"Hey, are you ever going to let me drive this?" I asked Vino as we approached the intersection.

The traffic light went red and flashed that we had to wait for 120 seconds before we could go.

"This has a name," he pointed out, smirking. "You sure you want to drive Evie?"

I giggled, hearing him say his car's name. According to him, Caela had named his car, and I thought it was cute of him to let his sister.

"Still think the name's cute?" he asked.

"I think you're cute."

He snorted before saying, "You don't need to compliment me. I think we all know you thought I was cute ever since you saw me on the first day of school."

"Oh, really?" I challenged him. "From what I remember, you sat next to me. I think it's the other way around. You thought I'm cute."

"You allowed me to sit on the chair that was supposedly for Brian," he reminded me with a smirk plastered on his face.

To be honest, yes, I found him cute on the first day of our freshman year. He had been such an eye-catching new kid in Eastview. He was this cute tall, lanky boy with chestnut brown hair.

And yes, I had allowed him to sit on Brian's chair but only because I was being kind to him and not because I found him cute. Okay, maybe a little because he was cute.

"You think I'm cute," I repeated instead.

"Of course, I think you are. That's why I sat next to you even if there were three vacant chairs in your row."

"Really?" I gasped.

I remembered sitting inside the classroom next to Lily as I waited for our friends and for our new classmates as well. I had reserved the seats next to me for the three boys—Brian, Miguel, and Jeff. But Vino arrived earlier than they did, and I let him take one of the seats.

"You never told me that before," I added.

"You were the most beautiful girl in the room," he whispered, glancing at me. "I don't know why others thought you're intimidating at first sight. You're so small, you can't intimidate me."

"Hey," I protested, slapping his arm.

"I'm just joking, geez. But not about the beautiful part."

"I can still remember how nervous you looked when you were introducing yourself. You told us you're half Filipino-half Australian. Born in—"

"—in Australia and raised in the Philippines," he finished the sentence for me. "Yeah, that memory is still so vivid in my mind."

I smiled at him as he reached for my hand. A lot of things had happened, but I was here with him now. Things had never felt more right with him by my side.

"But seriously, you really want to drive Evie?" he asked.

"I went to driving school. I have a driver's license. And I am your girlfriend. I think I'm very much qualified to sit behind the wheel."

"Now you're using the girlfriend argument? But Evie is my baby."

I knew how much Vino loves his car. It was one of his most prized possessions, but I enjoyed teasing him about having to choose between me and his car. Not that I would really subject him to making a choice, but still.

"Just because we're now official doesn't mean I can't use your feelings to make you do what I want you to. And when I started dating you, I wrote down on my bucket list that I want to drive Evie."

Vino shifted to drive when the traffic light changed to green and nudged me.

"Damn, I didn't know you can be pushy," he said, and I could hear the amusement in his voice.

I shrugged.

"Fine. But promise me you won't floor the accelerator. This baby can go from zero to a hundred in a few seconds."

"My goal is to drive a vintage muscle car, not drive towards death," I scoffed.

I tried to make a deal with him about driving Evie until we reached the Mexican restaurant where we would be having lunch with our friends. After parking the car, we hopped out as a black sedan approached the parking lot.

Vino wrapped an arm over my shoulder, and we watched the car park beside Evie. The door opened, and Brian stepped out, flashing us a huge grin.

"Well, well, well, look at my favorite couple."

"Yeah, I think I still want to strangle you," I joked.

"Easy, tiger."

I furrowed my eyebrows, and he glanced at Vino to back him up. But the latter pursed his lips and shrugged.

"Sorry bro," Vino apologized. "I found out earlier that she's the boss."

"I'm sorry, Kane, but I'm not even sorry."

"What?"

Brian scratched the back of his head and flashed me a lopsided smile.

"I am sorry I broke my promise. I just couldn't keep it anymore. But it worked out well, didn't it? Look how things turned out. You wouldn't be standing in front of me wearing that if it didn't work out," Brian said, gesturing to my and Vino's outfits.

We were both wearing high-top, navy blue Chuck Taylors. It might not be his favorite sneakers, but I was glad he had a few pairs he could match with my favorite ones.

"Come on, Jeff and Lily are already inside," Vino urged. He slid his arm down and grabbed my hand. We interlocked fingers as we walked alongside Brian.

When we entered the restaurant, we quickly spotted Lily and Jeff in a booth on the far-right side of the restaurant. They were in deep conversation, but Lily made a quick glance at the door and noticed us. She gave us an enthusiastic wave as we approached them.

I slid inside the booth, sitting next to Lily. Vino sat beside me, and Brian sat beside Jeff.

The latter flashed Vino and me a big smile, the dimple on his right cheek appearing, and said, "Looks like the rumors are true..."

I smiled sheepishly.

"Well, yeah... thanks, man." Vino smiled. "Where's Bianca?"

Jeff glanced at Lily, asking her to answer Vino's question.

"She can't make it today," Lily replied, and we exchanged glances.

Miguel, on the other hand, couldn't make it as well because he was out of the country. I had sent him a photo of me with Vino earlier, and he sent me a message saying he was happy for us, and it's about time for Vino and me.

"I want a burrito," Brian mumbled as he scanned the menu.

"Is that all?" Vino asked.

"Oh, right. You promised you'll treat us to lunch, so I'll guess I have to order a lot," Brian joked.

We had a delightful conversation over burritos, tacos, nachos, and fries. We had talked about our reunion as if it wasn't just a week ago. We had also talked about our plans for the year and, of course, about me and Vino.

"Took them so long," Lily commented and shifted on her seat to face Vino. "But I still can't believe you were trying to win her back, and you told her you don't care if she breaks your heart."

"Yeah, what's that about?" Brian intervened.

"Is that a new tactic? Because I don't think Brian has done something like that before," Jeff added, and all three of them laughed.

"I was trying to make a point," Vino reasoned out.

"Alright, big guy. You made your point," Lily said, nodding slowly. "But really, I am glad you worked things out."

I smiled at Lily before reaching for some more fries from the platter.

"Hey, we should do this more often," I suggested. "We weren't able to always hang out altogether during college, contrary to what we promised before."

"Yeah, we definitely should," Vino agreed.

"Miguel is a dedicated employee who gets sent overseas for some company business. Jeff has events to cover and several shoots here and there. Lily makes coffee on weekdays and performs on stage on weekends. Bianca manages her new boutique. Vino will be working soon. I'll be graduating soon, and you're going back to school in a couple of months from now," Brian enumerated as he held his fingers up.

"We are busy, busy people," I concluded.

"But we will make it work, like how you two make everything work out," Lily reassured me.

We might not have totally lost communication, but the seven of us had only spent a few times together since we graduated from high school. We had made this kind of promise before, but at the moment, I was feeling optimistic about this. I didn't know why, but I knew in my heart that we would be able to fulfill this one.

Lily's phone beeped on the table, and she glanced at it and said, "Oh no. it's Mike. I think I have to go now. We actually have a gig today—will play in a party."

"And I'll be meeting with a client in an hour," Jeff added.

Brian and I exchanged glances.

"Our friends are busy people," I confirmed.

"Yeah," he agreed. "I have no other plans for today, but I think this is the part where we all go. I'm not yet ready to be a third wheel for you and Vino."

After Vino paid the bill, we all walked outside to the parking lot.

"I really have to go now, but I'll see you soon, okay?" Lily said before giving me a hug.

We all watched her hop into her white pick-up truck. She rolled down her window and waved us goodbye before driving away.

Jeff was walking ahead of us to unlock his car.

"Hey, I want to talk to Jeff for a while," I whispered to Vino.

"Sure, go ahead."

I jogged towards Jeff and reached him when he was almost to his gray sedan.

"Jeff."

"Hey," he mumbled and gave me a sheepish smile, his dimple appearing again.

I had always wanted to have a dimple, and Jeff was lucky to have a deep one that would appear even at the slightest twitch of his mouth.

"I just wanted to ask you about what you said last week."

It had been a week since our reunion. Obviously, a lot of things had happened, but I knew some things needed to be addressed.

"What did I say last—oh, that. It's nothing, Kane. I mean, it was something, but it's no big deal now."

I nodded.

"You're still my best friend, right?" he asked.

"Of course. I just... I want to know. Did I ever hurt you in high school?"

"What? No. You were a good friend. If you feel weird knowing I liked you back then, just think of all our other classmates who never admitted their feelings to their crushes," he explained and gave me a reassuring smile. "It happens to everyone."

"Okay..."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm going to have dinner with someone tonight. Thanks to lily for setting it up."

At this, I giggled.

Who needs a dating app when you have a friend like Lily?

The last I heard about Jeff's dating life, he dated someone back in his third-year college, but it was short-lived.

"She better takes care of you because you're a catch."

Just because I didn't like him the way he had liked me didn't mean I didn't like him at all. Jeff was a nice person, and anyone would be lucky to have him as a friend. He would always be one of my best friends, and I would always care for him.

I might not have reciprocated his feelings for me, but I wanted what was best for him. I wanted him to be happy too.

"I hope things will work out for you and your mystery girl."

"I hope so too. Lily said this girl is into photography too, so I'm feeling hopeful about this one." Jeff glanced past me, looking at Brian and Vino, before looking back at me. "You know, I've always wanted you to end up with the right person for you—the guy you truly love, and somehow I knew it wasn't me. But I'm glad it's Vino."

"Jeff," I mumbled as I blinked back tears.

"I'm happy to see two of my best friends finally found their way back to each other. And I'm happy that Vino was telling the truth and that he fulfilled his promise."

I stopped dabbing my eyes to stare at Jeff.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He leaned against his car and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Back in senior year, when things were complicated between the two of you, he told me that he had to do it. I was furious at him for hurting you, and I couldn't understand what he was trying to say to me.

"But one thing that struck me the most is that he told me he loves you, even when everyone already knows he's going out with Lanie. I know his words sounded like crap, but he sounded sincere to me."

I glanced over my shoulder and found Brian and Vino deep into conversation. Brian was even making hand gestures as he speaks.

"Why didn't you tell me? Why now?" I asked, averting my eyes back at Jeff.

"You were hurting, and he obviously wouldn't do anything to fix what was broken. And I guess because you were both avoiding it, we all just went with the flow. And we hoped and prayed that both of you will come to your senses and that Vino will do what's right."

Talking about the past didn't hurt anymore. There was no more heavy feeling in my chest or a hollow pit in my stomach. Maybe it was because Vino and I had addressed what had happened or because we had forgiven each other, and we had forgiven ourselves.

But finding out there was another side to the story, from Jeff's point of view, was still somewhat surprising. Vino had never mentioned anything about talking to Jeff, but I could remember him saying he made a promise.

"Wow, I-I don't know what to say."

"There are a lot of things you haven't noticed—things we have seen like how the two of you have been careful around each other or how Vino's eyes light up when whenever we talk about you. There was always something special between you and Vino. I've seen it before, and I could still see it now. The way you look at the other even if the other isn't looking."

I nodded, taking in every word he said.

"I know I owe you," I whispered, looking up at Jeff. "You guys won't tell me, but I have a feeling you also had something to do with last week. I don't know how I can ever repay you."

He put his hands in his jean's pocket and nodded. "A simple thank you will suffice."

"Thank you."

"Any time, Kane."