Vince covered me with a blanket, his touch gentle and tender. Bigla akong natauhan, umahon ang pagkalito sa aking dibdib. What was happening? Why was he here? And most importantly, how?

Questions swirled in my mind, each one more bewildering than the last, but I couldn't find the answers, not when my thoughts were clouded by the overwhelming rush of emotions.

I turned to Vince, meeting his gaze as we lay side by side, both lost in the aftermath of our lovemaking.

But before I could voice my thoughts, Vince hushed me, his finger pressed gently against my lips. "Shh," he whispered, his voice soft and soothing. "Don't overthink it, Nicole. Just...let this moment be."

His words struck a chord deep within me, reminding me of all the times I had allowed doubt and uncertainty to overshadow the beauty of the present moment. And as I gazed into his eyes, I realized that maybe, just maybe, it was okay to let go of the need for answers, to simply revel in the connection we shared.

After a while, Vince spoke softly, his voice carrying a weight of emotion that was far too heavy to carry. Para bang maging siya ay hirap na hirap at bigat na bigat na sa kaniyang dinadala. Pareho kaming nasasaktan ni Vince, dahil pareho naming mahal ang isa't isa.

"When I first saw you," he began, his words hesitant yet filled with a raw honesty that struck a chord deep within me, "I was intrigued. Not because you were stripped down naked before me, but because there was something in your eyes that told me you belonged to me."

I listened intently, holding my breath as he bared his soul to me, his words a testament to the depth of his feelings. Bigla kong naalala ang unang beses kong nakita si Vince, parang ang tagal tagal na ng panahong iyon, but I would always remember the way he looked at me that afternoon. It was etched in my mind.

"You share the same name as the woman who tore away my dignity," he confessed, his voice heavy with emotion. "The one who abandoned me for my own brother, leaving me broken in her wake. And then she died in the very act of betrayal. So, naturally, I was cautious around you, Nicole. I made every effort to steer clear, to maintain my distance. But fate seemed determined to bring us together, its pull relentless. Before I realized it, I found myself drawn closer, unable to resist the inevitable force between us. Mas na ako pa ang lumalapit sa'yo, mas na ako pa ang naghahanap."

His words hit me like a tidal wave, washing over me with a mix of sadness and understanding. I had known that Vince carried the weight of his past, the extent of his pain, the depth of his scars. Kaya tuwing mababanggit iyon ay hindi ko maiwasang masaktan rin para sa kaniya.

Despite everything he had been through, he had found it in himself to open up to me, to trust me with his darkest secrets. It was a gift I didn't take lightly, a privilege to be let into the innermost chambers of his heart.

Vince bared his soul to me. I listened in silence, my heart heavy with the weight of his words. With each whispered confession, my heart ached for him, for the wounds he carried, for the scars that marred his soul. But amidst the pain, there was also love, a love so pure and unconditional that it shone like a beacon in the darkness.

And then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he uttered those three words that held the power to change everything.

"I love you, Nicole. I love you so much," nagsusumamo niyang sabi. "And I'm sorry about Aira,"

Vince mentioned her name, Aira, a chill ran down my spine, memories of her flooding my mind like a torrential downpour. Muli ay bumalik sa aking ala-ala ang nakita ko sa hardin. Ang ayos nila nu'ng gabing iyon. Bigla ay parang bumalik lahat ng sakit na ininda ko. Tila nababasa naman ni Vince ang tinatakbo ng aking isipan kaya mabilis niyang kinuha ang aking kamay at marahan iyong pinisil na para bang kinakalma ako.

"It was unexpected, Nicole," Vince began, his voice tinged with regret. "I didn't know she was there. Hindi ko alam na susundan niya ako. Naulat na lang ako na nasa hotel siya pagbalik ko matapos ang meeting na kailangan kong daluhan."

I listened intently, my heart pounding in my chest as he recounted the events that had unfolded that day. Vince's words painted a vivid picture in my mind, each detail etched into my memory with painful clarity.

"And then she confessed her love for me," halos bulong na lamang iyong lumabas mula sa kaniyang mga bibig. "She said she had loved me from the very start, that she couldn't bear to be without me. But when I told her that she was nothing but a sister to me, that I loved you more than anything, she...she couldn't accept it."

Tears welled in my eyes as I imagined the scene playing out before me, the desperation and heartbreak that must have filled the air. Vince's words cut through me like a knife, reopening wounds that I had thought could be healed.

"She got aggressive," Vince confessed, his voice thick with emotion. Para bang hindi niya iyon gustong sabihin dahil ayaw niya akong masaktan pero wala naman siyang mapagpipilian. Kung gusto namin itong maayos ay kailangan namin pag-usapan ang lahat ng nakapagitan sa aming dalawa. "And then she kissed me."

A sob caught in my throat as I struggled to process his words, the pain and betrayal threatening to overwhelm me. But as I looked into Vince's eyes, I saw the truth shining there, raw and unfiltered. Masakit, but at least he was handing me the truth.

"I pushed her, Nic," maagap niyang sabi. "I swear to God, baby, I pushed her away. I never wanted her. It's always been you,"

His words pierced through the fog of doubt and uncertainty that clouded my mind, filling me with a sense of clarity and understanding. As he kissed my hand gently, I could feel the weight of his love pressing down on me, anchoring me to the present moment.

"If you don't believe me," he continued, his voice trembling with emotion, "if you don't believe that I love you more than life itself, then I'll spend every waking moment proving it to you. I'll move mountains, cross oceans, do whatever it takes to show you just how much you mean to me."

Tears welled in my eyes as I listened to him, the depth of his devotion washing over me like a tidal wave. I knew that Vince would move heaven and earth for me, that his love knew no bounds. Hindi ko kailanman pinagdudahan iyon, because he never failed to make me feel just how much he cared.

"I couldn't bear to lose you, Nic," he confessed, his voice choked with emotion. "Not you. The two weeks we were apart, I was a mess. I didn't know what to do without you. I couldn't function. It was as though I wasn't myself kung wala ka sa tabi ko. Kailangan kita, Nic, eh. Kailangan na kailangan."

"How did you find me?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "After all this time, how did you manage to track me down?"

Vince's expression softened, a flicker of sadness dancing in his eyes as he reached out to wipe away my tears. "The night you left," he began, his voice tinged with regret, "I didn't leave. I let you have the peace you needed, but I was always close. I stayed outside the hotel, watching and waiting for you to reappear."

His words washed over me like a wave, filling me with a sense of awe and disbelief. Vince had been there all along, ibig sabihin ay sinundan niya ako. Alam niya kung nasan ako dahil sinundan niya ako. And as he continued, explaining how he had followed me around with enough distance to remain undetected, I couldn't help but feel a swell of comfort knowing that Vince would always care. Kahit pa nasasaktan rin siya, kahit pa nahihirapan rin siya. He was willing to set it all aside for me.

"I'm sorry, Nic," he apologized, his voice heavy with remorse. "I know it must have felt like I was intruding, but I couldn't stay farther away. I couldn't bear the thought of being separated from you, even for a moment longer. Para akong pinapatay. Kada lingon ko hinahanap kita."

His words cut through me, carrying the weight of his longing and regret. I could feel the sincerity in his apology, the depth of his remorse echoing in the depths of my soul.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Vince," I said softly.

Vince's eyes softened at my words, a glimmer of gratitude shining through the storm of emotions that raged within him. And as he spoke, his voice trembling with emotion, I listened intently, hanging onto his every word.

"I realized I wouldn't be of much a help at the hotel," he confessed, a hint of resignation coloring his tone. "So I decided to take an indefinite leave. Instead, I spent my days stationed outside Karla's house, hoping for a glimpse of you. Merely seeing you from a distance brought me a sense of solace. Kinuntento ko na ang sarili kong tanawin ka sa malayo, Nic. Mabuti na 'yun, kaysa hindi talaga kita nakikita. Mas hindi ko 'yun kakayanin."

My heart clenched at the thought of Vince standing vigil outside thes house, his love for me driving him to such lengths. It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Ibig sabihin, sa mga panahon na nagmumukmok ako rito sa loob ay nasa labas lang siya, binabantayan ako? Binibigyan ako ng panahon dahil 'yun ang kailangan ko.

"I wanted to hug you, to kiss you every time I saw you," he admitted, his voice filled with longing. "But you asked for time and space, and so I gave it to you. I respected your wishes, even though it tore me apart inside."

Vince had given up everything for me, sacrificing his own happiness for the sake of mine.

"Alam kong araw-araw ay nagkukulong ka lang. Alam kong nasasaktan ka, and it pained me more to think that I was the one who caused that." Nanghihina niyang sabi. "Mahal kita, Nicole. Marindi ka na, magsawa ka, pero paulit-ulit kong sasabihin 'yan sa'yo, dahil 'yun ang totoo."

"At ngayon? Paano ka nakapasok dito?" Tahimik kong tanong, pinagmamasdan pa rin siya dahil baka bahagi lang siya ng aking imahinasyon.

"Josh," sagot niya. "He knew I was stationed outside, the whole time. Nag-alala sila kanina sa'yo, kaya nilapitan niya na ako. I was so damn worried, too. Kung hindi pa bumaba ng bahagya ang lagnat mo'y isusugod na kita sa ospital. Karla let me took care of you. Hindi ka na puwedeng mawalay sa'kin, Nicole. Napapabayaan mo ang sarili mo. Hindi ko kaya kung may mangyayaring masama sa'yo."

Unable to contain my emotions any longer, I rolled on top of him, my tears flowing freely as I showered him with kisses. Acutely aware of my nakedness, I pressed my body against his, seeking solace in the warmth of his embrace.

"Vince," I whispered, my voice choked with tears. "Mahal din kita. Sobrang mahal kita."

As I poured out my heart to Vince, my tears mingling with the fervent kisses I placed upon his lips, he responded with a gentle smile. His hands caressed my face tenderly, wiping away the trails of tears that cascaded down my cheeks. And as his lips met mine in a soft, reassuring kiss, I felt a sense of peace wash over me, as if all the turmoil and uncertainty had melted away in the warmth of his touch.

His smile widened at my confession, his eyes shining with love and understanding. "I know, Nic," he murmured, his voice soft and soothing. "I feel it too, deep in my soul. You healed me."

The sincerity in his words touched me to the core, filling me with a sense of overwhelming gratitude and love.

"I'm so sorry," Vince's voice was laced with regret as he reached out to hold my hand. "I never meant to hurt you, to cause you any pain. And I know I've made mistakes, big ones. But I'm begging you, please give me a chance to make it right, for both you and our child."

"How...how did you know?" I asked, my voice trembling with emotion. "About the baby, I mean."

Vince's smile never wavered as he reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from my face. "Sabi ko sa'yo, 'di ba? Sinusundan kita, sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Even at the hospital, I was there, watching over you from a distance. Wala ka ng takas sa'kin, Nic. Tayo na 'to, sa'kin ka na. Kayo..."

Oh, Vince.