CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER #4

The soft hum of the engine filled the quiet subdivision as Matt's black SUV rolled to a stop in front of the Zamora residence.

For once, he was early.

The moment the horn sounded, the front door swung open, and Audrae stepped outside with a small sling bag hanging over one shoulder. She looked effortlessly put together in a fitted white baby tee, loose denim jeans, and clean white sneakers. Her dark hair was tied into a low ponytail, leaving a few loose strands framing her face.

Leaning against the gate, she let out a dramatic sigh.

"Good morning... or whatever this is," she muttered, still looking half asleep.

Matt chuckled quietly as he stepped out to help load a few bags into the back.

"You look like you fought your pillow."

Audrae shot him a sleepy glare."I lost."

A loud laugh suddenly echoed from inside the house.

Elijah came jogging out with a backpack slung over one shoulder, sunglasses perched on top of his head despite the cloudy morning.

"Correction," he announced proudly. "She didn't lose. She got absolutely demolished."

Without missing a beat, Audrae smacked his arm."Shut up."

"Aray!" Elijah laughed, rubbing the spot dramatically. "Violence agad. Wala pang lunch."

Matt only shook his head with an amused smile before opening the passenger door for Audrae.

"Let's go. We still have to pick up your car before lunch traffic gets worse."

Audrae climbed into the passenger seat while Elijah threw himself into the back like he owned the vehicle.

As soon as everyone settled in, Matt eased the SUV out of the subdivision and onto the highway.

For several minutes, the ride was peaceful.

The stereo played a mellow R&B playlist at a comfortable volume while the three of them quietly watched the city wake up around them.

Audrae rested her cheek against the window, lazily watching buildings blur past.

After yesterday's long day in Makati, she still hadn't fully recovered.

She looked exhausted.

Matt noticed.

"Still sleepy?" he asked, keeping one hand relaxed on the steering wheel.

Audrae only hummed."Yeah."

"She slept at almost three in the morning," Elijah said from the backseat.

Audrae slowly turned around."Traitor."

Elijah shrugged."I'm just saying facts."

Matt laughed under his breath."No wonder."

A comfortable silence settled over the car again until Matt remembered something.

"By the way..."

His eyes briefly met Audrae's through the reflection of the rearview mirror.

"Coach Cath said your whole family is heading to Pampanga after this?"

Audrae nodded."Yeah."She stretched her arms over her head before settling back into her seat."We're going straight there after picking up my car."

Matt raised an eyebrow."Today?"

"Mm-hmm."She sighed dramatically."I'm already dreading the drive."

Elijah leaned forward between the front seats with an exaggerated grin."Same...The traffic alone is going to shave five years off my life."

Audrae laughed.

"You'll survive."

"Barely."

Matt smiled to himself before asking another question."Is Elijah coming with you?"

Audrae didn't even hesitate."Of course."

She pointed her thumb toward the dramatic man behind them."He basically legally adopted himself into our family."

"Excuse me," Elijah protested proudly."Practically?"

He placed a hand over his chest.

"I'm already a permanent resident of your house."

Audrae burst into laughter.

"See?"

Matt couldn't help but laugh as well."Funny."He glanced briefly at Elijah through the mirror."You're always available whenever Audrae's family invites you somewhere..."

A teasing grin slowly appeared on his face.

"...but every single time my family invites you, bigla kang nawawala."

Elijah gasped dramatically."Bro...That's different."

Matt waited."How?"

Elijah spread both hands."What am I supposed to do in your hometown?"

"Sit there?"

"Smile?"

"Wave at your relatives?"

"I'd rather disappear."

Audrae covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Matt only shook his head."Excuses."

"Valid excuses." Elijah corrected confidently.

The SUV erupted into another round of laughter as they continued toward Makati.

Nearly two hours later, they finally pulled into the premium customization shop.

Morning sunlight reflected beautifully across the polished glass exterior as rows of luxury vehicles sat parked outside.

Audrae climbed out of the SUV first.

The excitement she'd been suppressing since waking up finally showed on her face.

"Finally."She stretched both arms."I missed my baby."

Elijah laughed while following behind her."It's only been a few days."

"Still counts."

Inside the showroom, one of the coordinators greeted them with a smile before leading them toward the delivery bay.

There it was.

Parked beneath the bright showroom lights.

Audrae's newly customized car gleamed under the polished ceiling, its glittery midnight-blue finish shifting beautifully with every angle the light touched.

Tiny metallic flakes shimmered beneath the clear coat, giving the paint an almost galaxy-like depth.

Audrae stopped walking.

For a brief moment...

...she simply admired it.

A slow smile spread across her face.

The deep dimple on her left cheek appeared almost immediately.

"Ang ganda..." she whispered almost to herself.

Matt folded his arms across his chest.A satisfied smile tugged at his lips."Worth the wait?"

Audrae nodded without taking her eyes off the car."More than worth it."

Even Elijah looked impressed.

He circled the vehicle once before letting out a low whistle."Okay..."He lightly patted the hood."This is clean."

After one final inspection and a short test drive around the block, Audrae signed the release papers while Matt handled the remaining documents with the coordinator.

Everything was finally finished.

For the first time in over a week...

Her car was back.

She couldn't stop smiling.

Elijah noticed immediately."Look at her."He nudged Matt with his elbow."She's happier than when we won Regionals."

Audrae rolled her eyes."Shut up...Never."

Matt laughed softly before checking the time on his watch.

It was already past one in the afternoon.

He looked toward the two of them.

"Lunch?"

Almost instantly-

"YES."Audrae and Elijah answered in perfect sync.

The three of them stared at each other for a second...

...before bursting into laughter.

The restaurant was comfortably busy by the time the three of them walked in.

The rich aroma of grilled meat, garlic butter, and freshly cooked rice instantly wrapped around them, making Elijah dramatically clutch his stomach.

"I'm actually dying," he groaned. "If food doesn't arrive in the next five minutes, sabihin niyo na lang sa Coach ko na I die with honor."

Audrae snorted."Ang OA mo."

"OA? Bro, we've been awake for hours."

Matt only shook his head, already accustomed to Elijah's daily theatrics.

A waiter guided them toward a booth near the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Makati's busy streets.

The moment they sat down, Elijah didn't even bother looking at the menu.

"Same order."

He handed it back immediately."Alam na nila 'yan."

The waitress laughed softly."The usual?"

"Please."Audrae smiled.

"Mukhang regular na regular ka rito ah."

"Correction." Elijah proudly pointed at Matt.

"Libre kasi siya madalas."

Matt raised an eyebrow."So that's why you keep agreeing to eat with me."

"Exactly."

"At least honest."

The table erupted into laughter.

The food arrived surprisingly fast.

Large plates of steak, pasta, chicken, fries, pizza, and rice quickly covered almost every inch of the table.

For nearly ten minutes...

Nobody spoke.

The only sounds were utensils clinking against ceramic plates.

Audrae finally broke the silence.

"I swear pagkain talaga ang greatest love language."

Elijah pointed his fork at her dramatically.

"Finally."

"Something we actually agree on."

Matt chuckled." Akala ko ba diet ka?"

Audrae looked at him with complete seriousness."Tomorrow."

Elijah immediately nodded."Classic athlete mentality...Diet starts tomorrow for the fifteenth time."

"Hoy."She laughed, throwing a tissue straight at him.

As they slowly finished eating, Matt's phone vibrated on the table.

He glanced at the screen before locking it again.

Audrae noticed."Everything okay?"

Matt nodded."Dad."He reached for his water."Just reminding me about tomorrow's flight."

Elijah swallowed his food."Right...China."

Matt nodded once."Three days...Maybe four."

Audrae leaned back against the booth."I thought your trip was supposed to be next week?"

Matt sighed.

A long...

patient...

older brother kind of sigh.

"It was."He pinched the bridge of his nose."Then Malleah found out her favorite idol is holding a fan event while we're there."

Elijah already knew where this was going.

He slowly covered his face.

Matt continued.

"She begged Mom and Dad to move the flight earlier."

Silence.

Then-

Elijah burst into uncontrollable laughter."BRO!Your sister is actually dangerous!"

Audrae couldn't help laughing too."Poor Tito and Tita."

Matt simply accepted his fate."Trust me...No one can say no to her."

Audrae rested her chin on her palm before a mischievous smile slowly appeared.

She turned toward Elijah.

Elijah noticed immediately.

His smile disappeared."No."

Audrae blinked innocently."No what?"

"Don't look at me like that."He pointed his fork at her."Every time you smile like that, may kasunod na kalokohan."

Matt quietly observed the exchange.

Then...

He slowly looked at Elijah."Speaking of Malleah..."

Elijah froze.

Matt's expression remained perfectly calm.Too calm."Don't even think about my sister."

Elijah almost dropped his spoon."WHAT?..Bro! Why would I even-"

Matt didn't blink."Just making sure."

Audrae completely lost it.

She buried her face against the table while laughing."HAHAHAHA!I can't be with you two."

Elijah looked genuinely offended."I have standards!"

Matt raised one eyebrow."I'm sure you do."

"BRO!"

The neighboring table glanced toward them after Elijah's dramatic outburst.

Audrae laughed even harder.

Almost an hour later...

Their plates were practically spotless.When the bill arrived, Audrae instinctively reached for her wallet.

She didn't even get the chance.

Matt had already handed over his black card.

Audrae sighed."Matt...We can split it."

Matt shook his head.

"Next time."

Before she could argue-

Elijah clasped both hands together dramatically."Thank you for your generosity, Captain."

Matt looked at him."You weren't even pretending to pay."

"Because I knew you wouldn't let us." Elijah said, smiling.

Matt couldn't even argue with that.

He simply laughed.

The three of them stepped outside into the warm afternoon sunlight.A soft breeze rolled through the streets as office workers hurried past them.

Matt checked the time.

Then his phone rang again. He answered immediately."Yeah, Dad?"

A short pause.

"Okay."

"I'm on my way."

He ended the call before slipping the phone back into his pocket.

Audrae already knew."You have to go?"

Matt nodded apologetically."Dad finished earlier than expected..I need to pick him up."

Elijah stretched lazily."Guess it's just us now."

Matt looked toward Audrae."You sure you'll be okay driving all the way to Pampanga?"

She smiled confidently."We'll switch halfway..He's driving first."She pointed at Elijah.

Elijah immediately saluted."Professional chauffeur reporting for duty."

Audrae rolled her eyes."Professional reklamador."

Matt laughed quietly before tossing Elijah the spare key.

"Drive safely."

"Always."

He turned back toward Audrae.

For a brief second...

His expression softened.

"Text me when you get there."

Audrae nodded."I will."

Without another word, Matt gave them one last wave before climbing into his SUV.The engine came to life.

Moments later...

His vehicle disappeared into Makati traffic.

Leaving only Audrae...

Elijah...

and the long drive to Pampanga ahead.

Elijah spun the key around one finger before looking at Audrae with a grin.

"Ready?"

Audrae looked toward the open highway stretching into the distance.

She smiled.

"Let's go."

Neither of them knew...

that before the sun set-

The road ahead would bring them one step closer to meeting the person everyone on the internet couldn't stop talking about.

The first hour of the drive flew by surprisingly fast.

With the windows cracked open just enough to let the warm afternoon breeze in, the car echoed with off-key singing, loud laughter, and the occasional argument over who had ruined the lyrics first.

Elijah drummed his fingers against the steering wheel while an upbeat hip-hop playlist blasted through the speakers.

"Bro, you're flat."

Audrae shot him an offended look from the passenger seat.

"Excuse me?"

"You're flat."

"You're tone-deaf."

"You're ugly."

Elijah gasped dramatically."Personal attack agad?"

Audrae burst into laughter."Drive."

"Yes, ma'am." Elijah said.

The comfortable banter carried them through the first stretch of the expressway, making the long trip feel much shorter than it actually was.

But as they approached the main highway...

Everything came to a complete stop.

Rows upon rows of vehicles stretched endlessly ahead of them.

Brake lights painted the road red.

Not a single lane was moving.

Elijah stared blankly through the windshield."...Hindi na 'to traffic...Parking lot na 'to."

Audrae slowly leaned forward to look outside.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Even the motorcycles weaving between cars had given up.

She leaned back against her seat with a defeated sigh."We're never getting there."

Ten minutes passed.

Then twenty.

Then forty.

They had barely moved a few meters.

Elijah let his forehead fall dramatically against the steering wheel."Aud...I'm losing the will to live."

She laughed."Drama."

"No, seriously."He looked at her with complete sincerity."I've watched the same white van beside us for almost half an hour."

Audrae glanced toward the van.

Sure enough...

It was still there.

She couldn't stop herself from laughing.

With absolutely nothing else to do...She reached toward the center console.

Elijah immediately knew what she was about to do.

His eyes widened."No."

Audrae ignored him.

She picked up his phone.

"Absolutely not."

She unlocked it with practiced ease.

"Audrae Brie Zamora..."

A mischievous smile slowly spread across her face.

"Too late."

She tapped I*******m.

Then-

LIVE.

Within seconds...

The familiar countdown disappeared.

Viewer count:

1,200...

3,700...

8,900...

15,000...

Still climbing.

Audrae smiled brightly at the front camera.

"Hi, guys!"

The comments immediately exploded.

CAT GIRL!!

MOTHER IS LIVE

OMG AUDRAE

ELIJAH WHERE

QUEENNNN

She laughed.

"I'm borrowing Elijah's account today because someone is currently suffering behind the wheel."

Without warning...

She flipped the camera.

Elijah looked absolutely miserable.

One hand on the wheel.

The other hangs dramatically outside the open window.

He looked like he'd accepted death.

"Bro..."He sighed into the camera."Please pray for us."

The comment section lost its mind.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

ELI'S DONE

FREE THEM

TRAFFIC ARC

Audrae giggled.

"We're just heading to Pampanga."

"Supposedly."Elijah corrected."At this rate..."He gestured toward the unmoving highway."...we're probably heading to 2030."

She laughed so hard she almost dropped the phone.

The live stream continued naturally.

Audrae answered random questions while Elijah occasionally interrupted with ridiculous comments.

Everything felt light.

Comfortable.

Until...

One name suddenly appeared.

Kenji.

Then another.

Kenji.

Then dozens.

Hundreds.

Thousands.

The comments refreshed so quickly they became impossible to read.

KENJI

KENJI SDU

CAT GIRL X KENJI

NOTICE HIM

WHEN WILL YOU MEET

Audrae's smile faltered almost imperceptibly.

Only for a second.

But Elijah noticed.

Immediately.

He stole a quick glance toward her before returning his eyes to the road.

He knew that look.

Without missing a beat, he smoothly leaned closer to the phone.

"Guys..."His voice stayed playful.But there was a subtle firmness underneath."Easy with the comments."

He laughed awkwardly.

"You're looking for someone who isn't even here."

The comments only multiplied.

Audrae quietly exhaled before speaking.

"Guys..."Her voice remained gentle."Please stop spamming names."She offered an awkward smile."We're just hanging out today."

Another flood.

KENJI

KENJI

KENJI

Elijah clicked his tongue."Grabe talaga kayo."

He shook his head.

"Matt's going to get jealous if he watches this."

Audrae blinked.

Then immediately shoved his shoulder.

"Gago."

She laughed.

The tension dissolved almost instantly.

The comments switched directions.

MATT 😭

HAHAHAHAHAHA

TEAM MATT

ELI IS SAVING THE DAY

Elijah winked at the camera.

"See?"

"Mission accomplished."

Audrae smiled gratefully.

She knew exactly what he'd done.

He had redirected the conversation before it could become uncomfortable.

Just like always.

Nearly an hour later...

The traffic hadn't improved.

Not even a little.

Audrae turned the camera toward the endless sea of brake lights.

"Guys..."She sighed dramatically."This is our current situation."

The comments filled with crying emojis.

"I think we're ending the live here."

She smiled warmly."We'll see you all next time."

Elijah lifted one hand from the wheel long enough to wave."Pray for our survival."

Audrae laughed.

"Bye, everyone."

She tapped the screen.

The broadcast ended.

Silence settled inside the car.

Elijah leaned back in his seat with a groan.

"Finally."

Audrae placed his phone back into the cup holder before looking out the window.

The highway still hadn't moved.

She sighed."Coffee?"

Elijah turned toward her.

His eyes lit up immediately."Now you're speaking my language."

A few minutes later, the traffic finally inched forward just enough for them to pull off at the next roadside stop.

Neither of them knew...

that another live stream later that day would unknowingly bring Kenji's name right back into the conversation.

The roadside coffee shop was packed with travelers escaping the afternoon heat.

Inside, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the sweet scent of pastries drifting from the display counter. The cool blast of air-conditioning instantly melted away the exhaustion that had settled over both of them during the endless traffic.

Elijah stretched his arms over his head as they stepped inside."Finally. Civilization."

Audrae laughed, shaking her head."OA mo talaga."

"Bro, we've been sitting in traffic for almost three hours." Elijah looked at her with mock disbelief. "I deserve at least one dramatic entrance."

She rolled her eyes."You deserve therapy."

"Libre mo?"

"Hindi."

"Then I'll stay dramatic."

Audrae couldn't help but laugh.

A few minutes later, they walked back outside carrying two iced coffees, a paper bag filled with sandwiches, and enough snacks to survive another traffic jam.

The afternoon sun had begun to soften, painting everything in warm shades of gold.

As soon as they reached the car, Elijah tossed the keys toward her.

She caught them effortlessly.

"Your turn."

Audrae nodded."Fair."

The two switched places, and she settled comfortably behind the wheel while adjusting the seat and mirrors.

She wrapped both hands around the steering wheel before taking a slow breath.

Everything felt familiar again.

Her car.

Her seat.

Her playlist.

It almost felt like coming home.

Elijah buckled his seatbelt before reaching for his phone.

A mischievous grin slowly spread across his face.

Audrae noticed immediately.

She sighed.

"Don't."

Elijah blinked innocently."Don't what?"

"I know that face."

He chuckled."Relax."

He unlocked his phone."I'm just entertaining the people."

Before Audrae could stop him-

I*******m.

Live.

Within seconds, thousands of viewers poured into the broadcast.The familiar notification echoed through the speakers.

Elijah Wayne started a live video.

"Yo!" Elijah greeted the camera enthusiastically.

"Round two!"

The comments exploded almost instantly.

ELIII!!

CAT GIRL IS DRIVING

HELLO

AUDRAEEEEE

Elijah flipped the camera toward Audrae.

She glanced at it for half a second before returning her attention to the road.

"Hi."She offered a small wave."I'm driving, so don't expect too much interaction."

Elijah laughed."As you can see, SDU's Cat Girl is now our official driver because apparently I got demoted."

Audrae smirked."You got tired after one hour."

"Traffic, ha."He defended himself dramatically."That wasn't driving.That was emotional damage."

The comment section filled with laughing emojis.

Audrae smiled to herself.

Even after years of dealing with social media, she'd never really understand why people found their random conversations entertaining.

They continued cruising along the expressway as the traffic slowly began to loosen.Cars were finally moving at a reasonable pace.

For the first time all afternoon, they were actually making progress.

Elijah scrolled through the comments.

His eyebrows lifted.

"Oh."

He leaned closer to the screen."Someone actually asked a normal question."

Audrae glanced at him briefly."Impossible."

He laughed.

"Aud..."

"What's your ideal type?"

She didn't even think about it."As long as they're human."

Silence.

Then Elijah burst into laughter."Bro!"He looked directly into the camera."Do you guys understand what I deal with every single day?"

Audrae shrugged."It's a valid answer."

"No."He shook his head dramatically."That's an NPC answer."

She laughed."You asked."

The comments immediately exploded.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

SHE'S SO REAL

HUMAN LANG PALA

LOW STANDARDS 😭

Then...

Just like earlier...

The chat changed.

Kenji.

Kenji.

Kenji.

His name flooded the screen so quickly that it completely buried every other comment.

Elijah's smile slowly disappeared.

He sighed quietly."Guys..."He looked straight into the camera."Again?"

The comments refused to stop.

Audrae kept both eyes on the road.

She smiled awkwardly.

"Please stop shipping real people."Her voice stayed calm.Gentle."It's fun sometimes, but please know your boundaries."

She paused briefly before continuing.

"And please don't go to Kenji's account mentioning me either."

"He's done absolutely nothing wrong."

"Let's not make things uncomfortable for him."

For a few seconds...

The comments slowed.

Elijah smiled proudly.

"See?"He pointed toward Audrae."Listen to your captain."

Then, of course...

His chaotic side returned.

A grin slowly spread across his face.

He leaned closer to the phone."Besides..."He whispered dramatically."They're going to meet eventually anyway."

Audrae's eyes widened.

She shot him a warning glare."Elijah."

He immediately burst into laughter."Joke lang!Relax!"

She sighed, trying not to smile."You're impossible."

"But lovable."

"Debatable."

The viewers spammed laughing emojis again, but Matt wasn't there this time to steal Elijah's phone and save the situation.

After another few minutes, Elijah finally looked down at his battery percentage.

Five percent.

He winced."Okay..."He held the phone closer."This time, we're actually ending the live."

He pointed toward the battery icon.

"If this dies, kasalanan niyo."

Audrae chuckled softly.

"Bye, guys."

"Drive safe, everyone."

With one final wave, Elijah tapped the screen.

The live broadcast ended.

The inside of the car became quiet once again.

Only the soft music and the hum of the engine remained.Elijah dropped his phone into the cup holder before leaning back in his seat.

He stared out the window for a moment.

Then quietly said,

"Grabe...They really won't let the Kenji thing go."

Audrae tightened her grip on the steering wheel ever so slightly.

Her eyes remained fixed on the road ahead.

She answered after a brief pause."People just like making stories."

Neither of them realized...

In less than an hour-

those stories would begin turning into reality.

The rest of the drive passed more smoothly than either of them had expected.

Once they cleared the expressway, the endless sea of brake lights was replaced by wide provincial roads lined with towering acacia trees and stretches of open fields glowing beneath the late afternoon sun.

The city skyline slowly disappeared behind them.

Pampanga welcomed them with quieter roads, cooler air, and a peacefulness that Manila could never quite offer.

Audrae lowered her window slightly, letting the breeze play with the loose strands of hair framing her face.

She smiled."Finally...We're here."

Elijah stretched dramatically in the passenger seat."I never thought I'd be this happy to see Pampanga."

Audrae laughed."Arte."

"No." Elijah pointed toward the windshield."That traffic deserves jail time."

She snorted."Agreed."

Nearly twenty minutes later, the familiar gates of the exclusive subdivision slowly came into view.

Audrae pressed the button on her visor, and the gates automatically slid open.

As her car rolled inside, Elijah couldn't help but whistle."Every time I come here, naiinggit talaga ako."

Audrae glanced at him."Why?"

"Bro..."He gestured dramatically toward the massive houses surrounding them."Look at this place...Parang bawat bahay may sariling basketball court."

She laughed."Hindi naman lahat."

"Almost."

After another short drive, Audrae finally pulled into the spacious driveway of her uncle's house.

The moment the engine shut off-

The front door opened.

Her father stepped outside first, a warm smile immediately spreading across his face.

"Ayun!"

"Finally!"

Audrae climbed out of the driver's seat.

Before she could even greet him-

Her tito's loud voice echoed from the porch."Aud!"

He pointed playfully toward Elijah, who was just stepping out of the passenger seat.

A teasing grin slowly appeared on his face.

"Boyfriend mo ba 'yan?"

Elijah froze.

Audrae looked horrified.

Then-

Both of them answered at exactly the same time.

"HELL NO!"

The entire front yard erupted into laughter.

Audrae buried her face in one hand."Tito naman..."She groaned."Si Elijah lang 'yan."

She pointed toward the tall guard beside her.

"His parents are in Canada, so Mom invited him to come with us."

Elijah placed a hand dramatically over his chest."Thank you for clearing my name."He leaned closer and whispered,"Kadiri."

Audrae immediately elbowed him."Shut up."

Before their bickering could continue-

The front door opened again.

Coach Cath stepped outside with a bright smile."Elijah!"She walked over and gave him a light pat on the shoulder."You finally made it."

Elijah instantly transformed into the respectful version of himself.

"Good afternoon po, Coach."

"Good afternoon po, Tito."

Audrae watched the sudden personality switch with narrowed eyes."Plastic."

Elijah coughed awkwardly."Respectful."

"Plastic."

Coach Cath laughed."Stop teasing him already."

The moment they stepped inside-Dozens of familiar faces greeted them.

The spacious living room was already buzzing with relatives chatting, laughing, and preparing decorations for the evening celebration.

Almost every head turned toward the two newcomers.

Especially Elijah.

Audrae noticed the curious looks almost immediately.

She sighed dramatically.

Then raised both hands before anyone could even ask.

"Disclaimer."

The room fell silent.

She pointed toward Elijah."Hindi ko boyfriend 'yan."

For one second...

Silence.

Then the entire room burst into laughter.

Her father nearly choked on his drink.

One of her titas covered her mouth while laughing.

Coach Ben shook his head with an amused smile."Hindi pa nga nagtatanong, anak."

Audrae scratched the back of her neck."Preventive measures."

Elijah looked personally offended."Grabe ka naman..Parang ang sama-sama kong option."

She looked at him from head to toe."Correct."

"Aray."

Elijah recovered quickly.

He flashed everyone his signature charming smile."Good afternoon po..I'm Elijah Wayne..Thank you for letting me invade your family gathering."

One of Audrae's titas laughed warmly."Naku, you're always welcome here."

Another relative nodded."We've heard so much about you."

Elijah looked at Audrae.

She immediately looked away."Don't."

He smirked."Mukhang favorite ako."

"Feeling."

After greeting everyone, the two of them practically escaped toward the kitchen.

The long drive had drained every ounce of energy from their bodies.

The moment Elijah saw the dining table-

He stopped walking.

His eyes widened dramatically.

Garlic rice.

Grilled pork.

Chicken.

Pancit.

Fresh lumpia.

Fruit platters.

Desserts.

It looked more like a fiesta than a simple family gathering.

He slowly turned toward Audrae."...Bro."

Audrae laughed."I know."

He looked back at the table.

Then back at her."Your family doesn't believe in small portions, no?"

She shook her head."Never."

Without another word-

The two athletes grabbed plates and immediately dug in.

Outside...

More and more vehicles continued arriving one after another.

The celebration had only just begun.

And somewhere beyond the subdivision gates-

Another black SUV quietly turned the corner.

Inside it...

Sat the one person everyone had been unknowingly talking about for days.

Kenji Yuzo Morzal had finally arrived.

The backyard had transformed into a lively celebration.

Long banquet tables stretched across the garden, overflowing with food while laughter echoed beneath the white canopy. The scent of grilled meat drifted through the warm Pampanga air, blending with the chatter of relatives, coaches, and basketball players catching up after months apart.

Audrae stood beside Elijah near one of the drink stations, absentmindedly stirring the ice in her cup while half-listening to whatever story he was animatedly telling.

She wasn't really paying attention.

Her eyes wandered around the crowd instead.

Different St. Anthony University players were arriving one after another, greeting Coach Ben with hugs, handshakes, and playful banter.

Everything felt... normal.

Until-

A microphone screeched.

Then a booming voice echoed across the entire backyard."Tangina mo, Kenji! Ba't ngayon ka lang?"

The entire party erupted into laughter.

Audrae froze.

The ice inside her cup clinked softly against the plastic.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around it.

For some reason...Just hearing his name made her heartbeat stumble.

She hated that.

They didn't even know each other.They had never exchanged a single conversation.

Yet somehow...

after two straight days of seeing his face everywhere online...

His name already sounded strangely familiar.

Almost too familiar.

Beside her, Elijah immediately burst into laughter.

"Late na naman siya."

Audrae frowned."Late ba talaga siya palagi?"

Elijah nodded."Nung game rin namin late siya, marami raw kasing errands yan"

"Golden child?" Audrae guessed.

"Golden child." Elijah snorted.

"Kapag ibang player 'yan, sigurado sermon agad."

Audrae laughed quietly."Must be nice."

Before Elijah could answer, Coach Ben appeared from behind them.

His smile was warm, but his eyes immediately landed on Audrae.

"Audrae."

She looked up."Yes, Tito?"

Coach Ben motioned toward the center of the gathering."Halika nga."

Audrae blinked."Saan?"

"May ipapakilala ako."

Her stomach sank.

She already knew.

No.

Please don't tell me...

Coach Ben chuckled after seeing the hesitation on her face."Huwag ka nang kabahan...Hindi ka naman kakainin noon."

Elijah looked between the two of them before slowly grinning.

An evil grin.

One Audrae knew all too well.

"Ay..."

"Gets ko na."

Audrae immediately glared at him."Shut up."

"Wala pa akong sinasabi." It's Elijahs.

"Pero alam ko na." Audrae said.

"Shut."

"Up."

He raised both hands dramatically."Okay, okay..Good luck."

Audrae kicked his shin.

Not hard.

Just enough to earn a loud yelp.

"Aray!"

Coach Ben laughed."Kayong dalawa talaga."

Then he started walking toward the crowd.

Audrae inhaled slowly before following behind him.Each step somehow felt heavier than the last.

She wasn't nervous because Kenji was famous.

She had met plenty of well-known athletes before.

National team players.

UAAP legends.

Even professional coaches.

None of them made her feel like this.

This...strange awareness sitting heavily inside her chest.As they approached the group, conversations gradually slowed.

Several SAU players noticed Coach Ben approaching and respectfully stepped aside.

Kenji stood near the center of the circle.

Black oversized shirt.

Baggy gray pants.

A backward black cap resting over slightly messy hair.

One hand tucked casually inside his pocket.

The other holding a bottle of water.

He looked exactly like the photos online.

Maybe...even better in person.

For a brief second-his eyes lifted.

Their gazes met.Neither of them looked away.

Not immediately.

There was no smile.

No dramatic reaction.

No awkward waves.

Just...

two athletes quietly sizing each other up.

Coach Ben clapped a hand on Kenji's shoulder."Ikaw lang ang wala kanina."

Kenji shifted his attention toward his coach."Sorry, Coach...Naipit sa traffic."

"Excuses."Coach Ben laughed before gently nudging him forward."Halika...Hindi mo pa nakikilala ang pamangkin ko."

A chorus of teasing whistles immediately erupted from the surrounding players.

"Uy!"

"Finally!"

"Ito na!"

"Viral duo!"

Someone even shouted-

"Picture agad, Coach!"

The entire group burst into laughter.

Audrae couldn't help laughing too, shaking her head in disbelief."Grabe naman kayo."

Coach Ben sighed dramatically."Mga utak TikTok talaga."

That only made everyone laugh even harder.

Kenji scratched the back of his neck, clearly amused but saying nothing.

Then...

He stepped forward.Only stopping when they were standing comfortably in front of each other.

Close enough to properly introduce themselves.

The noisy backyard somehow faded into the background.

For one brief moment...it almost felt like everyone else had disappeared.

Only the two of them remained.

Kenji extended his hand first.A calm expression settled on his face.

Then, finally-he spoke."Hi."His voice was lower than she expected.

Steady.

Calm.

Confident.

"Kenji Yuzo Morzal."

Audrae looked at his outstretched hand for the briefest second before reaching out.

Their hands met.

Firm.

Confident.

Neither trying to overpower the other.Just enough pressure to show respect.She met his eyes again.

A tiny smile finally appeared on her lips the familiar dimple surfaced on her cheek.

"Audrae Brie Zamora."

And for the first time-They officially met.