A dead silence hangs in the air inside the car. He keeps changing the channel of the car radio while I am fidgeting in my seat. I don’t know if he’s looking for a specific channel or if he’s just as uncomfortable as I am. I look at him through the rearview mirror at the same time that he looks at me. Our eyes meet, but I can’t stand the intensity of his gaze, so I look away.

We drive for another thirty minutes until we arrive at an impressive and decent-looking 36-storey building. His condominium is at the thirteenth floor. I know because I’ve been there a few times. He picks up one of my luggage and slings my backpack over his shoulders. I collect my remaining things in his car and follow him inside. He waves at the guard when we pass by him. The guard waves back at him while giving me a wary look.

“He’s with me,” he assures the guard.

He heads straight towards the elevator and motions me to follow him. I go after him reluctantly. I’m still debating with myself whether this is a good idea.

“Ian,” I call out to him before he can get inside the elevator. My voice comes out a little strained. The name feels weird in my mouth yet familiar at the same time. “Wait.”

He looks back at me questioningly. He’s doing that thing with his eyebrows where he scrunches them up as if he’s trying to remember something.

“Bakit? Still afraid the elevator might eat you?” says Ian jokingly. We had this inside joke before when one of my shoelaces got caught in an elevator door and I panicked and exclaimed that the elevator is “eating” me. Fortunately, he pulled my shoelace out in time. I’ve always checked my shoelaces ever since.

“Ah wala. Let’s go.” I made up my mind. I’ll be staying here just for tonight. I’ll look for a place first thing tomorrow.

I set my bags down on the floor and press the button for 13th floor once we’re inside the elevator. He seems surprised that I still remember the floor he’s in, but he says nothing. He hums a melody to break the silence, but I can’t quite place what song it is.

When the elevator door opens, I let him lead the way to his unit. I don’t want him to think that I still remember everything about him and put unnecessary ideas in his head. I’m watching his back as we walk down the hallway. That broad, sexy back…

I catch myself blushing at that thought. I reprimand myself for even thinking that way about him. I chase those images of him away. I shouldn’t entertain those kinds of thoughts in my head. Besides, he’s just doing this as a friend. Nothing more.

It takes him several tries before he can open the door. I guess I’m not the only one who’s nervous. The inside of the unit is different now from what I can remember. The room feels … colder. I’m not talking about the temperature but the aura of the place. It feels like whatever or whoever is brightening this place took the warmth with them when they left.

“Where’s Ysa? Akala ko magkasama kayo dito?” I ask him. I am referring to his younger sister, Ysa. They’ve been living together ever since their mother was assigned overseas for a managerial position. Ian said that she couldn’t say no to the promotion.

“She’s with Mom. She qualified for a scholarship in a university in Singapore, so she’ll be staying with her while she’s studying there,” explains Ian. He’s very close with her sister. I can only imagine how much he misses her.

“Bakit hindi ka sumama sa kanila?”

“Ano namang gagawin ko doon? My life is here anyways. Saka I’m graduating soon na rin. Sayang naman kung hindi ko pa tatapusin. Siyanga pala, have you eaten?” Ian asks me.

“Oo, okay na ako. Busog naman ako,” I lie. I haven’t eaten anything since lunch, but I don’t want to be indebted to him any more than necessary. Staying here tonight is enough. However, my stomach picks that perfect time to growl. Ian chuckles loudly. My face turns red as I try to hide my embarrassment.

“Sigurado ka? Parang iba naman yata ang sinasabi ng tiyan mo,” Ian teases me. He affectionately ruffles my hair with his hand.

I am startled by his touch. I step back involuntarily from his hands. I can see that he’s also startled by his action. He quickly withdraws his hand and put it inside the pocket of his pants.

“Sorry. Sige upo ka ka lang diyan. Magluluto lang ako,” Ian says awkwardly. He quickly shuffles into the kitchen.

I sit on the couch, still recovering from the electricity that passed through my body when his skin touched mine. It was a brief moment, but my whole body is still tingling as if my blood is rushing through my whole body.