"What's wrong with Pollyn? Kanina pa siya tulala." Natauhan ako nang marinig ko ang pangalan ko, napalingon ako kay Marjorie bago dinampot ang drink ko at sumandal sa bangko.

"Nothing's wrong with me, I'm fine." I said, taking a sip from my drink.

Marjorie slowly nod but when I lifted my eyes, I saw Lee raising a brow, a smirk smeared on his lips, "What? I said I'm fine," I held my drink with both hands.

Lee chuckled before slowly shaking his head, "I can't believe you're still thinking about him." he said which made my brows furrowed. Ang mga kaibigan namin ay biglang na-intriga at agad nilingon si Lee.

"Him?! Omg! There's a new guy?! You have a new guy!?" Agad akong nalingon ni Bobbie, gulat na gulat ang ekspresyon nito.  

Nanlaki ang mata ko bago agad umiling, "What!? Wala 'no! Lee's talking nonsense!" I defended, 

Bobbie pouted before facing Lee, "Spill it, Lee, who are we talking about?" she asked, I sighed before taking another sip of my drink. 

Lee chuckled, he glanced at me first, seeking for my permission but instead I rolled my eyes at him. Manghingi man siya ng permiso ko kung sasabihin ba niya o hindi, kukulitin pa rin naman siya nila Bobbie. 

Lee chuckled, "Mile Altairavez," Sarina squealed, "OMG!! Don't tell me...!" she faced me, pointing her finger at me. 

My eyes grew wide before shaking my head, "I told you, we're not a thing!" I defended again. 

Kumunot ang noo niya bago humaba ang nguso, "I don't believe you! You two are clearly a thing," she nagged and I scoffed, 

"Wala nga! It's up to you kung ayaw mo maniwala." I playfully rolled my eyes, Sarina pouted before leaning back to her chair. 

"Baka pag-awayan niyo pa 'yan, we're here to have fun! There's a lot of things we can do here in Cebu! Finish your drinks and let's roam around." Kent said, lighting up the mood. 

Gab nodded, "Oo nga, and if you're really upset about that guy, maraming lalaki rito Pollyn.  I'm sure you'll find someone else." Gab said and I sighed before nodding. 

Inubos lang namin ang mga shake namin bago umalis ng restaurant, dahil katanghalian ay may kainitan ang sikat ng araw. Hangga't maaari ay iniwasan namin na magtagal sa ilalim ng sikat ng araw dahil masakit ito sa balat. 

Ang ending namin ay nakarating kami ng SM. Nagpalamig kami doon, naglibot-libot bago kumain ulit. Gabi na nang lumabas kami at bumalik sa resort. 

Kinabukasan ay maaga kaming naligo sa dagat. Nang mag lunch ay kumain kami sa mga kainan sa loob ng resort at pagsapit ng hapon ay bumalik ng hotel rooms para matulog. 

Sa kasunod na araw ay nag island hopping kami, buong araw iyon at hindi ko na nabilang kung ilang isla ang pinuntahan namin. Kaya naman pagod kaming lahat pagbalik ng hotel.

"You're really upset 'no?" Napalingon ako kay Lee na bigla akong nilapitan. Nasa bar kami ngayon, hindi ako umiinom pero umiinom silang lahat. Nasa dance floor pa nga ang karamihan sa amin kaya nagulat ako nang biglang sumulpot sa tabi ko si Lee. 

My brows furrowed, "Hindi 'no," I took a sip of my lemonade. 

I saw his eyes glance at the glass in my hand, "You're not drinking?" he asked, I looked at the glass in my hand, gave it a little shake before nodding. 

"Medyo trauma sa nangyari sa house party." I replied and he hummed. 

We figured out that the night at his house, when I got all dizzy and unconscious, I was actually drugged. Someone put sleeping pills in my drink and had bad intentions. Mabuti at kay Lee ako bumagsak. Lee was quick and potective enough to figure out who it was and got everything under control. 

"Don't accept drinks from randoms kasi." ani nito at bahagya akong napatawa, "Opo na po," I obediently replied which made him chuckle. 

Silence took over us for a minute, though the surrounding was loud and noisy, the both of us kept silent. 

"So... tell me honestly about this Mile guy," I was about to take a sip of my lemonade when he suddenly asked that. I froze, he sounded serious and not in the mood to bicker with me. 

I sighed and placed down my drink, "The honest thing about Mile is that he's really a good friend." I started, placing both my hands on my legs. 

"He's childish, yes, he's nerdy, yes, makulit siya, oo, pero... he's different from other guys. Kahit sa inyo, he's a different kind of friend." I continued, Lee slowly nod before leaning on the sofa. 

"How come he's different?" he urged, he didn't sounded offended but rather interested. I sighed and shrugged, "He... well... he's different from other guys, he doesn't look at me with lust. He didn't approached me because he's trying to hit up on me but because he wanted to make friends. At ganun din ako, I noticed that almost every girl that approach him is trying to hit up on him, habang ako, I'm just really friends with him. Alam mo yun, platonic lahat." I explained and he slowly nod. 

"But... what's bothering you? It's clear something's on your mind. You seem fine and even enjoying yourself when we're doing something, but the moment things quiet down, you feel distant." he asked, I sighed and crossed my arms. 

"I feel bad... that... he left the country and I didn't even get to say goodbye. Tapos yung lego na binili namin, hindi pa namin nagagawa. He said he wanted to build it with me. I feel bad for him," I answered and he slowly nod. 

"You sound like a big sis now," he joked which made me chuckle, "Well maybe because I am. I'm 2 years older than him, remember?" I said and he laughed before nodding. 

"I'm sure babalik naman siya. It's just for few weeks. Magkikita ulit kayo sa pasukan, so quit being upset!" he playfully tapped on my nose. 

I pushed his hands away before scoffing, I picked up my drink and took a sip. "Oo naman, babalik yun, tsaka hoy! Hindi naman ako... upset na upset 'no! Don't make it look like... it's something serious." I said and he giggled before nodding. 

"Fine, fine, naaawa ka lang?" he asked and I nod, "Yep, naaawa lang talaga ako, 'di manlang ako nakapagpaalam." I pouted before finishing my drink. 

"Alam mo kasi... uminom ka nalang, hindi ka madi-distract ng lemonade. Hindi mawawala sa isip mo 'yang awa na 'yan." Parehas kaming napatawa sa sinabi niya. Pabiro nitong ini-abot sa akin ang drink niya na tinanggap ko naman at agad tinungga na ikinahagalpak niya ng tawa. 

Sinamahan ako nito sa bar at doon ay umorder kami ng inumin. Hindi rin ako nito iniwan dahil sabi ko. May mga babaeng lumalapit dito, nanghihingi ng number o pangalan. Minsan ay hindi niya ibinibigay pero ako na ang nagbibigay sa mga babae. 

"You're exploiting me." I almost spit out my drink, mabuti nalang at natakpan ko pa ang bibig ko. 

"Hoy! Anong exploiting!? Hoy! Stop acting as if ayaw mo rin ng babae! Babaero ka kaya!" I said and he chuckled before shaking his head. 

We had more drinks. Sa paglalim ng gabi ay mas pagdami ng mga alak na na o-order namin. We drank and drank until we're both wasted.  

"Alam mo... gusto ko kasi talagang mag message kay Mile." ani ko rito, kumunot ang noo ni Lee bago itinukod ang siko sa bar at isinandal ang pisnge rito. 

"Oh, then message him." I shook my head, "Ayaw, I don't make first move." I said and he winced. 

"First move? Chill, messaging him doesn't mean you're hitting up on him, it just means you're lowering down your pride." he said and I shook my head. 

"No, kahit na, baka isipin niya na mi-miss ko siya." I said and he chuckled, "You said he's childish, I'm sure hindi papasok sa isip niya na nami-miss mo siya. And so what if he thinks nami-miss mo siya? You can miss a friend without romantic intentions." he replied and I shook my head, mimicking his position on the bar. 

"Kahit na! Ayaw ko pa rin! I value our friendship, ayaw kong isipin niya na gusto ko siya." I said and Lee chuckled.

Alas quatro na nang matigil kami sa pag-iinom. Naabutan kami ng mga kaibigan namin sa bar na parehas na halos bagsak sa lamesa. 

I just found myself on a bed, it was cold and I can feel the cold air coming from the air-conditioner brushing my skin. I hid myself under the sheets, but the warmth of it wasn't enough. 

I felt a pair of arms  wrapping around my waist. It pulled me closer and felt a skinship on my back that was finally enough to give me warm. What's weird is that I can feel the bare skin touching my bare back. It was as if I was wearing nothing. 

My eyes shot open. I looked around the room, not moving any muscle other than my eye. It wasn't my hotel room. 

There's a pair of arms wrapped around me. I felt my blood boil the moment I saw Lee sleeping peacefully beside me. 

My first reaction was to sit up and push him away. But I was taken a back when I realized I was just wearing undergarments. 

"What the fuck!? Lee!!" Napasigaw ako sa sobrang inis. Si Lee, na kakagising palang ay napabangon ng kama. 

"Ang aga-aga, you're shouting--"

"What did you do last night!? Nilasing mo 'ko just so you could fuck me!? Pinagsamantalahan mo na lasing ako--"

"The fuck are you talking about!? I didn't fucked you last night!" He cut me off, giving me the same tone of voice.

I scoffed, "Then explain this! Why am I in your room? Naked!?" I exclaimed, his brows furrowed, his eyes almost halfway open, "I don't know, why are you in my room? Naked?" Hinampas ko ito sa braso, I was about to shout again when the door opened, why is it not locked?! 

"What's wrong!? Ang aga-aga nagsisigawan kayong dalawa?" Gab asked, worried. 

"What did Lee do last night!? Why am I in his room naked?" I exclaimed, biglang sumulpot mula sa likuran ni Lee si Marjorie. 

"Girl! You were so wasted last night na sinukahan mo yung kama mo at yung kama ko. I had to sleep at Bobbie and Sarina's room. Si Lee lang ang magsolo sa kwarto kaya dito kana namin dinala." Paliwanag nito, narinig kong suminghap si Lee. 

Humigpit ang kapit ko sa kumot na nakabalot sa katawan ko, "Why am I naked?" I asked, 

"You threw up on your clothes and even your pajamas. Pinalitan kana namin kagabi pero sinukahan mo pa rin." sagot ni Sarina, my shoulders dropped. I glanced at Lee who's sitting across me on the bed, both his hands leaning on his back, supporting his weight. 

"You're still thinking I fucked you last night?" Lee cockily asked, 

"Iwan na muna namin kayong dalawa, we'll bring you new clothes, Pollyn." Paalam ni Gab, they were about to leave the room when Bobbie sticked her head in. 

"By the way Pollyn, you were drunk calling and drunk texting someone last night, check mo kung sino." she closed the door. Nanlaki ang mata ko bago agad dinampot ang cellphone ko sa nightstand habang napahagalpak naman ng tawa si Lee. 

"Can't believe you were so drunk last night that you did that? You had too much alcohol and probably strong ones that's why you ended up so wasted." He teased, hindi pa mag-load ang messages ko sa bagal ng signal. 

But when it finally refreshed, para akong mababaliw, "Putangina! I called Mile last night!" I shouted, Lee immediately shifted next to me to look at the messages. 

There were gibberish words that I just spammed on the keyboard. He answered on the first call but it ended after 4 minutes! Four minutes ko siyang kinakausap!? What was I saying!? 

But the next calls were missed calls and he didn't answer anymore. 

"Ooh... what did you do?~~" Pang-aasar niya sa tabi ko. Napasaltik ako ng dila bago siya itinulak. 

"Alam mo... recently, napapahamak ako kapag nag-iinom kasama ka!" Paninisi ko rito, nanlaki ang mata niya bago napasinghal. 

"Wow ha, hindi naman kita pinilit mag-inom kagabi. Binibiro lang kita noong sinabi ko na mag-inom ka. It was your decision na mag-inom." sagot nito at napa-irap ako. 

Binabasa at sinusubukan kong intindihin ang messages ko kay Mile. Karamihan dito ay 'Sorry' at 'Kailan ka uuwi?'. Pati yung Lego na binili niya ay binaggit ko rin. Pero sa dinami-dami ng messages ko sa kaniya ay hindi manlang siya nag-reply. Nagtatampo nanaman ba ito sa akin? 

"Mag shower kana, I'll go get your clothes." Tumayo si Lee mula sa pagkakaupo sa kama. Nilingon ko ito pero agad naglayo ng tingin nang makita na naka-boxer lang ito. 

I remained silent while he put on some shirt, "If you're still thinking I did something to you last night, believe what you want to believe but I'm telliing you, wala akong ginawa sa 'yo kagabi." Utay-utay akong napalingon sa kaniya. 

"No, I believe you. You're my friend, and I know you're not like other guys." I said and he hummed, 

"I'm sorry for accusing you of such thing too. Wala lang talaga akong maalala kagabi." I said and he hummed again, "Next time, don't drink over your limits. Not all the time kasama mo 'ko." he said before exiting the room. 

Napahiga ako sa kama bago nagtakip ng unan sa mukha at doon napasigaw. 

Nakakahiya! And I feel sorry for Lee! I know he's not that type of guy pero hindi ko na napigilan ang galit at inis ko! I should really control my attitude! 

They were all wrong when they said 'ang aga-aga-' it was already 1PM when I left Lee's room. Yung kwarto namin ni Marjorie ay malinis na pero kaka-spray palang ng air-freshener kaya hindi muna kami doon nag-stay. 

Bumaba kami ng buffet area para magtanghalian. Doon na rin kami nagpalipas ng oras at naisipan na bumili nalang ng souveneirs dahil pauwi na rin kami mamayang gabi. 

"Waiting for his reply?" Agad kong nalingon si Lee, kami ang magkatabi sa business class sa eroplano at nasilip pa nito ang cellphone ko. 

Napatawa ako, nahuli na niya akong tinitingnan ang messages ko kagabi, there's no point of denying it. 

"Not really waiting but... binabasa ko lang yung messages ko kagabi." sagot ko at tumango siya. 

"Give him some time, or not, baka hindi na mag-reply." sagot niya at tumango nalang ako. 

Our flight only lasted an hour and the moment I reached home, I immediately fell asleep on my bed. 

I spent the next days on my bed, scrolling through my social media feeds and posting pictures from our trip to Cebu. Wala pang three days ang nakakalipas ay nag-aaya naman si Gab mag South Korea. 

Marjorie and Bobbie already turned it down, Lee and Kent was down though. When I turned it down, Sarina declined too, in the end, hindi na natuloy ang aya ni Gab. 

I was bored but don't have plans going out. I was rummaging through my things when I saw the book Mile bought for me. I immediately picked it up and brought it to my bed. 

Noong una, kada isang stanza ay dinadampot ko ang cellphone ko para mag-scroll sa social media. Pero lumalaban ang urge kong basahin ito. Naiinis ako sa sarili ko dahil sa sobrang bilis kong ma-bored at ma-distract. Ang ending ay pinatay ko nag cellphone ko at inilayo ito sa akin. 

There were parts that it's hard to focus on, ang boring! But since the book is about being fuck buddies, there were a lot of sex and intimate scenes that's keeping me focused. 

Hindi ko na namalayan na nangangalahati na pala ako. I was so prooud of myself! 

It was afternoon when I decided to eat, bumaba ako ng bahay para kumain pero bitbit ko pa rin ang libro. Hanggang sa pagkain ay hindi ko ito maibaba. Natagalan ako sa pagkain dahil kapag interesado ako sa scene ay imbes na kumakain ay tinatapos ko muna ang buong chapter. 

I was more than halfway when I finished eating. Pag-akyat ko ay ipinahinga ko muna ang mata ko. Kanina ko pa ito binabasa. Almost... 8 hours na yata akong nagbabasa nito. 

I picked up my phone and turned it on. But instead of going through my social media. I messaged Mile, I sent him the picture of the book. 

To: Electro Mile Altairavez

nangangalahati na ako! I'm enjoying it!! 

I was hoping for a reply, but after minutes of him not even reading my messages, I turned off my phone again before continue reading. 

Hindi na inabot ng gabi ng kinabukasan ang libro, bandang 3PM palang ay natapos ko na ito. 

To: Electro Mile Altairavez

that last chapter before epilogue was not giving!! akala ko hindi sila ang magkakatuluyan! I had to put down the book first and took few minutes! I had to prepare myself! 

To: Electro Mile Altairavez

baka may book ka pang alam na ganito! I enjoyed it! thank you for recommending it! 

[To: Electro Mile Altairavez]

[kailan ka uuwi?] 

Pinagmasdan ko muna ang naka-type na message ko. I sighed before shaking my head and deleting it. 

Hindi pa nga niya binabasa yung messages ko kahapon. I look so depserate and pathetic here. Nagmumukha akong isa sa mga babaeng nagkakagusto sa kaniya!

"Ughh!! Ano ba kasing sinabi ko noong tumawag ako!?" Napasapo ako sa mukha ko bago nagpapadyak. 

May masama ba akong sinabi!? May katangahan ba akong ginawa!? Don't tell me umamin ako na gusto ko siya!? Eh hindi ko naman siya gusto, eh! 

Did I mention or said something he didn't like!? Baka naman si Lee! Baka kasama ko si Lee noong tumawag ako at si Lee ang may sinabi na hindi niya nagustuhan!? 

"Nakakainis naman, eh! Solid na kami, eh! Ganun na oh! Ganun!" Pinag-cross ko ang hintuturo at hinggigitna ko. "Mawawalan pa nga yata ng kaibigan," 

Two weeks nalang at magpapasukan na ulit. I was too excited for the school to start again. This isn't me. I always hated it. Gusto ko lang yung pamimili pero hindi ko gusto na bumalik sa school. But this time it was different, I was excited to go back. 

Pumunta ako sa university ngayong araw para mag-enroll, pagkatapos ay dumiretso na rin ako sa mall at doon ay namili ng mga bagong gamit for this school year. 

It was around 5PM when I got back home, sinalubong ako ng mga kasambahay namin para kunin ang mga pinamili ko. 

"Thank you ate," I smiled at her, paalis na sana siya nang tumigil ito at muli akong hinarap, "Ay, ma'am, may kaibigan nga po pala kanina na dumating. May dala pong bulaklak at isang malaking paper bag. Kaso wala pa po kayo eh, kaya pinaiwan nalang yung mga dala niya tapos umalis." ani ng kasamabahy namin, napakunot ang noo ko bago napabuntong hininga. 

Isa nanaman sa mga lalaking pumoporma sa akin. 

Napasaltik ng dila ang kasamabahay namin, nakakunot pa ang noo nito habang may iniisip, "Pinapasabi rin po niya sa akin na kapag free ka raw po, pumunta ka ulit sa kanila para buohin yung... Lego raw po na binili niya."  

-----------------

a/n: Mile appearance next chap!!!