Author's Note ♡

Hi, everyone! This is the last chapter of Falling for the Criminal and if you're reading this, thank you so much for making it up to here. This is actually the first time I wrote a story with this kind of genre and I'm so glad that I'm able to reach this chapter. However, this story contains a lot of flaw as I wrote in an impromptu way, but I assure you that I'll definitely find time to edit it.

Sana nagustuhan niyo 'to. And sobrang salamat sa support. Mahal ko kayong lahat. ♡♡♡

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He's here in front of me and we're staring at each other's eyes. Hindi na panaginip kundi totoo. Damn, I already dreamed of it many times, and I already have a script in my mind containing what I should say to him once we meet again. Pero pakiramdam ko ay nablangko na ako, hindi ko na mahagilap ang mga salitang iyon sa utak ko.

Nanatili akong tulala habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"W-we met again," he uttered and his eyes glistened.

Fuck, I missed him so much.

"Y-yeah," I awkwardly answered. "W-what a coincidence?!"

Tangina, gusto ko na siyang yakapin, pero bigla akong tumiklop. Paano kung taken na?

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero sabay kaming ngumiti sa isa't isa.

"It's been a long time. Nice to see you again." Nakangiti niyang sabi, his eyes never leaving my face.

"Me too, it's nice seeing you again." I replied.

It's damn awkward for me at mukhang siya ay gano'n din. Someone from the back pushed again which made our skin touched again, I felt a spark because of that kaya agad akong napalayo nang bahagya at tumingin nalang sa mini stage. He did the same.

Beads of sweat formed on my forehead kahit na ang lamig lamig ng panahon, ramdam ko rin ang pag-init ng mukha ko, at panginginig ng katawan. And my heartbeat, of course, they've gone crazy already.

Wala nang nagsalita sa aming dalawa. We just silently stood there and listened to the band playing, but damn, I couldn't pay attention properly to the song anymore. He already occupied my mind.

Fate really moves in unexpected ways at ngayon pa talaga kami nagkitang muli? Ngayong wala akong kaayos-ayos sa sarili.

I closed my eyes when embarrassment crept into my system. Nakakainis, but damn, my heart is leaping in joy.

When the concert ended ay hindi ko na matukoy kung ano ang susunod kong gagawin. Should I talk to him? Anong sasabihin ko? Hindi ko na alam, tila nakalimutan ko na lahat! I feel so dumb.

"Uhm, are you..."

Natataranta akong lumingon no'ng marinig siya sa likod ko. Naabutan ko siyang nakatingin sa akin, he then licked his lip and scratched the back of his head.

"Hmm?"

He sighed. "Are you going somewhere after this?" He asked.

I averted my gaze. What is this? Gusto niya bang mag-usap kami...

I couldn't prevent my lips from curving into a small smile.

"I'm going to Disneyland." I answered.

He nodded. "Uh, are you with someone?" He asked again and averted his gaze.

I bit my lip. "Wala, ako lang."

He smiled, the cold wind blew, and he fixed his hair that the wind messed up. Hell, he looked so fucking good, aging like a fine wine.

"Can I... come with you?" Aniya and I noticed how his eyes got wary.

Pakiramdam ko ay biglang nagwala ang puso ko dahil sa tinanong niya. Tahimik akong napamura sa isip ko dahil doon.

"Y-yeah, uh, kung free ka naman." Awkward kong sagot.

Agad siyang tumango. "Free ako, I'll come with you."

I pursed my lips. "Okay."

We silently walked after that, malapit lang naman kasi ang Disneyland sa venue ng concert.

As we walked, paminsan-minsan akong napapasulyap sa kanya. He was serious at nakapamulsa ang kamay, very much him. Ngumiti ako. I missed this. Walking with him.

I actually have a lot of questions in my mind. Like why is he here in Japan? Nagbabakasyon ba siya? Sino mga kasama niya? How has he been these past few years?

"Congratulations," he suddenly blurted no'ng malapit kaya gulat akong napatingin sa kanya. "Your newly produced song is a bop, it's my new favorite."

My eyes widened. Nakikinig siya?

"T-thanks," nakangiti kong sagot pero parang gusto kong maiyak.

Ibig sabihin ba nakikibalita siya sa akin sa loob ng limang taon? He's updated? Samantalang ako... walang balita sa kanya. I wonder if he's already taken?

"Just as I thought, you'd be successful. Nakakaproud." He added at hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin ko. Natahimik nalang ako.

Nagpatuloy naman siya. "I came here in Japan to take a short vacation from work. Not expecting to see you here, but I'm glad."

Ngumiti ako. "Are you... uh... I mean kumusta ka naman these past few years? Where are you staying now?"

"I'm doing good, trying to become a better person. I'm managing a company in Australia but I occasionally come to the Philippines."

Tumango ako. "That's cool."

"Ikaw? You went home last year, right?" He asked and again, I'm surprised that he knew. But then again, it's all over social media because I'm with an artist.

"Ah, yeah, I went home for a project and for a short vacation na rin."

Nagkatinginan kami pero agad akong napaiwas ng tingin dahil sa tindi ng titig niya sa akin, hindi ko makayanan. Patuloy kaming naglakad and we stopped under a mistletoe. I took my phone out and quickly snapped a shot.

"Beautiful as ever," he whispered but I was still able to hear it kaya pakiramdam ko ay namula ako nang bongga.

I coughed. "Uh, sino nga pala... sino nga pala kasama mo rito sa Japan?"

"I'm with Marcus." He answered.

My eyes widened. "Uh, I... I mean, we actually met earlier. Sa Osaka."

His brows furrowed. "Really? Whoa."

Tumango ako at ngumisi. "Yeah, actually siya ang nagbigay ng concert ticket sa akin. I didn't know about the concert but he offered me the ticket because something urgent came up on his end at hindi raw siya makakapunta."

"You two talked?" He asked.

Tumango ako. "Yeah, finally, after years."

Natahimik kami habang nakatingin sa isa't isa. The wind blew again at bahagya akong napalapit sa kanya.

Damn, this is insane, gustong-gusto ko na siyang yakapin. But would it be alright? What if...

I closed my eyes. Enough of the what ifs already, we've already been away from each other for years, I don't need another waiting.

"Kelssey."

"Laz."

Halos sabay kaming nagsalita, sabay din kaming natawa.

"You first," he smiled.

I nodded.

"Still single?" I inquired.

He chuckled. "Of course, baby."

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong ngumiti nang malapad.

"Then do you still?"

Hindi pa ako tapos magtanong ay tumango na siya.

"It's always been and will forever be." He answered and took a step forward to cup my cheeks.

Tears fell from my eyes as we shared a passionate kiss.

Maraming nangyari, but I will never not be thankful that I met him. Because it's him who made me realize a lot, made me see the truths in lies, and it's him who taught me how to dream and love, as well as to forgive and grow.

I smiled through my tears when I remembered what I said back then.

Finally, the 'someday' we wished years ago has come, and this time, I know... it will be forever.

♡♡♡