four

Rummaging at the luggage of her best friend Elyse took out of all the gift she got "Kasama ba ito sa gift ko?" she asked about the black luminescent thing in her hand "Oh wait, this is familiar" looking at her best friend who was busy talking to someone in her phone "Hindi ba ito yung gift mo kay kuya?"

Aliyah was talking with Gio, her boyfriend, "Wait my best friend is talking to me" muting the phone, she looks at Elyse "Give it to you brother" she said and go back on talking with Gio "I told you I will be busy this week, wala akong time Gio"

Hindi pinansin ni Elyse ang sinabi ni Aliyah she walks towards her "Bakit mo dala to hanggang ibang bansa? Ayaw mo ba mamiss ang kuya Adam ko?"

"Stop your imagination. It is just I don't have time, huh?" Aliyah simply said as she runs away to her Elyse who was busy interrogating her, she looked at her and show a shut-up sign "Gio are you there?"

Gio on the other line sighed as he heard the name 'Adam' "Yes I'm here. It is okay I understand na wala kang time, but can't I see you kahit nag-aaral ka? You go study and I will just sit beside you quietly. I promise."

Aliyah closes her door leaving her best friend inside the bedroom, feeling guilty "You know I can't accommodate you. It's like you will just waste your time"

Gio, let a little laugh "No. It's okay your studies are more important I'll just bear it for six years and you have a lifetime to compensate for those six years. Deal?"

Aliyah was more even impressed on how Gio can handle the situation, a small smile formed in her lips as she agreed "Deal"

Elyse opened the door and saw Aliyah's small smile in her lips "Iba talaga pag nasa relationship no? You will abandon your best friend since birth for a guy"

Nilingon naman ni Aliyah si Elyse at inakbayan "So? Get a guy and be in a relationship too. Then dump me" she said and dragged her inside the room "In that way, we are even"

Inalis ni Elyse ang pagkakaakbay nito sa kanya at itinulak sa kama si Aliyah "I'm loyal no?" she pouted "Atsaka I'm in a relationship na kaya" she boasted

Aliyah was in real shock "Who? Your brother agrees?"

"Of course! I'm in a relationship with you!" she said and throw herself to Aliyah "So you are now cheating now!"

Aliyah massage her temples "I can't really pinpoint why did I believe your words" she pushed her "Maligo ka na nga!"

Elyse stand up and look at her "Tandaan mo si Gio ang kabit!" she stompped her feet going to the bathroom "Sa Diaz ka lang" she added before closing the door "Sagot!" she ordered as she peeks her head into the door looking at Aliyah

Seeing her best friend attitude, she just nods her head "Oo na! Maligo ka na nga!"

Inside the bathroom Elyse sent a text to his brother, she sighed "Naunahan ka tuloy" she mumbled

A text disturbs the quiet night in the study room of Adam, looking at the text of her sister he just shrugged and go back to reviewing the documents in his hand. "Gio huh" he muttered as he goes back to the scene of a blushing woman mumbling the man named 'Gio'

Aliyah is busy reviewing her notes at the café, focused on her notes she was trying to find the coffee without looking away on her notes because it is a waste of time. She felt that someone hold her hand and place the cup on it, "Gio" she said softly, Gio was with her since the afternoon and when she looks outside of the window the yellow blazing sun was replaced by the bright crescent moon. "Gabi na pala" she guiltily said

Gio just smiled at her and pat her head "Yes it's already evening so kailanagan mo na kumain" placing food in front of Aliyah, seeing her struggle to come up with a decision "Okay. You continue to study susubuan kita"

"No. No. I will eat I can continue it when I got home" dali-daling sabi ni Aliyah at agad na kinuha ang utensils sa kamay ni Gio. "Thank you" she murmurs before she digs up her food

Gio's small smile becomes wider as he sees how Aliyah reacts on his attempt for public display of affection, pulling his seat near her "Grabe ka makatanggi" iling na sabi niya.

"Alam mo naman eh" irap na sabi ni Aliyah sa kanya, silence accompany them for some minute before Aliyah broke it "But you know I feel guilty"

Looking at her girlfriend's guilty expression he simpers and swallowed the last drip of the juice in his hand, "It's okay, we have a deal, right? Don't worry" Gio stood up and start to fix the things in the table "Let's hurry it's getting late; your parents will get mad. Ihahatid na kita"

Aliyah's expression stiffened "No need. As you said it is getting late na nga mabuti pa na diretso ka na sa bahay nyo, kaya ko naman tumawag ng cab" looking at him deeply "You need to catch the last trip right? It's my fault na ginabi ka you will make me feel more guilty if you miss the last trip"

Looking at her troubled expression and giving her best to convince him, he already knew "Alright. I know your parents don't approve of me yet" Gio hold her hands "You don't need to conceal it to me. I'm fine" he gave her a small smile and accompany her walking outside of the café. "It's dangerous if ikaw lang magcacab I'll accompany you promise sa cab lang ako"

Aliyah look at him "Gio, it's already late. Mahihirapan ka na makasakay"

"But your safety is my priority and I can take a cab" he assured her

Aliyah was getting annoyed she doesn't like how Gio rejected her request many times, "Pero-" a bright flash from the headlight and a horn cut off her words.

While driving alongside the sidewalk Adam saw a familiar figure, her pink hair before is now brown tied in a bun. Adam took her sister's phone who was silently scrolling on her phone and throw it at the backseat.

Elyse bored eyes turned into furious when her phone suddenly flew at the backseat, looking at her brother in disbelief "Are you bored? Nanahimik na nga ako bat mo tinapon yung phone ko?!"

Adam didn't mind her sister's anger his cold eyes were just fixed on the woman outside the café, while her sister didn't stop on complaining he just signaled Elyse to look outside.

Elyse reluctantly looks outside as she doesn't know what's on the mind of her almighty kuya, "Oh" she said in realization when she saw her best friend "Okay. Alright, I got you. Next time sabihin na kasi ng ayos" she said and smiled her brother before she gets out of the car.

"Hello, my dear best friend! I miss you!" she rushed and hug Aliyah who was startled by her sudden appearance "Oh hello, ikaw ba yung kabit?" she asked Gio who was silently looking at them while they are hugging

"Elyse!" Aliyah shouted at dali-dali naman na inalis niya ang pagkakayakap sa kanya ni Elyse she immediately looks at Gio who was stunned by her best friend's question, holding his wrist "Don't mind her she just like to joke"

Crossing her arms "Though it's fact" Elyse mumbled, "Diaz ang tunay at legal, right, right?"

Aliyah knew that her best friend will not stop until she agrees "Oo na" she sighed. Looking at her boyfriend she whispered "She's referring to herself"

Elyse heard what she whispered as she smiled brightly at her bestfriend's boyfriend, "Di ka sure"

Ignoring Elyse's words, Gio just nods at her girlfriend and caresses her hair "You don't need to explain. I understand"

"At dahil Diaz ang legal, Diaz din ang maghahatid sa kanya pauwi" she grabs her best friend arm and look at Gio "Okay lang ba yun sayo?"

"It's okay for me. Please take her home safely" Gio nods in agreement he looks at Aliyah "It is safer than a cab and your wish will also be granted. I'll go home as you planned" he walks toward her and just gave her a forehead kiss "Take care" he smiled

Elyse can't take the public display of affection anymore, so she dragged her best friend who was in dazed "My golly! Sa harap pa ng legal!" she commented and taking advantage of Aliyah's being in dazed she pushed her into the passenger seat.

Before Aliyah came back to her senses Elyse already shut the door and immediately go to the backseat. "Let's go!"

Aliyah get back to her senses when the car start moving, dali-dali niya namang binaba ang kanyang bintana "Gio take care!" she waved at him.

Gio just waved back and sighed as he saw the driver of the car, nothing else but Adam Vincent Diaz.

"Would you mind wearing the seatbelt by yourself or gusto mo pang ikabit ko sayo?"

Aliyah was startled by the low voice coming from the driver seat she slowly looks at it, and she was right it was no other than Adam. She looked at the backseat and her best friend already pretend to be asleep "Elyse palit tayo"

His deep black eyes radiated a fierce look "You could just get out of the car"

Aliyah pursed her lips and silently buckle the seatbelt and open her phone to ease the awkwardness she was feeling 'Napakainit ng ulo' she thought

Seeing her uneasiness Adam sighed, focusing his attention on the road he cannot help but to peak at the little woman in his passenger seat and witnesses how Aliyah battle to stay awake.

With her eyes becomes blurry, she yawned, peaking at the driver side she knew that he was too focused on driving that he will not notice her. Looking outside of the window her eyes start to feel heavy as she continues to yawn while rubbing her arms because she was wearing a black sleeveless shirt and a minute later, she is already fast asleep in the passenger seat.

Elyse blinks her eyes a few couples of times because of her blurry vision due to sleep, realizing that they are already in front of her best friend's house, she looks at her brother who was just busy scrolling on his phone "Andito na pala tayo eh. Ano pang iniintay mo?"

"You're both sleeping," he said blandly and gesture Aliyah who is still sleeping soundly in the passenger seat with a blanket wrapped in her arms.

"Wow," Elyse said disbelief "Kalian ka pa nahiya gisingin ako?" she crosses her arm and narrowed her eyes to her older brother "Favoritism"

Few minutes have passed she eyed her brother and it looks like he does not have any plan to wake her best friend "Dito na lang ba tayo hanggang umaga? Kung gusto mo okay lang pero I'll sleep in her bed and I will leave you two alone here"

Akmang aalis na si Elyse when Adam spoke "You wake her up" he commanded

"My golly. Ang hirap maging kapatid mo ha. Ang high maintenance susko" reklamo ni Elyse at tinapik si Aliyah "Best. We are here"

Aliyah rubbed her eyes, scanning the surroundings outside "Oh nandito na pala tayo. Matagal na ba tayo nakatigil?" she asked because it looks like it was near midnight already.

Before Elyse could say something, Adam interrupts her "No"

Aliyah looked at him who was still busy with his phone she felt something warm in her arms and realized it was a fluffy blanket in black, she eyed Adam and then her best friend "Thank you" as she handed to her best friend

"Huh? It was no-" Elyse said in confusion as she holds the blanket in her hands.

Aliyah cut her best friends' words "I'll get going na. Be careful on the road thank you" she hurriedly gets out of the car and wave a last goodbye to it before she runs inside their house.

Adam just shook his head placing his phone back in his pocket and start to drive her sister home. Looking at his sister, he coughed "Just go back to sleep you are still sleepy to process things"

Elyse was just there at the backseat still confused about what just her best friend thanked her for, looking at her brother's small smile she just predicted that it was a good thing and go back to her dreamland.