The press con went really well, so we decided to have an after-party at a restaurant not too far from the shooting location. Luckily, there weren't many people inside when we arrived—and from the outside alone, it already screamed elegance and luxury.
Since we were a large group, Cathy decided to divide us into smaller clusters—the Artists, Production, and Directors. Naturally, I sat with the Directors. But we still made sure to sit close enough to each other.
They handed us the menu—and I was immediately overwhelmed by the prices, though I didn't say anything. I tried to look for something I might like, but nothing really caught my attention. I nudged Cathy, who was seated next to me.
"Cathy... what are you ordering?" I asked.
She glanced at me. "Uhm, probably steak. I'm kind of hungry." she replied. "Why?"
I smiled at her. "I'll have the same. Nothing's really standing out to me." I said, placing the menu down.
Everyone had picked their food—most of us ended up ordering steak, while the artists all went for vegetable salads. They're not allowed to eat much—made me remember Emilliano back at Jollibee. I guess the rumors were true—managers really start getting strict once filming begins. I felt a little bad for him.
Then nature called, so I excused myself to Cathy to use the restroom for a bit. After I stepped out, I touched up my face quickly. My lips felt a bit pale, so I just applied a little gloss with tint—nothing too much.
As soon as I exited the restroom, my attention was immediately drawn to our table—he was there.
I quickly composed myself and acted like his presence didn't affect me at all as I sat back down across from him. We were facing each other, but neither of us could look the other in the eye.
There was something about the press con that had left me with a lot of questions… but I stayed calm and silent. No one said anything about why he was here. Cathy and Aries were casually chatting, as if everything was normal. Meanwhile, Emilliano and I sat as still and unreadable as scripture.
Eventually, our food arrived. One by one, the servers placed our plates down—and I couldn't help but get excited when I saw the steak. But what truly caught my attention… was the Leche Flan placed beside Emilliano.
If I had known, I would've ordered it too!
I suddenly remembered I never checked the dessert section, which was why I missed it on the menu. I glanced up just as I felt someone's gaze—and our eyes met.
He wasn't smiling, yet it felt like his eyes were.
It was that familiar expression only he could make. I bit my lower lip and looked away, choosing instead to focus on my food. The silence between us remained, until—without a word—he slid the Leche Flan in front of me.
"It's yours," I heard him say, which made me glance back at him. He was still looking at me. "I ordered the wrong one," he added, focusing again on his plate.
I froze for a moment and glanced at the dessert. Was it that obvious I had been eyeing it? Or did he really just make a mistake?
I cleared my throat gently before picking it up. "Thanks," I said, giving him a small smile.
"Hmh." he replied shortly, not looking back.
I heard Cathy quietly clear her throat beside me, so I nudged her gently with my elbow. She leaned in teasingly.
"Go on, eat it. Isn't that your favorite?" she whispered, glancing toward Emilliano with a knowing look.
I felt my heart skip, but I forced myself to stay composed. We ate in silence—but all the while, my heart was beating wildly, like it wanted to burst free.
After we finished eating, we all headed toward the parking lot together. Of course, I ended up walking behind the group. Aries and Cathy were already ahead—they were driving the two vans.
I deliberately stayed at the back, not because I was scared but because I physically couldn't walk fast after eating. My digestion is a bit slow.
They were a bit far now, but I could still see them from where I was, so I wasn't nervous. I was enjoying the peace… until I caught the familiar scent of his cologne.
Moments later, I could feel his presence walking beside me.
"You seemed nervous a while ago," he said quietly. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. I sighed and lowered my gaze. "You did well," he added, almost in a whisper.
That was when I finally turned to him—and before I realized it, I had stopped walking, just to look at him. He stopped too, though there was still distance between us.
"You noticed?" I asked, almost stumbling over my words.
He gave me that gummy smile. "Always," he said.
I looked into his eyes. There was something there—something he was trying to say but couldn't quite put into words. I bit my lip and fidgeted with my fingers, unsure what to say.
"Actually… I didn't order that by mistake," he said.
I looked up at him again when he said that.
"And honestly… I knew it was your favorite. Your comfort food."
I nodded slightly. Yes, he remembered.
We were at his house then. I had run away from home after a fight with my mom. I knew it was my fault, but my pride kept me from apologizing.
I was on his sofa, sitting with my head down, playing with my fingers. I was overwhelmed with guilt but couldn't gather the courage to go back home.
"Naure, do you want some?" he said as he handed me a plate with Leche Flan.
I sighed and took it from his hand, though I didn't eat it right away. He sat beside me and wrapped his arm around me.
"Come on. It's okay to feel hurt and guilty sometimes… but that doesn't mean you won't eat your favorite Leche Flan. You'll make it sad if you ignore it," he said, pretending to pout.
I glanced at him and gave a small smile. "You know, actually—"
"Later," he interrupted gently. "Eat the Leche Flan first. We'll talk afterward." Then he took a piece of his own and held it in front of my mouth. "Deal?"
I couldn't help but pout a little before smiling. "Deal," I said, and took a bite.