Third Person's Point of View
Pabalik na si Alex sa office ni Timothy nang mamataan niya sina Klein at Venice na tila nagtatalo habang papasok sa office ni Klein.
Sinundan niya ang mga ito dahil gusto niyang makausap ang binata.
Kakatok na sana siya ngunit hindi niya naituloy iyon nang marinig ang pinag-uusapan ng dalawa.
"Seriously, Klein? Hershey needs you too."
"You're wrong, Venice. Hershey needs space. Not me."
"Ano? Wala ka na namang gagawin? Hahayaan mo ulit siyang makawala sa iyo? She's your first love for heaven sake! And you became a fuckboy because of her."
"Venice!"
"What? I'm just telling the truth. And I hate you being a coward again now. Start pursuing her, Klein. That's what it takes to win her."
"Kilala mo ako, Venice. Hindi ko ugaling mang-iwan ng isang taong mahalaga sa akin sa ere. Alex needs me."
"She needs a kissing buddy? Is that what you're saying? And for your information, Hershey needs you more! She's devastated."
"Bakit mo ba 'ko pinagtutulakan kay Hershey? Paano kung sabihin kong wala na akong nararamdaman para sa kaniya?"
Biglang naging tahimik sa loob ng office. Nakarinig ng yabag si Alex patungo sa pintuan kaya naman sa taranta ay inunahan na niyang buksan iyon. Nagkasalubong pa ang kanilang mga mata ni Venice at nginitian niya na lang ang dalagang naka-pokerface.
"Alex, kanina ka pa ba diyan sa labas?" nakangiting tanong naman ni Klein na tila hindi galing sa isang pagtatalo.
"Hmmmm...sort of. I heard everything, Klein."
Napawi naman kaagad ang ngiti sa labi ng binata.
"It's not what you--"
"It's okay, Klein. I don't want to hold you back anymore. Let's just end this so that you can be on your first love's side. She needs you."
Napatitig sa kaniya ang binata saka ito unti-unting lumapit. Hinawakan ni Klein si Alex sa balikat. "Sigurado ka ba sa sinasabi mo?"
Dahan-dahang tumango si Alex habang nakatitig sa mata ng binata.
"You're so kind, Alex. I can't understand why my cousin is so blind and not seeing your worth."
She smiled. "He's not blind, Klein."
Napakunot ang noo ng binata.
"What? You mean..."
Mas lumawak ang ngiti ni Alex saka tumango ulit. "He's seeing my worth but there's something holding him back or should I say...someone is holding him back."
Klein heaved a deep sigh.
"Alex, it's more than what you think. So you better stay away from him. Hindi mo alam ang gulong pinapasok mo," puno ng pag-aalala wika ng binata.
"I don't care anymore, Klein. What matter now is that he's making me feel that I worth him already. That I am worth of the risk."
"But I care," Klein protested.
"You can't do anything about it, Klein. My decision is final. I won't mind others monkey business about me at all. Thank you for everything. You're now free from my grip."
Alex kissed him on the cheek and marched towards the door. But before she reach it, Klein spoke.
"Alex, sandali."
Lumingon siya. "Bakit?"
"About that night...when..."
Alex smiled at him.
"Don't worry, I knew it. It's Darren. I was already awake that time when he cried and uttered precious words that are hard to prove that they are not fake. I saw how I unconsciously broke his fragile heart and I hate myself for that."
Namamangha namang napatingin ang binata sa dalaga. "You knew it all along but you didn't get mad at me? You didn't get mad that I took all the credits to his deeds?"
"Not at all."
Niyakap ng binata ang dalaga."Thank you, Alex. You're such a wonderful woman. I wish the best for you so please don't hate yourself. It's not your fault at all. It's just because of the gravity of the earth."
"Sira ka talaga!"
Humiwalay si Alex sa yakap ni Klein saka niya ito hinampas sa dibdib.
Humagalpak naman ng tawa ang binata habang sinasalag ang mga palo at hampas ng dalaga.
Nang makaalis ang dalaga sa office ni Klein ay dumating naman si Darren.
Kumatok ito hanggang sa sumagot si Klein mula sa loob. "Pasok," aniya.
"Good morning! Where's Alex? Your secretary told me that she's here," Darren queried.
"Kaaalis niya lang," sagot ni Klein.
"Okay, thank you!"
Akmang lalabas na si Darren nang magsalita ulit si Klein na nakapagpatigil sa kaniya.
"Bro, she knew it. She knew it was you all along."
Dahan-dahang lumingon si Darren. "You better prove the words you said to her, bro."
"I will, bro. I will always will."
On the other hand, Alex is heading to Timothy's office to talk to him.
Pero pagkapasok niya ro'n, ang tanging naabutan niya ay sina Katniss at Timothy na magkapatong sa couch habang naghahalikan.