"Galing pa kayo sa school?" tanong ko. 
Raejel giggles. "Ah oo, tumakas lang kami ni Ibrahim. Thanks to Nich, nakatakas kami."
"Gusto niyo bang bumili muna ng ibang damit para hindi kayo maging center of attraction?" Nich suggested while fixing his hair.
I agree with Nich. Kahit gaano kaganda ang uniforms ng Canelian, they are not here to promote their club. They must separate their lives with it.
"Okay naman 'to ah." Raejel pointed her shirt.
Nagkatinginan agad kami ni Nich. I know he's more worried with the possibility that I won't like her over his thoughts on the topic. He knows me well; it will be a curse for Raejel later. But I hope that my perspective doesn't end here, because I obviously supported her a while ago. The possibilities for me to like her are infinite.
I don't have the authority to tell Nich who to date or not. He knows I am an excellent judge of people's character, and he trusts me with that.
As soon as Ibrahim arrived, he observed, "Let's go buy a shirt, Raejel."
"O - Okay. Huy! Kayong dalawa just tell me what's wrong or tell me your opinions. Apphia, have you thought about that? Is it humiliating to be with someone wearing our club shirt?"
My eyebrows twitched. "Hindi naman."
"Oo, Raejel." 
Sabay rin kaming napatingin sa isa't-isa ni Ibrahim. 
Thanks for telling the truth, Ibrahim.
"Okay. I am not comfortable when someone is not telling me what I must do. To be clear, I would love to hear criticisms for my own good. We'll start here, okay? Apphiah, I don't hate you if you tell me your opinion, as long as I can do something about it. I can change my clothes, if you tell me the reasons why, and maybe you're more reasonable, then I'll do that," she gasped for air and paused for a second, "I just think that I can save money from buying new clothes when I'm dressed decently," she reasoned.
"We're outside the school premises, Raejel. We don't have time to change our clothes because you're eager to get out of the club. We must change. It's my opinion as someone who's wearing the same uniform." Sabat naman agad ni Ibrahim.
Napangiti ako at mahinang tumango sa sinabi niya. "I agree with Ibrahim." 
"There! You should voice out your thoughts. I'm sorry for blurting out things you probably didn't expect to hear from someone you just met 10 minutes ago. You just remind me of my cousin back home, that's why I kind of know what you did with Nich a while ago because we do that too often." 
Napangiti nalang ako nang magtama ang mga mata namin. Nicholas won the lottery this time.
"Tara na, kanina pa tayo sa labas." 
Nauna nang pumasok si Ibrahim. Tinapik pa ni Raejel ang balikat ko at hinayaan naman niyang iwan niya kami ni Nich sa labas. 
Hindi mapunas ang ngiti ni Nicholas habang nakatingin kay Raejel na kakapasok lang sa mall. 
"She's acceptable, is she?" His smile is more genuine, and the way he looks softens.
"I like her," I stated, which shifted his focus.
"I assumed you didn't! You make more facial expressions, when you lie,. I saw your eyebrows twitch. That's when I knew that war is coming."
I let out a chuckle, "I like her." Pag-uulit ko nang sinimulan ko ring tahakin ang daan paloob ng mall. 
"I like her too." Ika naman ni Nicholas na nasa likuran ko, sumusunod sa mga hakbang ko.
I'm feeling extremely lightheaded. I never imagined I'd discover someone who matches Nicholas in every way. Not just between them, but also for me.