QUICKSAND.

That was what he called it.

Because that was what it was.

Being in love with Andree was fucking quicksand.

Hindi niya alam na once he stepped in, there was no getting out.

Hindi niya alam na mas may ilulubog pa siya with each passing day. Hindi na niya kayang umahon.

*

No'ng mga panahong kakampi pa nila ang kapalaran, masaya si Eko.

He was happy in a way that he has never felt before.

On this bed, where the bedsheets feel like silk, where her hand in his feels like security and safety and I'm here with you, I'm not a dream, and where her body fits so perfect against his...

Sa mga oras na 'to, masaya ako.

You and me. Against the whole world. Nothing else matters.

"How much do you love me?" tanong ni Eko, brushing his hand down her back and kissing her shoulder. Branding her skin with his handprints. "On a scale of one to ten."

Natawa si Andree. He loves that laugh. He could bask in that laugh forever.

Alam niyang hindi sasagot si Andree hangga't sumagot siya.

Gano'n siya, e. Ayaw niyang maging expressive masyado. Ayaw niyang ipakita masyado na mahal niya si Eko just as much as he loves her.

Kasi takot siya.

"Ako kasi eleven. Ikaw?" sabi ni Eko.

Nag-isip siya. "Nine."

Natawa nang malakas si Eko. "Nine? Sa sex na 'yon? Na umiyak ka pagkatapos? Ulol mo, nine."

Hinampas siya ni Andree. "Nine. Okay? Nine!"

Alam nila pareho na kasinungalingan 'yon.

Nagligpit sila ng mga gamit. Tinulungan ni Eko si Andree magbihis. Hinalikan ang bawat parte ng katawan niyang tinatakpan niya.

Kasi ang pagmamahal sa kanya ni Andree

Ang tiwalang binigay niya kay Eko

The pain and the hurt she endured just because she loved him

Hindi lang 'yon nine.

Parehas silang nasa eleven.

Ang pagkakaiba—

Nakahanap ng ibang eleven si Andree.

Si Eko, hindi.