The joy of getting my mother's approval was obvious in Arizona's smile and the relaxed manner she spoke when asked about her family.

Nanay offered empathy when she learned of the situation with her grandparents.

"Mahirap siguro para sa magulang mo lalo na at malayo sila."

My mother remarked.

"Yes." Ari agreed, the sadness obvious in her voice.

After lunch, Ari volunteered to help Nanay with the dishes but she refused.

"Hindi ka pa natutulog dito."My mother smiled as we helped her carry the plates to the sink.

It was a superstition I couldn't explain to Arizona when she asked what it meant.

"I think it had something to do with bad luck."

"How is it bad luck?" She pressed on.

"I don't know." I shrugged, out of answers for a belief that was better heeded than contradicted.

Tatay excused himself to go upstairs for a nap while Sandra went to the living room to watch TV.

I asked Nanay if she needed anything else but she told us to rest.

Hand in hand, Arizona and I went upstairs to my bedroom where she saw framed photographs of the Warriors and us during our senior basketball championship.

There was also one of the two of us at the airport the very first time she visited.

My arm was on her shoulder while hers was on my waist.

We were both smiling.

She took the frame from the shelf.

"You still have this." She smoothed the glass with her finger.

"I do." I opened the window wider to let the air in.

Ari placed the photograph back on the shelf and sat on the bed.

Aside from the queen-sized bed, the bookshelf, closet, nightstand and a black acoustic guitar, there weren't any other furniture or appliances in my room.

The longest time I spent here was when I quit my job at Santos Gen.

Ari patted the space beside her and I sat down to join her.

She laid her head on my shoulder.

"Are you happy?" I asked, taking her hand and caressing her finger.

"I am."
"It wasn't so bad wasn't it?"

She raised her head to look at me.

"No. But I was so afraid that Nanay would say no to us."

"Even if she said no to you now, it doesn't mean she wouldn't approve of you in the future."

"I know but it's so much better that she's okay with us."

"That's true."

I looked in her blue eyes and saw happiness there.

Cupping her face with one hand, I kissed her tenderly.

Ari moved closer and I felt her hand on my waist pulling me towards her.

It was warm, with the afternoon air coming in and the heat from our bodies adding to it.

We paid it no mind as we kept kissing, lost in the joy of being together.

When she pulled away, we were both out of breath.

"Do you feel like going on a short trip?"

"Where?"

"Tagaytay is close by."

"What are we going to do there?"

"You'll see."

The drive to Tagaytay, a place popular for its rolling hills and cooler temperature, was relaxed.

Arizona opened the window, letting her hand swayed with the breeze and sometimes occasionally sticking her head out to watch the scenery.

We stopped to let a man who was pulling a carabao crossed the street.

"That animal is huge!" She said, watching the beast of burden follow its master.

When she saw a sorbetero walking by, she asked me to stop because she wanted ice cream.

"Are you sure you want that one?" She nodded then climbed down the car.

The sorbetero stopped in front of a small hut, children wearing shorts and sando gathered around him.

They stared at Arizona when we came near.

"Hello." She smiled and waved at them, some smiling shyly at her greeting.

One girl who was wearing a red shirt kept staring at Arizona and I wondered whether it was because of how different she looked.

I waited for the guy to finish the children's order before placing ours.

Ari was now talking to the kids, bending down to let the girl touched her hair.

"What flavor do you like?"

"Everything." She answered with a smile.

I chose the waffle cone and ordered double scoops of chocolate, ube and mango.

I gave Ari the first one and paid the sorbetero once mine was done.

"We should have our picture taken." She took her phone from her pocket.

I asked the guy to take our picture.

We stood in front of the ice cream cart and after the guy counted three, I smiled.

The guy returned her phone and I laughed at Ari's pose—she was licking the ice cream, the stacked scoops covering her chin and her nose.

"You're cute." I said to her.

We said goodbye to the kids who stood watching us while we walked back to the car.

Instead of going in, we stood on the side of the road, eating ice cream and looking at the narrow road lined with palms trees.

The afternoon sun was beating down on us melting the ice cream faster than we could eat it.

"Do you want kids, Ari?" I asked.

"No. Do you?" I shook my head.

"Good. You got me nervous there for one second."

"Why?" I licked the side of the cone.

"Because I don't know if you wanted kids. If you do, I don't know what I'm going to do."

I touched her arm.

"You don't have to worry about that because we both agree on the same thing."

#

     When we reached Picnic Grove, a park situated on a rolling hill with benches and huts were people can have picnics, the heat already died down.

Sunlight streamed from the leaves like shimmering gold.

After paying the entrance fee, I led Arizona up towards one of the huts where we have a good view of Taal Lake.

We sat on the wooden bench and she looked up at the ceiling, with names and hearts carved on the wood peppered with people professing their love for each other.

"This is where I usually go when I want to escape my crazy life." I told her.

"Great! Now I know where to look for you if you suddenly gone missing." She scooted closer to me, putting a hand on my thigh.

I wrapped one arm on her shoulder then kissed her on the forehead.

We both grew silent.

When Arizona spoke again, I sensed the worry in her voice.

"Are you sure we'll make it this time, Jules?" She turned her head till her eyes were level with mine.

"Yes." I answered, confident.

"Promise?"

"I promise." I raised my right hand and with my index finger, drew a cross over my heart.

Arizona leaned to kiss me on the lips.

I closed my eyes, enjoying the gentleness of her kiss.

I didn't have to say a lot of things.

In my heart I believe this was what I wanted—she's what I needed.

Things are not going to be easy.

Things are never easy between us.

But we will be together and the love we still hold after all these years will hopefully be enough to get us through the bad days.

We both learned our lesson from what happened in the past.

I see the determination in her to stick to her decision and give us another chance.