"Ikaw lang 'yong gusto kong mahalin sa una't hanggang huli, shorty..." sambit ni Tyron at nagsusumamo ang kaniyang tinig.

I smiled at him, caressed his cheeks. He's crying too at nag-iiyakan kaming dalawa malapit sa room namin. I don't want to do this, but I need to do it not because I don't want his love but to seek more of how matured we are really to build a strong relationship.

"We need a break, Ezekiel..." she mumbled. "I don't assume that we're in a relationship either but we need to figure things out. At kung magkita man tayo ulit... kung hindi man magbago ang pagmamahal mo sa akin, why not subukan ulit natin ayusin kung ano man ang ating sinimulan..." ramdam niya ang sakit sa kaniyang dibdib habang binabanggit ito.

"We're matured. You are matured. I already proved it, shorty." mahina ngunit madamdaming usal ni Tyron. "You're not the brat I know before."

Hazel shook her head as she looked at him straightly in the eyes. "Ito ang pinaka-masakit na desisyon ko ngunit kailangan natin na lumayo sa isa't-isa," aniya.

"Hindi ba't mahal natin ang isa't-isa? Bakit kailangan mo pang lumayo? Bakit hindi na lang natin ayusin?" umiiyak na usal ni Tyron.

Basag na basag ang kanilang boses habang nag-uusap. Umiiyak, nasasaktan at halos paos na rin ang kanilang tinig.

Umiling si Hazel. Naisip niya na mas makakabuti para sa kanilang dalawa ang layuan ang isa't-isa. They both need the peace of mind and the separation would let them grow and know how to value a relationship at the first place until it would last.

"Can't I change your decision?" he asked, almost begging.

Hazel bit her lower lip until it was swollen. "This is not easy for me either but this is what we need. I would like to grow more... and I want you to be successful." she mumbled with a heavy heart.

Tyron shook his head. He wasn't ready in this kind of pain. There's no room for him to accept the pain in his heart but he gladly realized how it could be if they continued their relationship without a label.

He heaved a deep sigh. He looked at her in the eyes intently with pain engulf through his eyes. This is what we need, a peace and to figure thiings out... Tyron thought in mind.

"Commitment is a choice but choosing you would be a great decision I would've done in my life..." he whispered. "And when the time comes, I would like to say that I would gladly accept the terms and condition in a legal process." he added as he kissed her forehead sweetly.

Hazel closed her eyes, feel the gentleness towards Tyron's kiss in her forehead. She would probably stay that way rather than talk because she don't know what to say anymore.

They're both in pain and don't want to end what they have started yet even if it is the hardest decision, they probably survive with a thought of realizing on how they can surpass the circumstances that comes into their lives.

Binitiwan nila ang isa't-isa, magkaparehong magkaharap. With a heavy heart, Tyron manage to talk.

"Just turn your back on me, shorty..." his voice cracked. "Habang nakapikit ako... talikuran mo na ako para hindi ko makita ang paglayo mo..." dugtong niya.

Hazel felt the pain in his tone. She nodded her head as a response. Tyron smiled painfully and he closed his eyes hanggang sa maramdaman na lamang niyang wala na ang presensya ni Hazel sa harapan niya.

"I consent to the absolute of my heart and the utmost positive affection appurtenant and no objection from now until the end of the proceedings of bounding myself to you in conveyance..." Tyron finally whispered before walking away.

***

After years of separation, we are gladly in both arms now. Kasama ko na itong babaeng handa kong pakasalan and this time, I would gladly accept the terms and conditions of our relationship.

She will be the boss of me and I'm just a lawyer who will be forever committed to her.

Nag-kuwento siya tungkol sa pangyayari sa buhay niya noong nasa law school siya at kung paano siya mag-struggle sa mga cases na binabasa niya. Ganoon rin naman ako. I was struggling in my law class without a proper sleeping. I spent most of my time in the bistro just to make money.

Halos wala akong pahinga at papasok akong puyat at pagod pero kinaya ko 'yon kasi tanging sarili ko lang ang sasalba sa akin. And thinking of her was my deepest strength all throughout the day.

"Ang hirap lalo at terror ang panot na professor na 'yon," natatawang kuwento niya. "Muntik pa akong bumagsak sa isang subject dahil late kong naipasa ang assignment ko" dugtong pa niya.

I pinched her cheeks. "You probably be failed by not passing your assignment, shorty," wika ko.

"Kaya nga, muntik nang hindi maka-graduate," she chuckled. "How about you? How's law school?" she asked.

I looked at her only to find out that she's looking at me intently, patiently waiting for my answer to her question.

I heaved a sigh and think of the most hardest challenge of my life in law school right after we separated.

"It's the... hardest," I uttered, softly. "My father cut of my allowance and... he even pulled out of my inheritance," I started to tell my own sufferings.

"Why would he even do that? Then, who supported you? What did you do during that... time?" she asked, guiltily.

I smiled at her while caressing her hands.

"I worked," I replied. "I worked as a barista in a bistro lounge."

Ramdam kong pinisil niya ang aking kamay na tila ramdam rin ang pinagdaanan ko noon. I know, she's this good at calming a person.

"I worked hard to support my studies... most especially my expenses. My friends, Ramses, he often visits me if it was his break. Wala akong naging break since kailangan kong magpusige pa lalo." mahabang sagot ko.

"No wonder... it's hard for you to be alone," she said, sadly. "Kung ako 'yon, baka hindi ko kayanin..." she added.

I chuckled. "Ikaw ang pinakamatapang na babaeng nakilala ko, shorty..." I mumbled, softly. "And you know what?"

"What?"

"Ikaw lang ang pinagkukunan ko ng lakas noong mga panahon na nag-iisa ako at tinalikuran ako ng mundo..." I added.

Nabigla ako noong tumayo siya sa harapan ko at hinawakan ang aking pisngi. She smiled at me genuinely.

"Of all people na tinalikuran ka..." she trailed off. "Kasama ako roon, Ezekiel," she added. Malungkot ang tinig niya ngunit pilit niyang kinakalma ang kaniyang boses.

Mababakas rin sa kaniyang mga mata ang kanina pa niya pinipigilang pagluha. Akala ko iyon lang ang gagawin niya sa harap ko pero mas lalo akong nabigla noong lumuhod siya sa harap ko at niyakap ang binti ko na parang humihingi ng tawad sa mga santo.

"I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry..." she cried again. "Hindi man lang kita nakumusta... I'm sorry! I turned my back on you without listening to your problems. I didn't know! I was fooled by that scene before. You faced it all alone by yourself... I'm sorry." tuloy tuloy na sambit niya.

I failed to stop my tears from my eyes. "I-It's not your fault, please shorty..."

She shook her head. "Tell me... tell me everything and I will listen, Lanchester." pamimilit niya.

"No... no, shorty." I almost beg. I held her hands and let her stand but she didn't. She stayed still. She was kneeling in front of me and it breaks my heart to see the woman I love telling how sorry she is.

Putangina, ito ang ayaw ko... ang lumuluhod ang magiging reyna ko habang umiiyak.

"All my hardship is all because of you, shorty... I've never been successful if it wasn't you running every single day on my mind. I think of you... even if it's the hardest challenge of my life. I always... I have you kahit na hindi kita kasama sa tabi ko pero ramdam ko ang presensya mo sa tabi ko." tuloy tuloy kong sambit habang lumuluha.

"P-Pero... tinalikuran kita. Hindi ko inalam ang tungkol sa iyo. I didn't heard any news about you... I was selfish!"

"No, you're not!" I said to her. "You're not selfish, shorty! You did a great job. Kasi habang malayo ka sa akin... nagawa kong magsumikap lalo." sabi ko sa kaniya. "Kasi lahat gagawin ko... para sa iyo, shorty."

I swallowed a lump in my throat. Pinilit ko siyang tumayo at sinunod naman niya ako. I held her hands tightly before I intertwined our fingers.

"Ikaw dapat ang luluhuran ko, shorty..." I whispered to her. "At first, you already catch my attention. I made rules yet you always break on it. You made yourself rules yet I break it. And now, shorty..." I smiled.

Still we're on my office and I don't want to let her go now. Ayaw ko siyang lumabas ng opisina ko na hindi lumuluhod sa harap niya at hindi naibibigay ang apelyido ko sa kaniya. I planned this beforehand.

Sa oras na magkita kami, hindi lang label ng relasyon ang ibibigay ko. Pati na rin apelyido ko para wala ng ibang aangkin kung hindi ako lang. I'm willing to be ruled by her.

While she's sobbing, I slowly bend on my knees and I notice how confused she is.

"Y-You're not... proposing aren't you?" she asked, unbelievably.

I slowly pulled the red velvet box in my pocket and show it to her. She gasped, surprised.

"I allow you to rule me every single day, shorty..." I said, proposing to her.

Tinakpan niya ang kaniyang bibig dahil sa gulat. She was surprised and still couldn't believe what I'm doing. I'm afraid she'll reject my proposal.

"Alam kong mabilis ang bawat pangyayari, shorty... pero tangina, ngayon pa lang gusto na kitang dalhin sa simbahan kahit pa ayaw mong magpakasal—"

She cut me off.

"I have sentenced you a life imprisonment in my life and you'll be ruled by me," she answered. "I'll give rules and regulations, you must obey it in a lifetime." she added while smiling at me.

I nodded my head. I slid the ring on her ring finger. I looked up on her and said something that made her blush even more.

"I have own you, shorty..." I was beyond happy. "And I accept the terms and conditions beyond a thousand reasonable doubt."