Since that interview, hindi na makontak ni Lena ang kapatid niyang si Lacey. It's been three days already. Kahit busy ang kapatid niya sa projects nito, she's sure that she's not that busy to be unable to take her calls.

Hindi rin naman niya masisi ang kapatid. Martin's a touchy subject kaya hanggat maaari ay hindi siya gumagawa ng bagay na makapagpapaisip dito na inaagaw niya ang atensyon ni Martin.

Lacey's insecure with her. Dati kasi, akala nito ay siya ang gusto ni Martin. She might be one of the biggest stars of the country, but she wanted Martin's attention more than anyone else's. Lacey has had a huge crush on Martin since she was eight. Second year high school noon si Martin. With her bulky braces and frizzy hair, Lacey thought that she didn't stand a chance against her. Hindi kasi siya dumaan sa awkward stage kagaya ng kapatid. Her hair's always been manageable. Her teeth looked okay. She didn't experience the ugly duckling transformation.

Martin used to tease Lacey a lot and for a little girl, it was enough to bring Lacey's self-esteem down. It was not until high school that Lacey finally realized that she's beautiful. Unti-unting nawala ang baby fats nito. Her teeth became perfectly aligned. The hair also became softer and smoother.

But one thing remained with Lacey. Her insecurities. Kaya naman nang lapitan ito ng isang talent scout during their family dinner, hindi ito kaagad nakapaniwala. She remembered Lacey looking at her, dumbfounded. Tinanong pa nito if the question was meant for her.

Hindi mapagpaniwala si Lacey sa mga papuri. Nang mag-16th birthday lamang ito, saka nito natanggap na maganda ito. It was because Martin said so.

She stared at her phone, silently wishing that Lacey's face would appear. It remained silent for the next few minutes though.

Sighing, she dragged herself out of bed and forced to walk to the bathroom to wash her face. She's been in her Donald Duck pajamas all day. Tamad na tamad siyang bumangon. Kahit ang kakulitan ni Bailey, hindi siya nakayanang pabangunin.

She was still in the bathroom when she heard Bailey bark. Agad siyang lumabas para tingnan kung bakit. Bailey's at the closed door, scratching it. Lumingon ito sa kanya at umungot. Siya naman ay lumapit sa pinto at sinilip kung sino ang nasa labas. When she saw that it's Cyrus, she immediately opened it.

He's been busy for the past couple of days. Ngayon lang ulit ito nagpakita. Agad nitong pinadaanan ng tingin ang suot niya. She frowned and combed her hair with her fingers.

"Kagigising mo lang? Anong oras na, a!"

She's well aware that it's already three in the afternoon and she's not ashamed that she's still in her pajamas.

"Kanina pa 'ko gising. Tinatamad lang maligo."

"Have you been sulking again?" When she pouted, he then asked, "She's still not talking to you?"

Tumango siya.

"Si Martin?"

"Nahihiya akong magtanong sa kanya," pag-amin niya. Siguradong pinanuod nito ang interview. How can she face him now?

"I can ask him if you want," he offered but she shook her head. Iginala ni Cyrus ang paningin sa buong bahay. Napako ang tingin nito kay Bailey, na nakaupo sa isang tabi. When he saw Cyrus looking, he wagged his tail and lolled out his tongue, probably waiting for a treat from him.

"Kumain na ba kayo?" tanong nito sa kanya.

"Si Bailey. Tinatamad akong magluto, e." Saka wala siyang ganang kumain. Wala ring gana para maghugas ng pinagkainan niya kahapon nang maghapon na ngayon ay nakatambak pa rin sa lababo.

If she were to do that at her parents' house, her mom would have probably scolded her.

"Kumain ka nga. Kaya hindi ka tumataba, e." He pulled the side of her pajama top and frowned. She knew why. She could fit another half of her inside it. But that's just because malaki lang talaga ang suot niyang damit. She didn't argue with him though. Wala siyang ganang makipagtalo.

"I'll order pizza later," she told him.

"Pizza na naman?"

She nodded. She could eat pizza all day for weeks. Bukod sa masarap na, hindi pa siya maaabala sa pagluluto. It's partly because tamad siyang magluto and also because she could do something else with the time. Kagaya ng pagtunganga.

"You need to go out, Lena. Mapupurga ang tiyan mo kung pizza ka nang pizza araw-araw."

She pursed her lips but didn't say anything. He's like her dad sometimes, pushy in a subtle way.

That was why she found herself, moments later, taking a bath. Cyrus insisted that they go out kahit labag sa kalooban niya. Ang init-init sa labas!

--

Pagkapaligo, dali-dali siyang nagbihis sa likod ng dressing screen niya. She pulled a black sweater from her drawer and a pair of boyfriend jeans that look like a monster clawed them. Then she put on a pair of black converse. If Cyrus had any disapproval of her outfit, he kept it to himself.

Madalian niyang pinatuyo ang buhok saka siya naglagay ng kaunting makeup (her black eyeliner and a lipgloss). Saka siya simangot na sumunod kay Cyrus palabas ng bahay.

They brought Bailey along. Hindi niya sigurado kung bakit. Cyrus even let Bailey sit in the passenger's seat, with the window rolled down. Her dog looked so happy.

After a few minutes of driving, he pulled over to a familiar place. It was the restaurant where Martin celebrated his birthday.

Cyrus pulled Bailey's leash and gave it to a staff. He told him to feed the dog. The man must be trained with dogs because Bailey walked calmly with him to the back of the restaurant.

"Don't worry. Sandy will take care of him," he assured her.

--

Pagpasok nila sa restaurant, agad na nginitian si Cyrus ng mga staff na nakakita rito. He led her to an empty table near the kitchen. Habang umu-order si Cyrus (she let him give their orders), siya naman ay inabala ang sarili sa pagmamasid.

The place looked different. The tablecloths were gone to reveal the beautiful wood tables. The fresh flowers and the black and white pictures on the wall made the restaurant look homey.

She liked it better that way.

A staff arrived at their table with a small basket of breadsticks and two tall glasses of lemonade.

"Thanks, Nicki," Cyrus told the woman. Nicki smiled at them and disappeared to the kitchen.

"Madalas ka rito?" she couldn't help but ask.

"Yeah. I'm here every weekend. Well, except when I'm at your house or Julie's."

"So you know them all by name?" She pointed at the waiters. She was awed when he nodded. Hindi niya kaya iyon. She thought it was cool that Cyrus actually learned their names.

Her mouth watered when the order arrived. Sa amoy pa lamang ng pagkain, parang busog na siya. She couldn't help it. Inilapit niya ang mukha sa plato at inamoy ang pagkain. She heard Cyrus laugh.

Nawala agad sa isip niya ang lasa ng pizza nang maktikman niya iyon. The meat was so tender and flavorful. And the sauce, heaven.

"Did you like it?" he asked, smiling.

She nodded vigorously.

"Good. I'll make sure to tell my dad."

Napatigil siya sa pagnguya. "D-Dad?" she croaked.

His smile widened. "Kumain ka muna."

She obliged. He didn't need to tell her twice.

--

Cyrus later told her that their family owns the restaurant. His mom decorated the place. His dad's the chef. The framed picture of a healthy teenage boy on the wall beside them suddenly looked familiar. She realized that it was Cyrus. He wasn't kidding when he said that he was big before.

"Do you want dessert?" tanong nito pagkatapos nilang kumain. She originally planned on ordering another plate of that mouthwatering food she just had, but she was already full when she finished her plate.

"Dessert's fine."

Cyrus called a waiter, Sancho, and asked him to give them two plates of his dad's special chocolate cakes.

When Sancho came back, he was balancing two white plates with small mini-cakes on them. Maliit lamang iyon, probably three inches in diameter and an inch in height. They each have a chocolate triangular shard on top, held in place by a dullop of marscarpone cream and three slices of orange. The cake itself was coated with liquid chocolate and dusted with icing sugar and orange zest. Then, circling its base was orange coulis. It looked so pretty that Lena couldn't help but take a few pictures.

They chinked their forks together and dug in. The cake was moist and light, the chocolate coating was a bit spicy and the orange coulis was vibrant. It made her think of Lacey somehow. Lacey loves chocolates and oranges. So she ordered one for her.

--

Nang matapos silang kumain, tinawag sila ng isang staff at pinapunta sa kitchen. She met his father again, under a different circumstance.

Tuwang-tuwa ito nang makita siya. She kind of blushed when he said that he approved of Cyrus's choice. The kitchen staff agreed.

"Dad, you're embarrassing me."

Chef Ken laughed and patted his son on the back. He told him that he definitely needs to introduce her to his mother and sisters, positive that they will like her too.

Cyrus cut the conversation short. His father didn't have enough free time, anyway. May mga bagong orders kasi na dumating.

She didn't complain when he pulled her by the hand, out of the kitchen. Hinanap nila si Bailey sa may likod. Kinakausap ito ni Sandy.

Bailey barked happily when he saw them. She thanked Sandy for taking care of her dog and then, they were back in the road.

Inihatid muna nila si Bailey at ipinahabilin sa kapitbahay. Then, she asked Cyrus to take her to Lacey's condo. Pero nang dumating sila, wala naman ito roon.

She tried calling her again. This time, someone answered. But it's not Lacey. It's Ramona, one of Lacey's first ever fans who later became her stylist and friend. Ramona told her that Lacey's in her parents' house. Inihabilin daw dito ng kapatid ang phone nito dahil ayaw nitong makipag-usap kahit kanino (which probably just meant her).

"Sorry, Lena."

"It's okay, Ram. Kelan pa si Lace sa bahay?"

"Kanina lang. Kaaalis lang nya actually. She said she'll be staying there for a week."

"And Martin? Are they okay?"

She heard Ramona sigh. "Ilang araw na nga ring nangungulit si Martin. Lacey's mad at him."

She bit her lip. This was her fault. She shouldn't have given him that gift. Ramona told her otherwise, assured her that it's not her fault. Selosa lang daw talaga si Lacey. It's as if her sister's friend read her mind.

Nagpasalamat siya kay Ramona saka niya pinakiusapan si Cyrus na dalhin siya sa bahay ng parents niya. She called her mom, told her that she'll be coming over and to not tell Lacey.

--

"Thanks!" She smiled at Cyrus when they arrived.

He smiled back. "Don't mention it. Good luck!"

She went inside when he drove off. Si Nikola lamang ang sumalubong na kapatid sa kanya dahil nasa school pa sina Logan at Kenna. Her dad's also not home yet.

Her mother hugged her tightly and told her that Lacey's up in their old room. Magkasama kasi sila ni Lacey sa kwarto noong mga bata pa sila. The room was converted to a guest room now, since humiwalay na silang dalawa ng tirahan.

Ibinigay niya ang dalang cake sa ina, while warning Nikola not to eat it. Agad niyang tinungo ang kwarto para kumprontahin ang kapatid.

Naabutan niya itong nakadapa sa kama, swaying her feet back in forth in the air. Nasa harap nito ang pink nitong laptop. Lacey had headphones on so she didn't hear her come in.

She did the only thing that she could think of at the moment. She dove into the bed, hitting the space next to Lacey, almost knocking her laptop off. Lacey's surprise turned into annoyance when she saw her.