Maximo's POV

Kahit ilang oras na ang lumipas, hindi ko pa rin kayang bumitaw kay Kai. Nandito siya sa mga bisig ko, natutulog nang payapa, at hindi ko kayang hindi siya titigan. Akin na siya—kahit hindi pa niya lubos na natatanggap, alam kong hindi ko na siya pakakawalan.

I trace the outline of his face with my fingertips, from his cheekbones down to his jawline, feeling the warmth of his skin. Hindi ako sanay na maging ganito ka-clingy, pero para kay Kai, wala akong pakialam. Kahit saan pa kami makarating, basta kasama ko siya.

"Kai..." bulong ko, kahit alam kong tulog siya. Ang tahimik ng gabi, pero ang puso ko hindi. Ang dami kong gustong sabihin, dami kong gustong iparamdam, pero hindi ko kayang bulabugin ang tahimik niyang paghinga. For now, okay na akong nandito lang sa tabi niya, ang katawan niya, ang init niya, nasa akin.

Bigla siyang kumilos, medyo nagising. Bumaling siya sa akin, parang inaantok pa, pero nung nakita niya ako, ang mga mata niya nagningning ng bahagya. He looks at me with that sleepy gaze, at naramdaman ko ang pag-usbong ng saya sa puso ko.

"Bakit gising ka pa, Max?" he mumbles, his voice soft and raspy.

I smirk, not moving an inch from him. "Paano ba naman ako makakatulog, eh ikaw nandito?" I whisper back, pulling him closer. "Hindi ko kayang bumitaw kahit ilang oras na ang lumipas."

He chuckles softly, his cheeks turning a slight shade of red. "Ang clingy mo talaga, Max."

"Para sa'yo lang," sagot ko, at hindi ko na mapigilang halikan siya sa noo. The moment feels so right, so perfect, na kahit hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta, alam kong hindi na ako babalik sa dati. Ako, si Maximo Vasquez, hindi na kayang bumitaw.

"Eh paano 'yan, hindi ko pa nga alam kung ano ba 'to," Kai says, his voice playful, but there's a hint of seriousness there. "Paano kung—"

"Shh, wag mo na isipin yun, Kai," I interrupt, cupping his face in my hands. "Wala nang iba pa. Hindi kita hahayaang mawala sa akin. Kahit saan ka tumingin, ako lang dapat nasa isip mo," I say, my tone growing possessive, as if daring him to even think otherwise.

"Max..." he whispers, as if he's caught off guard by my words.

"Hindi kita hahayaan, Kai. Kahit anong mangyari, akin ka lang," bulong ko, my lips brushing his ear, feeling him shiver at my words. "Ako lang ang may karapatan sa 'yo. Ako lang."

Napatitig siya sa akin, and for a moment, parang may something sa mga mata niya. I can see a mix of emotions—confusion, excitement, and something deeper. Parang natatakot pa rin siya sa kung anong meron kami, pero at the same time, alam kong nararamdaman niya rin 'to. Ako ang gusto niya, kahit hindi pa niya masabi.

I pull him even closer, practically wrapping myself around him, not wanting even a single inch between us. "Kahit saan ka magpunta, susundan kita, Kai. Huwag mo na subukang tumakas, kasi kahit saan pa 'yan, ako ang hahanapin mo," I whisper, my voice low and rough with possessiveness. "Ako ang nakakaalam kung sino ka talaga. Ako ang magiging tahanan mo."

Hinaplos ko ang likod niya, ramdam ko ang init ng katawan niya sa akin. I can feel him relax against me, letting out a small sigh as he finally gives in to my embrace.

"Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng gagawin ko sa'yo, Max," he murmurs, and there's a hint of a smile on his lips, as if he's finally realizing how deep he's fallen.

"Hindi mo na kailangang mag-isip, Kai. Ako na bahala sa 'yo," I respond, tightening my hold around him. "Araw-araw, ipaparamdam ko sa'yo na ako lang ang kailangan mo."

He chuckles again, but his laughter quickly fades as he buries his face against my chest, inhaling deeply as if he's taking in my scent. His hands find their way around my back, his grip tightening slightly as he surrenders fully to the moment.

"Ikaw talaga, Max. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakarating dito, pero... hindi ko na kayang iwan ka," he admits softly, almost like he's finally accepting it himself.

I can feel my heart racing, my chest tightening at his words. Finally.

I lean down, kissing the top of his head, savoring every second of this closeness. "Yan ang gusto kong marinig, Kai. Akin ka, hindi kita bibitawan."

Hinayaan ko na lang siyang makatulog muli, pero bago pa siya tuluyang magdilim ang paningin, ramdam ko ang kamay niya na mas mahigpit na humawak sa akin, para bang kahit tulog siya, alam niya na hindi na ako aalis.

Hindi na ako aalis. Sa'yo lang ako, Kai. At sa akin ka lang dapat.

I woke up to the soft sound of Kai's steady breathing beside me. Ang init ng katawan niya, at the way his chest rises and falls with each breath, it felt... right. It felt like this was where I belonged. Hindi ko na kayang balikan yung buhay ko nung wala siya. He's the only thing that makes sense now.

I gently trace his arm, from his shoulder down to his wrist. Ang pakiramdam ko, parang hawak ko na ang buong mundo—hindi lang dahil sa posisyon ko, kundi dahil sa kanya. Kaya ko na palang maging ganito, clingy, possessive, at hindi takot na ipakita kung gaano ko siya kamahal. I want all of him. Gusto ko siya, higit pa sa anumang bagay.

Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari sa'kin, pero hindi ko na kayang pigilan pa. I know now, walang ibang bagay na mas importante pa sa buhay ko kundi siya.

Nagising siya, and I could feel him move closer to me. His hand immediately found its way to my chest, and it made me smile. Akin na siya.

"Max?" he whispered, his voice still sleepy but laced with something else. There's a certain softness in the way he says my name, something that tugs at me, making my heart beat faster.

I look down at him, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes. I could see the hesitation too. But beneath all of that, I could see a flicker of acceptance. The same feelings I had for him were slowly breaking through in the way he looked at me, the way his body sought mine without thinking.

"Bakit ka pa gising?" he asked, his hand now resting on my chest, tracing random patterns on my skin.

I smirked, leaning down to kiss him softly on the lips. "Hindi ko kayang matulog kapag ikaw ang katabi ko," I whispered against his mouth. "Wala akong plano na matulog pa. Gusto ko magising, at ikaw ang kasama ko."

Kai's breath hitched, and for the first time, I saw him lean into me with a certain kind of yearning. It's happening. This thing between us... it's no longer just physical attraction. It's something deeper. Something we couldn't fight anymore.

He didn't pull away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around me, pressing his lips to mine in a kiss that felt like an unspoken promise. His kiss was slower this time, more deliberate, as if he was finally letting go of all the walls he built.

I deepened the kiss, my hands roaming to the back of his neck, pulling him closer. I wanted more. I wanted to show him just how much he meant to me. How this wasn't a game anymore. I wasn't going to let this be temporary. He's mine now, and I'm his. We're past that point.

When we pulled away, I rested my forehead against his. His eyes were closed, his lips swollen from the kiss, and I felt my chest tighten. This was real. We were real.

"Kai..." I started, my voice rough with emotion. "Alam mo, hindi ko kayang maging ganito lang tayo. Hindi ko kayang maglaro ng ganito—na parang walang nangyayari. Gusto ko ng higit pa."

He opened his eyes, meeting mine, and for the first time, I saw the same hunger reflected back at me. "Max, hindi ko na kayang itago pa kung anong nararamdaman ko."

My heart skipped a beat. He feels the same.

"I want you, Max. More than just this... more than just the sex..." he whispered, his voice barely above a breath.

And at that moment, I knew we were both ready. We were both ready to level up.

I pressed my lips to his forehead, my thumb gently stroking his cheek. "Then let's do it. I'm not going to let you go, Kai. Hindi ko kayang maghintay pa. This... this is us now."

He nodded, his hands sliding to my chest, gripping me tightly as if grounding himself. "Hindi ko na kayang magtago pa. I want this... I want you."

We were both trembling, but it wasn't from fear anymore. It was anticipation. A knowing that this wasn't just a fleeting moment. This was the beginning of something we couldn't deny anymore.

I kissed him again, this time with all the intensity and emotion I had kept locked inside. And this time, he kissed me back, just as deeply, just as fiercely.

"Max," he whispered between kisses, "we're doing this, aren't we?"

"Yes." I replied firmly, my hands roaming to the small of his back, pulling him flush against me. "No turning back."