The second time I woke up, I was alone. Moana Marie was gone. I'd almost believe it was just a dream, had I not see the glass of milk on the bedside table that she made me drink before I fell a sleep on her, I'd really think that this was all just a dream.

But no, she'd been here. Her arms had been my comfort after the disturbing dream that almost cost me my life. She was here. She stayed by my side until I fall back to sleep. My heart warmed at the idea.

I haven't told her anything, she didn't force me to. All she said is that, once I'm ready, she's got her ears for me.

She said she was a rape victim and I still couldn't fathom the idea that a woman as strong as her has been violated once in her life. Not just that, she married him.

It takes a lot of courage and strength to accept your worst nightmare and to forgive the one that caused it. How much more to marry him? I couldn't picture myself marrying Shaun, I couldn't even get myself to see him, not in magazines and definitely not in flesh. But then, Exodus De Salvo was nothing like Shaun. He loved her. Even the dumbest one can tell it just by the look of his face every time she's around. While Shaun? He knows nothing about love.

My thoughts were cut off when the bedroom door swung open, it was Oxygen. Seeing him coming in made my heartbeat pickup. Through the light coming from the lamp on the bedside table, I was able to see him sauntered inside the room, closing the door behind him. He's wearing nothing but a sweatpants, showing off his skin in a warm, golden-brown tint. I tried not to pay attention to his fine-boned, chunky abdomen and lifted my gaze up to his face. He's staring at me and I can see worry in his eyes.

I pulled myself up to sit and wait for him, he stopped and sit on the edge of the bed, putting enough distance between us. I don't know how to approach him after what happened awhile ago. I wasn't sure if his mom already told him- but, well I haven't told her anything either. And I know, now that it was Oxygen who's with me, I have to say something. I owe him that.

He inhaled softly and looked away, moving over to the bedside table to put the glass of water I didn't notice he was holding. "I brought you some water, just in case."

"Thank you," I said. "About what happened, Oxygen-"

"Okay ka na ba?" His head turned to me, the soft expression on his face did a gentle tug in my chest. The worried frown he had on his forehead made me feel guilty. Did I worry him so much?

I nodded. "About that, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause any trouble-"

"Anong sinasabi mo?" His frown deepened, I couldn't utter another word. I was thinking that maybe my nightmare episode ruined something earlier. Asking his mom about how they found me at my worst didn't come up in my head. His eyes stayed on my face, it was so intense that I had to look away. "I'm sick worried about you, Gabbana. We all are. And you're thinking that you've caused us trouble? Why am I thinking that's unfair?"

Because I am. He's right. That ain't fair. I ducked my head and whispered my answer. "I'm sorry."

"That's not what I wanna hear, Gabby." The concerned in his voice was evident. "Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba kong mag-tanong, kung may karapatan ba ko na mag-tanong. Pero, gusto kong malaman."

My eyes lowered to the sheet that covers the bottom part of my body. I don't think I could look at Oxygen, not when I started hearing pain in his voice. Pain. He's hurting. Why was he hurting? But then I'm reminded that this man sitting in front of me wears his heart on his sleeve. He'd care for anyone regardless of how he's been treated.

"Hindi ako mapilit na tao, Gabbana. But I'd like to know, I want to know because that's the only way I could help you." His voice held an overbearing emotions, the moment he reached for my hand, I know from there that Oxygen got me. The squeeze he made on my hand made me feel the security I have always felt in his presence. "I still won't force you to do something you wouldn't like, although I am hoping that you'll find a way to trust me."

No one, no one in my life had ever put an effort to gain my trust. I have never felt so special, much less valued. The pad of his thumb caressed the back of my hand and I started breaking into tears. He tensed.

"Gabgab? Hey, don't cry..." That didn't stop me from crying even more. "Good Lord, Gabbana. Stop crying, baby. I'm sorry, forget it. Don't force yourself. I won't ask anymore, just don't cry. I'll fucking leave you alone just stop crying-"

"N-no..." I shook my head and held his hand tighter, I looked up to him and meet his concern eyes. "D-don't leave me.. please don't."

"Holy fuck," he muttered series of curses as he stared down at me. "Gab, stop crying. You've already had a fair share of tears today, it will fucking drain you. Stop crying, baby."

My lips broke into smile hearing Oxygen's concerned about me getting dehydrated.

"Wag kang pangiti-ngiti dyan, hindi ka na maganda ngayon. Iyak ka ng iyak." He faked an angry frown, made me smile the more. His hand reached to angle my face while his thumb brushed my tears away, like those in books, those in movies, God, is he even real?

I filled my lungs with air and took his hand away from my face. Now, I was holding both of his hands down to my lap and he's letting me. Our gazes leveled, he's not saying anything, he's just here, in front of me. Looking at me and studying me.

"I've always dreamed to be the best, I've always wanted to kill all the runways, be in every cover, dominate the industry because I want mom to be so proud of me. I have raised that dream so high that I wasn't able to figure out what does my heart really wants." I paused for a second before I continue. "There's this man that mom wants me to date, Shaun McMillan. She'd always been pleased every time she heard somewhere that I'm going out with Shaun. Nobody knows that I hated being around him, that I don't like how he screams to the world that he's madly in love with me while he's sleeping around. He disgust me. No one knows that because no one actually cared to ask me about how I feel. I have managed to keep up with Shaun in order to please my mom. Me being with Shaun takes me a step closer to my Vera Moda dream, I wasn't guilty that I'm seeing him as nothing but a stepping stone. I'm good as long as I had the situation under control. Until that night, the night he became worse than the monster I expected him to be..."

The agony in my heart faded to a dull throb. Remembering every detail comes close to dying, but I had to. This is me facing the scariest part of my life. I've had kept this secret inside me for quite a long time now. And if I won't let this out, I'm not sure if I'll still be able to live long. This pain is starting to kill me. The nightmare I had earlier was the worst. I almost died in there.

Blinded with tears, my eyes locked with Oxygen's. I couldn't recognize the emotion written on his face. I have never seen him this way. The structure of his face hardened as he anticipates my next words.

"I didn't know exactly what happened. My neck was sore and tight. I had bruises across the hidden parts of my body, they were turning purple and black after a few hours. I was scared... I'd been raped." I broke down, I loosened the grip I had on his hand and before I could move away, I was already jailed inside his arms. I buried my face on his chest and feel the warmth of his embrace. "I was raped..."

His arms tightened around me and I felt safe. In Oxygen's arms I've found comfort. The one that I'd been looking for all my life. He didn't say anything for a moment, he didn't even ask me to stop crying. He just stayed by my side, brushing my hair through his fingers. Exactly the way how his mom comforted me awhile ago.

I instantly felt light, the heavy thing I'd been carrying for awhile is lifted. I have shared my pain to Oxygen and it felt so right.

"I'm sorry," was his first words. I felt him kissed the top of my head before his hand reached for my back, caressing it.

"What for?" I've managed to ask. I moved a little away, so I'll be able to see his face. His hand moved up to touch my face, his gentle eyes were full of emotions, none that I could name.

"Sorry that you experienced cruelty in this world. You don't deserve that. Every woman has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, you were deprived of that. I'm sorry, Gabby." His eyes were sincere and is full of pain and sympathy. He's got all the things I longed for. "I'm sorry that you were treated badly,"

Bursting into more tears, I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him even tighter. None of this was fault but he's sorry that I had to go through this kind of hell. What kind of person is he? Is it still normal for someone to have a heart as big as his?

"Now I could imagine how bad your nightmares were and the fact that you have to deal with it alone shoots me." He heaved a deep sigh. "Gabgab, I'm not asking you to trust me. But please, know that I'm here for you."

I just didn't know that, I feel that! He made sure I'll feel his presence. He made me feel safe and comfortable. It eased off the pain. Oxygen might be a little stupid not to think that I'm already trusting him my life.

Oxygen had let me sleep the hours left before the sun rises. When I woke up, he's still in the room. He didn't leave me. I smiled, seeing his face first thing in the morning seems a great start. His white shirt clung tightly to his skin. Oxygen is tall, taller than the average guy. He paced across the room in even strides, his feet gently pounding on the floor. His long fingers ran through his short and wavy hair which shifted back into place once his hand had gone past. The light coming from the windows made it shine to a shade of melting milk chocolate and his slightly tanned skin glowed, making his stubble covered chin seem darker. His high cheekbones, perfectly accentuated his face, and his full pink lips were pressed firmly together in a tight smile.

"Morning," he drawled.

My lips twitched. "I'm starting to wonder if you ever had any sleep."

"A good morning would be a better reply." A lazy chuckle filled the room, I grinned and watched him climb to the empty side of the bed. "Nagugutom ka na ba?"

"Not really," I said. His masculine scent filled my nostrils, I was suddenly conscious on how I smell, so I moved to the side to distance myself a little. That made him frown. "So, you hadn't slept?"

He inched closer, still frowning. "Doesn't matter."

I moved again, forcing a smile. "Actually, it does matter. You have to sleep and rest, Oxygen. You aren't a superhero, having a worth drooling brick built doesn't immortalized you."

"Oh..." he said in a slow manner. Only then I realized what I just said. Have I just admired him? I flushed when I felt him slipping his arm on my waist. "Worth drooling brick built, huh? Sabi ko na crush mo ko, e."

Made me feel more embarrassed. Then again, I remember my smell. I jerked off but he just dragged me back to his arms. "Oxygen-"

"Bakit mo ba ko iniiwasan? Hindi naman ako mabaho, Gabbana. Kahit tumira ka pa sa katawan ko." His voice hardened as he settled me in his arms.

"But I smell funny!" I bit back my embarrassment and sighed in defeat.

"Paamoy nga..." he said in a whisper before he buried his face on the crook of my neck and started sniffing my scent. "Hmm, bango..."

"Oxygen..." I shivered in an instant.

I felt him stiffened, then he slightly moved away. Leaving a gap between us. Then his eyes avoided mine, he cleared his throat. Okay, so what was that for?

"Tumawag pala si Zander kanina," he's obviously drifting the subject. I should be thankful of that but I'm not. "Kinakamusta ka niya."

Now thinking about my brother, my head snapped to Oxygen and my eyes went wide. "You didn't tell him, did you?"

"Gustuhin ko man na ipaalam 'yon sa kapatid mo, it's not my story to tell, Gabbana." A small smile curved his lips when he turned his head on me. "You'd been deprived of so many rights you deserve, I won't be an ass to do the same."

"I'm gonna tell them about it. It's not something that I could keep to myself for the rest of my life but I have to buy some time, Oxygen." I explained.

"Naiintindihan ko, hindi kita pipilitin. Sabi ko naman sayo, kasama mo ko."

My cheeks warmed and my heart does some crazy beating again. This is insane.

I watched him climb down the bed. I don't know why but I'm fascinated by his movements. It's like, he's got the sun for this morning. Then I felt my stomach flipped, what's that for? Oh, I must be hungry. Yeah, that's it.