Thank you for reading! I hope you had fun reading Cerise and Pablo's story :)

Epilogue

"I like the one with the huge closet!" sabi ko kay Pablo.

"I know, I know, but the one with the huge kitchen," sagot niya naman. "Imagine all the things we can do there."

"We have a bed."

Napaawang ang labi niya tapos natawa. "I mean cooking," he said, laughing. "But I like where your head's at," he continued as he pulled me in and planted a kiss on my lips.

I rolled my eyes at him. "We need to make a decision by the end of the week," I told him. "Besides, dapat nga ikaw iyong mas gusto nung mas malaking closet. You have more things than me!"

He shrugged. "I'm actually planning on donating most of my clothes. I mean, how many suit can a man really own?" sabi niya tapos nagusap kami kung saan niya pwedeng i-donate iyong mga damit niya. I remembered hearing about donating formal clothes para sa mga tao na gustong mag-apply ng trabaho pero walang masuot. Minsan kasi kailangan ng formal clothes for job interview. I told Pablo about that and he readily agreed to donate. I felt inspired, so baka this weekend e mag-ayos na rin ako ng gamit na pwede kong i-donate.

I love this.

I love how despite being imperfect individuals, we're inspiring each other to be better.

"Do you have plans today?" I asked.

He paused for a while and said, "Not much. I'll just have to go to the bar later to check on things. Why?"

"Wanna visit the houses again? So we can make a decision?"

Natawa siya. "You really want to make a decision?"

I nodded. "Yes," sabi ko sa kanya. "Don't get me wrong—I love your place, but I'm excited to move to a house."

We did a small ceremony in Rome, stayed there for three days, then flew to Greece for our honeymoon. Nasayangan nga ako sa pag-stay namin doon kasi halos hindi naman kami lumabas sa hotel room namin! I mean, I knew that Pablo loves sex as much as the next guy, but damn, he was insatiable during our honeymoon! I actually lost weight because of all the sex we did.

Truly, cardio in bed is the best cardio.

100% would recommend.

Pagkatapos ng honeymoon namin, bumalik na kami sa Pilipinas. Dahil 'di hamak na mas malaki iyong condo niya sa condo ko, it made sense for us to live there. Besides, halos nandoon na rin naman iyong gamit ko. I just had to sell some of my furniture and appliance because I didn't want to change anything about Pablo's condo. What can I say? My husband has impeccable taste—both in furniture and in woman.

We were comfortable in our condo, but ewan ko... For some reason, we felt like we needed to move to a house. No particular reason other than it felt like it was the next step.

We weren't trying for kids, god no.

I was busy with my career.

Pablo works mainly at night.

It just didn't feel right to include kids in the equation. And we didn't need kids to feel like a family because we are family. Kaming dalawa. We got each other's back. Having a kid would not change that.

"Okay," he said. "Do you really like the one with the huge closet space?"

I nodded. "Very much so."

"Okay. Let's contact the broker and make an offer."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Really?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"I thought gusto mo iyong may malaking kitchen?"

He shrugged. "It's fine. As they say, happy wife, happy life."

Natawa ako. "Saan mo na naman narinig 'yan?"

"Some guy," he replied.

"Are you sure about this? Ayoko na isang araw isumbat mo sa 'kin 'to," I said, kidding kasi never naman nanumbat si Pablo sa akin. I actually love the fact that we got together when we're older. Mas mature na kami. Or ewan ko. Siguro wala na kaming energy sa mga sigawan. Kalmado lang kaming dalawa—at least most of the time. And we both know that it's us against the problem; not him against me.

He nodded as he placed a light kiss on my lips. "I'm sure," he said. "Remember when we got married, I promised you that I will try my hardest to give you everything you want?" he asked and I just stared into his eyes and let myself get lost in them. "This is part of the deal."

I bit my lower lip. "Thank you..."

He smiled as he tuck a portion of my hair behind my ear. "You're always welcome," he said as he cupped my face and kissed me yet again.

* * *

I really felt bad na nag-give in si Pablo para makuha ko iyong huge closet space ko kaya naman sinabi ko sa broker na kailangan namin ng bahay na both malaki iyong kitchen and closet space. Until then, no deal would be signed. Besides, okay naman iyong condo. We'd just stay there until we find a home that we both love.

We're married.

It's us, not just me.

"Do you really want the baked salmon?" Pablo asked.

"Why?"

"Weirdly, there's no salmon here," he replied. "We can go to a different store."

I just got promoted and promotion meant more work. Pablo also opened another bar, so he's busy with that. Despite that, we made sure that Saturday nights are for us. We'd cook meals together—or more like him as I watch him while drinking my wine. Tapos we'd watch a movie—or try, really, because we both know that we'd end up making out on the couch.

"Let's just cook something else," sabi ko kasi Saturday ngayon and the traffic would be horrendous.

We were in the middle of deciding kung ano ang lulutuin namin nang mapahinto si Pablo. Napahinto rin tuloy ako. Nakatingin siya sa harapan niya kaya napatingin din ako roon. Napakunot ang noo ko. The woman seemed familiar.

"Rory," I uttered when I finally realized why she looked so familiar. Of course I knew what she looked like! She's the one who gave Pablo trust issues. Of course I stalked her. 'Di ba normal naman 'yon?

"Fuck," I continued.

Napakunot iyong noo ni Rory kasama iyong asawa niya na si Ysmael Agosto. I hate that I know everything about them! At least everything na available publicly online. Once in a while kasi, inuupdate ko iyong sarili ko sa kanila. It's one of my guilty pleasures in life na never ko sinabi kay Pablo kasi weird lang na iniistalk ko iyong ex niya kahit kasal na kaming dalawa. Bakit ba? Curious ako, e.

"Sorry," I said.

Wala bang magsasalita sa kanila para matigil na ako sa pagpapahiya sa sarili ko? Anyone?

"Hi," Ysmael said, offering his hand to me. "Yago," he said.

Oh, so I can call him Yago? I mean, of course I know that that's how his friends call him pero hindi naman kami friends para itawag ko sa kanya iyon.

"Hi," I replied. "Cerise."

"Nice to meet you," he told me. Tumingin siya kay Pablo tapos biglang naging masungit iyong dating niya. "Pablo," he said. Iyon lang ang sinabi niya na may maliit na tango. Pablo just gave him an equally small nod. What the heck? Magkaaway ba sila? I mean... until now?

"Hi," sabi ni Rory. "I'm Rory."

"Hi," I replied. "Cerise."

She didn't introduce herself as Pablo's ex, so I didn't introduce myself as Pablo's wife. Besides, I am my own person. I don't need to introduce myself as someone's wife. 'Di naman ako threatened kay Rory. I mean, before siguro, oo, but now? I'm safe and secured.

"Long time, no see," sabi ni Rory kay Pablo.

"Yeah," tipid na sabi ng asawa ko.

Awkward silence.

"Dito kayo namimili?" Yago asked me.

I nodded. "Sometimes," I replied. "Bakit? Iiwasan niyo na 'tong lugar na 'to?" I asked... and I probably sounded sarcastic while saying that dahil mukhang nagulat si Yago and Rory sa sinabi ko. Biglang nanlaki iyong mga mata ko. "Oh, gosh. I'm so sorry. I was kidding. Of course you can go here. We don't own this place," dire-diretsong sabi ko dahil parang ang sama ng ugali ko doon sa una kong sinabi.

Natawa si Yago.

"Oh. I was beginning to backtrack the conversation if I said something," sabi niya.

"I mean, we just said hi, hello really."

It was probably weird for Rory and Pablo dahil kaming dalawa ni Yago iyong naguusap. It was just easy to talk to him dahil ang daldal niya. For some reason, we agreed to have them over for dinner some time.

"Was it weird for you?" I asked Pablo.

"What?"

"Having them over for dinner?"

"Not really," sabi ni Pablo. "Why?"

I shrugged. "I mean... she's your ex, right? The reason why you kind of ditched me before?"

He rolled his eyes. "I did not ditch you," he said like he was tired of having this conversation again. Tinawanan ko siya. "And clearly, we ended because I am meant to end up with you," he continued while reaching for my hand and holding it ever so tightly.

I wrinkled my nose dahil kinilig ako doon. Bwisit na 'to.

"Whatever," I said.

Natawa siya. "But yeah... kinda weird that we're having them over for dinner."

"Really? Yago seems nice."

"He is."

"Then bakit parang magpapatayan kayo sa tingin kanina?"

He shrugged. "I overheard him calling me 'ancient' and 'dinosaur' way back," he said. "I was older by only a few years. He was acting like I could be his dad."

Natawa ako. "What? Why? What's the context?"

And we talked about what happened before and how Yago was jealous of him. It was pretty entertaining! I love the fact that we're able to talk about this without any jealousy or negative feelings. Wala lang. Kwento lang. Ang saya na secured kami sa relasyon namin na napapagusapan namin iyong ganitong bagay.

Dahil sa chismisan namin, hindi kami nakapagdecide ng kung ano iyong lulutuin namin. We just agreed to get a takeout from a restaurant. Habang naglalakad kami, bahagya akong natigilan nang makita ko si Therese. I was looking at her when she saw me. We were staring at each other as our paths neared. She was just looking at me.

And when she was about to avert her gaze, I gave her a small nod. Nakita ko iyong pagkagulat sa mukha niya, pero hindi siya tumigil sa paglalakad at dire-diretso lang.

"What was that?" Pablo asked. He never asked me about Therese or family after Therese went to him before. I told him I never want to talk about that anymore and he respected my wishes.

I shrugged.

I actually didn't know what that was.

I thought I was gonna pretend that I didn't see him.

I was surprised that I nodded at her.

Maybe... maybe in the future we can talk again.

Maybe.

"Do we have chicken at home?"

"Yes."

"Potato?"

"We have a lot."

"Great. Can we do roast chicken and roast potato?"

"Of course."

We went back to the condo and he began cooking while I sat there, watching him while I drink my wine. I watched as he moved around the kitchen. I watched as his muscles flexed as he began cooking.

God, I love a man who can cook.

"What?" he asked when he caught me staring.

"Nothing," I said as I gently smiled and shook my head. "You look hot when you cook," I continued that made him blush. "So hot, babe," I added that made him put down the knife, walked up to me, and kissed me while the chicken was roasting in the oven.

God, I love my life.