An announcement of having invited his ex-girlfriend to their summer out-of-town trip by his sister, Kate, has got Luke absolutely panicking. It has been four years since he and Mace broke up and though they are civil when seeing each other during occasions, as Mace became Kate's instant bestfriend back when they were still going out, there had been no other reason for them stay and make even a small talk since their break-up. 

So dropping such a bomb has taken a toll on Luke's anxiety levels. How was he supposed to act with Mace on such near proximity for two whole weeks in the same house? How does Mace even feel of this set-up? Isn't it rather awkward for both of them? 

It's the summer of 2001 and Luke has never been this confused and anxious in his life. Will he and Mace remain the civil ex-couple they have been or will he get another chance to fight for the girl he let go but have never forgotten ever since? 



Back to that Summer

Luke was not in a good mood from the moment he saw Kate and Mace's twin outfits for their Badian trip --- black shirts tucked in over white shorts that were too short for his liking, and matching boots that were just too out of place for a vacation in a province. Most of all, he was not pleased over the stretch of skin the shorts they wore were revealing. 


And now, Mace was doing her best to look like a damsel in distress as she asked him to bring her slippers with him. Luke was annoyed but the look on his girlfriend's cute pouty face was getting harder and harder to resist. 


Mace: Look, it’s not hard at all. All you have to do is bring this little, very light plastic bag with my size 5 slippers with you. 


Mace: And you won’t have to carry it at all because you can just put it in the baggage bin on top of the bus seats. There really is no effort to exert from your end. 


Luke: So why don’t you just bring it yourself then? I have other bags to bring to the trip. 


Mace: There’s no space for it in my bags. And we’re not going on this trip together. I might accidentally leave it behind if I’ll be the one to bring it. 


Luke: That’s really not my problem now, is it? Besides, who told you to bring so many stuff and who told you to wear boots to this trip? 


Mace: We’ll be there for a week, I want to make sure I have all the stuff I need. And I’m wearing these boots because it’s the trend now. 


Luke: You're not making any sense Mace. You're wearing boots you don’t need and making me bring these slippers which you definitely need there. It’s the province of Badian after all, not the city of Manila! 


Tita Dane: We have to get in line now Luke, the bus is here! I'm going to go ahead. Just bring that for now, I can put it inside my bag once we're inside the bus. 


Luke looked at Mace’s pleading face. Gritting his teeth, he finally gave in. 


Mace’s face broke into a happy grin at his surrender. She squeezed one of Luke's hands and after a quick check to make sure Tita Dane wasn't looking in their direction, she gave him a big hug, 


Mace: Yes, I owe you big time and I promise to make up to you when we get there later! 


Luke was taken aback at Mace's sudden display of affection but he responded just as quickly by hugging her back and giving her a peck on her lips. He let her go after giving her hand a squeeze as well. 


As he watched her run off towards Kate, Luke heaved an exasperated sigh. He was still annoyed at Mace, he was still worried who will be looking at her legs BUT she had hugged him in public, which seldom happened, and he could not stop the goofy smile on his face. 


Shaking his head at just how weak he really was when it came to his girlfriend, he turned the other direction and quickly ran to catch up with his mom. Upon reaching her side, Tita Dane immediately took the plastic from his hand but he held fast to it. 


Tita Dane: I thought you don’t want to bring it? You made such a fuss! 


Luke: I was just teasing her Ma, of course I don’t mind bringing it. She loves these slippers! 


A while later, Tita Dane looked at her son already asleep for the 3-hour trip ahead. All his bags were stored inside the baggage bin, save the little plastic bag containing Mace’s size 5 slippers, which he held close to his heart.


Memoirs Number 1: The Size 5 Slippers