"Habol habol din, Ms. Salcedo. Nadadalas pagiging speechless natin", he winked at me, smiled, then turned off his car.

I was walking a step behind him, my mind is trying to process too many things at once.

I took a deep breath, then was surprised to see Borj standing in front of me.

"Ganun ba ako kasakit sa ulo?", he asked, smiling.

"Borj... time out", I said, my hands gesturing what I just said.

"Huh?", he asked, confused.

"Can we try to talk, walk, eat like what normal people do? I just want to stop thinking, Borj"

"What is it that you were thinking?", he asked, like he's not aware of the havoc he created in my system.

"Grrr!", I stomped my foot, and walked past him.

He pulled me back, and said, "Stop thinking, Roni. That's not your strongest suit when it comes to this..."

"Benjamin Jimenez" I said, ng may paniningkit ng mata.

He just bent down a bit, looked me in the eyes, and said, "Kapit pa ng konti, Ms. Salcedo. Your time is almost running out". He grinned, which earned him a slap in the arm, and a pinch to his torso.

He just laughed, held my hand, and ushered me to where we're going.

"Sis, what took you so long? I thought you were just behind us", Jelai asked, while standing beside a post.

"Akala ko, Tsong, tinanan mo na e", Jun jun said, his arm on Jelai's shoulder.

"Hoy.. Mr. Justine dela Cruz, you're probably forgetting that I'm Jelai's bestfriend", I said, hoping to threaten him.

"Tsk", Borj said, teasingly dismissing me. He pulled me to stand beside him, then said, looking at Jun jun "Ayaw pang bumitaw, pare"

I took a step away from him, then screamed when I got out of balance. Lucky Borj's arm was behind me. He pulled me back to him, then said, "You're too careless, Ms. Salcedo. Lahat na lang hinulugan mo, maliban sa akin". He suddenly laughed, then pulled me to a hug, hiding his face on my shoulder.

I wanted to be irritated, but to my own surprised, I heard myself laughing. My tired brain has taken the backseat, letting that foolish heart lead the way.

I pushed him a bit, looked at his face, then said while still laughing, "Your face is really red. Hindi mo kinayanan ka-cornyhan mo no?".

I was just looking at him smiling, when his face suddenly became serious, touched my cheeks, then said, "I miss your laugh. I miss making you laugh".

The said brain probably was surprised, panicked, pulled the alarm, but just like the previous instances, got tongue-tied, and not sure what to say.

"Sis, ikaw naman ang namumula", I heard Jelai said behind me.

I'm tempted to say another thing, or hug her again, but I can see the war inside of her. She's trying to be brave, but deep down inside, I can see her fear.

I just smiled, nodded my head, somehow assuring her that I understand.

I dropped my hand from her face, but held her hand, ushering her inside the café.

Willing to wait.. will wait until you're ready.

"Borj...", I heard Jelai called my name. I looked at her, then my eyes found Roni staring at me. "What do you want to eat? We normally order the same thing, so I know what Roni wants, but I'm not sure what it is that you like", she asked, but threw a glance sideways, probably checking on Roni.

"I'll just go with Jelai", Roni said, pulling her hand from my grasp, her eyes averting mine.

And the overthinking self re-appears.

I held her hand tighter then stood at the corner of the table where we're sitting.

I whispered, "Stop overthinking", smiled at her then said, "Pancakes, with strawberry and maple syrup, mushroom omelette and cheese, hot chocolate. Did I miss anything?"

She looked at me, then at Jelai, then looked at me again.

"You still eat a lot", I shook my head and pinched her nose. "Maupo na po kayo, Mahal na Prinsesa"

"Haha! Yung Prinsipe mo na raw, Sis, yung bahala", Jelai laughed, smiled at me, then mouthed, thank you.