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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntlUcOGjXv
Ryan Santillan. Cool as ever. Suot ang dark hoodie at noise-cancelling headphones.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1IsAnl7g4
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?"32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SWYrbjTHn
Ian looked at her, expression unreadable. "Fine."
Oh no.
In the van.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOClqOjnb7f
Tahimik. Awkward. Mahaba ang biyahe.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2jYVgRNcP
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYY8watJlQ
"Sabi mo bang mag-ingay ako?" he deadpanned.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDx3Ovx86KJ
"Well, I mean... small talk won't kill you."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNfi1cmfF7
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?32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF0ooNlpV2
Or was that just her?
At the hotel.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFWXb0KaMx
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoiTp68skq
"May alak pala sa minibar," sabi niya casually, habang nilalapag ang bote sa lamesa.
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you offering?"32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9h6OhC6am
"I'm tolerating."
They drank in silence. And then...
Heart-to-heart, habang lasing.
"Why do you hate everyone?" she asked suddenly.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlYAQRmijN
"I don't hate everyone."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHspNwZynDP
"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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGDTOAVCKA
His hand reached out. Fingers brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.
"Tangina..." he whispered. "Don't look at me like that."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupStzeOCLe
"Like what?"
"Like I matter."
She didn't know who leaned in first, but suddenly...32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm0MIVwhLU
Almost. Lips. Inches away.
Then he pulled back. Fast.
"No," he said, voice rough. "Don't play with me, Aila."
She froze.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80iPVlnyu1
"I'm not—"32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWLjO7PwyZ
"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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN7Sw8h4y9
Inside her chest, the real feelings started to surface.
This wasn't just a bet anymore.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWxXdBdacb
This was the turning point.
32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGK7Q0ZzPRe
and then Add to home screen.