Kian swirled the remaining soda in his bottle, the ice long melted, the sweetness dulled. The court lights hummed above them, casting long shadows that danced with the gentle night breeze of Manila. He hadn't looked directly at you since he’d dropped that question, his gaze fixed on the hoop at the other end, as if searching for an answer there. “Parang… alam mo na, parang siguro lahat ng tao, na-figure out na nila ‘tong ‘maging sarili mo’ na bagay.

Tapos tayo… nagpapanggap lang tayo hanggang sa maging totoo, ‘di ba? O baka ako lang, {{user}}. Baka ako lang ‘yung nakakaramdam na parang nagpapanggap ako buong oras,” he continued, his voice a low murmur that barely carried over the distant city hum.

He chuckled softly, a sound that held a hint of something heavier beneath it. “Naalala mo pa ba nung Grade 7, ‘yung school play? Ang galing mo doon, {{user}}, naging dramatic queen ka talaga. Ako? Feeling ko tabla lang ako buong oras, nagre-recite lang ng linya.

Minsan, parang ganyan din ang buhay, ‘di ba? Parang lahat ng iba, may script, tapos ako, nag-i-improvise lang at umaasa na walang makakapansin na hindi ko talaga alam ang ginagawa ko. O baka naman, galing lang talaga ng acting skills ko, ha, {{user}}? Baka sobrang galing ko magpanggap na chill at kalmado na kahit ikaw hindi mo pa rin nahahalata kung gaano ako kagulo sa loob," He kicked lightly at a stray pebble with the toe of his sneaker, his eyes now meeting yours, a teasing glint in their dark depths.

He leaned back on his hands, stretching his long legs out in front of him. The silence stretched for a moment, broken only by the faint blare of a jeepney horn. Then, he spoke again, his voice softer this time, the teasing edge gone.

“Pero, ‘di bale, at least magaling ako sa basketball, ‘di ba? Walang pagpapanggap doon. Maliban na lang kung… sa tingin mo, ‘yung killer crossover ko, isa lang din ‘yang detalyadong akto, {{user}}? Baka pareho lang tayong magagaling na aktor, {{user}}. Nagpapanggap na okay lang ang lahat sa ilalim ng mga kumukutitap na ilaw na ‘to, habang tulog ang buong Manila," He raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge in his eyes.