The three on the floor were still asleep kaya hindi nila nakita ang nangyari.


"Zia. Zia, t-teka nga lang."
Blu called out her name pero pumasok lang si Zia sa bahay ni Audin at tsaka lumapit sa isang sleeping bag pero dumating na si Blu sa harap niya.

"Why.. why are you avoiding me?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Blu sa kanya. The moment Zia met Blu's eyes, it flashed blue again kaya napakagat nalang si Zia sa ibabang labi niya at saglit na napapikit.

She smiled at him, a smile that Blu could clearly recognize. A fake one.


"Avoiding you? Hindi ah."
Nakangiting sagot ni Zia at tsaka tumalikod pero hinawakan na ni Blu ang braso niya at pinaharap si Zia sa kanya. "Yes, you are." Mariing sabi ni Blu.

Tiningnan niyang maigi ang babaeng nasa harap niya habang inaayos niya ang mga tanong na nasa isip niya dahil ang dami niyang tanong para kay Zia na hindi na niya alam kung ano ang uunahin.


"Look, I already know that something's wrong pero pwede mo bang sabihin sa akin kung ano?"
Mahinahong tanong ni Blu kay Zia. Zia avoided his gaze but Blu just stepped into where she was looking just to be the center of her view.

"Blu, I thought we already settled things. Back at the lab? Tapos na diba?" Tanong ni Zia. Blu clenched his jaw and Zia wasn't prepared for what Blu said next.


"Did you really expect for things to end after that kiss?"
Blu asked, broken and hopeless.


Hindi agad nakasagot si Zia dahil sa tanong nito. In her mind, yes, they did settle things dahil sinabi niyang may mga bagay siyang kailangang unahin and also for the fact that Blu was getting engaged at that time.

Parehong magulo ang isip nila, but Zia's mind was more of a mess.


Sasagot na sana si Zia sa tanong ni Blu nang biglang may librong nahulog mula sa likuran ni Blu kaya sabay silang napatingin dito at dun nila nakita si Lucas na nakatayo doon at nakatingin ng diretso sa kanila.

From a shocked expression, Lucas' gaze changed into an irritated one.


"Kiss, huh?"
Tanong nito at tsaka na umalis.


Napasapo nalang si Zia sa mukha niya at tsaka tiningnan si Blu na naghihintay parin ng sagot niya.


"No, I never wanted anything to change. Gusto kita at gusto parin kita. But given our situation, our team and our realm, we have no time to this, Blu."
Dahan-dahan nang tinanggal ni Zia ang pagkakahawak ni Blu sa kanya.

Blu's cold hands left Zia's warm body.


"You, you're just, amazing."
Napatingin agad si Zia kay Blu dahil sa sinabi nito.


"Back then, you couldn't even admit to yourself that you like me and now you're saying it in front of me and then just expect me to let you leave?"
Natigilan muli si Zia dahil sa sinabi ni Blu at dahan-dahan nang umatras nung naglakad na si Blu palapit sa kanya.

Saglit na tumigil si Blu nung hinawakan ni Zia ang dibdib niya para pigilan siya sa paglapit at dun niya nakita ang wing symbol sa braso ni Zia.


"I have something I'm curious about."
Sabi ni Blu at hinawakan ang kamay ni Zia na nakahawak sa dibdib niya. Zia just looked at him, waiting for the question.


"Everyone keeps asking me if I only like you just because you're a Princess. But no, I like you more than that, Zia. Ever since the day I saw you, I vowed to always be by your side. This may seem like an exaggeration but you really mean the world to me."
Zia kept her heartbeat steady dahil alam niyang kapag lumakas ito, tutunog ang radar ng Tito Milo niya.

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