And then, we meet again.

•••

"So, why did you take me to the museum again?" I asked.

"We needed a new design based on art and iyong last time na gumawa ka ay napaka ganda...a dress was it?" said Bryce while walking besides me on this long hall way.

"Yes, a dress inspired by the art work of Juan Luna...the spolarium."

"I thought so, we need to feed your inspirational mind with arts again."

We came to the National Museum of Fine Arts today in a random sunday.

It's been two years, and during those years I managed our store in Bulacan. I had to go back here to claim my position as the next CEO.

"What room do you want to roam ba?" asked bryce.

"Let's go to Juan Luna's work..." I suggested.

"Oh, right...Juan Luna is your ideal artist."

"Yes."

We kept walking and stopping at every room we found very interesting...until I found the room full of Juan Luna's work. I left Bryce in the other room and started roaming and looking at each painting on the wall.

I stopped at one frame work on the wall. A guy was looking at it too closely and he was standing in front, so I moved by the side and stared at the frame...looking at the book Juan Luna used to read.

I suddenly looked at the guy next to me because I sense that he was staring at me.

And then when I turned to face him I was utterly shocked. It was him...after two years...I knew it was him.

"Ahmm...kumusta ka?" he asked.

"Fine, you?"

"Ano...ayos lang din."

It was awkward. We were both awkward. After two years, we finally saw each other again, and it was awkward. He has changed a lot. His shoulder became broad, he grew taller, his hair wasn't that 90s style Leonardo DiCaprio anymore. It's more neat and shorter, just like Chris Hemsworth's. His sense of fashion doesn't change at all. It's just like how I first saw him sitting on the fountain ledge by the park, wearing that plain black t-shirt, jeans, and adidas.

"Masaya ka naman ba?" he asked.

And I don't know what to answer. Am I happy to see him here? What the hell is he doing here?

"Hmm?"

"May nagpapangiti naman ba sa'yo?"

I don't know what to answer...why is he asking me this?

"I...I don't know."

"Elizabeth! There you are!" came Bryce and started walking to my direction.

"Bryce..." I murmured.

"I was looking for you...oh! Mister Sebastian?" said Bryce when he saw Sebastian.

"Ahh, oo, long time no see."

"Yeah, its been a while since I last saw you."

"Oo nga, same. Osya maiwan ko na kayo...hinihintay na yata ako ng mga tropa ko sa labas. Nice meeting you ulit, enjoy the view na lang."

I just stared at him as he walked out the room.

"He still hasn't changed...still doesn't fit in your standards, Elizabeth." said bryce.

"How do you know? You never fallen in love with a girl that is not on your standards, bryce."

"Because I know my worth Elizabeth, I will not fall in love to anyone that doesn't fit in my standards...never gonna happen."

"I see."

I remained standing and quiet while looking at the door...blankly.

"Elizabeth, can I ask you something..." bryce suddenly said.

"What is it?"

"In those two years that I stayed with you when he let you go, did your heart ever skip a beat for me?"

I didn't answer but I heard him clearly. I remained quiet.

"I see, okay. Take of your shoes, I'll hold it for you."

I looked at him, puzzled.

"Take off your shoes now, It'll be hard for you to run."

He kneeled down in front of me, gently taking off my Versace GV signature pumps.

"There, now you can catch up with him."

I was only wearing a nude colored foot socks.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I loved you, Elizabeth, for so many years. But loving you hurts me, and loving you is too tiring, and I'm kind of tired. And it makes me more sad that I don't even cross your mind..."

He gave me a smile, tuck his left hand on his pocket and his right hand holding my pair of pumps.

"Run, It's fine. I'm not like your dad, I won't control you. I'm your friend and I'll always be here for you." he said with those sad smile.

I hugged him tight. Tears in my eyes started to flow down my cheeks.

"Thank you, bryce."

I let go of him, then kiss him on his right cheek.

"I loved you, always. Thank you." I told him, sincerely.

Gave him a flying kiss and then I run...walk run. I walk run as fast as I could on the hallway and down the stairs.

"Sebastian!" I shouted as I reached the exit and he was going down the stairway...his friends was there.

He turned and looked at me.

I was panting due to my fast walking from all the stairs and long hallways that I have to pass by.

"May nakalimutan ka ba?" he asked.

"I...I just..."

I couldn't say any words. I just run down over him and embrace him. I tuck my face in his chest...I can't seem to face him.

"Ohhh!" I heard his friends reacted.

"Teka, bakit? Umiiyak ka ba?" He asked.

"I...am."

"Bakit? Hindi naman kita inaway, ah!"

"...but you did, two years ago."

He remained quiet and I don't know what to do. I'm still holding unto him. Tightly...loosely.

"Uhmm, daniel, hinihintay ka na ni bryce." he said while holding my shoulders.

"Why do you always let me go?" I asked him a bit annoyed.

He didn't answer.

"All this time...I have grown and changed significantly, but my feelings for you never have. It is still you...the one thing my past, present, and future will always have in common." I said.

I hugged her tighter, my face still in his chest.

"It's you. It's always been you." I added.

He remained quiet. We remained quiet.

"Naknampotsa lance, pabebe ka pa? Ayan na, oh! Hindi ka pa nakakamove on din 'di ba?" one of his friend shouted.

"Pota manahimik ka r'yan, niccolo! Tatadyakan kita makikita mo!" He shouted back.

I lifted my head and looked at his friends. Sebastian still holding my shoulders.

"Single pa 'yan! Sabi niya sa amin kung hindi lang din ikaw, salamat na lang sa lahat ng irereto namin sakanya!" one of his friend shouted again.

"Siraulo ka, jaq! Manahimik kayo r'yan!" he shouted back.

"Hindi ka namin dinala rito para sa wala lang lance! Huwag ka ng magpakipot pa!"

"Pota ka lucas! Shut up!"

"Mahal ka pa niyan! Makita mo 'yong laro namin, pangalan ng isang character doon ay iyong call sign niyo!"

"Tangina ka talaga niccolo hindi ka mananahimik diyan!?"

His friends were just laughing at him, and I was too. I missed this.

And then, I finally looked at him...our eyes met again.

"So, hindi kayo ni bryce?" he asked with a low tone, almost a whisper.

I shaked my head in response.

"No, we never had any relationship besides friendship. I told you, it's always been you. I don't know what magic you did to me but without you, there's no more good days."

He hold my head, then closely placed his lips on my forehead and smiled at me once again.

"Naintindihan mo ba sinabi niya, seb?" asked one of his friends.

"Syempre hindi pero tunog maganda, eh! Tapos maganda pa iyong nagsabi sa akin!" He told his friend but his gaze was still on mine and he was smiling.

He hugged me tighter. We're still standing in the middle of the stairway by the entrance and a lot of people were watching us.

"Iyo lang ako...palagi." he whispered.

And then, my heart skipped a beat...I can't hardly breath.

Bryce returned my shoes then Sebastian droved me back to my condo with his Yamaha Mio Aerox 155 good thing he has spare helmet.

I invited him inside to eat but he refused. We we're standing in front of my condo building.

"Daniel...matagal ko na sanang sinabi 'to sa iyo...deserve mo ng paliwanag tungkol doon sa nangyari dati."

He was caressing his nape and biting his lower lip.

"Ang totoo no'n kasi tama ang daddy mo, hindi ako nababagay sa'yo noon...wala pa akong kayang patunayan tapos ako pa iyong naging balakid sa pagtanggap mo sa pagtrabaho sa bulacan. Ayoko lang ibaba iyong sarili ko no'n sa daddy mo dahil hindi ako gano'n klase ng tao pero sobrang pagsisisi ko rin no'ng sinabi ko sa iyo 'yong mga..."

He stopped then slowly swallowed.

"Iyong mga...bad words na iyon. Tapos siguro nadisapoint lang ako ng sobra no'ng pinaramdam mo sa akin na mahirap lang ako dahil sa text mo noon sa akin, tapos iyong naramdaman kong mas bagay kayo ni bryce. Gusto ko lang sabihin sa iyo na patawad...patawad sa lahat ng iyon. Patawad dahil hindi ko sa'yo nasabi kung bakit, hindi ko rin kasi alam kung paano sabihin sa iyo. Pasensya na kung umabot pa ng ilang taon 'yong paghingi ko ng sorry...hindi na kasi kita nakikita sa may parke..."

"In the park?"

"Oo, palagi kitang sinisilip doon nang patago kaso bigla ka na lang nawala, eh. Anyways, ang gusto ko lang sabihin, eh..."

He stopped caressing his nape and stand firm. I remained quiet...waiting for him to continue. He cough a little bit...a fake cough actually.

"I choose you. And I'll choose you, over and over and over. Without pause, without a doubt, in a heartbeat. I'll keep choosing you. At sa pagkakataon na ito, I'll fight for you. For us. Haharapin ko ang daddy mo dahil sa pagkakataon na ito, bukod sa may kakilala na akong mangkukulam, eh, may mapapatunayan na ako sakanya."

I lifted my right hand and raised my pinky finger.

"Promise?" I asked.

He smiled and locked my pinky with his pinky finger.

"Promise, mamatay man buong angkan ko! I'll fight for us. Cross my heart, period no erase, kain susi, pati pato buo!"

I smiled.

The next day, we went to my dad's office, holding each other's hands. My dad still can't accept him, but Sebastian proved himself; he didn't give up. He always asks for my parents' approval first when we go out to date; my dad always disagrees, but my mom and lola always say yes and let us go.

Not long enough when their dream game was finally developed. It was a mobile game free to download in playstore and IOS. It was a MMORPG game...about an adventure of a character with special skills to defeat the monster and save his village from getting destroyed. Along that journey the character will meet different kinds of characters with skills...like an apprentice, and they will help the character reach the final stage.

Along the way there are strangers that gives hints, warnings, and golds. One was a guy in the cemetery, giving the warning. Second was a girl in a cafe, giving the hints. And the funny one was the girl sitting in a fountain ledge, named sinta...giving golds.

Sebastian became one of the co-founder of their game...Lost Souls Adventure. After a year of successful growth on their game they decided to expand the use of it and made a PC/Windows access for the game. Sebastian resigned from his previous job and became one of the co-founder and shareholder of their own company...Kapeko Games, Inc.

Took them years for this success. And I'm happy to witness all of it.

And now, it's been four years. And we are here tonight, in front of the fountain by the park with all the bright night lights and his friends behind him holding placards and him holding a guitar, strumming and singing that song he once sung to me on my birthday. Demonyo by Juan Karlos.

"Daniel," he said in a gentle tone.

Then one by one, the placards his friends were holding were turned, and words were formed.

Will You Marry Me ?

Yes or Yes

I giggled when I read it. Jaq was holding the will, Lucas was on you, Niccolo was on Marry, him on me and a question mark was on Erick's shirt. Ismael was on the yes, Ligaya was there too, holding the or, and Ricky was on the other yes. Bryce also participated in the surprise. He was the one who blindfolded me and guided me to the park.

Everything was so nice. Everything was simple...just like what I dreamed of.

Sebastian kneeled, not caring about his precious Nike Revolution shoes. He took the small box from the pocket of his colored maroon bomber jacket. Gently opening it in front of me...a simple silver infinity ring with a small diamond on the middle.

"Mukha lang simple 'yan pero handcrafted 'yan at ako nag-isip ng design. Atsaka may nakaengrave na Sinta iyong sing-sing na 'yan sa loob...kaya umo-o ka, ha, hindi ako tumatanggap na hindi bilang sagot. Sa daddy mo lang!" sebastian said jokingly. I laughed a bit loud on the last part of his speech.

I held out my hand into him.

"If it's you, it's always a yes." I answered.

He smiled and stood up. He placed the infinity-shaped ring on my ring finger on my left hand. He then placed his hands on my cheeks and kissed me slowly. I responded with my own kiss.

"Public display of vulgarity! Tama na 'yan!" said niccolo on the back.

We stopped then looked at them, smiling. They were all clapping.

"Ngayon, hindi pa tapos misyon natin mga tol! Susugurin pa natin daddy niya...kakantahan ko na ng Rude by magic! Kapag hindi pa rin pumayag, sa plan B tayo! Ipakulam ang litrato Hahahaha!" sebastian joked.

I smacked his chest not that hard, then laughed.

This is a good day that I will never forget. He was really my good day.

•••

TBC.