CHAPTER 26 - BLACK AND MAROON

As I set foot on the campus, the whole Arrionians are alive. Kahit saan ako lumingon, may mga studyante na either abala sa pag-set up ng booths, naglalakad habang may hawak na milk tea, o nagtatawanan sa tabi ng stage kung saan may nagpa-practice ng performance.

The fairgrounds were decorated with black and maroon banners, and halos lahat ng booths may balloons, fairy lights, o tarpaulins with huge fonts announcing kung ano'ng ino-offer nila. The scent of takoyaki, barbecue, at milk tea filled the air.

Ang daming tao. Lahat sila may sariling mundo. A group of freshmen ran past me. Nagtatawanan, may bumibili ng food, at ang iba ay nag-aabot ng flyers.

Habang naglalakad ako sa loob ng open grounds, kung saan nakaayos na ang mga student organization booths, isa lang ang naiisip ko.

Gusto ko nang umuwi.

Nandito'yung physical body ko, oo, pero 'yung utak ko, 'yung sarili ko, wala. I barely slept kagabi, pero hindi dahil sa excitement. Sobrang bigat lang ng katawan ko.

Mabilis akong umatras, umiwas sa kumpulan ng mga tao. I adjusted the strap of my bag and kept my head low habang naglalakad sa gitna ng crowd, hoping no one would notice how exhausted I looked.

I just kept walking. The moment I stepped into the TVOA office, nilapag ko ang bag ko sa upuan, pero hindi ako umupo.

Last week lamang ang huling punta ko rito pero parang ang dami nang nangyari. Sa isang sulok, tambak ang mga folio na ire-release ngayong fair. Sa kabilang banda naman ay parang ginawang tambakan ng mga ginamit nila para sa pagset-up ng booth.

Malinis ang mga desks, except sa desk ko. May ilang naiwan pang drafts at sticky notes. Sandali akong napatulala, parang hinihila ako ng table. I just wanted to lay my head on the desk and disappear.

Pumikit ako sandali, hinihiling na pwede kong iwanan dito ang sarili ko pero hindi pwede. Kailangan ko silang harapin. Kailangan kong harapin ang mundo kahit hindi ako okay. Hindi iyon hihiNto para sa akin—hindi ang oras, hindi ang mga tao sa paligid ko.

Pinilit ko ang sarili kong huminga ng malalim, at lumabas ng office bago pa ako tuluyang lamunin ng pagod.

The Black & Maroon Fair took over the entire campus, parang street market iyon sa central walkway. Sa may unahan, malapit sa event stage, nagkukumpulan ang food stalls. A little further in, nandoon ang student organization booths. Nasa mismong bungad at nakaabang naman sa lahat ng papasok ang booth namin.

Pagdating ko sa booth, nakita ko agad sila—Ciqa, Ynigo, Florissa, ang iba pang TVOA members, maging si Vash ay naroon rin. Halos lahat sila may hawak na portfolio at nagdidistribute. Ang iba ay binibilang ang stocks, ang mga trainees ay tinatawanan ang sablay na printing sa ilang pages.

Makalat ang booth pero in a way na halatang may ginagawa. Stacks of portfolios were scattered on the table, some still wrapped in plastic, others already being handed out to students who stopped by. May mga posters na nakadikit sa harapan ng booth, announcing the release of the fair edition, at may fairy lights na nakasabit sa gilid ng tent, giving the space a warm glow despite the daylight.

Sa likod, may isang whiteboard na puno ng post-it notes at reminders. Schedules. Assignments. Instructions para sa mga trainees. Dati, ako ang madalas magsulat doon, ngayon, halos wala na akong idea kung ano na ang mga nakalista ro'n.

Ilang buwan naming pinagtrabahuhan 'yung portfolio na 'yon. Pero habang pinagmamasdan ko silang lahat...'yung saya nila, 'yung gaan ng atmosphere... hindi ko maramdaman 'yung dapat kong maramdaman.

"Nand'yan na si Rayne!"

Si Ynigo ang unang nakapansin sa pagdating ko. Ibinaba niya ang buhat ng mga folio, ngumiti siya sa akin saka kumaway.

Sabay-sabay na napatingin sa akin sina Ciqa. Tumayo siya mula sa upuang kinauupuan niya at mabilis na lumapit, hawak-hawak pa rin ang isang portfolio.

"Huy, Rayne! Sa wakas, andito ka rin! Kanina ka pa namin iniintay."

Nakangiti siya, excited. Gano'n din sina Florissa at yung ibang trainees. Kumaway rin sa akin si Vashnee.

I should smile back.

"Hey," I said, hoping they didn't notice how empty I sounded.

Lumakad kami papalapit sa booth. Sa gilid, si Ynigo ay abala sa pagsasalansan ng mga bagong bukas na boxes, habang si Florissa naman ay nakikipag-usap sa ilang estudyante na interesado sa TVOA.

Ciqa guided me on how things were going. Kung paano na-distribute ang portfolios, kung paano nila inayos ang stocks, at kung paano hinati ang mga natitirang kopya para siguradong may maiiwan pa para sa last day ng fair.

Bahagya akong nakaramdam ng hiya, bilang associate editor ng team. Dapat ako ang nag-aasikaso ng lahat ng ito, ako ang nagma-manage, ako ang nangunguna. But instead, ako pa ang ginaguide niya.

"Kanina pa rin ang daming dumadaan dito, mostly mga alumni. Tapos 'yung ibang freshmen, tuwang-tuwa kasi ngayon lang nila nalaman na may ganito pala tayo every year," kwento niya habang inaayos ang nakatiklop na listahan sa kamay.

Tinapik ni Vashnee ang balikat ko saka masigla akong sinalubong. "Kumusta, Rayne?! How's the pub going? I'm really glad na na-push through n'yo ni Nash 'yung folio na naiwan ko. Pasensya na talaga, hindi na kinaya ng time."

"Okay lang, Vash." I tugged at the corners of my lips, forcing them into something that resembled a smile. Pero kahit anong pilit kong ipakita na okay lang ako, ramdam kong hindi ito umabot sa mga mata ko. Alam kong halata, lalo na kay Ciqa, nang sandali siyang tumigil para sukatin ako ng tingin.  "It was Nash's idea." I added saka umiwas ng tingin.

His name felt foreign on my tongue. I said it too fast like if I let it linger for too long, baka may makita silang emosyon na pilit kong itinatago.

Vashnee grinned. "Sabi na nga ba. Nash has always been reliable."

I nodded, but my grip on my ID lace tightened.

Hindi ko siya nakita nang dumating ako. Gusto ko sanang tanungin kung nasaan siya, pero natatakot ako dahil baka kapag hinanap ko siya, dumating siya.

"Rayne, nakapagtake home ka na ba ng copy?" tanong ni Ciqa.

I shook my head. "Mamaya na lang siguro."

Wala pang ilang minuto, dumagsa ulit ang mga estudyante sa harap ng booth, karamihan ay humihingi ng kopya o nag-iwan ng inquiries tungkol sa org recruitment. Ciqa and the others fell into their usual rhythm—answering questions, passing out copies, joking around in between. I let myself fade into the background, watching them move.

Florissa called out for help handling the student a copy of the portfolio. Dumagsa doon sina Vash. Sa gilid, may trainee na nag-aayos ng loose papers, at si Ciqa naman ay abala sa paglilista ng mga natitirang stocks. The entire booth was moving everyone had a role, and everyone had something to do.

And yet, I stood there, feeling like a guest in my own team.

"Tapos na 'yung pila," Ynigo muttered, stretching his arms bago kinuha ang natitirang stack ng folios. "Sakto, pabalik na raw si Nash. Nakabili na siya ng lunch."

Ciqa barely reacted, masyadong abala sa paglista ng natitirang folios, panay ang guhit ng ballpen sa checklist niya. Si Floriza naman, nakatungo pa rin habang nakikipag-usap sa isang estudyante, tumango lang nang hindi man lang nag-angat ng tingin.

It didn't matter for them but for me... Muntik ko nang mabitawan ang hawak kong ballpen. Parang bigla akong kinapos ng hininga. Walang nakapansin noon. So I didn't think they will notice if I slip away now.

"Lalabas lang ako sandali." I said too quickly, already stepping back before anyone could stop me.

Yet I saw Ynigo glance up, brow furrowed, but I was already stepping back. Ciqa lifted her head as if about to ask where I was going, but I didn't give her the chance.

Ang ingay ng fair na kanina ko pa naririnig, unti-unting lumabo hanggang sa wala na lang akong marinig kundi ang sariling pintig ng puso ko.

Dumaan ako sa gilid ng booth, dodging a passing student. The festival crowd was bigger now, making it easier to slip through unnoticed.

At least, that was what I thought.

But someone called out, offering promo prices for a tattoo. It's someone familiar from a nearby booth. He waved in my direction. Hindi ko na tinignan kung sino. Nakayuko akong naglakad para hindi mapapansin ng iba, so that at least if they saw me, I'd reason out I didn't see them.

I just needed to go—

"Rayne."

I stopped.

A shadow loomed in front of me, blocking my way. I didn't even have to look up to know who it was. But I did. At pag-angat ng paningin ko, I saw Nash standing on my way.

Hawak niya ang isang plastic bag, halatang kakabili lang ng pagkain. Nakalawit nang bahagya ang ID lanyard niya, nakatabingi, parang minadali lang na isabit bago bumalik. May mga hibla ng buhok na nagulo, marahil dahil sa helmet niya o baka dahil lang sa hangin.

"Kanina ka pa?" tanong niya.

Mabilis akong tumango. I made the mistake of meeting his eyes for a second.

Nakapwesto nang maayos ang itim niyang salamin, pero hindi nito naitago ang lungkot na dumaan sa mga mata niya ng matagpuan noon ang mga mata ko.

Doon ko lang napansin kung gaano kaingat ang paraan ng pagtitig niya. Parang may hinahanap, parang may gustong sabihin, pero hindi sigurado kung paano magsisimula.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa booth sa likuran ko bago siya muling nagsalita.

"Kumain ka na ba?"

Maliit na bagay. Normal na tanong. Dapat madali lang sagutin.

Pero sa hindi ko maipaliwanag na dahilan, parang may bumara sa lalamunan ko..

Dati, hindi niya kailangang magtanong. Dati, siya ang unang nagbibigay sa akin ng pagkain kahit hindi ko hinihingi. I didn't know if I was supposed to wait for him to offer, like before, or say yes so he didn't have to.

"I need to go," mahina kong sabi.

At kahit hindi ko pa natatapos ang sentence, umatras na ako.

I saw it. Ang pagbabago sa mukha niya. The way his lips parted slightly like he was about to say something. The way his brows twitched was barely noticeable but enough for me to know na may gusto siyang itanong.

Pero wala. Walang lumabas na salita.

I turned away before I could hesitate... before I could think too much about the way he looked at me like he was still trying to figure out what went wrong.

Lumakad ako palayo, hindi alam kung saan pupunta. Hindi ako nag-abala pang lumingon, hindi ko rin tinandaan kung anong direksyon ang tinatahak ko. Basta makalayo lang.

The noise of the fair blurred into the background, becoming nothing more than a distant hum. Bumilis ang hakbang ko, trying to focus on anything or anywhere... just to keep myself from thinking.

Damn it. My eyes were starting to water. I inhaled sharply, blinking fast. Okay na. Wala na ako ro'n.

I shifted my bag on my shoulder, trying to ground myself, when a loud clatter snapped me back just in time to see a large LPG tank wobbling dangerously in front of me. My breath hitched—I was about to collide straight into it.

But before I could react, a hand gripped my arm and pulled me back.

"Teka, teka—" a voice said, firm but not harsh.

The sudden force sent me stumbling a step backward, just as something crashed onto the pavement. I turned, eyes widening when I saw the large standee that had nearly fallen right where I had been standing.

Napaawang ang labi ko sa realization. That was close. And that was when I finally looked at the arm of the person who had stopped me.

Napahinto ako. Hindi dahil sa kung sino ang nasa harapan ko, kundi dahil sa nakita ko sa braso niya.

A tattoo. Hindi maliliit na simbolo lang pero para iyon isang dagat... waves, dark and intricate, flowing across his forearm. The lines curled at his wrist, stretching up, disappearing under the sleeve ng uniform niya. Parang may sariling buhay ang disenyo na gumagalaw kasabay ng bawat kilos niya.

It took me a second before I followed the ink up to his face... At doon ko lang siya tuluyang nakilala.

Kygan. It was Kygan Calidro.

"You okay?" tanong niya, still holding onto my arm.

Nakatayo siya sa harapan ko, effortlessly relaxed, pero may bahagyang kunot sa noo habang nakatingin sa akin. Hindi kasing gaslaw ng mga kasama niya mas put together, mas composed—kahit pa may malaking tattoo na gumapang sa balat niya.

Hindi ko 'yon napansin noong una ko siyang nakita noong Foundation Day, noong literal na nagkabanggaan kami sa gitna ng hallway.

And now, here we are again. Binitawan na niya and braso ko. He raised an eyebrow and a slow smirk formed on his lips. 

"Hindi ka pa rin tumitingin sa daan?" he mused, crossing his arms. "Lucky ka ngayon, wala kang bitbit na kape. Hindi ka mababasa."

That made me pause. His shirt. Hindi ko naibalik.

"Oh." I blinked. "Yung shirt mo..."

Kygan tilted his head slightly as if trying to recall. Then he chuckled. "Right. Hindi mo na binalik."

"Uh, sorry?" I said, boredly.

Napatingin ako sa booth na muntik ko nang mabangga—isang setup mula sa Political Science Society. It was a pop-up booth, may mga display ng temporary tattoos at stickers. Unlike the other student org booths that looked structured and neatly arranged, ito ay mukhang mas relaxed, mas chill. Instead of banners and tarpaulins, may mga nakasabit na tela with abstract patterns, parang hippie or boho style. Nasa may dulo iyon ng central pathway nakapwesto, malayo sa may stage, sa lilim ng isang malaking acacia tree.

Some of the guys manning the booth were lounging around, nakaupo sa mismong table o kaya naman ay nakatambay sa gilid, casually chatting with students who passed by. 

He laughed, shaking his head. "No big deal. Akala ko nga itinapon mo na."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course not."

"Good. Akala ko masyado ka nang guilty kaya hindi mo ako matignan kanina."

Kumunot ang noo ko. I opened my mouth to respond, but for a second, I didn't know what he meant.

"Kanina pa kita tinatawag, pero nakayuko ka lang. Tapos may lumapit sa'yo, kaya akala ko hindi mo narinig."

"Oh," I mumbled. So he was the one who called.

"Sinusubukan mo ba akong iwasan?" he asked laughing, raising an eyebrow at me.

I sighed, too tired to play along. "Feeling mo naman ang laki ng impact mo sa buhay ko," I said chuckling.

"Eh kasi, technically, naghiraman na tayo ng damit. I think that makes us, like... at least 5% friends," he shot back, smirking.

I stared at him blankly. "5%?"

He shrugged. "Depende kung kailan mo balak ibalik 'yung shirt."

I shook my head instead. For the first time that day, my lips twitched. "I didn't know may ranking system ka sa friendship."

"Sige, kung hindi mo ko iniiwasan, sama ka na lang sa'kin." He gestured toward the fairgrounds behind him.

I let out a dry laugh. "Feeling mo naman gusto kitang kasama."

"Campus journalist ka, 'di ba? Hindi ba dapat nag-eexplore ka sa event na ganito?"

Bumuntong-hininga ako, too tired to argue, too drained to find a better excuse. I didn't want company. I didn't want to be dragged anywhere. But somehow, I found myself walking beside him anyway.

We walked without a real destination. Kygan led the way, moving past booths, food stalls, and groups of students taking pictures or laughing over overpriced fair snacks. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako sumama. Wala naman akong balak gumala. Pero wala rin naman akong matibay na dahilan para tumanggi.

So I let him. Hindi ko siya masyadong kinausap. Hindi rin naman siya nagreklamo. Minsan lang siyang magsasalita, kapag may nakita siyang booth na interesting o may iniiwasan kaming estudyanteng nais niyang taguan.

It was... surprisingly bearable. The Black and Maroon Fair.

Kanina lang, everything felt too loud. Too much. But now, the noise wasn't suffocating.

It was just noise. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba kay Kygan o dahil malayo ako sa TVOA... sa mga taong nais kong takasan.

We ended up near the Student Council's quarter, a sectioned-off space in one of the buildings near the main event grounds. Akala ko kung saan lang niya ako dadalhin, but when he answered a call halfway through our stroll, binilisan niya ang lakad niya pero hindi na niya ako iniwan.

"Tara," he said, pushing open one of the doors. "Saglit lang 'to."

I stepped inside, expecting the usual air-conditioned, neatly arranged room that student councils were known for. But instead, the first thing I saw was a small, cramped space at the back—clearly not part of the main office.

May mga nakasalansan na lumang chairs, boxes of unused school materials, at isang mismatched table set na mukhang pinagtagpi-tagpi lang mula sa iba't ibang classroom. Dito naka-base ang Organization of Student Volunteers.

Unlike the Student Council members who had proper desks and boardrooms, sila, may isang maliit na sulok lang sa opisina na ito.

Kygan walked in like it was the most normal thing in the world. He casually greets a few people before grabbing a clipboard from one of the boxes. I watched as he quickly scanned the contents, gave out instructions, and handled everything like it was second nature to him.

Student volunteers sila. Hindi sila binabayaran. Hindi sila required. Pero kita sa kilos niya na alam niya ang bigat ng responsibilidad niya.

Pagsilip ko sa kabilang bahagi ng kwarto, doon ko naman nakita ang Student Council President—si Yiara. She was standing near the window, phone pressed to her ear, her other hand rubbing her temple. Even from afar, I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her brows knit together as she spoke.

I used to think she wasn't right for the position. Tahimik kasi siyang masyado. Hindi bumaboses sa Board of Trustees meetings. Hindi kasing authoritative ng ilang past presidents.

I was one of those people who judged her. Pero habang pinapanood ko siya ngayon—nakapikit saglit, pinakikiramdaman ang pagod, bahagyang sumasandal sa bintana na parang saglit lang humihinga—hindi ko alam kung paano ko naisip na madali lang ang trabaho niya.

Maybe people expected her to always be louder. Firmer.

Pero sa nakikita ko ngayon, Yaira was just a student. Like me. Like us. Like Jace.

The way she stood there exhausted but holding it together, isolated despite being in a room full of people—reminded me too much of him.

Jace used to look like that.

Pagod, pero hindi nagrereklamo. Pinanghihinaan, pero hindi nagpapahinga.

Laging matatag sa harap ng iba, pero mag-isa lang humaharap sa bigat ng posisyon niya kapag wala nang nakatingin.

Maybe she was struggling too. And just because she didn't have a voice loud enough for everyone to hear—didn't mean her struggles weren't real. Didn't mean she wasn't trying. And maybe, I was wrong to think she wasn't enough.

Just like they were wrong about Jace.

Kygan finished his task quickly, at bago pa ako makapagtanong tungkol sa sadya niya doon, palabas na ulit kami.

Tahimik kaming naglakad papunta sa susunod na building, pero hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong magsalita.

"Did you vote for Yiara?" I said, breaking the silence.

Kygan glanced at me, curious. "Uh-huh. Are you one of those who doubted her?"

I shrugged. "Surpricingly, yes." Napatuloy ako sa paglalakad. "Minsan ang dali pa lang husgahan 'yung mga taong nasa posisyon."

Tumahimik siya saglit. Then, with a small laugh, he shook his head. "Mahirap kaya 'yan, 'no? You step up, and suddenly, ikaw na 'yung may kasalanan kapag may nagkamali."

There was something in his voice. It sounded tired.

I glanced at him. "I didn't experience it first hand. But I am not blind."

He scoffed. "Student volunteer ako," he said as if he also agreed. "Kahit anong gawin namin, hindi kami sapat. We're just—" He gestured vaguely at himself. "students na gusto lang tumulong pero palaging pabibo and tingin nila. May mas may alam. Mas magaling."

I didn't reply right away.

Alam ko 'yung pakiramdam na 'yon. To give everything and still be questioned.

To work behind the scenes, only to be dismissed as someone who just wanted attention.

"Minsan, 'yung effort na binibigay mo, hindi naman talaga para sa validation ng iba," I murmured. "Pero kahit ganon, masakit pa rin 'pag hindi nila nakikita."

Kygan let out a breath, something close to a laugh but heavier.

"Naabutan mo ba 'yung hazing incident three years ago?" I asked suddenly.

Kygan's steps slowed down slightly. "Oo."

Alam kong alam niya. Pero hindi ko gustong ipahalata na alam kong isa siya sa mga biktima, ayon na rin kay Ynigo

So instead, I said, "I had a best friend. He was a student leader, too."

Kygan didn't interrupt.

"He was blamed for that," I continued. "Sinisi siya ng school, ng mga tao. He lost everything."

I didn't say Jace's name. Pero ramdam kong naintindihan ni Kygan.

Dahan-dahang tumango si Kygan, saglit na ibinaling ang tingin sa malayo. "I read the article," he admitted. "The one where they blamed him."

Napahinto ako saglit. "Nabasa mo?"

"Yeah." He sighed. "And I never blamed him."

I looked at him.

"We never did," he added, voice even. "It was our fault too."

For a second, hindi ako nakapagsalita. The words hit differently, hearing them from someone who had actually been there.

"I never got to hear that before," I admitted.

Kygan glanced at me again, "Well," he said, his voice lighter than before. "Now you have."

Tahimik akong napatingin sa malayo, wishing Jace could hear that too. Sana kahit nasaan man siya ngayon, alam niyang may mga taong hindi siya sinisi.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Kygan murmured.

I swallowed hard, "Thanks."

For a moment, we just walked.

"Diba nasa TVOA ka na?" Kygan asked, tilting his head. "Do you know who wrote that article?"

My breath hitched. For a second, my fingers twitched, like my body was reacting before I could even think. I could say his name. Right here, right now. Pero para saan?

I slowly shook my head. "I was looking for the one who published it. The one who approved it."

Kygan nodded, taking that in. "The editor-in-chief?"

"Yeah."

Then, to my surprise, he said, "Is it Ate Madelle that you're looking for?"

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad. "Kilala mo siya?"

He shrugged. "She donated before sa student volunteers. Tapos sumasali rin siya sa mga outside school affairs namin. So yeah, kind of, kilala."

"Do you know kung saan ko siya pwedeng makita or kausapin? Any social media?"

Kygan thought for a second, then casually said, "Actually, after this, I'm going to her. May ipamimigay kasi siyang goods para sa student volunteers. She was also a Political Science major before she graduated. Kaya medyo close kami. Gusto mong sumama?"

My lips parted slightly. "Can I?"

"Okay. Let's go." He grinned. "I mean—okay," he chuckled, "Mamaya pa pala. Sorry excited."

"Balik ka na?" Kygan asked as we stepped out of the building.

"Yeah. Lunch break's almost over."

"Hatid na kita. Para 'di ka na maligaw ulit." he said.

Napabuntong-hininga ako pero wala nang sinabi. He walked beside me, unbothered. Talked about random things. And somehow, kahit hindi ako natatawa nang buo, my lips twitched at least once today.

I didn't notice how it happened, but just before we reached the booth with a teasing grin, he nudged my arm. "We enjoyed the fair. So... 10% friends na ba tayo?"

Napailing ako. Napailing, sabay napatawa nang mahina. "Ambilis mo naman mag-rank up."

He shrugged. "Eh—tumawa ka na naman! 15% na 'ko sa friendship ranking mo."

I rolled my eyes. "Ang kulit mo. Tigilan mo nga!"

"Tsaka, teka—" He tapped his chin as if deep in thought. "Magkikita pa tayo mamaya para kay Ate Madelle, 'di ba?"

I blinked. "Yeah?"

"Friends help friends. 20% na agad." He nodded to himself as if it made perfect sense.

This time, I actually smiled. Maliit lang. Saglit lang. Pero alam kong nakita niya.

I scoffed, lightly shoving his arm. "Tama na 'yang ranking mo."

Kygan was still beside me until I felt it. We were being watched.

Halos wala pang isang hakbang pagdating namin sa booth nang maramdaman ko agad ang pagbabago sa atmosphere.

Like the air had thickened.

Ciqa was the first to notice us. Kausap niya si Ynigo but she paused mid-sentence, eyes flickered between me and Kygan, her lips curled like she was already making assumptions.

Ynigo, who had been talking to her, subtly glanced up masking his intrigue. Floriza, didn't say anything, but I caught the way her brows raised ever so slightly.

Nakatayo naman si Nash sa gilid ng booth, hawak and trashbag at nag-aayos ng ilang pinagkainan nila. Sa unang tingin, his stance looked relaxed but his grip on the plastic bag was tight.

His gaze landed on Kygan first. Then, slowly, on me. I swallowed hard, but before I could say anything, Ciqa's voice cut through the tension.

"Well, well, well," she mused, crossing her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "Ikaw yung coffee guy nung foundation da, right?! May bago ba akong hindi alam?"

Napangiwi ako. Damn it, Ciqa.

Kygan, on the other hand, grinned. "30% friends na kami."

"20%" I corrected.

Ciqa blinked. "...Ha?"

"Okay then, 20%" he said, "Friendship ranking 'yan."

Ciqa slowly turned to me, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Friendship ranking? Friends, Rayne?"

"Don't encourage him," I muttered, shaking my head. "Bumalik ka na nga dun, Kygan!"

Kygan just chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender before stepping back. "Fine, fine. See you later."

And just like that, he left completely unaware of the storm he just walked out of. Because the moment he was gone, I felt it. The shift in the air.

The way the colors around me dulled. From the bright, buzzing maroon of the fair to the heavy, suffocating black that settled between me and Nash.

He still hadn't said a word. But I felt him. Felt the way his stare stayed locked at me. And the thing is, hindi naman niya kailangang magsalita.

And when I finally forced myself to meet his eyes again, he just looked at me. Walang ekspresyon. Walang emosyon. Pero may kung anong hindi ko mabasa sa paraan ng pagtingin niya.

His lips parted just the smallest fraction like he was about to speak.

Then, softly, "Rayne—"

That was all it took. I looked away. I couldn't look at him the way I used to. I couldn't look at him without remembering what he had done. I couldn't look at him without remembering what he took from me.

Then, with an almost imperceptible movement, he exhaled.

Short. Shallow.

Like he had just accepted something—something neither of us wanted to say out loud.