Den-Den and I rode the bus together and slept the whole ride to Legazpi. It was almost a three hour drive and finally we arrived safely at the terminal. 
"Zene," tawag sa akin ni Den nang makababa kami bus. He's carrying my luggage. 
Lumingon ako sa kan'ya habang hawak ang cellphone. "Dito ka na?" I asked. 
I'm trying to contact my close cousin here, sa side ni Mama. Siya kasi ang maghahatid sa akin sa Camalig. 
Umiling-iling ang lalaki. He has this serious expression on his face, "Kain muna tayo," he said while fanning himself. Pawis na pawis na ang noo at leeg niya. Even his hair is wet because of his sweat. 
Sobrang init ng panahon at tirik na tirik ang araw. Lumapit ako sa kan'ya habang kinukuha ang panyo sa bulsa. I handed him the handkerchief. 
"O', gamitin mo muna. Labhan mo bago mo sa akin isauli," utos ko sa kan'ya. 
He gave me a smirk and said, "Hindi ko magagamit iyan," he said using a tired voice. Akala mo ay hirap na hirap. 
"Ba't?" 
He darted his eyes on my luggage and umbrella on his hands. "I'm holding your luggage, Zene," he said as a matter of fact. 
I clenched my teeth, "Edi ibaba mo muna," I said, pertaining to the luggage he's holding. Pero imbes na bitawan ay mas lalo niya pang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak dito. 
He chuckled when I moved forward. "Awe, just tell me you like me," he teased when I started wiping his sweat. 
I elbowed his stomach, "Shut up!" I said and threw my handkerchiefs on his face. 
Tumatawa siyang sinalo ang panyo ko. "Nahulog tuloy," I heard him mumbled when I turned my back on him. 
Kinuha ko muli ang cellphone ko. I need to call my cousin. I'm feeling anxious right now, lalo na at andito na ako. Parang ayaw ko na lang tumuloy ay hintayin ang susunod na byahe upang umuwi sa Naga. Isang beses lang naman ako mapapagalitan ni Mama, at maglalaho iyon kalaunan. 
Katrina Lili
Hey, cous! Here ka na ba? 
Huhuhu naliligo pa lang Kuya Ky, okay lang ba na wait mo kami? 
I typed a reply to my cousin. I feel Rhaiden's presence beside me. 
Ben Zene
Okay! See you. 
"Who's Katrina?" Den asked, curiosity is all over his face. 
I raised my brows at him, "She's not your type, " I answered instead. 
He gasped. "What?" he frowned. Intstead of making the conversation long, inunahan ko na siyang mag lakad. I crossed the road with my backpack. 
Sa harap ng terminal ay ang malaking mall ng Legazpi. Dito na muna ako magpapalipas ng oras habang hinihintay si Katrina. 
Rhaiden and I had lunch in KenRogersger's, he also offered to pay for our food. Hindi na ako tumanggi dahil minsan lang ito mangyari. 
"Bakit ka nga pala nandito?" Rhaiden asked curiously while waiting for our food. 
I rest my chin on my hand, "Dito nakatira iyong tatay ko," maikling kong sagot sa kan'yang tanong. 
Tumango-tango siya. Rhaiden knows about my father, but he doesn't know where he lives. We've been friends for almost two decades, he knows everything about me. Hindi nga lang mausisa si Den, he will not ask something deeper unless I talk about it first. 
"I don't know what will happen, I'm getting anxious!" I gritted my teeth and acted like I was shivering. 
He smiled at me. He crossed his arm as he rested it on the table. "Don't be. I think they're thrilled to see you," he said. 
"Hindi mo sure," I mocked. 
Thrilled? How? They will never know why the whole existence is if my mom didn't reach out to them when my life's on the line of death. 
He gave me a side eye while slightly grinning. "O', c'mon, Ben. Don't look down on yourself," he said in a serious tone.
I just rolled my eyes at him. Nag hintay pa kami ng ilang minuto bago dumating ang aming pagkain. We shared a bunch of stupid and nonsense stories, when I got a message from Lili, again. 
Katrina Lili 
Yow! We're 10 mins away, we'll wait for you on the ground floor, aight?
I just replied, 'ok' 
Nervousness started to build up again. Bakit ba ako kinakabahan? E' hindi naman ako pumunta rito dahil gusto silang makita. I went here because they want to see me. Sila dapat ang kabahan. Tama? Tama. 
I blow some air while me and Rhaiden walk towards the escalator. Nasa second floor kasi kami kumain. I'm behind Rhaiden's back, kaya nang lumingon siya mula sa likod ay kitang-kita niya ang kaba ko. 
"Hoy! Humihinga ka pa ba?" natatawang tanong nito sa akin. 
I slightly slap his shoulders. "What if wag na ako tumuloy?" tanong ko nang hindi siya tinitignan. I can't focus, even my eyes are roaming around. 
I heard him chuckled. "Pwede naman. Kaso lagot ka kay Tita," he said. 
Nakasimangot akong tinignan siya. "Isang beses lang naman iyon, tsaka maglalaho lang din naman ang galit niya," I said and stepped out of the escalator when I reached the ground floor. 
Tumigil sa paglalakad si Rhaiden habang dala-dala ang maleta ko. He put both of his hands on his waist. 
"Ben, everything's going to be okay, hmm?" he put his right hand on my head. "Don't overthink," frowning a bit while tapping my head. "Sasakit ulo mo niyan," dagdag niya pa. 
"And Ben, I know. I know that you want to see him, too. You're just too afraid to admit it." He seriously said that made me look up to him. 
I look at his eyes and it was already staring mine. "May muta ka pa," I pointed his eyes. 
He gave me a groan. "Kainis, kahit kailan talaga!" he mumbled. 
"Nandito na raw sila," I informed Den when I got a message from my cousin.
Kumunot ang noo ko nang walang marinig na reaksyon mulansa aking kasama kaya lumingon ako sa aking gilid. I saw a 20 year old guy sulking with his arms crossed. His face is frowning while muttering something I don't understand. 
Kiniblit ko siya pero iniwas niya lang ang kan'yang braso. "Oy! Anong problema mo?" Nangingiti kong tanong sa kan'ya. 
"Ano ba," he said in a sulking voice, kaya mas lalo akong natawa. Lumingon siya sa akin at binigyan ako ng masamang tingin. "Tignan mo, tumatawa pa siya," sambit niya sa isang masungit na tono. 
I shook my head. "Ang arte, ah," I commented. 
"Ben, here!" 
Nawala ang atensyon ko sa lalaki at kumaway sa babaeng kakapasok lang ng mall. Surrounded by a bubbly and light aura, Katrina Lili walks like a fine lady. Short hair, long legs, and charming face. Some people can't help but to take a quick glance at her. And I don't know why I did it, but my shifted it gaze to Rhaiden. 
I looked up to him. And I can't help but sighed secretly. His eyes, it sparkled when she saw my cousin, Katrina Lili. He looks at her like a beautiful painting, the way he can't take his eyes off her, while I'm here looking at him disappointed. Iniwas ko ang aking tingin sa lalaki as I felt my heart clenching. 
'Lucky me. I didn't fall through his words, again.'