"Aidan!" I beamed when I saw him waiting at the carpark. I didn't bring my car because he sent me to the university this morning, and now he's picking me up. Can days always be like this?

The side of his lips quivered in the slight smile he gave me before his gaze moved up to who was behind me. I brought Wendell with me after class because Aidan told me he wanted to meet my friend, Wendell.

And I'm okay with that. I agree with his idea of meeting Wendell. Maybe by then, he would stop thinking about things that will never gonna happen. Because Wendell and I will never happen, not in a million years or when I already had the best.

"Kanina ka pa?" I asked as I stood in front of him. Aidan took me by my waist and bent down to kiss my lips briefly, as if it were the most normal thing to do, which I didn't mind. "Hmm,"

"Nah, fifteen minutes maybe" he tucked the loose strands of my hair behind my ear and now gave me his most dashing smile.

Tinanguan ko siya bago bahagyang humiwalay upang imuwestra si Wendell. "Aidan, this is my friend, Wendell. We got few subjects together, all about Cardiology. And Wendell, this is my husband, Aidan."

I looked at Aidan; a polite smile crept on his lips, and he was the first one to offer a hand. I can't help but be proud, damn, that's my man.

"Aidan,"

Ganoon narin ang ginawa ni Wendell. "Wendell,"

Aidan shook it formally but firmly; the warning that he held behind his gaze cannot be mistaken. Though his voice remained casual. "Good to know that my wife is getting comfortable in the university, she needs it."

"Yeah, I sure can make her feel comfortable here" A smug smile flashed on Wendell's.

And by Aidan's jaw's movement, I'm sure he didn't like it. Nilingon ko si Wendell at kinunutan ng noo, maybe he doesn't mean something behind it.

"I bet," umangat ang sulok ng labi ni Aidan sa isang mapagmalaking ngiti bago niya abutin ang aking kamay at ipagsiklop iyon sakanya. "I'm always her comfort."

Nakita ko kung paanong natigilan si Wendell sa sinabi ni Aidan, now I don't think this is a good idea. I know Aidan is jealous of him, and I understand; he's my husband. But I don't understand the kind of look Wendell is giving Aidan. It's like he's after something.

Aidan and Wendell had the same building and structure. Only Aidan can turn more heads because of his flashy look, which I can't blame him for; he's raised in comfort.

I smiled at Aidan, hoping that I could somehow help him ease whatever bad he was feeling. I know how hard Aidan is trying to get rid of that feeling. I don't like him dealing with those. I squeezed his hand on mine and turned to Wendell.

"We'll go ahead, see you in class tomorrow."

Hindi ko na siya inantay pang sumagot hinila ko na si Aidan sa passenger side ng sasakyan upang pag-buksan ako, I like him doing those things for me, kahit pa kaya ko naman na iyon, I still find it better if it's Aidan.

"I'm sorry about him," I said when Aidan remained quiet while we were hitting the road. "Wendell is kind, I swear."

"He likes you," he said. I didn't find the gut to oppose it. "I knew it by the way he looks at you and the way he looks at me. Well, I feel sorry for him. I got you now and there's no way in hell I'll let you go."

"Now you're being sweet..." I reached for his hand and turned my full attention to him. "You really won't let me go? What if it's me who wants to go?"

"Will you leave me?" Sandali niya akong binalingan ng tingin bago iyon muling ibinalik sa daan.

I shrugged my shoulders. If people were to ask me now, I would definitely say that I will never ever leave Aidan, no matter what. But if circumstances were to be laid in front, would I still be able to give that answer? I love Aidan; I love him like I have never loved anyone before. And I dreaded the day I'd see leaving him as an option.

"If I ever ask you to leave me, don't let me go..." I shook my head. "Siguro kung mangyayari iyon, I may not be in my right mind. Don't let me leave you, Aidan."

"You don't have to tell me that, Paris. No one's leaving."

Distance means so little when someone means so much. And Aidan means a lot more than the miles between us. My life abroad went on when Aidan and Ricos were gone to the Philippines. I focused all my attention on the subjects I had to pass, to the things I needed to excel in. Idinistansya ko na rin ang aking sarili kay Wendell, not that I'm holding something against him or that he had wronged me; it's just that I need to respect my husband's feelings. Aidan doesn't like Wendell; he tries, but he just doesn't. So that's enough; no one is to blame, but I can make our lives easier if I stay out of things that will cause Aidan and me trouble.

I was good at avoiding Wendell; I only talked to him if needed. And I guess he knows why I'm doing what I'm doing. Late last week, I saw him walking across the university with Karen Hanover in his arms. Good that he's on it now, he should be.

"Wendell?" I frowned when I saw him sitting in the gutter near where his car was parked, near mine.

Other times, I would've ignored him but not today that I'm seeing him this disturbed. He didn't budge as if he didn't hear anything. Nanatili siyang nakayuko at nakatitig sa susi ng kaniyang sasakyan na nasa kanyang mga kamay.

"Wendell? Are you okay?" I headed in his direction. It was already nine in the evening, and the parking lot seemed dark, but with the help of a few lampposts around, I was able to see Wendell's eyes; they were bloodshot red. "Wendell!"

I kneeled down to level our faces; that's when he looked up and met my gaze. Tila doon niya lang ako napansin.

"Hey, what happened? What's wrong?" I asked worriedly. "Wendell?"

"My... my mom died," halos bulong na lamang iyong lumabas sakanyang tinig.

For a moment, I froze. Unable to react to what he said. The next thing I knew, I pulled him into an embrace.

He sobbed into my shoulder unceasingly, hands clutching at my jacket. I held him in silence, rocking him slowly as his tears soaked her shoulder. A tiny lapse let him pull away, blinking lashes heavy with tears, before he collapsed again, his howls of misery worsening. The pain must have come in waves, minutes of sobbing broken apart by short pauses for recovering breaths, before hurling him back into the outstretched arms of his grief.

"I'm sorry to hear that," iyon ang tanging lumabas saking mga labi.

I may not know his mom personally, but I felt sad hearing the news. I know how Wendell loves his family and how much he could give them. And I can't imagine the pain that is slicing him at the moment, and the least I could do is be the friend he needed.

Inantay kong kumalma si Wendell bago hayaan na siya mismo ang mag-kwento sakin ng buong pangyayari. Doon ko lang nalaman na dalawang oras na pala siyang nakaupo sa kung saan ko siya naabutan.

After his last class, doon lamang niya natawagan ang kaniyang kapatid na ilang beses siyang tinawagan buong mag-hapon. All because he kept his focus in school, and then his sister broke the news that almost rendered him invalid.

Wendell's mother had long been suffering major heart problems. Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit niya ninais na maging doctor. But before he could even save her, she died.

It reminds me of Uncle Dave and Lola Divine; I may not had the chance to meet her, but hearing that story from Tita Sheila and imagining how much pain Uncle Dave had to go through breaks my heart.

Death wasn't kind. I know that. It snatched where it could, taking people who were far too young, far too good. It didn't pretend to care, it didn't pretend to distinguish. The hooded vale of death had hung over the world for a long time, always threatening.

I sat there beside Wendell for I don't know how long; we barely talked; I just gave him my presence. Letting him know that everything will soon be fine. I'm not good at this; I'm not good at securing other's emotions. But I feel obliged to do so.

I offered Wendell some help; I know he doesn't have enough savings to get him a ticket back to the Netherlands as much as he wanted to. But he refused my help. He said he couldn't afford to miss a day at school, which I agree with, but if I were him, nothing would matter more than seeing my mother, even for one last time.

He even told me that his dad wouldn't like the idea of him coming home and said that everything was being handled there and that all he needed to do was focus on his studies.

It was already one in the morning when I got home; I immediately searched for my phone that I had left that morning because I was running late for school.

When I got to check it, I felt guilty to see how many times Aidan had called me. I dialed his number and gave him a call back, but he's not picking up.

"Oh good Lord!"