"Vince ang pangalan ng makakasama mo habang buhay..." The old woman's words echoed in my mind, leaving me puzzled and unsettled. May kasiguraduhan sa tinig nitong nakapagpangilabot sa akin.

I furrowed my brows, trying to recall anyone named Vince in my life, but no one came to mind. It was strange; I couldn't shake off the feeling that her words held some deeper significance, as if they were meant for me personally. Vince ba talaga? Hindi Vicente? Puwedeng si Vicente rin naman ang tinutukoy nito, ang kapatid ng best friend kong si Karla. He was cute at hindi miminsang nagpahayag ng pagkakagusto sa akin. Baka siya nga ang tinutukoy ng manghuhulang ito.

"Kung hindi mo pa siya nakikilala ay magtatagpo kayo sa isang kakaibang sirkumstansya at sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon..." The old woman merely smiled enigmatically, her weathered hands still clasping mine, tila ba nababasa ang tinatakbo ng aking isipan.

I slowly opened my eyes, the soft fabric of the cream pajamas against my skin confirmed that I was indeed back in the mansion, sa guestroom kung saan ako tumutuloy. The events of the previous night flooded back, and I couldn't help but wince as I felt the soreness between my thighs.

Hindi ako nananaginip, it had really happened. Sa yate, habang bumabagyo sa labas at nilalabanan namin ang lamig, nangyari nga iyon. Totoo ang lahat. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to suppress the wave of regret and guilt. But strangely, I couldn't find it within me.

Instead, I found myself reflecting on the night before, a night filled with passion and pleasure that I had never experienced before. Despite the circumstances, despite the unconventional nature of it, I had enjoyed every moment of it. Nakakahiyang aminin pero iyon ang totoo. Nagustuhan ko ang lahat ng iyon. The proof was that I let him have me again and again. We did it the entire night, giving in to our desires without reservation. It was as if nothing else mattered, as if the world outside ceased to exist for those fleeting hours of ecstasy. Ni hindi ko na nga alam kung paano kami nagtapos kagabi, basta na lang ako hinila ng pagod at antok, pero sa buong magdamag ay pareho kaming gising, pareho kaming abala.

Bigla ay muling pumasok sa aking isipan ang napanaginipan ko, ala-ala iyon kung saan hinulaan ako ng tiyahin ko noong kolehiyo, she was known for her exceptional ability to foresee the future. She had predicted that I would meet a man named Vince in the most unexpected way.

At the time, I had convinced myself that 'Vince' was actually Vicente, my beloved Cent. I had even started calling him Vince in an attempt to fulfill the prophecy. Cent was everything to me, my perfect love, and I couldn't imagine my life without him.

But now, as I lay in bed, I couldn't shake off the feeling that perhaps there was more to it than I had initially believed. Maybe 'Vince' wasn't Cent after all; maybe he was someone else entirely, someone who had come into my life in the most unexpected of ways. Hindi sa pinaghahawakan ko ang hulang iyon. Wala lang, bigla ko lang naisip.

Malayong malayo si Vince kay Vicente, ibang-iba sa lahat ng aspeto. Vicente was soft spoken, gentle and kind, a stark contrast to the brusque and commanding presence of Vince. Where Vicente's words were like soothing melodies, Vince's were like thunder, demanding attention and respect.

Vicente had always been the epitome of kindness and compassion, his actions guided by empathy and understanding. He had a way of putting others at ease, of making them feel seen and heard in a world that often felt cold and indifferent. In his presence, I always felt safe and cherished.

Vince, on the other hand, exuded an aura of confidence and authority that was impossible to ignore. He carried himself with an air of self-assurance, his every movement purposeful and calculated. There was a raw intensity to him that both intrigued and intimidated me, a sense of power that seemed to radiate from within.

Vincente was tender and nurturing, while Vince was passionate and all-consuming. Vicente had always treated me with the utmost respect and adoration. With him, I had felt cherished and valued.

Vince, however, ignited a fire within me that I had never known before. Something that was fierce and unyielding, a force of nature that swept me off my feet and left me breathless. With him, I felt alive in ways I had never imagined.

Napahinto ako nang matanto ang aking ginagawa. What was I doing comparing Vicente to Vince? They were two very different people. Isa pa'y mahal ko si Vicente at sa buong panahon na nakasama ko siya'y wala siyang ibang ipinakita sa akin kundi respeto at nag-uumapaw na pagmamahal.

And then, the memories of last night flooded my mind like an unstoppable tide. Vince, with his rough exterior and crude demeanor, had left an indelible mark on me, both physically and emotionally. Marka na alam kong hindi ko bastang mabubura.

Despite his brusque and sometimes insensitive nature, there was an inexplicable sense of security that enveloped me whenever I was with him. It was as if his presence alone was enough to chase away the demons of doubt and fear that often plagued my mind. Even in the midst of his most abrasive moments, I knew deep down that he would never let anything harm me.

Kagaya kagabi, hindi naman mangyayari ang lahat ng iyon kung hindi niya pilit na isinasalba kaming dalawa. I couldn't help but feel a tingling sensation coursing through my body, a residual reminder of the intense pleasure we had shared. Vince had left no stone unturned in his quest to prove himself as a lover, his every touch and gesture calculated to bring me to the heights of ecstasy. Was I stupid to give in? No, I didn't think so. Or I didn't want to believe I was.

A nagging doubt crept into the corners of my mind. What did last night mean for us? Was it simply a moment of reckless abandon, a fleeting indulgence in the throes of desire? Or was it the beginning of something more, something deeper and more profound than either of us had dared to imagine? Kung oo ay handa ba ako?

Hindi ko alam.

Matapos maligo ay lumabas na ako ng aking silid. Nakakahiya nga dahil magtatanghali na nang makababa ako sa komedor kung saan ko naabutan si Tita Cameron na naghahanda ng pananghalian, pero siguro naman ay naiintindihan ng mga ito na hindi biro ang pinagdaanan namin ni Vince sa magdamag na pagkakatigil sa yate.

Oo, tapos nakuha niyo pang mag-sex! Sabi ng mala-demonyong tinig sa aking isipan.

"Nicole, hija, gising ka na pala," salubong sa akin ni Tita Cameron, sandaling huminto sa pag-aayos ng kubyertos sa lamesa nang mapansin na lumiligid ang aking tingin. "Si Vince ba? Maagang tumulak sa rancho kasama si Roy upang siguruhing ligtas ang mga kabayong may sakit. Halika't maupo ka na, saluhan mo akong mananghalian. Kinuha si Chiara ng asawa niya at inuwi sa Monteguerro, sina Zanti at Tito Brad mo naman ay nasa hotel, hinalinhinan muna si Vince."

Tumango ako atsaka naghila ng upuan sa katapat niya, nang maupo ay sandali akong humanap ng tyempo upang magtanong. I really didn't know what happened last night after I passed out. "P-paano po kami nakabalik ni Vince?"

"Halos alas dos na nang madaling araw nang kumalmang bahagya bagyo. Delikado pa at madilim ang laot pero hindi makatulog si Chiara, hindi mapakali. So, Red himself came to pick you up from the island using Zanti's yacht," ngumiti siya ng bahagya. "I'm confident that nothing untoward would happen to you if you stayed inside the yacht and if it was properly anchored. But I also knew that the storm last night was unforgiving, masisira ang makina at magigiba ang malaking porsyento ng exterior nito. You wouldn't be able to return on your own."

Nagpatuloy sa pagkukuwento si Tita Cameron habang inaabutan ako ng mga ulam na inilagay ng kasambahay sa pagitan naming dalawa.

"Hindi kasi marunong magpapigili 'yang si Vince. Manang-mana sa daddy niya. Mabuti na lamang at walang nangyaring masama sa inyong dalawa," relief was evident in her tone. "Kinabahan ako nang iuwi ka nilang walang malay rito kaninang umaga, mabuti at maayos naman ang lahat. Ang sabi'y maaaring pagod ka lang kaya nawalan ka ng malay."

Pagod. Of course, pagod ako. Paanong hindi ba naman? Hindi na halos kami tumigil ni Vince nang masimulan namin. Damn! Nakagat ko ang aking dila sa masidhing pagpipigil na tunguhin iyon ng aking isipan. Pilit kong sinuklian ang magandang ngiti sa akin ni Tita Cameron.

"Kaya nga po, natakot rin talaga ako kagabi na baka kung ano ang mangyari sa amin. Mabuti rin ho talaga at ligtas kami pareho,"

Ipinahinga ko ang buong maghapon, tulad na rin ng siyang sabi sa akin ni Tita Cameron. Panay rin ang tanong nito sa akin kung may nararamdaman ba akong hindi maganda o kung may masakit ba sa akin, pero normal lang naman sigurong mag-aalala ito dahil panauhin nila ako sa mansion. Kung may mangyayaring masama sa akin ay pananagutan nila.

Buong maghapon ring wala si Vince, nasa rancho at inaasikaso ang mga kabayo na may sakit. Kahit alam ko naman na may dahilan kung bakit hindi ko siya halos nakita buong araw ay hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang mapa-isip na puwedeng sinasadya niya iyon, ang layuan at iwasan ako dahil sa nangyari sa amin kagabi.

Kunsabagay, kung makaka-usap ko nga naman siya'y ano rin naman ang sasabihin ko? May mukha ba akong ihaharap sa kaniya kung sakali?

Maaga kaming naghapunan ni Tita Cameron dahil dalawa lang naman kami sa mansyon, nang matapos ay umakyat rin akong agad sa aking silid sa takot na baka kung ano pa ang itanong sa akin nito at kung ano rin ang masabi ko. Pero sinigurado ko naman rito na wala akong kakaibang nararamdaman na dapat ipag-alala.

Nakatulugan ko na ang pag-iisip kay Vince at sa namagitan sa aming dalawa. I stirred from my slumber and was jolted awake when I felt someone kissing my neck. I turned to see Vince.

"Vince..." Kumunot ang aking noo nang biglang tumahip ang aking dibdib sa pagkakakita sa kaniya, ano ba itong nangyayari sa akin.

Vince smiled, leaning in to kiss my lips tenderly. "Hinanap mo ba ako?"

Hindi ko na talaga maintindihan ang nangyayari sa akin dahil puwedeng puwede naman akong tumanggi at sabihing hindi pero imbes ay tumango ako atsaka kusang tinugunan ang mga halik na iginagawad niya sa akin.

Vince chuckled softly, and only then did I notice that he was freshly showered, his body still slightly damp. I breathed in his scent, almost surrendering myself to him as he deepened the kiss.

His lips moved against mine with a familiarity that both comforted and unsettled me. I couldn't deny the pull he had on me, the way his touch ignited a fire within me that I couldn't extinguish.

As his hands roamed over my body, I felt a surge of desire coursing through me. It was as if every nerve ending in my body was alight with electricity.

Napa-ungol pa ako ng pagtutol nang bigla niyang tigilan ang pagsalakay sa akin, matapos ay tumatawang ibinagsak ang katawan sa aking tabi. He pulled me to his side, wrapping his arms around me.

"Pagod ka pa, eh," bulong niya.

Napalabi ako at napasimangot, buti na lang napigilan ko ang sarili kong sabihin na nakapagpahinga naman ako buong araw. Baka isipin pa niya ay gustong-gusto ko rin ang ginagawa niya sa akin. Kahit pa nga ba totoo ay hindi naman niya na kailangan pang malaman iyon.

"Kumusta ang mga kabayo?" Iniba ko na lang ang usapan, malayo sa init at tensyon na namamagitan sa aming dalawa.

Vince smiled tenderly, kissing the top of my head. In the dim light, I could sense how exhausted he was. I was sure he hadn't slept at all last night, and now he was up working at the ranch the entire day.

"They're stable now," Vince said softly, his voice laced with exhaustion but also a hint of reassurance. "They're being monitored, but they're going to be okay."

I let out a sigh of relief, grateful to hear that the horses were going to pull through. They were more than just animals to the De Salvos; they were a part of their family, and their well-being was paramount to them.

"Thank goodness," I murmured, leaning into his embrace. "You've been working so hard, Vince. You should rest too."

Pagod na humalakhak si Vince, but there was a warmth in his eyes that melted away any lingering tension between us. "I will, don't worry. But right now, I just want to make sure you're okay."

I smiled up at him, touched by his concern. Despite everything, Vince always managed to put others before himself, even when he was exhausted and worn out.

"I'm fine," paniniyak ko. I reached up to brush a stray lock of hair away from his face. "Thanks to you."

Vince's smile widened at my words, and for a moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift from his shoulders. It was as if my gratitude was enough to ease the burdens he carried, if only for a moment.

As the exhaustion finally caught up to him, Vince leaned back against the pillows, his eyes drifting closed. I watched him for a moment, feeling a surge of affection for the man beside me. Hindi ko alam kung ano iyon o kung bakit iyon naroon, but I knew it was there.

"Rest now," I whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek. "I'll be here when you wake up."