"A-Ano 'to?"

I have an idea about this setup, but I tried to push it away.

From my sight, there's a circular table and two seats. The table has a table fabric cloth that covered the table that reaches the floor. And on top of that, there's a glass mosaic candle holder, at syempre may kandila sa loob that makes the color warm light. There are also two plates, a wine glass, and utensils across it. May ilang maliliit na something ako na nakikita na nakapalibot sa mesa nito, that I assume some rose petals.

Madilim ang paligid, pero dahil sa mga nakasabit na mahahabang warm light fairy lights sa telang puti, kung saan naghahalo ang green plastic vines ay nagkaroon ng liwanag. I also saw a projector at the side, that I don't know what for.

I glanced at Geo whose beside me, watching my reaction while giving me his optimistic smile.

But what made the setup bizarre is the music played. Bakit pang-kasal yung tugtog? Seriously?

"Ah? Lunch?" Tanong nito habang kumakamot sa batok.

I felt this fluttery feelings inside me that I tried to hide at him. Tumikhim ako bago siya tinapunan ng tingin. "Lunch Date?"

"Ha? No!" Tumango-tango ako at tinago ang ngisi. "Okay."

Nauna itong maglakad papunta sa isang upuan, he moved the chair and faced me who is walking towards him. Pero nadidistract pa rin ako kung bakit ganito yung tugtog.

Umupo ako sa upuan, umikot naman siya sa kabila. I noticed that the candle is a scented candle type, the smell is aromatic, but I can't distinguish what kind of smell it is. "Ang aga naman ata ng lunch natin?"

"Malapit na mag-12, madam." He teased.

I checked the time on my watch and shock na totoo pala! "Gano'n na tayo katagal do'n?!" Hindi makapaniwalang tumingin ako sa kanya na binigyan lang ako ng tango.

Inalis ko ang suot na sombrero nang napagtantong suot na suot ko pa rin 'to. Kami lang naman ang nandito, kaya okay lang.

A clinked sound from the wine glass surrounded the room for a moment. Biglang may dumating na parang waiter mula sa gilid, bringing some foods on the tray.

Hindi ko alam kung gano'n lang ba siya tumingin o ano, pero nakabusangot ito papunta sa'min. Ganito ba sila magbigay ng service? Nakabusangot?

I noticed Geo was grinning at mukhang tinatawanan nito ang waiter habang naglalagay ng mga pagkain sa harap. Magkano kaya ibabayad ko rito? Mukhang ang mamahal pa naman.

Sinita ko si Geo dahil sa pagtawa niya sa waiter. "Geo, wag kang bastos." He pouted and glanced at the waiter who is now grinning.

"Thank you, ma'am." The waiter said and smiled at me, I noticed he gave Geo a mocking smile and made me assume that they know each other. Teka, familiar.

Umalis na ito pagkatapos linapag ang ilang mga pagkain sa mesa. "Magkano lahat 'to?" Tanong ko habang pinagmamasdan ang mga pagkain. There is a cordon bleu on one plate, grilled steak, some rice, a mushroom soup, a glass of water, and a bottle of red wine.

"Libre ko na'to, don't worry."

"May pera naman ako..."

"Treat ko na, sagot na'to ng museum." He said and winked at me.

"Okay? Pero sa susunod ako na ang magbabayad ha." Sabi ko, nakatingin pa rin sa mga pagkain. I can't look at him at this moment.

"Next time?" Tinapunan ko siya ng mabilisang ngiti ng mapansing lumambot ang boses nito at ngumiti na parang baliw.

"Kain na tayo!" Excited na sabi nito tsaka nagsimulang kumain. He poured a red wine on his wine glass, "Wine?" Tumango ako.

I started putting food on my plate, while he poured a glass of wine onto mine. Tahimik lang kami habang kumakain, the only noise that exists in today's time is the sound of our utensils, munches, and instrumental music.

"Sabi mo, may outing kayo, diba?" I asked para may mapag-usapan. He just nodded. "So, ba't ka nandito?"

"For a candlelight lunch date." Gulat na napatigil ako sa pagnguya dahil sa narinig. Natigilan din siya ng akmang susubo na sana. Pareho kaming naestatwa na dalawa. Nang tumikhim ito ay linunok ko ang kinakain at naglagay ng tubig sa baso.

"Ah... tinatamad lang ako." Bawi nito.

Bumalik ang katahimikan namin, ngunit agad din itong nagsalita. "Hindi naman kayo ni Terrence?" Umiling ako, ang mata nasa pagkain pa rin.

"So? Lahat ng mga sagot at pakilig niyo, fake lang?" Tumango lang ako.

Naalala ko bigla ang ilang mga pangyayari na kasama si Terrence. There are some videos that are edited by the fans and made some assumptions about it. Pero sa totoo lang, gano'n lang talaga kami. A normal asaran with your friends. We're just friends, together with Amanda. Minsan, nae-edit out nga si Amanda sa mga edits na yun.

Hindi ko nga maintindihan ano ang nakakilig do'n. I mean, I know dahil loveteam kami at shiniship nila, pero... kapag hindi ba kami gano'n, nakakakilig pa rin? Kasi para sa'kin, wala naman nakakilig sa'min, loveteam man o hindi.

Kaya hinayaan ko na lang, yun naman talaga ang goal ng management at makakuha ng more audience at fans.

"Hindi mo ba siya gusto? Gwapo naman yun, magaling din sa pag-arte." Umiling lang ako. "Nope, magkaibigan lang talaga kami, legit."

"Talaga?" Napatingin ako sa kanya ng bigla nabuhayan ang matamlay na boses niya kanina. Tumango ako at sumubo ng pagkain.

When we finished eating, he clinked the wine glass with the use of his spoon and a familiar waiter came with a tray. Curious na nakamasid ako sa waiter na siya ring nag-serve nang magkasama kami ni Geo sa isang cafe ng nakaraan.

He gave us a new plate where the dessert is and took the used plate, he smiled at us before he left. "Kilala mo yun?"

"Ah, he's Marco. Marco Navis, cute niya diba?" I nodded. He really looks cute, more on a flower boy type and feminine look.

"Ganda naman ng pangalan niya." I commented.

"Mas maganda naman pangalan ko." I just nodded at his remark and began eating the blueberry cheesecake while he keeps on whispering something.

After eating the desert, there was another awkward silence between us, lalo na ng linigpit ng naunang waiter ang pinagkainan namin at umalis. Hindi ko alam kung aalis ba kami at magpapatuloy sa pag-tour niya o uupo lang rito hanggang sa mawala na yung pagkabusog.

I played with my hands, trying to avoid the awkwardness I felt. Ilang beses ko na ba naramdaman 'to habang kumakain? Hindi ko na mabilang.

Bigla kong naalala ang ilang katanungan ko sa kanya kanina. Inangat ko ang tingin sa kanya, nanlaki ang mata ko nang nagtama ang aming tingin. Naglalaro ang ilang daliri nito sa lamesa habang ang isa ay nasa kandunangan niyaa. I licked my lips while looking at the sides before I have the courage to face him.

"Kailan mo lahat napag-aralan yung... mga sinasabi mo kanina?"

Kasi kung ako, baka hindi ko kabisado yung mga pinagsasabi niya kanina. Kahit pag-aralan ko pa, yung ilang pinag-aralan ko nga na astronomy related no'ng nagkaroon ako ng interes dati, hindi ko na alam ngayon.

"Since... freshman? Sophomore?" My eyes widen in shock. "Seryoso?" He nodded.

"Ang talino mo pala..." Manghang sabi ko.

"Matalino ka rin naman." He commented.

Bumalik kami sa pagiging tahimik. Saglit lamang yun dahil bigla siya nagsalita. "You want to see what's in that projector?" Tumingin ako sa bandang iyon at ngayon lang pumasok sa isip ko na meron pala yun dito.

I nodded.

He stood up from his seat and went to the side, the light quickly turned off which makes the candle the only thing that gives us light. But in just a matter of seconds, different constellations are seen everywhere.

I stared at different constellations at the ceiling. Hindi ko na kabisado ang ilang, pero pamilyar sakin ang capricorn. Mainly, dahil yun ang zodiac ko and the ursa major and minor.

After staring at it for a minute, I look down and just realized that Geo is now in front of me. "Meron pa yang mga galaxy, gusto mo makita?" Tumango ako.

And from the constellations, the surroundings quickly shifted into galaxies. There were also names under it. "Wow..."

"Ginawa niyo yan o... binili niyo?" Dahan-dahan ko binaba ang tingin at tumingin sa kanya na nakamasid nanaman ata sakin! I gulped.

"It's one of our projects in Space Camp. It's my team who created that." My mouth turned into a circle the moment I heard it.

"S-Seryoso?" He nodded. "Can you tell me about it? Your Space Camp Adventures? Training?"

His laugh is like music to my ears that made me blush. Umiwas ulit ako ng tingin at binalik din kalaunan ang tingin sakanya. Wala namang nakakatawa ah?

"So, you know naman na galing ako Manila diba? At do'n talaga ako nanggaling. I just visit Bacolod during summer, like for a month or sembreak." Tumango ako, remembering Draco's story.

"While going to the airport in Manila... sa loob ha. I saw a poster about it, and it caught my interest, so I tried to apply. Mom was not pleased after hearing it, but because of my Uncle, wala ring nagawa si Mommy, lalo na't pina-register ako ni Uncle."

"My uncle is also a fan of astronomy and he works as a manager in one Space Museum, do'n ko ata namana sa kanya ang kahiligan dito. My Dad is a fan of music, and also a manager in one entertainment company while my Mom is a doctor. My Dad wants me to pursue music, while my Mom wants me to become a doctor or any health profession related." Nanatili ako nakinig sa kwento niyang hindi ko inaasahang sasabihin niya at hindi ko naman natanong.

But still, it made me curious about him more. I didn't expect this. I wonder what does he look like if he became a singer or a doctor.

He chuckled after pausing, "Sorry, iba na ata nakwento ko."

"No, okay lang." I smiled.

"Ah okay? So..." Tumikhim ito.

"Uncle Jay works at the Corvus Museum for a long time, hindi pa ganito yung Corvus dati. The WSAA Agency and Corvus Museum have only one owner and that is the Ravi Family."

"Naghahanap kasi sila ng mga willing na tao, bata man o matanda, basta willing ka ng mga aspiring astronomer, astronauts, astrophysicist, or basta magtrabaho ng Space Related. The training isn't that hard at first, they thought us the basics, and the things we should know. It also has different kinds of levels at doon nakabase ang ituturo sa'yo, it's like... you're attending another batch of class. Hindi naman sila nampepressure at kung kailan mo magagawa yung mga gawain ay do'n mo maaari i-pass ang pinapasagot. They want us to prioritze our main school rather than the camp."

"And there, I met also lots of friends. Yung iba, hindi na nagpatuloy dahil siguro infatution lang yung kagustuhan nila rito, yung iba nandito pa rin naman."

"And yung training or program na'to doesn't have a limit. You can apply or join at any time. But, yung training tuwing school months ay every Friday and Saturday. If Summer naman, Monday to Saturday. Every Saturday ay magkakasama lahat ng trainees."

"So, pati ngayon nagti-training pa rin kayo?" I asked.

"Yup, but I'm now practicing being an astronomer and engineer. They allow me to assist and observe at the agency if I have time."

Habang patuloy siyang pagkwekwento ay doon ko napagtanto na mahal niya ang kanyang ginagawa. Bigla akong kiniliti sa tiyan.

I just followed him when we went out. He continued talking about his experiences.

He just stopped talking about it when we went inside in one of the rooms. Madilim ito pagkapasok namin, pero may halong dilaw at orange na ilaw ang nagsisilbing ilaw sa gilid. And since, there's a wall, hindi ko buo nakita ito, pero ng makalapit ay namamanghang napatingin ako ro'n.

It's the sun.

Mukhang totoong araw. Grabe naman yung efforts nila rito.

"This room is called 'Sun and Shadow'. This is also one of the renovations in the museum. Dito ipapakita kung pano mo malalaman ang oras gamit lamang ang araw at anino, and why does our shadow sometimes looks longer and shorter. And beside this room naman ay gamit ang mga bituin kapag gabi na." He explained.

Lumapit ito sa gilid ng malaking screen. Sa taas nito ay nando'n ang isang katamtamang laki ng araw, at sa ilalim nito ay may poste. He clicked something at the side, the reason the sun moved to the East. I noticed that the shadow of the post is long and at the west side. There's also a time example stated at the left corner of the screen. 7am.

The sun moved northeast and noticed that the shadow is slowly getting smaller, and when the sun moved at the center and the time stated as 'Noon', the shadow of the post became shorter and is now facing north.

"The shadow will be pointing north or south, depending on where the object is," Geo spoke.

Then again, he clicked something that made the sun move North-West, while the shadow is at East which made the shadow become longer like in North-East, and lastly, it moved at the west, the shadow is facing still facing east and the shadow became longer.

"The sun's position affects the shadow, that's why the shadow is in that way. And if you noticed when the sun is low, the shadow is longer and when the sun is high, the shadow became shorter."

He clicked something again, and that makes the sun go back to the center before he moved and went to the left area. Nanatili lang ako nakatingin sakanya, may pinindot ulit ito at bigla may lumabas na horizon doon, and there's under sun that showed up.

Lumapit ito sakin, nakasunod lamang ang tingin ko sakanya. My face went to the center the moment I felt his warmth on my back, which made me blush. I gulped and tried not to be affected by his presence.

Walang salitang hinawakan nito ang kamay ko at inangat. He extended it and made my hands into a universal drinking sign or like calling someone. My pinky finger is at the upper part of the horizon, and whispered, "One."

Then, he move it, like above from the thumb, and said, "Two."

I noticed that the thumb reached the bottom part of the sun. "Two hours 'till sunset." He whispered that making my cheeks heat. I gulped again.

Hindi ko magawa makapag-focus sa sinabi niya habang binuksan nito ang palad ko, his face is just beside me that in just one move, there's a possibility that we would...

Ugh! Shira, don't.

"Every finger represents 15 minutes..." He said. His voice suddenly sounds husky which made me feel... uneasy.

"You need to find where the sun is," He moved my palm. From the horizon, my pinky finger lay above it, and my thumb stopped at the bottom part of the sun.

"And since only one hand fits, there's one hour and fifteen minutes before dark." I gulped again, hearing this unusual voice of his.

Mas lalo lang bumilis ang pintig ng puso ko at kahit pilit ko makinig sa sinasabi niya, hindi pa rin pumapasok sa isip ko ang mga salita niya. I want to focus, but his action is distracting me.

Slowly, I moved my face to my right side to see his face. But I guess, it's a wrong move.

I just met his unreadable eyes. I know I should've looked away, but there was something on it that possessed me, and wanted to stare at his dark brown eyes.

And then suddenly, I don't know what happened or how it happened. I just felt his lips on mine.

No one dared to move, as well as our lips.

After like 10 seconds, I felt his lips on my nose. Hindi ko binuksan ang mata dahil hindi ko alam kung kaya ko bang tignan ang kung ano mang bubungad sa'kin. Parang hindi ko kaya ngayon, mamaya na lang siguro.

And shit! Hindi ko 'to inaasahan!

Nang maramdaman ko ang mahinang pagkurot nito sa pisngi ko at ang mahinang tawa niya ay mas diniin ko ang pagpikit. Nakakahiya!

"Sorry..." I heard him whisper, pero umiling lang ako.

Mabilis ko iniwas ang tingin s akanya kung saan ramdam ko ang mga titig niya at humarap sa harapan, doon binuksan ang mata ko. Our kiss didn't get deeper, pero bakit pakiramdam ko hinihingal ako?

I felt my hands shaky and I don't want to see his face. I'm embarrassed!

Did I just kiss him?

Oh shit, pwedeng umalis na?

Hinayaan ko na lamang na tangayin ako nito. Nanatili ako yumuko at nagpatianod sa kanya ng lumabas kami sa kwartong iyon. Hindi ko siya kayang tignan, hindi. Hindi.

Pansin ko na palabas na kami at mukhang aalis na. Tahimik at nakayukong pumasok ako sa sasakyan nito ng pagbuksan ako, I was supposed to sit, but I just realized there's a bouquet at the seat.

Pasimpleng tumingin ako sa kanya, pero malaki ang ngiti nitong nakatingin sakin. I quickly avoid his eyes, "Sa'yo yan."

Nahihiyang kinuha ko ito tsaka umupo. He closed the door and jogged to the driver's seat. He started to roar the engine while my eyes are fixed on the bouquet.

I wanted to smell and check the flowers like I usually do, but this time I can't. Nahihiya ako.

I felt him slowly moving closer a while ago, then suddenly, I don't know what's gotten to me but I quickly moved my face to him and met his...

Shit!

He was just silent the whole drive, and I never tried to glance at him. Never.

Ramdam ko na tumigil ang sasakyan at nagbabakasakaling nasa bahay na kami, pero nang mapansing tumigil kami sa isang Cafe ay dahan-dahan tumingin ako sakanya na parang tuta.

"Bibili muna ako ng kape at pagkain na rin, sama ka?" Mabilis na tumango ako. I want to choose a food and drink for me.

Mukhang wala rin namang tao sa loob. Mabilis na sinuot ko ang cap at mask. He opened the door for me. Sabay kami pumasok sa loob. This Cafe screams silent dahil ang tahimik. Ilang tao lamang ang nandito.

Mabilis binigay sa'min ang inorder. Ako na sana ang magbabayad ng s'akin ng inunahan ako nito, at dahil ramdam ko pa rin ang kahihiyan kanina ay hinayaan ko na lang. Babawi ako sa susunod.

We were about to go, but then Geo suddenly greeted someone. I lifted my eyes to see who it is. Both of our eyes widen the moment our eyes met.

It's Terrence with his so-called girlfriend? Or MU? Palagi niya ito kinukwento sa'kin, pero never ko nakita ang mukha nito. Lowkey kasi and wants a private life.

"Amadea, nandito ka pala?"

Amadea? Her name sounds familiar, or does it have a similarity? Parang mag Amadea, Amadeo rin ata sa name ni Geo. Wait... I forgot!

Kumunot ang noo ko at nakaramdam ng kung ano nang kilala nito ang kasama ni Terrence. He's also wearing a cap and mask like me. Never thought our path would pass here.

"Kuya! Ah... oo." The girl he called Amadea shyly answered.

Ah! Geo Amadeo Correo! Now, I remember.

I noticed Geo glanced at Terrence who is curiously looking at me. Pinanlakihan ko lang siya ng mata at inirapan, pagkatapos ay saglit na binaba ang mask at nag tongue's out. Nothing. I just want to tease him.

"Boyfriend mo?"

Amadea, hesitatingly glance at Terrence na nakatingin sakanya, naghihintayan kung sino ang sasagot. Then, I made an assumption na hindi pa sila. Willing to wait ata si girl.

"Soon," Terrence answered which made Amadea blush, but then, I saw sadness in her eyes.

And I think I know why.

Tinaasan lang ni Geo ng kilay si Terrence. "Girlfriend mo, Kuya?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata at biglang bumalik ang nangyari kanina sakin. Umiwas ako ng tingin, pero ramdam ko ang titig nila sakin. "Soon."

Ha?

"By the way, this is my cousin." Geo introduced, I glance at her and nodded with a smile.

Hindi na nag-usisa pa si Amadea kung bakit hindi minention ni Geo ang pangalan ko, gano'n din sa sitwasyon ni Terrence na mukhang alam ng dalawa kung sino kami. The two bid their goodbyes, and the two of us walked to the car.

Hindi ko alam kung saan kami papunta, basta ang alam ko lang ay nagmamanaeho si Geo habang umiinom ako ng kape at tahimik na kumakain. It's like we're going somewhere without a