NAIGALA niya ang tingin sa maliit na kwarto ni Pier. He's staying in a travel inn na hindi siya pamilyar. The room looks clean enough with minimal interior designs and furniture. Ang meron lang yata sa silid nito ay isang kama na medyo malaki para sa isang tao, table, bedside table with drawers kung saan nakapatong ang lamp shade at isang maliit na banyo.Sa totoo lang mas malaki pa banyo niya kaysa sa kwarto nito."Magkano per night mo rito?" basag na tanong niya."Huwag mo ng itanong basta mura lang," nakatawang sagot nito. Naupo siya sa gilid ng kama nito. May maliit na TV pala across the bed. She thought design lang. "Maliligo lang muna ako tapos ihahatid na kita sa inyo." Nag-insist siya kanina na gusto niyang makita kung saan ang hotel nito. She wanted to know if his place was okay to stay in."Dito na ako matutulog," deklara niya.Marahas na nilingon siya ni Pier. Ibinaling niya ang tingin dito. "Hindi ka magiging komportable rito.""

KANINA pa masama ang pakiramdam ni Sushi. This should be a special day for everyone but none of it mattered to her now. She doesn't have the energy to pull herself up for tonight's founding anniversary of Costales.She's too heartbroken to even convince herself to smile.Nasa sariling silid siya habang nakaupo sa window seat - nakatingin sa hardin ng mansion nila.The house she used to call her palace is now a prison to her. Her father had locked her down in her room. No cell phones. No internet. Everything was taken down by her father. She hasn't heard of Pier ever since his last message to her.Napangiti siya nang mapait at niyakap nang husto ang nakatiklop niyang mga binti mula sa kanyang dibdib.I guess, he did give up on me this time.Tears welled up in her eyes. Ramdam niya ang paninikip ng dibdib sa kanina pa niyang pagpipigil ng mga luha. She has been crying for days already. Nobody in this house understands her pain - her t

YEARS PASSED but their love for each other is still as sweet as how she remembered it eight years ago. Sa walong taon na 'yon, bumuo sila ng pamilya ni Pier. She supported Pier's dreams. And she felt the love and support from her husband as well. His patience for her is what she admires of him the most.He was still the same Pierce Kyries Allede. The same poor charming whom she fell in love with because of his genuine heart and smile.Naging successful ang Lokal Delicacies na ni launch ng mga ito 3 years ago. Her father was so proud of Pier. Humanga ang mga board of directors sa galing at kasipagan ni Pier. Imagine, running Costales and his mango plantation in Guimaras simultaneously? Even herself, she couldn't help but be proud of her husband's achievements in just a span of 8 years.May sarili na ring factory si Pier sa Guimaras. Madalas pa rin itong dumadalaw sa Guimaras kahit na may mga pinakakatiwalaan na itong mga tao habang wala ito roon. Si Kuya Bert ang