Walang ideya si Lena kung paanong nasaktuhan ni Cyrus ang pag-alis niya. She's been planning this even before Hong Kong pero ngayon lamang niya naituloy. The original plan was to bring Cyrus along but after the kiss, well, she figured that it's better if she'll go alone.

Who'd have thought na 'yong original plan din pala ang masusunod?

She couldn't see his eyes because he's wearing sunglasses, but he seemed to be looking at her like she was a thief caught red-handed. Naghihintay ito ng sagot niya sa tanong nito kanina. Siya naman ay napatunganga lamang dito.

He's wearing a simple white shirt, a pair of shorts, chucks, and sunglasses. Ang buhok nito ay nakapaipalim sa isang cap na baliktad ang pagkakasuot. He looked like a boy and a man at the same time. Boyish 'yong aura pero manly 'yong physique, a combination that is very hard to ignore. She suddenly felt frumpy in her ripped black jeans and black long-sleeved shirt.

"Well?"

"U-Uhm..." She fumbled with her keys. "Yeah," mahina niyang sagot.

Akala niya ay magagalit ito kasi hindi siya nagpaalam dito at hindi niya ito inimbitang samahan siya. But instead, he opened the door of the passenger's seat and gestured her to hop in.

"Samahan na kita," nakangiti nitong sabi.

Hindi siya makatanggi dahil una, ang ganda ng ngiti nito; pangalawa, baka magtampo ito kapag hindi pinagbigyan; pangatlo, mas convenient para sa kanya ang may sasakyan; at panghuli, there's really no logical reason to say no. Kung hihindi man siya, iyon ay dahil hindi siya mapakaling sila lamang dalawa ang magkasama. It's hard to explain, even to herself. He's the uncharted territory her comfort zone didn't prepare her for.

Pagkasakay nila ay agad nitong pinaandar ang sasakyan. She put her backpack on her lap after buckling the seatbelt.

"Where to?"

"Antipolo."

"You planned on going there alone? Mabuti na lang pala naabutan kita."

She didn't comment. Inilabad niya ang phone at saka naglaro ng games, hinihiling na sana ay hindi siya nito kausapin. But he's in a really good mood so that's not possible.

"Anong pupuntahan mo do'n?" tanong nito.

"'Yong museum," she answered without looking up.

"Ah. Pinto Art Gallery?" When she nodded, he said, " Great! I really want to visit that place."

Yeah. Great.

"Kumain ka na ba? Breakfast muna tayo," aya nito.

Pumayag na lamang siya kesa sabihing kumain na siya ng leftover pizza. She had pizza for dinner last night. Cyrus doesn't like it when she eats too much pizza. Unfortunately, kaya niyang makatagal na pizza lamang ang kinakain sa maghapon. Yeah, no need to mention that to him.

They stopped by an eatery on their way to Antipolo, Kainan Ni Aling Nena. Kulay dilaw at pula ang sign, kagaya ng pintura ng mga dingding. Kulay pula rin ang mga plastic tables and chairs. Akala niya ay nagbibiro lamang si Cyrus nang tumigil ito sa tapat noon. Not that she doesn't like the place, but she just can't imagine him eating there.

But he went right in and told her to get a table while he order. Bumili ito ng lumpiang shanghai, lumpiang ubod, at dalawang order ng tapsilog. Tapos ang kape nila, 'yong three-in-one.

"Masarap ang tapa nila dito," he told her. Inilapit nito sa kanya ang isang pinggan na may lamang fried rice na may itlog sa ibabaw tapos ay nakapalibot sa kanin 'yong tapa. The smell reached her nose and she instantly salivated.

The taste was even better. Agad niyang nakalahati ang pagkain. Cyrus seemed pleased, but apparently not enough because he insisted that she try the spring roll as well.

"Do you want me to lose my appetite?" she asked.

"Just try it."

Wala na naman syang choice. Halos nakadikit na sa labi niya ang piraso ng lumpia. She took it and grimaced when she tasted it.

"Lasang-"

He sighed. "I know. Sige, hindi na kita pipilitin."

True to his word, he let her eat in peace after that. Ito ang umubos ng ubod habang nilantakan naman niya iyong shanghai.

Pagkatapos kumain ay itinuloy na nila ang byahe. They arrived at Pinto after an hour and a half. Pagkaparada ng sasakyan ay bumili na sila ng ticket.

"Libre ko na." She pushed the 500 peso bill back in his hand. "Nalibre mo na 'ko ng breakfast at pamasahe, e."

"Okay."

When they entered the premise, marami-rami na rin ang tao. She didn't know where to start. Parang lahat ng direksyon ay pwedeng puntahan. So she let Cyrus choose. Pinili nitong dumiretso sa gitna. They found themselves walking down the cement stairs, with a terrific view on the left. Agad siyang huminto at kinunan ng litrato ang lugar.

At the end of the stairs was Gallery 1. Paintings from different artists hang on the walls. Nilapitan ni Cyrus ang paintings para kunan ng litrato habang siya naman ay tinitingnang mabuti ang mga iyon.

"If you stare at them for so long, we might not get to see the other artworks," he told her.

She simply smiled in response. Sinundan niya ito nang lumabas ito ng gallery. Umakyat sila sa isang hagdan patungo sa isang rooftop. From there, they went down on yet another set of stairs to the other galleries. Nakakalimutan na niyang mag-picture dahil nawiwili siyang tingnan ang detalye ng bawat artwork na nandoon. Si Cyrus ang picture nang picture.

"Wala pa tayong picture."

"It's okay," she said dismissively. "I didn't come here to take selfies."

Karamihan sa mga kasabay nila doon, tido pose sa tabi ng mga sculptures at paintings para kumuha ng litratong pwedeng gawing profile pic. Nairita pa siya doon sa isang tahasang naupo sa isang artwork, a blue chair with wings. Gusto niyang pagalitan ang mga ito. Nasa instruction na nga na bawal hawakan, upuan pa kaya?

Cyrus must have sensed that she's getting annoyed. Hinila kasi siya nito sa kadugtong na gallery. He also stopped taking pictures. Nakatago na sa bulsa nitonang phone. Mukhang tinamaan ito sa sinabi niya kanina. She wanted to apologize, pero naunahan na siya nito. He already told her that it's okay kahit wala pa naman siyang sinasabi.

"I wish I could understand the thoughts behind these artworks. Some are just too weird for me," he admitted.

They went from artwork to artwork and she tried her best to interpret each one to him. But some are too complex for her to explain.

"Artists don't always see eye to eye. Akala kasi ng ibang tao, porket pare-pareho kaming artists, nagkakaintindihan na kami agad. Some of these pieces are too weird even for me."

After analyzing every artwork from the gallery, they went back to the starting point near the entrance. Cyrus bought some water from the nearby café habang siya naman ay kinukunan ng mga tao ang iba pang turista. Two of those tourists approached her, dalawang lalaking parehong may sukbit na camera. The two introduced themselves as Sal and Vic. They were asking if they could buy her coffee when Cyrus arrived from the café, holding two bottles.

Agad itong umakbay sa kanya. "Are they bothering you?" he asked, motioning to the two guys.

"Relax, dude. Nakikipagkaibigan lang naman kami."

"Go befriend someone else, dude," Cyrus replied haughtily. Hinila siya nito sa kaliwang parte ng lugar, sa may swimming pool.

"Hey, that was rude," she couldn't help but say. "They were nothing but nice to me."

"I'm a guy, Lena. I know what they really want from you and they're not getting it." He sat on one chair and handed her one bottle.

She gave him a hard look. "I don't have many friends, Cyrus. I find it hard to make friends. Hindi kasi ako marunong mag-approach. But when someone's being friendly to me, I try my best to entertain them. I can be a judge of character too, you know. Sana naman huwag mo 'kong pigilang makipagkaibigan sa iba."

She was having an animated discussion about camera filters and quality lenses with the two guys when he interrupted. Bihira na nga siyang makakilala ng mga taong kapareho niya ng hilig tapos ay binabakuran pa siya ni Cyrus. It's one of the few things that she doesn't like about having a boyfriend-ang daming bawal.

"Are you angry?" He muttered a curse. "I'm sorry. You're too naïve sometimes that my protective instinct automatically kicks in. I didn't mean to isolate you, Lena."

"They were artists too. Photographers. I could learn a thing or two from them."

He sighed and stood up. "All right. Stay here."

Pumunta ito sa pinanggalingan nila kanina. Nang bumalik ito ay kasama na nito ang dalawang lalaki kanina. He let her talk to them. Tahimik lamang ito sa tabi niya habang nag-usap-usap silang tatlo. Before they parted, the two asked her to come to an expo that will be held the following week. May mga professional photographers dawn a dadalo at may free seminars din na gaganapin para sa mga kasali.

Nalaman nilang kasama pala sa nag-o-organize ng event ang dalawa. They even asked if she wants to be part of the expo, bring some of her work over. Pero dahil wala siyang masyadong alam tungkol sa gaganaping event at wala rin siyang material na maibibigay, sinabi na lamang niyang kuntento na siya sa pagiging audience.

"Well, if you change your mind, give us a call." Vic handed her a calling card.

"And you can come too, bro," Sal told Cyrus.

Nagpaalam na ang dalawa pagkatapos nilang mag-usap. Gagala pa raw ang mga ito. Napansin niyang tahimik pa rin si Cyrus nang makaalis sina Vic. He looked like he was still feeling guilty about what happened earlier. Akala siguro nito ay galit pa rin siya. But her anger already subsided when he called Sal and Vic back to talk to her. She was glad that he went out of his way to sort things out.

"Hey." She nudged him. "Thanks."

"Hindi ka na galit?"

She shook her head and smiled. Tumayo siya at hinila ito patayo. "Come on."

They climbed down another set of stairs (the place has so many of them) on the side of Café Tan-aw, leading to another gallery near a pond. Puro indigenous sculptures naman ang nandoon.

"You can take pictures if you want," she told him. Nakatunganga lamang kasi ito habang siya naman ay inaabala ang sarili sa pag-i-eksamin ng mga nililok na kahoy. He did as he was told and began taking pictures again. Pero napansin niyang sa kanya naman palaging nakatutok ang camera ng phone nito.

Itinaas niya ang kamay para takpan ang mukha. "Huwag ako ang kunan mo!" saway niya.

"Why would I fill up my phone with pictures of these sculptures when I can fill it up with your pictures instead?" nakangiti nitong tanong. He walked towards her and casually draped his arm on her shoulder. "Wala pa nga pala tayong picture."

Bigla siyang kinabahan nang idikit nito ang pisngi sa pisngi niya. He's too close for comfort.

"I'll need a new display pic," he told her before the camera clicked.

It makes her weirdly happy and at the same time, embarrassed that he fills his IG account with her pictures. Pati sa Facebook nito, puro mukha niya ang nakalagay. Paniguradong ia-upload na naman nito kaagad ang mga bago nitong kuha pag-uwi nila. Kenna and Lacey can't stop teasing her about it. They kept gushing about how sweet Cyrus is. Ang swerte raw niya.

Nang makuntento ito ay naupo muna sila sa nakahandang upuan sa tabi ng bintana para magpahinga. Maya-maya ay sila na lamang ang naiwan doon. Mas marami kasing tao sa ibang galleries kesa doon dahil medyo tago iyong posisyon noon.

"Hey, I almost forgot... sabi nina Lola, isama raw kita next weekend. Anniversary kasi nila. They want to meet you."

"Pero next week na 'yong expo-"

"Okay lang. Overnight naman 'yon tapos Sunday 'yong celebration. We can go there after the expo."

Tumango siya. "All right."

He removed his hand from her shoulder. Then he covered her hand with his.

"Lena, I've been thinking..."

"About?"

"Remember when I kissed you back in Singapore and you hid under the blanket after?"

Agad siyang pinamulahan. Why did he bring it up? Pilit na nga niya iyong kinakalimutan, e. The embarrassing part after the kiss, not the kiss itself.

"W-What about it?"

"Wala lang. Iniisip ko lang kung sa'n ka magtatago kapag hinalikan kita ngayon."