Mabilis akong umalis ng FUMC. Tumigil lang ako nang mapansin na nasa tapat ako ng gate ng villa namin ni Zachary at halos padilim na. I wasn’t even sure where I was driving to a while ago. At dito pa talaga... I am completely aware of how tight the security is within the premises now. The guards know my car’s model and plate number, so they didn’t bother checking. At may sensor na rin sa kalsada papasok ng premises. The sensor would know if someone suspicious enters the range and it would trigger the alarm. Bumuntong hininga ako. Nanatili ako sa loob ng kotse ko habang sinusubukang tawagan si Klaus sa dati niyang number. He immediately answered the call. “Klaus...” I call him. “Jade...” tugon niya pabalik. My lips form a thin line. “Can we meet?” I hear him sigh. “Look, Jade...” Muli siyang bumuntong hininga bago muling nagsalita. “I just informed you of what happened. I get that she’s close to you, but I suggest for you not to take pa

[ Flashback ] I still can't believe he suddenly agreed to marrying me! That Dr. Ricaforte! Ayaw ayaw pa siya noong una for some reason tapos biglang sasabihin niya sa akin na payag na siya? I was actually close to backing out from my proposal until he barged in my office and said, "Fine, I'll marry you." I never thought it would be this easy. Because he really seemed the type to marry for love, as cliche as it would seem. At mukha ring may gusto siyang iba... kaya naman bakit... bigla niyang naisipang pumayag sa proposal ko? "But we have to get to know each other first before we proceed to marry each other..." he said. Bumuntong hininga at binalingan siya mula sa pagkain ko. "Roon din naman ang punta natin bakit hindi na lang natin idiretso na sa kasal, Dr. Ricaforte? Mukhang iyon din naman ang gusto ng parents mo..." pag-angal ko. He looked at me with a stern look on his face. Na para bang gusto niya akong pangaralan pero bago pa siya makasagot ay inunahan ko na siya. "Fine

Why was it so easy for him to say that he’s in love with me? Bakit ang dali sa kaniya na iparamdam sa akin iyon kahit anong trato ko sa kaniya na hindi ko siya mahal? What exactly is wrong with this man? How can he be so…? I was too shocked that he’s in front of me right now that I didn’t notice his suitcase behind him. Don’t tell me… he’s planning to live here again… with me? I’m not going to allow him to. This is insane! “What’s with the suitcase behind you?” I asked anyway, kahit parang alam ko naman na ang sagot. He smiled a little before pulling his suitcase beside him. “I’m going to live here again… with you, MJ…” aniya, confirming my thoughts. Bumuntong hininga ako at napasapo ang kamay sa ulo. “How many times do I have to tell you that I’m not really in love with you? I was lying. I am mad at you, Dr. Ricaforte. I hate you…” walang emosyon kong sambit pagkatingin ko nang diretso sa mga mata niya. “Ang kulit mo!” singhal ko pa.

I just stared at him for a while. His eyes were still the same, naghahanap at nagtatanong. I honestly don’t know how to answer him or what to answer. Dahil maging ako ay ganoon din ang tanong sa sarili. Why did I come back here? Sa lahat ng puwede kong puntahan, bakit dito? Bumuntong hininga ako at nagpasyang magsabi na lang ng totoo. I don’t feel safe at my condominium. I could just tell him that. There’s no need to elaborate the details. Kung ano ang mayroon at kung ano ang nangyari. “MJ...” he called me. God, I missed him so much. “Why didn’t you pick me up before the dinner? Why didn’t you attend?” I asked him. It wasn’t what I planned to ask or to tell him. Hindi iyon, at hindi ko alam kung bakit iyon ang lumabas sa aking bibig. Maybe... at some point, I also wanted to know his reason for that. When I saw him outside our house, I was able to confirm my thoughts from a while ago when Baron picked me up instead of him.

“You should sleep some more. You’re tired…” Zachary caressed my hair softly. He gently kissed the side of my head before pulling himself away from the embrace. But before he could do that, I pulled him more to me, closing the distance between us once more. I hugged him once again. “You really deserve better, Zachary…” I whispered as I buried myself to him, inhaling his familiar scent. “But I just can’t seem to let you go, no matter how hard I tried to push you away.” My voice softened more and was almost inaudible when I finally confessed that. May parte sa akin na umasang sana hindi niya iyon narinig pero alam kong sa kawalan ng distansya sa pagitan namin, maririnig at maririnig niya iyon kahit gaano pa kahina. “It’s because you’re in love with me, that’s why…” he chuckled softly and hugged me even more. “I know. I feel it. You love me.” He kissed my forehead and made me look at him. Kitang kita ko ang pagmamahal at pagsusumamo sa mga mata ni