Lena spent the next few days at her grandmother's house to avoid Cyrus. Alam kasi niyang pupuntahan siya nito sa bahay (or not-since he's probably busy with that other girl). She brought Bailey along para may katabi siya sa pagtulog.

Her grandmother was surprised to see her there. Matagal na siya nitong pinadadalaw sa bahay ng mga ito pero hindi siya nakakapunta. Their house was two hours away from the busy city, so parang nakabakasyon lang sila ni Bailey. Wala silang ginawa roon kundi kumain at matulog. Sakit na siguro ng mga lolo at lola ang walang katapusang pagpapakain sa mga apo nila. Her grandma smothered her with food. Hindi pa siya natutunawan ay may pagkain na namang nakahain. And she had no one to share the food with, except Bailey, dahil silang apat lamang naman ang nandoon.

One downside of her visit was that she's the only one around to talk to her grandmother, kaya hindi maiwasang mag-usisa ito. Nasa fishing trip ang lolo niya, nakaalis ito dahil nga nandoon siya.

"I heard you got yourself a boyfriend," nakangiti nitong sabi. "Kailan mo ipakikilala sa 'kin?"

"Saka na lang po siguro, La," sagot niya. "He's very busy."

"Kenna had been gushing about him. That got me curios. May picture ka man lang bang pwedeng ipakita?"

Nag-alangan siyang buksan ang phone dahil baka sumaktong tumawag si Cyrus. Nai-charge naman niya iyon. Hindi lamang niya binuksan simula kahapon. And she didn't intend to open it until tomorrow, for the expo.

"Okay," saw akas ay pagpayag niya. Saglit lamang naman niyang bubuksan. Hindi naman siguro matataon ang pagtawag ni Cyrus.

So she turned her phone on and showed her grandma their picture, iyong kinuha sa Hongkong. Nasa Kowloon Park sila noon, namamasyal. She zoomed the picture para nito ang mukha ni Cyrus. Seeing his face, even on the phone, made her somewhat upset again.

Iniabot niya ang phone sa lola at saka naghanap ng ibang titingnan.

Her grandmother had nothing but compliments. She forced a smile and said her thanks when she told her that she chose well. She wasn't sure of that now.

"Sa susunod na dadalaw ka rito, bring him with you. I'm sure you're grandpa would want to meet him too."

She nodded, although she wasn't sure if that will ever happen. Sino ba kasi iyong kasama nitong babae kagabi?

When her grandma returned the phone, she quickly turned it off and put it back in her bag. She didn't even read the messages that went in. Para makontak sina Vic at Sal, nakigamit ng telepono. Mabuti na lamang at agad niyang nakausap ang dalawa. It turns out na sa kabilang bayan lang nakatira si Vic, so nag-offer ito na isabay na lamang siya sa expo. She managed to dodge his question about Cyrus. Busy ito, dahilan niya, kahit alam niyang nilibre nito ang buong weekend nito para sa expo at wedding anniversary ng grandparents nito.

--

Kinabukasan, maaga siyang sinundo ni Vic para sa expo. Katulong din kasi ito sa pag-o-organize ng event kaya dapat ay maaga pa lamang ay nandoon na ito. Dumaan muna sila sa bahay niya para kumuha ng pwedeng ipangsama sa exhibit. She let him choose an artpiece.

"I like that chandelier," he told her. Itinuro nito ang pinakabago niyang gawa na nakasabit sa tapat ng work table niya. "Pwede mo rin syang ipagbenta kung gusto mo. May io-auction kasi kaming pieces mamaya. With your permission, we can sell that one."

"Uhm... that's not for sale."

"O? Sayang naman."

Ngumiti siya. "Kapag nakagawa na lang ako ng mas maganda, saka ko 'yan ibibenta."

That made Vic laugh. "All right. So, alin ang pwede?"

She pointed at her eggshell lamp. She was planning on making another one anyway. Pwede na niya iyong ipagbenta. Nagsasawa na rin naman siya sa hitsura nito.

"I can sell this one," she told him. She picked up the lamp and handed it to him. "It's a bit dusty, though. Sorry."

"It's okay. Ipalilinis na lang natin bago i-display."

She also gave him a few paintings that were made for her previous exhibit. Ipagbibenta na rin niya ang mga iyon dahil kailangan niya ng pera.

She helped him load the pieces in the car. Just as they were about to go, a familiar car stopped right in front of Vic's car. Agad na kumabog ang dibdib niya nang bumaba si Cyrus. He's wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a shirt under a black hoodie. Umagang-umaga ay nakasimangot ito, lalo na nang makita siyang nasa passenger's seat with Vic as the driver.

Cyrus knocked on Vic's window. Vic rolled it down and greeted him good morning.

"Can I talk to her for a sec?" tanong nito kay Vic sabay gesture sa kanya.

"Sure, p're," mabilis na sagot ni Vic. Bumaling ito sa kanya at ngumiti. "Usap daw kayo."

She grimaced. Wala siyang choice kundi bumaba ng sasakyan dahil masamang-masama ang tingin sa kanya ni Cyrus. Pagkalabas niya ay sinenyasan siya nitong sumakay sa sasakyan nito. She did what he asked, her hands cold and sweaty despite the aircon.

"You've been avoiding me," he observed.

She neither denied nor confirmed his accusation. Nanatili siyang tahimik.

"Naka-off ba phone mo? Kahapon pa kita hindi ma-contact."

Tumango siya. "I-I was busy."

"Too busy to answer my calls?"

She bit her lip. She still feels upset about what he did the other night, pero ngayon ay nahaluan naman ng guilt dahil galit ito. Pakiramdam niya'y may kasalanan din siya.

She heard him sigh. "May problema ba tayo, Lena?"

Umiling siya.

"You were there, weren't you? Nicki told me. Nakita mo na raw ako. Bakit hindi ka lumapit?"

Yumuko siya at nilaro-laro ang mga daliri para pakalmahin ang sarili.

"Y-You were with someone. Ayokong makaabala."

"Sino bang may sabing makakaabala ka?"

"Nakakahiya kasing lumapit," pag-amin niya. "Parang ang saya-saya ng usapan nyo."

There was a long silence after. Halos hindi siya makahinga dahil sa tension. She wanted to step out of the car to breathe, pero hindi siya makagalaw dahil natatakot siyang baka lalo itong magalit.

"Were you jealous?" he asked a while later.

She felt her cheeks heat up. Was she jealous? Was that why she was so upset that night? She remembered feeling that way on her birthday, when he didn't show up and he said that he celebrated Joanna's birthday (coincidentally on the same day) with her family. But it was more intense this time. She was annoyed at everything that reminded her of him.

"I-I'm not sure."

He heaved another sigh. She took a quick glance at him. His face softened a bit, but he's still wearing a frown.

"Sana nagtanong ka muna, di ba? Wala sanang ganito kung nilapitan mo lang kami. Nag-conclude ka kasi agad. Tapos umiwas ka. How are we going to work things that way?"

Pakiramdam niya ay unti-unti siyang lumulubog sa kinauupuan dahil sa pangangaral nito. It made her guiltier, knowing that he's right and she probably just assumed wrong. Alam niyang dapat ay nag-isip muna siya, but sometimes her emotions get the better of her.

"Sino ba sya?" tanong niya.

"Tapos ngayon mo lang naisipang itanong 'yan," naiiling nitong sabi.

"Sorry na kasi."

She must have looked like she was already in the verge of crying. Bigla kasing nawala ang galit sa mukha nito. When he spoke again, his voice was gentler and calmer.

"That's my sister. I had to pick her up at the airport. I told her that we'll be having dinner so she tagged along. Gusto ka raw makilala. But you didn't show up, so... ayun."

Hindi niya alam kung matutuwa ba siya o iuuntog ang ulo sa dashboard dahil sa katangahan niya. She was depressed for two days over nothing! Tinakpan niya ang mukha sa hiya. Kung pwede lang sanang ibalik ang nakaraan, she will definitely approach them and ask first.

"Sorry!" she told him again.

Kinuha nito ang isa niyang kamay. "As much as it flatters me that you're jealous, I can't say that I'm happy with the way you reacted. Sana the next time na magsiselos ka, huwag kang magtago. Feel free to bombard me with questions. Mas okay 'yon."

"Okay."

He squeezed her hand as he leaned forward. "And please remember one more thing: I only got my eyes on you," sabi nito saka siya hinalikan sa noo.

Bumaba ito ng sasakyan pagkatapos, leaving her with her heart about to jump out of her ribcage. Kinausap nito si Vic. Mukhang sinabi nitong dito na lamang siya sasabay papunta sa expo. She hoped the car ride won't be awkward.