The car stopped in front of an unfamiliar villa. Agaw pansin iyon kumpara sa mga kalapit na villa.

I turned to Creed, seating at the driver seat and asked. "Seriously, who are we meeting?"

Last night, he told me that we'll meet someone and he needs to talk to that someone. Crizzette's not with us 'cause Mirae asked if she can bring Crizzy with her, mukha namang gusto rin ni Crizzette kaya naman hinayaan ko na lang.

I can't stop smiling every time I remember her. Isang buwan na ang nakalipas simula nang malaman ko na anak ko si Crizzette. Wala akong sinayang na oras na hindi siya kasama simula nang araw na iyon. Mommy fainted after hearing that news. Hindi rin siya makapaniwala sa nagawa ni Lolo.

"A friend." Creed answered and a smile crept in his face. I frowned. A friend whom he needs to talk to? I kept on thinking whose he's referring. Hindi ko maisip kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.

Lumabas si Creed ng sasakyan bago umikot at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto.

The wind blew and we were greeted with the cold breeze. I looked at my left and I was blinded by the rays coming from the sun. Agad kong itinapat ang kamay sa direksyon ng araw upang maharangan noon ang aking mata.

I saw the palm trees near the shore, dancing with the wind. Sinalikop ko ang aking buhok dahil patuloy itong sumusunod sa ihip ng hangin.

I felt Creed in my back as he held my hair. "Let me," He muttered. I let him do what he want and I tried hard to suppressed a smile when I felt him tying my hair.

"Done." Lumakad siya sa tabi ko at inilahad sa akin ang kanyang kamay. "Ready?"

I gave him a smile as I held his hand. We started walking near the entrance of the villa.

Hindi pa kami nakakalapit doon ay bumukas na ang pinto nito at lumabas ang isang hindi pamilyar na babae, nakatungo ito at mabagal na naglalakad patungo sa aming direksyon.

I frowned. Habang papalapit ay unti-unti kong nakita ang kabuuan ng mukha niya. No, she looks familiar. Hindi ko lang maalala kung nagkakilala na ba kami dati.

Nagangat ito ng tingin at unang tumama ang kanyang mga mata kay Creed. Bahagyang itong natigilan at nagpalipat-lipat sa amin ang tingin ngunit agad ding nakabawi at tipid na ngumiti.

I saw Creed slightly nodded his head from the side of my eyes. Nang tuluyan kaming makalapit sa babae ay agad na nagtanong si Creed. "Where are you going?"

The woman cleared her throat before answering. "Just, somewhere. Babalik din ako." Marahang sambit nito.

"How is he?" Creed asked. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang tinutukoy niya ngunit siguro ay iyon ang sadya namin.

"He's inside, he's fine, I guess." She smiled but it didn't reached her eyes.

Napakunot ang aking noo nang bahagya siyang yumuko sa amin bago tuluyang umalis.

We walked towards the entrance of the villa. Akmang kakatok si Creed nang marahas na bumukas ang pinto noon at bumungad sa amin ang pamilyar na bulto.

I felt my jaw literally fell opened as my eyes enlarged after seeing who opened the door. Bahagyang nakakunot ang noo nito at unti-unti iyong nawala nang makita niya kami ni Creed. Napansin ko na hirap ito sa pagtayo kaya naman bumaba ang aking tingin sa kanyang mga paa. I saw him gripping the standard walker to support his weight.

Bahagya pang nangatal ang aking mga tuhod dahil sa pagkagulat kaya't humigpit ang hawak ko kay Creed. Agad rin naman niya akong naalalayan.

"Fuck," I whispered as I turned to Creed with my eyes full of questions and he just smiled at me.

"W-why am I seeing a ghost?" I stammered.

"You're not." I heard a familiar voice and that confirms what I'm thinking.

"You're fucking alive!"

"Luckily, I am." Bahagya itong ngumiti bago tuluyang binuksan ang pinto upang kami ay makapasok. "I heard your daughter's alive and the two of you already found her," Sambit nito bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng villa na agad naman naming sinundan ni Creed.

Creed nodded his head as he hummed. "Guess who."

Napalingon si Dasher dahil sa sinabi ni Creed at ngumisi lang ang huli.

"Who?" Kunot noong tanong ni Dasher.

"Crizzette." Sabay na sagot namin ni Creed.

Sandali namang natigilan si Dash at ilang beses napakurap. "Seriously? How?"

"Armando." Simpleng sagot ni Creed bago napabaling sa akin si Dash at ilang ulit tumango na para bang ang isang salita na sinabi ni Creed ay sapat na upang maintindihan ang lahat.

We sat down on the couch as we talked about my daughter and some random things. Ilang sandali pa ay nakita ko ang pagpasok ng babae na nakasalubong namin kanina. Bahagyang itong ngumiti sa amin ni Creed bago dumiretso ng lakad at hindi man lang nilingon si Dasher. Bumaling ako kay Dash at nahuli ang pagsunod ng mariing titig niya sa babae.

"Who is she?" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na hindi magtanong.

"My nurse."

My brow automatically rose up because of two reasons. First, She doesn't looks like a nurse. Based on first impression, I can say that its either she's an architect or an interior designer. Second, she doesn't looks like just a nurse to Dasher. I saw the way he looked at her. It's kinda familiar, and I can't help but smirk. Dasher's clueless, I must say.

Marahan akong napatango bago nagpaalam sa dalawa.

Nagtungo ako sa direksyon kung saan dumiretso ang sinasabi ni Dasher na nurse niya. Naabutan ko itong nasa kusina at naghihiwa ng kulay berdeng gulay na hindi pamilyar sa akin.

Nagtama ang aming mga mata at tipid itong ngumiti sa akin.

"I'm Lavinia, you are?"

"Cam--" Bahagya itong natigilan. "Maureen."

I raised my brow up. Don't tell me she almost forgot her name.

"So you're Dasher's..." Sinadya kong putulin ang sasabihin.

"Nurse." Agap nito.

"You're not a nurse," I stated and her smile slowly faded because of it. Natigilan siya sa ginagawa at napalingon sa akin.

Agad akong napangisi dahil sa reaksyon niya. I don't know if I'm just observant or she's really that transparent.

"I-I am a nurse." Maureen tried to smile but it immediately faded away. Muntik pa iyong mauwi sa isang ngiwi.

I tilted my head. "Sure, you are."

Nanatili siyang nakatitig sa akin at para bang hindi alam ang gagawin. "I won't tell them, unless they asked."

"W-wala akong masamang balak kay Dash."

"I know." I smiled at her. Her face looks so angelic. And I trust my instinct. First look and I already knew she's someone who has a pure heart. I don't know why she's pretending as Dasher's nurse but it's not my concern anymore. Besides, it's not my story to tell so I'll leave it to her.

I slightly leaned on the countertop in front of her. "So tell me, are you an architect? Interior designer? Or anything related to art?"

Natigilan ito at ilang beses napakurap sa akin. Bakas ang katanungan sa mga mata. "How did you know?"

"First impression?" I shrugged my shoulders. "So you're an archi or interior designer?"

"Both," She answered.

Marahan at ilang ulit akong napatango. "Can I help you?"

"Y-you know how to..."

"Of course. But, what do you call that?" I pointed the green vegetable in front of her.

"Oh! They called this upo. I'm not familiar with this too, but it tastes better than the bitter gourd."

Several hours after lunch, I found myself walking towards the seaside. I saw the waves crawling out of the shore after drenching the sand as I heard the murmuring symphony of it.

I stopped near the dock and saw a yacht in front of it. Kanina ay hindi ko napansin ang yate na iyon.

It seems like there's a celebration inside that yacht, or more like, a wedding because of the decorations.

I can see a few people moving in the yatch but I can't see their faces clearly because of the distance.

I was about to go back to the villa when I felt arms encircled around my waist. Bahagya akong lumingon at mabilis na inabot ang kanyang mga labi matapos kong makumpirma kung sino iyon.

He smirked and I felt something moving inside my stomach.

I faced him and encircled my arms around his waist as I leaned on his chest. Ang isang braso niya ay nanatili sa aking baywang habang ang kabilang kamay niya ay marahang humahaplos sa aking buhok.

"Thank you." Napaangat ako ng tingin dahil sa sinabi niya. I looked at him with my eyes full of confusion.

Creed kissed my forehead and he made me leaned on his chest as he continued. "Thank for being there. I don't know what I'd do without you." I stared at him and I saw everything. I don't think I need his words because his eyes already says it all. But anyway, I want to hear it.

"I know my sorry isn't enough but still, I'm sorry I forgot you for six years." I can feel my whole body trembling as I look and listen to him. I bit my lower lip when I felt tears on both side of my eyes. While Creed? He looked so serious while looking at me as he speak. "I-I don't think I still deserve you but fuck it! I don't care! You're mine, Vinia. You gave me everything. You made me remember everything. You make me feel something, something I don't know I can feel."

Mariin akong napapikit nang maramdaman ang pagtulo ng aking mga luha. I pressed my forefinger on his lips to stop him.

"I should be the one telling you that." Napangiti naman ako nang nakita ko na natigilan siya. "You know...I almost gave up on you and I am thankful that I didn't. If I did gave up back then, I can see how miserable I am every time I'll see you with another woman. When you're happy with her, I can see myself smiling yet this..." I placed my forefinger near chest where my is located. "I can feel this breaking, it hurts. Kahit paulit-ulit kong isipin, masakit pa rin."

His eyes softened as he wiped the tears on my cheeks. "Shhh, you're my only woman, Vinia. Remember that."

I was about to answer when I heard a voice shouted. "Sana all!"

Agad kaming napabaling sa pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon. I saw teenagers near Creed's back while looking at our direction.

"Ate, pakasalan mo na 'yan!" Sigaw ng isa sa kanila kaya naman naramdaman ko ang paginit ng aking pisngi.

Wala sa sariling napakalas ako kay Creed. I don't know why I started walking back in a fast way towards the villa. Narinig ko ang pagtawag niya sa akin ngunit hindi ko siya nilingon. Ramdam ko pa rin ang paginit ng aking pisngi.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad dahil sa narinig.

"Everyone please join me in welcoming for the first time as husband and wife, Mr. And Mrs. Arevalo!" Aside from the groom and the bride, a wedding arch full of flowers highlighted the place. The bride's dress' swaying with the wind while the people's cheering for the newly wed.

Napakunot ang noo ko at sa huli ay napangiti. Bakit parang and daming kinakasal ngayon? Ipinagkibit balikat ko iyon at wala sa sariling napalingon sa kaninang kinaroroonan namin ni Creed at naramdaman ko ang pagbagsak ng aking mga balikat nang makita na wala na siya roon.

I saw something moved from the side of my eyes that's why I immediately turned to that direction.

I saw Creed kneeling in front of me using his one knee while smiling. "Habang tumatagal," Sambit ni Creed at nagtataka akong napatingin sa kanya.

"Huh?" Wala sa sariling sagot ko sa kanya.

"Habang tumatagal, lalo kitang minamahal. I can't live for another year without you, Vinia." May kinuha siya galing sa kanyang likuran at doon na ako natigilan.

Naramdaman ko ang paglaglag ng aking panga. Mabilis akong napatakip sa aking bibig at hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na hindi mapasinghap dahil sa nakita.

He's now holding a small velvet box with a princess cut diamond ring in it.

"I won't ask you but please, marry me. Please, spend the rest of your life with me, together with our daughter and our future kids. Please, be my wife-"

Hindi pa tapos si Creed ay paulit ulit na akong tumango. "Yes! Yes, I will!"

Ilang sandaling natulala si Creed habang nakatitig sa akin na para hindi maproseso ang aking sagot bago tuluyang napakurap at bahagyang namilog ang mga mata.

"Fucking yes!" He shouted.

He slowly slid the ring on my finger. Bahagya pa siyang natagalan sa pagsusuot dahil sa panginginig ng kanyang kamay.

He kissed my hand before he rose up as he leaned to give me a kiss. His hand held my cheek while the his other hand's holding my nape to deepened the kiss as he tilted his head. My eyes shut closed as I kissed him back and I encircled my arms around his neck. I am drowning with our kisses until I opened my eyes and saw people looking at our direction.

Agad akong natigilan at ganoon din si Creed. He held my cheeks as he leaned on me and my eyes automatically shut closed when I felt his soft lips touched my forehead. Tila ba nakalimutan ko na naman na may mga taong nakatingin sa amin.

Naglandas ang kanyang kamay pababa sa aking kamay at mahigpit na hinawakan iyon. "Let's get married," He whispered.

I nodded my head as I smile while looking at him like he's the only one I can see. "If only I can marry you right now, I'll gladly will."

Lumawak ang ngiti niya at muli na namang inabot ang aking labi para sa isang mabilis na halik. "I mean, let's get married, right now."

I stilled for a while and I just found myself nodding my head. He pulled me closer as he encircled his hands around me and whispered. "I love you." Matapos ay pinakawalan niya ako ngunit nanatili sa aking baywang ang kanyang braso.

We started walking towards the shore and I turned to him with my questioning eyes. Ngumiti lang siya sa akin at bahagyang ginulo ang aking buhok habang nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad.

I stopped when we arrived at the floating dock. May unti-unting nabubuo sa aking isipan at nakumpirma ko iyon nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses galing sa aking anak. "Mommy!" I saw Archer at the side deck of the yacht while Crizzette's in his arms.

"Shall we?" Napakurap na lamang ako kay Creed at naramdaman ko ang paggiya niya sa akin patungo sa yate.

He even held my hand to help me enter the yacht. Nang makapasok kami ay doon ko nakilala ang mga tao na naroroon at natitigang mabuti ang mga dekorasyon.

The combination of white, blush pink, and gold's screaming elegance and it seems like the sky's celebrating with us. The pink sky's illuminating the yacht's decorations. Tamang-tama ang kulay ng langit sa kulay ng mga dekorasyon.

I saw Mirae with her husband, Vynz on her side. Our eyes met and she raised her brow up on me while she has a playful smirk on her lips. I saw Astrid smiling at me. Naroon din si Dasher at si Maureen na kanina lang ay kasama namin sa villa, pati na rin si Theo, Tyler's brother, my cousin. Nagtama ang aming mga mata at bahagya siyang ngumiti sa akin at tumango.

Archer's still carrying my daughter. Agad namang bumaba si Crizzy nang makita kami at dumiretso sa amin ni Creed.

We greeted each other for a couple of minutes. Nalaman ko na ang kapatid pala ni Vynz ang asawa ni Astrid, though Hoax is not here. At ang mga tao na naririto ay iilan ang mga taong nakakaalam na buhay si Dasher.

"Shall we start?" An unfamiliar man spoke. I can tell that he'll be the one who'll officiate the wedding just by looking at him.

I lowered my gazed on the clothes I am wearing, a black jumpsuit. I shook my head. "I'm not yet fucking ready!"

__________