Apat na buwan na ang nakalipas. And here I am peacefully walking alone in the hallway, humming the beat of the new song of BlackPink entitled Tally with my fancy pair wireless headset. Habang nakiki-vibe sa kanta, iniingatan kong bitbitin ang Christmas gift kong may lamang LED 500ml smart sensing temperature stainless steel tumbler.

Medyo may kamahalan siya, pero bumili ako ng dalawa. Para naman kahit papaano ay may dalawang pagpipiliang kulay kung sino man ang makakuha nito mamaya sa exchange gift namin. Bitbit ko rin ang rectangular chafing dish na may lamang spaghetti na luto ni Lola.

Kanina pa ako ngiti nang ngiti dahil naamoy ko ang cheese na nasa ibabaw. Hanggang amoy lang ako sa spaghetti ni Lola na paborito kong kinakain noon. Sa akin kasi na-assigned ang pagluluto nito kaya dala ko ito patungo sa technology department. Kahit na ang aga pa, kaniya-kaniya nang nagsitugtugan ang mga sounds systems.

The hallway's ceiling was filled with different design of lanterns. Sa gitna ng field naman may nakatayong eight feet tall Christmas tree. Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang bigla na lamang sumulpot sa harapan ko si Ry.

He give me a sweet smile that made my face turn as red as tomato. My heart once again pound like crazy. When he saw my reaction, he teased me with his gaze. Dahil dito ay padabog kong inabot sa kaniya ang dala-dala kong chafing dish.

"Hindi talaga ako magsasawa sa ka-cute-an mo, ma belle," I heard him commented.

Dahil sa sinabi niya mas lalo lang namula ang pisngi ko. Mabilis akong naglakad para iwan siya. Subalit alam kong ang hirap umiwas sa lalaking 'to, ginawa ko pa rin. I rolled my eyes when I heard him chuckled behind my back.

"Lovebirds!" rinig kong sigaw ni Hecate.

Walang gana akong huminto sa paglalakad. I also noticed, Rory did the same thing. When I faced her, sumalubong sa akin na magkasama silang dalawa ni Lupus. Lovebirds. That's right. When Hecate knew that Rory is courting me, 'yan na ang salitang tinatawag niya sa amin.

Hindi ko pa nga siya sinasagot.

Mag-a-apat na buwan ng nanliligaw sa akin ang nag-iisang Rory Del Grosso. He started courting when I came out. Hecate didn't seem surprise when I told her I am gay. Little did I know, talagang napapansin na niya.

When Lupus and I looked at each other's eyes, I saw him slightly bow his head. A smile was quick to plastered upon my lips.

"Can you please stop calling us lovebirds?" halos pabulong kong sermon kay Hecate.

She looked at me unapologetically. "Bakit ba? Doon na rin naman punta niyo, am I right?" she asked. Na-pressure kaagad ako sa tinanong. Tila ba'y tinahi ang bibig ko dahil hindi ko alam kung ano isasagot ko. "Kailan mo ba sasagutin si Rory?" she once again asked me.

Napayuko ako dahil dito. Napatingin ako kay Rory nang akbayan niya ako bigla. He smiled at me. At saka binalingan ng tingin si Hecate.

"Don't pressure my Queen, Hecate," he calmly said. At muli na namang tumingin sa akin na may ngiti sa labi. "Maghihintay ako kahit ilang buwan o taon man 'yan. Hindi ako magsasawang ligawan ang isang Caelestis Reyan Gehenna." Pinamulahan na naman ako sa pisngi dahil sa sinabi niya.

Hecate crossed her arms. And disappointingly scoffed in front of Lupus. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa. Habang ako naman ay napangiti. They remained staring at each other for about couple of minutes.

"What?" Lupus was the one who surrendered.

"Sana tularan mo si Rory." At nilagpasan niya kami.

Habang kami naman ni Rory ay nagkatinginan sa isa't isa. Sumunod naman ang tawanan naming dalawa. That's right, nililigawan din ni Lupus si Hecate. Isang buwan pa lang niya ito niligawan. I am happy that Lupus finally moved on with me. Five days after the war ended, he confessed his love for me in the same spot where I always wanted to unwind.

"Oh, Lupus," pagtawag ko sa pangalan niya nang bigla siyang sumulpot sa aking tabi't umupo.

Diretso ang tingin niya sa kalangitang napupuno ng mga bituin. At ang gasuklay na walang kupas na nagniningning sa dulo ng mga ulap. My forehead was quick to furrowed when I realized he's oddly quiet. 'Yong tila ba'y may dala-dalang mabigat na problema.

"Is there something wrong?" I can't help it but to ask.

He suddenly looked at me in the eyes with full of attachment. A genuine stares that made me questioned myself. Hindi nagtagal ang pagtingin niya sa mata ko dahil kaagad siyang umiwas. It's as if it affected him the other way around.

"I love you, Kai." Napasinghap ako nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. Napaiwas ako ng tingin. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot. Biglaan kasi. He even didn't think twice. "But." I was quick to noticed the sadness in his voice. "You don't have to speak, Kai. Listening to me is enough," he added.

Narinig ko naman ang pagbuntonghininga niya. Nakatingin lamang siya sa kalangitan. "You are not hard to love, Kai. Sana alam mo 'yan. When I first time laid my eyes on you, I was quick to told myself, I will protect you even if it cost me, my life. Because that's how you deserved it," pagkukuwento niya.

Because I am deserving to be protected? Dahil sa sinabi niyang ito, tahimik na nagbagsakan ang mga luha ko. That was the right words I wanted to hear after everything that happened. Lupus' words somehow realized me, they're my family. A family is willing to make a sacrifices for the future of the members.

"Because you are more than worth it, Alpha," he said. "I just wanted to tell you this because I wanted to relieve this feeling. I don't want to keep this further. Because I know, your heart is meant for someone else."

Napatayo rin ako sa pagkakaupo nang bigla siyang tumayo. He then faced me and hold my hand. I looked at him worriedly when I saw fragments of sadness within his eyes. He force a smile that made my heart even more shattered into tiny pieces.

"I am not expecting you to return the love I felt for you, Kai." A tear fell upon his eyes. "Do not think there's no one who wants to be with you. And please," he pleaded under his sobs. "Please, don't be guilty."

Kahit na sinubukan niyang ngumiti sa akin ng matamis, hindi pa rin niya nakayang itago ang sakit na nararamdaman niya.

"Now, it's your time to follow your heart. Find that happiness because in that way, magiging masaya rin ako para sa 'yo," sabi niya bago ako talikuran nang tuluyan.

"Huwag mo akong itulad sa pangit na Rory na 'yon!" Nabalik ako sa reyalidad nang umalingawngaw ang boses ni Lupus sa aking tenga.

I heard Ry scoffed in disbelief. "Excuse me?" Kaagad kong pinigilan si Ry nang marinig ko siyang magsalita.

Hindi pinansin ni Hecate si Lupus. Patuloy lamang ito sa paglalakad. Habang kami naman ni Ry ay nakasunod lang at tinignan sila. Kahit na may ilang mga estudyanteng nakarinig ay ganoon din. Me, on the other hand, can't resist myself but to smile.

Nahinto lamang sa paglalakad si Hecate nang hagitin siya ni Lupus sa braso niya. At walang pag-alinlangang pinaharap siya nito. Lupus face softened.

"First of all, hindi ako si Rory. Kaya huwag mo akong ihalintulad sa pangit na 'yan." Ry's face was quick to grimaced when Lupus looked at him in the eye when he mentioned the word ugly. "At panghuli, gusto kitang bakuran kaagad. Problema ba 'yon?"

Hindi makapagsalita si Hecate sa mga narinig niya kay Lupus. Tila ba'y napipi na siya. The two of them looked at each other's eyes. Tila namumutok sa blush on na ang pisngi ni Hecate dahil sa kilig.

I looked at them in disbelief when they suddenly embrace each other's lips. Seriously? Sa mismong harap namin? Rory teasingly whistled. Kaagad ko siyang kinaladkad palayo sa dalawa.

"Kailan kaya ulit kita mahalikan, ma belle?" Ry suddenly asked when we both finally arrived at our department.

Muli na naman akong pinamulahan sa pisngi. Kasalan talaga 'to nina Hecate at Lupus! Mabilis ko siyang tinalikuran at ginamit ang aking vampire ability para makarating kaagad sa classroom.

"Rory, this is for you." Papasok na sana ako sa classroom nang mapahinto ako't marinig ang boses ng isang babaeng kumausap kay Ry.

Naglakad ako papalapit sa edge ng hallway na 'to upang silipin kung nasaan si Rory. There I saw, nasa baba pa siya. May dalawang babaeng nakatayo sa kaniyang harapan. I annoyingly smack my lips. They even both giggling.

"What is this for?" rinig kong tanong ni Ry.

"Our gift as a token of our love for you."

Kaagad na gumulong ang aking mata. Is he seriously entertain them? Whatever! Dahil sa inis ko'y pumasok na ako sa classroom at padabog na umupo sa upuang malapit sa pintuan. I gritted my teeth as I crossed my arms.

"Sino 'yong mga 'yon?" I heard Hecate asked Ry when they entered the classroom.

Inilapag muna ni Ry ang chafing dish na dala ko sa mahabang lamesa kasama ang iba pang mga pagkain namin para sa party. Naramdaman ko naman ang pag-upo niya sa aking tabi habang ako naman ay diretso lang ang tingin sa lamesa.

"They're just random admirers," he proudly answered.

I silently scoffed when I heard his response.

✢

Napahinto kaming dalawa ni Christian, isa sa mga kaklase ko, sa pagtatawanan nang biglang tumabi sa akin si Ry. He looked at me dreadfully. Pero hindi ako nagpatinag. Tumayo ako't inaya si Christian na lumipat ng ibang lamesa.

"'Di ba nanliligaw sa 'yo si Rory?" tanong niya sa akin nang makaupo kami.

I looked at him in surprise. "Not anymore," I lied.

Christian just nodded to me as a response. Habang ako naman ay napalunok dahil sa mga matutulis na titig ni Ry na tumatagos sa likuran ko. All throughout morning, hindi ko siya pinansin. Kanina gusto niyang makipag-partner sa akin sa mga games, but I declined him.

"Can I talk to you, Caelestis?" I flinched when I heard his deep and cold voice behind my back.

Ry looked at Christian with a warning on his eyes. Napalunok ako. Nagpaalam ako kay Christian nang biglang maglakad si Ry papalabas ng classroom. Sumunod ako sa kaniya. Tahimik siya hanggang sa dumating kami sa rooftop.

"Do we have a problem?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Do we?" Sa halip na sagutin siya, ibinalik ko sa kaniya ang tanong.

I heard him sighed. Bumagsak ang mga balikat niya. Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin at niyakap ako. Habang ako naman ay napakagat ng aking ibabang labi. Napaangat ang aking tingin nang i-angat niya ang aking ulo.

"I dislike we are like this, Kai," he said in a soft tone.

I sighed and quickly agreed. "Same," matipid kong sagot. Tumikhim ako para basagin ang katahimikang namagitan sa aming dalawa. "I am just annoyed that even you are courting me, you entertained those―"

Hindi natapos ang gusto kong sasabihin nang biglang magsalita siya. "You mean, you're jealous?" he teasingly asked with his wide smile plastered upon his lips.

Am I?

"Because if you ask me, nagseselos ako sa inyong dalawa ni Christian." Walang pagdadalawang isip niyang pag-amin.

Because of what I heard from him, my heart suddenly skipped a beat. Napamura na lamang ako sa aking isipan nang mapagtanto ko kung gaano ko siya gustong halikan. Lumunok muna ako ng pangalawang beses bago siya tignan sa mata.

I guess, I already know the answer to stop those admirers who are always coming for him. Kailangan ko na siyang bakuran. I have to, so no one could break us. And I know we deserve to be happy. He's been on my side for quite some time.

We met for a reason. My parents left me on his care for a reason. They knows Ry would never hurt me. They knows they can trust him. Sa pitong buwang kasama ko siya, he never force me anything for his personal gain. Dumating siya sa buhay ko nang may magandang intensyon.

He's literally a living green flag.

"Do you still remember when I told you I will kiss you as an answer, Ry?" I asked. He nodded as a response.

I give him a quick kiss on his lips. Deserve niya ang matamis kong oo sa apat na buwang panliligaw niya sa akin. Those amount of time is no joke. Mabibilang na lamang ang mga taong kayang maghintay ng ganoon katagal.

And I guess, it's time for me to finally be happy. Ngumiti ako nang makita kong lumawak ang ngiti niya. The cold face he always wore faded. Napalitan ito ng matinding kasiyahan. Ry deserve to be happy as well. He deserve it after everything what he's been through for centuries.

I am so proud of him for fighting his fear just for me.

"Are you sure?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.

When he saw I nodded as an answer, tears escaped from his eyes. Nahawa kaagad ako dahil dito. He fell to his knees, crying and covering his face with both of his palms. Niyakap ko siya kaagad. It's as if those regrets he always carried on his shoulders vanished like a bubble. I prevented him from sobbing with a kiss. He was also quick to respond.

"Gods, what a great Christmas gift!" he exclaimed when we both decided to break the kiss. We both laugh in tears of joy. "I love you, my heaven and hell," he said with full of sincerity.

Before I could respond, he kissed me on my forehead. "I love you too, my 1,016 years old red fangs king." We once again locked each other's arms and slowly drowned with kisses.

Ry is a guy who has both what I needed and wanted. And he will forever be.

T H E  E N D