"I'm your one and only, only when you're lonely

Baby why you callin me?

Not another one night

Try'na be your whole life

I don't wanna fall asleep

I'm your one and only, only when you're lonely

Baby why you callin me?

Not another one night

Try'na be your whole life

I can't keep sleeping in your bed

If you keep messing with my head

Before I slip under your sheets

Can you give me something, please?

I can't keeping touching you like this

If it's just temporary bliss

Just temporary bliss

Temporary bliss"

--

It's been three days since that good bye happened. He didn't receive anything from her. No apology, no begging, not even one phone call. Ano pa nga ang aasahan nya rito? Sigurado namang marami pa rin itong options bukod sa kanya.

She never runs out of men. Mawala ang isa, marami pa ring reserba. Sya? Wala. Si Charlie lang.

Divine? Well... he couldn't really love her. He realized that it is better this way. He's alone. Walang inaasahan at walang pinapaasa.

"Sir, wala na pong medium. Puro large na lang po at small." He came back to reality because of that voice. The saleslady was bearing an apologetic expression nang hindi nito maibigay ang gusto niya, which is a medium sized polo-shirt.

"Never mind then."

He walked out of the store. Naisip niyang mamili na lamang ng groceries. Wala na nga palang laman ang ref niya. He picked up a basket at the entrance and headed first to the fruit section. Pinuno niya ang basket ng apples and mangoes, his and her favorite.

Napailing siya sa sarili. Kakalimutan na nga di ba? Smiling, he put them back on their trays and picked up a bunch of fresh grapes instead.

"Earl."

Natigilan siya nang marinig na naman ang boses ni Charlie. Pero panandalian lang. He must be imagining things. Sa sobrang pagka-hangover nya kay Charlie ay nagiging delusional na rin sya.

"Earl!"

Damn it Sen, stop imagining things! Naglakad sya papuntang meat section. And just as he was about to pick a whole chicken, narinig na naman niya ang boses ni Charlie. Mas malakas, mas maingay at mas parang totoo.

"Earl Jansen Madrigal, you're not imagining things. It's me! Charlie..." Parang nanggagaling sa mga speakers ang boses na iyon. "I'm sorry for everything Earl. I know I wasn't a good girlfriend to you. No, actually I was really horrible. And I'm sorry."

He heard her sigh. Hindi na siya makagalaw sa kinatatayuan niya. He was listening intently to what she has to say. Sobrang kumakabog na ang puso nya ng mga oras na yun. It was her first time to exert an effort for him. Kung kailan naman huli na...

"About the marriage thing..."

Lalo na syang hindi nakahinga. His thought process seemed to stop. Wala siyang ibang maisip kundi ang boses na yun at kung paano siya nababaliw ngayon sa mga sinasabi nito. Napansin niyang nakatingin na sa kanya at sa likuran niya ang mga tao.

Napalunok siya, his throat getting dry.

Nilingon niya at sinundan ang tingin ng ibang mamimili. She was standing on the aisle across him, wearing this pink tube dress with a puffy skirt and silver high-heeled shoes. Nakalugay ang paalon-alon nitong buhok.

"I know how much it hurt you when I said no. And I know that... you probably don't want me back but I—" Napansin niya ang hawak nitong maliit na box. Charlie opened it. Inside was an engagement ring.

Lumapit ito sa kanya and to his surprise, she knelt before him.

"Charlie..."

"These past few days I've been thinking. Sooner or later, I know I would love to get married too. At baka kung papatagalin ko pa, tuluyan ka ng mawala sa 'kin. Earl... would you do me the honor of putting this ring on my finger and making me yours forever?"

Hindi na niya napigilan ang sarili. He dropped the basket at saka niya itinayo ang dalaga.

"What do you think you're doing?" he hissed at her.

"Marry me please..." mangiyak-ngiyak nitong sabi. "I love you." Yumakap ito ng mahigpit sa kanya. He could smell the alcohol from her. It was intoxicating...

"Have you been drinking?" nag-aalala niyang tanong dito.

"Yes," she answered with a pout. "I need the power of the alcohol to help me say these things to you."

"Charlie..."

She pulled his face to her and kissed his mouth shut. When she ended the kiss, she looked up to him. "Marry me." This time, it was given as a command.

"If I am to marry you, dapat ay sa akin ka lang. No more flings."

She nodded. "No more flings."

"You can't go to bars."

Napataas ang kilay nito. "Even in my own?"

Napaisip siya. "Well, I guess you could, pero dapat kasama ako. And you will not be allowed to drink or dress slutty. I want them to respect you, not ogle you."

"Okay sir!" Kumawit ito sa leeg nya. "So you'll marry me then?"

He stooped down and kissed her hard.

"I was just waiting for you to ask."