While still hesitating as he was jogging from the city proper, Rendo managed to save a girl in school uniform by running to and eventually catching her from a speeding bus. By this time, the two of them are walking to city proper, where the woman said she was supposed to be taking a trip in. Of course, while Rendo is still thinking of going home early, some instinct or what have he is telling him to accompany the woman back. So much about being a gentleman. A rarity nowadays. Perhaps he discounted the saying, "Do not talk to strangers." So, they continue walking, and while on their way, they are also talking.

She said, "We can just take a ride back, you know?"

He looked at her and answered, "I don't want to impose on you. Besides, I already walked downtown, so another walk uptown wouldn't be too much. How about you? I can carry you..."

"Oh, no, thanks, but... actually... I like walking. It calms me. At the same time, it gives me some exercise."

"Are you sure? Being in school uniform, I suppose those black shoes of yours aren't so comfortable against concrete sidewalks?"

"Meh. They're flat. We're going to a field trip, after all. That means a lot of walking, too."

"I see... Now that you mention it, you had companions in the trip?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Oh... I'm on a field trip of one, really. Our destination is in Bulacan, but I didn't join."

"Good for you. Look at me, going to a field trip, then almost dying!"

He patted her shoulder while saying, "There. There. I thought walking calms you?"

"I'm calm. Don't worry. To be frank..."

"Yes?"

"I was actually sleeping in our bus... so I alone was left behind."

"I see... but wait... who are you, really?"

He just realized that now. So much about being the suspicious man in the first chapter.

"Oh... Yes, of course. We forgot to introduce each other."

"Hmm?"

"I'm Verona."

"Verona...? Full name?"

"Verona Dimasalang."

"Hey... Not bad."

She blushed, "What do you mean about that?"

He laughed, "Nothing. I'm Rendo. Lobo."

"Lobo, as in balloon?", she said as she giggled. Lobo is the Filipino word for balloon.

"Of course not! Lobo as in wolf! Anyway..."

Lobo is the Portuguese and the Spanish word for wolf.

"Yes?"

She seems to be more relaxed now, and even slightly more jolly.

"So you're from where?"

"I study in an all-girls college in Quezon City."

"Uh... Why can't you just say which school it is? I mean, I can actually tell with a glance at your white and green uniform..."

Discretion is out watchword. Deal with it.

"I live in Pasig City."

"Ooh. Where there?"

"Dela Paz."

"Aha! Don't you think I can actually visit you at night and kidnap you for money?!"

She laughed.

"What?! Do you want a demonstration?"

She punched his arm lightly.

"No, no. I know you won't do that."

"How can you say?"

"Intuition."

"What can I say?"

"My tip to you, my friend? The woman's always right."

"Wait! We're friends now?"

"How dense can you be? It's just an expression."

"Oh..."

Just then, she tugs him by the arm to the edge of the sidewalk and looks to the sun setting on Metro Manila. It is an overlooking view that is yet to be built with an eating establishment, or a rock and roll pub. However, Rendo is not exactly fond of heights. He trembles a bit while they stand near the railings of the national road, so he goes closer to the road, which begins to have some traffic by this time. Verona does not notice this easily.

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"Look! Look! The sun is setting. Lemme take a picture!"

"Oh, right... Y-you do that..."

As she took photographs of the sunset itself and selfies of herself with that landscape as the background, she finally observes Rendo's unease.

"Hey. What's wrong?"

"M-me? Nothing. No...," he says as he steps away from the railings.

"You're sweaty... just like a while ago when you ran at 60!"

"W-who wouldn't get sweaty in walking this summer afternoon...?"

"Don't tell me... you're acrophobic!"

"N-no... Of course not!"

"Do tell me. It's just the two of us here..."

She pulls him by the elbow, supposedly to bring him closer to the railing, but whether by design or by accident, they become closer with each other. When they realized they are facing each other, they both looked at the sunset to avoid the eye contact almost simultaneously. They are both blushing at this point. For a few seconds, they gazed at the setting sun. Then, Verona inched towards Rendo's side, but she was probably not carefully enough because Rendo easily noticed her move. She holds his elbow again, and observed that he stopped trembling even though he is still standing near the railing with her.

"Oh... So that's what you need...," Verona mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing. What'd you say? Want a selfie with me?"

"W-what?! We just met!"

"Come on, you killjoy. Just think of the sun as our third wheeling friend."

"But won't the picture look dark since it's against the light?"

"Don't worry. Never underestimate high technology."

So, as the sun is around three-fourths down the horizon, they face away from it and take a selfie. Click. Phone camera flashes.

"How'd it go?"

They finally continue walking after taking the photograph.   

"Well... You seem closer to me in this picture," she said with a smile.

Rendo's eyes rolled, putting his shoulders and his hands up a bit.

"See... I just thought... You know... we won't fit if we're not compressed...?"

"Want me to send it to you?"

"By Bluetooth?"

She laughed, "Bluetooth? This isn't 2012, my friend!"

"Then what's on your mind?"

"I can add you in social media. Do you have SNS?"

SNS is an abbreviation for Social Networking Service.

"Oh... Yeah, I mean, sure. My name's quite unique."

"Lemme see... Rendo Lobo, right?"

"I think you'd find it easily..."

"There. Added you already. Can't you accept me now?"

"Uh... You see..."

He pulls out a cracked phone from his pocket. It cannot even be powered on.

"Ha? Don't tell me..."

"Yes. I don't want to tell you because you might take it as a burden. It's my fault for not catching you properly."

"Oh, Rendo... I'm sorry, okay? L-let me make it up to you."

"Hmm?"

She hands her phone to him.

"Maybe your parents are worried. Message them."

"Y-you sure?"

"Of course."

After sending a short message, Rendo gives back the phone. She stores it back to her handbag. They forge on until they reach the city proper, which is now illuminated by various lights from posts and establishments. Even Antipolo is a highly urbanized city (HUC) by this time, the most competitive in all of Rizal and comparable to the cities of Metro Manila. Soon enough, she points to a huddle of students by the city park.

"There's my classmates!", she said excitedly.

Leaving her handbag to Rendo, she runs to them. Her classmates are quite surprised.

They turn to her and say almost in unison, "Rona! You're safe! How?!"

Then, the accompanying professor disperses the students and whispers to her, "I was informed that one of our buses were hijacked, and you're there..."

She whispers back, "Yes, sir. I'm terribly sorry, sir. I was left behind because I took a nap..."

"Never mind that... The thing is, how am I supposed to explain to my superiors!"

"Sir, I wouldn't file against you."

"I know you're a good gal... But the hijacked bus just made the evening news! What a dilemma!"

"Sir, please tell me what happened."

It turns out that while the bus driver spaced out, a local drunk managed to hijack the bus and drive it at will. His reasons for doing so? Perhaps they cannot be ascertained, since he died and all. However, the media would not let this go easily. Roving reporters are stationed nearby to get the latest development for their respective news agencies. One reporter in particular noticed the students becoming noisier than a while ago, and he walked silently to take a closer look.

"So, you see, if we don't disown that bus... Not only I, but the entire school is at risk... If the media interviews you, can you please tell them that you're just lost in line or something?"

"Sir, I'd like to do that... but truth shall prevail."

With that statement, she was approached by the reporter, who had his cameraman following closely behind.

"Miss. Could you give us a moment?"

Verona was given a lapel microphone.

"Sure thing. I can greet, right?"

The professor distanced away, saying to himself, "My God... Here goes nothing..."

The camera starts recording. Meanwhile, her classmates were just behind, forming a sort of background of students. Apparently, they also wanted their own fifteen minutes of fame.

The reporter began, "We're now here in Antipolo City to know more about the bus crashing along Sumulong Highway this afternoon! With me is the lone passenger of the bus. Please."

"Mm... Good evening to all. Hello mom, dad. I'm Verona, and I'm the only one inside that bus before it crashed a while ago. Actually, I was left behind in the bus..."

She smiles and waves at the camera. What confidence. She looked like a professional at this.

"Oh really? Can you tell us more?"

The reporter's tone began to sound accusing

"But I was saved from disaster by..."

She looks in front of her, and then behind her, but she seems to have not found what she is looking for.

"Yes, Miss Verona?"

"He... disappeared..."

"Who disappeared?"

"I was saved by a guy named Rendo... Rendo Lobo..."

"He did? How did he do it?"

Her mood has gone to a low, and her dazzling demeanor evaporated.

"... Well... He was running... as fast as the bus... And then, he told me to jump..."

"You jumped to him?!"

"Yes... And he caught me... I was saved..."

Suddenly, she removes the lapel microphone, and she walks away, vanishing in a crowd of students. The professor enters the scene.

"I think that's enough for one day!"

"Sir! Could you not be the teacher with them?"

"Uh, eherm, you see..."

The report continues, but Verona went on looking for Rendo in the park. He was nowhere in sight, even though the entire park was adequately illuminated. Meanwhile, one classmate went to her and gave back her handbag.

"A man carrying it said it's yours. Of course, I recognized it to be your bag."

Verona took the bag, and sat down by one of the benches.

"Thank you, Mai..."

Her classmate also sits on the bench.

"You're saved, got interviewed in TV, but still, you look sad?"

"Ha? Me? No, it's nothing, really..."

"It's that guy, right? Tell me."

"Well..."

"Come on, girl. We've dealt with boys since high school. You know them. They're all the same. It's alright."

"..."

"Besides, our crushes would perform in Manila soon. Cheer up!"

Verona smiled at her classmate's encouragement. In fact, she is one of Verona's friends, Maida.

Meanwhile, where has Rendo gone? How will Verona's college deal with the field trip problem? Why is Maida seemingly harsh on boys? And when will we see some real running? Come on now. Finally, who will continue to read anyway?