Stella's POV

Imbes na sa makalawa pa kami papuntang Davao ay umalis na kami. Hindi ko alam kung ilang araw, linggo, o baka buwan kaming mananatili. Norman and Conrad will do a project, and when it comes to project, the two will more likely stayed for more than a week. It's okay for me. Iba kasi ang iniisip ko. Iniisip ko si Rigo. At least sa Davao mabibisita ko siya sa mga taong nag-aruga sa kanya, at madalas ko siyang makikita.

Nagpaalam na muna ako kina Mama at Marvin. Ganito naman talaga ang trabaho ko. Palagi akong nalalayo sa kanila at hindi na bago ito. Nagpaalam na rin ako kay Tilda. Tatawag nalang ako din madalas sa kanya.

We took the last flight for Davao because it was more faster and easy for Norman. I am easy in any way, but surprisingly were using one of Norman's private plane. Hindi ko nga alam na meron pala siya nito rito. Ang dami niyang sekreto na hindi ko pa alam. Pero sa pamilya niya raw ang private plane na ito. Pagmamay-ari ng boung pamilya niya sa Davao.

When I heard him, I was left in awe. Inisip ko agad na ma-impluwensya ang pamilya ni Norman at siguro isa sa pinakamayang tao sa Pilipinas.

Well, I know that Norman is a Mondragon, and being a Mondragon is a royalty blood, especially if you belong to the Billionaires Boys Club. I know this, because of Atticus and Xavion. Kahit papaano ay napag-aralan ko na ang kompanya nila.

Hapon na nang makarating kami sa Davao International Airport. Ang boung akala ko sa centro kami, pero hindi pa pala, dahil pina-check lang ng piloto niya ang kabuuan ng eroplano at sumakay kami muli rito.

Then we were back up in the air. 

When I looked out the window to see what was below, I saw the beautiful green island that was shaped like a heart.

"That's my Island, babe, the Dream Island Amore de Pazzo." Ngiti niya sabay halik sa balikat ko.

"Really? That's a beautiful name. . . Dream Island of Crazy Love?" Pilyang ngiti ko sa kanya.

"Naalala ko tuloy 'yan noong unang taon ko sa high school. Gumawa kami ng project name noon sa isang Isla, filipino subject."

His brows furrowed while staring at me. "And?"

"At sa maniwala ka't hindi ay 'yan ang pangalan ng Islang ginawa ko. Napanaginipan ko lang iyon, noon. . . a place like a heaven on earth where you can live like in a forest but it's closer to the deep blue sea. The island of love and crazy hearts, the Dream Island Amore de Pazzo."

I don't know what it is, but Norman's facial expression was priceless. His mouth parted and face down, he shook his head. Napahilamos siya sa dalawang palad sa mukha niya bago siya nag-angat muli ng tingin sa akin.

"May I know who your Filipino teacher/professor was at that time?"

"Ah, si Professor Emmanuel Molina. Ang bait nga niya. Alam mo ba na ako ang kinuha niya noon na mag presenta sa ginawa ko. Namangha kasi siya, pero kasi mahiyain ako noon. I signed something that gaves him the authority to present my work on his behalf. Narinig ko nga na may kumuha raw sa pangalan ng Isla ko. I got five percent on that you know! Ten thousand! Malaking halaga na. Binenta ko ang pangalan." Kindat ko sa kanya.

I looked at Norman. He is staring at me with so much love and affection.

"A-Ano? Na-impress ka ano? Akala mo siguro walang utak ang girlfriend mo. Alam mo ba—" I could not finish, Norman interrupted me before I could finish speaking.

Hinalikan lang naman ako ni Norman sa harapan nang dalawang stewardess na nandito!

"I got you." Lawak na ngiti niya at halik ulit sa labi ko.

"W-What?"

"That was me! I read the story behind your dream on that Island and got hooked immediately."

My mouth parted, and I could not believe it! Si Norman iyon? What a joke! I silently uttered.

"Yes, babe. What a joke, right?" He smiled and kissed me again.

Para kaming baliw na naghahalikan dito. Huminto rin agad ako, dahil masyadong nakakahiya na. Pinag-fiestahan na kami nang iilan sa kanila na nandito.

They obviously knew who Norman is, and as for me? Hmp, probably a puzzle for them. Panay pa ang tingin nila sa cellphone nila at sa akin, at pabalik-balik pa. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung ano ang meron. Pero bahala na.

Nang maglanding ito sa bahagi ng Isla ay mas lalong namangha ako. I never thought that the sunset is so perfect at this part. Parang ang lapit-lapit ko na sa araw at ang laki-laki nito. Hindi rin nagtagal ang eroplano. Pagkatapos makausap ni Norman ang piloto ay umalis na agad sila rito.

My mouth parted for the second time. Well, the first was when I saw how beautiful the sunset was, and the second was when I saw the side of the Island.

My Dream Island Amore de Pazzo. It's precisely the same as how I described it in my dream.

Kaya pala nagtagal si Norman sa Japan at Hongkong. Ang parteng pera na nakuha niya ay ginugol niya lahat dito. 

It's absolutely breathtaking and so beautiful. It's a billion-dollar worth of project, and yet, he's halfway from it.

"Do you like it? Does it seem the same as what you've pictured?" Hawak niya sa kamay ko at titig sa akin.

I nodded and smiled at him. "It's more than perfect, Norman. It's reality, and it's so beautiful." Titig ko sa kanya. Agad niyang hinawakan ang pisngi ko at hinalikan ako nang mariin sa labi. Hindi 'ata matatapos ang halik namin dalawa, dahil palaging ganito na lang ang eksena.

"Yes, it is beautiful, Stella, and you know what makes it more perfectly beautiful?"

"Ano?" Taas kilay kong nakangiti sa kanya.

"Ikaw... Ikaw ang mas lalong nagpapaganda ng lahat ng bagay sa paligid ko. I am nothing without you," he whispered as he kissed my forehead, nose, and lips. 

"I love you, my Stella Marie." Titig niya at halik sa ilong ko. 

Napapikit-mata na ako at damang-dama ko pa ang sinag nang papalubog na araw sa mga mata ko.

"I love you too, Owen Norman. . . I love you."


***

Norman's POV

Stella makes me complete during the four days of my life without her,  I was lost. 

I kept calling her and texting her. I can send six messages, and she'll only have one as a reply. I ended up calling her six to eight times a day. Atticus is making fun of me. He said I lost the bet when it comes to love. 

Damn, he's a bloody nutcase. He doesn't know what the feeling is of being in love with someone. Kaya madalas ang kantyaw niya.

I ended up following her in Cagayan de Oro. A surprise visit. Nasa Davao na si Conrad, dahil emergency siyang pinauwi ng Mama niya. So I have my plans, and I can start it anytime soon.

Nabigla pa nga ang Mama ni Stella nang dumating ako. They didn't expect a visitor. I have seen their pictures before, on Stella's cellphone. Kaya agad ko nakilala ang kapatid niyang si Marvin at ang Mama niya.

They were hesitant at first, but soon came up okay. Madali kong nakuha ang loob ng kapatid niya at ang Mama niya.

Mama always told me even before that I have this charm in me that I can easily tame someone. Kaya raw swerte ako sa negosyo noon na sinimulan ng Ama ko.

My Papa is a cousin of Drew's dad. They're best buddies not just in business but in everything. But there's always a wrong side behind the excellent side, and that's why I became who I was before... I need to. I have no choice. I need to protect my Papa.

"Norman? Kailan ka ba bibisita? If you won't visit in the next two weeks we will fly to Manila!" si Mama sa kabilang linya.

"Ma, I'm in Davao already. Kagabi lang kami nakarating. Pasensya na, Ma, kung hindi agad ako tumawag sa 'yo," buntong-hininga ko.

Ang aga-aga ng tawag niya at ito ang unang gumising sa akin.

"Oh? You are here? Where? Don't tell me you are in your Island?! Hindi ka man lang unang pumunta rito sa bahay."

"Ma, I need to meet Conrad. Kaya nauna ako sa Isla. But promise, I will visit you all in the next three days. May ipapakilala rin ako, Ma. I will take someone special with me." I smile while talking to my mother.

I can hear her deep sighed in the other line. Tumayo na ako at binuksan ang malaking bintana rito. Ang sinag agad nang araw ang tumama sa mukha ko. 

I can see the deep blue ocean straight away from my window, and it's crystal refreshing.

"T-Talaga? Sino? Si Kara? Ano magpapakasal na kayo? Wala bang tinatago iyang girlfriend mo?"

I shook my head and my brows furrowed. I forget to tell Mama that Kara and I are long time over. Hindi alam ni Mama ito, dahil panay pa din naman ang negosasyon sa dalawang pamilya.

Kara's parents are close to ours. Ka-sosyo na sa negosyo noon ang mga magulang namin ni Kara. That's why they wanted us to be together. But that's all in the past. It's not the same anymore.

"Ma, matagal na kaming wala ni Kara... I'm sorry If I let you down. I am completely over with her. I like someone else, Mama, and I hope you will accept her. "

Bumuntong-hininga si Mama at natahimik sa kabilang linya. 

I looked down below and saw Stella. She's wearing her summer white dress and is busy preparing our breakfast. I smile at the thought that she looks charming and beautiful in the morning. . . my woman, my only one.

"Then how do you explain the news and the media last night, hijo? Have you seen it? Did you know? How reckless of you!?" taas na boses ni Mama.

My jaw clenches, and I walk straight away to reach for my phone. I scrolled the internet and saw the blind item and the news. It's all over the joint.

Dammit. Fuck. I swore bitterly, and Mama heard it.

"So? Explain this to me, Norman?"

"I met her four days ago, Mama, but trust me. I am not the father of that baby, for Christ's sake, I haven't slept with anyone in the past two years! Bloody hell!"

"Then why did she said that you and her are planning to get married soon because she's pregnant!? Dios ko naman, Norman! May isang problema pa akong pilit na inaayos ngayon. That's why I wanted to talk to you, at ngayon dumagdag pa si Kara! Tumawag pa sa akin ang Mama niya. I don't know what to say, son?"

"Then tell them the truth, Mama! I have someone with me that I genuinely love and respect. And if they come knocking on my door now, I swear I'm gonna kill them!" I felt like my heart would explode out of frustration. I didn't expect this coming. I have nothing to do with this!

"Sabihin mo sa mga magulang niya na wala akong koneksyon sa kung ano man na si Kara ngayon."

Natahimik si Mama sa kabilang linya. Napatingin agad ako kay Stella at abala pa rin siya sa baba. I grabbed my bathrobe and wore it fast. I'm not wearing anything, dahil sa lakas ng pagnanasa ko sa kanya kagabi. Mabuti na lang at napigilan ko pa ang sarili ko at natulog siya sa kabilang kwarto.

"Ma, I'm sorry. You know me, and I love you. I won't lie, Mama. You know that I can't lie to you." Bilis nang hakbang ko pababa ng hagdanan.

"I trust you, anak. I don't really like Kara after what she did to you. She's a red flag, and I don't like her!" Napamura si Mama sa kabilang linya at napangiti na ako.

"I'll call you again, Ma, and I will see you soon... I promise, Ma. I love you."

"Okay, son. Basta ang importante masaya ka, anak. Masaya na rin ako. Kahit pa ang tigas ng ulo mo!"

"Thank you, Ma. Thank you for trusting me."

"I know you more than anyone. You are my son, and I love you."

I turn the phone off straight away. Mabilis akong umikot sa likod na bakod at binuksan ang malaking glass na pintuan. I strode so fast while looking at Stella from a far. She's smiling and it seemed like that she's in the good mood. And I believe she haven't read anything at all. Hindi pa niya alam ito.

I grabbed my phone, my other one, and turned off the internet on the whole Island. Walang makakapasok na balita at walang TV dito.

"Oh my, goodness!" ang boses ni Stella.

Lumundag na ang puso ko sa kaba at halos patakbong lumapit sa kanya. She set up a breakfast closer to the pool that is facing the sea. Napaupo siya sa gilid ng pool na parang may kinuha.

"Babe? What's wrong?" Agad na hawak ko sa kamay niya at tumayo na siya. Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit.

My heart was pounding so damn hard, and it hammered inside me. I shut my eyes while hugging her from behind. I rested my chin on her shoulder, and her beautiful bombshell smell lingered in my system. I hugged her tighter. Scared that she might now know what happened.

"What's wrong, babe?" Sabay haplos niya sa mukha ko.

Napamulat agad ako at humarap siya sa akin ngayon. I stared at her with a question, but it seemed she didn't know the news.

"Nothing, babe. I just miss you so bad." I chuckled and laughed.

"Alam mo, baliw ka na ano? Nakatulog ka ba kagabi? Kasi ako hindi." Ngumiwi siya at bahagya nang natawa.

Straight away, I kissed her. She always tastes so sweet, and kissing her like this is my happiness. Umangat ang kamay niya at yumakap na siya sa leeg ko. Her tongue is so delicate, like a soft marshmallow.

Great! My entire being is fully awake now. I swore again in silence as she pressed her body to mine tenderly. I know she can feel my hardiness.

Nahinto rin agad siya nang maramdaman ito, at nakangiting tinitigan ako. Napatingin pa siya rito. I even looked at myself down below.

Dammit. I didn't wear my boxer shorts which are so visible. I shook my head, and she laughed. But she never let go of me, and still, her arms wrapped around me.

"Babe..." She pouted.

"Hmm?" My brows lifted.

"Um, I dropped my phone in the pool." Sabay turo nang mga mata niya rito.

Great! This is precisely what I need. Thank goodness, my angels! I sighed deeply and smiled at her.

"I'll buy you a new one, babe. Pabayaan mo na muna 'yan sa tubig." I smiled wickedly and kissed her again profoundly.

.

C.M. LOUDEN