good evening everyoneee! kumusta ang araw niyo? masaya ba? if oo, palungkutin natin HAHAHAHAHA chariz. sana okay kayong lahat, mixed emotions ang dala ng chapter na 'to, so i say goodluck. much better if you will read this chap while listening to malaya by moira. ingatan ang sarili, matutong magpalaya. enjoy, readers!

will make a reminder lang again to be mindful sa words na gagamitin. use their codenames! thank you, alam kong makakaasa ako sa inyo!

cried while writing this lol my softie self can't even ;(

"Arki.."

Nilabanan ako ang titig ni Miguel sa akin, I gave him a sarcastic smile.

"Engr. Valdez.." I said at inilahad ang kamay ko. Tinignan niya iyon at nakita ko kung paano siyang napalunok bago dahan dahang inabot 'yon. "Long time no see,"

Scared, I see.

Agad niyang binitawan ang kamay ko at natawa naman ako nang bahagya.

"This is Charhy.." I said at itinuro si Cha na katabi ko. "Doctora Charhy," habol ko.

Tumango si Miguel at ibinalik ang tingin sa akin bago ngumiti. "A Doctora also, I see," he said at tumingin kay Tricia. "Like mine,"

"Yes, like Doctora Robredo," sagot ko.

"It's Doctora Valdez now,"

I raised a brow at umakto na parang nagulat.

"Oh," I looked at Tita. "Tita, Doctora Valdez na po pala ngayon ang anak niyo,"

Bago pa makasalita si Tita ay nagsalita na si Tricia. "I want to use my surname still,"

"But Hon, we're marrie-"

Tita coughed. "She said she wants to use our surname still. Tricia worked hard to earn that degree, she will be the one to decide," she said and looked at Cha. "What do you think, Doc Charhy?

I saw kung paanong nagulat si Cha pero agad din naman niyang cinompose ang sarili niya.

"As someone na Doctor din, like Doc Tricia.. if I were in her position po, I will not use my husband's surname either, hindi ako nagpakahirap magaral para lang balewalain ang apelyido ng pamilya ko," Cha answered and smiled.

"Correct, hindi naman ikaw ang nag paaral sa kaniya," Ate Aiks agreed.

"Asawa ka lang naman.. for what? Less than a year? My Ate studied for so many years, so anong karapatan mong ipilit na gamitin niya ang apelyido mo and use the married card?" Jill suddenly said at tumayo para lumapit kay Miguel.

"Are you.. mad?" Miguel asked, stuttering.

"Hindi, I'm Jillian.." sagot niya at natawa naman sina Ate Aiks. Her sense of humor, gosh. "My Ate Tricia's bunso,"

I smirked when I saw Miguel's hand lowkey shaking and sweating.

"Why don't we just eat? Lumalamig na 'yong pagkain, oh." Tita said at nginitian kami. "Halina kayo rito, Arki anak and Doc Charhy upo kayo,"

Pinauna ko si Cha maglakad papunta sa upuan at nang mapadaan ako kay Miguel, I tapped his shoulders.

"Relax, masyado ka namang threatened," I whispered at tiningnan siya diretso sa mga mata niya. "And a little reminder," mas lalo akong lumapit sa tenga niya. "Hindi lahat ng iyo.. ay mananatiling sayo."

I gave him a smile before walking away. Hinila ko 'yong upuan ni Cha at pinaupo siya. I saw how Tricia looked at us pero agad din akong nag iwas ng tingin dahil kinurot ako ni Ate Aiks.

"Ang harot niyo kahit dito," bulong niya nang dumaan siya sa likod ko.

Inirapan ko siya at pinaghila ko rin naman ng upuan si Tita. Maissue lang talaga 'tong si Ate Aiks ever since sa amin ni Cha.

Nang makaupo ang lahat, narealize kong magkaharapan pa kami ni Miguel.

Nakakawalang gana kumain ah, chz.

'Yong pwesto namin, si Tita ang nasa gitna, sa right side niya ay si Jill, Tricia and Miguel. Samantalang sa left ay si Ate Aiks, Cha and me.

Kapansin pansin na kanina pang nakatingin si Tricia kay Cha, while Cha is just smiling at her.

"Since we're complete na, let's pray so that we can start eating," Tita said.

Nag dasal kami at nang matapos ay nagsimula nang kumain.

"Do you want this?" Cha offered the cordon bleu to me.

I nodded at kinuha 'yon sa kaniya, she just smiled at me. "Thank you,"

Napansin kong kaunti lang 'yong pagkain na kinuha ni Cha. "Are you okay? Ang konti ng pagkain mo," I whispered, worried na baka hindi siya okay o comfortable na kaharap si Tricia. "Do you want us to exchange seats?"

Umiling siya at ngumiti. "Okay lang ako, okay na 'to sa akin. You know me, I don't eat a lot kapag dinner,"

I gave her a "are you sure" look at tumango lang siya sa akin bago nag simulang kumain.

"Eat well," I said and gently rubbed her back bago kumain.

"Kumuha ka pa, Hon. Ang konti niyan," we heard Miguel said.

"It's okay, hindi ako gutom," Tricia answered.

"You need to eat," pilit ni Miguel at nilagyan pa ng pagkain 'yong pinggan ni Tricia.

"She said ayaw niya,"

"Gaano ba kahirap intindihin 'yong salitang hindi siya gutom?"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Jill nang sabay kaming magsalita dahil sa nakita at narinig namin.

Miguel looked at me. "My wife needs to eat," he said, putting emphasis sa "my wife" before looking at Jill at ngumiti. "I'm just taking care of your sister, Jill."

"It's Jillian for you," agad na sagot ni Jill. "Kakain ang Ate ko kung gusto niya, huwag mong ipilit,"

"Miguel, ngayon mo lang kami nakasama kumain and yet.." umangat ang tingin ni Ate Aiks sa kaniya. "You're showing us some sort of disrespect to your.. to our sister,"

"Let's all calm," awat ni Tita. "Miguel, let Tricia eat on her own, kaya na 'yan ng anak ko,"

"I'm sorry po," Miguel apologized at nag tuloy sa pagkain.

"Hmm, so.. where's your parents?" Tita asked him.

"My Dad is busy at the moment po, while my Mom.. she's gone,"

"Oh, sorry to hear that," pagpapaumanhin ni Tita. "Hindi ba't sa company ka ni Y/N nagtratrabaho?"

"Hindi na po," he answered and looked at me. "May sarili na po kami ng Daddy ko,"

"Na sa akin din naman nanggaling lahat," I whispered, just enough for Miguel to hear. I felt Cha's hand sa hita ko, she's gently rubbing it.

"What is it, anak?" Tita asked me.

"Nothing, Tita I said ang galing nga po nila," pagdadahilan ko at ngumiti bago tumingin kay Miguel. "Ang galing galing,"

Miguel smirked, and I did too.

"Is that a compliment, Arki? I'll take that as a complimenent,"

"Oh come on, of course it is a compliment. Unless iba ang dating sa'yo?"

"Bakit naman mag iiba?"

I shrugged. "Nag iiba ang dating sa isang tao kapag natatamaan sila or.. guilty, right?"

"I'm not guilty, Arki," he whispered.

"Kunwari naniwala ako," I answered and winked.

Mabuti na lang at may sariling topic sina Tita, Ate Aiks at Jill doon kaya hindi kami napapansin dito.

"Control yourself and let's just eat, hmm?" Cha reminded me at ngumiti.

I smiled at her and nodded.

"I personally think na may freedom naman siya to speak," Tricia suddenly said habang nakatitig kay Cha.

Cha smiled at her. "I'm aware of that, Doc Tricia. It's just that, mas mahalaga ang pagkain kaysa sa.. asawa mo,"

Tricia couldn't talk. Hindi niya malaman kung ano ang isasagot kay Cha kaya sumubo na lang siya sa pagkain niya.

"Miguel, can I ask something?" Tita suddenly asked.

"Sure po,"

"Do you.. really love Tricia?"

"I do, Tita."

"How much?"

I saw how Miguel held Tricia's hand na nasa lamesa. Napaiwas ako ng tingin doon.

"So much, to the point that I am willing to do anything for her," he answered and smiled.

"Anything?"

"Anything, Tita."

"Hmmm," sumandal si Tita sa upuan niya. "What if dumating sa point na mawala 'yong love mo for her?"

"Tingin ko, hindi naman po mawawala 'yon, Tita. And besides, we're married, so Tricia will be with me for the rest of our lives,"

Wala bang mag tatanong kung what if dumating sa point na mawalan ako pasensya sa kaniya? Chz.

"Married.. hmm, yes you're holding on to that," Tita said. "But what if.. hindi naman pala talaga kayo kasal? Like everything is fake," she said which made us all looked at her. Natawa naman siya dahil doon. "Nakikita ko lang doon sa mga teleserye na napapanood ko, tinetest ko lang itong si Miguel,"

Bago pa makasagot si Miguel ay biglang tumunog ang cellphone niya, agad niya 'yong binasa.

"I'm sorry, I think I need to go, may kailangan daw po akong pirmahan sa opisina," he said. "I'll be back po,"

"Kahit huwag ka nang bumalik," bulong ko.

He looked at me at nginitian ko lang siya.

Narinig kaya niya? Sana oo.

Hinayaan na namin siyang umalis. Nang makalabas siya ay tuloy ang kwentuhan namin at biglang si Cha ang naging topic. We were laughing dahil sa mga kwento ni Cha about us noon sa Bicol when we heard the doorbell rang.

Tita looked at me. "Sila na ba 'yon, nak?"

"I think yes po," I answered.

Tumayo ako at pinagbuksan sila ng pinto.

"Inay, buti nakarating po kayo," I said at niyakap siya.

"Natraffic nga lang," she said at natawa.

Tita asked me to invite them over also, Inay is with Lian, palagi naman 'yon. And Keith also.

Kinuha ko sa kaniya 'yong bata at sinamahan sila papasok sa dining. When they saw Lian, Ate Aiks and Jill ran palapit sa akin at nilaro laro si Lian.

Lumapit din si Cha at manghang mangha na tumingin kay Lian. This is the first time she saw him.

"Cha, meet Lian," I said. "And baby, meet Tita Charhy,"

Cha held Lian's hand at agad namang natawa 'yong bata. "Hello, cutie you're so bonjing,"

"Am I a very good Daddy?" I joked.

"Nope, Inay is a very good mother," sagot niya.

Natawa naman kami at lumapit saamin si Inay. "Ikaw na ba si Charhy?"

"Opo, Nay ako po, paano niyo po nalaman?" Cha asked at inakbayan si Inay.

"Nako, nabanggit ka nitong si Y/N sa akin, unang unang kwento ay ikaw,"

"Nay, huwag naman po nangeexpose," reklamo ko.

Tumawa lang si Inay at tumingin kay Charhy. "Napakaganda mo namang bata,"

Cha giggled at sabay naman nilang ibinalik ang atensyon kay Lian.

"Taray, parents material kay Lian," Ate Aiks whispered, siniko ko naman siya.

Kahit kailan ay napakaissue niya. I suddenly remembered those days na nasa Bicol pa ako at nandoon din si Ate Aiks. Palagi niya kaming iniissue ni Cha kapag magkasama kami. Kapag tinatanong ko siya kung bakit, ang sagot niya lang lagi ay deserve ko rin daw sumaya.

Lumapit sa akin si Keith at tinapik ang balikat ko bago bumulong.

"Ang ganda ni Doc Cy, no?" she asked me. Tumango naman ako. "E, maganda rin 'yong dalawa," aniya at inginuso si Jill at Tricia.

Hinampas ko pabiro ang tiyan niya. "Huwag kang maingay d'yan,"

"Buti na lang ako'y kay Laloves ko lang," sagot niya at tumataas taas pa ang kilay habang nakatingin kay Ate Aiks.

Nagpatuloy kami sa pagkain at nang matapos ay tulong tulong kaming nag ligpit ng pinagkainan.

Si Tricia, Inay at Tita ang nagprisinta na magaayos sa kusina, habang si Ate Aiks at Keith naman ay siyang nakikipaglaro kay Lian.

"Kalmahan mo lang, Keith baka mamaya iniimagine mo na anak niyo 'yan ni Ate Aiks ah," bulong ko kay Keith.

"Parents for today's video ang peg, Arki shh shoo,"

Nang hindi ko makita si Jillian ay agad kong inilibot ang paningin ko, I saw her outside, sa balcony nakatayo at tinititigan 'yong view mula rito sa taas.

"Go," Cha said at siniko ako. "This is your chance,"

"Chance to what?"

"To talk to her," sagot niya. "Sige na, sayang ang pagkakataon. Say sorry by the way you treat her noong nakaraan,"

Naikwento ko sa kaniya kung paano kami nag kita ni Jill at kung paano ko siya trinato noon.

Cha held my hand. "You're nervous, pinapawisan na kamay mo," she said and laughed. She rubbed my arms and nodded. "It's gonna be alright, explain your side to her. She's your bestfriend afterall, for sure maiintindihan niyo ang isa't isa,"

I took a deep breath at pumikit, trying to compose the words na sasabihin ko sa kaniya.

"I'll be here lang, hmm? Give each other the closure and peace of mind that both of you need," Cha said.

I smiled at her at tumayo. I slowly walked palabas ng balcony.

Jill immediately saw me the moment I opened the door pero ibinalik din niya ang tingin sa baba.

"You're here," she said.

"Uh, yeah, ikaw din. Ano ginagawa mo rito? Ayaw mo laruin si Lian?" I asked at sumandal din sa railings.

"Later na lang, gusto ko lang magpahangin," she said.

Hindi ko alam ang isasagot kaya nilamon kami ng katahimikan.

"How are you?" she randomly asked.

"Busog so muc-"

"No.." putol niya. "Kumusta ka nung mga panahon na nawala ka?"

Napatigil ako. Napahinga ako ng malalim bago sumagot.

"A wreck," I said and laughed a bit. "A mess, Jill,"

"But look at you now," aniya at tumingin sa akin. "You look so okay. Nakuha mo ba 'yong pahinga na kailangan mo?"

I nodded. "Nakuha ko, pero pakiramdam ko may kulang pa rin," I said. "That's because nandito ang pamilya ko.. nandito kayo," I looked at her. "Hindi naman ako buo kung wala kayo,"

Jill slowly looked at me, and the moment I smiled at her, she hugged me.

Napapikit ako before hugging her back.

"We missed you so much. I missed you.. I really do," she said, halata sa boses niya na umiiyak na siya.

Hinaplos ko ang likod ng ulo niya and when I opened my eyes, nag tama ang mata namin ni Cha na nakaupo sa lamesang nakaharap dito. She gave me a smile and a thumbs up.

After the hug moment, both of us ay natahimik muli. Pinunasan niya ang luha niya at ngumiti.

"Bakit kaya hindi tayo pagbigyan ng mundo, no?"

I smiled. "Pinagbigyan naman tayo, maling panahon nga lang,"

"Ang lungkot lang, bakit.. bakit pa tayo pinahihintulutan ng tadhana na mahalin 'yong taong hindi naman pala para sa atin?"

"To serve as a lesson," I answered. "Lahat ng taong nakikilala mo, may purpose 'yan lahat sa buhay mo," saad ko at inabutan siya ng panyo. "Me and what we both had back then.. served as a lesson to the both of us. For us to become a better person, Jill,"

"Naging masaya naman tayo, diba?"

Tumango ako. "Pero 'yong saya natin, may katapusan,"

"Lahat may katapusan.."

"Uhuh, 'yan ang katotohanang mahirap tanggapin sa mundong 'to. Pero acceptance is the key ika nga," I said at natawa kami pareho nang bahagya. "Palayain mo ang sarili mo, Jill,"

"Sana ganoon kadali," sagot niya. "Ikaw pa rin kasi, e." aniya at natawa pero may luha ring pumatak galing sa mga mata niya.

I held Jill's hand na nakahawak sa railings. I rubbed it using my thumb.

"'Yong pagmamahal na kailangan at deserve mo.. hindi ako 'yong makakapagbigay non, Jill."

"Minahal mo naman ako, diba?"

"I did," sagot ko. "I loved you a lot, pero hindi ko kinaya.. ang hirap mo kasing mahalin, nalulunod ako nung mga panahon na 'yon, Jill and I need to save myself from drowning,"

"Letting go of me.. will save you that time,"

Dahan dahan akong tumango ako. "Alam mo kung gaano kita kamahal, Jill. Alam kong alam mo 'yon. Sinakripisyo ko halos sarili ko para sa'yo.."

"Kalaban na natin ang mundo non, Y/N."

"And I fought alone," I said at yumuko. "You chose na hayaan akong lumaban mag isa, when in fact.. we can fight together. Kasi nga diba sabi mo, it's us against the world?"

"And now, kung kailan handa na akong samahan kang lumaban, sumuko ka na pala.."

"Huli na kasi, Jill. Huling huli na. Sana.. sana noon pa,"

"I'm always late,"

"Yup, kahit sa mga event," asar ko. "Naalala mo 'yong nag lakad pa tayo papunta sa rally dahil late na? Kasalanan mo 'yon, diba?"

"Wow, kailangan isampal sa akin?"

"Oo, para matauhan ka," sagot ko at natawa kami pareho.

"Closure 2.0 ba 'to?" she joked.