Ridge Franco Santa de Leones.

Ibinagsak ko ang aking katawan sa kama, diretso ang tingin sa kisame. Hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ko ang lahat ng nangyari nang gabing iyon. For the past month, that night had occupied my thoughts relentlessly. Kay Ate Vialka ko nalaman that Ridge was none other than the eldest of the Santa de Leones siblings, a detail that astounded me given my closeness with his sister Reina. Best friend ko si Reina! I had been to their house multiple times, had laughed and dined with their family, and had grown fond of Paeng and Reeve. Yet, I had never once crossed paths with Ridge, the elusive eldest brother. Noong gabing iyon ko lang talaga siya nakilala at sa ganoong pagkakataon pa.

Kumusta kaya siya? Okay lang kaya?

God. Kung sana kasi ay may paraan ako para alamin ang nangyari noong gabing iyon. Isang buwan na akong grounded, parusa sa akin ni Mommy dahil sa kasalanan ko. Tinanggap ko naman dahil talagang muntik na akong mapahamak. Kaya tuloy, bukod sa bored na ako dito sa Tierra del Diablo, ay wala pa akong phone privileges. Wala tuloy akong ibang magawa kundi balikan ang lahat ng nangyari bago ako mapunta dito. Ridge had swooped into my life like a character from some gritty novel—my knight clad not in shining armor but a rugged leather jacket, a stark contrast to the pristine heroes of fairy tales I had grown up with. Pero hero pa rin na maituturing.

He had saved me, not with the flourish of a storybook hero, but with the quiet competence of a man well-acquainted with danger. Sabi naman ni Dad ay hindi ako dapat mag-alala dahil magaling daw si Ridge. Mukha rin namang magaling siya. Kaya lang hindi ko pa rin talaga mapigilan ang kuryosidad ko sa kaniya.

What drove a man like Ridge? Was his stoic exterior a shield against the world, or was it the true essence of his being? The way he had handled the threat with such precise calmness hinted at layers of complexity that intrigued me. Matanda na siya. Kaedad ni Ate Vialka, iyon ang sabi sa akin. So, he was probably twenty-three or twenty-four now. Sana bumalik na kami ng Manila para mas makakalap pa ako ng impormasyon tungkol sa kaniya. Hindi bale, ilang linggo na lang naman.

Nang sumunod na linggo ay nahuli na ang mga nagtangka sa akin nang gabing iyon. Kahit paano ay nagkaroon ako ng munting pag-asa na baka isama na ako nila Daddy pabalik ng Manila at tapusin na ang parusa ko. Pero...

"Despite this, you'll need to stay here a bit longer, just to be sure. We can't risk anything else."

My shoulders sagged slightly at his words. Boredom—a word that had become my constant companion in this luxurious but isolated fortress. Naiintindihan ko rin naman sila. Hindi naman biro ang nangyari sa akin noong gabing iyon. Mabuti na lang rin talaga at walang ibang napahamak.

"I understand, Dad. It's my fault anyway," I murmured, my voice low, accepting the consequences of my earlier recklessness.

Kuya Kelso and Ate Vialka, who had been listening in, exchanged brief looks of sympathy before my father turned his attention to them.

"You two are going home with me. Your roles at the firm can't be neglected any longer."

They both worked in strategic positions within our family's business, and their skills were essential for its daily operations. Bigla akong nainggit. Sana ay matanda na rin pala ako para nagtatrabaho na hindi na puwedeng i-ground basta nila Mommy.

"Got it, Dad." Bumaling si Kuya Kelso sa akin. "Babalikan kita dito kung maluwag ang schedule ko next week, Thysie."

I sighed heavily, the reality of the upcoming solitude hitting me harder than I expected. The daily horseback rides with Kuya Kelso weren't just a pastime; they had become my daily dose of sanity, a brief escape from the endless monotony of Tierra del Diablo. Sa kaniya na nga lang ako maaaliw... mawawala pa siya. Nakakalungkot naman.

Forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes, I nodded at him. "That sounds great, Kuya. Kung hindi kaya ay ayos lang. I'll be fine here."

"Huwag mo na masyadong isipin. Mabilis lang naman ang araw." Patuloy niyang pagpapagaan ng loob ko.

Ate Vialka chimed in, her tone trying to be upbeat, "Yeah, and we'll call every day! You won't even notice we're gone with all the stories we'll have to tell you."

I appreciated their efforts to cheer me up, but their words felt like thin veils over the looming loneliness. "Mamimiss ko kayo..."

Bago sila umalis nang gabing iyon ay dinaanan pa ako ni Dad sa aking silid. He promised to come back and visit me in the coming days. Ang sabi niya ay kung siya lang ang masusunod, hindi niya ako gustong iwan, but we both knew it was for the better. Mas mapapanatag si Mommy kung nasa Tierra del Diablo lang ako, lalo na't pare-pareho silang abala sa trabaho.

Ang mga sumunod na araw ay mas lalong boring ngayon na mag-isa na lang ako sa villa maliban sa mga housekeeper na naroon. Hindi ko nga lang inaakala na sa library pa ako makakahanap ng paglilibangan at pagkakaabalahan.

I roamed between the high, oak shelves filled with a multitude of books on subjects ranging from literature to advanced sciences. Mga hindi ko naman hilig, pero nasisiguro ko rin walang nakatambak na fashion magazines dito kaya nagpatuloy pa ako sa paghahanap ng puwede kong pagkaabalahan. My fingers brushed against a series of large, leather-bound albums tucked away in a less frequented corner of the library. Curiosity piqued, I pulled one out and laid it on the reading table. Medyo maalikabok na iyon kaya pinunasan ko muna bago buksan. Inside, I discovered a collection of architectural designs and blueprints. Hindi na ako nagulat nang makita ang pangalan ni Mommy sa mga iyon. Siya lang naman ang architect sa pamilya namin, ang mga kapatid ko ay sumunod sa yapak ni Dad. Pare-pareho silang engineer.

Alam kong magaling si Mommy, but I had never seen much of her work. Ngayon pa lang. Itinuon ko roon ang aking buong atensyon. Each page detailed meticulous designs ranging from modern residential homes to elaborate commercial spaces. Magaganda ang lahat para sa akin at hindi lang dahil mommy ko ang may gawa, kundi dahil totoong maganda nga!

One design, in particular, caught my eye—a concept for a lake house that was never built. It was modern yet seamlessly integrated into natural surroundings, much like the house in the movie "The Lake House," which I adored. Maganda rin ito kaya lang kung ako ang masusunod ay marami akong gustong baguhin sa design ni Mommy.

Inspired, I pulled out sheets of blank paper and began sketching, modifying her design with personal touches and adapting it to include elements I loved from the movie. Bata pa lang ako ay magaling na akong mag-drawing, hindi naman nakakabigla ang bagay na iyon dahil lahat naman kami sa pamilya ay may ganoong talento.

I focused on sketching and imagined a glass facade that offered unobstructed views of a serene lake, with wide, open terraces and an interior garden that brought a slice of nature indoors. Kinikilig pa ako habang ginagawa ko iyon dahil naiisip ko si Alex Wyler. Lalagyan ko rin ito ng mailbox sa harapan, doon kami mag papasahan ng sulat.

The more I sketched, the more I realized how much I enjoyed this—how natural it felt to translate visions onto paper. I played around with the layout, adding an artistic studio with north-facing windows for the best natural light, ideal for painting and reflecting. The main living area would be centered around a large, stone fireplace.

Paano kung maging totoo nga ang bahay na ito? It would be very beautiful and peaceful. I would want to live in it forever!

Hindi ko na namalayan pa ang oras. Kung hindi pa ako aakyatan ng pagkain ng isa sa mga ate sa baba ay hindi ko pa malalaman na gabi na. Masyado akong abala sa ginagawa kong desenyo. Nagugustuhan ko kasi ang kinalalabasan, kaya mas ganado akong magpatuloy. I never really thought I had a knack for these things. Hindi naman kasi ako katulad nina Ate Vialka at Kuya Kelso na talagang kuryoso at nang-uusisa sa trabaho ng aming mga magulang bata pa lang.

I included environmentally friendly technologies too, like a rainwater harvesting system and solar panels, blending sustainability with aesthetics. The house would not just be a place to live. It would be a part of its environment, enhancing it rather than imposing on it.

Days passed as I refined the design, each hour spent drawing, measuring, and imagining. Kaya naman nang bisitahin na akong muli ni Dad ay alam ko na ang gusto ko. Alam ko na ang hihilingin ko sa kaniya.

"How are you holding up here? Bored yet?" Tukso niya habang nag-aalmusal kaming dalawa sa veranda. Sa totoo lang, hindi na ako bored. Busy na nga kasi ako araw-araw, nagdidisenyo ng dreamhouse ko. Pero syempre, hindi ko na iyon kailangan pang sabihin dahil baka mas pahabain pa nila ni Mommy ang pananatili ko dito. Ayaw ko na!

"Okay lang naman, Dad. Pero gusto ko nang umuwi... kung puwede na." Pasimple kong hirit. Sandali niya akong pinagmasdan bago tumango. I bit my bottom lip, pinakiramdaman muna si Dad bago muling humirit pa. "Dad, I want a piece of land in Tagaytay, preferably by the lake or something similar."

He paused, his cup midway to his mouth, and frowned slightly. Paanong hindi siya magtataka? Eh, ang kalimitan kong hinihiling sa kaniya ay bag, sapatos, damit. Or even money. Never ganito. Kaya nga hindi rin ako sigurado kung mapagbibigyan niya ako.

"Tagaytay, huh? Why there?" he asked, curiosity laced with a hint of suspicion over my sudden interest in real estate. Hindi nakatakas sa akin na mas kuryoso siya sa lugar kaysa sa katotohanan na lupa ang hinihingi ko. Okay. That was a good sign.

But I was not ready to disclose my entire plan just yet. It was still forming, still something tender and personal that I wanted to nurture a bit longer. Kaya mas mabuti kung iisipin niyang isa na naman ito sa mga kapritso at luho ko.

"I just think it's a beautiful place, and I'd like to have something of my own there," I said, hoping my vagueness would suffice for now.

Dad set his cup down and leaned back in his chair, studying me for a moment. "I think I do have a piece of land there. It's been sitting idle for a while,"

My heart leaped at his words, but I maintained a calm exterior. Hindi naman malabo iyon dahil may mga lupain ang aking mga magulang sa iba't ibang bahagi ng mundo. "Could you transfer it to my name? I might want to do something with it someday."

Tumawa si Dad, hindi naman hustong nag-usisa.

"Planning to build a secret getaway for yourself?" His eyes twinkled with amusement, but also with that familiar indulgence that had always been a part of our relationship. Palagi niya akong pinagbibigyan, sa lahat ng pagkakataon.

Kibit-balikat lamang ang naging tugon ko sa kaniya. Natatakot akong magsalita dahil baka hind ko mapigilan ang sarili ko at maikuwento ko na agad sa kaniya ang plano ko.

Dad nodded, still smiling. "Alright, I'll look into transferring the land to your name."

I couldn't help but let a smile slip through my guarded composure. Yet, there was one crucial detail I needed to confirm. "Malapit sa lake, Dad. Gusto ko malapit sa lake. That part is important for what I have in mind,"

"Yes, it's near the lake. You'll have a beautiful view. Don't worry," tumatawang paniniyak niya. Sa totoo lang ay kilalang-kilala si Daddy sa pagiging masungit at nakakatakot. But with me? Palagi siyang ngumingiti at tumatawa. I was his favorite. Alam rin iyon ng mga kapatid ko, and they didn't have any problem with that. Favorite rin kasi nila ako.

That confirmation brought a wave of relief and excitement. The location was perfect, and it felt like the universe was aligning with my dreams. After finishing our breakfast, the rest of my stay at Tierra del Diablo became a countdown. Each day, while beautiful and serene in its own right, felt like a gentle pause before the real action of my life began.

The next two weeks passed in a blend of restlessness and preparation. I spent hours poring over architecture books I ordered online, familiarizing myself with the fundamentals and the latest trends in sustainable design. My days were split between studying these texts and sketching preliminary ideas for the lake house. Ang akala ko nga ay mawawala o mababawasan rin ang pagkagusto ko dito, pero habang tumatagal ay mas nagiging kumbinsido ako na ito nga talaga ang gusto kong gawin.

Masayang masaya ako nang muli akong makabalik ng Manila. Hindi lang dahil sa makikita ko nang muli ang aking mga kaibigan, kundi dahil na rin sa kinalabasan ng naging bakasyon ko. The boredom and isolation I had endured seemed a small price to pay for the clarity and direction I had gained. Hindi ako kailanman na-excite at ginanahan ng ganito sa kaalaman na malapit na ang pasukan. And it wasn't even about shopping for new things na siyang madalas kong kapanabikan kapag ganitong malapit nang magsimulang muli ang pasukan. Excited ako dahil alam ko na ang gusto kong kuhaning kurso sa college. Sure, matagal pa iyon. Pero at least, alam ko na kung saan ko mas na ibubuhos ang aking atensyon.

I knew that if I wanted to build my dream home—no, not just a home, but a masterpiece that reflected my passion and vision—I had to immerse myself fully in my studies. I needed to understand not just the how, but the why of architecture. Kaya mas pagbubutihan ko pa ang aking pag-aaral.

"What are you doing reading an architecture book?" Tanong ni Reina nang makabalik sa lamesa bitbit ang order niyang coffee.

Narinig ko naman iyon pero pinili kong huwag mag-angat ng tingin. I continued to thumb through the pages of the architecture book, deeply absorbed. "It interests me,"

She set down her coffee with a curious tilt of her head, eyeing the book and then me. "Is that what you're planning to get into for college? That's like, three years away."

I sighed, pulling my latte closer and taking a sip before responding. "Yeah. Matagal pa, pero mas maganda kung ngayon pa lang ay alam ko na ang gusto kong gawin when the time comes. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na ito na talaga ang kukuhanin kong kurso. Puwede pang magbago... Siguro. But right now, I'm enjoying it."

Nagkita kami ni Reina kanina sa school nang kuhanin ko ang schedule ko, magkaklase pa rin kasi kami. And then, we decided to drop by our favorite coffee shop sa tapat lang rin ng school para hintayin naman si Aouie. She was a genius, at fourteen ay college na ito. Ang balita ko pa ay nagbabalak na siyang sa ibang bansa magpatuloy ng pag-aaral sa susunod na taon katulad ng Kuya Ricos nito.

"Good for you, kung ganoon. Ako? Hindi ko pa sigurado kung ano ang gusto kong kunin sa college. Baka gayahin na lang rin kita kapag wala talaga akong naisip," tinawanan niya ang kaniyang sarili, saglit na niyuko ang cellphone bago muli akong balingan. "Anyway, is Gavin picking you up?"

I shook my head, a slight pang of guilt washing over me at the mention of Gavin's name. Noong isang araw pa ako nakabalik pero ni hindi ko man lang ito natawagan o natext man lang. When my punishment was lifted, I thought I'd be dying to update my socials or text everyone, but I've just been buried in these architecture designs and concepts. Ni hindi na nga pumasok sa isip ko ang kahit sino sa mga kaibigan ko.

"No. Kay Trent na ako sasabay pauwi," sabi ko. Hindi ko rin naman tinext iyon, nakita ko lang ito sa school kanina at naiwan pa kasi hindi pa tapos sa pagkuha ng schedule. I told him na dito na lang kami ni Reina sa coffee shop maghihintay.

"Oh," tumango-tango si Reina. "Akala ko si Gavin ang susundo sa'yo. My brother will pick me up, hindi ko nga lang alam kung si Aouie ay sasabay na rin o may pupuntahan pa."

Brother.

Bigla akong natigilan pero hindi ko iyon ipinahalata kay Reina. May isang imahe ang biglang nagsumiksik sa aking isipan... Well, I hadn't really stopped thinking about him. Medyo nabawasan lang nitong mga nakaraan na naging abala na ako sa pagdedesenyo ng lake house. But right now, his image from that intense night at the parking lot resurfaced vividly. Reina had three brothers, yet somehow, the idea of it being Ridge who would show up seemed both thrilling and unnerving. Imposible. Alam kong imposible dahil sa tinagal-tagal kong kaibigan si Reina ay hindi pa... kahit isang beses, siyang sinundo nito. Palaging si Reeve o 'di kaya si Paeng ang nakikita ko. Kahit nga sa bahay nila, hindi ko naman nakita si Ridge. God. I wouldn't even know he was her brother kung hindi sa nangyari noong gabing iyon.

Ilang sandali pa ay dumating na si Trent. Si Aouie ay wala pa rin. Dumiretso na siya sa counter at umorder muna ng inumin bago lumapit sa amin ni Reina, sa tabi ko naupo. Halos tawanan ko siya nang mapansin ko ang mga pasimple niyang sulyap kay Reina. It wasn't a secret among our group that he harbored a significant crush on her, and really, who could blame him? Reina was undeniably beautiful, with a vibrant personality to match.

"Patingin nga ng schedule mo," hindi niya na hinintay pang iabot ko iyon, siya na ang mismong kumuha ng folder na nasa harapan ko. Tapos ay inabot niya rin sa akin ang kaniya. "Kaklase ko pala ang boyfriend mo. Nakita ko nga sa school, eh."

Sinilip ko ang schedule niya kahit hindi naman talaga ako masyadong interesado. Kung kakailanganin o gugustuhin ko naman kasing makita si Trent ay puwede ko naman siyang i-chat o 'di kaya tawagan.

"Really? Anong sabi? Sana sinama mo na dito." I really needed to talk to Gavin. Gusto ko sana itong i-text ngayon kaya lang mas maganda siguro kung makakapag-usap kami, kahit sa tawag lang. Right. I'd call him later.

Trent shrugged, a casual gesture that seemed forced. "Yeah. Didn't really talk to him though—he was with Leona."

Bago pa ako makapag-react ay naunahan na ako ni Reina. Ibinaba nito sa lamesa ang hawak na inumin at napataas ang isang kilay habang nakabaling kay Trent.

"Leona? Cheerleader Leona?"

"Yeah, that Leona."

Sa akin naman ito bumaling, mas tumaas pa ang kilay. "Break na ba kayo? I mean, it's been quiet from your end all summer."

I sighed, a deep, thoughtful exhalation. There was a strange calm within me, a detachment that surprised even myself. Hindi pa kami break. Well, hindi pa namin napag-uusapan ang bagay na iyon pero... Dalawang buwan rin kaming halos na hindi nag-uusap kaya hindi ko sigurado kung paano sasagutin ang tanong na iyon ni Reina.

"Hindi pa? Hindi ko alam. We haven't really talked since I was grounded. So maybe... he thought we were over?" Kalmado kong tugon.

Reina's response was instant and sharp. "Well, that was still an asshole move! Even if you two weren't talking, he should've cleared things up first before hooking up with someone else. Considered girlfriend ka pa rin niya, noh!"

Trent nodded in agreement, his face mirroring Reina's disapproval. Hindi ko alam kung talaga bang sang-ayon siya o dahil lang crush niya si Reina.

Hindi ako agad nagsalita. Sandali ko munang pinakiramdaman ang aking sarili. I should have felt betrayed, angry, maybe even heartbroken. Kasi nga, tulad ng sabi ni Reina, girlfriend pa rin ako ni Gavin. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit wala akong maramdaman kahit pa isipin kong magkasama si Gavin at Leona ngayon. All I felt was an odd sense of detachment. It was as if the connection I once felt with Gavin had been fading, slowly dissolving over the summer, replaced by introspections about my future and incessant thoughts about Ridge.

Oh, Ridge!

"I guess... I'm not as upset as I should be," I admitted, trying to analyze my own feelings. "It's strange, isn't it? Kakausapin ko na lang siguro si Gavin mamaya."

Medyo matagal pa kaming nagkuwentuhan, iniba na rin nilang dalawa ang usapan para rin siguro bigyan ako ng pagkakataon na analisahin ang sarili kong damdamin. Dumating na lang ang sundo ni Reina, si Aouie ay wala pa rin.

Agad na tumayo si Reina at inayos ang kaniyang mga gamit nang makita ang pagparada ng isang puting SUV sa parking space sa labas ng shop. She glanced through the window, mukhang iyon nga ang sundo niya.

"That's my ride, looks like Aouie's going to be at the university longer than we thought," she slung her bag over her shoulder.

"I guess it's just one of those days for her," wala sa loob na bumaling ako sa sundo ni Reina nang matigilan siya at muling napaupo.

Namatay ang makina ng sasakyan. By the looks of it, mukhang maging si Reina ay hindi rin inasahan na bababa pa ng sasakyan ang sundo niya. But the driver's door swung open. First to appear were long legs stepping onto the pavement, followed by the rest of a tall, striking figure. It wasn't Reeve or Rafael, the usual suspects. It was Ridge.

Ridge Franco.

I swallowed hard, my gaze inadvertently fixed on him as he stood and closed the door behind him. He was dressed in a dark fitted T-shirt that highlighted his broad shoulders and a pair of dark jeans that complemented his athletic build. His hair was casually tousled, looking both rugged and sophisticated. Sunglasses perched on his head pushed back just enough to give a clear view of his sharp, chiseled features.

Alam kong guwapo siya sa madilim na parking lot na iyon. Pero ngayon? Dito sa liwanag? Damn. Mas guwapo pa!

Hindi ko na siya binitawan pa ng tingin, nakasunod lang ang mga mata ko sa kaniya. He walked towards the café and pushed the door open, dahilan upang tumunog ang chime. Instead of waiting or looking around, he went straight to the counter to order. Ni hindi man lang bumaling sa kinaroroonan namin—I mean, ni Reina.

Still, I couldn't help but stare, mesmerized by his presence. Katulad rin noong gabing iyon. Kahit nagkakagulo na ay hindi ko pa rin siya maiwasang titigan. Ridge really exuded a calm, almost aloof aura that was as intriguing as it was intimidating.

"Baka naman matunaw," bulong ni Trent sa aking tabi nang mahalata ang obvious kong paninitig sa kuya ni Reina. "Easy ka lang. Laway mo tumutulo."

I barely heard Trent's words, my entire attention was captivated by Ridge. Naghihintay pa rin sa counter, hawak na ang shades na suot niya kanina. He turned slightly, and our eyes met briefly. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly lowered my gaze to my lap, pretending to be absorbed in my book again.

"God... Ridge," I muttered under my breath, not realizing I had spoken aloud until Trent gave a low chuckle. Hindi ko na lang rin ulit pinansin at pinagpasalamat na lang na hindi kami narinig ni Reina.

"Andyan na si Ridge. Ayaw niya ng pinaghihintay. So, I'll leave you two to your... coffee then," she said with a smirk, nodding towards Ridge. "See you, Thysie. Chat na lang!"

Pinuntahan na nito ang kapatid. Ridge simply nodded, grabbed his freshly brewed coffee, and turned to leave with her without a second glance in our direction. I watched them through the café's large window as they walked to the SUV, a mix of emotions swirling within me. As soon as both had climbed into the vehicle and it pulled away from the curb, I let out a long, helpless sigh.

"He's so cute," I groaned, turning back to Trent, who was watching me with an amused expression.

"And so old!" Lalong tumawa si Trent. Napasimangot ako kahit pa alam ko naman na tama siya. He was what? Nine? Ten years older?

"Oh, who cares about that?" I retorted, my mind still replaying the brief interaction—or the lack thereof—between Ridge and myself. There was something about him, something more than just his looks. It was his presence, the way he seemed so sure of himself.

Trent handed me back my class schedule card with a laugh. Hindi naman na siya nang-usisa pa. Naiba na rin ang usapan naming dalawa. Pero hanggang sa maihatid niya ako sa bahay ay hindi na naalis sa aking isipan ang itsura ni Ridge kanina, lalo nang makababa siya ng sasakyan. Even I couldn't believe I watched him that closely! It wasn't just that he was handsome—there was a depth to him, a mystery that made him stand out from everyone else I knew. O baka rin dahil tama si Trent, higit na matanda siya kaysa sa mga nakapaligid sa akin.

At dinner, I found myself barely touching my food. Nakikinig ako sa usapan nina Mommy at Daddy since kami lang naman dahil parehong abala ang mga kapatid ko sa kani-kanilang mga trabaho. And yet, their conversation sounded distant as images of Ridge, stoic and inscrutable in his leather jacket, played on loop in my mind. It was ridiculous, I knew, to be so caught up with someone I barely knew, but I couldn't help myself.

Later in my room, I grabbed my phone with a singular mission. Ignoring the barrage of unread messages and social media notifications that had accumulated, I dived straight into trying to find more about Ridge online. Talagang iyon ang inuna ko kaysa sa kung anupaman. But to my frustration, Ridge seemed virtually non-existent on social media. No Facebook, no Instagram, not even a LinkedIn profile—nothing. It was as if he consciously chose to live off the digital grid.

Determined, I switched tactics and visited Reina's social media pages. After some scrolling, I found a few family photos from their recent summer vacation at a ranch. There he was—Ridge, standing slightly apart from the group, his posture relaxed yet somehow still imposing. He wore dark sunglasses and a casual button-down shirt that did nothing to conceal his athletic build, his expression unreadable and cold.

I zoomed in on Ridge, my fingers deftly cropping the photo to frame just him. Staring at the image on my screen, I couldn't suppress a grin. I saved it on my phone, labeling the file "Hero," because that's what he was to me that night—my unexpected savior.

"Gotcha," mahinang bulong ko sa aking sarili habang pinagmamasdan ang larawan na iyon ni Ridge. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit maging ang pagiging mailap niya ay lalo lamang nakadagdag ng interes sa akin.

Kalokohan na nga talaga ito.

Pinagmamasdan ko ang picture ni Ridge nang may notification na biglang nag-pop. I saw it was Gavin. He must have noticed I was online. Simple at direkta ang message na sinend niya sa akin kaya pinindot ko iyon para tugunan.

Gavin Calleja

Can we talk?

Me

We should.

Before he called, I scrolled through his previous messages. He had been consistent until about a month ago, and none of his messages mentioned Leona. Ito na naman. Pinakiramdaman ko ang aking sarili. Pilit na hinahanap ang galit o selos na siyang dapat nararamdaman ko dahil boyfriend ko si Gavin na mukhang girlfriend na si Leona ngayon. It was stupid. I should be mad. Pero hindi ko talaga mahanap ang galit na iyon.

The phone rang. I took a deep breath and answered, "Hey, Gav."

His voice came through, hesitant at first. "Hey, Thysie. Uh... how are you?"

"I've been better," simple kong sagot, umahon paupo sa kama. "I was grounded all summer, locked up at Tierra del Diablo. Pero ayos lang naman... I survived. Noong isang araw lang ako nakauwi. Kaya pasensya na kung hindi ko agad nakita ang messages mo."

There was a pause on the other end, and I could almost picture him wincing. "That's okay. I understand. I'm sorry, too..."

Alam ko na kung para saan ang sorry na iyon. And I only felt more frustrated when I didn't feel negatively about it. Hinintay ko kung dudugtunga pa niya ang sinasabi, kung aamin na ba siya sa akin pero wala. Hindi na siya muling nagsalita kaya ako na lang ulit.

"What about you? How was your vacation?"

"It was okay, nothing special. Stayed around here mostly," sabi niya. "I... I really need to apologize, Thysie."

"For what?"

There was a heavy sigh from his side. "For everything that might have come across. Hindi ko alam kung narinig mo na ang tungkol sa amin ni Leona..."

I found myself nodding, even though he couldn't see. "Yeah, I heard something about that."

Gavin's voice was thick with regret. "It wasn't what it seemed. We just hung out a few times with groups of friends. I... I never cleared things up with you before that started, and I should have. It was stupid."

I took a moment to process his words, the expected sting of betrayal not coming. Instead, there was an odd sense of detachment. "I appreciate you telling me, Gavin. Honestly, it's been a weird summer. A lot has changed, and I think... I think I've changed too."

Totoo naman ang sinasabi ko. Kung bago ako umalis ay gustong-gusto ko si Gavin at masayang-masaya ako sa relationship namin. Ngayon ay parang wala na ang ganoong pakiramdam. Hindi nga ako nasasaktan na ipinagpalit niya ako, 'di ba? I should feel insulted. Pero hindi. Parang wala lang iyon sa akin.

"Leona isn't my girlfriend—"

"Yet," marahang putol ko sa sasabihin niya na binuntutan ko pa ng tawa. "Look, Gavin, that's okay. Honestly, if we're being really honest here, it feels like a breakup was bound to happen sooner or later. We're heading in different directions, and that's fine. Hindi mo na kailangan pang magpaliwanag sa akin. I was gone. Walang paraan para makausap mo ko, and I'm sorry kung hindi ko rin siguro talaga sinubukan na makahanap ng way to talk to you during those times I was grounded. Naiintindihan kita, Gav."

There was a brief silence on the line as Gavin processed my words. When he spoke again, his voice carried a tone of relief mixed with a hint of sadness. "Are we... Are we really okay?"

I nodded to myself, feeling a weight lifting off my shoulders. "Yes, we're okay. We've been friends since we were little, Gavin. I don't want to lose that over something like this. No bad blood, okay?"

"Okay," Gavin agreed. "I'd like that. I've missed talking to you, Thysie, just... talking."

"I've missed that too," I admitted, feeling a smile spread across my face. The thought of returning to just being friends, free from the complications of a romantic relationship, was comforting. "Let's try to keep the good parts, the friendship. That's always been the best part of us."

Matapos ang gabing iyon ay hindi na ako muling nag-boyfriend. Relationships are complicated, and I don't need that. 

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