Ano na namang nangyari doon? Ang bilis naman yatang mag swing ng mood niya. I thought si Olive na ang pinaka unpredictable na nakilala ko pero may mas malala pa pala.

Speaking of Olive, I should really call her to ask for advice dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang gagawin ko, now that Ken told me those words... that he still loves me and he wants to court me again.

It's kinda making me feel dizzy and stressed kaya kailangan ko talaga 'yong tulong ni Olive. Siya 'yong magaling sa ganito e, hopeless romantic kasi.

"Hey, Olive!" Agad kong bati nang sagutin niya ang tawag ko.

"Ano ba 'yan, Kelssey? Ang wrong timing mo naman! Nasa peak na ako e!" Inis niyang saad at agad akong naparolyo ng mata.

"Reading his works again? You're really hopeless, Olive." Naiiling kong saad.

"Sakit mo naman. Ito na nga lang nagpapasaya sa akin e."

I pouted.

"Alright, alright! Basta I need your help, Olive. I really need you with this one."

She sighed. "Alright, ano ba 'yan? Mukhang stressed na stressed ka. Spill mo na."

I told her what happened after that, hindi lahat ng detalye kundi ang mga importante lang. Just enough for her to get the situation.

"OMG! So Ken told you that he still loves you? OMG talaga! Sana all!" She shrieked at agad akong napatakip ng tenga dahil ang ingay naman niya.

"Oo nga! Ano ba 'yan, Olive? Huwag mo nang ulitin! So what should I do ba?"

"Uhm, well. Edi pumayag ka nang ligawan ka niya ulit!"

My eyes widened. Bruhang 'to!

"What? Napakatino mo namang kausap!" I hissed.

She laughed.

"Shunga! Kasi naman e, nasa sa 'yo naman 'yan! Kung mahal mo pa, edi allow him to court you again. Kung hindi, edi prangkahin mo na... na hindi pwede!"

Muli akong napabuntong-hininga. This is hard.

"Iyon nga lang, ang tanong, mahal mo pa ba? Alam ko patay na patay ka doon dati base sa mga kwento mo, but now I'm wondering if it is still the same after the years that have passed."

I bit my lower lip. That... I don't know how to answer that question. Hindi ako nakasagot.

There's something inside me that wants to say that I still do, but there's also something within me that prevents me to. Dahil kahit ano pang gawin kong deny ay alam kong may nagbago. Malaki.

"Seems like you still have no answer to that question, Kels. Hirap nga naman niyan. But you need to figure it out first before making a decision about that, okay?"

Tumango ako.

"Yes. Salamat, Olive."

"No worries. But I have a suggestion, Kels."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Ano naman 'yon?"

"Huwag kang masyadong magpakalunod d'yan sa mga iniisip mo. Have fun, okay?"

Muli ay tumango ako kahit na hindi naman niya nakikita.

"Have fun with your hot bodyguard! Malay mo kayo pala!"

What? My mouth literally parted after that!

"Gaga! Stop teasing me! He's not my type!" I countered.

Tawang-tawa naman siya, halatang pinagtitripan ako.

It's already midnight when Olive and I stopped talking. I had a long day and I actually wanted to sleep already but I couldn't. Bumangon na ako't uminom ng gatas pero hindi pa rin ako inaantok. Good thing we don't have class the next day kaya hindi ko poproblemahin na magmumukha akong lutang sa klase kinabukasan.

Lumabas ako sa balcony to catch some air and as I looked outside, my attention drifted to our swimming pool.

I suddenly remembered that it's been a while since I last used it. Ilang months na yata dahil lagi akong busy magmukmok no'ng mga nakaraang buwan dulot ng mga nangyari.

I smiled when I thought of something.

Maybe swimming would help me clear my mind. Swimming plus wine would be great!

Dahil sa naisip ay nagmamadali akong nagbihis ng two piece at kumuha ng wine sa wine bar namin. I then proceeded to the swimming pool with my robe on.

Walang ibang tao sa yard namin dahil midnight na kung kaya't solo ko ang paligid. I sipped on the wine I was holding before I decided to take my robe off and soak my legs in the pool.

I busied myself with the coldness of the water at sa lasa ng wine na iniinom ko. At halos hindi ko na namalayan na mauubos ko na pala iyon.

"Oh, too bad, ito na ang last." I murmured before I got up.

I think I need to swim already dahil naiinitan na ako. With that, I dived into the pool just like what I used to do.

The coldness of the pool water immediately enveloped my body. At mukhang tama nga ako, I could feel that it slowly eases the tension I was feeling within me.

I smiled and closed my eyes as I let myself float. It felt so refreshing and relieving. So I let myself remain in that position for minutes.

Iyon nga lang muntik na akong makainom ng tubig dagat nang bigla akong may naramdamang gumalaw sa gilid ng pool.

That's when I realized that Lazarus was there watching me like a hawk.

Topless pa ang gago. Boxer short lang ang suot.

I suddenly had the urge to yell at him for disturbing my peace, but when my eyes fell to his body, pakiramdam ko ay natameme na ako.

Malamig ang tubig sa pool pero pakiramdam ko ay bigla akong naiinitan. I suddenly want it colder.

Damn. The heck is happening to me again?

Mas lalo pang lumala ang pakiramdam ko nang makita kung paano niya ako titigan. His cold hazel eyes were piercing through me like he wanted me to melt.

"Sorry, I thought someone's drowning," he uttered using his husky voice that immediately sent shivers to my whole body.

Damn. This is bad. Bakit parang ang attractive naman masyado ng boses niya ngayon?

Fuck, no! Hindi lang ang boses niya ang attractive but everything about him. His face, his hair, his body, his overall vibe! Or at least that's what I am seeing and feeling right now.

"Need help?" He uttered again and this time he's already walking towards me in the pool.

If it's the sober me, I would probably go away from him. But I'm not. And now, pakiramdam ko ay biglang nabuhay ang pagiging competitive ko.

I suddenly want to get back. Naalala ko na naman ang revenge na gusto kong mangyari.

Nang makarating siya sa harapan ko ay halos mapasinghap ako.

Damn, why is he so freaking attractive? His hair, his thick eyebrows, his deep piercing and hypnotising hazel eyes, his pointed nose, and his...

Napalunok ako nang mapatingin sa kanyang mapupulang labi, bahagyang nagtagal ang tingin ko parteng iyon, and when I looked at his eyes again ay naabutan ko siyang nakatingin din sa labi ko. And I was surprised to see desire in his eyes.

Like that night.

I gulped as I remembered how soft his lips felt against mine that night. I remembered how I almost lost myself because of his kisses.

And damn, I want it again.

"A-actually, I need..." nahihirapan kong saad, nakatingin na ngayon sa labi niya.

He took another step and the next thing I knew, he was already towering me.

"Tell me." He whispered huskily as he brought his warm hand to my cheek, slowly caressing it.

Halos mawala naman ako sa sarili ko dahil sa simpleng haplos na iyon.

Damn, maybe I'm really drunk. But hell, I'm not gonna let this opportunity pass.

Feeling a surge of courage within me, I looked up and tried to equal his intense gaze.

"Kiss me, Lazarus." I commanded.