Lena spent her whole Monday sleeping. Her sleep in the woods wasn't bad, but she preferred sleeping in her own bed, with Bailey sprawled on her belly. Hanggang alas tres ng hapon siyang tulog. When she woke up, she was very dizzy from hunger and oversleeping.

She initially thought of ordering pizza, but upon remembering what Cyrus told her, napagdesisyunan na lamang niyang magluto ng kahit pritong itlog. Kahit wala siyang lutong kanin, may stock naman siyang mga tinapay, thanks to her lola who gave them to her yesterday.

"What? No eggs?!" She grunted. Wala ring hotdog o bologna. How did her fridge get so empty? Isinarado niya iyon at saka tiningala ang cupboards. May mga de-lata pa naman siguro siyang nakatabi.

"I'll just make a sardine sandwich," she told Bailey. Nakaupo ito sa tabi ng breakfast nook. "Want one?"

Humila siya ng isang stool at tumapat sa cupboard. Then, she hoisted herself up, but something went wrong. Iyon yatang stool niya na hindi balanse ang natapakan niya. It wobbled, and doubled with her being a bit disoriented, she fell.

She didn't feel it at first. Hindi niya alam kung saan tumama ang paa niya, but a while later, the pain finally registered. Napaiyak siya sa sakit. Bailey came to her side, confused. Hindi nito alam ang gagawin. Pinilit lamang nitong aluin siya by licking her face.

She wiped her tears and tried to focus. Phone. She needs to find her phone. Sinubukan niyang tumayo but her ankle started throbbing. Napasalampak siyang muli sa sahig.

Ginapang na lamang niya ang kama, kung saan niya iniwan ang phone niya. She frantically looked for someone to contact. Tiningnan niya ang speed dial. Nope. It can't be her mom. She'll freak out. Hindi rin pwede ang daddy niya. Nakailang aksidente na siya kahit wala pa sa kalagitnaan ng taon. He might force her to start living with them again. Lacey? No, she's busy.

She scrolled back up and stopped at Cyrus's name. Without thinking twice, she called him.

His phone was ringing, but he's not answering. She tried again and again. She's close to passing out but he still didn't answer. Kaya sumuko na lamang siya at sinubukang tawagan si Martin. Dalawang beses muna siyang tumawag bago ito sumagot.

"C-Can you come over?" naiiyak niyang tanong. "I-I think I twisted my ankle."

"All right. Hang in there. Ten minutes, nandyan na 'ko."

She thanked him and ended the call. Saka niya hinila si Bailey at niyakap ng mahigpit.

--

Wala pang ten minutes ay nandoon na si Martin. She crawled to the door and with Bailey's help, she managed to get up and open it. Agad siyang inalalayan ni Martin pabalik sa kama niya.

"What happened?" he asked while he looked inside her fridge for some ice.

Ikinwento niya ang nangyari. His frown deepened when she finished.

"Sana nag-order ka na lang ng pagkain," he reprimanded. "Alam mo namang wala kang kabala-balanse sa katawan."

"Sorry na. Malay ko ba namang mahuhulog ako."

He sighed and wiped her tears with his handkerchief. She had to look away because his face was so close.

"We should call your mom."

"Please don't! I don't want her to worry."

"Of course she'll be worried. She's your mom."

"Just put some splint or something," nakangiwi niyang sabi. "And don't call her. I mean it. I'll just tell her about what happened when I'm already okay."

Martin shook his head in disapproval, but he stood up and walked to her "work station". He took some pieces of wood and then a piece of cloth and masking tape. Nilagay nito iyon sa kitchen counter. Saka siya nito binuhat at iniupo doon. Inilagay nito ang paa niya sa stool na pinaglaglagan niya kanina, but she pushed it with her other foot.

"Ayoko nyan. Malas 'yan."

He rolled his eyes and got her another one. Just as he was about to finish working on the splint, her phone (which she left on the bed) rang. She asked him to get it first. Sinagot na rin nito ang tawag.

"Cyrus," he mouthed.

Tumango lamang siya.

"He said he's coming over," sabi nito nang matapos ang tawag.

"Sana sinabi mong huwag na."

"He insisted. Saka hindi rin ako pwedeng magtagal. Lacey--"

She held up her hands. "I know, I know. Priorities."

"Aww... don't be jealous, Lena. You have Cyrus who prioritizes you."

She made a face. Of course, she's jealous, but she had to pretend that the idea disgusts her. He can't know the truth.

--

Makalipas ang ilang minuto, Cyrus finally arrived. He's scowling.

"May sakit ka ba?" tanong ni Martin nang umubo ito. "Maybe I should stay for a while. Pareho pala kayong dapat alagaan."

"I can handle it."

"Cy, don't push yourself."

"I said I can handle it. You can leave now." She was suprised with the animosity in his voice. Nagmamagandang-loob lamang naman si Martin. Why did Cyrus take it badly?

Nagulat din siya nang biglang ngumiti si Martin. He looked at her and smiled even bigger. "All right. Take care of her, man," sabi nito kay Cyrus na may kasama pang tapik sa balikat.

--

Tahimik pa rin si Cyrus nang makaalis si Martin. He checked her splint and shook his head. Then he began removing the tape.

"May sakit ka pala. Sana di ka na lang nagpunta."

"I'm fine."

She reached out and touched his forehead. He jerked away like he's been burned.

"Your hand is cold," he told her.

She bit her lip. "Sorry."

Pinanuod niya ito habang inaayos nito ang splint na ginawa ni Martin. Salubong ang kilay nito at simangot pa rin. Namumula rin ang mga mata nito. He was probably asleep when she called. Nakonsensya tuloy siya. Mukhang hindi talaga maganda ang pakiramdam nito.

When he was done fixing the splint, her foot felt a little better. Mas maayos na kasi iyon kesa kanina.

"Kumain ka na?"

As if on cue, her stomach grumbled. Bailey also whimpered in complaint. Mukhang gutom na rin ito. Cyrus left her on the counter while he fixed Bailey his meal. Then he looked for something to cook. Nang makita nitong walang laman ang fridge, sa cupboards naman ito naghanap. He took a can of tuna, a baguette and some other stuff from the fridge and made her a sandwich.

"Eat this while I fix you a proper meal."

Hindi na siya nakipagtalo kahit may nilagay itong gulay sa sandwich niya. Mukhang mas alam pa nito ang kusina niya kesa sa kanya dahil may nakita itong pwedeng lutuin.

--

Even when he's burning up and needed to be taken care of, Cyrus didn't make a single complaint as he helped her move around. She was able to brush her teeth and take a half-bath thanks to him. Ito ang tagahatid sa kanya sa kung saan man niya kailangang pumunta sa loob ng bahay.

But he eventually got tired and asked if he could rest, kaya hinayaan na lamang muna niya itong matulog ng ilang oras.

When he woke up two hours later, he agreed to let her order some food (not pizza). Mukhang ayaw na rin nitong magluto. Besides, wala rin naman siyang lulutuin.

He looked relieved when he saw that soup she ordered. Dapat kasi talaga, pasta at chicken ang o-order-in niya, but she thought that he won't be able to eat kaya sa iba na lang siya nag-order. Somewhere where there is chicken noddle soup.

Inalalayan siya ni Cyrus papunta sa kusina. She sat on the table. Gusto niyang nakalaylay ang paa niya. Sumasakit kasi iyon kapag itinutuon niya.

They ate in silence with Bailey munching on a Hainanese chicken under the table.

Nang matapos kumain, she asked Cyrus to get some chocolates from the fridge. Maaring mawalan siya ng bigas o ulam na lulutuin, pero hindi siya nawawalan ng stock ng chocolates sa bahay.

She offered him some but he declined, kaya siya na lamang ang kumain.

"I'm sorry it took a while for me to get here," he said out of the blue.

"Okay lang. May sakit ka pala. Sana di na lang kita inabala."

"Did you call me first?"

He smiled when she nodded, but the scowl returned when she said, "I called Martin when you didn't answer."

Tumayo ito at saka itinapon sa basurahan ang mga pinagkainan nila. Then he went back and inspected her ankle.

"Does it still hurt?"

"A little--Ow!" Nakuyumos niya ang hawak na chocolats bar nang bahagya nito iyong pisilin.

"Sorry." He straightened and caressed her cheek. "Be careful next time. Hindi sa lahat ng oras, mapupuntahan kita agad."

"It's okay. I could always ask Martin--"

"Why do you always have to mention his name?" His voice aounded edgy when he asked that.

She looked down. Hindi niya alam kung gaano kadalas niyang sinasabi ang pangalan nito. It's just normal for her to talk about Martin a lot.

Naramdaman niyang idinikit nito ang noo sa noo niya. She didn't know what's up with him that day. He was acting really weird since he got there.

"Lena..."

She looked up and met his gaze. And for a moment, that desire to kiss him came back. He's only a few breaths away...

And then it happened. She didn't know who kissed who. She could only remember entertwining her fingers on his nape when he pulled her to deepen the kiss. And the feel of his lips on hers. And the feverish warmth that radiated from him.

When he pulled away, he looked confused, like he just broke off from a trance.

"I-I should go," he said, more to himself than to her. Dali-dali nitong tinungo ang pintuan. He only stopped when she called him back.

"Can you help me down please?"

Thankfully, he went back and helped her down. Pero hindi na ito makatingin sa kanya ng diretso. Nakatingin ito sa sahig habang inaalalayan siya pabalik sa kama niya.

"Need anything else?" When she shook her head, he went ahead and left. Bailey climbed on the bed and stared at her, as if waiting for an explanation about what happened a while ago.

Wala siyang nasabi sa alaga. She was still in shock. One moment, they were talking about Martin and the next thing she knew, they're already kissing. What happened in between was a blur to her. Maybe Cyrus knew, but she's afraid to ask him. Hindi mawala sa isip niya ang guilt sa mukha nito kanina.