That night, Celine was still wide awake because of what had happened at Kelvin's place. Hindi niya kinaya. She felt like she would hyperventilate at any time. And Kelvin's not making it easy.

Bandang alas diez ng gabi, nag-text ito sa kanya.

I want to kiss you, he said. Tapos may emoji pa na naka-kiss.

She sent him tons of kiss emojis. Ayan. 100+ yan. Pakibawas sa babayaran ko, she replied.

VOID!

She groaned. Oh how she would love to be kissed by him again. Kaya lamang, baka lumampas sila sa limitasyon. She doesn't want that. Gusto niya, kasal muna bago 'yon.

I'm coming over.

Nanlaki ang mata niya sa sunod nitong mensahe. Agad siyang sumagot ng, Tutulog na 'ko.

Nice try, he replied. But I'm already outside.

Natataranta siyang bumaba sa kama at nag-ayos. Kelvin might be kidding, but then again, he might not. At alam niyang kapag hindi siya lumabas, kukulitin lamang nito ang mga kasama niya sa bahay.

She headed downstairs after making sure that she looks decent. Sumilip siya sa awang ng gate. True enough, he is there. Nakasandal ito sa kotse nito, nakaabang sa kanya.

She opened the gate a little and peeked. Ngumiti ito nang makita siya.

"Umuwi ka na."

He puckered his lips. "Kiss muna."

Nag-init ang pisngi niya nang tumingin sa kanila iyong mga dumadaan.

"Parang tanga 'to."

He grinned. "I know, but I can't sleep because of you, so I came here."

"Kanina ka pa?"

"Kararating ko lang. When I said that I'm coming over, I was already parking my car."

Lumapit ito sa kanya. Siya naman ay nagtago sa likod ng gate.

"Celine, 15 thousand kisses are no joke. You better start paying me now or else, magkaka-interes 'yan."

Pinandilatan niya ito. "Baliw ka ba?!"

"Matagal na," sagot nito sabay tawa.

She huffed. Okay, there's still a way out of this, but that shouldn't even be an option. She wants to run and hide, because her heart couldn't take it. Hindi siya sanay na maging ganoon kasaya. Parang sasabog ang puso niya sa tuwa.

Itinaas niya ang dalawang kamay nang humakbang itong muli.

"T-Teka..."

He frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Kinakabahan ako."

"You're just not used to this. Kaya dapat sinasanay ka na habang maaga. Baka sa honeymoon natin, mahimatay ka na lang bigla."

Okay... not helping. Parang lalong kumabog ang puso niya sa sinabi nito. Honeymoon? So does this mean that he's thinking of marrying her?

He touched her face, tucking the tendrils of hair behind her ear. Ever so gently, he planted a kiss on her lips. She became emotional all of a sudden.

"If you initiate the kiss, one will be equivalent to twenty," he whispered against her lips before backing away. "Good night, Celine."

--

"Ow! Will you stop hitting me?"

Janelle slapped the back of his neck one more time.

"Gago ka! Pinagsasamantalahan mo 'yong kaibigan ko!"

"Gusto nya rin naman 'yon, e!" dahilan niya.

Binatukan siya nitong muli. Medyo masakit na ang ulo niya dahil kanina pa nito iyon hinahampas. Hindi kasi niya napigilan ang sariling ikwento rito ang mga nangyayari sa pagitan nila ni Celine. She thought that Janelle would be happy. He wasn't expecting this. Naging punching bag siya nang wala sa oras.

"Alam mo namang walang experience 'yon sa mga ganyan-ganyan, e!"

Pinagtitinginan na sila ng mga tao sa Starbucks. He wished that she would lower her voice, kahit konti lang, but Janelle doesn't know how to whisper.

"But she's okay with it," he insisted. "I swear I'm not forcing her to do anything she doesn't want to do."

"Tinanong mo man lang ba sya kung gusto nya 'yong mga pinaggagagawa mo?"

"Uhm..."

"Ayan ka, e! Sige ka nang sige porket hindi nagrireklamo 'yong tao!" She pointed at him. "Umayos ka ha. Kapag 'yan sinaktan mo, nako..."

"Para namang 'di mo ako kilala," may halong tampo niyang sabi. "You know I'll never hurt her."

Janelle huffed.

"Okay, fine. So, ano na kayo ngayon?" pag-iiba nito ng topic.

He shrugged.

"Ano 'yan? Bakit hindi mo alam? Hinahalikan mo pero 'di mo girlfriend?!"

"Can you please calm down?!"

"Nakakainis ka kasi!"

"I'll ask her," he promised. "Just give me time to figure out how."

"Bilisan mo. Tandaan mong by end of March, aalis na ulit sya papuntang Chicago. For another two years. Make your move before it's too late."

--

A week before February, Celine asked Kelvin's mom to teach her how to make isomalt art. Iyon 'yong sugar na hinuhulma para gawing pang-dekorasyon sa cake. Kinda like glass, but made entirely out of sugar.

Gusto niyang bigyan si Kelvin ng regalo sa Valentine's day, kahit hindi naman sila, but she doesn't know what to give him. Wala na yatang materyal na bagay ang wala pa rito. Kung meron man, for sure, mahal.

The idea came to her when he gave her another batch of fudge brownies that Monday. Naisipan niyang gagawa na lamang siya ng pagkain. Ang plano niya, isang maliit na cake na lalagyan niya ng isomalt art (balloons) at fondant na korteng teddy bear na may hawak sa balloons.

She knew that it would take more than a week to master it, given na may trabaho siya sa gabi at tulog siya sa umaga. Idagdag pang marami namang ginagawa ang mommy ni Kelvin kaya kaunting oras lang ang mailalaan nito para turuan siya.

But Kelvin's mother agreed. She's more than willing to help her. Siguro ay natutuwa rin itong nag-i-exert siya ng effort para kay Kelvin.

--

For four days, that became her routine. Plus the dinner dates and breakfasts together. Dalawang oras na yata ang tulog niya sa isang araw. But she didn't complain. She wants to do this for him, to let him know that he's not the only one who's making an effort.

"Celine, may fudge brownies pa. You want?" Kelvin's mother asked.

"Okay na po ako," sagot niya. "Hindi ko pa po ubos 'yong brownies na galing sa inyo kahapon, e."

Kumunot ang noo nito. "Kahapon?"

"Opo. 'Yong dala ni Kelvin."

"Ha? Wait. Hindi pa kita nabibigyan ng brownies since you came back."

"Po? E, sa'n po galing 'yon?" lito na rin niyang tanong.

Napaisip ito. Moira's confused look was turned into comprehension a while later.

"Oh! I remember now. Kelvin baked those."

"Po?"

Nginitian siya nito. "No'ng birthday mo raw kasi dati, you didn't like the brownies he made for you, so he asked me to teach him how to make them the way you like them. He didn't stop trying until he's satisfied with the taste. I guess kung naisip mong ako ang may gawa no'n, that means that he succeeded."

She was momentarily baffled and when she got over the shock, napaiyak na lamang siya. Hindi niya alam kung ano bang kabutihan ang nagawa niya to deserve Kelvin. Maybe she saved the world in her past life and now she's reaping the rewards. How could she be so lucky?

Moira gave her a hug.

"Celine, don't cry," she told her. "Don't think that you don't deserve his love. He'll be hurt if he learned that you don't value yourself as much as he does."

Pinahid nito ang mga luha niya.

"You should love yourself more. Para mas madali mong matanggap ang pagmamahal ng iba."

--

February 13. Yuan invited them to his gig the night before Valentine's. May surpresa raw ito sa kanila. Wala naman silang plano nang gabing iyon kaya pumayag silang manuod.

Kelvin's in a good mood. Panay ang akbay nito sa kanya. Si Janelle naman ay masama ang tingin sa kanya, siguro ay nagtatampo dahil hindi siya nagkikwento.

Apparently, Kelvin already told Janelle about them. Hindi naman niya magawang magalit dito. Not after everything he did for her, all she could feel towards him is love. And if she knows how, she will give that love back to him, a million times more.

Kinawayan sila ni Yuan mula sa stage, a signal that he's about to start singing. Remembering Sunday ang kinanta nito. She knows because he told her beforehand.

Noong parte na ng babae ang kakanta, akala niya'y aayain na naman siya nito for a duet. She was surprised (well, they were all surprised) when Gaile appeared on the side of the stage, mic at hand, singing the lines of Juliet Simms from Automatic love letter.

Gaile's sporting a black hair and wearing a white blouse, a pair of black jeans and black boots. They couldn't wait to know the reason behind the change, so right after the song ended, agad nilang inaya ang dalawa para samahan sila sa table.

Yuan told them that he saw Gaile at one concert just a few days ago. Inaya raw nito iyon para makamusta nila. Gaile still has that spunk, medyo tamed down na nga lamang ang hitsura nito.

Everyone was immediately at ease with Gaile, na para bang hindi ito nawala ng dalawang taon sa buhay ng mga ito. Kelvin looked the happiest to see his ex.

Celine couldn't help but feel jealous. He even asked Gaile to join him outside. May sasabihin daw ito. Tinitigan na lamang niya ang hawak na baso nang makitang nakatingin ang mga kasama sa kanya nang lumabas ng lugar sina Gaile at Kelvin.

M.U. pa lang naman sila. Technically, she has no power over him. Wala syang pinanghahawakan. If he would choose Gaile instead, then it can't be helped.

--

"Kumusta ka na? And what's with your hair?" Kelvin asked. Gaile slapped his hand when he ruffled her hair.

"Okay na okay ako, basta huwag mo lang guluhin ang buhok ko."

He smiled. "It's been a while."

"It has," she agreed. "Kumusta na kayo?"

"We're better than before."

"So sya pa rin talaga?"

Tumango siya.

Gaile smiled. "Good. At least napatunayan mo that you're capable of committing yourself to one person." Tinapik siya nito sa balikat. "Now, let's get back inside. Baka magselos pa 'yon sa 'kin."

"Gaile, wait... am I already forgiven?"

"Matagal na," she answered before walking away.

--

They stayed there until midnight. To Celine's dismay, Gaile didn't leave Kelvin's side the whole night. The two were busy catching up habang siya ay nagmumukmok sa isang tabi.

Kung hindi pa siya nagpaalam na uuwi, hindi pa maghihiwalay ang dalawa. But contrary to what she was expecting, Gaile asked her to stay while Kelvin told everyone that he'll be heading home first.

Sinarili na lamang niya ang inis.

Mga bandang ala una nang magkayayaan silang umuwi. Yuan offered to take her home. Sumabay si Gaile sa kanilang dalawa. Sina Janelle, kanina pa umuwi dahil inaantok na raw ito. Sina Jace naman, sa sasakyan ni Jake sumabay.

Yuan and Gaile were talking in front habang siya naman ay abala sa pagtingin sa kawalan. Maya-maya'y napakunot ang noo niya nang mapansing hindi na pamilyar sa kanya ang dinadaanan nila. Pero inisip na lamang niyang baka si Gaile ang unang ihahatid ni Yuan.

To her surprise, the car stopped on one corner where no living soul is around.

"Celine, dito ka na."

"Ha? Hindi dito ang bahay ko."

Yuan smiled. "Just trust us. Dito ka na."

"Yuan..."

"Celine," Gaile intercepted, "don't be afraid. Just get out of the car and you'll know why we brought you here."

Ayaw pa rin niyang bumaba. There's only darkness ahead. Patay ang lamp posts sa isang street. Hindi niya alam kung bakit. Natatakot siyang bumaba. Baka hindi na siya sikatan ng araw doon.

But their smiles suggest that there's something good waiting for her there. Or maybe they have just gone psycho and she's their first victim.

Yuan, getting impatient, stepped out of the car. Binuksan nito ang pintuan ng backseat at hinila siya palabas. Pinatayo siya nito sa gitna ng daan, sa tapat ng madilim na kalsada. Saka ito dali-daling bumalik sa sasakyan at pinaharurot iyon palayo.

Hindi na niya alam ang gagawin. Naiiyak na siya sa takot.

And then, she heard it. Pumailanlang ang intro ng paborito niyang kanta.

Sa hindi inaaasahang

Pagtatagpo ng mga mundo

May minsan lang na nagdugtong,

Damang dama na ang ugong nito

'Di pa ba sapat ang sakit at lahat

Na hinding hindi ko ipararanas sayo

Ibinubunyag ka ng iyong mata

Sumisigaw ng pag-sinta

Kasabay noon ang biglang pag-ilaw ng mga fairy lights sa ulunan niya. Nagsimula iyon sa tapat niya, dumaloy palayo, hanggang sa tumigil iyon sa isang poste. Then the light spread on the fairy lights setup like a spider web.

Naglakad siya papunta roon. Dahan-dahan, nag-aalangan pa rin kung tama bang doon siya pumunta.

Ba't di pa patulan

Ang pagsuyong nagkulang

Tayong umaasang

Hilaga't kanluran

Ikaw ang hantungan

At bilang kanlungan mo

Ako ang sasagip saýo

That's when he stepped out from somewhere. Kelvin's standing in front of the post, with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Ngumiti ito nang makita siyang papalapit.

Saan nga ba patungo,

Nakayapak at nahihiwagaan

Ang bagyo ng tadhana ay

Dinadala ako sa init ng bisig mo

Biglang nanlabo ang mga mata niya. Seeing him made her tear up. Akala niya'y sa pelikula lamang nangyayari ang ganoong eksena, pero heto siya ngayon, at that exact cinematic scene, still unsure of what it's for.

Nang mapalapit siya rito, iniabot nito sa kanya ang bulaklak at saka nito pinahid ang mga luha niya.

"Why are you crying?"

"Tinakot nyo kasi ako!" she blurted out.

He laughed and took her in his arms. Hinalikan siya nito sa noo.

"I'm sorry."

Tiningala niya ito. "Ano bang gimmick 'to, ha?"

The music is still softly playing on the background. It was a bit cold but she didn't mind. Not when she's enveloped in his warm embrace.

"Well, it's Valentine's day already," he answered.

"Hindi mo naman na kailangan ng ganito, e."

"I have to. I want to make this special and memorable. Because this is the night that I'll finally ask you..."

"Ask me what?"

Dumukot ito sa bulsa. Then, he revealed a rose gold chain bracelet. She remembered that bracelet. Ito iyong pina-customize ni Kelvin sa isang jewelry shop. "Let's be official, Celine."

The bracelet has three infinity signs tied to the chains. Then in the middle, in cursive letters, there's the word Kelvin's.

"If you accept this, then you're mine... for this lifetime and the ones that come after it."

"Kelvin—"

"Don't cry, please..." He kissed her salty tears.

"Nakaka-overwhelm ka naman kasi," she said while wiping her tears. "Wala na naman akong maibibigay na kapalit nito. Sana sinabi mong may naka-prepare kang ganito para may nagawa man lang ako para sa 'yo."

"I'm not asking for anything in return, Celine."

"Kahit na. Sana nagpa-customize din ako ng relo para pareho tayong meron."

Tumawa ito. "Ang laki ng problema mo."

"Seryoso kasi."

"Don't worry. Meron ka na rin."

Kumunot ang noo nito. "Merong ano?"

"Your copyright," he answered, grinning. He pulled the neckline of his shirt down and revealed a little tattoo on the left side of his chest. Parang stamp ang style noon. CELINE's. Nakapaloob iyon sa isang square border. Tapos 'yong border, yari sa magkakakabit na infinity signs.

She touched the tattoo lightly, afraid that it might still hurt. Namumula pa kasi iyon.

"Baliw ka talaga," she told him.

"You drive me crazy."

She blushed.

"So?"

Tumango siya. She let him put the bracelet on her wrist.

"Perfect fit," he murmured.