"It's hard to ride jeep in this area" Laurent sighed "There's a bunch of people so we have to push through!!" There were a lot of people waiting for a ride, it's rush hour.

Teo sighed "I hate commuting because it costs so much, I could save that money for food. Sorry, Laurent's excited to teach someone how to commute" They all stayed alert, finding a jeepney that has the least people.

"It's okay… I can pay for the fee" Sebastian answered meekly then suddenly Laurent grabbed Teo and Teo grabbed Sebastian's wrist by instinct.

"We gotta go!" Laurent yelled as they all pulled each other inside the jeepney. 

All of them luckily sat beside each other, they were so close with one another that they were touching shoulders. The jeepney was now packed full of people and it was also windy.

Laurent handed some coins to the people near the driver "For three people! Student discount!" He yelled, the people passed on the coins until it reached the driver. Laurent turned to the two “I can pay for this one!”

“Hey! Are you a student?!”

“This one here is!” Laurent yelled back at the driver, pointing at Sebastian, making the man shrink in embarrassment as people looked at him. 

It was a few minutes later, the wind was savagely hitting everyone’s faces, the hair of the woman beside Laurent kept hitting his face “Ugh dammit…”

Sebastian and Teo blushed, not even hearing Laurent’s curses, the jeepney was moving fast too, making them even closer, their shoulders brushing and pressing against each other.

"Para* po*!" Laurent yelled, tapping the roof of the vehicle to get the driver’s attention.

♡♡♡

"That was a hassle!" Laurent said but he still had a wide smile on his face. They all got out of the jeep and finally breathed some fresh air.

Teo sighed "I hate commuting, the traffic, the people!" He groaned out loud, "The heat!" 

Sebastian nodded after a while "I hate it too but it’s not so bad…" He remembered how their shoulders touched each other.

"After one jeepney ride?! Teo used to do this everyday, you know?" Laurent gasped at Sebastian, surprised "Unfortunately for you guys, we still need to ride a tricycle" 

"Where the hell are you taking us?!" Teo slapped Laurent's shoulder, annoyed and tired.

♡♡♡

After two hours of commuting. Sebastian looked disheveled. Teo was exhausted and pissed. Laurent was still having fun, full of energy.

"We're here!" Laurent said, it was a huge ass mall. It was obvious it was for the rich from the way it looked.

Teo grunted "You're making me go inside there while looking like this!?" He pulled his shirt a bit, showing Laurent that he's basically wearing garbage.

Everybody was haggard. 

"I-I don't like this mall" Sebastian said and looked at the both of them. He doesn’t like it because people know him there. It was his mom’s favorite mall after all.

"Why?!" Laurent was shocked "As a Martin kid this should be your playground!" 

Sebastian sighed a little and thought, I don't really hang out with them much… I kinda feel like a third wheel. I feel so awkward…

"What are we going to do here?" Teo asked, they all went into the mall and finally felt the coldness, unlike the outside where the heat was killing them.

Laurent smirked while walking hurriedly "To drink" 

"Bitchass!!" Teo screamed and pushed Laurent playfully "This was so far! We could've drank at the usual bar back home!" 

To drink… again?! They like drinking… Sebastian thought, feeling nervous.

♡♡♡

The place where they went is so different from what Teo is used to so he feels a bit out of place "You better pay for this" He whispered to Laurent.

"No worries" Laurent said, ordering some more, he cheered "Come on, Sebastian, let's drink!!" 

Sebastian hesitantly took the drink and gulped it down. One drink couldn't hurt, right

♡♡♡

"How did it come to this?" Teo sighed, staring at himself in front of a mirror inside the dressing room.

Earlier they were drinking but after an hour, Laurent and Sebastian were drunk. They were about to go home when Laurent pulled them towards a clothing store saying he really loved that brand. Now they’re at a VIP lounge.

Teo is now trying on outfits inside the changing room, sighing to himself, regretting his actions. He felt so silly trying on these expensive outfits. It didn’t suit him at all, that’s what he thinks anyway. He kept thinking about how he didn’t belong at that shiny place.

"Teo!! Come out!" Laurent yelled from the other side. Teo felt so embarrassed.

"Come out, come out, come out" Sebastian chanted, he didn't know he would be pushy when tipsy, and with Laurent playing along with him, it's even worse.

Teo sighs and says "So?" after going out of the changing room awkwardly. This is so ridiculous, he thought.

Sebastian blushed and slammed his card at the table in front of him "I-I'll buy it for you! Take three! No, four! Different colors!!" 

The sales lady immediately nodded and started preparing a new pair for Teo “Right away, Mr. Martin”

It was like this a few more times. Teo trying on different clothes. Laurent and Sebastian bought it for him. He felt so spoiled, it made him glad but also guilty at the same time.

Do I really deserve this?

♡♡♡

"L-Let's go home, it's almost 6, your ma needs your help" Laurent said, they were all carrying a lot of paper bags since they bought some clothes for Mary too.

Sebastian was on the phone and told the two to wait. He walked a little bit far from them.

"Who's he talking to?" Teo asked, whispering to Laurent "Thanks for today Laurent" 

Then Sebastian came back to them, still a little bit flushed from drinking. Still, his face is the same as ever, blank. 

"Let's wait here" Sebastian said, which confused Teo and Laurent, but they all just stood there, trusting Sebastian.

A little while later, a car pulled up "Sebastian?" 

"Oh, hey" Sebastian waved and opened the car "Let's go, guys" He is also helping them carry stuff.

Teo's jaw dropped, that is one fancy looking car "S-Sebastian! Who is this?" 

"This is my uncle," Sebastian said, not bothering to introduce everyone to each other. Laurent laughed and put all the remaining paper bags in the car.

♡♡♡

Teo felt so nervous inside the fancy car that he didn't move. He was afraid to touch anything, while Laurent kept touching everything! He tried to stop him.

"Sebastian never called me for anything like this before" The man said while driving. The three from the back couldn't see his face “I’m Dane, by the way”

Teo answered, "Sorry for the bother sir… I’m Teo and this is Laurent" and laughed anxiously, still trying to stop Laurent "L-Laurent, stop touching shit" he kept whispering beside him.

"Oh please, just call me Uncle Dane too. I'm actually happy! He never calls anymore, he’s the family’s baby, you see!" The man laughed loudly, looking at the rearview mirror.

Sebastian with a flushed poker face said "S-Shut up uncle" He was about to pass out but since Teo spoke, he tried his hardest to stay awake.

The uncle just laughed. Teo and Laurent were shocked that he just said that to his uncle. They must be really close.

"I-I mean thanks uncle" Sebastian retracted his words almost immediately, forgetting he was with other people.

♡♡♡

"Thank you Uncle Dane… And thank you Sebastian"  Teo said. Both him and Laurent got out of the car after arriving at the cafe. Teo still felt a bit embarrassed but the uncle was nice and kept speaking with them.

"Thank you so much!!! It's so fun hanging out with you guys!!" Laurent waved and the uncle agreed with him. Laurent had so much fun vibing with the uncle.

"I hope we can see each other soon, Teo and Laurent. As per Sebastian, I think he's done for the day" The uncle pointed at sleeping Sebastian in the car. He laughed out loud and tried waking Sebastian up “Seb! This kid…”

♡♡♡

"Can't believe Sebastian called his uncle" Laurent said and yawned "I still feel a little dizzy" He staggered across the room, trying to find somewhere to sit.

"You know Sebastian can't drink" Teo scolded Laurent "Why did you make him drink?!" He felt a bit queasy, trying to remember the things that happened earlier.

"He took it by himself" Laurent yawned once again "Dude, I just wanna sleep at the cafe, I don't have the energy to go home" He frowns and holds his throbbing head.

"Wait, my ma texted me" Teo read the text and continued speaking "She said someone else will help her instead so I can chill out for the time being" He raised a brow, curious about what happened.

"Let's just stay here and doze off" Laurent said and walked inside the staff room, he plopped on the sofa and started snoring. He was out of it.

Teo sighed and followed him "Fine, I'll text ma that I'll be staying at the cafe and that I'll bring our other stuff tomorrow" He stared at all the things they bought. It was unbelievable. How did this happen?

♡♡♡

"Mary!!" Anselma cheered, Mary finally arrived at their household. It felt so surreal.

"Anselma!!" Mary hugged her best friend right away "Thanks so much again… You're sure this won't be a bother?" She still has second thoughts but she’s also doing this for Teo. She remembered how much he whined.

"Not at all!!" A huge laugh was heard, it was Anastacio, walking towards them with a huge smile on his face while pushing his glasses up.

Mary felt bashful but laughed it off "You even made someone help me. I'd love for you to meet my son again, he's so different now!" She can’t help but mention her son immediately.

"Last time I saw Matty, he was still a baby" Anselma felt nostalgic "Come, you should see the spare bedroom where you're staying! Let the helpers move your stuff!" Excited, she grabbed Mary by the wrist.

Mary gasped at how big their house was now while being pulled away by Anselma. Compared to the one she visited many many years ago, this was a huge upgrade. Everything has changed with them, it wasn’t like back then but Anselma’s touch on her wrist and Anastacio’s loud laughs were still the same. It felt warm. No hint of indifference. Mary smiled to herself, reminiscing old memories. Years have passed, things have changed, she’s the only one who is stuck in one place. Maybe it was time to move. For Teo… For herself.

♡♡♡

"My son is upstairs… drunk. I'm kind of worried. What kind of people is he hanging out with? He's always drinking nowadays, he doesn't even drink…" Anselma said, her and Mary are now in the kitchen, sitting by the mini bar, drinking juice and eating pastries. All those years they were separated just felt like hours. 

Mary giggled a little, feeling melancholic but she continued their conversation "Oh, he's just being a kid! My son always comes home smelling like alcohol but I've never seen him drunk" She took a bite of the bread, she has never tasted anything like that before. Everything felt so new that it’s making her anxious.

"I guess my baby's never hung out with others besides his sister before" Anselma sighed "Oh right, your son, he can stay in the room upstairs! I figured him and my Sebby could be friends like back then! I hope they get along" 

♡♡♡

"My ma's all moved in" Teo whispers to himself, Laurent was still sleeping on the sofa, he continues to mutter "I wonder what kind of people my ma's staying with? I should've just gone with her" He stares at the ceiling, resting his head at the end of the sofa.

Teo felt tired but couldn't bring himself to sleep because he was worried about his mother. He also told her all about the things that the guys bought them. Teo hears the wind outside, the rustling of the leaves and the crickets. Things happened so fast, he still hasn’t absorbed everything that has happened. Their apartment burning down, all the expensive clothes, new friends… Teo knows he should be overwhelmed but for some reason it was quite the opposite. He likes the change. He craves change.

He stared at the paper bags, there were a lot. His eyes started to get teary so he wiped it quickly "Seriously… I don't know if I'm lucky or not" He felt so touched that such people cared for him.

♡♡♡

The next morning, Laurent and Teo were woken up by someone knocking on their cafe loudly, banging on the doors.

"Ay nako*!" The person shouted and kept knocking "Laurent Rañin! Matheo Pascal!" 

Laurent immediately got up and ran towards the door, knowing full well whose voice belonged to "Ma?!" He also calls Mary ‘ma’, like Teo.

Mary was the one knocking, she was mad "Look what time it is Laurent!" She uses her lips to point at the clock inside the cafe while Laurent hurriedly opens the door for her.

"Sorry Ma!! We were drunk!" Laurent apologetically said with a pout and helped Mary with her bag. For some reason, she brought a heavy tote bag with her.

"Ma?" Teo rubbed his eyes and went out of the staff room. He approached the two with Mary still scolding Laurent "What are you doing here? What happened?" He became worried because something might have happened with the people they’re staying with. 

"I came to bring your friends some coffee jelly" Mary said while shaking her head in disappointment, finally calming down after seeing Teo “Hurry hurry, I have to get to work”

"Wow!!" Laurent was so happy as they all opened the bag, there were tupperwares full of coffee jelly "Ma, I love your coffee jelly! Thank you!" He then hugged Mary and kissed her cheek. She hugged him back with a light laugh, rubbing his back. She knows that wasn’t nearly enough but seeing Laurent so happy about it fills her with joy.

♡♡♡

"Should we open the cafe?" Teo asked the boss, his mom left for work a little while ago. They were eating the coffee jelly so early in the morning. Laurent didn’t even want to share.

Laurent sighed lazily, glaring at Teo as he took a bite of his glorious dessert "Let's take a bath first. I go first because you take forever in the staff bathroom!" He immediately closed the tupperware before Teo could get some “That’s supposed to be mine!”

"What?! No! I wanna go now" Teo yelled but Laurent immediately ran towards the bathroom. Teo quickly stood up and tried to catch him "Laurent! I’m seriously going to eat your remaining coffee jelly!" 

“I’ll tell ma! Ma will surely scold you if you do!”

A few minutes later, while Teo was waiting for Laurent, someone knocked again. Teo walked towards the door and said "Sorry, we're still clo- Sebastian?" His eyes widened upon seeing him, he even moved back a little.

♡♡♡

* Para, what Filipinos shout when they need the vehicle to stop so they can go out.

* Po/Opo are what Filipinos say to express their respect and politeness.

* Ay nako, in this context, is expressing frustration.