This light of mine sets me on fire
She build me up, she break me down
Couldn't even let go; tell me, would you let go
Of what keeps you alive? Keeps you alive?

--Alive by Iyaz feat Nash of Hot Chelle Rae

--

Lena was frozen for a while, but when he asked her to come out and give him a hug, her feet suddenly had lives of their own. Dali-dali siyang tumakbo palabas ng cafe, ignoring the curious glances from the customers.

Sa kamamadali ay natalapid pa siya paglabas. Good thing he was able to catch her.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded. Her legs were still wobbly. Her arms, tingling from his touch. She caught his familiar scent. Mas lalo siyang nanghina.

"S-See how I still fall for you?" she joked lamely.

He laughed merrily and pulled her close. She let out a sigh and just melted in his arms. Wala na siyang pake sa mga tao sa paligid nila. She was just thankful that he's finally home.

"I missed you so much," she told him.

He cupped her face and tilted it up. "I missed you more," he whispered before bending his head down to kiss her.

Niyakap siya nito nang mahigpit pagkatapos.

"Go to the back, you two. You're making my customers uncomfortable," she heard her mom say. Tinapik nito si Cyrus sa balikat. "Welcome home, Hijo."

Cyrus nodded in acknowledgement. He took his luggage and held her hand with his other hand. Pumasok sila sa cafe, diretso sa staff room. She shot Alex a worried look when Cyrus saw him. But the two guys just nodded to each other. Alex went back to what he's doing as Cyrus closed the door behind him.

He set his luggage aside and sat down on the couch, pulling her next to him.

"Welcome home," she told him before planting a soft kiss on his lips. She leaned on his shoulder and added, "I thought you were angry at me."

"Sorry. Hindi na ako nagreply kasi baka masabi ko sa 'yong uuwi na ako. Hindi na 'yon surprise kung nagkataon."

Yumakap siya rito. "Bakit pala napaaga ang uwi mo?"

"Because I want to say sorry for what I did, in person. I don't want to just leave it at that. Tama ka, wala naman talaga akong dapat ipagselos. I should have been more mature. I'm sorry."

"I forgive you."

He kissed her hair. "I love you."

He began smothering her with kisses, that suddenly felt like freshly made pancakes. She didn't know where she got that. It just reminded her of that. And the sweetness of his lips reminded her of maple syrup.

"What's so funny?" he asked. Nakakunot ang noo nito sa kanya.

"Nothing. Was I laughing?"

"You were laughing and giggling. If I didn't know better, I'd think you're laughing at me."

"May naisip lang akong nakakatawa."

"What?"

"Pancakes." She bit her lip, trying to control her laughter.

Lalong kumunot ang noo nito. "What's so funny about pancakes?"

"Nothing. Bigla-bigla na lang kasing pumasok sa isip ko kaya sya nakakatawa."

"Gutom ka ba?"

"Yata? Hindi pa ako kumakain, e."

He shot her a worried look. "Lena..."

"I didn't have an appetite this morning," she explained. "Hindi ka nga kasi nagri-reply."

"I'll get you something to eat."

He was already heading to the door when she pulled him back. Pinaupo niya ito at siya naman ang tumayo.

"Ako na."

"All right."

She kissed his cheek and got out of the staff room. Alex gave her a weird look when he saw her.

"Kanina lang para kang namatayan, tapos ngayon..." Umiling ito. "Iba na talaga kapag in love."

"Hayaan mo na," singit ng mommy niya.

She beamed at them. "I'll get some waffles and coffee. Pakibawas na lang sa sweldo ko, Mommy."

Her mom laughed. "Wala ka na ngang siswelduhin, e."

Working at the cafe has its perks and downsides. And pastries are both. Hindi niya kayang palipasin ang maghapon na hindi kumukuha ng fudge brownies o cheesecake. At dahil wala naman siyang pambayad, ibinabawas na lamang sa sweldo niya ang mga nakukuha niya.

Her salary isn't much, so she's pretty sure na barya na lamang ang natitira doon ngayon.

But who would care about money if the love of your life is just in the other room?

While she's just prepping for two cups of coffee, the staff room door opened and Cyrus peeked outside. Agad siyang lumapit dito.

"What?"

"I want to talk to Alex."

"What? No!"

"I'm just going to talk to him, Lena," he told her. "Gusto ko lang makilala ang kaibigan mo."

"Can you promise not to do anything rash?"

He smiled and kissed her nose. "Promise."

She was still a bit hesitant, pero tinawag na rin niya si Alex. Siguro naman ay walang ibang gagawin si Cyrus dahil nasa cafe ang mommy niya. She reminded him to not attempt to do anything funny and then went back to making coffee.

She poured the brewed coffee into two large white cups and then decorated them with milk froth and cocoa powder. Tapos ay kumuha siya ng dalawang Belgian waffles, iniinit iyon at saka nilagyan ng whipped cream at chocolate syrup. She added mango slices in hers and berries in Cyrus's, because she knew he wouldn't want his food to be too sweet.

She headed back to the staff room when Alex went out. Mukha namang maayos ang naging pag-uusap ng dalawa dahil walang black eye si Alex.

"Did you make these?" Cyrus asked when she put the tray down.

"I made the coffee." She took one cup and handed it to him. "Taste it. Tell me what you think."

"Okay. But don't lean in too close. Baka mabuhusan ka."

She leaned back and eagerly waited for his reaction. She felt validated when he tasted it and gave her thumbs up.

"Masarap ba talaga?" paninigurado niya. "Baka naman sinasabi mo lang, ha."

"When did I ever lie to you?" pabalik nitong tanong.

"Okay. Touché." She hooked her arms around his shoulder. "What did you tell Alex?"

"Secret," he said dismissively as he took another sip of the coffee she made.

"Ano nga?"

"Basta," pakli nito. "Don't worry, we're friends now."

Cyrus took a slice of the Belgian waffle and fed her. He spent the next minutes feeding her habang siya naman ay maya't maya itong kinukulit kung ano ang sinabi nito kay Alex. Then he would kiss her to shut her up.

It's the happiest she's been since he left for Dubai.

"Let's go somewhere else," he said later.

"Where?"

"I have a surprise for you," he answered. And like all surprises, she waited for the right moment until it was revealed, because he wouldn't tell.