My mind is not in a good shape either my emotions. Until now I can still feel the lust of my blood to beat that damn police to death. But this day. I reserved this day for my family. A day of peace and stress free.

"Ready baby?" Wika n'ya habang isinusuot sa 'kin ang headphone. I nodded in him as an answer.

"I was born ready Styyx," he smiled at me and gently planted a kiss on my forehead.

"This is General Styyx Andervano, ready for take off," he said exhilaratingly.

"President Eurydice de Lara ready for take off too." Itinuon ko ang atensyon sa RADAR system. Until I noticed something quite different on it. This is not an ordinary chopper. It has the capacity to enter in a battlefield and fire some missile.

"You good baby?" Tanong n'ya.

"Yes I am."

"You look bothered," he said with wrinkled forehead.

"I'm totally fine. Marahil ay nasasabik lang akong makita ang pamilya ko," kibit-balikat kong wika. He suppress a gentle smile.

"Ganu'n din ako." Ilang oras ang naging byahe namin patungong Cebu, ngunit hindi ko ito naramdaman dahil panay ang usap namin.

We talked about random stuffs until he dragged the topic about marriage. He didn't mean about us getting married, he's just simply talking about it's responsibilities and how does it feels like.

Ligtas kaming lumapag sa isang rooftop ng isang hotel na napag-alaman kong pag-aari pala ng matalik na kaibigan ng kan'yang ama.

"I'm famished baby, let's go grab some food?" I nodded in his question. It's currently 10:30 in the morning and yeah, jetlag.

Matapos n'yang tawagan ang may-ari ng hotel na s'yang linapagan namin ay inalayan n'ya na 'kong bumaba. He called him tito Filip.

Suot ko ang isang simpleng itim na blouse at jeans. While he is wearing a navy blue polo and a white Guess shorts. Isinuot ko na ang itim kong sumbrero at ganun din s'ya. I even wear a face mask para hindi ako makilala. Now I look like some kind of a kidnapper.

Nag-umpisa na akong humakbang nang bigla ay nagmamadali s'yang tumakbo pabalik sa chopper. He grabbed something from it. Nakangiti s'yang bumalik sa 'kin, at ngayon ay nakasabit na sa likod n'ya ang isang gitara? Anong gagawin n'ya sa gitara?

"What is that for?" Kibit-balikat n'ya akong sinagot.

"I'll give your family a serenade later," he flashed a smile.

"For what?"

"Perhaps to please them?" Nag-aalangan n'yang wika. Hindi na lang ako sumagot pa at nagpatuloy na kami sa paglalakad. Nang marating namin ang elevator ay mabilis pa sa alas-kwatro n'yang pinagsalikop ang mga kamay namin.

"Come on we're in the elevator, what's with the holding hands General?" He flashed a menacing smile.

"I just miss this baby," nakangising wika n'ya. Wala akong nagawa nang mabilis n'yang tinanggal ang suot kong face mask at pinagdaop ang mga labi namin. Napasinghap ako nang sa wakas ay bitawan n'ya na ito matapos tumunog ang elevator. Isinuot kong muli ang facemask ko nang tumigil kami sa isang mataong hallway.

"You're impossible General," naiiling kong wika.

"Always Ms. President." Nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako at hindi na sumagot pa. Dinala n'ya ako sa isang restaurant ng hotel na kung saan ay walang masyadong tao, o kung meron man ay malalayo ang mga ito. He insisted that the food was already paid so I did nothing but to eat. Matapos ang ilang minutong pagkain ay hindi na kami nagtagal pa. I called mang Erwin to fetch us.

"How's the villa Mang Erwin?" Tanong ko sa kan'ya habang kasalukuyan s'yang nagda-drive.

"Mabuti naman hija. Tumubo na rin iyong nga halaman ko," napangiti ako sa sinabi n'ya. He love plants especially flowers.

"Aba'y doon ba kayo matutulog mamaya? Aba'y nakalimutan kong linisin iyong isang kwarto," umiling ako sa sinabi n'ya.

"Hindi na po. Dadaan lang po siguro kami. Isang araw lang po iyong bakante ko, mamaya ay lilipad na kami pabalik sa Maynila."

"Ganoon ba?" Dismayado n'yang wika.

"Pasensya na po mang Erwin baka sa susunod ay makapagbakasyon na po ako," pilit siyang ngumiti sa sinabi ko. Nagpatuloy ang usapan namin hanggang sa silang dalawa na mismo ni Styyx ang nag-uusap. Katulad ng dati ay nagtatawanan pa rin sila sa mga pinag-uusapan nila na hindi ko maintindihan. Perhaps some male thingy.

Saglit kaming huminto sa isang flowershop at bumili rito. I bought mine while Styyx bought his too. When we reached the cemetery, I can feel the cascading of my emotions. Mang Erwin presented to stay and wait for us but I refused. It's better for him to go home and take some rest, mostly when he needs it.

"You want us alone huh?" He freed his words while the corner of his lips turned into a menacing smile.

"Me," I answered trying to sound nonchalant.

"You're cruel baby." I slowly walked towards my family's grave. I got my keys out and opened their new house in the cemetery. Few people were on our surrounding but I don't care. I laid the flowers I bought in each of their tombstone, as I began talking to them.

"'Nay, 'tay, Augustine at Calliope. Pasensya na kayo ha, ngayon lang po nakabisita si ate. Ang dami ko po kasing ginawa. It's been months the last time I visited you, and God knows how much I miss you," I can feel Styyx's arms around my shoulders, when my voice began to shake.

"Alam n'yo po ba, hindi po pala ganoon kadali maging Presidente. Ang dami-daming papeles na kailangan mong basahin at pirmahan. At karamihan pa po sa mga tao ay masasakit sa ulo. Pero, pasensya na po talaga, hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa naibibigay ang hustisya para sa pagkamatay n'yo. 'Wag po kayong mag-aalala, makakamit din po natin iyon," pinunasan ko ang gabutil na luhang tumakas mula sa nga mata ko. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit umiiyak ako ngayon. Marahil ay sa sakit na hanggang ngayon ay nanatili pa rin sa puso ko.

"But I'm happy with my life now. Mostly when I learned how to love," I smiled and turned my eyes into the man beside me. My eyes met his glistening emerald eyes.

"He's General Styyx Lxion Andervano po. The man who accepted me for who I am. The man who taught me how to love and to smile again genuinely. He's a great man po, and he's my boyfriend." Sinsero kong wika. Gusto kong sabihin sa pamilya ko ang lahat kung gaano ako ka swerte sa lalakeng na sa tabi ko. But perhaps words aren't enough to elaborate it with satisfaction.

Pansamantala n'ya 'kong iniwan at inilapag n'ya ang bulaklak na kaniyang binili. Saka s'ya muling bumalik sa tabi ko at inakbayan ako. May iilang tao sa paligid namin pero natitiyak ko namang hindi nila kami nakikita dahil tinted ang loob.

"Hello po tita, tito, and to her younger siblings. I'm so much grateful po, that you molded her into an individual that this world really needs. Your daughter is a great woman. A brave one. A woman with principles and dignity. And my gratitude to you is immeasurable po. Thank you so much for creating a very beautiful masterpiece. Thank you for making a Eurydice de Lara exist in this world. I honor her so much as well as you, as her family." Gusto ko s'yang sapakin sa sinabi n'ya.

Masyadong mahaba at madrama na s'yang lalo pang nagbigay sa 'kin nang matindi at samu't-saring emosyon. Pero ang kan'yang sensiridad dito ang s'yang pumigil sa 'kin.

"Binobola n'ya po kayo. He's good on that," I kid. He laugh at my words like it was the funniest joke I've ever said.

"O fcourse not baby, here hayaan mong haranahin kita at ang iyong pamilya," wika n'ya. Iginiya n'ya 'ko sa isang upuan malapit sa nitso ni nanay at tatay. Sunod ay dinukot n'ya ang kan'yang gitara, na hindi ko inaasahang talagang gitara. Akala ko kanina ay nagbibiro lamang s'ya, at talagang hindi gitara ang laman ng case kung hindi baril; and yeah that's a stupid thought.

"It is such a privilege to sing for a very beautiful woman, infront of her family. I want your family to know how much I love you Eury, and that I deserve their princess." Sinimulan n'yang i-strum ang gitara. At kahit ito pa man ang ginagawa n'ya ay pakiramdam ko nahulog na ang puso ko. Pakiramdam ko ay napakaganda ng kan'yang kanta. At sa unang linya pa lamang nito, ay para na akong idinuyan sa hangin.

"How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you
And longer if I can," Puno ng emosyon ang kan'yang pagkanta habang ang mga tingin ay nakapako sa mga mata ko.

"How long will I need you?
As long as the seasons need to
Follow their plan," Wala akong ibang makita sa kan'yang mga mata kung hindi pagmamahal.

"How long will I be with you?
As long as the sea is bound to
Wash upon the sand," Kung ang kan'yang mga mata ay nakaka-hipnotismo, lalong-lalo na ang kan'yang boses. Wala iyong kasing lamig at ganda. Ang bawat liriko nito ay tila humahaplos sa puso ko.

"How long will I want you?
As long as you want me to
The longer by far," He took out a bunch of Sunflower from the guitar's case and gave it to me.

"How long will I hold you?
As long as your father told you
As long as you can," He smiled at me, making my heart leap in so much emotion and glee.

"How long will I give to you?
As long as I live through you
However long you say.
How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you
And longer if I may," Tila isang hangin na bumalot sa puso ko ang malamig at maganda n'yang boses. Hindi ko inaakalang may ganito s'yang talento.

"It is already a privilege to sing for you infront of your family. But it would be more than if I'll have them as a witness for my undying love for you, Eurydice de Lara, " puno ng sensiridad n'yang wika.

"Tito, tita, I want you to know how much I love your very beautiful daughter. I want you to know how much willing I am to live for her, and to pursue her. She's my light in this chaotic world. She's the emblem of hope in this distorted reality." Ganoon na lamang ang pagbilis nang tibok ng puso ko sa mga sinabi n'ya.

"Thank you so much for letting me have her in my life. Yes she's your princess, but she's also my queen now, my President, my lady, my woman and my everything. I am willing to risk everything for her. There's nothing that my love for her couldn't do. And I want her to be with me forever." This time he guided me to stand infront of my family's tombstone. He held my hand lovingly.

"I want her for a lifetime. I don't wanna lose her, and I'll do everything to keep her with me. Yes I am selfish po tito, tita, but I just really can't share her to others." Hindi ko na naiintindihan ang mga sinasabi n'ya. Kung bakit ganito kahaba at ka-emosyonal?

My jaw dropped, my eyes widened, and my lips can't help but to tremble. A sudden vibration occur in my body the moment he kneel infront of me and took out something from his back. I have an idea of what's going to happen next, but I don't want to assume. Not until he opened his mouth and gave me his heart-melting words.

"Eurydice de Lara, please be my wife, be the mother of my children...."

|End of chapter 29|
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Song: How Long Will I Love You by Ellie Goulding.