"Fuck. Gago talaga kahit na kailan," malutong kong mura pagkabasa ko ulit sa text ni Gian. Hindi na siya natuto. He really has this habit of assuming things. Ang dami na nga naming sinayang na panahon yet here he is, wasting even more time.

"H-ha? Were you referring to me?" naguguluhang tanong ni William. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at tiningnan siya nang matalim.

"Yes, alam kong gago ka. In fact, wala na nga yatang mas gagago pa sa'yo but unfortunately, I was referring to someone else. Don't take the crown today, okay?" I sarcastically answered him. Dali-dali akong nag-iwan ng pera sa lamesa, hinablot ko ang bag ko at akmang tatayo na ako nang magsalita ulit si William.

"Hey! Saan ka pupunta? We're not done talking yet."

"Mukha bang may time pa ako para makipag-usap sa'yo?"

"Aisleen, please. Love naman..."

"Gago. Love mo mukha mo. Nakita na ngang may hinahanap ako, 'di ba? In case you missed it, I'm on a date with someone else. Go ahead and eat our order or whatever. Just don't show up again in front of me. Pasalamat ka at busy ako. I would have slapped you more than a hundred times right now kung wala lang akong hinahabol," pagtataray ko sa kanya then I immediately dialled Gian's number. Ang kaso, ang number ng gunggong, hindi ko na ma-contact. Tangina talaga. Malilintikan sa akin 'to mamaya!

Dahil hindi sumasagot si Gian sa akin, I called up Jillian instead. I badly need her help right now. After a few rings, sumagot na rin si Jillian.

"Hello, ate? Napatawag ka? Magkasama naman na kayo ni kuya ah?"

"I need your help," nagmamadali kong sagot sa kanya.

"Ha? Bakit? May problema ba?" nag-aalalang tanong niya.

"Your stupid brother saw me talking to my ex na hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang lumitaw sa harapan ko. And now, he's nowhere to be found. Can you help me look for him?" Agad na napasigaw si Jillian dahil sa sinabi ko. She instantly agreed to help me out in looking for his dumbass brother. Inilista namin lahat ng posibleng puntahan ni Gian and inisa-isa namin 'yon. I've checked a number of places already but I still couldn't find him. I was getting hopeless by the minute and it's already frustrating the hell out of me.

I was about to throw a fit when a memory struck me.

"Alam mo ba 'yong isa pang espesyal na lugar para sa akin bukod sa resthouse niyo?" tanong ni Gian sa akin one time while we were having a movie marathon sa kwarto ko. I was leaning on his shoulder at lumayo ako nang kaunti to see his face.

"Saan?" I asked, suddenly curious about whatever he had to say.

"Sa Ayala Triangle," nakangiti niyang sagot sa akin. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon. Of all places, bakit sa Ayala Triangle? I can't recall any memory of being with him there naman.

"Ha? Bakit doon?"

"Doon kita ulit nakita after so many years. Kasama mo yata 'yong mga kaklase mo that time and you were taking pictures dahil naka-ilaw na ang mga Christmas lights noon. You had this genuine and heart warming smile that even from afar, I still knew that it was you. And cheesy as it may seem, that same smile made me fall for you even more." My heart swelled at the thought. Imbis na mainis ako dahil nagmukha siyang stalker ko na nanonood mula sa malayo, kinilig pa ako dahil sa simpleng ngiti ko, nabihag ko pa pala ang puso niya.

But of course, I wouldn't tell him that.

"Che! Ewan ko sa'yo!" sigaw ko sa kanya sabay hampas sa dibdib niya. Gian chuckled lowly and he pinched my cheeks. Napasimangot naman ako dahil doon but he just laughed it all off.

"Oh my God! Could it be...?" I can't help but wonder. The chances are very slim but I still have to give it a try.

I took the nearest U-Turn and drove my way to Ayala Triangle. Halos sunod-sunod na mura na ang pinakawalan ko dahil sa traffic. Hirap na hirap pa akong maghanap ng parking. Nang sa wakas ay nai-park ko na ang sasakyan ko, dali-dali akong tumakbo papunta sa mismong park. I was roaming around mindlessly until I saw a familiar figure looking at the unlighted Christmas lights.

Dahan-dahan, tumutulo ang mga luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan. It was a mixture of sadness, irritation, anger, joy and relief. Marahas kong pinunasan ang mga kumakawalang luha at napasinghot pa ako dahil parang sisipunin na ako nang wala sa oras. Nagsimula akong maglakad papalapit sa kinatatayuan ni Gian. When I was a few steps away from him, bigla siyang lumingon sa direksyon ko. At that moment, it was as if time stood still and it was just him and me existing in this world.

"Gago ka! How dare you leave me like that?!" sigaw ko sa kanya, not minding the fact na baka may tumitingin na sa amin ngayon.

"Akala ko kasi..."

"Akala, akala! Diyan ka naman magaling e! You always assume things. You don't listen to whatever it is that I have to say. You decide things on a rash. Pero kahit ganyan ka, I don't know why I still keep coming back to you. Fuck. Sa tingin ko nga, kahit gaganyan-ganyan ka, mahal na kita e!" sigaw ko ulit at mas tumindi na ang pag-iyak ko ngayon. Hilam na ng luha ang mga mata ko and I couldn't even see Gian's reaction right now. Hindi ko na alam if he even moved to approach me. I was too busy crying my heart and eyeballs out kaya nang may biglang humablot sa akin at balutin ako sa isang mahigpit na yakap which I'm too familiar with, I immediately broke down.

"Hush now," pag-aalo sa akin ni Gian but I just kept on crying. Masaya dapat kaming dalawa ngayon pero here we are, dinadaig pa ang mga artista kung makagawa ng eksena.

"Aisleen, come on. Stop crying," pag-uulit niya pero hindi ko pinansin. Niyakap ko lang din siya nang mahigpit dahil sa pag-iyak ko. Nang medyo mahimasmasan na ako, inilayo ako saglit ni Gian at tiningnan niya ako nang maigi. I was getting conscious because of it kaya iwas lang ako nang iwas ng tingin sa kanya.

"Hey, look at me," pakiusap niya.

"Ayaw ko nga," sagot ko sa kanya. He then lifted my face up using his hand which forced me to look at him.

"Ulitin mo nga yung sinabi mo kanina."

"Gago ka?" Napailing si Gian dahil sa sinabi ko. Yes, I know what he was referring to but there's no way in hell I would repeat that. Over my dead body!

"Aisleen..." May halo na ng pagbabanta sa tono ng pananalita ni Gian pero hindi ako pwedeng magpatinag. I need to keep calm and avoid the topic at hand.

"What?" nagmamaang-maangan kong tanong sa kanya. He then clicked his tongue na sinabayan ng isa namang iling. If this is how he looks like kapag nauubusan na siya ng pasensya, uubusin ko na lang ang pasensya niya palagi. Damn it. He still looks good kahit na parang naiinis na siya sa akin! It's so freakin' unfair!

Imbis na kulitin ako nang kulitin na ulitin ang sinabi ko, Gian pulled me back into his arms and hugged me tighter this time. I leaned my head on his chest and I swear I could feel how fast his heart is beating right now. Kung pwede nga lang tanungin na lang ang puso niya kung bakit nagkakaganito ito ngayon, ginawa ko na.

"You're the cutest girl that I have ever laid my eyes on and I wouldn't trade you for anything else." Hindi raw iti-trade pero nilayasan ako kanina dahil nakita lang akong kasama 'yong ex ko. I wanted to say sana but I just kept my mouth shut.

"I love you, Aisleen," bulong niya sa may tainga ko which made me freeze. Shit. Anong sabi niya?

Dahan-dahan akong humiwalay sa pagkakayakap sa kanya and now, it's my turn to look at him with my questioning eyes.

"Anong sabi mo?"

"I love you kahit makulit ka. I love you kahit na minsan, brat ka. I love you kahit na minsan, pasaway ka. I love you, Aisleen Echavez, with all of my heart," pag-uulit niya then I felt my cheeks heat up because of that. Mag-iiwas pa lang sana ulit ako ng tingin dahil sa tindi ng pagkakatitig niya sa akin when he held me on my chin. Before I could even utter a word, I felt his lips on mine. And as if on cue, the decorations around us lightened up, probably giving us the blessing that we've long been waiting for.

***

"Bakit nakasimangot ka na naman?" Gian asked as he sat beside me. Hawak-hawak ko ang cellphone ko ngayon even if dapat ay tinatapos ko yung final requirements ko para sa degree ko.

"Are you okay?" nag-aalalang tanong niya sa akin. Hindi pa rin kasi ako sumasagot sa kanya simula pa kanina. I just kept on staring at my phone. I just couldn't believe what I'm reading kasi.

+63917*******
Love, let's meet. Please?
I still love you.

Sumilip si Gian sa cellphone ko and when I turned to look at him, magkasalubong na rin ang mga kilay niya. Akmang kukuhanin na sana niya 'yong phone ko nang ilayo ko 'yon sa kanya.

"What do you think you're doing?" tanong ko at napataas pa ang kilay ko dahil sa inaakto niya.

"Ako na ang sasagot diyan sa kumag na 'yan."

"Nah, there's no need to do that," sagot ko sabay sandal sa kanya. As if on instinct, Gian wrapped his arms around me and he rested his chin on my shoulder.

"Do you still have feelings for him? Hmm?" tanong niya while planting small kisses on my exposed shoulder. I was just wearing a spaghetti strapped dress kaya sobrang bilis sa kanya na papakin ako ngayon. Madalas, kinikilabutan ako when he does this since I never pegged him to be the namamapak ng exposed skin type of person pero ewan. Nasasanay na rin siguro ako sa kanya ngayon.

"Hmm, I dunno. Siguro inis? Galit? I mean, he had all the time in the world to explain. Kahit isang email or message man lang, hindi niya nagawang ipadala. I would have understood naman e. Kaso ewan. He literally left me in the dark tapos he had the nerve to show up and pretend like nothing happened?" I answered Gian truthfully. Naiinis naman talaga kasi ako kay William. Just because we were very intimate before, hindi naman ibig sabihin n'on na I would keep on acting like a love struck puppy with him. He wasn't there when I needed him. He couldn't even fight for me like how I fought for him tapos he would assume na maghihintay ako sa kanya? Fuck, no. Hindi naman ako gano'n katanga, 'no!

"Does he contact you often?"

"Ilang beses na niya akong kinukulit to talk or to meet up," sagot ko at naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng yakap ni Gian dahil doon. I already know what's running in his mind right now kaya kailangan ko na naman pakalmahin 'tong praning na 'to.

"It's annoying the hell out of me na kaya. Do you think I should just change my number para hindi na niya ako ma-contact?" tanong ko sabay lingon sa kanya. When I realized how close our faces are, parang gusto ko nang magsisi kung bakit lumingon pa ako bigla. I was about to turn my face away from him when I saw him lick his lower lip. Damn it.

"Hmm, it's up to you," Gian nonchalantly said pero nakatingin lang siya sa labi ko. Tingnan mo 'to! Magseselos-selos kanina tapos ngayon, may iba na namang balak!

"Babe, alam mo namang wala ka na dapat ipagselos, 'di ba?" tanong ko sa kanya but he just hummed his reply na sinamahan niya ng pagtango. He was still distracted at parang hindi siya nakikinig sa sinasabi ko. Hinampas ko siya sa braso niya and that's when he looked at me in the eyes again.

"What?"

"What what ka riyan! Watwatin ko 'yang mukha mo e!" naiinis kong sigaw sa kanya. Imbis na seryosohin ako, pinagtawanan lang ako ni Gian. I felt my blood boil because of that. It was my time of the month and the way he's acting is not helping me at all. Lalo lang nag-iinit ang ulo ko.

"Isang tawa pa, sinasabi ko sa'yo, break na tayo!" pagbabanta ko sa kanya and it actually worked. Tumigil nga agad siya sa pagtawa. I had to force myself not to smile because of this little victory. I knew it. Ako pa rin talaga ang mananalo sa aming dalawa.

And well, yes, Gian and I have been an official couple right after that incident sa Ayala Triangle. Saksi ang mga nagliliwanag na Christmas lights at ang mga nanonood sa paligid sa pagiging official naming dalawa. Mommy and daddy were very happy when we told them the news. Nagtataka pa nga si daddy kung bakit pinatagal pa raw namin. Akala niya nga raw saglit lang manliligaw 'tong si Gian dahil alam naman na namin na gusto namin ang isa't isa.

I guess it's really just a matter of timing? I mean, sure, matagal na namin na-realize na we like each other. But we didn't want to rush things din naman. The last time I rushed things in a relationship, I ended up in the dark. Gian didn't want that to happen. Also, nagawa nga akong hintayin ni Gian simula bata kami e. Ano ba naman yung ilang buwan, 'di ba?

"I love you," he suddenly said which caught me off guard. Feeling ko talaga, I would never get used to hearing him say those words. Everytime he tells me that he loves me, grabe pa rin yung kilig na nararamdaman ko. I'm like this teenager na grabe kung kiligin kapag napansin ng crush niya.

"I love you too kahit ang seloso mo," panloloko ko sa kanya. Just when I thought he would come up with another witty reply, he suddenly kissed me on the lips to shut me up. And well, yes, I still love him even if he's like that.

***

Ilang beses na nga ako nagpaikot-ikot dito sa living room for the past thirty minutes? To be honest, I really lost count already. I'm just too freakin' nervous right now. Damn it. Where the hell is he na ba kasi?

I unlocked my phone and tried calling his number again. And just like what happened kanina pa, he's not picking up the damn call. Isa pa talaga, makikipag-break na ako rito! He knew that where we're going is very important tapos siya pa 'tong late. Kainis talaga!

"Aisleen, calm down, will you? Ako ang nahihilo sa'yo," mommy said sabay hilot sa sentido niya. She was following my every move kasi kanina pa.

"Mommy naman kasi... Nasaan na ba 'tong si Gian? Anong oras na o!" I said exasperatedly. Nauubusan na talaga ako ng pasensya rito sa boyfriend kong 'to. He was never late naman noong nanliligaw pa lang siya. But now that we're more than four months into the relationship, lagi naman siyang nale-late. God damn it!

"In my opinion, you're overreacting." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni mommy. She did not just say that! Ako? Overreacting? Excuse me ha. Gian was the one who promised that he will be here by four pm dahil nga baka ma-traffic kami sa biyahe. Malapit na kayang mag-five pero wala pa rin siya!

I tried calling him or Jillian pero hindi talaga sumasagot 'yong dalawa. Sa sobrang inis ko, ibinato ko na sa sofa 'yong cellphone ko at sumalampak ako sa tabi n'on.

"Ayusin mo nga 'yang mukha mo. Ang pangit mo kapag nakabusangot ka," komento ni mommy kaya sinamaan ko agad siya ng tingin. Tingnan mo 'to. Kanina pa kinakampihan si Gian. As far as I can remember, ako naman ang anak dito, right?

"If he doesn't arrive in five minutes, I'm really breaking up with him!" I screamed and mommy just laughed at me. I started fixing my makeup and my things na rin. Kuya Dennis is ready to go as well if in case my good for nothing boyfriend really ditches me today.

Inside my mind, I was already counting down the minutes. Pero as weird as it may seem, I'm also wishing for time to stop. I know ang labo ko kaso nakaiinis naman kasi e! Gian's really annoying the hell out of me.

When the five minutes were up, masama ang loob kong tumayo mula sa kinauupuan ko. Nakasimangot akong nagpaalam kay mommy at nagsimula na akong maglakad papunta sa pintuan. I was ready to go to the event alone and declare to the whole world that I'm single again but I was frozen on my tracks when I saw Gian standing outside the door, with a bouquet of flowers on his hand.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" mataray kong tanong sa kanya and I actually had to stop myself from squealing because he looks so dashing in his suit right now. Ah, damn it. Now's not the right time to drool in front of him. Kainis naman kasi! Bakit ba ang gwapo-gwapo nitong bwisit na 'to?

Tipid na ngumiti si Gian sa akin but he did not dare to move an inch closer to me. Pinanliitan ko siya ng tingin dahil doon. Ano na naman bang problema niya?

"Well..." Napanganga na lang ako nang bigla siyang lumuhod sa harapan ko. This is not what I'm expecting to happen. Fuck. Ano bang nangyayari?

"Huy! Tumayo ka nga riyan!" sigaw ko sa kanya but he did not follow me. Nakaluhod pa rin siya habang nakatingin nang deretso sa akin. Kinakabahan na ako sa pinaggagagawa niya but when I heard mom laughing behind me, doon ko napagtantong pinagplanuhan nila 'to.

"Babe, I'm sorry. Sorry kung madalas akong late sa mga lakad natin. Sorry kung feeling mo, hindi na ako nage-effort after nating maging official. Trust me, I'm doing everything for a reason."

"And what reason is that, huh?" matapang kong tanong but he did not even falter. Patuloy lang siya sa pagtingin sa akin nang deretso na para bang determinado talaga siyang humingi ng sorry sa akin. At wala siyang balak tumayo hangga't hindi ko siya pinapatawad.

"Basta. Secret muna."

"Ah, secret pala? Bahala ka sa buhay mo! Kuya Dennis, tara na po!" sigaw ko at naglakad na ako papunta sa sasakyan. Nataranta naman si Gian at agad-agad din siyang tumayo mula sa pagkakaluhod niya. Tingnan mo 'to. Tatayo rin naman pala. Ang arte-arte pa.

"Babe naman..." panunuyo niya sa akin pero sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin.

"Come on, Aisleen..." Lalong nag-init ang ulo ko pagtawag niya sa pangalan ko. Kanina, babe tapos ngayon, Aisleen na lang? Aba't talaga naman!

"Ano ba talagang itatawag mo sa akin ha? Dude, make up your mind! Namumuro ka na sa akin ha!" malakas na sigaw ko kaya natahimik lahat ng tao sa bahay. I've had enough of this already. I can't and I won't let anyone ruin my day any further. Kahit pa si Gian 'yon.

Napabuntong-hininga si Gian then he hugged me from behind. Amoy na amoy ko 'yong bulaklak kasi nasa harapan ko na 'yon ngayon. Halos nakadikit na nga sa tummy ko. When I looked down on the bouquet, literal na nalaglag ang panga ko.

"What the—"

"Babe, that's the reason kung bakit madalas akong MIA nitong nakaraan. I had to work hard para mapag-ipunan 'yan," Gian said then he pulled away from the hug. Iniikot niya ako paharap sa kanya then he removed the ring in the middle of the bouquet.

"Pero—"

"It's not what you think it is. Well, not yet but I'm planning to give that to you some time in the future as well. But for now, this promise ring will do," he said then he lifted my hand at isinuot niya 'yong singsing sa daliri ko. Maiiyak na sana ako nang biglang magsalita si mommy.

"Subukan mo lang umiyak, papaluin kitang bata ka! Masisira 'yang makeup mo!" Natawa si Gian dahil doon. Suminghot naman ako at sinubukang pakalmahin ang sarili ko.

"Kainis naman kayo e!" pagmamaktol ko kaya lalo silang natawa. Gian then pulled me in for another hug.

"I hate you," bulong ko sa kanya which made him chuckle.

"I love you. I promise I will never leave your side again. I will always be here for you and I will always take care of you. I love you so so much," sagot niya sa akin and he's making it difficult for me not to cry. Kainis.

"Let's go?" Gian asked and I just nodded in response. Ayaw ko nang magsalita baka kung ano pang masabi ko. Hay.

We were silent all throughout our ride papunta sa 20th Anniversary ng Let Me Foundation. Nakasandal lang ako sa balikat ni Gian and he was playing with the ring on my finger. I can't help but smile while watching him do that. Never did it occur to me that he would do something like this. I mean, I don't need any material things or whatsoever naman e. As long as I have him with me, I'm more than okay. But he just had to go and be sweeter than a honey bee.

By the time we arrived at the venue, grabe kung makahawak si Gian sa kamay ko. Para bang siya pa ang mas kabado sa aming dalawa e ako naman 'tong magbibigay ng speech mamaya.

"Are you nervous?" hindi ko mapigilang itanong sa kanya. We just entered the premises pero palinga-linga pa rin siya sa paligid.

"Tinatandaan ko yung mukha n'ong mga grabe kung makatingin sa'yo. Babanatan ko mamaya," seryosong sagot niya sa akin which made me laugh. What the hell? I never pegged him to be this possessive ah!

"Bakit ka tumatawa?" Magkasalubong na ang kilay ni Gian at nakakunot na rin ang noo niya nang itanong niya sa akin 'yon. Saglit kong binitawan ang kamay niya then I carefully held his face so that we would only look at each other.

"Kahit tingnan nila ako nang tingnan, wala silang mapapala. Ikaw lang ang gusto at mahal ko, okay?" nakangiti kong sagot sa kanya. "Babe, relax. I'm not going anywhere. Sa tabi mo lang ako."

After talking to Gian, he finally relaxed. Kahit nang makapasok na kami sa mismong hall, hindi na niya masyadong pinapansin ang mga nasa paligid. Well, a lot of girls were looking at him pero hindi niya na rin pinapansin ang mga 'yon. He was too focused on looking or maybe admiring me kaya para bang wala nang ibang tao sa paligid malibang sa aming dalawa. We were then escorted to our table and Gian pulled the seat for me.

"Thank you," nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya. Umupo rin naman agad siya sa tabi ko. The two of us were just observing the people around but after a while, Jillian sat with us na rin.

"Oh my God, ate! Are you wearing a ring? Oh my God! Nag-propose na si kuya sa'yo?" excited na tanong ni Jillian sa akin. Sinamaan naman agad siya ng tingin ni Gian because of that. I laughed at the two of them then I held Gian's hand that was on top of the table.

"No pa, Jillian. This is not an engagement ring."

"Pero pambakod ring?" Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Jillian. What the hell is a pambakod ring?

"Kahit na anong itawag o sabihin ni kuya tungkol diyan, that's like his subtle way of telling other people that you're not available na. That you're off the market and you're taken. In fairness, kuya ah! Hindi ko alam na may ganyang side ka pala," mapang-asar na sabi ni Jillian kaya napalingon ako kay Gian. Ang sama pa rin ng tingin niya kay Jillian but when he noticed that I was looking at him, ngumiti lang siya nang tipid sa akin.

"Totoo ba 'yon?" tanong ko sa kanya. "Don't you dare deny," I added agad kaya napabuntong-hininga siya.

"Fine, oo. Totoo 'yon," deretso niyang sagot sa akin while looking at me. I felt myself blush and my heart swelled at the thought. Ganoon pala katindi ang pagmamahal sa akin ni Gian that he suddenly became capable of doing things like this. I never thought that I would see this side of him. Akala ko talaga puro kasungitan at pagiging cheesy lang ang makikita ko e.

"Aw, ang cute cute naman ng boyfriend ko," panloloko ko sa kanya sabay kurot sa pisngi niya. Jillian was laughing at us and we just stopped joking around nang lumapit si Mrs. Jarajo sa amin.

"Good evening, Aisleen, Gian, and Jillian," she greeted us with a smile on her face.

"Good evening din po," sagot namin sa kanya.

"Thank you so much for coming tonight and for all the help that you have been giving the foundation for the past months. We really appreciate it," aniya and we just smiled at her. Ever since kasi na gumaling ako, the three of us have been helping out here sa foundation. Mommy and daddy have been donating din kaya tuwang-tuwa sina Mrs. Jarajo.

"Wala po 'yon. We're happy to help," sagot ko sa kanya. Nakipagkwentuhan pa siya saglit at nagpaalam na siya para batiin ang iba pang mga bisita.

After a while, the program officially started. Nagbigay ng speech si Mrs. Jarajo and she gave a brief background about the foundation. She mentioned a lot of those noong kararating ko pa lang sa Let Me Foundation but I still can't help but be amazed sa layo na ng narating ng foundation at sa dami na ng natulungan nito. When she was done with her speech, we all clapped our hands. Pagkatapos noon, she called me up on stage para magbigay din ng maikling speech.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Before I start this speech, I just wanted to congratulate the Let Me Foundation for their twentieth anniversary today. Maybe just like the other people here, I started off rejecting the very thought of coming to this foundation. I hated the fact that the people around insisted that I should go here to seek help.

When I was visually impaired a few months back due to a car accident, all that I could think of is that I don't need anyone to survive. That I just need to be alone and that I'm closing my doors to everyone. Basically, I shut everyone out. I was too scared to trust people again. I was afraid to get hurt again. But through the help and persistence of some people, I gave the foundation a chance. And honestly? I would never regret coming here. Instead, I regret rejecting this foundation even before I knew something about it.

The Let Me Foundation did not just help me overcome my problems and fears. It gave me an opportunity to grow and to open up to more people. It gave me a chance to know myself more. Most specially, it led me to some of the people that I cherish the most," I said as I looked at Gian and Jillian. They both smiled at me and I continued my speech. When I was done, the people around clapped with smiles on their faces. Gian then walked towards the stage and helped me out in going down. And when he hugged me tight and told me that he's so proud of me, I just knew that coming here and letting him into my life were the best decisions that I have made in my life.