ROMA HAD BEEN busy the following weeks. Minsanan na lang din siya kung sumabay sa aming kumain dahil lagi silang overtime ni Peyton. Konting-konti na lang talaga at i-re-real talk ko na siya kasi lagi na lang malungkot ang kambal kapag hindi namin siya kasama sa hapag. Siyempre ay ako na rin. “Oh, kape mo,” matabang na saad ko at nilapag ang tasa ng kapeng ginawa ko para sa kanya pag-upo niya sa dining table. Kunot-noong napatingala naman siya sa akin. I maintained a straight face as I prepared the breakfast table. “Bish, is there a problem?” he asked. “Wala man lang good motherfuckin' morning d'yan, bish? Talagang kape agad?” Ewan ko sa ‘yo! “Wala,” simpleng sagot ko at tinalikuran na siya para ipagbalot ng baon nila ang kambal. He groaned and stood up from his seat then began tailing me. “Julie, akala ko ba nag-usap na tayo?”

I WAS DRAWING invisible circles on Roma's bare chest while we were still lying naked under the sheets. Nakahiga ako sa balikat niya habang talagang nakatulog na siya matapos ang makailang beses naming ginawa. I couldn't sleep yet. I felt like I was in full bliss because of his confession earlier. Mahal niya ako... Sa wakas ay mahal na ako ng taong buong buhay kong pinag-alayan ng katawan, puso, at kaluluwa ko. I looked up at him and gently caressed his face. Mas clear skin pa siguro siya kaysa sa akin, but Roma was Roma, and I love him with all of my heart, life, and soul. Nagulat ako nang biglang hinuli niya ang kamay kong nasa pisngi niya dahil buong akala ko ay talagang tulog na siya. He held my hand and placed a soft kiss there before he laid it atop his chest, just right above the location of his heart. Ipinikit na niyang muli ang mga mata niya habang mahigpit na kapit pa rin ang kamay kong nasa ma

PINUNTAHAN NAMIN NI Roma ang Pamilya Escobar sa ospital nang makapag-ayos na kami. We left the kids under Lilo's watch. Tumayo agad si Klarissa pagkakita niya sa aming papalapit sa kanya saka kami sinalubong. “Kumusta na si Tito Mon?” I asked. “Ayos na siya sa awa ng Diyos.” She turned to Roma, her eyes were now tearful. “Roma, maraming-maraming salamat talaga sa pagliligtas sa kanya.” Roma caressed her arm to soothe her as he gave her one thoughtful smile. “It's okay, Issa. Huwag ka nang mag-alala sa mga gagastusin niyo. I already contacted Marvin's construction company as well to fix your house as soon as possible.” “Roma, maraming-maraming salamat talaga sa lahat pero... matatagalan pa siguro bago kami makapagbayad sa iyo...” “Huwag kang mag-aalala sa bayad. It can always wait but I'm not asking you to pay me for it, okay? I just really wanted to

This is the first part of the epilogue, and this will be told in Roma's point of view in third person. Words are not enough to express how grateful I am that you have stumbled and have became an important part of Julie and Roma's adventures and misadventures since high school to their lives overseas and back to the Philippines where they raised their own modern unconventional family and sort out what they truly mean to each other. I hope you bring with you the lessons you have gotten from here about life, love, faith, and most especially about gender and sexuality. Respect everyone and never lose faith. God bless!♡ BATA PA LAMANG si Rome, ang junior ng OFW na si Borromeo Buendia, ay alam at ramdam na niyang may espesyal sa kanya. He was also very vocal with it towards his family who never failed to support him in anyway they can. Tumunog ang bell, hudyat nang pagsisimula ng unang klase. Mabibilis na yapak ng mga

HINDI MAGAWANG ALISIN ni Roma ang titig sa susunod na aplikanteng pumasok sa opisina niya na sasalang sa interview at upang mag-apply bilang isa sa mga chemical engineer niya. “How are you? It's been a long time.” “Prince...” ang tanging nausal ni Roma. “I thought you joined the Philippine Military,” dugtong naman niya nang makabawi. Prince gave him his small boyish smile. “I didn't push through it. That's not what I want. This... is what I want.” Nakatitig lang si Roma sa mukha ni Prince. It's really been a long time since they last saw each other. They didn't even have a proper breakup. They were just taken away from each other. The changes in him were noticeable as well. He grew taller, had some stubbles, and gained more muscles, very similar to Roma right now except for the facial hair. His skin was maintained clear, smooth, and pristine. Skincare was life for Rom