"I don't know if you'll get what I mean, Renante, since Sondra is your only friend in this world. You are not friends with anyone else, you don't get how it feels—"

"All these years," titig uli nito sa mga mata niya, "nakasama ka na nina Kylie, Stace. Ikaw na nga ang naging ate nila ni Sondra, ni Cynthia, ni Fritzie. Sino ang nag-aalaga sa kanila kapag nalasing sa bar? Sino ang naghahatid-sundo sa kanila kapag naglalakwartsa kayo? Sino ang iniiyakan nila tungkol sa mga problema nila? Ikaw, 'di ba?"

She could not understand why her eyes were becoming teary. Was it nostalgia? Because he reminded her of her past with her friends? Was it sentimental pride? Because she could not believe that she had been her friend's rock to lean on?

Was it because Renante was begging her to put their relationship on top priority? Because if that's the case, then it hurts. Because she felt so disappointed that he did not notice that she had been doing that for years? Na sa lalaki niya halos pinaikot ang mundo? Na dumating pa nga sa punto na isinuko niya ang sariling negosyo dahil umaasa siyang pakakasalan na siya nito?

"When will you let them go? When will you let your friends deal with things on their own? Without you? Without your help?"

Stacey blinked. But instead of blinking back her tears, a few drops of them fell on her cheeks. Lalo tuloy siya hindi makaangat ng ulo para saluhin ang titig ni Renante.

"Or maybe, you can't let them be because you are trying to compensate for something."
Naguguluhang nag-angat siya ng tingin dito. Bahagyang nagulat si Renante nang makitang maluha-luha ang kanyang mga mata, pero pinigilan nito ang sarili na punahin ang kanyang hitsura.

"Compensate for what?"

"Well, hindi mo naranasan ang arugain ka ng nanay mo. Kaya ikaw itong nagpapaka-nanay sa mga kaibigan mo."

Nanigas siya sa kinatatayuan.

"Might as well grab this opportunity tonight to clear the air between you and your mother." Pagkasabi niyon ay tumalikod na si Renante at ipinagpatuloy ang pagluluto nito sa kusina.

Tinanaw niya muna ito bago nilapitan. "Please, don't think that our relationship is not important to me."

"That's not what I think. What I am thinking is, can you commit to your commitments?" walang-lingon nitong saad.

"Of course I can," she replied softly.

"Then stay here," anito habang tutok pa rin ang mga mata sa hinahalong sabaw sa kaldero. Kumalat ang aroma ng beef ramen sa buong silid. "Because you committed your evening to be spent here, having dinner with our families. Right?"

"Pero si Kylie..." Tinabihan niya si Renante at pinanood ang ginagawa nito.

"Pauwiin mo na siya. Kausapin mo na lang siya bukas. Or when she's less emotional. Mahirap na. Baka sa iyo niya ibunton ang sisi sa pamomoroblema niya sa Piccollo na iyon."

Stacey held her breath. She remembered something that happened years ago... How she blamed Sondra for everything that happened between her and Renante. Ito ay noong mga panahong hindi pa maayos ang lahat, noong hindi pa siya natututunang mahalin ng lalaki...

Napalingon siya rito. "Problema kay Piccollo? Iyon ba ang iniiyakan niya ngayon?"

"Malamang sa malamang. She likes him, right?"

"P-Paano mo nalaman..." She trailed off. Hindi niya maapuhap kung ano ang tamang itanong sa binata. Paano nito nalaman ang problema ni Kylie ngayon o paano nito nalamang may gusto ito kay Piccollo?

Tinakpan uli ni Renante ang kaldero at hinarap siya nito. "We meet at the cafe near our office every now and then."

"Nang hindi ko alam?" Hindi niya alam kung bakit naiinis siya. Tama ba naman kasi na nakikipagkita sa ibang babae ang boyfriend niya nang hindi niya alam? Kahit kaibigan niya si Kylie, naiinis pa rin siya!

Sinilip naman ni Renante ang isa pang kaldero kung saan nito niluluto ang mga ramen noodles. Bumungad sa kanila ang makapal na usok bago nito hinalo-halo ang laman ng kaldero.

"Hindi pa tayo masyado nagpapansinan noon. Lagi ka ring nasa Gallardo's tuwing shift mo sa trabaho."

Napasimangot siya. "And you're hanging out with Kylie?"

Renante groaned, put on a kitchen glove and opened the oven below the stove. Inilabas nito ang isang tray na may lamang naka-foil na karne. Maingat na inilapag ito ni Renante sa counter bago naghanda ng chopping board at kutsilyo.

"It's not hanging out. At first, she went there to see you. Pero wala ka kaya nag-usap kami sa cafe. That friend of yours looks naive but she's sharp. She noticed there's something wrong with me. Nahulaan niya na may problema tayo. And since then, she kept bugging me, begging me over and over again na ayusin na agad natin ang problema natin. She kept suggesting solutions, like dreamy dates and romantic surprises para magkabati tayo."

Bahagyang nalaglag ang kanyang panga sa mga narinig.

"She's obviously desperate to have that American boy. I want to help her, but I just don't have the heart to say that it is hopeless for her because for sure she'll bawl her eyes out. Baka pagtinginan pa kami sa cafe at mapagkamalan na sinasaktan ko siya. Because, truth is, he's definitely not Piccollo's type. He likes women who have guts and tough, not someone soft like her." Maingat nitong binuklat ang foil na nakabalot sa karne gamit ang tong. Lumantad ang mamula-mula at umuusok na karne. Stacey paused and breathed in the savory sweet aroma of butter, meat, rosemary, thyme, and honey."

"Well," harap ni Stacey dito sabay halukipkip habang nakatukod ang tagiliran sa gilid ng counter, "I wasn't your type too before, right? But look at you now."

That made him turn to her and smirk. "Come here you."

Stacey leaned her face close to him and felt his lips gently press against her. Just a simple gesture as that has already sent a warm, fuzzy feeling all over her body. She parted her lips, wanting more kisses... deeper kisses... but he already pulled away. Naunawaan naman niya na kailangan nitong mag-focus sa niluluto.

"I'll tell her to go home then," aniya bago bumalik sa dining room para i-text si Kylie. Habang tumitipa ang text ay hindi niya maiwasang malungkot.

Don't worry, Kylie... I'll be there for you soon. It's just that, everyone here needs me now... Renante, his family, and my mother...

Pagkatapos i-send ang text ay tinulungan na niya ang nobyo sa paghahanda para sa family dinner.

.

.

KYLIE smiled painfully after reading Stacey's text message. Pagkatapos, inilapag nito ang cell phone sa ibabaw ng dashboard at nanatiling tulala. Warm tears kept sliding down her face, her chest still hurts from this feeling that her muscles and ribs were clutching her heart.

"I'm sorry, Kylie. I might not make it tonight. Go home first, girl. Bukas ng gabi, let's meet," she remembered Stacey texted to her while imagining they were being spoken in her friend's voice.

"I understand," mahina nitong bulong bago humugot ng malalim na paghinga. Then, she talked as if Stacey was there to hear her. "But I'll stay here a bit. Para pag-uwi ko mamaya, okay na ako. At least, my mom won't worry."

Gusto nitong i-on ang radyo, o ang music app sa cell phone. Kaya lang, baka matiyempuhan nito ang pagtugtog ng isang malungkot na kanta at lalo lang maiyak. Minabuti na lang ni Kylie na pagtiyagaan ang nakabibinging katahimikan sa loob ng maliit nitong sasakyan.

But the silence did not help her either. She heard something echo at the back of her mind—Piccollo's voice.

Naalala ni Kylie ang pagsadya sa condo unit nito katulad ng nakagawian. Iyon ay para tulungan ang lalaki sa logistics business na inu-pursue nito. Sa oras na makompleto na nila ang mga requirements, puwede nang magpa-register ng business permit ang lalaki. He did most of the paperwork, but he required her help for the logo, social media kit, and the mobile app design—because he wanted to connect with customers through an online app like most logistic companies . . .

His hair was so curly she could not tell when they are messy and when they are neat—they just looked the same—but the rest has changed. He opened the door for her, but instead of his sparkling deep-shade of gray eyes, she saw them hooded and blood-shot. Instead of his bright smile, he welcomed her with a scowl. Instead of papers on his coffee table, she saw bottles of beer.

Kylie swallowed. Pagkatapos tanawin ang loob ng sala ay ibinalik ng dalaga ang tingin sa lalaki. He wore a pair of dull blue gartered shorts and a very wrinkled white undershirt. Hindi nito masabi kung dahil bagong-gising o lasing kaya ganito ang hitsura.

She hugged her tablet close to her chest. "Sorry, I did not call. Schedule kasi natin na mag-work ngayon kaya..." nahihiyang napayuko si Kylie. "Kaya dumeretso ako rito nang walang pasabi."

Pagkatapos ay napaisip ito. 'Ginawa na ba ni Stace ang request ko sa kanya? Kaya... kaya nagkakaganito si Piccollo ngayon?' Hindi pa man nakukumpirma ang tanong na nasa isip, ay parang nadurog ang puso nito. 'I-I've been... I've been so selfish!'

"Sorry... I-I... I can't let you in," Piccollo replied. "It's a mess inside so..."

Tumango lang si Kylie, pero hindi pa rin nag-aangat ng tingin sa lalaki. Pilit na pinapakalma nito ang sarili.

"Kylie," his slurred voice interrupted her thoughts. Napaangat tuloy siya ng tingin dito. "Can we postpone this business first? I... I need to get myself together first, bago natin ito ituloy. Is that okay with you?"

Natigagal ito sa sinabi nito. She did not expect Piccollo to be this calm and composed even when drunk. Lalo tuloy itong kinabahan.

"P-Puwede ko bang malaman kung bakit ipo-postpone natin ito? Gaano katagal natin ito ipo-postpone?"

Nakatitig lang ito kay Kylie, pero parang hindi naman naaapektuhan sa presensya nito o sa mga sinasabi nito dahil nanatiling walang-buhay ang mukha nito.

"I just need to fix myself... I mean," he took in a deep breath, and all of a sudden, a deep shade of torture writ in his eyes. "Kylie, I just need to take a break from everything."

Napayuko si Kylie. 'Of course, he won't tell me what happened. Why would he tell me? I am just a friend of friend... an acquaintance... a workmate...'

"I hope this doesn't ruin any of your plans. I am sorry if, I made you prioritize my business... for nothing."

"It's not for nothing, Piccollo!" angat ni Kylie ng tingin dito, pigil ang maging emosyonal. "Kapag okay ka na, itutuloy pa rin natin ito, 'di ba?"

Gumuhit ang mapait na ngiti sa mga labi nito. "Of course."

Even if he said that, Kylie could feel it deep inside that there was no assurance with that. Wala sa kanilang dalawa ang talagang makapagsasabi kung kailan nila itutuloy ang business... kung kailan sila magkikita ulit.

Kung magkikita pa nga ba sila ulit.

She pursed in her lips and nodded. Kylie could already feel warm tears stinging her eyes, but they refused to fall. Tinitigan nito nang mabuti sa mga mata ang lalaki, naghihintay na bawiin nito ang mga sinabi. Pero hindi iyon nangyari. Tinitigan lang din si Kylie nito na para bang hinihintay na umalis na.

"I'm here... if you need—" she wanted to say 'me,' but she chose not to, "—my help."

He nodded, chuckled bitterly, and patted her head. "I'll call, when I'm ready to resume our business, partner."

Yumuko si Kylie at mariing pumikit. "O-Okay. P-Partner."

"I'm sorry." At ilang minuto itong tinitigan ni Piccollo bago sinaraduhan ng pinto.

Kylie blinked when she was done revisiting the memory of their last meeting. Iniisip nito na napakamalas nito dahil imbes na nakatulog kakaisip ay gising pa rin ito para damahin ang sakit sa dibdib.

"I've been so selfish, that's why I deserve this," hikbi ni Kylie sa sarili habang pinupunasan ng mga palad ang sariling luha. Inangat nito ang tingin sa rearview mirror na nasa itaas ng dashboard ng sasakyan nito para i-tsek ang sariling hitsura.

Pero natigilan si Kylie nang makita ang isang pamilyar na sasakyan na pumarada sa likuran ng kotse nito. Her heart stood still as the headlights turned off, giving her a clearer image of how the car looked like.

It was that gray Aston Martin...

.

.

KALALABAS lang ni Stacey ng kuwarto ni Renante. Ilang minuto pa lang ang nakalilipas bago sila natapos sa paghahanda sa mga pagkain ay sunod-sunod nang dumating ang mga bisita. Unang doorbell pa lang ay itinaboy na siya ni Renante para gumayak sa kuwarto nito.

It took Stacey some time to take a little shower to calm her nerves, and to slip into a red, blouse with loose, wavy sleeves. She kept her tight jeans and white high heels. She combed her short hair nearly, and aesthetically placed some hairpins so hairstrands won't hide her face and its even, natural-looking make-up.

At heto na siya ngayon, patungo na sa dining room. Nasa pintuan pa lang siya ay bumungad na sa kanya si Renante na abala sa pag-asikaso sa pamilya nito. He was guiding them to their seats. Magkakatabi sina Ronaldo, Luz, at Ronnie sa right side ng dining table. Sina Renante, Stacey, at Artemia naman ang pupuwesto sa left side. Nasindihan na rin ang tatlong naglalakihang scented candles sa dining table, kaya kumalat na sa buong silid ang relaxing nitong amoy. It was vanilla with a scent so subtle and clean for the senses. White plates and bowls with silverwares were already arranged on the table. Kasalukuyang nakataob pa ang mga wine goblets na katabi ng nakatayong tall glasses.

"How's the trip?" kumusta ni Renante sa mga magulang nito.

"Quite far, but that gave us some time to grab this," abot ni Ronaldo sa isang paperbag na may label ng kilalang wine brand.

Renante accepted the paper bag before his father seated on his seat. "Thank you for this. But the wine will be on the house, for tonight."

"No problem. That's a gift naman, hijo," anito.

Stacey could not hide her smile. Ronaldo smiled slightly but he seemed to be in a very pleasant mood. Maging si Luz na nakasuot ng puti nitong dress ay may maliit na ngiti sa mga labi kahit nasa mga mata nito ang kaba. Ronnie was the most nonchalant of the three, but she caught him scan the whole table a couple of times—as usual, judging his environment already. She was glad that he did not say anything though.

"Hi, Stacey," bati sa kanya ni Ronaldo kaya napunta sa kanya ang tingin ng mga nasa silid. "You look great.

"Thank you," she smiled shyly. "Good evening po sa inyo."

"Good evening," parehong sambit ng mag-asawa pero hindi sabay. Si Ronnie naman ay ngumiti lang sa kanya.

Then here comes another doorbell. Sumipa tuloy ang kaba sa kanyang dibdib.

"Oh,Artemia's here," Luz smiled, which made her more nervous.