"I'm sorry, Aidan, I can't entertain you" malungkot ko siyang binalingan sa screen ng laptop na nakabukas saking harapan, it's evening here and it's morning there. He's in his office while I'm in my room, he's working and I'm studying.

"Hey, that's okay, babe" mahinang tawa ang isinagot niya sakin, kita ko kung paanong buong atensyon niya ang nakatuon sa harap ng screen, I wonder if there are loads of work for him? "Unless I'm becoming distraction, I'll end this call. But if you'll let me, I just wanna watch you the whole night, Paris. Kahit huwag mo akong kausapin, kahit huwag mo na akong intindihin. Focus on what you're doing, I'll just watch you."

Nakagat ko ang aking ibabang labi nang marinig ang sinabi niya. Aidan's words never miss to warm my heart. With the sound of his voice, the longing inside my chest grew bigger that I'm afraid I couldn't handle anymore. Niyuko kong muli ang printed handouts na hawak-hawak ko, come on, Paris! Maybe a few minutes won't hurt. I turned to Aidan and our eyes met, what kind of wife am I? I should be by his side, making him breakfast, checking him from time to time, even tying his tie, but I haven't done any of those because I'm away.

"What are you thinking? Looks like I'm puzzling you today, do you want me to hangup now?" may bahid ng pangamba ang kaniyang tinig tila ba ayaw ang huling sinabi.

Marahan akong umiling bago tuluyan ng isantabi ang aking inaaral. I gave him a smile, ngunit hindi ko sigurado kung maganda ba ang kinalabasan noon. Because deep inside, my chest hurt.

"Oh? What's wrong? Naabala ba kita, Paris? Sige na, go on with what you're doing, gusto ko lang naman panuorin ka, gusto ko lang naman makita ka-"

"Gusto ko rin iyon, Aidan..." damn, why am I so emotional? Sa simpleng tugon ko ay agad ko nang naramdaman ang pamamasa ng mata ko. "Miss na kita eh, Aidan one month palang pero miss na miss na kita, kayo ni Ricos."

"Lagi kitang namimiss, Paris" humugot siya ng malalim na hininga, he then slouched comfortably on his seat. Nakatukod ang siko niya sa hawakan ng swivel chair habang ang mga daliri ay marahang dinadama ang kaniyang baba hanggang sa labi. "Hindi pa kasi ako pinapayagan ni dad mag-leave, sunod-sunod kasi ang pasok ng investors, medyo maluwag lang ang oras ko ngayon pero mamayang hapon mag-susunod-sunod na naman ang meetings. Pasensya ka na, hindi pa kita mapuntahan diyan,"

Agad na nangunot ang noo ko, why all of a sudden the blame is on him? Bakit parang base sakanyang tinig ay siya pa ang may pagkukulang sakin? No way, Aidan shouldn't be feeling this way. Mabilis akong umiling, goodness what kind of human my husband is? Is he for real?

"I'll talk to dad again, I will tell him I can work overtime each day or even on weekends just so he can give me a week or two of leave-"

"No, Aidan!" lalo akong napaiyak. "Ano ka ba? You don't have to compromise your work for me. I'm sorry for missing you, this is my fault that we're apart, hindi ka dapat-"

"Look, Paris, listen to me." He cut me off, his eyes were as if begging me to hear him. "My place is with you, I will compromise everything to be with you because the one thing that cannot be compromised is being without you."

His words touched me so deeply that I have tears of relief running down my cheeks knowing that I couldn't be surrounded by anyone more understanding than he is.

"Please, baby, stop crying, I can't afford to see you cry."

Ang lambing ng kaniyang tinig ay lalo lamang binalot ng init ang aking puso. "You're making me cry, Aidan..."

"Hey, there's nothing to be sad about. I'm here, malayo man ang distansya ko sa'yo ngayon, kasama mo ko, Paris. I, too, want my presence there, right beside you. Gusto ko nandyan ako," nginuso niya ang bahagi ng kama na malamang ay nahahagip ng camera, saglit ko iyong nilingon bago muling ibalik sakanya ang aking tingin "gusto ko nakabantay ako sayo, habang nag-aaral ka, gusto ko pag-inantok ka, hindi mo na kailangan tumayo para patayin ang ilaw, gusto ko ako yung gagawa noon, para sayo."

And again, my heart melted inside my chest and I don't think science can explain the mixture of emotion that squeezes my heart. I'm both sad and happy. Sad that I'm longing for Aidan and happy that his words are lifting me.

"I'll be there, give me a few days"

"But Aidan-"

"You're worth every mile."

It is true that absence sharpens love and presence strengthen it. How I'm missing Aidan becomes so bad each passing days. I am not entirely sure if the science behind this is accurate because even the scientists aren't sure about the accuracy. Emotions are difficult to understand, and neurotransmitters are difficult to track.

Masaya kong niyuko ang aking relong pambisig nang matapos na ang huling klase ko para sa araw na iyon, medyo napaaga ang dismissal ngayon ngunit hindi iyon nangangahulugan ng mas na mahabang pahinga, we're all taking home loads of works to finish. Well, this is the life of a medicine student. Pressure is on, just how it will be when we're all in the field. Ganoon pa ma'y hindi parin nabura ang ngiti saking labi, because going home means spending time with Aidan, regardless if it's on screen, what important is, I'll get a chance to see him while he's working.

Ganoon na kasi ang palagi naming ginagawa, when I get home, we'll skype, lalo kapag wala pa siyang ginagawa sa opisina. Kahit hindi kami masyadong nakakapag-usap dahil nag-aaral ako, nasasabayan ko rin naman minsan ang pakikipag-usap sakanya, ganoon hanggang sa papatulugin na niya ako. Kapag naman gigising ako sa umaga, we'll still video chat, pero sandali lang kasi kinakailangan ko rin pumasok sa school. What's important is, I'm seeing him and Ricos as my day starts. Aidan and I needs to adjust, we stood in the storm and since the wind blew on our way, we have to adjust our sail.

"Paris,"

I was about to get in my car -the one that Icen gave me so I won't stress myself to everyday commutes, when someone called my name. I turned around and saw one of my classmates walking towards me, my forehead set a frown.

"Hi..." he gave me a shy smile.

"Hey?" I greeted back.

"I just wanna ask if I can borrow one of your printed modules, I've left mine in my friend's flat in Detroit when we partied during weekends, you know, I tried to multitask..." nahihiyang napakamot siya sakanyang batok. "I'm sorry, I'm a complete stranger, I understand if you won't lend me."

He's actually isn't a stranger, I know his name. He's Wendell Bakker, he's my classmate in some subjects under Cardiology. I remembered him because the other day he let me have his pen when mine runout of ink. Binalingan ko ang hawak kong folder na nag-lalaman ng mga modules, then I looked up to him, his eyes were hopeful. I understand, Detroit is probably three and a half hour drive from here and it will be a complete hassle for him to drive back in forth.

"What module?" I asked.

Relief flooded his face, he breathed before answering. "The one from last week,"

Tumango ako atsaka iyon hinanap sa mga dala ko, nakabisado ko na halos ang laman ng mga iyon. He really should study the contents of it because any moment we'll have an examination regarding that. Iniabot ko iyon sakanya. Agad niya iyong tinanggap.

"Thank you, you're an angel sent from above"

Tipid na tango lamang ang muli kong isinagot sakanya bago mag-paalam. "I'll get going,"

"Uh, sure..." he took aback, started moving away. He then waved his hand when I finally opened the car door. "Thanks again, take care!"

I don't think it needed an answer so I just slipped into my car and drove fast to my loft. There's no need for me to hurry, but the excitement I'm feeling made me double my steps. Soon as I opened the door, I immediately went inside my room where I left my laptop.

Kung gaano ako kabilis na nakapasok saking silid ay ganoon din ako kabilis na napahinto nang makita kung sino ang naroon. A gasp came off my mouth as I stared at Aidan, nakatuon din sakin ang kaniyang mga mata. He stood up from the bed, and I'm still looking at him, surprised and all that.

Seconds pass, my brain taking him in, struggling to comprehend that he isn't one of the pictures I keep beside my bed, that he is real. My brain can't formulate a thought, at least not one based in any language, and if I don't touch him soon my atoms will tear themselves apart. How the ground between us is erased I'll never recall, but one moment we are apart and the next we are morphed into a single being. The warmth of his body meets my cold skin, giving me hope like he always did. One of his hands clasps around my lower back, the other strokes my hair. With each soft touch more tears fall, tears neither of us wipe away.

"Oh my God, you're here..." a soft whisper came off my mouth.

"Miss me?" malambing niyang sabi.

"Are you kidding me, Aidan?" humiwalay ako sakanya ng bahagya ngunit hindi niya ako hinayaang makawala, tiningala ko siya ng tingin and he's looking down at me. "Missing you is an understatement, goodness... you're the reason of the increase of my serotonin, you're my happy drug and without you comes the decrease of it. Decreased serotonin can cause mood swings to range from being content to an all time low.Causing me to be sad, and I'm unhappy without you, Aidan!"

Isang malutong na halakhak ang siyang kaniyang pinakawalan bago malambing na iniangat ang aking baba sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang mga daliri. He's looking at me as if he's memorizing every single details of the contour of my face, then his thumb finger smoothen my bottom lip. "Damn, I miss your smart mouth..."

His lips met mine in a capturing kiss filled with so much longing. Masaya kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata at patuloy na nagpaubaya. My arms went around his neck as I returned his kisses, damn I could kiss Aidan all day and I won't mind!

Nag-hiwalay lamang an gaming mga labi nang pareho na naming kinakailangang huminga, his thumb traced out the moist above my upper lip, he then planted a soft kiss on the tip of my nose.

"I've cooked dinner, nakita mo na ba?"

Marahan akong umiling bago muling sumiksik sakanya, na siyang ikinatawa niya. "I was so excited to be in front of my laptop and see you for me to even notice everything that outside."

"Mm, you tired? How's school?" malambing niya pang tanong habang marahang hinahaplos ang aking braso. He gently guided me to bed, making me sit.

"Okay naman," tipid kong sagot, I don't want us to talk about school, I don't want to talk to him actually, all I wanna do is be inside his arms and feel his warmth!

Tumalungko siya saking harapan bago abutin ang aking paa. He took off my boots and touched my toe. I missed him doing that. "Napagod ka ba?"

Umiling ako, nanatiling nakatingin sakanya. He started massaging my feet and I can't help but smile.

"Hindi ko naisama si Ricos, two days lang kasi yung naapprove na leave ko." He sighed deeply. "Kinakailangan ko rin bumalik agad, there are so many things that I have to accomplish..."

Ugh, two days! But yeah, I still should be thankful for two days. I'd probably miss class tomorrow. I'll see if I can afford one absent, damn, please, Lord, make me sick so I'll have an excuse to stay indoors. I must be crazy.

"Kinuha siya ng mommy mo, she said they'll take care of Ricos for us." Kwento pa nito. "Siguro'y kapag mas mahabang leave ang nakuha ko, isasama ko na siya."

Tiningala niya ako, may isang magandang ngiti sakanyang mga labi. A smile that I missed the most. Oh my God, I'm so in love with this man!

"Kung mag-aaral ka, hindi ako manggugulo. Babantayan lang kita,"

Marahan akong umiling bago abutin ang kaniyang kamay at hilahin siyang paangat, humiga ako sa kama at hinayaan siyang umibabaw sakin. Our nose were touching, I don't know if Aidan could hear the beating of my heart but I won't be surprise if he can. Why my heart is almost ripping my chest.

"Hmm," dahan-dahang sumilay ang mapang-akit na ngiti sakanyang mga labi bago niya pagpartehin ang aking mga hita at pumagitna doon.

Napahagikgik ako sakanyang ginawa, my arms encircled on his neck and my fingers played through his hair. Napapikit ako nang dumampi ang kaniyang labi saking mga mata. Lalo akong napangiti nang bumaba ang kaniyang kamay sa snap ng pantalon na aking suot, God, is he really here?

"Yes, Paris, I am real..." he whispered like he heard my thoughts.

Ngumisi ako bago umiling. "Oh, Mr. Castañeda, I won't be doing anything tonight. I'll be a fulltime wife..."

"Damn, I like that!"

And just by that, like a mutual connection, we're on the same boat. He's kissing me. Once, twice, until I've had a taste and realize I'll never have enough. He's everywhere up my back and over my arms and suddenly he's kissing me harder, deeper, with a fervent urgent need.

I felt again the rush of helplessness, the sinking yielding and the surging tide of warmth that left my limp. And my whole self was blurred and drowned to nothingness. He bent back my head across his arm and kissed me over and over again, softly at first, and then with a swift gradation of intensity that made me cling to him as the only solid thing in a dizzy swaying world. His insistent mouth was parting my shaking lips, sending wild tremors along my nerves, evoking from my sensations I had always felt with him. And before a swimming giddiness spun me round and round, I'm aware that I'm loving him back.

Aidan must be an expert to free our bodies from clothing before I even noticed it. His hot mouth making it's way from every inch of me and I'm bending and arching as if giving him more that I could offer. I cried when I felt him down there.

"Oh, Aidan..." my stomach flattened as I held my breath.

His lips started kissing my opening and I'm drowning! Each and every stroke of his lips made me scream, wanting to reach for something I'm close but couldn't have a grip.

"Aidan, please..."

Inabot ko siya at hinilang pataas, paibabaw muli sakin. Halos magmakaawa na ako sakanya, iminulat ko ang aking mga mata, Aidan's eyes were studying me. Naitikom ko ang aking bibig nang maramadaman ko ang kanya saakin, a little more movement it will get in, at ako na ang gumawa noon.

Aidan groaned like he's in pain. Pinigil nito ang aking balakang sa akmang muling pag-galaw, he then buried his face on my neck before he gently thrust inside me.

I pulled him harder against me. Aidan took all my inhibitions when I felt his mouth covering one side of my breast. The pleasure is filling my entire system, I want more, need more. He groaned softly, low in his throat, then his arm circled me, gathering me against him, tangled together.

I can even the creaking sound of the bed as my breath becomes short. He hooked his knees outside my legs and drives himself deeper. Then I felt a slow release of hot fluid from my lower body. He didn't stop...

"Oh, Aidan..." I breathed. "This is the best,"

He drove himself harder inside me. I was whining with pleasure and it was good. I can sense that I would climax again right away.

He kept on, slowing himself. He pushed my knees up higher. He was almost there and so am I, again.

And then the knot at the root of him dissolved in fire, melting. He groaned and called out my name in his release.While I was snorting, trying to say something.

"A-Aidan, stop... oh"

I had come a second time and I wanted him to stop. We disengaged, shaking.

"God, Paris..." he whispered. "Baby, I missed you..."