"So, I guess this is it?"

We've finished packing our things up and we're ready to go. Gian extends his hand to shake mine and says, "I'll miss you, buddy."

"Ako hindi," I say to him. "Just kidding. See you when I see you."

I watch as Gian leaves. Once he's gone, I look around the room for one last time and check whether everything's in place. Even though I don't like my landlady very much, I still have the best (and worst) memories in this apartment.

I notice the calendar on my table. Gian's birthday, July 13, is marked with a doodle of beer bottles. He even doodled with the year and made it look like a penis. (The 8 in 2018 is the testicles, if you're curious). I leave the keys to the apartment beside the calendar.

----------

It's already getting dark. I've been calling and messaging my friends, which isn't a lot by the way, all afternoon but I haven't been very lucky. I've been putting a brave front, but I am actually on the verge of tears. I don't want to spend the night on the streets.

My phone rings. I quickly fumble for my phone inside the pocket of my backpack. I answer the call and immediately recognize the voice. It's Gen, my bestfriend and classmate.

"Hello, bes! Ano na? May matutuluyan ka na ba? Nasaan ka ngayon?" she asks me. I can sense the concern in her voice.

"Eto nga. Wala pa rin. Tinawagan ko na sina Chino at Billy. Wala rin daw available na space sa kanila eh. Hindi ba talaga pwede diyan sa inyo? Kahit ngayong gabi lang?" I ask her. I am running out of options.

"Pasensya ka na talaga bes ha. Alam mo naman na ang dami rin namin dito sa bahay. Hindi kita talaga kayang iaccommodate dito."

"Okay lang bes. Sorry. Desperado na rin lang talaga ako eh. Malapit na rin kasi gumabi."

I am getting frustrated. I don't have enough cash right now for a hotel. I sent my parents the money that I received for the art commission that I did last week.

"Ganito na lang, bes. Tutulungan na kita maghanap ng place. Tatawag ako sa mga kakilala ko. Baka may alam sila. Tawagan ulit kita mamaya. Stay put ka lang diyan ha."

"Salamat talaga, bes. Kasalanan talaga 'to ni Gian eh." I hang up the phone.

With the mention of Gian, I remember his offer earlier. I feel a small glimmer of hope growing in my chest. I browse my phone for Gian's number. Good thing that I remembered to save his phone number. I'm usually too lazy or too uninterested to save contact information.

Gian picks up his phone on the first ring.

"Hey, Dev! How are you! Hold on. I'll just go outside," Gian says. I wonder why he's too enthusiastic to receive the call. I wait until he speaks again.

"Good thing you called, buddy! Andito ngayon sa condo ang parents ni Audrey. Audrey's inside explaining about our relationship. It's too awkward in there," he explains. "Bakit ka pala napatawag?"

My heart sinks. I don't want to intrude now that they have their own problems.

"Ah wala. Nawawala kasi 'yung isa kong sando. Baka lang napasama sa gamit mo. Pakitingnan naman." I am literally holding back my tears right now.

"Okay. I'll check it later."

"Thank you . Bye."

It's already 6:30 in the evening. My stomach is growling with hunger but I just can't focus with what that at the moment. I am too occupied with the thought of sleeping here in this waiting shed. I don't know how much has passed when my phone rings. I look at the screen. It's Gen again.

"Hello, Gen?" I answered weakly. I don't have any energy left.

"May nahanap ka bang place?"

"Wala eh. I don't know what to do." I can feel the tears coming again.

"I called someone. Sabi niya pwede ka raw niya patirahin muna sa kanila. Wala naman siyang kasama." I sense something in Gen's voice. There's something that she's not telling me.

"Talaga? Sinong tinawagan mo?" I ask her suspiciously. Anyway, whoever that is, I will be very grateful for any kind of help from anyone.

"Huwag kang magagalit ha. Papunta na siya diyan. He'll pick you up daw."

My attention shifts from what Gen is saying to the car approaching me.

"Hello, Dev? Andyan ka pa ba? Sabi ko papunta na diyan si --" Her words are cut off by the car horns.

Gen is still speaking on the phone but I'm not listening anymore. A familiar figure is now getting out of the car. I can barely see his face because of the darkness but I'll recognize those broad shoulders anywhere. I still remember everything about him as if it was only yesterday -- the way he walks, that cute expression he does when squinting at something in the dark, his face.

Almost two years have passed, yet he has the same effects on me.

He stops several feet away from me and stares straight into my eyes, his expression unreadable.

"There you are. I've been looking for you."