Back at their home base, Theresa gathered the girls for a strategic rundown of the unfolding events, and it was evident that Mikayla wasn't thrilled with the current situation.
 
"So, enlighten me. Why exactly are we lending this guy a hand?" Mikayla inquired, her voice tinged with annoyance.
 
Caught between a rock and a hard place due to her secret deal with Elise, Theresa hesitated. However, she knew she had to address the looming question.
 
Allaine, always the voice of reason, chimed in. "Look, this guy was our lifeline when we were in a tight spot. Don't you think it's time we return the favor?"
 
Seizing the opportunity, Theresa added, "Exactly. He's more than proven his worth by fending off Carlos not once, but twice. It's the least we can do."
 
With a resigned sigh, Mikayla conceded. "Guess I asked for this when I pitched that 'fake boyfriend' scheme, huh?"
 
Priscilla's smile softened the atmosphere. "To be fair, that was a genius move. We've yet to find a more permanent fix."
 
Mikayla picked up the magazine she'd set aside earlier. "So, our grand plan is to play dumb and pretend we've never met the guy?"
 
Theresa chuckled nervously. "Sounds easy enough, right?"
 
Priscilla looked serious for a moment. "Sure, that's the straightforward part. But let's all agree that if things escalate and become risky, we spill the beans immediately."
 
They all nodded, completely unaware of the tangled emotional web they were caught in. Little did they know the deeper complexities: Cassy and Altair's budding relationship, Theresa's undisclosed feelings for Altair, and the precarious deal Elise had struck with Sunny.
 
The trio finally reached their oasis—a lavish apartment concealed in the rolling hills near Baguio City. As the van came to a halt, Cassy was the first to step out. She inhaled deeply, stretching her arms toward the sky.
 
"Ah, there's nothing like mountain air!" Cassy exclaimed, reveling in the crisp atmosphere.
 
Next out was Altair, gingerly carrying a slumbering Sunny in his arms. Seeing him like this, Cassy's cheeks turned a shade pinker.
 
"Wow, he’s got the whole 'dad mode' thing down," she mused inwardly.
 
A fleeting thought crossed her mind: "Could I pull off the 'mom vibe' just as well?"
 
Shaking her head, she dispelled the thought. "What am I even contemplating?"
 
Altair caught her expression. "Everything okay, Cassy?"
 
"I'm good," she assured him, gripping the handle of her rolling luggage.
 
Stepping into the apartment was like walking into a sanctuary of luxury—airy, spacious, and filled with understated elegance. Gleaming hardwood floors connected an open-concept living area to a kitchen decked out with stainless steel appliances. As if beckoning for attention, French doors led to a balcony that offered a panoramic view of the stunning landscape. The apartment featured two plush bedrooms, each accompanied by its own private balcony. A fusion of comfort and class.
 
Now, back to Altair's dilemma. He stood there, clutching a sleeping Sunny, uncertain of his next move. Where should he place her? On a random couch? No, that didn't seem right.
 
Cassy sensed his hesitation and came to the rescue. "Why don't you let Sunny rest in my room?"
 
Relief washed over Altair. He surveyed the bedrooms briefly and opted for the grandest one to tuck Sunny into bed.
 
Altair returned to the living room,, where Cassy had settled onto the plush couch. Taking a seat adjacent to her, he broke the silence.
 
"Are you hungry?" Altair inquired, his gaze meeting Cassy's.
 
She offered a smile, tinged with a hint of melancholy. "Yes, can we order something, please?"
 
"What do you have in mind?" Altair probed.
 
"Chicken and pasta? And let's not forget something for Sunny," Cassy suggested.
 
Cassy rose from her seat and fetched two cups from the counter, setting them down beside a coffee maker. "Coffee?" she offered as she began to brew a pot.
 
Caught in a moment of introspection, Altair tossed a curveball question into the mix. "So, what do you think about living in Baguio?"
 
The question seemed to disorient both of them. For Altair, it conjured memories of similar late-night discussions with Theresa—conversations that vacillated between the surreal and the painfully real.
 
Caught off guard, Cassy took a second to organize her thoughts, her hands warming against the freshly brewed coffee cup. "Uhm, haha!" she hesitated, searching for the right words. "Living in Baguio has always been a dream of mine. Fresh air, a cool climate, and the sheer beauty of it all. But let's face it, the best job opportunities are in Metro Manila."
 
A sensation of melancholy seeped into Altair, as if the response had somehow fallen short of some unspoken expectation.
 
"I see. You make a valid point," he conceded, striving to keep the conversation afloat.
 
Sensing the emotional current had shifted, Cassy looked up. Her voice was tinged with concern as she queried, "Do you want to live here?"
 
It was Altair's turn to be caught off guard. He had yet to sift through his own complexities to give an honest answer. The room seemed to fill with more than the aroma of coffee—a blend of unspoken words and emotions hovered in the air.
 
Before Altair could collect his thoughts, Sunny's voice rang through the air, pulling Cassy away. Left alone in the living room, Altair's thoughts churned relentlessly.
 
"Why am I so affected? I'm the one who framed that question. This is a pretend relationship. She'll move on with her life once all of this is over."
 
The notion jabbed at Altair with unanticipated force. He couldn't put his finger on why, but it left a void in him. As Cassy and Sunny returned, he forced himself back to the present moment. The atmosphere felt heavy, suffused not with the absence of words but with with the weight of unspoken emotions.
 
"So, where should we head tomorrow?" Cassy's voice broke through his reverie, brimming with enthusiasm.
 
"Uhm, Burnham Park is nearby. How about we go there?" Altair suggested.
 
"Hey, Sunny, do you want to go to the park?" Cassy turned her attention to the little girl, her voice filled with infectious energy.
 
Sunny's eyes lit up, and she gave an emphatic nod, confirming her excitement.
 
"Your hair's all over the place; let me grab a brush," Cassy added. She rifled through her bag and took out a hairbrush, smoothing Sunny's tousled locks back into place. As she worked, Sunny couldn't help but notice the emotional gulf that seemed to have widened between Cassy and Altair.
 
Despite her initial aim to keep things strictly platonic between the two adults, Sunny felt a blend of empathy and concern in that moment. Cassy was visibly trying to bridge a gap that shouldn't have been there in the first place, and Sunny found herself quietly rooting for her efforts.
Sunny, sensing the timing was perfect for her to chime in, made her move. "So, Big Brother, how did you know you were in love with Ate Cassy?" She feigned innocence, but her question ignited something in Altair.
 
A rush of memories cascaded through Altair; he remembered the exact moment time seemed to slow down when he first truly saw Cassy. He glanced from Sunny to Cassy and then back to Sunny.
 
"Well, Little Sunshine, I realized it while I was sorting out your Aunt Cassy's spreadsheet," Altair began, lost in the recollection as if reliving it. "When I turned around and saw her standing there—in a black jumper skirt and white blouse—I thought she was the most breathtaking woman I'd ever seen."
 
Cassy felt her pulse quicken. The weight of Altair's words stirred something within her, but before she could sift through her tangled thoughts, Sunny's spotlight shifted.
 
"How about you, Ate Cassy?" Sunny's voice was tinged with genuine curiosity.
 
Cassy chuckled, her thoughts drifting to a distinctly less romantic but equally revealing memory. "Well, I vividly remember Altair bringing another woman to our first family dinner. She was his assistant, stunning in her own right. I couldn't decide whom I wanted to punch more—her, my brother, or Carlos."
 
Altair burst into laughter, finally connecting the dots. "Wait, so that's why you were glaring at me as if I'd committed some unforgivable sin?"
 
"Sorry, jealousy can be a potent emotion," Cassy responded, her voice echoing with newfound clarity.
 
The laughter they shared filled the room with a warmth that defied description. Sunny watched them, her young eyes discerning more than they let on. She knew about their faux relationship, the role-playing, the convenient arrangement—but this? This felt less like a performance and more like the authentic beginnings of something neither could yet define.
 
"What are your favorite memories together?" Sunny asked, her eyes shining with interest.
 
"Definitely the sink," Altair and Cassy both said at the same time, smiling at each other. Even Sunny had to admit that that it was cute.
 
The room was still filled with a sense of things unsaid, as if both were holding something back. Sunny felt like her mission to keep things friendly was still on track. But had they crossed a line without realizing it? The night wore on, and it was soon time for bed.
 
Once the bedroom door closed behind her, Cassy felt the heaviness of the day wash over her. Sunny was already cozy in her bed, her her eyes almost closed. Cassy lay down, but her mind was buzzing.
 
"Did Altair mean something more by asking about living in Baguio?" she thought. The idea was nice, but there was her job and other dreams to consider. "Could I see a future here with him?"
 
"Stop overthinking, Cassy!" she told herself. "He was probably just making conversation." But the questions and 'what-ifs' wouldn't go away.
 
"I'm not even sure how I feel," she sighed. Altair was a great guy; there was no question about it. But there were so many things to consider: timing, complications, and their different goals for the future. Love wasn't as simple as liking someone a lot.
 
"Did I just mess up?" she wondered. "Will he think I'm not interested because I hesitated about Baguio?"
 
"But we're not even officially a couple," she reminded herself, feeling frustrated.
 
"How can I make things right? Is there a way to clarify things without making it even more awkward?" Cassy's thoughts continued to churn as she lay in bed. Frustration mounting, she decided she needed a change of scenery—perhaps a glass of water or a breath of fresh air.
 
Quietly slipping out of the room, she made her way to the kitchen. There, through the sliding glass doors, she saw Altair. He was outside on the balcony, a cigarette in hand, its ember casting a warm glow in the dark.
 
Taking a deep breath, she decided to join him. "Mind if I sit?" she asked softly.
 
"Please do," Altair replied, quickly putting out his cigarette and shifting over to make room for her.
 
She sat down, and the chilly Baguio air seemed to match the emotional tension between them. For his part, Altair looked deep in thought, his eyes fixed on the distant hills shimmering with city lights.
 
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" Cassy attempted, hoping to rekindle the conversational spark they once had.
 
Altair chuckled. "Are you trying to charm me now?"
 
"Is it working?" she playfully shot back.
 
He turned to her and smiled. "Always."
 
Feeling the moment was right, Cassy ventured into deeper waters. "Look, if I said or did anything earlier to make things weird, I'm sorry."
 
Altair let out a long sigh. "It's not you. I don't know why, but I felt this sudden wave of sadness."
 
The honesty of his words touched her deeply. "Could I take some of that sadness away?" she asked, leaning her head gently against his shoulder.
 
Altair chuckled softly. "Would it be alright to be even sadder, then?"
 
"Don't push your luck," she retorted, her eyes twinkling.
 
They shared a soft, spontaneous laugh that seemed to dissolve the earlier tension. As they sat there, Cassy felt as if a quiet peace had settled over her, a momentary respite from the storm of questions that had been clouding her thoughts.
 
Her head remained comfortably against Altair's shoulder, and for a moment, she allowed her eyes to close, savoring the echoes of their mutual laughter and the feel of his steady presence beside her.
Their first day in Baguio had come to an end. They were under a canopy of stars, beset by questions that had yet to find their answers. But for that fleeting moment, all those questions seemed not only manageable but almost irrelevant. For now, at least, everything felt exactly as it should be.