Maximo POV

Pagkagising ko kinabukasan, hindi ko pa rin matanggal ang ngiti sa labi ko. Parang ang bigat ng katawan ko—pero sa magandang paraan. Kai was still asleep beside me, his head resting on my chest, his hand curled around my waist. The warmth of his body against mine was something I couldn't get enough of. I could feel my heart beat faster every time I glanced at him, and in that moment, I realized that I had found something I didn't even know I was looking for. Kami na. Wala nang balikan.

My body froze when I remember what he said. I love you.

Fuck! I think my brain got circuited. He fucking love me.

I ran my fingers through his hair gently, careful not to wake him. His face was relaxed, peaceful—something I hadn't seen in a while. The pressures of military life, the constant missions, the stress... I could tell it had worn him down. I could feel it too, on myself. Lately, it felt like everything was building up, and the last few days had been a whirlwind of emotions, doubts, and desires.

But today felt different.

I looked at the clock, and it was already past 10 AM. We both needed a break. A real break. Isang bakasyon na walang distractions.

"Kai..." I whispered softly, brushing his cheek with my fingers. "Wake up, love."

Kai stirred, his body shifting against mine, and he let out a soft groan as he slowly opened his eyes. For a split second, he looked confused, disoriented—until he saw me.

"Max..." he mumbled, his voice husky with sleep, his lips curling into a sleepy smile. "Good morning."

I smiled back, leaning in to kiss him on the forehead. "Good morning, love."

He stretched, his body moving against mine in a way that made my heart race. "Mmm... masarap ang tulog ko." He looked up at me, his eyes still heavy with sleep but full of that warmth I loved. "Sarap ng feeling. Parang ang saya ko."

I chuckled softly, brushing my thumb across his lips. "Alam mo ba kung bakit? Kasi, ngayon lang kita natutulungan magpahinga ng maayos." I winked at him teasingly.

He gave me a playful smack on the chest, then snuggled closer, resting his head on my chest once more. "Kasi naman, Max, ang init mong magbigay ng energy, eh."

I couldn't help but laugh at his teasing tone. Grabe, talagang siya lang ang makakapagpasaya sa akin. But then, a thought crossed my mind, and I pulled back just enough to look at him seriously.

"Love, gusto mo ba magbakasyon?" I asked, my voice soft, yet filled with anticipation. "We need time. Gusto ko tayo lang, no distractions. Puwede tayong pumunta sa Boracay, magrelax, mag-enjoy. Alam ko na matagal na nating gusto magpahinga, at sigurado ako, we deserve it."

His eyes lit up the moment I mentioned Boracay. "Oh my God, Max. Boracay? Are you serious?" he said, his excitement impossible to hide. "That sounds perfect."

"I know." I grinned. "I figured, after everything... we could really use it. We've been stuck in the grind with work and the military, kaya I thought, why not? A couple of weeks just for us."

Kai raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile forming on his lips. "Seryoso, Max? Hindi ba tayo maghahanap ng mga misyon o kung anu-ano?"

I shook my head, laughing. "Nope. This time, I'm saying no to all that. We'll have a break. It's just gonna be you and me, no military stuff."

"You're making me excited, Max." He gave me a sly smile, his hand moving to my chest. "Let's do it. Let's go."

And just like that, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. We were finally going to take the time we both needed. I had no idea how much I was craving this, how much I needed this escape.

"Alright, pack your things. I'm booking the flights, and we're leaving today." I said with a grin, my excitement matching his. "Just the two of us, no distractions."

Kai laughed, a carefree sound that made my heart lighter. "Okay, sige, Max. Gusto ko na talaga magbakasyon. Gusto ko lang ng time na tayo lang."

We quickly got dressed and started packing for our trip. Hindi ko na kayang maghintay. Sa Boracay, sa beach, walang ibang makakagambala sa atin. No missions, no drills, no army life—just us. Just me and Kai.

After an hour of packing and getting ready, Kai and I made our way to the military base's headquarters. We both knew that before we could take off for Boracay, we needed to clear it with our commander. It wasn't like we could just up and leave without proper approval, especially after the mission we just completed. But we were both determined to make it happen. Two weeks of nothing but us, and a beach.

When we walked through the doors of the base's administrative office, the familiar hum of activity filled the air. Soldiers were making their rounds, some on break, others deep in their tasks. As usual, the commanding officers were behind their desks, busy with paperwork, making sure everything was in order.

But today, I didn't care about the usual grind. Today was about us.

"Sir," I said, walking up to the desk of our commander, Colonel Santos. I stood at attention, Kai beside me, looking just as serious as I felt. "Sir, we'd like to request some time off. Two weeks, sir."

Colonel Santos looked up from his desk, his gaze sharp but curious. He was a no-nonsense officer, but he knew how to treat his soldiers fairly. "Two weeks, huh?" he said, his tone almost playful. He knew we had just finished a major mission, and there had been no casualties, no setbacks. We were done with the task we were assigned, so technically, we were eligible for time off.

"Yes, sir," I confirmed, my voice steady. "We've completed the mission successfully, and we'd like to take a break. Just a little time to unwind, sir."

He studied us for a moment, then turned his gaze toward Kai, who had his usual calm but confident demeanor. I could tell he was sizing us up, wondering if we were being genuine or if we were just looking for an excuse to slack off.

"You two have been working non-stop." Colonel Santos leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping on the desk as he considered our request. "I guess you both deserve a break. What's the plan?"

I shot Kai a quick look, then turned back to the Colonel. "We're planning to go to Boracay, sir. Just to relax."

Colonel Santos raised an eyebrow. "Boracay, huh? Nice choice." His eyes softened a little, and I could see the faintest hint of a smile forming. "Alright. I'll approve it. You've earned it. But you're both on call if anything urgent comes up, understand?"

"Yes, sir." Kai and I both answered in unison, relieved that our request was granted.

"You two go ahead and enjoy yourselves, but remember—this is a break, not an excuse to slack off. Keep your heads on straight." He stood up, offering us a firm handshake. "And don't forget to send me a postcard."

"Thank you, sir!" I said, shaking his hand. "We'll make sure we're ready when we get back."

"Good. Enjoy your time off." He waved us off, clearly eager to get back to his work.

As soon as we stepped out of the office, Kai turned to me with a grin. "That was easier than I thought."

"Told you." I smirked, feeling that familiar excitement bubbling up in me again. "Now, it's official. Two weeks of paradise."

Kai bumped his shoulder against mine, his grin widening. "I can't believe we're finally doing this." He paused for a moment, his voice softening. "Max, we really deserve this."

"We do, Kai. We've been working so hard, and now... it's just time for us." I smiled at him, already picturing the beach, the sun, the sand—everything we needed to recharge.

"I can't wait to feel the sand under my feet." He laughed. "And no one can interrupt us. Just you, me, and the ocean."

I nodded, my hand instinctively reaching out to find his. "Exactly. No distractions, no missions, no army life. Just us."

We shared a brief moment of silence, and I realized just how much I needed this. I needed this time with him, to really focus on what we were building together. No more hiding, no more doubts. Just us.

"Let's go." I said, pulling him toward the parking lot where our jeep was parked. "Let's catch that flight and make this time off count."

And with that, we were on our way. The thought of Boracay, the crystal-clear waters, and the promise of peaceful, undisturbed days together was enough to make everything else fade away. All that mattered was us.

We had two weeks ahead of us, and I intended to make every moment count.