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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00DhCUlgce
Ryan Santillan. Cool as ever. Suot ang dark hoodie at noise-cancelling headphones.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1OuTqCSvY
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?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGR2YPhjwm
Ian looked at her, expression unreadable. "Fine."
Oh no.
In the van.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZhBDTnTeZ
Tahimik. Awkward. Mahaba ang biyahe.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQKNJENWRi
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqcNPeylaj
"Sabi mo bang mag-ingay ako?" he deadpanned.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tCXrzxKXi
"Well, I mean... small talk won't kill you."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HUcnk3uxP
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?29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnr46j8YesW
Or was that just her?
At the hotel.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NHUE3JkbY
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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJMXeKD1NP
"May alak pala sa minibar," sabi niya casually, habang nilalapag ang bote sa lamesa.
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you offering?"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF5mSLLB4K
"I'm tolerating."
They drank in silence. And then...
Heart-to-heart, habang lasing.
"Why do you hate everyone?" she asked suddenly.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEflzw9pggH
"I don't hate everyone."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBjVb8i4PN
"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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHixAjxPO3X
His hand reached out. Fingers brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.
"Tangina..." he whispered. "Don't look at me like that."29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQqfFggS0e
"Like what?"
"Like I matter."
She didn't know who leaned in first, but suddenly...29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX3Qmxn436
Almost. Lips. Inches away.
Then he pulled back. Fast.
"No," he said, voice rough. "Don't play with me, Aila."
She froze.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08vmRjdP5r
"I'm not—"29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61NrhznwGm
"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.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5Dt73xYvJ
Inside her chest, the real feelings started to surface.
This wasn't just a bet anymore.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsKSZkCt43
This was the turning point.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrktpi1OVlW
