Kayla's POV

I scanned the menu while waiting for Eula in a corner table inside a Japanese restaurant. While choosing what type of ramen to order, a familiar song on the background caught my attention. It was a Saint Claire song... his song.

Mukhang hindi lang ako ang nakapansin nito. From a table a few feet from me, two ladies started talking about the song in cheery, giddy voices.

"Isn't that the song Jarvis Riley dedicated to his girlfriend?" one of them commented. "I heard they broke up and he sang that song during last year's concert in hopes of winning her back."

"That's so romantic! Did they get back together?"

"No one knows. Such lucky girl to have someone like Jarvis waiting for her."

"I really wish we could attend the concert tonight to hear their songs live."

"Girl kahit gustuhin natin, tickets were sold out on the first day."

Napangiti ako sa kanilang usapan. Indeed, the band's popularity remain unmatched in the past year. Since their anniversary concert, the band had achieved exemplary awards for their songs. They've attended awards and invited to perform outside the country. Their songs were constant request on TV shows and radios and they've garnered a lot of new listeners as well.

I couldn't be more proud.

But the transition wasn't a smooth ride for the band, specially for Jarvis. After last year's concert, videos circulated on the internet and had gone viral. Some people said what Jarvis had done was an irresponsible move, specially after his management released an official statement under his name just days before the concert. Others found the act romantic and truthful and came rallying behind him and supported his side of the story.

It became so talked about that it opened a long avoided discussion of toxicity and authenticity in the showbiz industry, specially when it comes to the lives and romantic relationships of the artists in front and behind camera.

It took months before the topic came into a resolution and the song became a relatable hit for every ages, specially those who experienced the kind of love depicted in the song. A love that saves, sacrifices... a love that waits.

"Kayla!"

Eula rushed over me once she arrived at the restaurant. She was wearing her usual eccentric outfit of large corduroy jacket, black printed T-shirt tucked inside a flowy white skirt and black zip-up boots. The two ladies earlier couldn't help but admire her outfit on their way out of the restaurant.

"Got stuck with the bosses," paliwanag niya bago umupo sa settee sa tapat ko.

I rolled my eyes, smiling at her remark. "You're one of the bosses," I pointed out.

Her plum tinted lips gave me a grin. Eula just got promoted six months ago to Development Associate. She's literally one of my bosses, kaya madalas ko siyang tuksuhin tungkol dito.

"So how's my writer doing?"

Ngumiti ako, a wide genuine smile. "I'm okay."

For the longest time, I couldn't speak those words, or tell them to myself. Most of the time, I would be just lying. But I now I could honestly say... I'm okay.

"So how's Japan?" she asked, eyes bright and curious. "I can't believe you were out travelling, attending writer's conventions one after another."

I swayed on my seat out of giddiness. "I just find travelling addictive, specially when I no longer have to worry and be anxious about the smallest things."

Eula pursed her lips while staring at me with such warm, proud gaze. She's indeed like a mom.

"Anyways, good news about the sales of your new book," she announced in her professional, boss vibe. "The Flower that Blooms in the Dark is our best release for three consecutive months and it's topping the sales in book stores."

"Really?"

"What do you expect, Kayla? The book is gut wrenching, raw, and beautifully written. It got excellent reviews and overall feedback. I'm a proud mom."

Eula wiped her imaginary tears and fanned her face with her hand, instantly back to being her dramatic self, a side of her I completely adore.

What she said was true. My new book held my most raw, most genuine of thoughts. I confided everything in it... the wounds I failed to heal, the love I failed to give, the regret that consumed me, the feelings that remained and the hope to feel again, no matter how painful, for someone worth the pain.

After we ordered food and settled on our seats, nagpaalam si Eula para pumunta sa bathroom. While waiting, her phone lit up from the table. Noong una hindi ko ito pinansin. But then, I saw a familiar name on the screen.

Sancho? Is that Sancho from Saint Claire?

Eula came back from the bathroom in her usual, cheery self. Nang muli siyang maupo sa tapat ko, tinuro ko ang phone niya. "You received a text."

"Oh," she grabbed her phone, nonchalant.

"Is that Sancho from Saint Claire?" tanong ko.

Pinagmasdan niya ang screen saka kumunot ang noo. "Ah, siya nga," simpleng sagot niya.

"I didn't know you personally contact each other."

I watched her with keen eyes. Hindi ko talaga siya mahuli pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay, specially when she's always so casual about everything.

"It's probably about the interview."

"Really?" Nakataas-kilay na tanong ko.

Tumango siya at sumandal sa settee. "What else would I want from him?"

Tumango-tango lang ako, unsure if I would believe her nonchalance this time.

Our order came, two bowls of tonkatsu ramen and teppanyaki grilled dishes of diced beef and garlic shrimp. Habang kumakain, napansin ni Eula ang kwintas na suot ko.

"Is that special of something? I always see you wearing that."

Napahawak ako sa pendant ng kwintas. A snow flake. "It's my lucky charm."

It was true. It was one of the reasons why I pulled up the courage to travel to places, specially to Japan on wintertime to see the snow. Ice queen.

"Pupunta ka sa concert nila mamaya?" tanong ni Eula.

Huminto ako sa pagkain, hindi alam kung paano siya sasagutin. "Actually... uhm..."

"Hindi mo pa rin siya kayang harapin?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya.

"It's not that," I muttered. "I honestly want to see him... to talk to him again... but I didn't know how since they've became busy with the tour... and I don't have tickets?"

Halos mabulunan si Eula sa sinabi ko. Agad niyang kinuha ang baso ng iced tea at nilagok ito.

"I don't mind. I could still watch them through paid streams or something..."

Para bang biglang sumakit ang ulo ni Eula sa mga sinabi ko. Tuluyan siyang tumigil sa pagkain at bumuntong hininga. "Kayla, you do realize their label is now one of the partners of our company, right?"

"I heard about that..."

She raised her hand mid-air as though trying to make a point. Nang hindi ako sumagot, siya na mismo ang nagsabi. "Gosh Kayla, what's the point of having me as a best friend?" she blurted out. "I'll get us both tickets."

"Really?"

She rolled her eyes, lids lined with blue eyeliner. "We'll go tonight so prepare yourself."

The prospect of seeing Jarvis again made my palms sweaty and my chest nervous. I'm going to see him again... I'm going to see him live and not just from the screen. I've missed him. Is he... still waiting for me?

Kasama ko si Eula maghapon, excited for me to attend the concert. Ito ang unang beses na makakapunta ako matapos ng mga nangyari noong isang taon.

In the back of my mind there's this worry that I might be hoping for something that wasn't there anymore. That it took me too long to come back.

An hour before the concert, Eula already changed to another concert ready outfit. Black leather jacket, black mini dress with cherry design, accompanied by red platform heels. I always love her expressive taste in fashion.

Lumabas ako sa kwarto matapos magpalit ng damit. Pinagmasdan niya ako, sinusuri ang suot ko. A light cream colored blazer, jeans and a simple black printed shirt. Kinuha ko ang puting sneakers ko sa gilid ng pinto at sinuot ito.

"Isn't your outfit too simple?" she asked, still observing me.

"I'm comfortable with it."

Tumango siya sa sagot ko. "That's such a signature Kayla Veronica. Comfort before anything else," she commented. "Are you sure you're ready to face him again?"

Tumayo ako nang maayos at humarap kay Eula nang tuluyang maisuot ang sapatos ko.

"His world is still the loud, chaotic world you run away from a year ago..."

It took me a moment to reply, not because I was having second thoughts, but because I remembered his face and his smile and the way he's patiently waiting for me.

"I know," I told Eula. "I no longer mind."

Bago kami umalis sa condo, napansin ko si Eula na may ka-text bago binuhay ang engine ng sasakyan. Paalis na kami sa driveway ng building nang tanungin ko siya.

"Who are you texting?"

Her eyes remained on the road before us. "Just work."

We planned to arrive at the venue before the concert starts. But no matter how early we start the drive, we still found ourselves stuck in heavy traffic.

"Ito talaga ayaw ko 'pag lumalabas eh," mumbled Eula behind the steering wheel. "Nakakasira ng ganda ng outfit 'pag na-stuck ka sa traffic."

Napailing ako sa komento niya. "Makakahabol pa naman tayo."

"We need to be there at a specific time.

I glanced at her. "For what?"

She suddenly caught herself, smiling. "Wala lang, feel ko lang!"

We continued driving to south, until we could finally see the huge globe welcoming us to the mall's vicinity. Even the road within the vicinity were congested with cars and people running, heading to the venue on the other side of the mall. The concert clearly had started and we were late, added to the fact that there was no available empty parking space nearby.

"Go to the venue. Susunod ako," Eula told me.

"We'll just go together," I told her. "Aabot pa naman tayo sa second half ng concert."

"You need to be there." She glanced at time on her phone on the dashboard, saka niya hininto ang sasakyan at bahagya akong tinulak palabas. "Hurry!"

Nag-alangan pa rin ako na iwan siya. "Are you gonna be alright?"

"Of course! I'll see you inside."

Binuksan niya ang pintuan para sa'kin, hinintay na lumabas ako at magtungo sa venue. I glanced back at her, smiling. "Thanks, Eula," I mumbled before I slipped out of the car.

Tumatakbo akong nagtungo sa entrance ng venue at agad pinakita ang ticket na hawak ko. The staff ushered me to the door heading to the VIP standing area.

The concert was in full swing. I could hear the loud music and the screaming, along with the flashing red and blue lights, before I could completely arrived inside. My heart was pumping, ground trembling with the loud music and their instruments. The electric guitars, the drums, their voices.

I remained standing at the back, with the crowd of fans in front of me, just meters from the stage. They could almost touched the members, could almost see their faces clearly.

Pero sapat na ang nakikita ko. Ang mukha niya, ang ngiti niya, ang nangigigil na palo niya sa drums. It was as though he was controlling the crowd with each hit of the sticks, with each smile and grin. Jarvis... I'm so proud of you.

Nakangiti ako habang pinapanood sila. The lights dim to signal the start of another song. Nagsigawan ang mga tao nang marinig ang unang beat ng kanta.

"It's his song!" sigaw ng mga tao sa paligid ko.

"So it's you!"

The crowd cheered louder. Muling bumalik ang liwanag sa stage and Jarvis was standing in front of the ocean of fans. His voice resonated in the entire arena as he started singing.

Dumating si Eula sa tabi ko, bahagyang hinihingal. "Kayla!" she exclaimed. Bigla niya akong hinawakan sa balikat saka tinulak kung saang direksyon.

All the other fans were staring at the stage, entranced by his voice, by the song which captivated thousands of people. With all the lights focused on the stage and the rest of the arena dimmed, Jarvis looked iridescent... beautiful.

Eula pushed me in front, closer to the barricade and control booth. "Eula, what are you doing? There are other people here," I told her, confused of what she's up to.

"They would understand later."

She pushed me through and made excuses until we reached the barricade near the control booth. Lumapit siya sa dalawang taong naka-assign dito at may sinabi. The two people seemed to recognized what she said.

The lights remained dim outside the stage. But when a large beam of light suddenly roamed the crowd, everyone started screaming in excitement. Sobrang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko... lalo na at ang lapit ni Jarvis sa harapan ko.

Muli akong lumingon kay Eula. Before I could say something else, she stepped aside and the beam of light flashed in my direction. Napakurap ako at hinarangan ang mata ko mula sa liwanag nito.

Patuloy kong naririnig ang kanta... but Jarvis voice slowly faded... as though he was speechless. Nang makapag-adjust ang paningin ko sa liwanag, I stared back at the stage.

Jarvis was staring directly at me.

I was standing in a clear space, in the middle of the crowd, and he was staring at me. Sinubukan niyang ipagpatuloy ang kanta but he was too stunned to speak.

"It's you... it's always been you... with all this madness, you're the one that gets me through..."

Unti-unti siyang naglakad at tuluyang bumaba sa stage habang nananatiling nakatitig sa'kin. The bouncers below the stage prepared themselves for the crowd, but for a reason, the fans stepped aside on their own.

"Is that her? Is that Jarvis' girlfriend?"

"Oh my God! I couldn't believe I'm seeing this!"

"Nakakakilig! They deserve this so much!"

Jarvis and I... our gazes remained at each other. Patuloy siyang naglakad sa kinatatayuan ko, holding the mic in his trembling hands, singing with his raw voice.

"The moment I saw you babe, believe me it's true..."

Tears brimmed in my eyes and I couldn't help it. I smiled at Jarvis, for the first time in a long time, feeling the same kind of longing despite thousands of people around us.

"This song is to tell the world... so, it's you."

The crowd gasped. The rest of the people in the arena realized what was happening. Jarvis was now standing in front of me, staring at me with such gleam in his soulful eyes as though he couldn't believe I was really here.

"Hi, Jarvis..."

Hinawakan niya ang gilid ng mukha ko, ang pisngi ko. Pinahid niya ang luhang dumaosdos mula sa aking mata at mahigpit akong niyakap. "Kayla..."

Ngumiti ako nang may luha sa mga mata. "It's me..."

Muli niyang siniksik ang kanyang mukha sa aking leeg. I could feel him crying with me, his shallow sob, his tears on my skin.

"Are you okay now? Can we start over now?"

The crowd seemed to held their own breaths with him, waiting for my answer. I could see my face from the large monitors on the stage, flashed in front of thousands of people. Cameras pointed at my face, thousands of eyes watching me.

But I no longer care. Because I have Jarvis with me.

Hinawakan ko ang kanyang mukha hanggang sa nakatitig kami sa isa't-isa. "Yes, I'm okay now."

Sumilay ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. A smile I've came to know so well, a smile that means comfort and home in a person. "I miss you everyday, Kayla."

"Me too, Jarvis... me too..."

The crowd cheered, Eula was standing on the side, watching me with a proud smile, the rest of the band members were watching from the side of the stage, teasing and hollering their cheers. And here I am, standing in front of the person who've waited patiently for me to heal so I could come back home... to his arms.

Jarvis held both side of my face and in the middle of the cheering crowd, the blinding lights, and the fading music... Jarvis kissed me.

All my life, I've kept myself on the safest side. I piled rocks and created my walls so high no one would dare climb through... so nothing could hurt me anymore. For someone who was deeply wounded, I thought it was my only way to live.

But Jarvis Riley proved me wrong. He didn't only barge in to break down my walls, he taught me to do it until I found myself slowly destroying my walls for him.

Because there are pains worth feeling, emotions worth going through, and people worthy of the love we could give... if we only have the courage to take the risk. It might not guarantee the safety of our hearts, but it could guarantee a love worth experiencing.

And no matter what will happen from this day... I knew I'd be okay with Jarvis on my side. Because we're each other's greatest discovery. With him, I'm home.

—

Kayla Veronica
I'm home

Gagong Jarvis
Welcome back :)

—

THE END.

//

Updated Author's Note:

Saint Claire is officially a series! "Ever So" the second book consisting of Eula and Sancho's story is now up in my profile. See you there!

—

Original Author's Note:

Hi! Finally, the ending both J and K deserved!

Thank you guys so much for reading this story. I had real fun writing SIY and I'm grateful that a lot of you rooted and loved this story as much as I do.

I wrote this story out of sudden whim to try something new but got invested with the characters instead haha! J and K, Eula, and Saint Claire, let's hope to see them again soon.

For now, you can always come back to SIY if you ever miss jarbabe's flirty chats, kayla's cold comebacks, eula's words of advice, and saint claire's cameos haha!

Show the story some love and tweet your feels using our official hashtag #SoItsYouWP or tag me @breatheapril

Until then, my lovely readers!

Your author who created an entire story out of procrastination,
April