Xianne is just silently sitting on the passenger's seat of her mother's car while looking at the places their passing by. Her mother wanted to take her to a date so she gladly obliged.

Buong araw na silang magkasama at kung anu-ano na ang nagawa nila. They went shopping, eating, watching, and all other stuffs normal things mother-daughter would do. And she loves every bit of it. Mas lalong nagsi-sink in sa kaniya na kasama na niya ang ina at hindi na sila magkakahiwalay pa.

Halos magga-gabi na pero ayaw pang umuwi ng mam niya. May gusto oa raw itong puntahan. Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya nang mapagtanto ang lugar na dinadaanan nila. She knows the way very well.

Because it leads to the playground.

Naguguluhan siyang hunarap sa ina. "Ano pong gagawin natin dito?"

"Baba ka na lang, nak." Tanging sagot nito sa kaniya.

Sumunod na lang siya sa mama niya nang bumaba ito at magkasabay silang naglakad patungo sa playground.

Parang may iba.

Pinalibot niya ang tingin sa kabuuan ng playground at napansin ang pinag-iba nito. Bukod sa silang dalawa lang ng mama niya ang tao roon, umayos din ito at gumanda.

Kahit na medyo madilim na ang paligid, kitang-kita niya pa rin ang iba't ibang mga bulaklak sa palibot nito. Kahit saan ka tumingin sa sulok ng lugar ay mayroong magagandang bulaklak na may matitingkad na kulay. Walang kalat sa buong paligid. Ang monkey bars, seesaw, slide, swing at yung iba pa ay parng may mga nakaapalibot doon.

Nilapitan niya ang swing at umupo roon. Sinalat niya ang hawakan nito at napansin ang maliliit na bombilya ng ilaw sa palibot niyon.

Mga fairy lights to ah. Bakit di nila to pinailawan? Gabi pa naman.

Ipinagsawalang-bahala niya na lang ang inisip. Baka bagong lagay lang.

Dumako ang atensyon niya sa inang matiim na nakatitig sa kaniya. Tahimik lang siya nitong pinagmamasdan.

She stood up and walked towards her mother who's following her by her gaze.

"Bakit, ma?" Tanong niya rito pagkalapit.

Tipid itong ngumiti sa kanya. "I just remembered, I left you here. In this very same spot."

"Di'ba sabi ko sa'yo ma, okay lang." She said with a soft voice. "Naiintindihan ko kung bakit mo ginawa yun."

"I know. But it's a painful memory." Her mother's face then instantly glowed. "And I want to replace it with a new one."

She puzzledly stared at her mother who swiftly changed her mood. That's weird.

She was about to ask her what she meant by that when a loud pop surprised her and a lot of paper confettis started falling from above!

"Happy Birthday!"

Napaigtad siya dahil sa lakas ng pagsigaw ng mga tao sa likuran niya na mabilis namang lumipat sa harapan niya.

Pano sila napunta rito?

Tito Allen, Naix, Tala, Faith, Lois, Tita Amor, Tito Rodney, and even Storm's friend are here.

Pero nasaan si Storm?

Naagaw ang atensyon niya ng cake na inilahad ng mama niya. It was a round dark chocolate cake with words 'Happy Birthday Xianne' written on it.

"Happy Birthday?" Nagtatanong ang mga matang bigkas niya sa nakasulat.

"Ngayong araw ang totoo mong birthday." Paalala sa kanya ng ina.

Realization hit her.

All this time, she never celebrated her birthday. Pano niya naman iyon ise-celebrate kung nakalimutan niya ang araw kung kailan siya ipinanganak?

This is the first time she will celebrate her birthday after countless years.

Her smile widens when everybody sang the birthday song to her. Storm's friends were even harmonizing - if that's what you call what they're doing - shouting and such.

"Make a wish and blow the candle." Her mom said with a smile plastered on her face.

Ipinikit niya ang mga mata at humiling.

I wish for everybody's happiness.

Then she opened her eyes and blew the candle. Kasunod noon ang pagpapaputok na naman ng mga party poppers ng mga kaibigan ni Storm.

Speaking of Storm...

"Ma," tawag niya sa ina na ibinibigay ang cake kay Tito Allen, "si Storm po?"

Ngumisi ang ina samantalang naglululundag naman ang mga kaibigan niya na parang kinikilig dahilan para kumunot ang noo niya.

Saka niya lang napansin na madilim na ang paligid pero medyo naaninag niya pa naman ang mga tao sa paligid.

Wala man lang bang balak na buksan kahit na ang street lights man lang?

Ipinilig ng mama niya ang ulo nito na para bang sinisilip kung ano man ang nasa likuran niya kaya napalingon siya.

And there he was, sitting on the swing where she had sat on a while ago, smiling at her. The only difference is the fairy lights on the swing are now on!

Tanging ang swing lang ang may ilaw sa buong playground. Nakapulupot ang mga kumikislap na ilaw sa hawakan ng swing pati na rin sa bakal na kinakapitan niyon.

The scene was just so magical. It was like a scene from a movie. She didn't even notice the people were no longer behind her because she was just so mesmerized by the moment.

Tumayo si Storm nang mag-umpisa siyang maglakad palapit sa binata. At noong makalapit na siya ay iginiya siya nito paupo sa swing. Pagkatapos ay lumayo ito ng ilang dangkal mula sa kanya.

Tinitigan niya si Storm ng may halong gulat at pagtataka.

The whole playground was so quiet that when Storm spoke, his voice filled the whole place. "I know you're maybe wondering what's happening, so let me tell you." He said nervously.

*****

Kinakabahan si Storm habang nakatingin sa kanya si Xianne, hinihintay ang sasabihin niya.

He practiced what he's going to say all week but just one glance from Xianne, his mind went blank.

Kalma, Storm. It's just Xianne. She's harmless. - Fuck!

He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "I told you before that this was the witness of my dream within my nightmare." He then stared deeply into her eyes. "This is the place where I met you, where I fell for you, and where I realized I love you. But this is where I also broke your heart."

Tahimik lang na pinakikinggan ni Xianne ang bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig niya na mas lalong nakapagpadagdag sa kaba niya.

Binasa niya ang sariling mga labi at ngumiti. "Hindi ako perpekto. I have my own fair shares of mistakes. Lumaki ako na puno ng galit sa mga taong hindi naman pala ako sinaktan. Nakilala ako bilang isa sa mga nakakatakot na boss sa bansa. Isinara ko ang puso ko sa mga bagay na makapagpapasaya sa akin. Hanggang sa dumating ang araw na nakita kita ulit."

Gusto niyang paniwalaan na hindi lang nagkataon ang pagkikita nila. Simula noong mga bata pa sila, haggang sa nakita niya ito ulit dito sa playground habang nakikipaglaro sa mga bata. Kung paano kumislap ang mga mata ng dalaga habang pinagmamasdan ang saya na dinulot niya sa mga iyon. Na kahit siya ay nagawang pasayahin nito. Naniniwala siya na nakatadhana silang pagtagpuin ulit.

"Meeting you was fate. Being with you was a choice. And loving you for the rest of my life was beyond what I've been dreaming of."

Storm can already feel that he's about to cry so he looked up, rapidly blinked his eyes, cleared his throat again, and sighed. Before staring back again at Xianne who has now tears on her cheeks.

"You're the bravest woman I know and I can't be compared to you. But here I am, being a little braver in front of you, asking if you'll be willing to take me as your companion for life."

Inihakbang niya ang mga paa at naglakad palapit sa dalaga na sinusundan siya ng tingin habang patuloy pa rin ang pag-agos ng mga luha sa mga mata nito.

"Xianne Dei Oliva," he uttered when he got close to her. He slid his hand inside the pocket of his pants and got the small box from it before kneeling in front of her. Storm then lovingly stared at her and smiled after opening the box, "Will you marry me?"

Napasinghap si Xianne sa narinig at namilog ang mga mata kasabay ng pagtakip nito sa mga labi na umawang dahil sa gulat.

Papalit-palit ang tingin nito sa kaniya at sa maliit na kahon na nakabukas sa harap niya na naglalaman ng singsing na may maliit na kulay lilang diyamante sa gitna.

Hindi siya makahinga habang hinihintay ang sagot ng dalaga. Hanggang sa tumango ito sa kaniya kasabay ng sunud-sunod na pagpatak ng mga luha sa mga mata nito.

"Yes!" She exclaimed. "Yes, I will marry you, Storm!"

Xianne's answer was just like a signal. Ang kaninang madilim na lugar ay biglang lumiwanag! Ang mga puno, halaman, pati ang mga rides sa playground ay napapalibutan ng maliliit na ilaw na may iba't ibang mga kulay.

Pero ang buong atensyon niya ay nasa babaeng nasa harapan niyang namamangha dahil sa natunghayan.

She said yes. She just said yes!

Walang sabi-sabing hinawakan niya ang mga pisngi nito at kaagad na siniil ng halik.

His heart is about to explode because of too much happiness. And it is all because of one girl.

"Thank you." He whispered after their kiss. "I love you, Xianne. I really do." He sincerely said.

Xianne gave him an alluring smile - the smile that captured his heart. "I love you, too."

Pinakawalan niya ang mukha ng dalaga saka isinuot rito ang magandang singsing pagkatapos ay pinagsiklop niya ang kamay nilang dalawa.

"Congrats, dude!" Biglang sigaw ng mga kaibigan ni Storm na nasa likuran na nito.

They both stood up and faced all the people. They were still there even though a moment ago they just disappeared.

Hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Burn. "That was the cringiest speech I've ever heard!"

"Kilabot is real!" Prince hissed while rubbing his arms.

"Xi!"

Bumitaw sa kanya si Xianne nang lumapit rito ang mga kaibigan at niyakap ang dalaga. Siya naman ay nakipag-asaran sa mga kaibigan niya.

"Wahh kinikilig ako shems!" Nakangiting sabi ni Lois kasabay ng mahinang tapik nito sa braso ni Xianne.

"Salamat." Masayang tugon nito.

Panay pa ang kulitan ng nga kaibigan nk Xianne hanggang sa may mapansin ang dalaga sa may monkey bar na napalilibutan rin ng fairy lights na kulay lila, ang paborito nitong kulay.

Storm smiled inwardly when Xianne started walking towards it. He silently followed her from behind, leaving their friends.

Xianne was surprised to see what was hanging on the monkey bar. It was pictures - of her and Storm!

Nakalambitin ang mga ito mula sa bakal ng monkey bar na kinokonekta ng manipis na tali habang nasa dulo nito ang larawan. Marami iyon. Ang iba nga ay polaroid pa.

Tahimik lang si Storm na pinagmamasdan ang dalaga na inisa-isa ang pagtingin sa mga larawan. Kaagad na sumupilpil sa mga labi ni Xianne ang ngiti nang makita kung ano ang laman ng mga iyon.

Hindi na napigilan ni Storm ang lumapit kay Xianne at saka niyakap ito mula sa likuran kapagkuwan ay ipinatong ang baba niya sa balikat nito.

"I took some of them." He whispered in her ear.

He was pertaining to Xianne's candid shots. Kinuha niya ang mga iyon sa iba't ibang oras at pagkakataon.

There were photos of her while playing with the kids at the orphanage, on the swing at the playground, sipping her milk tea while wearing eyeglasses, at the amusement park while she's riding the carousel, at his house while she was looking at his toys, and so much more.

He was like a stalker - no, more like an admirer.

There were even pictures of them together. When they were dating, eating, at the party of his company, and more.

Umayos siya ng tayo nang humarap sa kaniya ang dalaga at pinulupot ang mga kamay nito sa leeg niya saka masuyo siyang tinitigan.

"This is beautiful." She said with sparkle on her eyes. "Thank you."

He pulled her closer to him, leaving no space between them. He kissed her forehead then rested his forehead to hers. He then stared gently into her eyes and smiled.

"I should be the one saying that." His voice was almost like a whisper but it was enough for her to hear. "Thank you for coming into my life. For bringing me the happiness that I didn't knew I needed. Thank you for loving me beyond my imperfections. And thank you for letting me love you the way I know how."

He started to sway a little, that seemed like they were dancing without music. "Hindi ako mangangako na hindi kita sasaktan dahil alam ko, isang araw mangyayari yun kahit na hindi ko intensyon. Pero sana, intindihin mo pa rin ako kagaya ng ginagawa mo ngayon. Sana, hindi mo bitawan ang kamay ko. Sana, hindi mo ako iwan. Because I can't imagine how I'll survive if you'll ever leave me. That's how deep I fell for you, that is how much I love you, Xianne."

"And I love you too, Storm." Xianne's hands went to caress his cheeks that made him close his eyes. "Since the moment I accepted my feelings for you, I promised that I will never let you go. I'll stay beside you till my last breath. At hindi naman natin maiiwasan ang mga problema. Pero alam ko na malalampasan natin kahit ano basta magkasama lang nating haharapin ang mga yon. Nothing can tear us apart. As long as we love each other and we have the courage to face anything together. Let us just be a little braver for the both of us."

He opened his eyes and without a warning, he claimed her lips - under the flickering fairy lights.

Her hands went towards his nape making their kiss go deeper.

Wala na silang pakialam sa paligid nila. Ang importante ay masaya sila dahil sa isa't-isa.

They both redeemed themelves with the help of each other.

Alam nilang pareho na marami pa silang pagsubok na dadaanan. Maaaring masaktan ulit sila at madurog. Pero tatayo pa rin sila at haharapin ang mga yon ng magkasama.

They just have to be a little braver just like what Xianne said. Because love takes courage. And for sure, their lives will be full of contentment, fulfillment, and happiness.