5 years later...

***

"Nabalitaan mo na ba?" Tanong ni Ramses.

"What is it?" I asked, without looking at him.

Kararating ko lang galing Russia at balak kong manirahan dito sa Pilipinas dahil mas nanaisin kong bumalik rito kaysa manatili pa roon kung saan wala akong pamilya.

"She top the bar exam too," imporma niya sa akin na parang hindi ko kilala ang tinutukoy niya.

My brows shot up. "Then, that's good to hear. That's what she want to top on the bar exam. Malas niya lang ako pa rin ang nasa una," walang gatol kong sagot sa kaniya. "She did her best to surpass me, huh..." I whistled.

Ilang taon na rin pala ang nakalipas simula noong huli at masakit naming pag-uusap. After we decided to end in between us, I didn't hear any words nor news about her.

Ngayon ko lang ulit nabalitaan ang tungkol sa kaniya nang dahil sa kadaldalan ni Ramses. Akala mo walang girlfriend kung makadikit sa akin ang gago.

Naging masaya naman ako sa bawat taon na wala siya sa tabi ko. Naging masaya ba talaga? Tanong sa aking sarili.

I'm not happy most of the time I think about her. About how she cried in front of me while saying those painful words and I hate the fuck that she cried because of me. I'm such a jerk back then.

I thought I was matured enough but through the years I realized I wasn't. But now, I can see how matured I am.

I lived alone in Russia. Kinukumusta lang ako ng mga kaibigan ko minsan ay binibisita rin ako ni Ramses kung may free time siya o tuwing bakasyon.

Minsan rin pumasok sa isip ko na bumalik na lang para magmakaawa at lumuhod kay shorty... yeah, shorty pa rin ang tawag ko sa kaniya.

Damn, I missed my shorty... so much. I miss her face... her soft and kissable lips. I miss her every single day.

Hindi ko magawang bumalik ng Pilipinas dahil binawalan ako ng father ko. He even cut off my allowance and my inheritance too but that didn't make me give up to my studies.

I applied as a bartender in a famous bistro and guess what, I was hired and I already earn money in my own.

My thought were interrupted when Ramses tapped my back.

"Is she running on your mind, dude?" he asked, chuckling.

I bit my lower lip. "She didn't stop running through my mind, Ram. Hanggang ngayon hulog na hulog pa rin ako sa kaniya at hindi na ako makaahon pa." Sagot ko na lang.

As Ramses said to me before I finally leave the Philippines, if she would tell me to give up... I'll fight for her. If she pushes me away, I'll stay but I failed. I failed to stay because I know it will be more painful for the both of us.

One thing I realized while I was away, I should've hold her tighter even she pushes me away and hate me. I should hold her but it's a big help to walk away because I know we are both matured now.

"She's a lawyer now at the prestigious law firm in the Philippines. Don't you want to visit her?" Ram questioned.

I smiled, sadly. "I badly want to visit her... but the question is, does she already know that I'm already here in the country?" I blurted. "Ayaw ko siyang biglain kasi baka may galit pa siya sa akin." Dugtong ko pa.

Ram smiled and tapped my shoulders again. "I'm sure, gusto ka na rin niyang makita. Ang tagal na panahon na rin naman ang lumipas mula noong maghiwalay kayo— I mean you didn't give your relationship a label right? But both of you are smitten with each other."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. But I told her, babalik ako... babalik ako para sa kaniya, para subukan ulit at ipagpatuloy ang nabuo naming relasyon noon." Mahina ngunit madiin kong sagot.

"That's the right thing to do, pare..." Ram muttered. "Explain everything to her, kung maaari, lumuhod ka sa harap niya." Natatawang sabi niya.

"Luluhod naman ako, e. Handa akong lumuhod sa mahal na reyna..." masuyong usal ko.

Napatingin si Ramses sa wall clock ng condo ko kaya nagulat na lang ako dahil pasado alas sais y medya na pala.

"I should go, pare. Susunduin ko pa ang girlfriend ko." Saad niya.

Tumango lang ako. "Ingat, pare. Salamat sa pagpunta rito. Ikumusta mo na lang ako sa girlfriend mo." Sabi ko at nag-fist bump pa sa kaniya.

Ngumiti lang siya at naglakad na palabas ng condo ko. When Ramses already leave, I heaved a sigh.

Kinuha ko ang calling card na ipinatong ni Ramses sa gilid ng counter top table. I read the information their.

Atty. Hazel Grace Cereneo

Legal Department Office

I smiled as I saw her name on it. She finally achieve her dreams. She's a prestigious lawyer now.

Na-kwento sa akin ni Ram na siya ang head ng legal department sa firm nila kaya mas lalo akong naging proud sa kaniya.

I'm a lawyer too and has a reputation in Russia but I want to be a lawyer in the Philippines. Gusto kong dito makilala kasama ni shorty.

I want to create my own name in law industry here. As I was looking at her contact information, I get my phone on my pocket and save her number.

I dialed her number and after three rings, she picked it up. I didn't talk, I don't know what to say first.

Her voice... I missed it so much. How she talks a lot about something and how she talk without filter.

"Hello? Is this a prank call?" she asked, her tone was a little bit annoyed.

Maybe she's still in her office, reading cases and didn't plan to go home early.

I sighed, heavily. "This is not a prank call, Miss." I change my voice so she wouldn't recognize it was me.

"Oh, sorry but is there something you need? Help?" she asked. "Are you still there, Sir?"

"N-no, sorry..." I trailed off afraid of saying something else. "I'm sorry, it was a wrong call." I said.

I heard her heaved a deep sigh. "Alright, I'm sorry for being rude. I just thought this is a important call, Sir. I should end it. I have lots of cases to read." She said and was about to end the call but I stopped her.

"Wait!" agap ko. I still want to hear your voice, shorty. Nais kong sabihin ngunit pinigilan ko ang aking sarili.

"Ha? What is it? I thought you won't need—"

I cut her off. This time, I'll let her recognize my voice.

"I'm so proud of you, shorty..." iyon lang ang tanging nasabi ko at ibinaba na ang tawag.

Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Para akong nawawala sa sarili habang kinakausap siya.

Hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko, my heart is still beating so fast na parang lalabas na siya sa katawan ko.

That when I realized, she's not the rebellious daughter of Congressman Lafee anymore. She's more mature and she grown up already.

Naalala ko ang parents niya, alam kaya nila ang nangyari sa amin? I guess, they wouldn't accept me nor trust me anymore. I've hurt their only daughter.

But no matter what the consequences is, kailangan kong harapin at magpaliwanag sa magulang niya. I should ask for forgiveness.

"Sa librong sinimulan natin, hindi ko tatanggalin ang pahina, shorty..." bulong ko. "...kahit ito pa ang pinakamasakit nating simula, dadalhin ko pa rin hanggang dulo," dugtong ko.

***

I applied to Hazel's working firm and got hired the same day. I was happy yet nervous. Masaya ako kasi magkikita at makakasama ko si shorty sa iisang kompanya at kinakabahan dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya.

Maaga akong pumasok sa sarili kong opisina sa tabi lamang ng opisina ni shorty. Wala pa siyang kaalam-alam na muli na naman akong nakapasok sa buhay niya.

She's not here for a day dahil may kliyente raw siyang kikitain sa isang restaurant sa kabilang street.

Mahina akong bumuga ng hangin bago simulan ang tambak na papeles sa harap ko.

I put on my reading glass and started browsing a legal cases of the company. My brows shot up upon reading because there's a lot of tampered evidences. This was the old client's cases and Hazel's not the lawyer.

Naging mas interesado ako sa ibang cases nang may biglang kumatok sa opisina ko. Ibinaba ko ang hawak kong file at sumandal sa swivel chair.

"Come in."

Nakatutok lang ako sa pinto. Nagbukas ito at hindi ko inaasahan ang dumating. It was her. My shorty. She did cut her hair into smaller size. Iyon ang una kong napansin.

Bakas ang gulat sa kaniyang mga mata. Dahan-dahan niyang binitiwan ang door knob.

"W-what are you doing here?" iyon lang ang tanging tanong niya.

I smiled, stood up from my sit. Namulsa ako.

"I work here too," I replied.

I can feel how nervous she was upon seeing the whole me. I chuckled.

"It's just me, shorty..." I mumbled, teasing her. Tila nawala ang kaba ko nang makita ko siyang kinakabahan.

Nasinghap siya at nagtaas ng kilay sa akin. Hindi pa rin nagbabago ang ganitong pakikitungo niya sa akin.

"I know, I'm not blind," pabalang na sambit niya.

I chuckled.

"Didn't you miss me?" I asked.

Kita ko kung paano nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa mga mata ko ang pamumula ng pisngi niya.

Yumuko siya. "I... I do," nauutal na sagot niya. "How have you been?" she asked, still looking down.

I decided to walk towards her direction. When I finally reached her, I held her chin and make her face me.

Mas lalong namula ang kaniyang pisngi. Inilapit ko ang aking mukha bago pagdikitin ang aming noo.

"I missed you... so much, shorty," I whispered. "Are you still mad at me, shorty?"

I waited for her response but she didn't talk. I just heard her sobs. She's crying. Why?

Humiwalay ako sa pagkakadikit ng noo namin. I looked at her straightly in the eyes. I never broke our eye contact.

"Why are you crying, shorty?" I asked her as I wipe her tears.

She bit her lower lip. "I'm... I'm sorry," she apologized.

What? Why is she apologizing? What did she do? I'm curious. Naguguluhan ako.

"Naguguluhan ako... b-bakit ka humihingi ng sorry?"

Labis akong kinakabahan.

"A-am I too late?" my voice broke. "Do you have someone else already?" I asked her.

She looked at me in the eyes. Straightly. Nagsusumamo ang mga mata.

"I'm sorry... I've hurt you," she said while crying. "I throw harsh words before. I... I have broke you..." she added.

I bit my lower lip and caressed her cheeks. Still, I have hurt her too.

"I should be the one asking for forgiveness, shorty..." I said. "I was a jerk. I should have stayed with you."

She shook her head. "I was afraid to risk in a relationship that time. I wasn't thinking. I was immature that time..." she sobbed.

Umiling ako. "N-no, shorty... No." Agap ko. "I see how mature you are. I understand you. I was just afraid that time... kasi ikaw lahat ang first time ko." Umiiyak na sambit ko.

"I'm sorry... I can't blame you. I broke your heart..." nahihirapang usal niya.

"Gusto kong umiyak nang umiyak sa harap mo at i-kuwento kung paano mo ako nasaktan ng hindi mo alam..." I muttered, ang bigat ng dibdib ko. "I was lost the moment you turned your back on me... and I understand."

Muli kong pinunasan ang kaniyamg luha bago idikit ang aking noo sa kaniyang noo. Slowly, I kissed her forehead with gentleness down to her lips.

I missed her lips.

At first she didn't respond because she's still shock yet after a couple of second, she kissed me back as she clung her arms on my nape.

I kissed her sensually and full of mixed emotions. I missed her... so much. I badly want to stay by her side. Please, Lord... ibalato mo na sa akin ang babaeng ito. Sumamo ko sa aking isipan.

"Ipinagdarasal ko... ikaw ang una at huling babae na mamahalin ko, shorty..." I whispered in between our lips.

She looked at me in the eyes and before she could say a word, I cut her off.

"I want you to know that I'll stay with you everyday..." wika ko.

"—Ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin ko... palagi," dugtong ko at muling hinagkan ang kaniyang noo ng isang masuyong halik.

Now that she already reaches her dreams, I should fulfill what was my goal to stay here in the Philippines.

That is to put a label in our relationship.

"Can we already put a label in our relationship now?"

Walang alinlangan na tumango-tango siya. I smiled as I've seen her eyes sparkled.

"Pagmamay-ari na kita, shorty..." I mumbled as I claimed her lips again.