[Let's hang out tomorrow, my treat.]
That was the message Manzano sent in our group chat after the event at the basketball court.
Ponce and I helped him set it up.
The arrangement was for tomorrow, Sunday: Escuro, Ponce, Manzano, and I—the four of us would hang out together. The pretext was that Manzano would treat us, but the real purpose was to help him reconcile with Escuro.
Although Manzano buying us food was genuine. He insisted on doing so, saying it was the least he could do after all the trouble he had caused.
Ponce and I accepted the offer. After all, who doesn't like free food? So it would likely just seem like a normal hangout.
Why couldn't we do it right after the confrontation? We simply wanted to give Manzano some time to steel himself and, at the same time, give Escuro time to prepare herself.
We also considered leaving the two of them alone after meeting up. But, knowing Escuro quite well, she wouldn't be able to handle being alone with Manzano when she had already convinced herself that he hated her. Therefore, our presence would help her feel more at ease.
Ponce and I being there wouldn't change anything. Once we arrived, we wouldn't interfere and would simply let Manzano talk.
That's about it: the plan for tomorrow. It wasn't anything major, just a simple conversation.
***
March 17, Sunday, 2:50 PM.
There she was, Escuro, sitting inside a Ministop.
Taking a sip of the Coke she had bought from the store, she looked outside, keeping an eye out for someone.
Across the road was a Dunkin' Donuts, where Manzano had said he would treat them.
At first, she didn't believe Manzano's message yesterday. She thought it was a mistake and had been meant for another friend group. But after seeing Ponce and Dalino reply to him and continue the conversation, that possibility became less likely.
Even so, Escuro personally messaged Ponce and Dalino to make sure. Their replies were positive. They said they were going and that she should come too. It was a good thing that Manzano had finally talked to them and even wanted to treat them.
That was all well and good; however, Escuro couldn't shake the feeling that things wouldn't be the same, that they wouldn't go back to normal, that everything was changing, and that… this would be the last time Manzano hung out with them. She had an uneasy feeling that this meetup was his way of saying goodbye.
Could she handle it if that happened?
The answer was no.
She still believed that Manzano hated her. If he did leave, she would only blame herself more.
Had her feelings been discovered?
That would explain why Manzano had ignored her, eventually causing him to drift away from her.
So focused on her feelings, she failed to realize that she wasn't the only one being avoided. That was why she had concluded that everything was her fault.
Was it really alright for her to be here?
She couldn't help but question her presence.
"I knew you'd be here."
"?"
Escuro was so lost in thought that she failed to notice someone entering the Ministop and sitting beside her.
It was Dalino.
"H-How?"
How did he know she was here? How did he figure out that she would wait from afar? Or how did he discover her plan not to show up and instead watch them from a distance? Had he really figured all of that out? How?
There were many questions she wanted to ask, yet only one word escaped her lips.
"How?"
"How, you ask? You're so obvious."
Whenever Escuro arrived first at an agreed meeting place, she had a habit of waiting nearby rather than at the meeting spot itself, preferring to let someone else arrive first.
Dalino wasn't even sure if that was true, yet he confidently explained it as if it were an established habit of hers.
Escuro was surprised that someone had noticed. And of all people, it was Dalino. They hadn't known each other for that long, so how could he be so certain?
Despite that, Escuro didn't deny it.
She was glad it was him who had figured it out.
If it had been the other two, she wouldn't have been able to look them in the eye.
Sighing, she glanced at him and simply said, "I just don't want them to think I'm looking forward to it."
She revealed it casually, to him and no one else.
Was it because she trusted him that much?
No. There was a different reason, but it would be rude to say it out loud.
"Alright, I understand now. However, today is a little different, isn't it?"
Hearing that, Escuro blinked twice before fixing her gaze on him. She didn't say anything, likely waiting for him to continue.
"I know what's on your mind right now. You're scared to face Manzano, right?"
After he read her like a book, she looked away. Staring ahead, she racked her brain for a response. Should she deny it outright or simply come clean?
Come to think of it, Dalino had been helping her before. That realization struck her only now, as she had completely forgotten about it after Manzano started ignoring her. Perhaps she could rely on him again.
Just as she finally decided to tell the truth, she spotted a familiar face on the other side of the street.
At the designated meeting place, outside the Dunkin' Donuts, Manzano and Ponce were already there.
The moment she saw them, Escuro panicked and lowered her head.
"Oh, they're already there," Dalino said. He then looked at Escuro. "Shall we head over?"
"Wait."
He had already stood up, but she remained seated.
"I think it's better if I don't come."
"Escuro, there's no need to fret. Everything will be alright."
His words caught her off guard, and she turned to look at him.
"W-What do you mean?" Saying that, she then gasped before adding, "Did you do something?"
In response to her question, Dalino merely smiled and offered no answer.
"Don't overthink it. Manzano is really just treating us. So let's go."
Is it really okay? she thought.
But up to this point, Dalino had helped her tremendously. Thanks to him, she had been able to do things she had been too afraid to do before. Considering that, perhaps she could trust his words this time as well.
Thus, steeling herself, she took a deep breath and stood up from her seat.
Seeing that Escuro was finally convinced, Dalino sighed in relief. He then walked toward the door and held it open for her.
Accepting the gesture, she stepped through the doorway.
***
After Escuro and I joined Manzano and Ponce, the four of us entered the Dunkin' Donuts shop.
"So, guys, any specific donuts you want?" Manzano asked.
In unison, Ponce and I turned our gazes toward Escuro.
"Hmm? Me?"
"Camille, what do you want?"
"Um… maybe I'll get whatever you get."
Then Ponce's eyes shifted to me.
"What about you? Is there something you want to try?"
Was she passing the decision to me?
But I'm not fond of donuts, so I didn't know any of the names listed on the menu. If they wanted my answer, I would say:
"I'm fine with whatever you guys pick."
That was my honest answer, yet Ponce didn't like it. She stared at me in disappointment before returning to Manzano's question.
"You heard these two?"
"Alright, assorted donuts it is. And what about drinks?"
"No need. The donuts are enough."
"I'll have a Duncchiato."
Ponce was clearly trying to keep Manzano's expenses down, and then there was me, requesting a drink.
She shot me a look, clearly annoyed by my lack of consideration.
Why are you looking at me like that? I just accepted his offer. There's nothing wrong with that.
"Gotcha. One Duncchiato," Manzano repeated before turning to Escuro. "What about you?"
When he spoke to her, Escuro briefly looked at him before turning to Ponce.
"If Andrea says she doesn't want one, then I won't get one either."
Hearing her answer, Ponce gave me another look. She didn't say anything, but I knew she was annoyed.
Why are you blaming this on me? I wanted to retort. However, if I did, it would only prove that I was aware of it and simply didn't care. So I kept my mouth shut.
"Fine, we'll have a cappuccino," Ponce said, giving in.
"One Duncchiato for Dalino and two cappuccinos for Ponce and Escuro. Okay, that's about it. You guys take a seat. I'll place our order."
Just as he said, Manzano headed to the counter to order our food while the remaining three of us went to an available table for four.
After settling in, Ponce's eyes were still on me. She opened her mouth and said what she had been wanting to say in a lower voice.
"Do you have any shame?"
"Why would I be ashamed?"
"He's already buying us donuts, yet you still want more?"
"He's the one who offered. I just accepted it."
"You're taking advantage of his generosity."
"I'm not. As far as I'm concerned, turning down his offer would be far ruder."
"How is that ruder than making someone pay for you?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"H-huh?"
Eh?
My words, or perhaps the way I phrased them, seemed to tick her off. She furrowed her brows, and her stare turned into a glare.
"Then can you explain what that means, wise guy?"
Judging from her exasperated tone, I should probably stop while I'm ahead.
It's not that I don't want to explain it to her, but…
"I would, but not right now."
As I said that, I subtly glanced at someone. Following my gaze, Ponce understood what I was implying.
It would be better if Escuro didn't hear this. Ponce thought so too.
Ponce sighed before replying, "Fine, fine. We'll talk about this next time."
Watching our exchange, Escuro shifted her gaze between Ponce and me. She looked puzzled and thought for a moment before voicing what was on her mind.
Did she notice we were talking about her?
I gulped at the thought, while Ponce calmly turned her eyes toward Escuro.
"When did you guys become so close?"
Thankfully, it wasn't what we thought.
As for her question, Ponce was the first to react.
"We're close? No way in hell."
She firmly denied it.
"The two of you already speak to each other as equals."
"Don't I treat you guys the same way?"
"Not the same. For Manzano and me, yes, you talk to us casually. However, your dynamic with Dalino is more like that of close friends. You can even casually trade insults with each other."
So that's how she interpreted our argument?
"I only insult him because I hate him. It's really nothing special."
After hearing that, Escuro let out a small chuckle.
"That's so you."
"What does that mean?"
Before she could get an answer, however, Manzano had already finished placing our order and made his way to our table.
"You guys sound lively. What are you talking about?"
As he asked that, he sat in the chair beside me.
At our table for four, our seating arrangement was as follows: I was on the left side by the window. To my right was Manzano. Across from me sat Escuro, and beside her was Ponce.
This arrangement wasn't random. The seating had been quietly arranged to accommodate someone, and that is Escuro.
Escuro obviously wanted to sit beside Ponce, and the reason she chose to sit across from me was that she didn't want to look directly at Manzano. In a sense, Ponce and I served as her walls.
Back to the point, Manzano had finished ordering and sat beside me. His earlier question disrupted the atmosphere, and the lively conversation fell into complete awkward silence.
Escuro quietly stared down at the table, while Ponce faced away, sulking as if she were still upset about earlier.
At this rate, I was the only one capable of answering Manzano's question.
"Oh, we were talking about how kind it was of you to treat us today."
"Thanks. Consider it my apology for last time."
His reply couldn't have been better.
At those words, Escuro raised her head and looked at us in confusion.
"Then is there something you want to do?"
"Haha, you already know what I'm going to do."
I knew, but someone needed to hear it.
"Ready to apologize?"
"Yes."
After answering my question, Manzano shifted his gaze toward Escuro.
As she watched our conversation, she blinked twice before her eyes widened. She was startled when our attention suddenly turned to her.
"Apologize?"
Despite the situation, she still managed to voice the question that had formed in her mind.
And the one who answered her was Manzano.
"Yes. I want to apologize to you."
"T-to me? Why?"
"For the past few days, I've been avoiding you. No, not only you, but them as well. I've already apologized to Ponce and Dalino, and today, I'd like to apologize to you too."
Escuro was stunned by the revelation.
She looked at both Ponce and me, her eyes seemingly asking, 'Why didn't you guys tell me?' However, she didn't seem angry, only caught off guard by the truth.
Then she looked away, her gaze briefly landing on me before returning to Manzano.
During the moment she looked at me, she mouthed something.
From what I could decipher, it seemed like she said, 'You really did something.' And at the end, it looked like she added, 'Thank you.'
But I wasn't confident enough about that last part, so I let it go.
Manzano resumed speaking.
"And as for the reason why I did that, well…"
Hearing those words, Escuro's shaky eyes became steady and focused, ready to hear more. The reason behind Manzano's behavior had been weighing on her mind for days, and now she was finally about to hear the answer.
"Back then, I was just confused. I thought what I was doing was best for me and all that. I was trying to find myself, to figure out what was best for me, even if it meant distancing myself from everyone. But in the end, after doing it, I realized too late that my selfishness had caused everyone distress."
Manzano's explanation was confusing.
It wasn't just me who thought so. Escuro felt the same way when she asked,
"I don't understand."
"Sorry about my explanation. I'm being too dramatic. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I became distant because I wanted to find myself."
"Why? What is it that you want to find?"
"My role."
"Your role?"
Manzano nodded.
"In our group, I want to figure out what I want to do. Maybe my place in it. That's why I set boundaries, since I'm only the guy, after all."
After listening for a while, I think I understood what was going on.
The reason behind his odd explanation was Ponce.
How did I arrive at that conclusion?
Escuro and I were both confused by what Manzano was saying, yet the only one who didn't react was Ponce.
It's not like I suspected her out of spite. In fact, I initially thought she simply didn't care what Manzano said as long as everything was resolved. That's what I believed until I remembered yesterday's confrontation.
Although I did most of the talking yesterday, I had the chance to observe how she reacted. It wasn't through her facial expressions, but through her behavior.
There were certain things I noticed while talking to Manzano. For example, when he was in the middle of explaining the reason behind his decision, I could hear Ponce's ragged breathing because she was standing right beside me. From that alone, I deduced that she was anxiously anticipating his answer.
Then there was the moment when Manzano was still being stubborn. Ponce let out a clipped sound under her breath, the kind that suggested she was only seconds away from snapping.
However, the thing she reacted to most was Manzano's decision to leave the group.
This time, there wasn't any particular behavior to observe, only emotion. She seemed sad, angry, or perhaps even anxious.
Of those three, I couldn't tell which emotion was strongest. It could have been a mixture of all of them. She tried to suppress it, but during that moment, one of those emotions would briefly surface for me to notice.
That was when I realized that Ponce took friendship seriously.
Which is why the current conversation felt strange.
Despite Manzano clearly lying, Ponce wasn't reacting at all.
Would she really accept this way of apologizing to Escuro, where he avoided revealing the real reason?
No, she wouldn't.
After all, Escuro deserved to know the truth because she was the one who had been hurt the most by it.
That was why I expected Ponce to react to this. Yet she did nothing, only watching the conversation unfold.
So, going back to my conclusion, Ponce was the reason Manzano was lying. She probably spoke with him beforehand, just as I had spoken with Escuro earlier.
As for why she told him not to reveal the truth, I don't know.
My first guess was that she wanted to protect Escuro, but even that didn't sound quite right.
Whatever Ponce's reason was, I didn't see any harm in telling the truth.
"Is that so? I didn't know you were dealing with something like that, and I can't even help you at all. Sorry," Escuro said after hearing Manzano's story.
"Please don't think that way. Even if you had the chance to help me, I would've declined it. Not because I don't need your help or because you're incapable, but because this is something I should deal with on my own."
"Okay… T-then, can I ask one thing?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"But promise me you'll answer truthfully."
"I will."
Escuro took a deep breath, then asked what she had been holding back.
"Do you hate me?"
Manzano froze at the question. He had been prepared for her situation, but hearing it directly still made something twist in his stomach.
Aside from him, Ponce also reacted. Throughout the conversation, she had acted as if none of this concerned her, but now her eyes widened in shock.
It was the same for me. I didn't expect Escuro to bring that up. Did she gain confidence after talking to me earlier? I doubt it. It was more likely that she got swept up in the moment Manzano created.
"N-no, I don't hate you at all."
"Really?"
"Yes. Why would you even think I hate you?"
"Remember your birthday? I gave you a gift. I thought you hated it and started avoiding me because of that."
Ponce was here. Was it okay for her to reveal that? But it didn't seem like an accident or a slip of the tongue. I guess she's determined to clear everything up today.
"I didn't hate it. If anything, I was overjoyed by your gift. And heck, I even ate it right when I got home."
"D-do you mean that?"
"Mhm."
Manzano nodded softly. His eyes stayed on Escuro, unwavering and full of quiet sincerity.
"So there's no way I could hate you. If you're worried that I started distancing myself after that day, it has nothing to do with the gift. It just happened that I started doubting myself around that time, so it's not your fault."
"…Then does this mean you're finally going back to hanging out with us from now on?"
He smiled before answering, "That's right, since I've already taken care of my personal issue."
With that said, Escuro felt relieved. The worst possibility she had imagined was Manzano cutting ties with them, but thankfully that didn't happen.
However, even after hearing that everything was resolved, she still couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. But maybe that was just her being paranoid. She didn't want to make the same assumptions she had made before.
So she pushed those thoughts aside before they could spiral into overthinking.
With that, the reconciliation was a success.
Coincidentally, our order was ready shortly after their talk. They called Manzano's name, and he went to retrieve it. When he returned, he was carrying a large box and a drink carrier.
The box contained eight donuts, meaning two donuts per person. Since it was assorted, it was a first-come, first-served kind of situation. The drinks, however, didn't follow that logic, since Manzano had already asked us what we wanted earlier.
After distributing the donuts, we began eating.
At first, I thought we would spend the meal in awkward silence, but to my surprise, the table was filled with light conversation. Even Manzano and Escuro were talking. Although Escuro struggled to keep up with him, Manzano had already picked up on that and adjusted his pace. And Ponce occasionally joined in when things got too stiff.
"Dalino, why are you just sitting there not saying anything?" Manzano asked, turning his attention to me.
"Let him be. That's just how he is," Ponce said snarkily.
"Come on, you can join in too, you know," Escuro added with a smile.
"You guys, I'm merely enjoying my donut." Though not entirely true, it wasn't a lie either.
Now that they had pointed it out, I figured I had no choice but to join in.
The conversation didn't last very long. After finishing our food, we left the store right away.
We took a stroll for a while before eventually going our separate ways home.
***
I arrived home at 5:27 PM.
When I entered the living room, I slumped onto the couch, finally letting exhaustion catch up to me.
Recalling everything that had happened was tiring. Not just today, but these past few days, even the past week, I had been pushing myself, running around talking to people, forming a plan, and setting everything up just to get Manzano to finally at last. Now that everything had come to fruition, I was glad the reconciliation had worked out. For that, a quiet sense of relief washed over me.
"Tomorrow, everything will go back to how it was. And…"
I'll go back to doing what Escuro originally asked me to do.
As she had deemed me her cupid, dealing with this issue wasn't something I had signed up for.
I let out a weak chuckle at the thought, sleep already weighing on my eyelids. With a long yawn, I gave in to exhaustion and let sleep take over.
"I'm glad everything is o…ver…"
Those were the last words I said before blacking out.
But little did I know, this was far from over.
What I thought was the end of one problem was only the beginning of another.
[Andrea Ponce left the group.]