Lena couldn't pull her hand away. Everytime that she tries, Cyrus's grip seems to tighten. Hindi siya makatingin dito ng diretso. Natatakot siyang kapag ginawa niya iyon ay hahalikan talaga siya nito. What if someone comes in? Paano kung may CCTV pala? A lot of things can go wrong.

"What's with that reaction? Am I such a bad kisser?" kunot-noo nitong tanong. When she didn't answer, he let go of her hand and sighed. "Fine. Don't answer that."

She knew this scenario. She's seen it before. Ganito mag-react ang daddy niya kapag naglalambing ito sa mommy niya tapos ay hindi napagbibigyan. Susuyuin ng mommy niya ang daddy niya hanggang sa maging ayos na ulit ang mood nito. Her mom can change his mood with just one kiss, but... can she do it with Cyrus?

Just as she was about to do the insane thing, some tourists went inside the gallery. The room quickly became crowded. She and Cyrus decided to get out of there, his pace quicker than usual. She was practically running just to keep up.

"Cy--"

She reached out and got a hold of his hand. He stopped abruptly and looked at their hands, frown still etched on his face.

"You walk too fast," she told him.

"Sorry," he muttered. Binagalan na nito ang lakad, pero halatang nagtatampo pa rin ito. She guessed that it's a big deal to guys that girls like how they kiss.

"Are you mad?"

"No," he answered. "Just a little frustrated."

"Because I didn't let you kiss me?"

"Because you acted like it would suck. Hindi naman kita pipilitin kung ayaw mo. Just tell me if you don't want to."

"I want to," she muttered.

"What?"

She shook her head. "I-It's not bad. It's just... It was kind of awkward back there."

"Then you should have said something. Hindi pwede 'yong sisimangot ka lang. I assumed the worst."

"Sorry."

He patted her head. "Just speak up to avoid misunderstanding."

"Okay," she said with a smile. "Still angry?"

"You know I couldn't stay mad at you." Pinaghiwalay nito ang kamay nila then he draped his hand on her shoulder. "Where to next?"

She pointed ahead. They went to the other side of Pinto. There's nothing much to see there, though, kaya pagkatapos nilang maikot 'yong buong lugar, nagpahinga na lamang sila sa isang bench na nandoon.

They watched as a bunch of kids gathered around a life-sized sculpture of an animal in the middle of the clearing. Nakurot niya si Cyrus sa braso nang sakyan ng isang teenager 'yong sculpture.

"That's gonna leave a mark," he told her.

She bit her lip. Namumula ang braso nito dahil sa pagkurot niya.

"Sorry. These kids just don't respect art anymore. It's so frustrating!"

"Gusto mo bang pagalitan natin sila?"

She wanted to, but she didn't have the guts to do it. So she just shook her head and watched them with a glare, waiting for the sculpture to break so she could whisper, 'I told you so'.

Fortunately, nobody broke anything so that's a relief. When they got tired of observing other people, they decided to head out to get some snack. It's already past lunch. Nawili sila sa paniningin kanina kaya hindi sila masyadong nakaramdam ng gutom. But now that the tour's over, there's nothing to distract them from feeling hungry.

Malapit sa simbahan ang kinainan nila. As usual, Cyrus insisted that they eat homecooked meals kaya sa karinderya sila kumain. He said that it's way better than eating fast food. She didn't argue because anywhere's okay with her as long as the food taste great. The downside? Cyrus ordered another vegetable dish and she had no choice but to eat.

She kind of liked it, though, pero dahil na rin siguro iyon sa dami ng karne na nakalahok sa gulay. Chopsuey kasi iyon na may itlog ng pugo at atay. Cyrus seemed pleased. Ibinili pa siya nito ng banana split.

Pagkatapos kumain ay dumaan sila ng simbahan, saka sila namili ng pasalubong sa gilid noon. Then, they strolled the plaza as the sun sets on the horizon.

It was a short stroll, wala pang thirty minutes ay naikot na nila ang plaza.

"Where to next?" he asked. "Gusto mo na bang umuwi?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. May gusto ka pa bang puntahan?"

He nodded. "I might have some place I want to be. Kung hindi na naman nagmamadali, we can take a quick detour."

"Okay." Wala rin naman siyang gagawin sa bahay kundi manuod ng TV at makipaglaro kay Bailey. "San ba 'yon?"

"Dito lang din."

Hindi nito sinabi kung saan sila pupunta kaya maya't maya siya nanghuhula. Tuwing may madadaanan silang establishment na mukhang magandang puntahan, tuturo siya doon at titingin kay Cyrus. And he would shake his head everytime.

Finally, after almost thirty minutes of driving, they went inside a subdivision and she thought that they'd be visiting someone. His family, perhaps? The thought made her queasy. She's mentally trying to prepare herself to meet his family next week. She certainly can't do that today.

"We're here."

Cyrus stopped the car in front of a skeleton of a house. The only light that illuminated it was coming from the lamp post next to it. It looked eerie.

"Uhm... what exactly are we doing here?"

She got out of the car the same time he did. Umikot ito papunta sa kanya at hinila siya papasok sa madilim na bahay. "Come on."

She tugged back at her hand. "Are you sure? We could go somewhere else."

He gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay. Walang multo dyan."

"It looks unsafe."

"It's safe. I designed the structure myself."

"Who's house is this?" tanong niya nang makapasok sila. Biglang nagliwanag sa loob nang buksan ni Cyrus ang ilaw. It's really dusty inside. Makalat din sa loob dahil sa mga hindi natapos na gawain. May mga nagkalat na bakal sa gilid at ilang piraso ng basag na tiles.

There's also a sleeping cot folded against the wall. Siguro ay pumupunta doon si Cyrus minsan. Kung para saan ay hindi niya alam. She couldn't imagine sleeping there at night. It's too scary.

"Mine. And Joanna's. Well, what could have been our house." She felt him squeeze her hand. Bumaling ito sa kanya at ngumiti. "I hope this doesn't make you feel awkward."

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang dapat maramdaman. Should she feel jealous? Or privileged, perhaps? O dapat bang malungkot siya dahil nakakalungkot at nakakapanghinayang ang kwento ng dalawa?

"Why wasn't it finished?"

She wanted to kick herself after asking that. Of course it won't be finished. Cyrus would have no reason to live there anymore after Joanna died.

"Please don't answer that," she told him.

But he did answer the question. "The construction continued a few months after she died. Pero pinatigil ko na rin eventually. I don't have the heart to sell the land though. Kaya heto, tengga."

"You started building this when you were just twenty-one?"

"Yeah."

It was pretty impressive. She's already 22 and she's broke. Kung hindi lang nagpapadala ng pagkain at pilit na nagbibigay ng allowance ang parents nya, baka tumunganga na lang siya sa gutom araw-araw.

"I guess I was just excited to spend the rest of my life with her. My dad offered me this land when I told him that I want to marry Joanna someday. I was going to surprise her after the operation. Sabi ni dad, bayaran ko na lang daw kapag may pera na ako. The house was all mine though. Lahat ng kita ko sa trabaho, dito ko inilaan."

And then Joanna died. It must have crushed him badly.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"I don't know."

Tiningala niya ito. He's frowning again. Without thinking twice, she reached out and eased that frown. That made him smile a little.

"Joanna could have liked you," he told her. "You could have been friends. Maybe."

"But I don't think our paths will cross if she didn't--uhm... you know."

Tumango ito. He pulled her near the opening on the wall, which she guessed was the window. Kitang-kita ang mga bituin sa langit dahil hindi masyadong maliwanag sa paligid ng bahay. It's a bit isolated from the rest of the houses.

"Julie told me the same thing. She said that maybe there's a reason why you found me the same day that I lost Joanna. And I think she's right."

He held her gaze. She could feel his hand tightening and loosening around her own, as if he couldn't decide if he should let it go or hold it tighter.

"Tell me if this is making you uncomfortable and I'll back away," he told her as he leaned closer.

Yumuko siya at inalis ang pagkakahawak ng kamay nito sa kanya. Then she looked up again, only to find him staring intently. He didn't ask questions. He simply waited for her to do whatever it is she wants to do. And it's like they both knew what they wanted to happen.

So, she cupped his face with both her hands, tiptoed, and kissed him full on the lips. She refused to think it through. Alam niyang hindi kailangang masyadong pag-isipan ang ganoong bagay. It's like making an art. You only need to feel your way through it.

When it ended, she suddenly felt the urge to hide again. But because everywhere else looked dangerous and scary, she decided to just bury her face in his chest and hoped that he won't laugh at her later.