"I-Ibaba mo 'ko! Walang-hiya ka! Putangina mo! L-Let me go! Put me down! Damn you! I hate you so much! Fuck you!" wika habang patuloy ang paghagulhol ko ng iyak.

Inilabas ko sa pamamagitan ng mga mura at mga paghampas at suntok ko sa likod niya ang galit at sakit na nararamdaman ko. It hurts like hell that I felt like being burnt by the fire. It hurts too much that I could barely breath.

"Shut up and stop moving or you'll fall!" asik niya sa akin saka hinigpitan ang hawak sa hita ko.

Ngunit mas lalo ko lamang na naramdaman ang sakit at hinagpis sa bawat pagdampi ng balat niya sa balat ko. It is because I know that every touch of his skin on mine would burn me and I would just end up giving up myself on him. And I don't want that. I don't want to be a martyr. I don't deserve that.

"No! Pakawalan mo 'ko! Wala kang karapatang hawakan ako o dampian man lang ng balat mo ang balat ko! Manloloko ka! Pinaglaruan mo 'kong gago ka! Putangina mo! Fuck you!" pagwawala ko habang patuloy ako sa pagluha.

My face was soaking wet by my streaming rain of tears. My eyes were puffed due to too much crying. My heart was bleeding due to a million stab on it. My life is messy.. miserable.. and I don't want to waste it for a man who prefers lies than truth.

"I'll definitely love being fucked by you, baby. But please stay still if you doesn't want to fall. Hold on tight on me," malumanay niyang wika sa akin.

"Hold on tight?! Well, guess what, Attorney?! I did! I did hold on to you! I tried my hardest! Pero anong ginawa mo?! Putangina niloko mo 'ko! Binitawan mo 'ko! Ginawa mo akong laruan! Hayop ka!" sigaw ko saka hinampas ang likod niya.

Alam kong masakit iyon pero wala akong pakialam. Gusto ko rin na maramdaman niya bawat sakit na naramdaman ko. Pero kulang pa ang nararamdaman niya kaysa sa nararamdaman ko. Dahil mas masakit ang akin. Mas masakit pa sa masakit!

"What the hell?! Are you that drunk?! You're blabbering nonsense. What the heck did that goddamned liquor did to you? Goodness!" saad niya.

Pagak akong natawa. So, he thought that I'm not sober, huh? He thought that everything that I'm blabbering about is nonsense. Mas lalo akong natawa nang pagak.

"Gago ka! H-Hindi ka lang gago! P-Putangina ka rin!" tawa ko saka nagpumiglas.

Ramdam ko ang mas lalong paghigpit nang hawak niya sa hita ko. Ngunit ramdam ko rin ang patuloy na pagkadurog ng puso ko.

"What the- that goddamned drink really did something to you. Goodness!" bulong niya ngunit dinig ko naman.

See? Gago nga!

"Gago! Ibaba mo na ako! Pakawalan mo 'ko! Hayop ka! Manloloko! Sinungaling!" pagwawala ko habang patuloy na pinaghahampas ang likod niya. Patuloy rin ako sa pagpupumiglas.

I heard him sighed hard as he hold me tightly. His grip on my thighs became tighter and hold me on position. Patuloy ako sa pagpupumiglas ngunit sa bawat pagwawala ko ay siyang paghigpit naman nang hawak niya sa akin. Hanggang sa sumuko na lamang ako.

"P-Please... bitawan mo na ako. Ibaba mo na ako. P-Please.." walang nagawang wika ko habang patuloy ako sa paghikbi.

"Shh.. Enough, baby. You know I won't ever let you go," bulong niya.

Napatakip ako sa mukha ko at humagulhol ng iyak. Paulit-ulit na tumatakbo sa isipan ko kung bakit ayaw niya pa akong pakawalan gayong masaya na siya ngayon sa pamilyang nabuo niya. Bakit hindi niya pa ako pakawalan? Ikasisiya ba niya ang bawat mga luhang lumalandas sa pisngi ko?

I was still crying when I finally felt the soft chair on my butt. I could smell the scent of the inside of the car. Agad kong iminulat ang mga mata ko.

Nang makita kong umikot siya upang maupo sa driver seat ay dali-dali kong binuksan ang pintuan na malapit sa akin. Agad akong tumakbo upang makalayo sa kanya. Ramdam ko ang pag-ikot ng paningin ko ngunit ikinaila ko ito at nagpatuloy sa pagtakbo.

"What the fuck, Nik?! Why the hell are you running away from me?!" rinig kong sigaw ni Ville.

Hindi ko ito pinakinggan at mas lalo akong nagpursige sa pagtakbo. I don't know where to go. I don't know where my feet would lead me but I will follow them wherever they go.

"Baby?! Why the hell are you escaping from me?! What did I do?! What the hell is happening?!" sigaw niya. I could hear how his voice nearing me.

Ramdam ko ang muling pagbaha ng mga luha ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Did he just asked me if what did he do wrong?

"Tsk. Now, I'm wondering why the hell did I trusted you?! Why the hell did I trust my heart to you? I should have known. I shouldn't have trusted you!" bulong ko.

Ngayon ay ikinakaila niya pa ang kasalanang nagawa niya? Ikinaila niya pa na pinagmukha niya akong tanga?

Patuloy ako sa pagtakbo nang biglang nilamon ako nang hilo. Napahawak ako sa ulo saka napapikit habang tumatakbo. Ngunit napatili ako nang bigla akong nadapa sa daan nang dahil sa dilim ng paningin ko. Hilong-hilo ako at tila hindi na ako makakapaglakad nang maayos.

Bigla kong naalala na sumusunod pala sa akin si Ville kaya bumangon ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Kahit na magkahalo ang hilo, kaba at sakit na nararamdaman ko ay pilit akong tumayo.

Ngunit tatayo pa lamang ako nang biglang may bumuhat sa akin dahilan nang pagtili ko. Mariin niyang hinawakan ang ilalim ng tuhod ko at ang likod ko.

"Gotcha!"

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko saka sa damit niya. Napapikit ako nang mariin dahil sa hilo.

"P-Pakawalan mo a-ako," nanghihina kong sabi at impit na umiyak.

Naramdaman ko ang isang mainit at malambot na bagay sa noo ko. Alam kong labi niya iyon at masyado akong nahihilo para umiwas. It's just my tears that keeps on falling. A painful one.

"Stop running away from me. I'm getting scared," bulong niya sa akin.

I felt him started walking. I couldn't help but just close my eyes-savoring every pain that I felt.

Nang makarating kami sa kotse ay agad niya akong marahan na iniupo sa upuan. Walang nagawang pinunasan ko na lamang ang mga luha ko. Inigiya ko na lamang ang mukha paharap sa bintana habang iniinda ang sakit.

He then started the engine and make the car move. The ride became silent-a deafening silence and no one wanted to talk.. yet I wanted to ask him why he lied? But no.

"Are you asleep?" he asked softly.

I didn't answer.

I heard him sighed. "I don't know if you're asleep or if your awake, I don't even know if you're still sober or not.. but every word that comes out your mouth are like venom spreading my system. It's making me scared like hell," he paused.

I closed my eyes tight. I tried to normalize my breathing.

"I.. I'm sorry," his words suddenly exploded like a bomb making my whole world shattered.

He may not confirmed it yet but those words are enough for everything to stop.

My tears started streaming again. My heart was already shattered but it turned into ashes the moment I heard those words. His words just confirmed everything.

The car went silent again so I tried hard to stifle my cries. Ayokong malaman niyang gising ako. Ayokong malaman niyang sa simpleng 'Sorry' niya ay nasasaktan ako.

Tahimik naming tinahak ang daan ngunit naalala ko na ayoko pala na umuwi sa condo niya. Gusto kong umuwi sa condo ko. Kasi kahit na tahimik doon at mag-iisa ako, wala namang makakasakit sa akin.

I was just silently crying the whole ride until we finally reached the building of his condo unit. I hurriedly wiped my tears and I purred as I opened my eyes. I acted like I was from a slumber.

"W-Where are we?!" asik ko nang tumigil na kami sa parking garage.

"My condo, baby. Why?" he asked.

"No, gusto kong umuwi. Gusto kong pumunta sa condo ko," saad ko saka itinago sa paningin niya ang mga mata kong namamaga.

"Why? Malinis naman ang condo ko, ah. And also I bought groceries last day so you have tons of foods and snacks. You don't have to go back to your condo," he said as he unbuckled his seatbelt and went out of his car.

Nang lumapit siya sa pintuan sa tabi ko ay muli kong itinago ang mukha ko sa pamamagitan ng buhok ko. Whe he started unbuckling my seatbelt, I hold it tight immediately.

"I don't want to stay here. Just let me go home," wika ko habang nakayuko.

"Tsk. We're home, baby," saad niya saka sinimulang tanggalin ang seatbelt ko.

Umiling ako at nagsimula na namang manlabo ang mga mata ko. "Ayoko!"

"Baby, just let go of the seatbelt," he chuckled and tried unbuckling the seatbelt.

Ramdam ko na ang pagtulo ng luha ko habang patuloy ako sa pag-iling. "P-Please?"

I felt him stopped. "Why? What's wrong? Why aren't you showing your face?" bulong niya saka marahang sinapo ang pisngi kong puno na nang luha ko. I felt him stiffened the moment he felt my tears.

"L-Let go," wika ko saka pilit na tinanggal ang kamay niya sa mukha ko. Ngunit mas lalo lamang niyang hinigpitan ngunit marahang hinawakan ang pisngi ko saka pilit na pinatingin sa kanya.

Wala akong nagawa. Hanggang sa magtagpo ang mga mata naming dalawa. Kita ko ang pag-aalala at pagsisisi sa mga mata niya.

"W-Why are you crying? Ayaw mo ba talaga sa condo ko? I-It's fine, it's fine. We can go to your condo," he said and tried smiling. But he couldn't hide the sadness on his eyes.

Eyes can tell what the mouth couldn't.

"I-Ihatid mo na lang ako. P-Pwede ka namang manatili rito," I said.

"Of course, I will come with you, baby. You're still drunk. Even of you're sober you would still need me to take care of you. I will come, okay?" he said and I shook my head.

"I can handle myself," I whispered and lowered my head as I wiped my tears.

He replaced my hands with his and wiped my tears. He smiled at me timidly and kissed me on my forehead.

"I will come with you either you like it or not," bulong niya saka marahang ibinalik ang seatbelt ko. Umikot siya sa driverseat saka ibinalik muli ang seatbelt niya. At agad na pinasibad ang sasakyan.

Muli ko na lamang ibinaling ang atensyon sa bintana ng sasakyan. Iniisip kung paano ko na sisimulang sabihin ang dapat sabihin sa kanya. I know that this wouldn't be easy. But I have to. I need to.

Due to my endless overthinking, I haven't realized that we finally arrived to the building of my condo. I just realized it when we stopped.

I hurriedly unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the car's door. I then went out of the car and struggled at walking but I still managed. I was more than okay when a grip on my waist made me stop. Its Ville's.

"You should've waited for me, hirap na hirap ka sa paglalakad, oh. Tsk, next time you should be aware with me, I might do something bad to you in bed," he said and I could hear a smirk on his voice.

Yeah. I should've been aware about you. Not of what you can do to me, but everything you can do to my heart.

Hindi ako sumagot at pilit na lamang na inayos ang paglalakad ko. Nang makarating kami sa condo ko ay agad kong ni-type ang code. At agad na rin akong pumasok nang mabuksan ko na ito.

I went straight to the sofa and lay there as I placed my left arm on my eyes-covering it. I felt Ville followed but I tried to dodge the feeling that he's inside my condo... again.

"I'm going to make you a soup, okay? Para naman lumamig na ang ulo mo. And to lessen the pain in your head. Just wait here," he said as he kissed my forehead then I heard his footsteps going to my kitchen.

I breathed out and slowly opened my eyes. The pain is still there but I'm trying to dodge it. Nakakapagod pala ang masaktan. At mas lalong nakakapagod magmahal.

I stared blankly at the ceiling. I felt a tear drop my left eye so I instantly wiped it. I sighed hard thinking about anything that just happened. Nakakaubos ng lakas.

I breathed in and decided to get up. Kahit nahihilo ay pinilit kong mubangon. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad patungo sa kwarto ko upang magbihis.

Isang pares ng pantulog ang isinuot ko saka dahan-dahan akong bumaba pabalik ng living room. Kahit na hilong-hilo ako ay nakaabot pa rin ako sa sofa saka agad na nahiga doon. Ipinatong ko sa noo ko ang braso ko saka ipinikit ang mga mata ko.

"Just wait for awhile, baby, 'kay? I'm almost done!" rinig kong sigaw ni Ville mula sa kusina.

Hindi ako sumagot. Amoy ko ang aroma ng niluluto niya. Nang maramdaman kong muli na namang nagtubig ang mga mata ko ay ipinikit ko ito ng mariin.

Nasasaktan ako. Alam ko kasi sa sarili ko na.. baka ito na ang huli. Ito na ang huling beses na makakasama ko siya. Baka ito na ang huling beses na makakapasok siya sa condo unit ko. Baka ito na ang huling beses na maaamoy ko ang bango niya. Baka ito na ang huling beses na lulutuan niya ako. Baka ito na ang huling beses na makakapasok siya sa buhay ko. Dahil malamang sa malamang ay magiging masaya na siya sa piling ng sarili niyang pamilya.

"God.. p-please take care of my heart," bulong ko.

Ilang minuto lang ay agad ko nang narinig ang mga yabag ni Ville. Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang mga mata ko upang bumangon para makakain ako. Gusto ko nang matapos ang pagkahilo at hangover ko, para agad na siyang lumayo sa akin.

Babangon na sana ako nang maramdaman ko ang marahan niyang paghawak sa braso ko saka inalalayan akong makaupo ng maayos.

"Here's the chicken soup," he said with a huge smile pasted on his lips.

Marahan akong ngumiti sa kanya. I just realized that there's no sense of me getting mad at him my whole life. Maybe, it was just really hard for him to tell me the truth. Besides, I don't really have the right to be jealous and to be mad. I'm just someone he's courting.

Just someone, not special.

And I think the least that I could do is to make him happy. And that is to support him to be a father of his child.

"Thank you for the soup," bulong ko saka marahang ngumiti. Ngunit sa kabila nang mga ngiti ko ay ang pagtarak ng patalim sa puso ko.

He smiled and kissed me on the forehead. "Anytime, baby."

Naupo siya sa tabi ko saka hinawakan ang bowl kung saan niya inilagay ang soup. Hinipan niya ito saka dahan-dahang iniumang sa akin na agad ko namang tinanggap.

"Sarap?" he asked with a smile. I smiled back and nodded.

"Yeah," I whispered. "thank you."

"Stop thanking me. That's the least that I could do to ease the pain that you felt. This will also help you sleep peacefully," he said and kissed me on the cheek.

"Right."

Sana nga.. Sana nga sa pamamagitan lang ng soup na gawa mo ay mawawala na ang sakit na nararamdaman ko. Sana nga sa pamamagitan ng soup na ito ay makatulog ako ng maaga at walang mabigat na dala. Ngunit, kahit saang banda naman tingnan, talagang hindi matatanggal ng soup na ito ang sakit na nararamdaman ko.

Muli ay iniumang niya sa akin ang isang kutsarang soup. At siya naman ay sumusubo rin pagkatapos niya akong subuan.

"Do you like this soup than the first that I made? Is this much better than the first one?" he asked with pursed lips.

I smiled. "The first one is much better."

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa magkahalong tuwa at disappointment.

"Why do you like the first one?" he asked curiosity is visible on his eyes. "Don't you like this one? I thought it's masarap. But now, you're telling me that it's not," he asked as he motioned the bowl.

Bahagya akong natawa. Hindi ko inakalang makakatawa ako sa kabila ng sakit.

"Masarap naman talaga ang niluto mo ngayon. Mas masarap kaysa sa una. Sakto lang ang lasa. Di gaya noong una mong gawa na medyo naparami ang sabaw. Pero masarap pa rin naman," I said.

"So, why do you said that the first one is much better?"

"It's because that was the first time that you made it for me. No matter how disappointing the taste was, that was still the most delicious soup that I had ever tasted. Nothing can replace that first soup that you made for me. Even this one," I said and smiled at him, contradicting what I truly felt.

He smiles and started laughing hard. "Oh, I get it now! I get it! Damn! Nakakakilig pala ito!" he said and continued laughing.

I stared at his happy face sadly. How I wish I could forever that face. How I wish I could touch and kiss that face until my last breath. But still, I know he won't be happy with me. And he would be in a better place if he would be with his family.

"Have I told you before how handsome you are?" malumanay kong sabi.

He stopped laughing but the happiness and joy were written on his face. He shook his head.

"No! Why? I mean.. Of course I'm handsome. But still, hindi mo pa nasabi sa akin iyan," he said and pursed his lips.

I chuckled. "Well, you're so handsome, Attorney."

Humagikhik siya dahilan nang pagsingkit ng mga mata niya. Kita ko rin ang pamumula ng mga pisngi niya pababa sa leeg niya.

Napatawa ako nang bahagya. "Kinikilig ka, noh?" asar ko sa kanya.

"Of course not," sabi niya na patuloy pa rin sa paghagikhik.

"Kalma, ako lang 'to," wika ko na ikinahagalpak niya ng tawa.

"Tama na iyan. Kumain ka na para makatulog ka na," tumatawa niyang sabi saka sinubuan ako.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas ay natapos agad ako sa pagkain. Agad naman niya akong pinainom ng gamot para tuluyan nang mawala ang sakit ng ulo ko.

Iniabot ko sa kanya ang baso ng tubig matapos kong inumin ang gamot. "Do you want to sleep now?" he asked me and I nodded. "Alright, ibabalik ko lang ito sa kusina tapos hintayin mo ako. I'll carry you to bed."

"No, hindi na. I can handle myself now. Hindi na masakit masyado ang ulo ko. Also, hindi na ako nahihilo. You can go home now," I said.. and pain succumbed me.

I saw the confusion in his eyes. His brows creased. He placed the glass on the living room table. "What? Why do I need to go home? Can't I stay here?"

Ramdam ko ang pagtutubig ng mga mata ko. Nginitian ko siya ng pilit nagbabakasakaling mawala ang luhang nagkukusang tumulo sa mga mata ko.

"Hindi naman sa ganoon. B-Baka kasi.. h-hinahanap ka na ng mag-ina mo," wika ko habang may pilit na ngiti sa mga labi ko. Ang mga luha ko ay nagpupumilit na sa pagtulo.

Kita ko ang gulat sa mga mata niya. At kita ko rin ang pagsisisi at kaba.

I smiled timidly and sadly. "Y-You can go home now," I whispered. Tears cascading from my eyes.

I saw how he stiffened and his eyes turned red. Is that tears?

"H-Hey? A-Are you crying, Ville? Y-You don't have to cry. T-This isn't goodbye, right? We can still be friends," I said and tried hard to smiled.

He shook his head and I was shock for his next move. He kneeled in front of me. He hugged my knees as he cried like a baby-in pain, regrets and.. love.

Mas lalo naman akong napaiyak. Hindi ko inaakalang mas masakit pala ang mamaalam kaysa sa umalis at lumayo nang walang paalam. Who said that it's much painful if someone would leave you without permission?

"I-I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry, Nik. I-I didn't mean to. S-Sorry. Patawarin mo 'ko. Hindi ko sinasadya, Nik," iyak niya.

Tinakpan ko ang bibig ko gamit ang kamay ko upang pigilan ang malakas na pag-iyak. "T-Tumayo ka diyan, Ville. A-Ayos lang. I-It's fine. I-I'll be fine. S-Stand up, please," saad ko saka pilit na itinatayo siya pero hindi siya nagpapatinag.

He shook his head. "I'm sorry, baby! I'm sorry! Don't leave me, please! I-I can't leave without you! I can't! Please, d-don't! Please," he begged as he cried hard.

Mas lalo akong nadurog habang tinitingnan siyang nagmamakaawa upang hindi ko siya iwan. Hindi siya ang Ville na kilala ko. Hindi siya ang tipo na luluha at luluhod para sa akin.

"H-Hindi naman kita iiwan, eh. K-Kasi wala naman akong iiwan. H-Hindi naman naging tayo, Ville. K-Kaya paano kita iiwan kung hindi ka naman naging akin?" malungkot kong saad at may pilit na ngiti sa labi.

Muli ay pinilit ko siyang tumayo ngunit ayaw niya talaga. Kaya lumuhod na lang din ako saka mahigpit siyang niyakap.

"Please, I'll explain, baby. I'Il explain," he said and cupped my face.

We were both crying. Tears streaming endlessly. Pain succumbed like a virus in our system. It's too much. But we don't have a choice.

Umiling ako. "Y-You don't have to explain, Ville. Wala naman akong karapatan na marinig ang paliwanag mo-"

"Anong wala?! Meron! Meron kang karapatang magalit! Meron kang karapatang saktan ako dahil sa kagaguhan ko! I failed as a man! I've hurt you!" saad niya habang nakatitig sa mga mata ko.

Muli ay umiling ako. Malungkot ko siyang nginitian. "T-That's not true. Yes, nasaktan mo 'ko. But you didn't failed as a man. It's just what the destiny wrote in the book of life. And I'm nothing Ville. I'm just a mere damsel in distress waiting for her knight and shining armor. But guess what? I'm waiting for someone else's knight, Ville."

"You have all the right, baby. Because I love you. I love you so so much," he said. His eyes are puffed and red.

I shook my head once again. "J-Just let me go," I whispered as tears cascade my eyes like a flood.

He shook his head as well as he cupped my face closer to him and hugged me tight. He cried hard and gave me a kiss on my lips but I dodged it.

"P-Please, Ville?" I begged.

"N-No. A-Ayoko, wag mo 'kong iwan, please. Ayoko," iyak niya saka niyakap ako nang mahigpit.

Walang nagawang niyakap ko na rin siya. Dahil baka ito na ang huling beses mayayakap ko siya. Baka ito na ang huling beses na mararamdaman ko ang higpit ng yakap niya.

"V-Ville?"

"H-Hmm?"

"W-When did it happened? Did you just make fun of me? Niloko mo lang ba ako? Pinaglaruan mo lang ba ako?" umiiyak kong tanong.

Agad siyang umiling saka isinubsob ang mukha sa leeg ko.

"N-No. I would never make fun of you. Believe me I l-love you so much. How could I make fun of you, how could I f-fool you if seeing you in pain would shatter me into pieces? T-That's how I love you, baby."

Mas lalo akong naiyak. "So, w-when did it happened?"

"T-That was after we went home from Zandro's island, when we were in the reunion. She called me. I-I thought that she was just making fun of me and she was just some obsessed ex of mine so I told her to stop. S-She doesn't want to and told me that s-she's going to spread the sex video that we had," he paused.

I stifled my cries and listened carefully. I want to know. I want to understand why.

"I have no choice. S-She told me that I have to meet her kaya ginawa ko. W-When we met she gave me a drink. I d-didn't know that she put something in it to make me out of consciousness. A-And the moment I was awakened.. I found myself under the comforter.. naked.. with her."

Mas lalo akong naiyak sa sinabi niya. I want to hate that woman, but she has Ville's child.

"I got mad. To her and myself. Because I know she would destroy us. And I'm mad of myself because I haven't avoided it from happening. I'm such an asshole!"

Kahit umiiyak ay nagawa ko pa rin siyang tanungin muli. "K-Kailan mo nalaman na magkakaanak ka na?"

"She called me. She sent me a picture of the PT. It was two lines, positive. She's pregnant. A month pregnant with quadruplets," he said.

Humiwalay siya sa akin saka pinakatitigan ako. Kita ang lungkot sa mga mata niya.

"I-I have a quadruplets, baby," he said and cried. "But sadly, those kids aren't yours."

"A-Ayos lang iyan. A-Ang mahalaga ay magkakaanak ka na. H-Hindi lang isa.. kundi apat," wika ko saka sinapo ang pisngi niya. "T-Take care of them. I-I know those kids aren't mine.. but they're yours. Alagaan mo sila dahil anak mo sila. Sayo sila galing."

Hinawakan niya ang kamay kong sapo-sapo ang pisngi niya. "P-Paano ka? I-Iiwan mo 'ko?" umiiyak niyang sabi.

"M-Mahal na mahal kita, Ville."

"W-What does that mean?"

"Y-You have to let me go. Y-You have to go home.. not to me but to them. T-To your babies," I whispered.

"A-Are you coming with me?" he whispered, tears streamed down his cheeks.

I smiled sadly and shook my head. "N-No."

"T-Then I'm not going there. Y-You're my home," he said.

He cupped my face and placed his forehead on my forehead.

"M-Malinaw na sa akin lahat, Ville. A-Ayokong maging hadlang sa kasiyahan ng mga bata. A-Alam mong mahilig ako sa mga bata, diba?" I said and he nodded. "T-Then take care of them. Not for me, but because they're yours. The came from you."

He didn't answered and just cried.

"L-Listen. S-Someday.. there will be four little kids preparing a hug for you when you get home. T-There will be four cute kids calling you 'Daddy'. T-There will be four kids whose going to c-complete you. They're going to c-complete your life," I said.

"C-Can you imagine it?" umiiyak kong tanong and he nodded. "S-See? So, love them. And with that, y-you have to let me go."

"D-Do I really have to let you go?" he asked, crying.

"Y-You have to."

He cried hard and hugged me tight. "C-Can I sleep beside you?"

I nodded. "J-Just this last time."

Agad niya akong binuhat na parang bagong kasal at umiiyak naming tinahak ang daan patungo sa kwarto ko. Nang makarating doon ay agad niya akong inihiga sa kama at agad siyang tumabi sa akin. Niyakap niya ako nang mahigpit gaya kung gaano kahigpit ang yakap ko sa kanya.

Pinakikiramdaman ang isa't isa. Niyayakap ang bawat isa. Pinaparamdam ang pagmamahal para sa panghuling pagkakataon.

"M-Mahal na mahal kita, Nikki Irah Soletelle. Habang buhay kitang mamahalin," bulong niya na malungkot kong ikinangiti.

"M-Mahal na mahal din kita Attorney Cladville Rios Lareho."

Maybe, this is the end of us.

—