Seth woke early the next morning, the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. He moved quietly, careful not to wake Yssa as she slept peacefully beside him. Even though it was a Monday, there was no urgent reason to wake up early. There were no classes today as a special national holiday was being celebrated. 

In the kitchen, he made a hearty breakfast—bacon, fried eggs, hotdogs, fried rice, and coffee. It was special and thoughtful, something to show her how much he cared.

When Yssa stirred, he brought the tray to her, setting it beside her on the bed. They ate together, sharing smiles between bites, and as soon as they had finished, they found themselves drawn back to each other. The intimacy they had shared the night before hadn't faded—it was as intense as ever. Their lovemaking was passionate, a powerful affirmation of the connection they now felt. Yssa arched her back, her body trembling with pleasure as she wrapped her arms around him, their breaths in perfect sync.

Afterward, they showered together, the warmth of the water mixing with the heat between them. They laughed and talked softly as they dressed, knowing they had to go back to Olongapo. The morning sun shone brightly over Ternate, a rare, golden light that seemed to mirror their mood. Seth held her hand tightly, unwilling to let go of the moment they were sharing.

"Seth..." Yssa murmured, gently tugging at his hand as if to draw him fully into her gaze.

"Yes? What is it?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"You know... I'm not usually like this. I don't do this. You understand what I mean, don't you?"

A faint smile played on Seth's lips. "Yeah, I think I do..." He paused, a warmth blooming in his chest. "Thank God, 'cause I'm not like this either. It's only because it's you."

* * *

On the bus ride back, they talked easily, the conversation flowing naturally between them. But every now and then, Seth would pause, his gaze lingering on her. Yssa could feel his eyes on her, and though it made her feel self-conscious, she couldn't help but smile. There was something tender in the way he looked at her, as if he were memorizing every detail.

By noon, they arrived in Olongapo City and took a jeepney to Jeanne's place in Gordon Heights. It was lunchtime and they stayed with Jeanne and Elisha for the rest of the meal. After a quick round of Scrabble with the grade-schooler, they asked permission to leave.

On Monday afternoon, Seth drove Yssa to her apartment, the time they had shared felt far too short. He kissed her goodbye and watched as she waved, standing in the doorway as he backed his car down the street and disappeared onto the main road.

Inside her apartment, Yssa felt the weight of his absence almost immediately. She prepared dinner for herself, but as she sat down to eat, tears began to fall. She missed Seth—his smile, his voice, his presence. She missed the way he cared for her, the way he made her feel seen and cherished. She thought about their conversations, replaying them in her mind, nearly able to recite them word for word. The loneliness crept in slowly, filling the space where he had been.

After dinner, she took a shower, hoping it would help her relax, but even as she lay in bed, she couldn't stop thinking about him. Sleep evaded her, and all she could do was miss him. The minutes dragged on, and it wasn't until the rain began to fall around 9 pm that she finally found some peace. The steady rhythm of the raindrops lulled her into sleep, a bittersweet reminder of the night they had shared.

* * *

"So, what was she like?" Brandon asked as they took their 10 a.m. break. They were in the faculty room, Yssa seated behind her desk while Brandon casually perched on its edge. Both held styrofoam coffee cups and sandwiches, taking advantage of the quiet moment to talk.

"She was beautiful," Yssa began, adjusting the napkin under her sandwich and sighing softly. "Delicate, almost ethereal, and a brilliant poet. She's everywhere in Ternate—her presence fills every corner of their home, every room, even the cottage by the shore. The boats were named after her. The whole town knew who she was." She sipped her coffee, her thoughts distant.

Brandon leaned in a little closer. "Was he still in love with her?"

"She's not really gone," Yssa replied, her voice soft, evasive.

Before Brandon could respond, the telephone rang. He picked it up, curiosity crossing his face.

"Hi, may I speak to Ms. Gonzales?" came the voice on the other end.

"Who's calling?"

"It's Seth."

Brandon grinned, glancing at Yssa. "It's for you," he said, covering the mouthpiece as he handed the phone to her. "Just a moment," he added with a teasing gesture.

Yssa took the phone, trying to remain composed, but the moment Seth's voice filled the line, Brandon noticed her cheeks flush. With a knowing smile, he quietly excused himself from the room.

"Hi, it's me. Seth," he said, his voice slow and uncertain.

"I know," she replied, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Sorry for calling... I just figured it might be your break. I wanted to tell you I've been working on a poem for you. How are you?"

Yssa smiled inwardly. Now he's writing for me? "I'm doing fine," she said softly. "It's nice being back with the children."

"That's good to hear."

"So, you just called to talk about your poem?" she teased.

"No," he paused, and the silence between them felt heavy with something unspoken. "I called because I miss you. I miss everything about you."

Yssa closed her eyes for a moment, letting his words wash over her. Before she could stop herself, she spoke. "Why don't you pick me up after classes today? We could have dinner at the mall."

"Really?" he said, his voice brightening. "I'll be there around five?"

"Yes."

"Great. See you then. Bye."

Just as Seth was about to hang up, Yssa quickly added, "Oh, Seth?"

"What is it?"

"I miss you too."

On the other end of the line, Seth smiled, the first real smile he'd had all day.

"Alright," he said, his voice warm. "I guess this time it's really goodbye."

Yssa giggled softly. "Yes, it's goodbye."

"Should I count down?" he asked, and she laughed.

"If you want to."

"Alright then. One. Two. Three..."

* * *

SOMETIME IN JULY

Life on earth is an endless musical

I get to be the hero, but no one as the heroine

Down in a dark crypt, I lay and wept

Lifting thoughts of remorse and helplessness.

I walked home every night

Lonesome from the company of celestial solitude

Crickets sing a symphony of darkness

My subterfuge futile in cradling me off desolation.

Every morning was a battle to survive

This dreariness, this loneliness that rots my torpid soul

I stayed inside my cubbyhole and waited 'til forever

Knowing that it's impossible that such thing existed.

Birds sang less frequently during the midday

Clouds hid mysteriously the inspiring sun

Heavy rain fell like the expulsion of demons

Nothing seems to matter for there was no reason.

Then a new story began

When God showed me the reason of forever

Sometime in July the sun did shine

And life on earth became worth living once again.

* * *

Around 5 pm, Seth arrived at the school in his white Type R. Yssa greeted him with a warm smile as they said goodbye to Brandon, and together they headed to Sbarro for dinner. Holding hands across the table, they talked softly, lost in each other, unaware of the world around them.

As they ate, Yssa found herself studying him. She wondered if Seth had been as attentive with Kristina as he was with her. It felt like he could read her thoughts without her having to say a word. If she wanted him to hold her hand, he would reach for it instinctively. When she needed to talk, he would simply listen, offering no interruptions. And when she wanted to understand his feelings, she only had to look at his face to see everything. No one—not even Glenn—had ever treated her like this. But how? He had only known her for a few weeks. How could he feel so much at home?

After a quiet moment, Seth slid closer to her, handing her a small piece of folded paper. The edges were carefully burnt, giving it a delicate, worn look. She unfolded it to reveal a poem in his handwriting, titled "Sometime in July." Her heart fluttered. He had written this for her. She smiled as she read, and when she looked up, she saw Seth watching her, waiting.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice filled with emotion. "I love it."

"I'm glad you do," he replied, his eyes never leaving hers.

"How could I not love it? You wrote it," she said with a playful smile before resting her head on his shoulder.

Seth wrapped his arm around her, gently stroking her hair. "I hope that poem always reminds you that I'm in love with you."

Yssa smiled coyly. "It might."

He smiled, his tone growing more serious. "Well, I love you so much, and I don't want you to ever forget that."

She gazed into his eyes, feeling the weight of his words. "I love you, too," she whispered.