Baguio City. 7:45AM.
Makulimlim ang langit at malamig ang simoy ng hangin. Aila hugged her jacket tighter habang nag-aabang sa labas ng opisina para sa company out-of-town seminar.
"One van. Eight people. Two hours of awkward energy. Love it," bulong niya sa sarili habang sinusubukang i-compose ang sarili.
Then he arrived.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp45IMlXGkD
Ryan Santillan. Cool as ever. Suot ang dark hoodie at noise-cancelling headphones.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBDO8dxnsU
Hindi sila nagpapansinan — not after the whole jealousy incident kay Raymond. Pero sa hindi inaasahang twist ng logistics...
"Guys," si HR rep ang nagsalita, "Nagka-issue sa second van. Kailangan nating mag-combine ng rides. Ian, Aila — you'll have to ride together. Solo kayong dalawa. Okay lang ba?"
Aila blinked. "Ha? As in kaming dalawa lang?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35lsOkR0tc
Ian looked at her, expression unreadable. "Fine."
Oh no.
In the van.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWS9FpPqsg
Tahimik. Awkward. Mahaba ang biyahe.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYNrdoEEwD
Aila fiddled with the hem of her skirt. Hindi niya alam kung bakit parang biglang nanikip ang loob ng sasakyan, kahit dalawa lang sila.
"Tahimik mo," she blurted out.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9WY4NJKrw
"Sabi mo bang mag-ingay ako?" he deadpanned.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4e17qMzB0
"Well, I mean... small talk won't kill you."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJa5dkCC2JK
He didn't look at her. "I don't do small talk."
Oof.
Pero may kakaiba. May tension, pero hindi na siya katulad ng dati. It wasn't icy anymore. More like... simmering heat?31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzpzYJVuI8
Or was that just her?
At the hotel.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLNYTxuJpR
Surprise! May kulang na rooms.
"Rooming arrangements," sabi ng coordinator, "Ian, Aila — sorry but you're both getting separate beds, same room. Wala na pong magawa."
Cue: Internal screaming.
Kinagabihan, after the seminar sessions and dinner, Aila found herself sitting sa gilid ng kama, still half-dressed in her blazer. Pagod, lasing ng kaunti, at sobrang conflicted.
Ian came out of the bathroom, freshly showered, damp hair.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5t39eS0fMm
"May alak pala sa minibar," sabi niya casually, habang nilalapag ang bote sa lamesa.
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you offering?"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIoDvff4fW
"I'm tolerating."
They drank in silence. And then...
Heart-to-heart, habang lasing.
"Why do you hate everyone?" she asked suddenly.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjjdrWap8S
"I don't hate everyone."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuCbFI6gks
"Oh yeah? You treat them like you do."
Ian leaned back, eyes half-lidded. "People are fake. Office politics is worse. I don't have the energy to play their games."
Aila bit her lip. "What about me?"
He turned his gaze to her. Matagal siyang tiningnan. Para bang sinusuri kung anong klaseng tao siya talaga.
"I don't know yet," he finally said. "But you confuse me."
Confuse him? That wasn't what she expected.
"You smile too much," he added. "Laugh too loud. Pero minsan... I catch you looking like you're about to break."
Her breath hitched.
"Maybe because I am," she whispered.
Silence. Intimate. Heavy.
Their eyes met. Slowly. As if drawn by an invisible force.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8zLUjNWIx
His hand reached out. Fingers brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.
"Tangina..." he whispered. "Don't look at me like that."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ssaZHh4BW
"Like what?"
"Like I matter."
She didn't know who leaned in first, but suddenly...31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ULE0t8DYZ
Almost. Lips. Inches away.
Then he pulled back. Fast.
"No," he said, voice rough. "Don't play with me, Aila."
She froze.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19XPZm2811
"I'm not—"31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNf7dAiwh8
"You don't know what you're doing," he interrupted. "I've been used before. Lied to. I won't be anyone's joke again."
The rejection stung harder than it should. Dahil totoo.
But before she could speak, bumalik na siya sa kama at tumalikod. Leaving her alone with her guilt, her feelings, and the kiss that almost was.
Outside the hotel, the fog thickened.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYySgZNkI4C
Inside her chest, the real feelings started to surface.
This wasn't just a bet anymore.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAPyXTB4wk
This was the turning point.
31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0b80uv5ze
