I know his voice so well. I turned around to look at him and it was indeed Marcus, just as I thought. Kumurap nang ilang beses ang mga mata ko habang nakatitig sa kanya.

Nabato ako sa kinatatayuan. I thought he left with Katrina. Bakit nandito siya ngayon?

"And now you wouldn't speak?"

He drew himself closer to me. And, now he's just inches away. The light of the moon illuminated his face and I couldn't tear my eyes off him. Pakiramdam ko ay mawawala agad siya sa harap ko kapag pinikit ko ang mga mata o kahit kumisap man lang.

"M-Marcus?" I asked nervously. Malalim ang bawat paghinga ko.

"Yes," tipid nitong sagot, at lalo pang lumapit. I can smell his cologne. The wind was blowing gently. Nililipad ang buhok niya.

Napaatras ako pero hinapit ng isang kamay niya ang baywang ko dahilan para mapaliyad ako. Awtomatikong napahawak ang mga kamay ko sa kanyang mga braso.

"Don't even think of leaving again," seryosong sabi niya. My forehead lightly creased.

"L-let me go, Marcus!" hiyaw ko, nagpupumiglas sa kanya. "Ano ba!"

Mas lalong humigpit ang pagkapulupot ng kamay niya sa beywang ko. Ang isang kamay niya ay nasa bandang batok. He pulled me closer and my head slammed against his chest. I can feel his heart beating. Malakas ang tibok, katulad ng sa akin.

He embraced me and I feel the warmth as his arms encircled around me.

"Please, listen to what I have to say, Azie," masuyo niyang sabi. He rested his chin on top of my head.

"Marcus, itigil mo na 'to! Bakit ka ba nandito?" hagulgol ko. "Diba, dapat umalis kana?"

"I'm not gonna leave you here. Not after I heard everything from you," malamyos niyang sabi. "Sa'yo na din nanggaling na hinihintay niyo ako ng anak natin."

"Huwag mong obligahin ang sarili mo, Marcus. Hindi tayo nag-ingat ng gabing iyon but it doesn't mean that you need to change your plans now that you know everything," sabi ko sa namamaos na boses. "Hindi ko ipagkakait si Kio sayo. You can still be a father to him." I looked up and stared at his face.

Dinungaw niya ako at sa hatid na liwanag ng buwan ay naaninag ko ang kanyang mga mata. He clenched his jaw and roughly took a deep breath.

"But, I love you, Azie..." malambing niyang sabi, "I always have and always will."

Hindi ko nahinuha ang mga sinasabi niya. I just shook my head. "Hindi, M-Marcus."

He loosened. Bumagsak ang kanyang mga kamay. That's when I managed to break free. I took a few steps backwards. "I love you so much, Azie. Don't you feel the same way about me?" nanghihina niyang sabi at lumapit sa akin. Now, my feet were soaking on the water.

I didn't respond. I locked my eyes on him.

"Nagbago na ba ang isip mo? May iba kang mahal?" sunud-sunod na tanong niya. "Do you love that engineer?" He pointed his finger to the direction of hotel. "Kaya kayo magkasama dito?"

"Huh?" pagtataka ko. Kumunot ang noo ko at nagsalubong ang dalawang kilay ko.

Naalala ko si Brent. Marcus was referring to him. Nakita na pala niya akong kasama si Brent kanina. Why would he think that I love Brent?

Ibig sabihin ay nakita niya ako. Ngunit hindi niya ako nagawang lapitan dahil kasama niya si Katrina.

"Hindi ka nakasagot dahil totoo?" himok nito at mas lalong lumapit pa dahilan para humakbang ako patalikod. Seryoso ang boses niya at tila galit. Nabasa ang laylayan ng damit ko dahil lampas tuhod ang tubig at pagsalampak ng alon.

I shook my head.

"M-Marcus..." I called. Masuyo niya akong tinitigan. "I always wish for your happiness," sabi ko kasabay ng paglandas muli ng luha sa pisngi ko. "Sana maging masaya ang buhay niyo ni Katrina at sa bubuuin niyong pamilya."

"What the hell are you talking about, Azalea Marie?" He moved even closer to me and tried to reach for my hand but I kept walking backwards. I didn't stop. It feels like something is pulling me away from him. "S-Stop moving! Please, Azalea Marie. Nakakaalala na ako at pakiusap mag-usap tayo pero wag dito!" sabi niya sa boses na tila nagmamakaawa.

"Azie, please listen! Hindi kami ni Katrina kung iyon ang ini -..."

I tripped on a big rock and I lost my balance. I fell into the water and it was all darkness below. I had difficulty getting up. I can only beat the water with my hands. It was no use. I was fighting to stay above the waters, but I couldn't scream, I couldn't hear anything.

Until I feel hands lifting me up. That's when I was finally able to stand on my feet. I started gasping for air as I looked up. I raked my fingers through my hair, that's blocking my eyes, and pulled them up to the back.

I looked around but there was no one. "Marcus!" sigaw ko, hapung-hapo.

Alam ko siya ang tumulong sa'kin. Siya ang humila sa akin pataas pero saan siya ngayon?

"Marcus!" patuloy na sigaw ko sa pangalan niya. I swam into the water and went up again, "Marcus!"

I went into the water deeper this time and continued paddling my hands. Mayamaya, may nakapa akong damit. I took him out of the water immediately. Niyakap ko siya at tinapik tapik ang kanyang pisngi. Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko.

"Marcus!" sigaw ko. Nagmamadaling binuhat ko siya papuntang dalampasigan at pinahiga sa buhanginan.

Patuloy lang ang pagsigaw sa pangalan niya. Good thing my mind was not clouded, I still remember life-saving steps.

I unbuttoned his shirt and took a normal breath. I performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compression, but he was not showing any sign of life. I did not stop.

"Tulong!" I shouted while performing chest compression. Baka sakaling may makarinig. Baka may tao sa paligid.

Medyo malayo pa ang hotel, ewan ko kung may makakarinig ba sa paghingi ko ng tulong.

"Marcus, please!" I sobbed. "Marcus!"

I did not stop. I covered his mouth with mine and gave him 2 one- second breaths. Then, went back doing chest compression.

"Marcus naman! Gumising ka! Madami pa tayong pag-uusapan," hagulgol ko. "Oh God. Marcus! Please!"

I did another mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Bigla akong napatigil. It wasn't working. But, I can't stop. I can't lose him. Ipaglalaban ko siya.

Chest compression.

Then, the water spewed out of his mouth and he coughed. Bahagyang dumilat ang kanyang mga mata, hinihingal. I tapped both his cheeks.

"Oh my God. Thank You," naiiyak kong sambit. "I'm sorry, Marcus!" I wrapped my hands just above his chest. "M-May masakit ba sa'yo?" kapa ko sa katawan niya. "May sugat ka ba?"

Naramdaman kong gumalaw siya. He was trying to get up. I pulled away and knelt, holding his hands. "Hindi mo pa kaya. T-Teka, hihingi lang ako ng tulong para madala ka sa ospital," at binitawan siya.

Akma na akong tatayo nang pinigilan niya ang kamay ko. Napaigtad ako. He pushed himself up close to me. He made me sit on his lap. Naging gahibla ang pagitan ng aming mga mukha. He was panting for air.

"M-Marcus, I think w-we need to see a doctor to check on you, d-don't you think?" kandautal na sabi ko.

He cupped my face and locked his gaze on mine. "I thought for a second I wouldn't be able to see you again. Thank you for saving me, Azie."

Umiling-iling ako. "A-Akala ko...Akala ko..." I whimpered. Hindi ko matuloy tuloy ang sinasabi ko. I wrapped my hands around him and buried my head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Marcus. Hindi ko sinasadya."

"Hey," marahan niyang tinapik ang likod ko. "You saved my life."

"I'm sorry, Marcus," patuloy na agos ng luha ko. Ang init ng luhang dumadaloy sa pisngi ko. "Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kapag nawala ka. I'm sorry for being such a hardheaded. I'm sorry for not giving you chance to explain. I'm sorry, Marcus."

Kung hindi lang matigas ang ulo ko, hindi ako nalunod. Hindi na sana ako kailangang sagipin pa ni Marcus. At, hindi sana siya nalunod. I almost lost him.

He sighed. His breath on my neck made me feel warm. "Maybe, the reason why I'm here still alive is to hear your answer to what I have to say now and will tell you whenever I feel like saying it to you, kahit uulit-ulitin ko pang banggitin ang mga salitang ito, hindi ako magsasawang sabihin ito sa'yo." Inalis ko ang pagkakasubsob ng ulo ko sa kanya at tinitigan siya. Malamlam ang kanyang mga matang diretsong nakatingin sa akin. Sa paraan ng pagkakatitig niya sa akin ay tila nakikita niya ang kaloob-looban ko. He gently touched my face. "I love you, Azie."

"Bumalik na ba talaga ang mga alaala mo? Naalala mo na talaga ako? Lahat ng nangyari?"

Tumango siya. "Yes, all of it. I'm sorry if I wasn't there with you all along. I know how hard it must've been for you doing all things alone for Kio. I'm sorry." His free hand caressed my cheek.

I let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry I hid him from you."

"Hey. I understand what you did. It's all my fault. I did not make things clear for you... for us," mahinang sabi nito. Ramdam ko ang pangungulila at pagsisisi sa kanyang mga salita. "I also may have made you confused and left you wondering for all these years. You could say I have no spine. I was scared to tell you how I feel about you, Azie. Alam kong marami akong nasabing mali at marahil nasaktan kita doon. I didn't know how to tell you exactly dahil mas inaalala ko iyong rejection na matatanggap ko mula sayo. Kaya tinago ko iyon ng maraming taon. I realized I should have told you earlier. Kahit ano pa ang magiging sagot mo." Tila nahihirapan ang boses nito na pahina nang pahina habang nakatungo. Nagpakawala ito ng malalim na hininga at inagat ang ulo."But I'll never pass this chance now to tell you that I love you, Azie. Dahil hindi ko alam kung anong mangyayari bukas at sa mga susunod na araw."

Napakurap-kurap ako ng ilang beses dahil sa mga sinabi niya. Ilang saglit pa bago ko naibuka ang bibig. "I guess it's not the time for us to point who's really at fault here. Things were just bound to happen, do you think?"

I rolled my tongue over my lips.

Tumango siya. "But, I want to tell you that I loved you then and I love you even more now because of Kio. I love you so much, Azie," malambing na sabi niya.

I bit my lower lip and my heart keeps hammering in my chest. Tila may nagpaparty sa dibdib ko at iyon lang tanging naririnig ko. I gulped. I was at loss of words. My name sounds so different when it was him calling me. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga.

"I love you," he uttered again. His other hand reached for my hand and slightly squeezed it.

Ayaw nang kumalma ang puso kong patuloy sa pagsikdo. Nag-iinit ang pisngi ko na umabot sa tenga ko. Parang may mainit na bumuhos sa tiyan ko.

"I love you," he whispered and kissed my forehead.

"Hindi talaga kayo ni Katrina?"

He shook his head. "Hindi nga. She has always been in love with Aries. At ikakasal na sila ng pinsan ko."

"How about that ring?"

Kumunot ang noo niya at ilang sandaling nag-isip kung anong tinutukoy ko.

He smirked. I know he was amused by the fact that I stalked his IG.

"Singsing iyon ng Lola namin. Mariing bilin niya sa aming magpipinsan na mapupunta sa unang magpopropose ang singsing na iyon. Aries got it first. That's why Katrina's wearing it."

"Oh".

"I just took a picture of it so I'll be reminded that I'm going to pursue you so you'll be the one wearing it in the end. But I failed to have it."

Napaawang ang labi ko.

I smiled. "It's okay. Now, you have me."

"Do you believe me now?" he grinned. "Are you still under wrong impressions?"

I firmly shook my head. That's all I needed to hear.

I raised my head and softly said, "I love you too, Marcus."

He smiled and reached for my lips. Iyon lang yata ang tanging hudyat para gawaran niya ang labi ko ng halik. Pinulupot ko ang braso sa kanyang leeg at sinabayan ang mga halik niya. Maingat, malalim, mainit at puno ng pananabik ang bawat pagdantay ng mga labi niya sa labi ko. He was kissing me passionately just like the first time he did. Hanggang sa bumilis ang paggalaw ng kanyang labi. Ang mga kamay niya ay humahaplos sa batok ko pababa sa likod ko. Ang init ng pakiramdam ko kahit basang-basa ang suot ko. Humigpit ang yapos ko sa kanya habang binibigyang laya ang aming mga damdamin. We continued kissing like we were making up for all the years we missed without each other. Hindi na naging pantay ang paghinga ko. I squeezed my eyes tight as we felt each other's lips. Tila may nagliliparang mga paru-paro sa tiyan ko. Nangilid ang luha ko.

So this is what it feels like if the person feels the same way as you do. I could hear our hearts beat in sync.

We only stopped when we heard footsteps coming towards us. Pareho kaming humihingal nang maghiwalay ang aming mga labi. Bigla akong umalis sa pagkakandong kay Marcus at mabilis na tumayo. Dalawang staff ng hotel ang lumapit at nagtanong kung anong nangyari. Marcus made the story short by telling a lie that we just went swimming and the noise I made calling for help was just nothing. He didn't want to alarm the entire hotel and get the guests all worried to go night swimming. Of course, he noted that life guards must be on a stand by all the time even at night to ensure everyone's safety.

"Stay with me tonight," malamyos na sabi ni Marcus at kinabig ako palapit sa kanya. Pabalik na kami ngayon sa hotel.

"No. I have my room," I replied.

"Did you bring any clothes?"

Napangiwi ako. "I did not."

"Then, come with me. I have spare clothes where I'm staying," alok niya at biglang tumigil sa paglalakad kaya napahinto rin ako.

I shook my head. "Hindi na. Magsusuot nalang ako ng robe sa kwarto at patutuyuin 'to," hawak ko sa laylayan ng damit ko at piniga.

He bit his lower lip and cocked his brow. "Don't you want to stay with me tonight?"

Umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya at direstsong tumayo at saglit na nag-isip.

"I do," pag amin ko. Bakit ko ba kasi pinapalawig ang usapan kahit gusting-gusto ko naman na makasama siya? Why do I often say things I don't mean?

Ngumiti siya at hinawakan ang aking kamay. Kusang naghugpong ang aming mga daliri. Marcus put his arm around my waist as we entered the hotel. Pumasok kami ng elevator at kaming dalawa lang ang naroon. Here we are again, parang déjà vu lang ang eksena kapag kaming dalawa lamang ang tao sa elevator.

Tumingkayad ako para mas lalong maglapit ang aming mga mukha.

"Can I kiss you?" I asked.

I didn't know what has gotten to me but I badly need to kiss him right now so I could feel that he's mine. Only mine. All this comes like a lightning and something's telling me that if I don't kiss him right now, everything will disappear the same way.

Hindi pa man siya nakasagot ay inabot ko na ang kanyang labi. His eyes widened when I pressed my lips to his. His soft lips touched mine. It was short kiss but already enough to assure me I wasn't just dreaming.

I drew myself away from him and shame ruled over me when I saw the evil smile showing on his face.

"Is that what you mean by kiss?" he said and chuckled. "Come on. You can kiss me now without limits."

His smile faded when he saw me staring at him.

He pulled me closer to him and bent down to cover my mouth with his. Naikawit ko ang mga kamay sa leeg niya nang magsimula nang maging mapusok ang mga halik niya. Ang isang kamay niya ay nakahawak sa baywang ko habang ang isa naman ay marahang hinahagod ang likod ko. Sabik na sabik na sinakop ng mga labi niya ang mga labi ko.

Oh, I just can't get enough of his kisses.