The front door of the 11/7 bangs open, making Dave stop before he crashes into it. Two boys around my age appear. Both of them wear the same white polo and khaki pants, but one has a jacket wrapped around the waist while the other one wears a sweater.

"What school are you planning to go to?" the one in the sweater asks.

The one with the jacket looks at him. "Huh? It's too early for that."

"I'm just curious. Me, I'll be going to UTS."

"A well-known school like that must be expensive."

"Of course, but I'll join their varsity team for the scholarship."

"For me, I kind of wanted to study overseas."

The one in a sweater jolts his hand. The soda can almost fall, but he catches it with the other.

"What?! Overseas? As in abroad?" he exclaims.

"Yes. Is it really that shocking to you?"

"Of course it is. You're the last person I expect to study there. Thought you're gonna say 'It's too much work.' But where are you planning to study?"

"Vex city."

"Vex City?"

"Yeah. I wanna be a Sken."

"That's impossible."

The one in a sweater looks around. His eyes dart at me, but he returns his gaze to his friend at once.

"There's not even a single Sken in our country," he adds.

"Yeah, yeah."

The two of them walk away. On the other hand, Dave remains frozen in front of the door.

"Matt."

"Heh." I dash forward.

"W-wait!"

I extend my hand to grab the handle. Suddenly, a security guard barricades himself in front of me while staring with a glare.

Crap. I should be careful if I don't want to be banned. This is the nearest to the school.

I give him a smile.

"Good afternoon, kuya."

Entering, I turn around to the corner and peek at the counter. There's no line.

Looking behind, knitted brows and a stupid smile are all written on Dave's face. His shoulders are heaving. Droplets of sweat trail on his neck. I guess I won.

"I arrived first," I say.

"You don't need to rub it on my face. Here." he extends his hands toward me. What's on his palm is a brown leather jacket.

"What's this for?"

"We made a bet, aren't we?"

I shrug. "If you say so."

"What's that for? Are you just joking earlier?"

"Not really. But giving me your wallet is a new thing."

My fingers slide just fine on the wallet, but its surface is harder than I expected. On the lower part of the hem, a pointed star appears to be embroidered.

Dave raises his brows. "What?"

"Monteblank. I see."

"Papa gave that to me as a birthday present."

"This is really expensive you know so you shouldn't give it to others just like this."

"Come on. I'm sure you have experience with these things."

"Not really. I'm not into luxurious items. I don't know why, but I don't feel the need for it."

"Says the one whose father is a CEO of a big company."

Opening the bifold front a bunch of credit cards and IDs. Different colors of banknotes wave their presence at me, but the violet one is really noticeable. I give him his wallet.

"You're up?"

"Hmm? I took this." I wave the banknote in the air.

"That's only a hundred."

"This should be enough. Besides, I think you really should save money."

"What are you, my dad?"

He puts his hand on the back of his head and smiles. "Geez. It's been really a long time huh."

I walk to the shelf in the corner. On my left are bags of Poritos, Fay's, Ketos, Spangles, Muffles, and other imported stuff. But on the lower rack, a yellow bag is placed in the middle row. There's a salted variant of Platos? I've got to take this.

"It has been," I say.

"What?"

"I said, it has been a long time."

"Eh? That topic already died down a long time ago... Maybe some things didn't really change then."

"Maybe?"

I walk toward the counter. The cashier stares at me. His eyes are droopy, and his shirt is clinging to his body making him look like a hanger.

I hand him my purchase.

"Is that all?" Dave asks.

"Yeah. I don't need anything, and those imported chips don't suit my taste anyway."

"56.45 pesos." the cashier says.

"Here."

The banknote is now in his hand, but he's staring like there's nothing in front of him.

Is he ok?

Gazing back at Dave, I mouth him my words. 'This isn't play money, right? Tell me that this is real.'

Dave grimaces. 'What do you mean? Of course not. I wouldn't do such a thing.'

I thought so too. I return to the cashier.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

But he doesn't respond. He's still gazing at the blank space.

"If you can't comprehend how much my change is, it's 44.55 pesos. Please give me two 20 banknotes. Thank you."

He places the chips inside the paper bag in an instant. Beneath the counter, he crouches, and standing up again, he hands my change. I receive two 20 pesos together with some coins. It's exactly what I said.

"Thank you," I say.

Then, I put the paper bag inside my backpack. Dave and I leave the store.

The vehicles run here and there while the people around are casually talking to each other. But Dave, he's being silent. Hmm... this is not his usual aura.

"Hey, do you want something?" I ask. "There's something weird when you're all silent like this."

"Oh come on Matt. Give me a break."

"Also, you didn't buy anything. Remember, you're the one who wanted to go there in the first place."

"We have stocks at home."

Could it be?

"Is it bothering you again?"

He gazes downward.

So it is?

"You don't have to feel that. I'm not angry nor holding grudge against you. It's your life so you can do what you want, and besides, your parents are the ones who made the decision... You don't have a choice so don't be down. It doesn't suit you."

He shoots an open-eyed look. "You read me like an open book."

"I've known you since Grade 1, and you're that friendly type who bugs the silent wallflower type like me. From then up to now, you haven't changed at all."

"You're just miserable without company."

"I'm fine being alone, but I don't mind you bugging me every now and then. Not at all."

"I'm bugging you?"

"Not so much." I wave my hand. "So let's go to our house and bug me more."

"You still don't sugarcoat your words, huh. Fine."

We arrive at the pick-up point. A pack of passengers has filled the queue for the jeep, and we decide to take the tricycle.

"Never," I say.

Others rush toward the tricycle, but I grab Dave's arm so that other passengers won't take his seat instead. Inside, Dave and I are sitting skin-to-skin.

"I'm sorry," he says.

"It's fine. I understand the reason you need to transfer schools. It would be foolish if you insist to stay here when you can't even support yourself."

"I know. I know. But, you became more hurt when I left."

"Yeah. I already accepted that we're not going to be together so I'm really surprised when you showed up at school."

"Well, I'm the one who should be surprised." he glances. "I'm an SBC member, and yet, you weren't aware I'm studying there! We're always at any activities and we're always assisting clubs. But you know what? I think I shouldn't be surprised at all. Let me guess, your attention's at your drawings again, right?" he smirks.

"I can't help it. Art keeps me alive."

The scenery outside changes for a while until we reach our destination.