It was a rainy night in Tokyo and Ken was alone in her apartment, quietly sipping tea. Hinihintay niya ang pagdating ni Ryuji at ng abogado nito para papirmahin siya ng prenup.

There was a persistent uncomfortable sinking feeling in her stomach from the anxiety of her impending marriage that would take place in about sixteen hours. Buong araw niyang pinipilit ang sarili na tama ang gagawin niyang pagpapakasal. It's the only thing I can do to be a decent daughter and sister, she thought.

Pero hindi lang ang pagiging mabuting kapatid o anak ang dahilan niya sa pagpayag sa pagpapakasal. Buong araw niyang paulit-ulit na tinitingnan ang mensahe ng kanyang ama na naging dahilan ng biglaang pag-alis niya ng Singapore.

It was a photo of her and Sage, exiting The Orchid while holding each others' hands. Hindi man malaki, kitang kita sa litrato ang mga ngiting nagawa nilang itago mula sa isa't isa noong araw na iyon.

Attached to the photo was a string of Japanese characters. The text didn't need to be in red, bold or all caps for Ken to know how angry her father was. The message wasn't even aggressive. In fact, simple lang ang sinasabi doon, huwag nang makipagkita kay Sage at agad na bumalik sa Tokyo.

There was no explicit threat but Ken knew better than to ignore it. Alam niyang mas nakakatakot ang ama niya kapag mas kalmado ito. The cunning head of the Kazehaya clan always had a plan and twenty more back-up plans to get his way. And Sage was too precious to her. Hindi niya hahayaang madamay ito sa kung ano mang binabalak ng kanyang ama.

So instead, she had decided to eliminate all the risk for Sage by obediently going along with what her parents want.

The feeling of dread intensified when she heard the doorbell ring. She decided to be stubborn for the last time before fully submitting to what others want. Hindi niya pagbubuksan ng pinto ang fiancé. Kung gusto talaga nilang pirmahan ni Ken ang prenup, isang oras niya silang paghihintayin sa labas.

She didn't want to marry Ryuji but she didn't dislike him at all. Tulad niya, hindi rin choice ng fiancé niya na makasal kay Ken pero hindi rin naman ito tumutol sa plano ng mga magulang nila. He was also actually a good person, as far as she could tell. Though he was a man of few words, he always treats her with respect. Ken even felt bad for the guy. After all, he was about to marry someone who could never love him.

The doorbell kept ringing. The intervals between the dinging kept getting shorter the more she ignored it. This lasted for a few minutes until the person on the other side of the door just pressed down on the doorbell, producing a continuous sound. Ubos na ang pasensya ng bisita ni Ken.

She sighed and got up to open the door. Resisting the inevitable was pointless. Masisira lang 'yong doorbell niya.

Her deadpan expression quickly changed into astonishment when she saw who was abusing her doorbell. His head was bowed but Sage's left hand kept running through his damp disheveled hair while his right hand's index finger was still pressing the doorbell button.

Ngayon niya lang nakitang na ganoon ka-haggard si Sage. Magulo ang kuwelyo nito at maluwag ang kurbata. May dalawang bukas na butones, tapos gusot at hindi naka-tuck in ang puting long sleeves na suot nito. Maporma si Sage kaya siguradong may blazer o suit jacket na kasama ang OOTD nito pala walang suot na gano'n ang lakaking nasa harap niya ngayon.

"Sage? How..." Ken was at a loss for words.

Sage slowly raised his head and looked straight into her eyes. "Aren't you going to invite me in?" he asked in a calm manner. Walang nakitang emosyon si Ken sa mukha ng lalaki pero kinakabahan siya. Is he angry? Maybe I shouldn't have sent him that.

"Bakit ka nandito? Paano mo nalaman ang lugar na 'to? Anong kailangan mo sa 'kin?" Sunod-sunod ang mga tanong ni Ken pero may kaunting panginginig sa boses niya.

"Takot ka ba sa 'kin?" he replied, his voice still emotionless. "I won't hurt you. I just think we need to talk."

"Ako, takot sa 'yo? You're the one who should be scared if I let you in here." Nagawa niyang tanggalin ang panginginig ng boses niya pero nababahala pa rin siya sa tono ni Sage. She opened the door wider and gestured for him to come in as she walked ahead to lead him to the living room. "Do you want some water, tea or—"

Before she could finish her question, Sage grabbed her arm. She turned instinctively and tried to pull away but he stepped forward. Ken stepped back and before she knew it, her back was against the wall. He let go of her arm but quickly slammed his right hand on the wall beside her head. "You, I want you," he said, guttural and intense. For the first time that night, his voice revealed what he truly felt and it made her wince.

She took a deep breath and smelled alcohol from the man in front of her. Ken slowly looked up and saw him biting his lip, his unblinking eyes staring fiercely into hers. "I thought we were over this," she said.

"Akala ko rin, Ken. But you sent me this!" Tinapat ni Sage sa mukha ni Ken ang suot nitong wristwatch sa kaliwang palapulsuhan. "Bakit?"

"It's just a watch, Sage. Tama naman kasi si Mr. Chen. It looks perfect on you—"

"Bullshit! Of course, he'd say that, it's his product. It would look good on anyone with a wrist!" he yelled, slamming his fist on the wall behind her.

She winced again but quickly steadied her gaze afterwards, refusing to be intimidated. "You're drunk and overthinking things that have no meaning," mahinahong sagot ni Ken.

"No meaning?" Mabilis na tinanggal ni Sage ang relos at inilapit sa mga mata ng dalaga ang likod nito kung saan nakaukit ang mga salitang si Kendra mismo ang nagpalagay. "So ano 'to? Random words? Anong akala mo sa 'kin, 'di marunong magbasa?"

It was written in the stars that my heart will always belong to you, she read the engraving silently. Yep, that was exactly what she asked the watchmaker to engrave. Hindi niya sinagot ang mga tanong ni Sage at yumuko na lang para iwasan ang mga mata ng lalaki.

"Aren't you going to explain this?" he asked, raking his hair with his fingers and heavily exhaling in exasperation. "Sige. Kunwari, totoong bagay lang sa 'kin kaya mo binigay sa 'kin pero 'di ba ibibigay mo 'to sa fiancé mo? And these words, you were thinking of me when you decided to have them engraved, weren't you?"

"You're just making assumptions," she said, still not looking at him. "Wala akong kailangang ipaliwanag sa 'yo."

For the third time, he slammed his fist on the wall in frustration. She saw him wince. Masakit na siguro ang kamay nito pero hindi niya ito pwedeng aluin. "Am I so insignificant to you that I'm not even worthy of an explanation for your actions that torment me?" he said, raising his voice. "Look at me, Ken!"

Tinaas ni Ken ang ulo niya at direktang tumingin sa mga mata ni Sage na tila may hinahanap rin mula sa kanyang mga mata. Nakita niya ang dalamhati, pagkalito at galit. It pierced her heart to see all those emotions that caused him pain. It's was all her fault. He deserved way better than this.

They've been staring at each other for more than a minute and breathing heavily from all the tension when Sage spoke softly. "Kendra, gusto kitang halikan."

"A-ano?" she asked, her eyes widening. Akala niya nasa maximum value na ang heart rate niya pero tumaas pa iyon dahil sa sinabi ni Sage.

"Hahalikan kita. Pigilan mo ako." Sage gently touched her right jaw as he closed his eyes. He slowly leaned, bringing his lips closer to hers.

She felt like her heart was about to burst. Napako siya sa kinatatayuan at walang ginawang pagpigil sa halik ni Sage. Kusang pumikit ang mga mata niya nang magdikit ang mga labi nila.

There was no pause or hesitation from either of them. She eagerly responded to his kiss as soon as she felt his lips on hers. It was what she desired. And for once, she wanted to act without worrying about consequences.

She stood on her toes then wrapped her arms around his neck as his right hand slid down to her waist, pulling her closer. He deepened the kiss and she was intoxicated by it. Sage nibbled on her lip. Ken opened her mouth and allowed his tongue to explore. Her tongue was just as enthusiastic in invading his mouth. Nalasahan niya pa ang vodka na ininom ni Sage bago siya puntahan.

Naglakad sila papunta sa sofa nang hindi naghihiwalay ang mga labi. Umupo si Sage at kumandong sa kanya si Ken. Nag-iinit ang mga katawan nila at lalo pang nananabik ang mga halik. Sinimulang tanggalin ni Ken ang kurbata ng lalaki ngunit pinigilan nito ang mga kamay niya at biglang tumigil sa paghalik. Puno ng pagkalito ang mga mata ni Ken nang tingnan niya si Sage.

"Please be mine. You clearly want me." He must've wanted to sound firm but the shaking of his voice betrayed him. It was too obvious in begging for her affection.

"I'll be yours tonight," bulong ni Ken. "Just tonight."

"No. Get off me, Ken." Binitiwan siya ni Sage at nagpakawala ito ng buntong-hininga.

She slowly got off his lap, confused. "What's wrong?"

"Hindi mo alam kung anong mali? Ito, mali 'to!" he said. "I don't want to be your fuck buddy or your illicit lover. I want to be yours alone and I want you to be mine exclusively."

"But I'm getting married tomorrow—"

"Kaya nga eh. Pero nakikipaglaplapan ka sa 'kin! Ano, gagawin mo ba akong kabit?"

"I'm sorry, Sage," she said, her voice trembling. Tears were starting to form at the corners of her eyes. "Ayokong saktan ka pero ito lang ang kaya kong ibigay sa 'yo. Y-you should just walk out of my life. 'Yon ang makakabuti para sa 'yo."

"Pero Ken, mahal kita. And I know that you feel the same way," he said, gripping her shoulders. "Ako na lang kasi ang piliin mo." Tears escaped his eyes.

"My life is too complicated, with my family, my past, my commitments... Magiging toxic lang ako sa 'yo. Ayaw mo ba ng payapang buhay? Ng happily ever after?"

"I don't need a peaceful life, I need you. Walang happily ever after kung wala ka."

Tears kept falling down her face as she kept on shaking her head. "Please move on. You should go."

"I'm not giving up until you say 'I do.' Sana naman sundin mo rin 'yang puso mo." Sage stood up and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll be waiting for you to come around."

Her eyes were filled with longing as she watched him leave. 'Di ko man sundin ang puso ko, it will always be yours.

* * *

Habang naglalakad si Sage palabas ng apartment building, may nasalubong siyang dalawang lalaking naka-suit. One of them was carrying a briefcase while the other one furrowed his eyebrows upon seeing Sage. It was Ken's fiancé. Nilampasan lang sila ni Sage at hindi naman din siya kinausap ng mga nito.