The kiss lasted for a while. Para kaming parehong uhaw at nangangailangan sa isa't isa. Nangungulila at naghahanap. And through that kiss, we found our way back to each other.

Every second that our lips remained locked, memories flooded back—our laughter, our dreams, the silent promises we made when we were younger. The years of separation melted away, and all that remained was the intense, undeniable connection that was ours.

Puno man ng pag-iingat ay mahigpit pa rin ang pagkakakapit sa akin ni Hans. Tila ba hindi niya ako hahayang makawala o makaatras man lang. The kiss was more than just an expression of love; it was a healing, a mending of the wounds that time and distance had inflicted upon us. It spoke of apologies, of forgiveness, and of the deep, unending love that had always been there, waiting patiently beneath the surface.

When we finally pulled back, gasping for air, the world seemed different—brighter, more hopeful. Pinagmasdan ako ni Hans, sa gitna ng dilim ay nakita ko sa kaniyang mga mata ang labis na pagmamahal na inalagaan niya para sa akin. We had found our way back to each other, and at that moment, it felt as if we were finally home.

"I found your letters for me... I read them all." Halos bulong na lumabas ang mga salitang iyon mula sa aking mga labi. I licked by bottom lip when Hans remained still, tila gustong marinig kung ano pa ang masasabi ko. "Hindi... Hindi mo ko niloko. Hindi mo ko pinagpalit. And all these years, I thought you never loved me enough. Akala ko napagod ka... Akala ko napagod kang lumaban para sa atin. Akala ko hindi mo na kayang ipaglaban ako. And I hated you, because I wanted you so much to stand by me through it all. Kasi Hans, handa ako. Handang-handa akong ipaglaban ka. Handang-handa akong ilaban tayo."

Lalong bumuhos ang mga luha ko, unti-unting inaanod paalis lahat ng sakit na nakatanim sa bawat himaymay ng pagkatao ko. Lahat ng pagmamahal na meron kay Hans, lahat lahat ay sabay sabay kong naramdaman.

"Mahal na mahal kita... At minamahal pa rin kita kahit naging sobra na 'yung sakit."

I wanted to say more, to pour out all the emotions that were overwhelming me, but my sobs choked the words in my throat. I could barely breathe, let alone speak. Seeing me in such a state, Hans pulled me back into his arms, holding me tightly as if he would never let go again. Pinatakan niya ng halik ang tuktok ng aking ulo bago masuyong tinahan dahil mukhang walang balak tumigil sa pagbuhos ang aking mga luha.

"Shh, baby. It's okay. I'm here. I'm here," he murmured, his voice steady and calming.

Gustuhin ko mang kumalma ay hindi ko magawa. Mas tumitindi pang lalo ang pag-iyak ko habang walang tigil na inaalala lahat ng mga pinagdaan namin ni Hans sa mga panahong hindi magkasama.

After a few moments, he leaned back slightly to look into my eyes, his expression full of tenderness. Sobrang lambing, sobrang hinahon.

"I loved you the very first time I saw you," bulong niya sa nababasag na tinig dahil sa labis na pagsusumamo. "Sobrang ganda mo, eh. Sobrang taas mo rin. Hindi kita kayang abutin o hawakan man lang ng hindi ka masasaktan. Kaya pinagsikapan ko, pinaghirapan kong umakyat sa'yo dahil hindi puwedeng ikaw ang bababa sa akin. Sinubukan natin noon at nangyari nga. I was dragging you down with me. Masakit sa akin na wala akong magawa, na hindi sapat 'yung pagmamahal na meron ako para sa'yo kahit pa ibigay ko sa'yo lahat ng sa akin, lahat ng ako. Kulang. Mahihirapan at mahihirapan ka pa rin. God knew how much I wanted to give you the world, Caice. But I couldn't."

I never needed the world. I needed him.

"Pangarap kita, ikaw lang." Puno ng pagmamahal niyang sabi bago marahang haplusin ang aking pisngi. His thumb started wiping away my tears. "I loved you enough to stop the chaos before it could ruin you, even if it meant letting you go. Kinailangan kitang pagsumikapan, Caice. Lahat ng ito, lahat ng ako, at lahat ng meron ako ngayon ay dahil sa'yo. Para sa'yo."

I could see the truth in his eyes, the years of longing and love that had never faded. The realization that he had carried the same pain, the same unending love, made my heart ache with both sorrow and hope.

"Hans..." I managed to say between sobs, "I was so lost without you."

He nodded, brushing away my tears with his thumb. "Alam kong ipaglalaban mo ko, tayo. Alam kong iindahin mo ang lahat para sa akin, sa atin. Alam ko, Caice. Alam kong mahal na mahal mo ko. Naparamdam mo sa'kin 'yun, sobra. Kaya lang hindi iyon ang gusto ko para sa'yo, eh. I wanted you with me, pero hindi sa paraang masasaktan ka. Gusto ko kapag minahal mo ko, hindi mo na kakailanganin lumaban."

Madilim ang paligid pero sa mga sinasabi ni Hans ay parang nagliliwanag ang lahat sa akin, for the first time in a very long time... I knew I was loved beyond measures.

"I made a deal with your father so you could decide for yourself, without any pressure. Lalayo ako at hahayaan ka niyang mabuhay ng naayon sa gusto mo. I wanted so much for you to feel like you were in control of your life, dahil iyon naman ang dapat. Hindi sa akin o sa daddy mo iikot ang mundo mo, Caice. Leaving you was the hardest thing I've ever done, but I did it because I loved you. I wanted you to have the freedom to pursue your dreams and find your own path. It broke my heart, but I believed it was the only way to truly show you how much I cared."

His words hit me like a wave, crashing over me and pulling me into a current of emotions. The sacrifice he made, the depth of his love, was overwhelming.

"I understand now. I understand why you did what you did." Nanghihina kong sabi, gusto ko nang palayin ang sarili ko mula sa lahat ng sakit. Gusto ko nang sumaya.

"Totoo bang mahal mo pa rin ako?" Tanong niya, hinahagilap ang mga mata ko sa dilim. Ikinulong no Hans ang aking mukha sa kaniyang mga palad para hindi ko magawang mag-iwas ng tingin. He wanted the truth so much. "Ako pa rin? Ako pa rin ba?"

"Ikaw lang..." Paos na paos na ako sa kakaiyak, but I needed to tell him how I feel. "Mahal kita at hindi nawala 'yun. Mahal kita, Hans."

Hans groaned softly, and only then did I realize that he, too, was crying. He pressed his forehead against mine. Halos sabay kaming umiiyak. I really hoped that the chaos between us would end here kasi hindi ko na kayang pakawalan pa siyang ulit.

"Would you let me chase you now?" Mahina at basag na ang tinig niya na parang nagmamakaawa.

"Matagal mo na akong hinahabol, 'di ba? Matagal mo nang pinagsusumikapan..." Hinaplos ko ang kaniyang pisngi, pinapaalis ang mga luha na naglalandas doon. "You don't need to chase me, Hans. I'm already yours. I have always been."

He smiled. The most genuine smile na ngayon ko lang muling nakitang gumuhit sa kaniyang mga labi. Aabutin na sana niya ang aking mga labi nang biglang may maalala. I gently moved away, shaking my head.

He looked confused, his brows furrowing. "What is it? What's wrong? Nasabi mo na, Caice. Sa akin ka. Hindi mo na puwedeng bawiin 'yun!"

"Si Audrey..." Mahinang sabi ko.

Mas lalong lumalim ang kunot sa kaniyang noo. He looked clearly perplexed. "Audrey? What about her?"

Huminga ako ng malalim. Mahal ko si Hans at mahal niya ako. Karapatan naming maging masaya pero hindi naman ako papayag na may maapakan kaming iba. If Hans wanted me in his life, ako lang dapat. Ayaw kong pairalin ang selos dahil masakit isipin na sa kabila ng pagmamahal sa sinasabi niya ay naituon pa rin niya sa iba ang kaniyang atensyon. I wouldn't blame him, pero gusto ko kapag sumubok kaming muli ay ako lang. Kami lang.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "Paano siya? Hindi ba't ikakasal na kayo?"

"Ha?" Takang tanong ni Hans, bahagya pang nanlaki ang mga mata sa gulat. "Audrey? Audrey De Salvo?"

Ako naman ang natigilan. Bakit ba parang wala siyang alam? Eh, siya nga itong ikakasal! "Oo, 'di ba ikakasal ka sa kaniya? You two would announce your engagement pa nga sa birthday ni Uncle Exodus!"

"What?" Mahina siyang natawa, ang luha niya ay napalitan ng halakhak na para bang kalokohan ang sinasabi ko.

"Don't laugh at me!" Hinampas ko ang kaniyang balikat. Pati tuloy ako ay naguguluhan na. I knew what I heard. Dammit! "Iyon ang pinag-uusapan nina Kourtney at Lance noong nakaraan na nasa bahay sila! Sa birthday ni Uncle Exodus niyo balak ihayag ang engagement niyo. Hindi ba? Kaya Huwebes ka nagpapakuha rito para makapunta ka?"

Umiling si Hans, kinagat ang ibabang labi para mapigilan na ang pagtawa. "Iyan ba ang dahilan kung bakit tinanggihan mo ako kaninang umaga? Kung bakit paulit-ulit mong pinanlalaban ang tayo?"

Hindi ko na nakuha pang isatinig ang aking sagot kaya tumango na lamang ako. I was about to avoid his piercing gaze when he lifted my chin, making me meet his eyes.

"Sabihin mo nga sa'kin... May iba ba talaga? You told me this morning you loved someone else. Kaya hindi na puwede." Naningkit ang kaniyang mga mata, inaaral ako. "If that's true, at ang tinutukoy mo ay ang Silas na iyon. Then too bad, dahil kukunin pa rin kita."

Oh, right! Of course! Nabalitaan niya ang sa amin ni Silas at malamang ay kung ano na rin ang pumasok sa kaniyang isipan kagaya ng ibang tao. Gusto kong sabihin sa kaniya ang tunay na namigitan sa amin ni Silas, pero ako ang naunang nagtanong at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin malinaw sa akin ang kanila ni Audrey.

"Huwag kang magpakasal!" Bigla kong sabi. Oo, inuutusan ko siya!

Ngumisi na naman siya.

May nakakatawa ba?

"Hindi puwede," sumeryoso ang kaniyang anyo. Magagalit sana ako nang dugtungan niyang agad ang kaniyang sinabi. "Aangkinin na kita, eh. Paano ko gagawin 'yun kung hindi kita puwedeng pakasalan?"

I tried so hard not to get affected by his words, but it was impossible. My heart fluttered, and I felt the heat rising to my cheeks. The idea of Hans wanting to marry me made me want to blush, but I shot him a glare instead, trying to mask my emotions. "Kay Audrey, hindi puwede!"

Hans chuckled, his laughter low and rich. Pinatakan niya ako ng magaan na halik sa aking mga labi tapos ay muling ikinulong sa kaniyang mga bisig. "I would only marry you, Caice. Ikaw lang. Hindi ko alam kung saan mo nakuha ang ideya na may namamagitan sa amin ni Audrey, but I hope you know na ikaw lang kaya kong mahalin."

"Pero sabi nina Kourtney at Lance..." Bigla akong natigilan nang unti-unting mabuo ang idea sa aking isipan. I muttered a curse under my breath, feeling a rush of anger and frustration. Damn my cousins! The realization hit me like a tidal wave. Kourtney and Lance meddled! That was the only plausible explanation I could think of! They must have been behind this whole thing, making me think that Hans had moved on with Audrey and trapping me here on this island with him.

I could almost see their smirking faces. They must have concocted this plan, thinking they were helping me. O baka dahil talagang iniisip nila na kabit ako ni Silas. Ano pa man ang rason nila ay hindi sila dapat nakialam! Lagot sila sa akin kapag balik ko ng Manila!

"Caice?" Hans's voice brought me back to the present. "Anong sabi nila?"

Umiling ako. "I think Kourtney and Lance might have been behind this. Making me believe you were with Audrey, bringing us here..."

Hans's arms tightened around me, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest. "Why would they do that? Sa pagkakatanda ko ay ayaw sa akin ng mga De Salvo."

"Not everyone! Just my dad!" Pagtatama ko. Totoo naman, pinagtatanggol pa nga siya noon ni Uncle Roy. "Pero may kutob akong ginawa nila ito dahil natatakot silang totoo ang sa amin ni Silas. They never asked anything, but I think naniniwala silang kabit nga ako."

Bumaba ang kaniyang mga labi sa aking sentido, kissing me softly. "What's the truth, Caice?"

I closed my eyes, feeling his arms around me, providing a sense of safety amidst the storm of emotions inside me. "Silas... He's not someone I ever had a romantic relationship with. I've been living in his house because of his son, Rye. He's my patient. Hindi totoong kabit ako ni Silas!"

Hans pulled back slightly. Pinakatitigan ako.

"Rye is a troubled kid, struggling with issues that are beyond his years. Silas needed help to care for him, and I... I wanted to help. It started with professional duty, but over time, it became personal. I care deeply for Rye, and I couldn't turn away from them when they needed someone."

Hans remained silent for a moment, processing my words. His thumb gently brushed away a tear that had escaped down my cheek. "I'm sorry for not asking sooner..."

"It's okay," I whispered, leaning into his touch. "Hindi ko rin naman sasabihin kung sakaling tinanong mo nga. Mas gugustuhin kong paniwalaan mo iyon kasi galit pa ako sa'yo."

He kissed my forehead tenderly, his voice a soft murmur against my skin. "Mahal na mahal kita, Caice. Mahal na mahal..."

"I know," I murmured back, my heart aching with both sorrow and relief.