang pagkakataon.

I needed an excuse, something believable, but nothing came to mind. My eyes drifted to my phone in my lap, and I thought briefly about calling my driver. But what would I even tell him? Why was I suddenly bailing on my own boyfriend?

As the movie reached its climax, Darius's grip tightened slightly on my waist, a signal that he was already thinking about what was going to happen after the credits rolled. I could feel him almost leaning in toward me again, probably ready to make up for all the kisses I had refused.

The movie finally ended, and as the lights came on, Darius stretched with a smug look on his face. He looked at me with a grin, clearly ready to claim all the "later" moments I'd deflected earlier.

"So... my place?" he asked casually, as if we both knew what was next.

I forced a tight smile, my mind racing for a way out. Damn. Wala akong maisip. Bakit wala akong maisip?

We started walking out of the cinema, and I still hadn't answered him. Ramdam kong naiirita na rin siya sa akin dahil hindi ako makapagdesisyon kung pagbibigyan ko na ba siya o ano. Ayaw ko. Ayaw ko talaga.

As we reached the lobby, my eyes landed on Ricos and his sister by the snack bar. Riley was grabbing some hotdogs, waving goodbye to her brother before heading off with her friends. Ni hindi ko nga namalayan na may mga kasama pa pala silang iba kanina. Kay Ricos lang kasi nakatuon ang pansin ko.

Halos mapasinghap ako nang lumingon siya sa direksyon ko at magtama ang aming mga mata. My grip on the soda cup tightened instinctively, and I knew he caught that, too.

Lalo akong nagulat nang makita siyang maglakad papalapit sa amin ni Darius. Hindi ko alam kung anong binabalak niya pero hindi rin ako makagalaw. Nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya at naghihintay.

"Nakuha mo pa talagang maglakwatsa," maaskad niyang sabi sa akin nang makalapit na siyang nagpaahon ng labis na pagtataka sa aking dibdib. "Natapos mo na ba ang papers na pinapaulit ko sa'yo?"

I blinked, completely thrown off. Kita kong maging si Darius ay napabaling rin sa kaniya, nagulat rin sa bigla niyang paglapit.

"I'm talking about your article. It was sloppy, Rhea. Barely good enough. Kailangan ko na iyon sa Lunes. Natapos mo na ba?"

Damn. He was being an asshole.

Darius looked from Ricos to me, clearly confused and starting to get annoyed.

"Hey, what's your problem, man?" he cut in, trying to insert himself into the conversation.

But Ricos ignored him, his gaze fixed on me, intense and unwavering. "You need to start taking this seriously, or next time I won't even bother reading it. I can't keep making exceptions for you just because you're not willing to put in the work."

I stared at him, my heart pounding. What was he doing? He'd already approved the paper—he'd even said it was good. Ilang araw na mula nang tanggapin niya iyon. So why was he suddenly acting like this? But then it hit me. Ricos was giving me an out. He'd seen me struggling to figure out how to get away from Darius, and now he was creating a distraction, something that would give me an excuse to leave.

Hindi ko alam kung ipagpapasalamat ko ba o ano dahil ngayon naman ay kailangan ko na rin umarte para bilihin ni Darius ang eksena niya.

"Are you serious right now?" I shot back, matching his tone. "Sabado ngayon, Ricos. At wala tayo sa school. Puwede bang ipahinga mo ang kagaspangan ng ugali mo?"

Darius, standing beside me, looked like he was about ready to pounce. His body stiffened, his fists clenched at his sides, and I could feel the tension radiating off him.

"Hey, nerd," he said, voice low and menacing, "you've got no right talking to my girlfriend like that."

But Ricos didn't even flinch. He didn't care about Darius—he was looking straight at me, his gaze sharp and unrelenting. "Gawin mo na iyon, Rhea. Huwag kang tamad."

I sighed, the exhaustion from the entire evening weighing on me. The last thing I needed was a full-blown scene, especially with Darius ready to throw a punch and Ricos refusing to back down. I quickly stepped between them, placing a hand on Darius's chest to stop him from escalating the situation further.

"Darius," I said softly, trying to calm him down. "It's okay. I'll handle it."

His jaw clenched, his eyes still glaring at Ricos, who stood there with that same infuriatingly calm expression. "You don't have to listen to this guy, Rhei. He's out of line. Bigla bigla na lang umeepal tapos bastos pang makipag-usap sa'yo."

"I know," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, though inside, my nerves were shot. "But I really need to sort this out. I don't want it to mess up things for school."

Darius frowned, clearly not buying it. "This isn't about school. He's just trying to pull some power trip on you, and I'm not letting him."

I sighed again, more out of frustration than anything. "I get that. But just let me handle it, okay? I'll sort things out with him, and then I'll meet you at your place in a bit."

I tried to sound convincing, even though I had no intention of actually going to his place. Uuwi na ako at matutulog. Magdadahilan na lang ako sa kaniya mamaya.

Darius's eyes flicked back and forth between me and Ricos, still looking like he wanted to argue. "You're sure? You'll follow?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I promise. Just give me a few minutes."

He looked at me for a long moment, clearly debating whether to push the issue or not. Finally, after what felt like forever, he relented with a reluctant sigh. "Fine. Mauuna na ko. Sumunod ka na lang."

Tumango na lamang ako para umalis na siya.

Darius shot Ricos one last glare before turning on his heel and walking out of the lobby. Nang tuluyan na itong makababa ng escalator ay doon ko pa lang binalingan si Ricos who was still watching me, his expression unreadable.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"What the hell was that about?"

Ricos shrugged, his demeanor calm as ever. "Just making sure you didn't go somewhere you didn't want to be."

I raised an eyebrow. "And you think picking a fight was the best way to do that?"

Paano kung nasapak talaga siya ni Darius? Oo nga't magkasing taas lang naman sila pero hindi ko sigurado kung kakayanin ni Ricos na labanan si Darius. Nerd siya, samantalang si Darius ay basagulero.

He didn't answer immediately, just gave me that same unreadable look. "It worked, didn't it?"

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