Audre and Mart help Paolo get on to his bed. He got tired from crying and drinking.
Audre: "I think hindi natin ito (referring to Paolo) pwedeng iwan mag-isa. Baka kasi kung anong gawin nito eh."
Mart: "If you like, I will stay with him here in this room, para mabantayan ko. Then, you can take the next room."
Audre: "Eehh, natatakot ako. . . (forcibly smiles) Baka multo dito."
Mart: (laughs) "Hahaha! So, anong gusto mong gawin?"
Audre: (sheepishly smiles) "Eh okay lang ba dito na lang din ako magsleep?"
Mart – I want you here too, because I just can't take my eyes off you.
"Are you sure you're okay with us na kasama mo sa kwarto?"
Audre: "Well, what is not okay with that? Ayaw ko dun sa kabilang kwarto. Kung gusto mo ikaw na lang dun."
Mart: "Ayaw ko din."
Audre: "O kitams, takot ka din sa multo." (teases)
Mart: (laughs) "Wala namang multo dito."
Audre: "Malay mo nagbago na." (tries to annoy Mart)
Mart: "Haha! Very funny!"
Both of them laughs.
Audre: "Hay, Mart. What would I do without you?"
Mart responded with a sincere smile.
- I don't know what I would do without you, Audrey.
Mart: "I'm just happy to be of help, and of course, I will never "not-help" you."
Audre: "So, how would we sleep? I mean, ofcourse, hindi naman tayo kasya dun." (points the bed where Paolo is sleeping)
Mart: "We can get the bedfoam sa kabila, then ilagay natin dito." (pointing at the floor)
Audre agrees to the idea and went to the next room, Mart follows her.
While they are making their bed,
Mart: "It must have been hard for you kapag nag-aaway sila before (referring to Pao and Ayin)?"
Audre: "Ah, totoo yan. Ako yung nahihirapan sa kanila. Ako yung naiipit sa kanilang dalawa. Hindi ko alam kung sino uunahin ko sa kanila. Kaya sobrang nasasaktan din ako kapag nag-aaway sila."
Mart: "You're one tough cookie and they're just so lucky to have you as their best friend." (smiles)
Audre: "Hehe. Thank you. Wala naman kasi akong ibang kaibigan na, kundi silang dalawa. Sila lang yung malapit sa akin eh. Others, hmm kakilala lang. Pero silang dalawa, sila ang totoong nakakakilala sa akin. And now, you are added. (smiles)"
Mart: "Paano kayo nagkakilalang tatlo?"
Audre: "Ah. Magclassmates kami ni Pao noong elementary. Seatmates kami. Doon nagstart na maging magkaibigan kami. Pero nung highschool, sa ibang school na sya pumasok. Si Ayin naman, school mate ko noong highschool. Nung college, nakita ko lang uli si Pao nung nag-enroll kami ng sabay. Doon na rekindle yung friendship namin. Then si Ayin, I introduced her kay Paolo. Since 1st year college, close na kami. Ako talaga ang third wheel nila."
Mart: "Wow. (smiles) Now, what will we do now with them?"
Audre: "Honestly, wala pa akong maisip na way. We have to help Paolo na mapatunayan kay Ayin na hindi cheating ang nangyari, kundi blackmail."
Mart: "Oo nga eh. How on earth has that woman made this mess. Tsk."
Audre: "Oo nga eh. Kakalbuhin ko yun e. So, it seems that, that crazy woman is eyeing on your cousin. May alam ka ba sa business partnership na yun?"
Mart: "Wala e. Ibang business yung pinapa-handle sakin ni Uncle. Pero naisip ko, tawagan ko kaya si Uncle? Para din masabi ko sa kanya na kasama na natin si Pao. At magkwento ako sa nangyari, baka din may idea si Uncle sa nangyari."
Audre: "That's a nice idea."
Mart: "I will just make a call."
After awhile –
Mart: "Uncle said that he knows what happened. Miranda confessed to him about her wrong doing. He can help Paolo explain to Ayin. Nakita din sa cctv ng office yung ginawa ni Miranda."
Audre: "That's even better."
Mart: "My Uncle is worrying about Paolo. I said na andito naman tayong dalawa. Hindi naman natin pababayaan si Pao."
Audre: "Dahil dyan, I will try now to call Ayin. Wait lang ah."
Audre: "She's not answering."
Mart: "Ahm, may kasama ba sya sa bahay nila?"
Audre: "Right, I will call Atchi"
Audre: "Atchi checked on Ayin, sleeping na daw. I just sent her a message na andito na tayo, tapos mag-uusap sila ni Paolo soon."
Mart: "Okay, I think, we have done enough for the day. Let's rest na."
Audre: "Owkays, heheh."
Later that night –
Mart and Audre are beside each other as they lie down in the queen-size bed.
Feeling awkward, they remained silent, staring at each other, smiling, and waiting for one another to start to speak.
Mart: (whispers) "Goodnight, Audre." (smiling still)
Audre: (whispers) "Goodnight. "(also smiling and closes eyes)
As Audre closes her eyes, Mart remains gazing at her. Her tender smile and angelic face is bringing him peace to his heart.
Mart closes his eyes, and said a prayer, as the usual that he utters, and then at this moment, he prays for this girl sleeping beside her. All good intentions through prayers he asked to God.
After awhile again, he feels that the girl starts to get close to him, her one arm on top of his chest, he feels the rush of feelings.
Mart – Lord, makakatulog ba ako ng maayos ngayong gabi? Aww, I'm being tested and tempted. Nooo. I can't give in to my wild thoughts. . If only I can carress her, I am more than willing to hold her in my arms, wide open for her. If only I can hold her.
The more Mart panics on what he must do, the more Audre moves closer to him, like she's looking for warmth on that cold evening.
Mart – Lord, wala po akong ginagawa. Sya po ang lumapit sa'kin. Nagpapanic na ang puso ko dito.
Sleeping soundly, Audre finds her comfort in Mart. And Mart, as much as he wants to sleep too, is equivalently distracted because of this girl sleeping closely next to him, breathing through his neck, giving him shiver and arousal.
Mart – Lord, hindi ko na po yata kaya. Kahit ngayong gabi lang, pwede ko ba syang yakapin din at hawakan? Diko na mapigilan sarili ko.
Mart finally gives in to the temptation.
He caresses her arms, her back. He pulls Audre much closer to him, kisses her forehead and holds her tight. The girl breathes deeply as she sleeps.
How I wish I could tell you now what I feel for you. I will find the right time. For now, let me hold you like this, my love. I am really falling in love for you. I hope that you will accept my love for you. I will make you see that we can work this out, and I promise to be by your side for all my eternity. Sweet dreams, my love.
Mart was able to calm himself after whispering those words to Audre who is unaware and is soundly asleep. He will never forget this night that Audre is sleeping again beside him, in his arms.
