"Bid for me, please?" Mia coughed. "Kung 'di lang talaga masama 'yong pakiramdam ko, ako na mismo ang magbi-bid. I already promised Tita Stella na magbi-bid ako para makapag-donate sa gusto niyang charity."

"Tita mo 'yong nagpapa-bid?" Ken's voice softened. Alam niyang maldita in sheep's clothing ang step-aunt ni Mia. Alalang-alala ni Ken 'yong araw na nagpunta siya sa bahay nila Mia para gumawa ng project no'ng high school pa sila.

Stella welcomed Ken and Lily as if she was the most accommodating lady in Ainsworth Park. She even baked for them the most delicious chocolate chip cookies that Kendra had ever tasted. Galing sa banyo si Ken nang marinig niyang pinapagalitan si Mia ng tita nito.

"At sinong nagsabi sa 'yong pwede kang magdala ng mga kaibigan mo sa pamamahay ko?" Halata ang pagkairita sa boses ni Stella. Fearing that the older lady would physically hurt her timid friend, Ken quickly increased the weight of her footsteps, successfully drawing attention to herself as she showed her face at the kitchen's doorway.

"Oh, sorry! I'm kinda lost in your huge house. Where's the living room again?" Ngumiti si Ken at ngumiti rin sa kanya ang tita ni Mia.

"It's just down the hallway, sweetie," sagot ni Stella gamit ang matamis nitong tinig. Mabilis nitong isinara ang nakataas na palad pero nakita na iyon ni Ken. "Samahan mo na lang siya, Mia."

Nakita ni Ken ang buntong-hininga ng kaklase niya. Mia mouthed a thank you to the girl who saved her from a stinging slap.

"Sige na nga." Ken sighed. "And you specifically want me to bid on Tristan? Bakit?"

"Uhm." Mia paused. Kung gusto lang naman talagang mag-donate ng tita nito, bakit kailangang si Tristan pa? "Gusto mo bang kay Sage na lang mag-bid?"

"So how much are you willing to bid for Tristan?" mabilis na sagot ni Ken, completely ignoring Mia's suggestion. Tristan it is.

"Just win."

* * *

It was actually Mia's idea to trick Kendra into bidding for Tristan. He was also tricked into being an auctioned date pero hindi na kinwento ni Tristan ang eksatong pangyayari. As promised, tinutulungan ni Mia ang binatang pumorma kay Ken or Selene, as he fondly called her.

Mia was also invited to this event pero pinili niyang hindi dumalo para magkaroon ng excuse na ipa-bid kay Kendra ang lalaking matagal niya nang hinahangaan, knowing that he isn't ever going to like her the way he liked her dear friend. That hurt. Like, a hell of a damn lot.

The first part of the plan was successful. Nanalo si Ken sa pagbi-bid kay Tristan at ngayon ang itinakdang date. Mia said she'd treat Kendra to dinner for the favor and they would happen to meet Tristan at the restaurant, completely by chance—or at least, in Kendra's perspective. Iimbitahan niyang sumabay si Tristan sa kanila at pasimple siyang aalis para magkaroon ng alone time ang dalawa. It should've been easy to execute if things just went as planned.

Maaga siyang dumating sa restaurant at nandoon na rin si Tristan. She sat across from him as they waited for Kendra.

"Okay ka lang?" Mia asked with a raised eyebrow as she eyed Tristan who was tight-lipped and staring at the door while drumming his fingers on the table.

"To be honest, para akong sasabak sa finals match," he said as he shifted his gaze towards Mia. "What if she hates me?"

She pursed her lips, pretending to think. "Hmm. Yeah, she probably hates you."

"What, bakit naman?" Tristan's fidgeting increased.

Ngumisi ang dalaga. "Joke lang, masyado kang tense."

Huminga nang malalim si Tristan. "Pinapakaba mo pa ako lalo. Tingnan mo, pinataas mo pa heart rate ko." Inilahad nito kay Mia ang palapulsuhan.

Nawala ang ngisi ni Mia. "Huh?" Are you asking me to touch you?

"Check my pulse para ma-guilty ka," he said, sporting a lopsided smile.

She reached for his wrist and felt his pulse. She used her other hand to feel her own pulse. 'Di na siya nagulat nang maramdamang bumibilis din ang pulso niya.

"Mine's too fast, right?" He then reached for Mia's wrist and pressed his thumb on her artery. Nagsalubong ang kilay ng binata. "Parang mas mabilis pa 'yong pulso mo kaysa sa 'kin. Are you okay?"

Nilihis niya ang tingin mula kay Tristan. Suddenly, the table became a lot more interesting. "Ah, ano kasi—"  Her phone beeped and she quickly grabbed it to read the text message. Lapit na ko, sorry late.

"Malapit na raw si Ken," she said.

Tristan's eyes lit up and a smile quickly formed on his lips, 'yong kita ang ngipin at labas ang dimple. Mia felt his grip on her wrist loosen.

"So do I look okay?" Tristan asked.

Mia nodded. "Kailan ba hindi?"

He bit his lip, as if holding back a smile. Nagawi ang mga mata ni Tristan sa likod ni Mia at lumaki ang ngiti nito. Lumingon si Mia at nakitang kakapasok lang ni Kendra sa restaurant. She hadn't noticed them yet as she was preoccupied with a phone call.

It was time to proceed with their plan. Tumayo si Tristan. "I'll be back in ten minutes."

"Alright. Kasya na ang ten minutes para masabi ko kay Ken lahat ng flaws mo."

Tristan's eyes grew wide. Para talagang trinaydor siya. "Wha—"

"Kasya ang ten minutes kasi wala ka namang flaws." Mia chuckled.

"Napakabolera naman ng wing girl ko," he replied after a sigh of relief. "'Yaan mo, may free meal ka rin sa 'kin."

* * *

Nagpa-practice ng ngiti si Tristan habang naghuhugas ng kamay. 'Di siya umaasang magho-holding hands sila ni Selene pero grabe na kasi 'yong pagpapawis ng mga palad niya. Magkaka-impromptu date sila ng crush niya and this time, sigurado na siyang si Selene na halos limang taon niyang hinahangaan. He did a last once-over on his reflection before stepping out of the restroom.

Malapit na siya sa iniwan niyang table nang mapansing isa lang ang nakaupo doon kaya binilisan niya ang lakad. "Mia? Nasaan si Kendra?"

He took a seat across Mia who looked at him apologetically before passing on her phone to him.

Tiningnan niya 'yong phone at nakabukas sa messaging app kung saan naka-display ang huling text ni Kendra. Hindi ako makakapunta, Mia. Sorry talaga, last minute ko nang nasabi. May medical emergency si Lily and I need to go to Tagaytay ASAP. Ako na lang manlilibre next time.

Tristan's face fell as he sighed.

"Tristan, I'm sorry."

"Mia." He managed to muster a smile at her. "Wala kang kasalanan. It's no one's fault, actually."

She exhaled. "Okay... Alam ko lang kasing excited ka para dito at ginastusan mo pa 'yong auction."

"Sa totoo lang, ikaw ang mas nag-effort para dito. At para naman sa charity 'yong auction na 'yon, I don't regret spending that amount. Besides, I'm sure na may iba pang chance para makaporma ako kay Kendra. You'll still help me, right?"

"Oo naman," sagot ni Mia nang may kasamang matipid na ngiti. Nagsimula itong tumayo. "Mas gagalingan pa natin magplano next time para siguradong tuloy ang date mo. See y—"

He suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Wait, sa'n ka pupunta?"

"Umalis na si Ken, ano pang gagawin ko dito?" she asked, looking confused.

"I'm treating you to a meal, 'di ba? Or gusto mo bang lumipat ng restaurant?"

"Pero hindi successful 'yong plano ko."

"That's irrelevant. Totoo 'yong effort mo. So sit down and order whatever you want," he said, handing her the menu.

* * *

"I guess we should plan your next move," Mia said as she twirled her pasta. "May ideas ka ba?"

Tristan nodded. "Nahuli ang team ni Kendra na may ginagawang kalokohan sa office namin. Instead of pressing charges, we agreed that they'll just do some community service. Pwede akong sumama doon pero hindi ko pa alam kung ano ang eksaktong ipapagawa sa kanila."

"How about a feeding program in an orphanage?" Mia said. "Tapos pwedeng makipaglaro kayo sa kids pagkatapos. Para naman ma-flex mo 'yong toe bounce mo."

"Wow, you know what a toe bounce is?" Tristan sounded genuinely surprised.

"Oo naman. Legit football fan kaya ako," sagot ni Mia. And I know that it's your favorite exhibition trick kasi legit Tristan fan ako. Sumubo siya para iwasang masabi ang iniisip niya.

"I can teach you if you want—" Biglang tumigil si Tristan at napangiti. "May sauce ka sa pisngi."

Agad na yumuko si Mia para itago sa view ng binata ang kadugyutan niya. She started to scramble for a table napkin. Hiyang-hiya siya pero wala siyang mahanap na ipampupunas.

She suddenly felt fingers raising her chin and her eyes met Tristan's as she looked up. "Masarap ba na nainggit pa 'yang pisngi mo?" he said, chuckling as he wiped the sauce away with his own handkerchief.

And just like that, her heart started racing again. Ikaw, masarap, she thought.

"Mia, you're here! You didn't tell me you were dating someone."

Sabay silang napalingon ni Tristan. An alluring lady in her early thirties was standing beside their table, dressed in designer wear from head to toe.

Napalitan ang dahilan ng mabilis na pagtibok ng puso niya. Her anxiety manifested in the form of an uncomfortable pit in her gut. Lumunok si Mia. "Tita Stella, you're back..."