They stopped over at a gas station to fill their gas tank.
Audre: "I will just buy some snacks. What do you want?"
Mart: "Ikaw."
Audre: "Ha?."
Mart: "I mean, ikaw na bahala." (smiles)
– Hay, muntik na ba ako mahalata?
Audre: "Okay, then."
While Mart is waiting for their gas to be filled up, he notices that Audre is being cornered by a stranger guy inside the convenience store. Feeling worried, he immediately talks with the gasoline boy to look after the car for awhile and he swiftly went in the store to check on Audre.
Audre grabs for some sandwich and chips when suddenly approached by a stranger.
Guy: "Hi miss. You seem to be alone. Want some company?"
Audre turned around and made her way the opposite.
The guy didn't give up, still talking to Audre, "Why suplada?" (approaches Audre closer) Audre tries to push the guy away from her, "Stop it."
The stranger continues to talk and move closer to her, "Nakikipagkilala lang ako sayo, miss."
Mart is behind Audre; grabs her two arms, "Stop harassing my girlfriend." Mart says to the stranger.
Mart: "Love, andito na ako. Halika na." (smiles at Audre)
He stays close to her, and looks sternly at the guy.
Audre: "Hey Love. . ." (feels relieved)
Mart reaches for Audre's hand while walking towards the counter to pay for their snacks. Audre is lost for words but manages to go with it.
After paying, the two went out, still holding hands.
Audre: "Bakit, nakatingin pa ba?"
Mart: "Hindi ko alam, ayaw ko tumingin pabalik, pero para sure. . ."
Mart grabs Audre's waist to pull her closer to him.
Audre: "Ooh, smooth move."
Mart winks at Audre, and says "I might just be your hero."
Audre: (laughs) "Loko!"
Mart: "Okay lang." (laughs)
- lakas tama lang sayo.
They continue travelling north. Eventhough their friends are currently at some point of breaking, the two managed to relax and enjoy their ride going to the province. Mart realizes that his feelings for her are getting deeper as they spent time together again and became much closer. Audre, without any hint of Mart's feelings for her, is seen genuinely happy for having Mart in her life right now. She's been worrying for her two bestfriends, but now, she feels confident that she can do important things for Paolo and Ayin to make up for their relationship.
Audre: "Mart? I just want to tell you how grateful I am for having you right now. I mean, it's not that I'm being needy of you, pero, the mere fact that I have another someone right now, which is you by the way, this ordeal that we have - Paolo and Ayin's, is not that difficult for me at all. Kasi andyan ka. Kaya, maraming salamat sa'yo. Dumating ka sa tamang panahon para sakin, para sa aming tatlo."
Mart blushes upon hearing all those loving message from Audre; he can't help but smile and get giddy (kilig).
Mart: "Maybe I am here because I am meant to be here right now, with you." (indirectly saying his feelings)
Audre: (still clueless) "Well, yeah I think so too. Hahah! Pero huwag naman lalaki ang ulo mo."
Mart: (laughs) "Haha. No. It's not that. I'm just happy too na makilala ka."
Silence.
Audre is still waiting for Mart to continue what he is saying.
"...kasi kilala ko na si Paolo, pinsan ko yun, and then si Ayin, being his girlfriend. Hehe!" (smiles to convince her)
Audre: "Yeah, heheh. Why didn't I know you before?"
Mart: "Maybe it was not the right time."
Audre: "Oh. Maybe."
They reached the resthouse. As they went in, Paolo is seen drunk. Audre rushes to him, hugs Paolo and he breaks down in tears. Mart follows, and hugs his cousin too.
After awhile,
Audre: "What really happened?"
Paolo: "I think I was drugged."
Audre: "What?"
Pao: "Miranda was there at the office, she talked to me about this project she likes to pitch in to my father, she gave me this drink, which i took, then the next thing i know, she is into me, kissing me, I can't react, my body froze, that's what Ayin saw. I can see her shock and anger at me, yelled that we are done. Then she walked out. I can't run after her kasi nga, para akong na-paralyzed."
Audre: "Who is this Miranda person?"
Paolo: "She's the daughter of the business man we are trying to deal with."
Audre: "And then, after Ayin walked out, what happened next?"
Paolo: "After few minutes, I was able to move, and rightly I moved away from Miranda. That crazy bitch. Hindi ko akalain na may masamang balak pala. I didn't know what to do. I just left her there. I tried to run after Ayin kaso hindi ko alam saan sya nagpunta at kung paano ko ito ipapaliwanag sa kanya."
Audre: "And then you went here? In Zambales? Without trying to reach for your girl friend?"
Paolo: "I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have let things go this way."
Audre: "Pao naman. I know this is not entirely your fault. I believe in you. I know you. I know you love Ayin so much. It's just that. ."
Paolo:"I am sorry that I run away. The moment she said na tapos na kami, parang naging powerless ako lalu at na-discourage. At the back of my mind, parang nagdo-doubt ako, na ganoon ba talaga kadali na itapon ang lahat ng ito? Dahil sa nakita nya? I was also hurt, you know. I just wish na hindi siya nag-walk out. Sana sinampal na lang nya ang baliw na babae na yun, mas okay pa sa akin, dahil alam ko na kaya niya palang ipaglaban ang relasyon namin kung mapunta sa ganoong sitwasyun. I was also looking for what Ayin would do, pero nasaktan ako na basta na lang nya binitawan ang relationship namin."
Audre: "No Pao, I don't think that Ayin would really want to give up on you and your relationship. How many times ba before that you were a jerk? How many times did she caught you cheating on her? Still she forgave you and believed in you."
Paolo: "I know. (cries) That's why it is a real revelation for me na baka nahihirapan na pala sya sa'kin kaya mas madali na sa kanyang mag-give up na lang kesa ipaglaban o ipagpatuloy pa ito. I messed this up again. (continues crying) And I don't know what to do. What if napuno na talaga sya sa'kin? What if ayaw na nya talaga sa'kin this time? Kaya dito ako pumunta. Kasi nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa na magkakabalikan pa kami."
"I really don't want to lose her. I don't know what to do." (cries)
Audre hugs her best friend, she feels worried for him.
Audre: "I'm sorry for being hard on you. We will figure this out. I know we will. I know you do."
Mart moves close to Paolo, and pats his shoulder, giving support to his cousin.
