Maximo POV

Nagising ako nang maaga, ang katawan ko'y nakayakap kay Kai. His back pressed against my chest, the soft rise and fall of his breath lulling me into a state of bliss. Wala na akong pakialam kung anong oras, basta't kasama ko siya, iyon na ang pinakamahalaga.

I slowly untangled myself from his arms, careful not to wake him up. His face looked peaceful, a stark contrast to the storm that had been swirling in my mind the past few days. The moment we crossed that line—when we finally acknowledged what was happening between us—it was like everything shifted.

.I couldn't go back to the way things were, and I didn't want to. No turning back.

We need a label. A right to call him mine. Officially and rightfully mine.

I took a deep breath, my hand gently grazing his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his skin. The silence between us was comforting. God know how much I love this man!

I slowly slid out of bed, careful to leave Kai undisturbed, and walked to the window. The sunlight was filtering through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the room. The quiet of the morning was a sharp contrast to the chaos inside my head.

I needed to talk to him.

When I turned around, I saw that Kai was awake, his eyes half-open, watching me from the bed. His hair was messy, his face still soft from sleep, but there was a look in his eyes that told me he was waiting for me to make the first move.

"Max," he murmured, his voice low and raspy from just waking up. He yawned, then ran a hand through his hair. "Bakit ka gising na?"

"Gusto ko sanang mag-usap tayo, Kai," I said, my voice a little unsteady as I walked back to the bed. I sat down beside him, careful to keep the space between us.

His brows furrowed slightly, and I could see the shift in his expression. "Ano 'yun?"

I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest. A little nervous. This is it. This is where it all changes.

"I want more, Kai. More than just... us being this way. I want to be with you. Hindi lang 'to tungkol sa mga gabing ganito." I looked down, trying to calm my breathing. "Hindi ko na kayang magtago pa, hindi ko na kayang magsinungaling sa sarili ko..."

His eyes softened, and I could see him processing my words. For a moment, silence hung between us, thick and heavy. I wasn't sure if he was going to push me away, but the way he was looking at me... it gave me a shred of hope that he will give us a label.

"I want you.. all of you. I want to call you mine. I want to officially own and claim you, I want to have the right right to get jealous, the right to kiss you.. and to shoot whoever wants and try to flirt with you.." he laughed probably thinking I'm joking with the shooting. "I know it's sound possisive but that's what I feel about you" I whisper and reach for his cheek and gently caress it. "Kai.. No, love..please give me the right, I know it's fast but I want you know that, I love you.. I always do.. so.. can I call you mine.. can you be my boyfriend?" I asked nervously.

Then, Kai reached for my hand that touching his cheek, his grip surprisingly firm, but there was a tenderness in his touch. "Max, hindi ko alam kung paano kami napunta dito. Pero... siguro, pareho tayo ng nararamdaman, di ba?" He smiled, and it was small but genuine. "I know I wont give myself to you if deep inside I don't feel the same way.. You know I don't swing that way, right? But for you? I did. Wala na akong ibang gusto kundi ikaw."

I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding. He was here, with me, and he felt the same way. I look up to him, patiently waiting.

"Let's do this. Together."" He leaned closer, his face just inches from mine. "Boyfriend."

It was not yes but the said it with vindiction and possisiveness. He said like he was telling me I'm his, well ofcourse he right.

I cupped his face, my thumb grazing his cheek as I kissed him softly. His lips were warm, gentle, and for the first time, there was no hesitation, no fear. There was just the two of us, fully in this.

This was real.

I pulled away just enough to look at him, my heart swelling in my chest. "Kai, wala nang ibang gustong makasama kundi ikaw."

He smiled at me, and I swear, it was like the whole world paused for that moment. "Kahit ganito tayo, Max... hindi ko kayang magsinungaling. Hindi ko kayang ipagkait sa 'yo ang nararamdaman ko."

At that moment, everything else faded away. Hindi ko na kailangan ng ibang kasiguraduhan kundi ang mga salitang iyon mula sa kanya. We're in this together.

I kissed him again, more deeply this time, more confidently, as if telling him, "I'm yours, and you're mine." No turning back. No more pretending. No more hiding.

"You're mine now, Kai," I whispered against his lips. "And I'm not going anywhere."

He smiled, the warmth of his touch against my skin sending a shiver through me. Finally, I thought. We've crossed that line.

As the kiss lingered, I felt every ounce of tension in my body start to melt away. I wasn't sure what I was more afraid of—whether he'd push me away or whether this connection was actually real. But right now, with him in my arms, everything felt right. Kami na. Kami ni Kai. Fuck yeah!

Kai pulled back slightly, his eyes meeting mine, searching for something. "Max, are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice serious but soft, almost as if he was worried I might have second thoughts.

I smiled, brushing my thumb over his bottom lip. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life, Kai." I leaned down, kissing him again, more gently this time, like I was savoring the moment. The sweet taste of his lips, the soft brush of his skin against mine—it was all too perfect, too damn real.

"I want this," he whispered between kisses, his hands coming up to tug me closer. "I want us."

My heart raced, pounding in my chest as I pulled him flush against me, our bodies pressed together in a way that made it hard to think straight. All I could focus on was him—Kai.

We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, just wrapped up in each other. But eventually, we both knew we needed to talk. We needed to be honest, to address everything that had been lingering between us. Hindi pwedeng puro halik lang. We needed to say the words out loud.

I pulled away gently, taking a deep breath as I gazed at him. "So, anong gagawin natin ngayon, Kai?" I asked, my voice low but sincere. "I mean, it's not like we can just go back to how things were, right?"

Kai raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of uncertainty and something else—relief. "Yeah, Max. I'm not going back to pretending either. I want this... with you."

It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. "So, we're doing this, huh?" I said, half-smiling as I ran my fingers through his messy hair. "Kasi, I'm not gonna lie—I'm not letting you go, Kai. I don't care what happens."

He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating in my chest. "I don't want to go anywhere either."

And with those words, I knew—we were in this together. Not just as soldiers, not just as teammates, but as something more. Something that neither of us had expected, but both of us had secretly wanted.

I kissed him again, this time slow, deliberate, savoring the feeling of him—my Kai—in my arms. No more games. No more pretending. This was real.

His hands wandered down my chest, his touch both gentle and possessive, as if he was claiming me in his own way. I felt my heart race, my chest tightening in anticipation of what was to come next.

"Max..." he whispered, his voice low, and I could feel the weight of his desire in it.

"What now?" I growl, continue kissing him, sucking and biting his lower lip.

"I love you"