IT'S true that he has work.

It's also true that he wants hot chocolate at past one in the morning.

And it's also true he's waiting for someone.

Kaya habang tulog na halos ang lahat pagkatapos ng dessert at beer, Gabriel sits by the bar with his laptop open and a mug beside him. If he doesn't do this, he'll get bored waiting, and kailangan na rin niya bawasan ang inbox niya.

Actually, bawal magtrabaho sa bahay na 'to habang naka-break ang pamilya, pero maiintindihan nila si Gabriel. Tutal, siya naman ang nagpapatakbo ng TG.

Nakahalati na niya ang inumin niya na pampagising rin nang may marinig siyang yapak pababa ng hagdanan.

Without looking away from his screen, he smiles.

Lov finds him there at the kitchen, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "We're not supposed to work, bawal 'yan," she reminds him.

"They won't know, they're asleep," he murmurs, hitting Send before giving her his full attention. "'Wag ka ring snitch."

Lov rolls her eyes and rounds the bar.

Sinundan ito ng tingin ni Gabriel.

She's wearing a big white and red sweater na High School Musical at short shorts. Nakalugay ang buhok nito at barefaced, ready for bed.

It's not unusual seeing Lov out of casual or corporate clothes, pero natatawa na lang si Gabriel sa sarili niya when he still gets winded over it.

Binuksan ni Lov ang ref at nilabas ang gatas.

Lagi kasing nahihirapan makatulog si Lov sa gabi kapag nandito sila sa Anderdal Manor. One night three years ago, Gabriel caught Lov by chance wandering the gardens no'ng siya rin ay hindi pa makatulog. Ginawan niya ito ng bedtime drink.

Since then, every night, kailangan ni Lov inumin ito para makatulog.

"Ako na," Gabriel says, standing up. "Umupo ka na lang. Mas marunong pa 'ko gumawa niyan kaysa sa 'yo."

"Kaya ko 'to gawin, nagtatrabaho ka pa," Lov insists, stubborn woman that she is, opening cupboards.

"Usog, sabi."

"Tumahimik ka nga."

Gabriel comes closer until he's towering over her. She looks up at him.

She smells like expensive shampoo.

Gabriel closes the distance between them. Hindi umurong si Lov. He leans down, staring into her eyes, and whispers, "Alam kong kaya mo. But just let me."

With that, he closes his hands around her hips, his fingers spanning her entire waist, and lifts her until she's hovering above the floor. Effortlessly, he moves her a few inches from her previous spot and sets her on her feet.

Then Gabriel opens the cupboards and turns on the stove to heat her milk.

As if his heart isn't thundering inside his chest.

As if his fingers aren't burning for more.

As if the thought that he can lift her so easily doesn't do anything to him.

(It does. It does a lot of things to him.)

Lov's jaw drops incredulously. "You—pinulot mo lang ako—"

"Ayaw mo kasi makinig sa isang salita," sabi ni Gabriel, gathering back his composure and leaning against the counter. "Gusto m-in-a-manhandle pa, e."

She scoffs. "You're so annoying, you know?"

"You're so ah-nnoying, you know?" Gabriel mocks in a high-pitched voice. "Arte mo, tangina mo."

"Tangina mo rin. And you know, whenever you say that, alam mong lagi kang naka-smile?"

"Kasi kinikilig ako sa boses mo. Sa kaartehan mo," amin ni Gabriel.

Tinitigan siya ni Lov. "Ha?"

"Ha? Lakas na ba masyado niyan?" He points his lips towards her chest where her heart is. "Narinig mo naman ako, kunwari ka pa diyan. Tabi, Lov, ginagawan kita ng warm vanilla milk bedtime drink mo."

She finally moves. Gabriel turns off the stove and stirs in a tablespoon of honey and vanilla extract. Pinanood siya ni Lov gawin ito.

Pagkatapos, he pours that into her designated Christmas mug na may Santa hat na lid. He sprinkles that with a little bit of cinnamon before handing it to her.

Lov takes it. "Thanks," she mutters.

"Ano ginagawa mo bago ka bumaba?" Gabriel asks curiously, sitting down beside her at the bar. "Singing?"

She shakes her head. "No. Wala na 'kong time mag-aral ng cover. And wala akong mic."

Napangiti uli si Gabriel. Sinungaling. "Bakit ba nahihiya kang ipakita 'yang talent mo?"

"Hindi ako nahihiya."

"It's on SoundCloud pero bawal namin pakinggan?"

"Bawal," sabi ni Lov, taking a sip of her drink. "It's just for fun. So don't you dare look for it."

Too late, nahanap na ni Gabriel si 'matagal na. Siya 'yong may notification 'pag may bagong upload, kabisado na niya 'yong mga kanta na nasa account nito. Boses ni Lov nakakapagpakalma sa kanya, the voice that soothes him when he can't sleep.

Tangina, sinong niloloko niya? Kahit na antok na siya, pinapakinggan niya pa rin boses ni Lov.

"Okay," he says, smiling. A few seconds pass between them in silence, but it's not awkward or unsettling. He's at ease. Warm. Entirely himself.

Gabriel sputters out a laugh.

"What?" tanong ni Lov, furrowing her eyebrows together.

"If it were anyone else alone here, hindi ka bababa. You would've waited sa stairs until they left or gone back up to your room."

Her lips twitch. "Unlike you, 'di ako friendly sa lahat."

"Hindi ako friendly sa lahat."

Lov gives him a look.

"It's the surface-level politeness, alam mo naman 'yon."

"You get people to trust you so easily, Gabriel."

"People just want to be seen and heard," sagot niya. "Ask them about themselves and they'll spill. Ikaw? Tangina, no'ng tinatanong kita dati, you wouldn't give me anything."

Tinitigan siya ni Lov. "That frustrated you."

"It challenged me. You still challenge me. And you know I love a challenge, Lov."

His charisma and charm have nothing on Lov. With her, Gabriel can't tell what's going on inside her beautiful brain. When he thinks he's got her figured out, he doesn't. He's always waiting for the next thing that comes out of her mouth, anticipating it, hungry for it, yes, tell me your thoughts, argue with me, share with me, tell me, what are you thinking?

Outside of the two of them, Lov is a relatively quiet person. She keeps her thoughts inside, those loud and overwhelming voices that take space. Her brain goes ahead and thinks of the worst possible outcome in any situation before they even happen—which is why she's excellent at her work. Kaya 'pag silang dalawa na lang, Gabriel doesn't want her to spare her words. Nandito ako, sabihin mo sa 'kin lahat.

But she's not going to give you that access to her. You earn it.

That's why it's challenging.

Lov raises her chin to look up at him. How did they get here—here with no spaces in between their thundering chests and he can hear every breath she takes? "Pero? Ngayon?"

"Ngayon, being here alone with you is a privilege," he answers quietly. Honestly. "Even if I have to make up excuses like having to work."

Her mouth spreads into a smile. Her eyes shut down and dim like they always do when he gets too close. "Huy, Gabriel. Maloloko mo si Heart pero hindi ako. At hindi 'yong akin."

"Wala akong intensyon na gawin 'yon."

"Ano lang intention mo?"

"Ngayon? First priority is keep you here for as long as possible para marinig ko pa 'yang arte mo."

Natawa si Lov.

Gabriel smiles.

She picks up her mug and steps back, still grinning. "Sad to say you're failing. I'm going to bed."

His smile fades and he takes a deep breath, effortfully keeping his feet stuck to the floor.

Because when she leaves the room, it feels like she takes the light with her and...and Gabriel is just left with the urge to just...follow her.

What's that quote?

Before Lov turns around, she takes a sip. Gabriel watches her do that.

Her eyes are on his, too.

Gabriel watches her throat move.

His mouth parts and his breath comes out shaky.

"15 - all?" she asks softly with a raised eyebrow.

Ah.

Nothing makes a room feel emptier than wanting someone in it.

Gabriel stares at her. "Oy."

"Ano?"

"Pakasalan mo nga ako."