When Aki's cries subsided, the bad weather gradually calmed as well and the electricity supply in the area returned.
Matthew and Mario crash into their house. And because of the fear of the two young ladies who have not yet receded, the five of them agreed to spend the night in their small living room.
The last time Mharc was scared, she couldn't sleep for a week alone because the images she was afraid of kept coming back and flashing to her mind. That was why she also slept for a week in her older brother M's room.
The next day, Saturday, because none of Cubic Meter had any plans, they decided to stay together and hangout with each other the whole day.
Mario would rather go and play with them than go home to his quiet house and so was Matthew.
It was ten o'clock in the morning when Mharc's two blockmates arrived at their house. Next week she and her classmates will participate in a cooking competition in their department, so they were here today to practice.
Meanwhile, Aki and Cubic Meter have not yet come home from playing basketball.
Aki joined the boys when they said this morning that they were going to sweat their hangover out at a nearby playground. Mharc on the other hand did not come because she waited for her group mates.
They were about to finish cooking when Cubic Meter and Aki arrived.
"Teach me again next time!" The only girl among the four new arrivals spoke enthusiastically. Which in turn was only laughed at by the three men.
"And when I'm good enough, we'll play two versus two!" she continued regardless of her companions laughing at her.
"It's good that you're already here! Perfect timing," Mharc said, waving her hand. She was still wearing the white apron with the animated tomato design.
Aki, who was dreadful of sweat, walked ahead of the others. She was now climbing to the second floor to M's room.
"We're leaving again. We're just going to take a shower and change our clothes," Aki announced happily. She was wearing a black crop top and topped with a oversized white and red jersey. On its back was embroidered the number twenty and M's surname—Angeles. Her bottom was its matching pair of shorts.
"We're going to the studio! Too bad you have something to do, you can't be with us and watch us play. But it's okay, there's still next time. I'll go up, Sis," the Archein said in one breath. Her voice was full of excitement. She even jumped up and down towards M's room. Music brought something completely different to this girl.
"Brother," Mharc begged her sibling after watching Aki leave.
M looked at Mharc and waited for what she would say next while their two friends, who were both sweating, went straight to sit on the medium length sofa in front of the television.
M's jersey was red and black. Just like what Aki's wearing, his last name and date of birth were also embroidered on his.
Matthew was wearing the same jersey as M, but with "Isidro 18" embroidered on the back. While Mario was wearing the same color as Aki. His last name and birthday can be seen on the back—Legazpi 14.
"Can't you just go there tomorrow?" Mharc asked worriedly.
It immediately piqued Matthew and Mario's attention the moment they heard the siblings' conversation. 
'Oh, wrong timing. Aki is so excited. Tsk. Tsk,' Mario thought after looking at the two for a moment.
'You are so done, M. Which side will you be—girlfriend or sister?' This was what was running in Matthew's mind.
"It's not possible, you saw yourself how excited Aki was. Why? Do you want to come with us? Next time let's go there together. Focus on your cooking competition first."
"GF, one point! Sister, zero!" Matt whispered to Mario. If one didn't really know this guy well, they wouldn't have thought that he has a silly side.
"Eee…" Mharc held her brother's right arm. She did not care about his sweats. What she wanted now was to prevent them from leaving.
"It's better if you go there tomorrow. I'll be with you then, and we'll also have you guys as our tasters today," said the girl as they headed towards where Mario was sitting.
"We don't know anything about cooking, besides—" M whined but Mharc cut his words off.
"Please, Brother. Don't leave. It's free food! We just need someone aside from the three of us to taste our dishes," Mharc insisted, pointing her forefinger to their tiny kitchen where her group mates were.
"Besides, you won't regret it. You'll be tasting our section's top three students!" She persuaded M constantly.
"I'm ready!" Aki shouted as she approached her friends. "Your turn to take a bath, Riri."
A smile faded from the girl's lips when her friends looked at her and the sadness on Mharc's face. "Why?" she asked.
"Sister..." Mharc called Aki pitifully and held both of her hands. Mharc explained to her what she wanted.
"We're not going?" Aki asked M after hearing Mharc's words.
"We'll go," replied the latter shortly, avoiding his sister's eyes. He started to move to his room to change his clothes.
"Mharc can't even hold a chance against Aki," Matthew whispered again.
"That's why I don't believe those two are not in a relationship. Just look how M pampered Aki," Mario commented in a whisper. The melody of pain and sadness in Mario's words did not reach Matthew's hearing due to the extreme lowness of his voice.
"Big brother!" Mharc shouted pleadingly at her brother who was leaving their sala before turning to Aki again. "Sister..." she said, giving Aki her puppy-eyed look.
"Alright, it's okay." What Aki said called the attention of their friends. "We'll just go there next time." She gave Mharc a small but genuine smile.
"Thank you, Sis! I really love you!"
Rejoicing, Mharc reached out and kissed Aki, which made the latter laugh.
"Aki..." M said, looking at the two young ladies downstairs. He even stopped walking when he heard Aki's statement. On the other hand, the other two other young men just watched them. They knew how eager Aki was to go to the studio but she still chose to give in to Mharc's request.
"It's okay," Aki replied. "It's okay with you too, right?" she asked Mario and Matthew.
"You're the only one we're worried about," Mario replied with a smile after Matthew nodded.
"Yes! Wait here, Sis. Alright? We're almost done," said Mharc as she guided Aki to sit between Matthew and Mario. "Bleh!" she turned to M and made a face at him before she quickly returned to the kitchen.
The young man just laughed softly at his sister's actions and turned his attention back to Aki who was chatting with their two other friends.
* * * * * *