❝TO FACE THE SUN'S RAY ❞

"Sit down, class, I have an announcement."

The teacher's voice was orotund, and the students went back to their seats. Kakatapos lang ng ilang subjects, and half of the classes are finished now. Puro long quizzes, activities, and more PETAs ang dumarating dahil malapit na matapos ang first semester niyo, meaning, malapit na rin ang exams. Parang kailan lang ay kaka-enroll mo lang sa school na 'to.

You're still hungover from last night's event. You still can't be settled from the excitement of the news that you received.

"Before you have your first-semester exam, I'll have to ask you, students, first, since the school said that it's voluntary for senior high school." The teacher said.

Nakuha naman agad ang atensyon ng mga estudyante.

"Gusto niyo pa ba ng field trip?"

The teacher asked, and without hesitation, the students answered 'yes'.

Natuwa naman nang bahagya ang guro dahil kahit halos mage-eighteen na ang mga estudyante nito, at kahit abala sa mga bagong bagay na ihahanda sa kanilang susunod na hakbang sa college, nais parin nilang maranasan ang mga kaganapan sa high school.

After all, this is the last year of them being in high school, so why not sulitin na?

"Madali naman pala kausap. Well then, I'll give the permission slips later. The field trip will be after your exams, so less burden sa review days niyo." Sabi naman ng guro.

After the announcement, nagtuloy lang ang klase. Lumipas din ang mga subjects, at agad namang nagdismissal. Discussion and recap ng mga lessons lang ang ginawa, at malamang, activity o short quiz after discussion, but panigurado, long quizzes na next week, also a preparation for the first semester examination.

Pagkalabas mo sa hallway, ang unang bumungad sa'yo ay sina Lexi at Kaycee na naglalakad sa hallway.

"Oh, hi—" You greeted them, as usual, but to your surprise, they just walked past you as if not acknowledging your presence.

You were just left standing there, taken aback. Nakaramdam ka naman ng lungkot at pagkalito.

You asked yourself kung may nagawa ka bang mali, o kung 'yung nangyari kahapon ay ang dahilan.

"Hey, Lexi! Kaycee!" Tawag mo naman. This is one of your fears... when a person ignores you, kahit kaibigan mo pa. Nalilito ka tuwing they give a different treatment, especially when it's a silent treatment, making you think and reflect on what happened before the interaction.

You try to find them and you quickly walk through the corridor until you bumped into a person.

"Ow— Sorry!" You immediately apologized, and you looked up to see that you bumped into Ran.

Your eyes widened, you just bumped into your old crush. You felt a little nervous, but one thing you're settled about is that you felt nothing other than that when you're faced with Ran.

Ran just stood there, almost as if he didn't know what to do, but he stepped back.

"Ran—" You heard a familiar voice calling him, making you look behind.

Kakucho was cut off as he saw you with Ran.

There was an awkward silence between the two of you. Kakucho raises his brow as he looked at you. Ran cleared his throat.

"Gotta go, bro." Ran said as he tapped Kakucho's shoulder and walked past him.

Kakucho then looks at you nonchalantly, and your eyes widened. Agad ka naman nagpaliwanag. "Wait, I don't know how that happened! I was just chasing someone, and I suddenly bumped into Ran—"

"Why are you explaining?" Kakucho asks, cutting you off.

Napaisip ka rin. Oo nga, why are you explaining? Sino ka ba, at sino ba si Kakucho? Ano bang mayroon sa inyo?

You were a bit dumbfounded as you blinked.

Kakucho waits for a response, but as you weren't really responding, he just walks past you and walks away from the corridor.

"Hey!" Tawag mo naman. Puta, galit ba 'to?!

"What?" Lumingon naman din si Kakucho.

"Are you mad?" You ask, placing your hands on your hips.

Kakucho almost laughed at your question. "Why should I be mad?"

"Oh well—" You blinked. He's acting as if he doesn't know!

"Why should I be mad, huh?" He asked once more as he chuckled, stepping forward.

"I'm not in the mood." You rolled your eyes and turned your back to him as you walked away.

Kakucho was still for a moment, then scoffed. Your mood swings are literally quicker than his temper.

"Pst, (Y/N)," Kakucho called.

"What?" You grunted as you looked back with an annoyed expression.

"Siya naman 'yung galit ngayon," Kakucho whispered to himself. "Are you mad?"

"No," you rolled your eyes.

"Well, anyway," you cleared your throat, your expression going contorts into a calm one.

Kakucho blinked and confusedly looks at you.

"About uh, yesterday, thank you. I honestly didn't know how to reply to you properly, I felt overwhelmed by the events. Please tell Mrs. Hann thank you so much! I really wasn't expecting that she's your ninang!" You said, mood changing all of a sudden.

"Yeah, don't worry about it." Kakucho replied, taking note of how your mood changes quickly.

Kakucho is always the type of person who notices something in a person, even if it's a small thing. It's like a mental note for him.

"I'm so annoyed."

You're back in your condo, and you're just sitting at your desk while doing your homework, and at the same time, ranting to your little sister kahit alam mong hindi niya naiintindihan ang mga sinasabi mo.

"Every time good news arrives, bad news replaces it. Literally, I'm so sick of those two bitches." You said as you rolled your eyes.

Na-realize mo naman ang sinabi mo, and you covered your mouth. "Anyway, ignore what I just said."

Aisha is just eating a box of chocolate while sitting on your bed, and watching a movie on her Ipad. She's like an iPad kid na! With those dirty hands on her iPad screen.

"Hey! Take a bath na nga! Don't stain my bed!" You said after looking at your bed to see Aisha there.

You stomped towards her as you clicked your tongue. Aisha is too busy with her iPad! Sa sobrang inis mo, hinablot mo ang unan niya, but as you did so... "I said get out— AHHH!"

Napatili ka nang malakas at nakuha na rin ang atensyon ni Aisha.

"Why are you shouting?"

"There's a roach! EWW! KILL IT, BITCH!" Sigaw mo, at nasa kama mo pa! Sa ilalim ng unan mo! Tumakbo ka naman palayo.

"Call 911 now!" Utos mo kay Aisha habang kinuha ang kaldero at walis.

Aisha is just calm at the side, looking at you in a bored manner, and with an are-you-serious look. 911? Seriously?

"It's just a roach, ate!"

"WELL THEN KILL IT THEN!" Sigaw mo naman.

"Eh... No," Aisha answered, then went back to the bed to get her iPad kahit ang lapit sa ipis.

"Ugh! EWWW! I didn't pay for this unit just to get bugs here!" Inis mong pagkasabi.

"Calm down, ate... Let's just call a cleaner or someone..." Aisha said, hindi mo na narinig ang sinasabi niya since you're too busy watching the roach and trying to kill it.

"Aisha, help me here!" Sigaw mo naman habang dala dala ang vacuum cleaner. Hindi mo rin alam kung bakit vacuum ang kinuha mo pero bahala na. "Aisha—?!"

Lumingon ka naman sa kanya dahil hindi siya sumasagot, but then, hinarap niya sa'yo ang iPad niya at mukhang may ka-facetime siya? Naka on cam pa ang device ni Aisha, tapos nakatutok pa sa'yo habang bitbit mo ang vacuum cleaner, walis, pati kaldero. Nakita mo sarili mo sa camera, at mukha kang kargador dahil sa mga dala mo.

"Hey—!" Agad ka namang yumuko, trying to get out of the camera's frame. "Who is that?!"

"Hello?" The voice spoke in the call, at nanlaki ang mga mata mo dahil sa boses.

"Oh, right, it's Kuya Kakucho. I suppose he can make you calm down. Here, o." Aisha said, moving the iPad to you.

"Wha—?!" Agad mo namang hinablot ang iPad ni Aisha at in-off cam at mute ang call.

"Aisha! Why did you call him?! And tinutok mo pa sa'kin 'yung camera?! I looked so bad there! And how did you know him?!" You gasped.

"He helps me in the club," Aisha nonchalantly said while eating her lollipop. "Ate, I know you want to talk to Kuya Kakucho! You've been literally complaining to me about him since kanina pa! You obviously miss him, so I took the chance to call him for you, duh!"

"I wasn't talking about him!" You retorted.

"Yeah sure..." Aisha side-eyed.

Kahit stepsister mo lang si Aisha, parang magkadugo talaga kayo because of how similar her attitude is to you. Muntik ka nang magalit dahil sa attitude niya, pero bigla mo naalala na gano'n ka rin pala.

"This bitch," you muttered as you grabbed her iPad.

Bago ka nag on cam at mag unmute, inayos mo muna ang buhok mo at syempre change mood agad na parang hindi naging dragonita just one second ago.

"Do I look pretty? Is my hair good? Okay okay, stay back! You're blocking the ring light— Wait give me a chapstick and a lip gloss, my lips are dry— Oh, and also a powder—" Nagmamadaling sabi mo kay Aisha.

Agad namang nagharap ng full body mirror si Aisha sa'yo pati buong makeup na. She definitely understood the assignment.

"Okay done," you said, tossing all the stuff back to Aisha at muntik nalang ay matumba ito.

"Done?" Kakucho spoke from the call.

Nagulat ka naman dito, at agad mong chineck ang facetime. Your heart almost dropped dahil... hindi ka pala naka-mute!

So meaning... he heard what you said... all of them!

Halos gusto mong magpakain sa lupa, at ibato ang iPad kay Aisha.

Kakucho, on the other side of the call, stays silent, waiting for your response. His brows furrowed, but he was holding back his laugh.

"Anyway, Kuya Kakucho, there's a roach here, Ate Helian needs your heeelp!" Aisha shouted on the call dramatically.

Agad mo namang in-end ang call kaagad, at halos matulala ka nalang. You slowly looked at Aisha and your brows scrunch in anger. "AISHAAA!"

Agad namang tumakbo si Aisha paalis habang bitbit ang kanyang iPad.

Ngayon, napaisip ka naman kung pupunta talaga si Kakucho! Hopefully hindi niya narinig ang sinabi ni Aisha.

"Gosh!" Na distract ka naman, at agad kang lumingon sa pwesto kung nasa'n ang ipis, ngunit nawala na ito, at nang tumingin ka sa gilid mo, lumilipad na! "AHHH!"

Tumakbo ka nalang sa banyo at ni-lock ang sarili ro'n habang dala dala ang phone. In-on mo ang switch sa ilaw, at halos magulat ka dahil kasama mo sa loob si Aisha na parang manika na biglang sumusulpot.

"Oh my gosh! This is stressful! Don't you dare open the door! The roach is flying and it's just outside!" Pagbabanta mo naman.

"Okay... I was just pooping, tho'." Sagot ni Aisha, at ngayon mo lang narealize ang amoy. Halos masuka ka nalang dahil kulob sa loob ng banyo, at hindi mo mabuksan ang pintuan.

Nakatayo ka lang sa gilid while on your phone, and you refused to sit on the floor. Hindi mo rin matawagan ang cleaning crew dahil nasa labas ang landline telephone, and hindi mo kabisado ang number. Hell no, lumipad na ang lahat 'wag lang ipis. Ang laki pa ng ipis!

Lumipas ang oras, at hindi mo na rin namalayan... Twenty minutes o thiry minutes ang nakalipas? Hindi mo na rin alam, ngunit may narinig kang nagdoorbell.

"Is it my Shopee order? Holy shit. I have to message the driver! Wait but I have to get it from the lobby tho'..." Sabi mo.

"Ugh whatever... WAIT LANG PO! JUST LEAVE MY PARCEL THERE!" Sigaw mo sa loob ng banyo dahil malapit lang naman ang entrance at bathroom. Ayaw mo ring sumilip dahil baka pagkabukas mo, ang lumilipad na ipis ang sumalubong sa'yo.

Hindi sumagot ang tao. Nahiya ka naman agad. Hala baka hindi pala 'yon'yung shopee mo, baka bisita! 

Suddenly, may nagnotification sa phone mo, and you checked to see a message from Kakucho.

Kakucho:

Your delivery is here, ma'am.

"WHA—?!"

:Helian

HUH

IS THAT U AT THE DOOR

OMG sorry I thought it was my shopee driver

Kakucho:

Yeah lol

I heard what you said eh

Ginawa pakong driver amputa

:Helian

YEAH WELL I CAN'T GO OUT

THERE'S A ROACH

Kakucho:

That's why I'm here? Literally, your sis called me just for a roach

:Helian

AND YOU CAME NAMAN?

Kakucho:

Kakucho is typing...

Yeah, any problem?

Halos tumili ka naman. Napatakip ka nalang ng bibig. He literally drove here just to kill a roach?!

Tumingin ka naman kay Aisha na nakaupo sa toilet bowl, at naglalaro parin sa kanyang iPad. Mahulog sana 'yan sa inidoro.

Charot, no, siya pala ang dahil kung bakit nandito si Kakucho. Hehe thanks sis.

:Helian

WELL damn wait I can't go out

Kakucho:

Just go out

Or I'm going to call for a janitor to kill that roach?

Napaisip ka naman... Kung tatawag si Kakucho ng janitor, edi aalis siya agad? Pero kung si Kakucho ang mismong papatay, papasok pa siya sa unit mo at makikita mo siya?

Well ano pa ba? What do you expect? Si (Y/N) pa ba? Syempre halata naman kung alin ang pipiliin into.

:Helian

NAUR it's fine hehe

I'll open the door na AND U GO INSIDE AND KILL THE ROACH

"Hehehhe..." You giggled at may kasama itong kilig habang hinahampas ang pader. Bobo ka nga sa academics, pero pag dating sa mga ganito, bigla kang tumatalino.

Pati talaga pag dating sa ganito bigla kang tumatapang. Binuksan mo kaagad ang pintuan at diretso na binuksan ang entrance door. Sumalubong naman agad sa'yo si Kakucho na nakatayo sa harapan mo.

Kakucho's brows furrowed. Pansin nito na sobrang pawis ka. He scoffed. "Don't tell me you're inside that bathroom for an hour?"

"Well hurry and kill it!" You grunted.

Pumasok naman kaagad si Kakucho, and he looks around, seeing no cockroach. "Where is it?"

"Uh I don't know... I think it flew away, but I know it's in here!"

You complained. Putangina ngayon ka lang nagdasal sa buong buhay mo na sana makakita ka ng ipis.

"HOLY SHIT IT'S THERE!" Sigaw mo naman, at mukhang narinig nga ang dasal mo, biglang sumulpot ang ipis. Salamat lord.

Hindi nagulat si Kakucho sa ipis, ngunit sa sigaw mo kaya't halos mapayuko ito.

"Grab the broom! Grab the broom! Grab the fucking knife!" You shouted.

Kakucho stayed composed, at napabugtong hininga lang ito. He faced you and grabbed both of your shoulders as he leaned to your height. "Calm down. Chill. The roach won't kill you or anything. Go to your room. I'll kill it. Simple as that, okay?"

Your eyes widened, and you slowly nodded. Ang simple ng sinabi ni Kakucho, pero mukhang malaki ang epekto nito sa'yo. Natulala ka lang sa kinatatayuan mo, at napansin naman ito ni Kakucho.

Kakucho raised a brow as a 'what?'.

"I'm going now— Aisha! Come here!" Agad mong sabi at hinablot si Aisha papuntang kwarto.

Kakucho just shook his head and sighed.

Nang nasa loob na kayo ng kwarto ni Aisha, agad kang tumili at pinaghahampas ang mga unan sa kama.

Aisha just looked at you with a bored look. "O diba, see, ate! And tapos you're mad at me pa. E you're kinikilig nga that Kuya Kakucho is here e.  All thanks to me."

You rolled your eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Oo na. Shut up. I'll just give you money later. Okay?"

"No, I don't want money... I want a new pet at Adopt Me and I'll buy something in my Toca Boca game. Ohh, I want Robux too!" Your sister said.

"The fuck is that," you muttered. "Whatever, yeah."

Saglitan lang, may kumatok sa pintuan, and it must be Kakucho. What the heck, that was quick!

You opened the door and saw Kakucho holding a tissue that is wrapping something.

"EWW! Is that the roach?" You asked.

"Wanna see?" Kakucho asked as he inched the tissue closer to you.

"YUCK— NO! Put that in the trash!"

Kakucho nodded, but then, binato niya sa'yo 'yung tissue!

"AHHH!" Sigaw mo naman at halos maglumpasay ka. That was so unexpected!

"KAKU!" Sigaw mo pa at pinaghahampas ito.

Tumawa lang si Kakucho habang iniilag ang mga hampas mo.

"Hehe," demonyitang tawa ni Aisha sa gilid habang vinivideo-han kayo gamit ang iPad niya.

"I HAAATE YOU!" Dagdag mo pa.

"Tama na, aray—!" Sagot naman ni Kakucho dahil ginawa mo na itong punching bag.

"I'm just kidding! Walang laman 'yung tissue— I already threw the roach— Aray!" Dagdag pa into.

At nang hindi ka pa humihintong maghampas, binuhat ka nalang ni Kakucho sa balikat niya, bringing you somewhere.

"WHA—?!" You gasped. "Where are you taking me?!"

"Sa basura," sagot ni Kakucho.

"What the hell?!"

"Sa basura... to show you that I really threw the roach away. Ayaw mo maniwala, e. Sakit pa ng mga hampas mo." Sabi ni Kakucho.

"Oh," you blinked. Binaba ka naman ni Kakucho, at pinakita nga sa'yo ang patay na ipis sa basura.

"Ew," you whispered, gagging.

Kakucho just shrugged. "Can't believe I drove here just for a fucking roach." He whispered-laugh. He even questioned himself now.

"Well I mean it's a roach!" You retorted. "Anyway, eat dinner na rin here."

Wow, speed.

"No, it's fine—"

"EAT👹."

Kakucho paused and raised his hands. "Chill, alright."

Nagchange naman ang mood mo kaagad at dumiretso sa kusina. Well, Kakucho already went to your condo before, that's why he's familiar with the layout. He just sat at the counter with those tall stools you typically see in a modern kitchen.

"What are you cooking for tonight?" Tanong ni Kakucho.

"The cockroach hehe."

Kakucho's brows furrowed at tinignan ka niya na akala mo nakakita ng multo sa horror movie. "Excuse me what?"

"Salad and chicken curry."

Kakucho just shook his head and turned his attention back to his phone.

"Kuya Kaku, I want robux." Rinig mong sabi ni Aisha nang pumunta ito sa may kusina.

"Aisha!" You scolded her. Inang kapatid 'to! Kung kani-kanino nanghihingi ng robux.

"Robux?" Kakucho furrowed his brows. "Sounds familiar, what's that?'

"It's from Roblox." Aisha said.

"Oh," Kakucho muttered. "I remember it now. My younger cousins play that."

"Yes! So can you get me robux?"

Halos malaglag naman ang panga mo. Saan naman nakakuha ng lakas ng loob si Aisha na manghingi ng robux?

"Aisha— Stop—!"

"Yeah, sure," sagot naman ni Kakucho.

"Are you serious?" You tilt your head as you raise a brow.

"Ikaw? Baka gusto mo rin ng robux?" Biro naman ni Kakucho.

"Do I look like I play that shit?" You grunted as you rolled your eyes and went back to cooking.

"How many robux do you want?" Kakucho asked.

"Hmm... eight hundred only!" Sagot naman ni Aisha habang hinaharap ang kanyang iPad screen kay Kakucho para i-purchase ito.

"How about four thousand?" Kakucho said, obviously spoiling your little sister.

"REALLY?!" Aisha's eyes sparkled. She immediately thought of the things she can buy with those robux!

"Yeah," Kakucho answered. Siya na rin ang nagpurchase sa iPad ni Aisha.

Habang nagluluto ka naman, naririnig mo ang mga pinaguusapan nina Kakucho at Aisha. Is he really serious?! He's buying that much amount just for a game? I mean, you can't blame them, ganyan ka rin naman kung maka-gastos.

Halos isang oras ang lumipas, at natapos ka na rin sa niluluto mo. Nilapag mo nalang ang mga pagkain sa hapag kainan.

"Dinner's ready. What are you guys watching?" Naglakad ka naman patungong sala dahil nando'n sina Aisha at Kakucho na nanonood.

"Barbie!" Sagot ni Aisha.

Tumingin ka naman kay Kakucho, at mukhang mas invested pa 'to manood kaysa kay Aisha.

"Pst!" Pagugulat mo kay Kakucho as you clicked your fingers in front of his face.

Lumingon naman si Kakucho. "What?"

"Enjoying the movie?" Asar mong ngiti.

Kakucho just scoffed and stood up from the coach. Pumunta naman na kayo sa dining table kasama si Aisha to eat dinner.

"Chicken curry!" Aisha squealed.

"Yeah, your fave!" Ngiti mo naman.

Kakucho just watched you interact with your sister. Yup, it's no doubt na hindi nga sayang ang ginastos ni Kakucho para ro'n sa game ni Aisha.

"By the way, Kuya Kaku, thank you for the robux!" Sabi naman ni Aisha.

"You only thanked him now?" Tanong mo.

"Oh hehe yeah... I was too excited to buy things with my robux na e..." Aisha muttered.

"Well since Kuya Kaku bought me a lot of robux... He can customize my character!" Aisha said.

"I'm not really good at dressing up," Kakucho said. "Ate Helian will do that part."

"I'm not interested in that Roblox game or whatever you call it." You rolled your eyes.

"Well, look at the clothes, ate! They're very similar to your clothes in real life!" Aisha said, almost shoving her iPad screen on your face.

Nilayo mo naman ang screen, and you took a look at the clothes. Okay, wow?!

"See!" Aisha exclaimed.

"Let me see," you said as you grabbed her iPad. You start to scroll through the app and navigate this game. It's quite interesting, considering that you know nothing about games, and it's not your field of interest. Candy Crush lang talaga alam mo... pati na rin Valorant... dahil sa rason na 'wag na nating pag-usapan.

Well, if you'll remember, you had a Discord phase before because of an old friend group... Of course, red flags here, red flags everywhere! Sa sobrang lala, may naganap pa ginupit mo ang halos three thousand na nail extension mo para lang makapaglaro ng Valorant with that guy! Tapos, you even bought him those Balenciaga shoes na sana pinanggastos mo nalang sa eyelash extensions mo! You're literally cringing every time you remember those old memories.

"Ugh! The things I did for men! Never again!" Isip mo pa.

"Anyway," you cleared your throat. "That robux seems a little expensive? And Kaku even bought you four thousand robux?"

"Aisha, maybe your ate wants something too. She can't stop talking about it." Kakucho said, and he's obviously teasing you.

"Hey, I just remembered since you mentioned it before... I thought you're responsible with money?" Pang-asar mo na tanong kay Kakucho. You teased him back.

"I am," sagot naman ni Kakucho while eating.

"Then why are you purchasing these things? I'm just telling, you know, like it's not even worth it—"

"Why? Aren't you worth spoiling for?" Kakucho asked, and your eyes widened. Nagpigil ka naman ng ngiti at inikutan ito ng mata.

"Whatever," you muttered, the sides of your lips rising.

"Ate, I'm done na." Aisha said, grabbing her plate. Yeah, she already knows how to do her dishes on her own, and even does household chores.

"Okay, go and take a half bath then go to bed na." Sabi mo naman, at sumunod naman si Aisha. Masunurin talaga si Aisha, 'wag mo lang kunin ang kanyang iPad.

As Kakucho is also done eating na, he also grabbed his plate and offered to wash the dishes.

"Huh? No, it's fine. Just leave it there." You said.

"I can do it. It's fine." Kakucho insisted.

You paused for a moment, then slowly nodded. You can't really argue with this man. Whatever. 

Kakucho is in the kitchen, washing the dishes while you're in the living room, removing the Barbie movie as Aisha will now sleep.

"By the way, Kaku... Do you know when can I meet Mrs. Hann?" You asked, still excited about that news.

"She'll go back from Korea... next month, I think?" Kakucho answered.

"Ooh, okay. I can't wait to meet her, but I'm so nervous? Literally... Couldn't still process it." Kwento mo.

Napangiti naman si Kakucho. What he did was really worth it. That's the kind of reaction and mood he wants. That's his kind of view.

"Anyway, are you going home na ba?" Tanong mo kay Kakucho.

Hindi sumagot si Kakucho, kaya't inalis mo muna ang atensyon mo sa TV at tumingin sa kanya na nasa kusina.

"(Y/N), I also have a question." Kakucho muttered, and you can barely hear him.

"What? I can't hear you?" Sagot mo, at binabaan mo ang volume ng TV.

Nagsalita muli ito, ngunit muffled parin ang boses. In-off mo na ang TV, at naglakad papunta kay Kakucho para mas maring pa ang sinasabi nito—

"Is it true that you like me?" Kakucho asked as he turned his head to look at you.

Huh?

You felt your heart drop. Silence invaded the whole unit. Halos datnan ka ng lipas ng oras dahil sa tanong nito. Paano?

You were stunned in your place, and Kakucho looks at you with a nonchalant expression, yet it's obvious that he's waiting for a response from you.

The question he just asked continued to ring in your ears.

"Is it true that you like me?"