This chapter is for the considerate readers. Yung marunong maghintay. Kung ikaw yun, then consider this dedicated to you. Salamat.

--

So don't you worry 'bout a thing
Or all the miles in between
You have my heart
You had it from the start
I'll love you from afar
I hear them say
That what we have may fade away
But I refuse
We'll never lose

--Near or Far by Us The Duo (salamat sa nag-suggest!)

--

LDR is proving to be very hard for the both of them, but Lena knew that she shouldn't give up, because Cyrus is always finding a way to make the relationship work. He sends her flowers every day. Nagustuhan kasi niya ang mga iyon. They really look like branches, especially the baby's breath. So Cyrus made a promise to send her one every day.

She wished that she could send him something, but he told her that he doesn't mind not receiving any gift. Still, naghanap pa rin siya ng paraan para matapatan ang efforts nito. It's not that she was competing against him. She just wants to make him feel loved as much as he makes her feel loved.

She never thought that she could be sweet. She never thought that she'd want to be sweet to anyone, ever. But Cyrus is special. He brought out the side of her that she never knew she has. Kaya rin pala niyang gawin ang ginagawa ng ibang tao.

And it's not only towards Cyrus. Napansin niyang naging showy at expressive din siya pagdating sa ibang tao. Sabi nga ng mommy niya, magandang influence daw ito sa kanya. Not only did she learn to open her heart to him, but she also gained confidence in herself. She didn't get out of her comfort zone. It was more like her comfort zone expanded. Those uncharted territories before now seem so familiar to her. It was quite a change, she could hardly believe it.

Everyone around her is taking notice of that change as well. Some told her that she seems to be more attractive. Tama nga siguro ang sinasabi ng ilan na nakakaganda lalo ang confidence. She feels beautiful. That makes her smile a lot. She was no longer the shriveled soul she was before.

Kung napapansin man iyon ni Cyrus, wala itong kumento. He just makes sure to compliment her whenever there's a chance. Like that one time she stayed up all night trying to learn how to put makeup properly on her own. Birthday kasi ni Cyrus kinabukasan. She told him to wake up at 12, so they could video chat. She wanted to be the first one to greet him.

Hindi na siya natulog dahil inayos pa niya iyong cake para kay Cyrus. At 3:30 in the morning, she brought the cake to her room. She changed into a pretty blue dress that she bought with her own salary and put the makeup on.

At exactly 4:00, she called him to greet him a happy birthday. He was still wide awake, unlike her na mapapikit lang ay paniguradong makakatulog na.

"Happy birthday!" she greeted. She showed him the cake. "Make a wish and I'll blow the candle."

Cyrus smiled. "Please blow the candle. I already got what I wished for."

He was staring so intently when he said that, it sent shivers down her spine. She blew the candle and put the cake on the bedside table.

"I wish I could give you something," she told him.

"You prepared for my birthday. That's enough for me." He pointed at her dress. "And you even put on a dress."

She stood up to show him the full length. "Do you like it?"

"It's pretty," he said with a nod. "Who did your makeup?"

"I did," she answered. "Do you like it?"

"Getting greedy on the compliments, aren't we?"

She smiled sheepishly. "I just want to know if you like it, para gagawin ko nang mas madalas."

Cyrus shook his head. "Not that I don't like it, I just don't think that it's you. You're more you when your freckles are visible."

"So mas gusto mo 'yong version ko na maputla ang mukha at magulo ang buhok?"

"You're beautiful either way, Lena. You don't have to try so hard."

"Lacey said that if I get comfortable being my everyday self, there's a chance that I will become complacent. Baka sa susunod, magreklamo ka naman dahil hindi ako nag-aayos."

"I just want you to look healthy and happy. That's what's more important to me. I'm glad that you're trying to better yourself, but please do it for yourself. I'm already happy when you're happy."

"Why are you so solemn right now?"

Cyrus chuckled. "I don't know. Siguro dahil madaling-araw na." He touched the screen and continued, "Or maybe it's because I just miss you so much. Do you know how badly I want to kiss you right now?"

She could imagine. Maybe it's as much as she wants to kiss him.

"You're just a few weeks away from coming home," she reminded him.

"I know. Parang ayaw ko na ngang umuwi, e."

That made her frown. "Why not?"

"Because I might not want to come back here."

"Cy..."

"Or I might take you back with me."

"I would not want to go. Intindihin mo lang ako do'n. And I actually like my new school. I want to finish college." It was half true. She only wanted to finish it because she didn't want to disappoint her father again. Baka pagalitan siya nito kapag nagbago ulit ang isip niya.

"Sayang. My Arab boss saw your furniture designs and artworks on Instagram. He said that he wants to buy them. Kahit magkano raw."

"Really?"

"Yep. Pwede kang yumaman dito by selling your old stuff. Plus, you can make new designs and we can mass produce them. You'll be well paid."

It was tempting, she had to admit. If only she didn't already commit to studying.

"I already promised dad that I'll finish college."

"Sige. Pagka-graduate mo na lang."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Hindi ka pa ba inaantok? Umaga na, o. May pasok ka pa mamaya."

"I don't want to sleep yet."

"We'll talk again later, Lena. Huwag kang masyadong magpuyat. Masama sa katawan 'yan."

"I drank a lot of coffee last night kaya hindi rin ako makakatulog agad."

"You still need to rest. Magbihis ka na."

"All right. But let's keep talking, okay? Babalik din ako agad."

Dali-dali niyang dinala sa kusina ang cake at inilagay sa fridge. Then she headed to the bathroom to remove the makeup on her face. Lastly, she put her pajamas on and ran back to her bedroom as fast as she could. Nagulat pa ito nang bigla siyang sumulpot. The laptop was almost knocked off of the bed when she dove in.

"Careful!"

"Sorry."

She went under the blanket and placed the laptop on top of it.

"What are we talking about again?"

"'Yong pagpupuyat mo."

"Nagpupuyat ka rin naman, a."

"Ngayon lang kaya. And it's just almost one o'clock here."

"Ayaw mo na yata akong kausap, e," simangot niyang sabi.

"Kung pwede nga lang na maghapon at magdamag tayong magkausap, e, bakit hindi? But we need to rest."

She sighed. "Okay. But don't end the call. Nasa ibaba sina Bailey, wala akong katabi rito."

"Really? Then who's that beside you?"

She yelped. "Cy!"

"I'm kidding!" he said with a laugh.

"Lalo akong hindi makakatulog nyan, e!"

"Sorry na. Try to sleep now."

"After that?!"

"Sorry na nga, e," panunuyo nito. "Sige na, matulog ka na. I'll watch over you."

She set the laptop next to her and lied down facing it. "Matulog ka na rin."

"Pagkatapos mo."

"Pero baka matagalan bago ako makatulog."

"It's okay, Lena. Just close your eyes and try to sleep."

She nodded and did as she was told.

"Good night."

"Good night. I love you."

She opened her eyes, blew him a kiss and whispered, "I love you, too."