Who can stop me from searching for Amelie? No one. For the past few months, all I did was get better and search for her.

"Nandito na ang F1 driver natin. Gwapo at macho. Masarap din daw."

I leaned in to punch Jasper but the latter ran away while laughing.

"Hinahanap ka ni mommy sa 'kin. Hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot. Hindi ka naman napipirmi sa isang lugar," Keeno said.

"Yeah, it's a surprise that you're here," Krono continued.

"Where were you? Bihira ka na namin nakikita," si Jasper.

I sat on the couch and opened an in-can beer.

"I was in Baku last week. I'm flying to Sao Paulo next week. Umuwi lang ako para bisitahin si mommy at daddy."

"Ya! Shibal!" si Jasper. "Ya! Shibal saekkiya!"

"Tangina! Kailan pa natutong mag korean 'to?!" gulat na bulalas ni Krono.

"Watch your mouth," I warned.

Krono acted as if he's zipping his mouth. I did join Formula 1 family and is indeed an F1 driver. I was just continuing what I loved doing before. Noong mga panahong... wala pang Amelie sa buhay ko. I started karting at age eight or nine? Continued for years and stopped when I was finally graduating. Ginagawa ko pa rin dati, pero sa tuwing bakasyon na. And yeah, it sure is a lot of money. Not a nepo-baby, too.

Now that I don't have anything to do, I continued doing what I have left.

"Ah oo nga pala. Nakita namin si Amelie."

Naagaw no'n ang atensyon ko.

"Kakauwi lang no'n e. Ang laki ng pinagbago," Keeno added.

"Saan?"

"Saan pa ba? E di sa simbahan. They're not living on the same house anymore. At balita ko kakabalik lang din mula ibang bansa. I wasn't sure which country but... at least she's here." He shrugged.

Inubos ko ang hawak na inumin at tumayo. Kinapkap ko ang sarili para hanapin ang susi ng sasakyan ngunit nakita ko iyon sa mesa.

"Pupuntahan mo? Bro, you shouldn't..."

"Ano? Suntukan?" pabirong tanong ko.

I left them there and drove off. I'm gonna see her today. What would be here reaction? Shocked? Happy? Happy that I am alive and well? Happy that I am still and will always be in love with her? Imma see it for myself.

I can prove it better now that I am earning a lot. We can finally build a family. Kahit maraming anak. Whatever Amelie prefers in this lifetime. Susundin ko kung anong gusto niyang gawin.

Did I love her less? No. I love her even more.

I reached the church and found few people coming out. I unconsciously fixed myself and instantly regretted coming here without preparation.

Napaisip ako saglit. I got so lost by that information that I forgot to ask Keeno if she's here right now or not. But today's friday... pasok pa rin sa schedule niya. She stays here during early in the morning and the afternoon until eight in the evening to help. Ganoon ang schedule niya dati.

"Oh? Kithian, hijo, umuwi ka pala. Kasama mo ba ang mommy at daddy mo?"

"No, Tito. She's at... home."

I gasped when I saw something familiar. Si Amelie 'yon. I can't be wrong. I sure miss her so much but I don't think that was a hallucination! Girlfriend ko 'yon. Pero... bakit?

"Bakit ka nandito kung gano'n? We haven't been in contact for so long after what happened to you at ang sabi ng daddy mo ay palagi ka ring wala."

I couldn't focus on what he's saying as I kept glancing inside. Pa-thrilling naman 'to. Chapter nineteen na 'to o. Bigay niyo na 'to sa 'kin.

"Busy lang, tito. Nakikigpag-usap sa iba't ibang supplier para sa pinaplanong negosyo."

Manatiling kalmado kahit gusto ng tumakbo. Kalma, Kithian. Makikita mo rin ang hinahanap mo.

"Are you busy right now? Would you mind joining us for dinner? Makayla's with us. Matagal ka na rin niyang hinahanap."

"I'm sorry, tito, but I have to decline your offer. I'm in the middle of something."

"O–o sige..."

I nodded as a goodbye and walked inside. Wala na masyadong tao sa loob. Huminga ako ng malalim upang ihanda ang sarili sa muling pagkikita ng dalawang pusong nagmamahalan. Hihimatayin pa yata ako sa gitna ng simbahan.

"Ame... lie?"

It was like a slow motion. She turned around with a smile. Ang ganda... pa rin. Kahit na... ganiyan.

"What happened to you?" It was almost like a whisper.

Her brows arched but she's still smiling. And her eyes eyes... they're shining.

"Uhm... do I know you?"

Ang boses na 'yon... mawawalan yata ako ng ulirat. I need someone or something for support. How can that soothing voice send hundred years of pain?

"Kithian. I'm... Kithian... Sister."

The next thing I knew, I am all the way back to Jasper's house. Tuliro at hindi alam ang gagawin. I need a drink. The hardest one. Iyong kayang burahin ang mga nakita at nalaman ko ngayon.

"Tulala na siya. Lapitan mo, Jasper."

"Subukan niyong itulak ako palapit at nang makita niyo ang hinahanap niyo."

"Anong gagawin natin? Suntukin para magising? Gago. Nasuntok na ako niyan, ayoko ng masuntok ulit. Dati akala ko matatanggal na panga ko e."

"Your jaw is fine. You've been mewing for ages."

"Pusa?"

"Bobo."

"Sabi mo mewing?"

"Huwag ka nalang kayang huminga, Jasper?"

Hindi ko lubos maisip kung bakit. Kung saan ako nagkulang. Kung paanong... hindi lahat ng gusto mo, kahit simpleng bagay, aayon sa 'yo. How am I supposed to hug myself during times like this, huh?

"Mga uri ng halimaw..." bulong ni Krono.

"Si Kithian kapag nagmahal ulit," si Jasper.

Nagmahal ulit? Hindi na.

My heart dropped at that sight and I needed to act cool so she won't know. That watching her wearing that... hurts me in everyway I could possibly think. Pero anong magagawa ko? Plano ng Diyos 'yon para sa kaniya. Who am I to stop it?

Pero bakit kami? Bakit sa 'kin? I need answers too.

"Umiiyak."

"Lapitan niyo nalang kasi!"

"Isa!"

"Kuya? Anong ginagawa mo?"

Crying to God about it. They say He will still hear me... even if I'm not opening my mouth to tell everything.

"Did you know that Amelie became a nun?" mahina kong tanong.

Kahit paglunok ng sariling laway, ang hirap na ring gawin.

"Oo. Kaya nga sinubukan ka naming pigilan kanina para i-explain kung anong nakita at nalaman namin. Kakabalik niya lang dito at ang sabi ay dito na siya mamamalagi bilang... madre," sagot ni Kithian.

Pagak akong natawa. Hearing him say it makes me want to cry even harder. Destiny's unfair to me.

"Let's get wasted tonight, alright? Panandaliang pagkawala ng ala-ala."

Mababaliw ako kapag iisipin ko buong magdamag. Iisipin ko
pa rin naman pero iinom muna ako. It's better to be hydrated while thinking about it rather than dehydrated while thinking about it.

"Club?" Keeno smirked.

"Dito lang," sagot ko.

Hihilingin ko pa rin na sana umayon sa amin ang tadhana.