The moment we stepped into my condo, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. The weight of the day, heavy meetings, and the emotional strain of hearing CL's heartfelt exchanges with his patients seemed to melt away as the door clicked shut behind us.

"I'll cook us something," CL offered, his voice warm and reassuring. He ran a hand through his dark, wavy hair, still slightly mussed from his earlier presentation. The exhaustion etched in his olive-toned features didn't go unnoticed. His dark, expressive eyes had a tired but loving gleam as he glanced my way.

"You've already done enough today," I said, a playful smile curving my lips. I brushed a hand over his arm, feeling the slight tension in his lean, athletic build. "Mag-order na lang tayo sa Shakey's. Wala na rin talaga akong energy para magluto."

CL chuckled softly, the sound rich and familiar. "Alright, alright. You win this time."

We pulled up the app on my phone and placed an order for a feast that would make anyone's eyes widen: a party-sized pizza, mojos, fried chicken, pasta, and even some garlic bread on the side. As the confirmation chimed, CL stretched, letting out a sigh. The way his muscles subtly shifted beneath his white shirt didn't escape my notice.

"Ligo muna ako," sabi ko, kinuha ang aking bathrobe at bagong set ng damit. "Alam mo na kung nasaan nakalagay lahat."

"Oo, alam ko na," he said, his full lips quirking into a half-smile. "Take your time."

The warm water cascading over me felt like an embrace, washing away the day's weariness. The scent of my favorite citrus body wash filled the bathroom, and for a few minutes, the world outside faded. By the time I emerged, refreshed and wrapped in my robe, CL had already rummaged through his bag and was waiting for his turn with a towel slung over one shoulder.

"Ikaw na," sabi ko, habang tumitingin sa kanyang mga mata. A shiver ran down my spine as his gaze softened.

"Be right back," he said, planting a light kiss on my forehead before disappearing into the bathroom. The sound of the shower running mixed with the low hum of the city below as I tidied up a bit, setting out plates and utensils on the coffee table.

Minutes later, CL emerged, damp curls framing his face, a fresh scent of soap and aftershave lingering in the air. He wore a simple black shirt and gray lounge pants that only accentuated his fit frame. Binigyan niya ako ng maliit, nakakaakit na ngiti habang umupo siya sa tabi ko sa sofa.

"So, what are we watching?" he asked, settling in and draping an arm over the back of the sofa.

"Gilmore Girls," sabi ko, kumikislap ang mga mata. "You know, Luke's still my favorite character."

"Ah, Luke," CL echoed with mock seriousness, raising an eyebrow. "I better watch out."

I laughed, nudging his side. "Oh, you'll love it. Trust me. He's the kind of guy who really cares—about Lorelai, about Rory. Palagi siyang nandiyan para sa kanila, kahit na hindi naman niya kailangang gawin. I mean, he was always Lorelai's true love, right from the start."

"Ah, I see," CL said with a knowing grin. "The guy who's been pining quietly, waiting for the perfect moment."

"Exactly!" sabi ko, nararamdaman ang aking kasabikan na umaapaw. "Makikita mo talaga—yung paraan ng pag-aalaga niya sa kanila, kahit hindi nila ito napapansin. He's rough around the edges, but you know he's got the biggest heart. And with Lorelai, it's like... it's obvious they're meant to be. She just needed to wake up and see it."

"Sounds like true love," CL mused, giving me a teasing sideways glance. "I guess I'm going to have to step up my game."

I laughed, nudging him again. "Oh, you're doing just fine."

Just as I was about to press play, the doorbell rang.

"Food's here!" CL exclaimed, springing up and heading for the door. I followed, watching as he exchanged a few words with the delivery guy and took the bags of food with a grateful nod.

"Wow, this is way too much," sabi niya, inilapag ang lahat sa coffee table.

"Hey, we deserve it," I teased, opening the box of mojos first and popping one into my mouth. "Besides, who knows when we'll get another night like this?"

"Tama," sumang-ayon siya, lumambot ang mga mata habang tinitingnan ako. "So let's make the most of it."

We settled into the cushions, food in hand as the first scenes of Gilmore Girls rolled onto the screen. CL's presence beside me, warm and familiar, made my chest swell with contentment. The way he watched with genuine interest, chuckling at my excited commentary and nodding at my analysis of Luke's decisions, made everything feel right.

"You know, I love how much Lorelai and Rory's relationship reminds me of mine with my mom," I said, watching them share one of their usual heartfelt moments. "They're so close, yet so different, you know? But they've got each other's backs no matter what."

"Yeah," CL agreed thoughtfully, his eyes on the screen as Lorelai and Rory shared one of their iconic heart-to-hearts. "You can tell there's so much love there, even when they clash."

"Exactly," I said, smiling at the screen. "And Luke—he just fits into that world so perfectly. He's not afraid to challenge Lorelai, but in a way that shows he respects her. He never backs down, even when things get tough. And that's what I love about him."

"This guy really has your heart, huh?" CL teased, eyes glancing sideways at me.

"Maybe," I said, leaning into him with a grin. "He's got the kind of quiet strength that makes him so... irreplaceable."

The rest of the night unfolded in a blur of laughter, shared bites of pizza, and the flickering glow of the TV casting shadows across the room. For those few hours, the world outside didn't matter. It was just us—and it was perfect.

Hours slipped by in the cozy embrace of my living room. The soft glow of the TV cast flickering shadows across the walls as Luke's voice filled the space, guiding us through another episode of Gilmore Girls. I leaned back, the exhaustion of the week finally settling into my bones, but I was happy. It was rare for our schedules to align perfectly like this—a Sunday where both CL and I had nowhere to be but here, together.

I glanced at the clock; it was already 1AM. A laugh bubbled up inside me as I turned to CL, seeing his dark eyes still intently following the story on the screen. "Okay, I think it's time we called it a night," I said, reaching for the remote.

Just as my thumb hovered over the power button, CL's hand caught mine and gently pulled me toward him. The sudden motion made me gasp, and before I knew it, I was sitting on his lap, our faces mere inches apart. His familiar, warm smile deepened as he looked at me, eyes reflecting the soft light from the TV.

"Hey," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapangiti pabalik, naramdaman ko ang daloy ng init sa aking mga pisngi. Bago ko pa man masabi ang anuman, lumapit siya, at nagtagpo ang aming mga labi sa isang halik na nagpatanggal ng natitirang pagod. It was gentle at first, then deeper, as if the world outside the walls of my condo no longer existed. My hands found their way to his hair, fingers tangling in the soft curls as we lost ourselves in the moment.

But just as the heat between us threatened to spark into something more, I pulled back, drawing a shaky breath. The air between us shifted as I moved to sit beside him, finally clicking the TV off. Silence settled around us, and I hesitated before speaking.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, not daring to look at him. "I didn't mean to ruin the moment."

"Hey," sabi ni CL, itinaas ang aking baba upang magtagpo ang aming mga mata. "Don't apologize. There's nothing to be sorry for." His voice was steady, reassuring, and it made my chest ache in the best way.

I let out a short, breathy laugh and shook my head. "It's not that I'm not ready," sabi ko, lumabas ang mga salita bago ko pa ito mapigilan. "I mean, I'm not—I'm not a virgin or anything. It's just... with all the men I've dated, it always turned into something physical. It was like... like it was a requirement." Huminto ako, naghahanap ng tamang mga salita. "I don't want that with you. I don't want this to be just about lust."

CL's gaze softened as he listened, never once interrupting. When I finished, he nodded slowly. "I get that," he said. "And it's not weird at all. To be honest, I've had enough experience to know that it's not everything. I don't need that from us, Shan. I just love being with you."

Something eased inside me, like a weight lifting. "Thank you," I said, a genuine smile spreading across my face.

A moment of silence passed, comfortable and warm, before CL's expression changed, a hint of contemplation shadowing his eyes. "Actually, speaking of things we haven't talked about..." He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't think I ever told you, but almost ten months ago, I proposed to my ex-girlfriend."

Ang mga salita ay tumama sa akin na parang alon, hindi inaasahan at matalim. Sinubukan kong panatilihing neutral ang aking mukha, pero mabilis ang takbo ng isip ko. He had a girlfriend 10 months ago? When I'd spent the last eight years single, trying to piece my life back together? "Ano'ng nangyari?" tanong ko, pinanatiling matatag ang boses ko.

CL sighed, the shadows in his eyes deepening. "She said no," simpleng sagot niya. "She told me she didn't want to be with someone who was rarely there. She couldn't understand that my profession isn't just a job I can step away from whenever I want." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "We had been together for six years. I thought we made it work, but that day, I realized it was just a lie. She admitted she'd been cheating on me with her best friend. And that she was already two months pregnant. It wasn't mine."

"Oh my god," I breathed, reaching for his hand. The pain in his eyes was raw, but there was something else there too—acceptance, resilience.

"Okay lang," sabi niya, pinipisil ang kamay ko. "Natanggap ko na. Mahirap... pero marami akong natutunan tungkol sa kung ano talaga ang gusto ko."

I felt a strange sense of déj' vu as he spoke. A memory sparked in my mind—New Year's Eve, standing on a beach in Bali, watching a proposal unfold from afar. "CL, when exactly did you propose?"

His brows knitted together. "New Year's Eve," he said, then tilted his head. "Bakit?"

My heart skipped a beat. "Was it... on a beach in Bali?"

Recognition flared in his eyes. "Yeah. How did you—"

Tumawa ako, halo ng hindi makapaniwala at pagkamangha. "I was there. I saw you that night. My friends and I were in the water, watching from a distance."

A stunned silence stretched between us before he pulled out his phone, scrolling through his archived stories. He found a photo, blurry but unmistakable—me and my friends in the background, half-hidden by the soft waves, and there he was, kneeling in front of her.

We exchanged looks, both of us caught between amazement and amusement.

"I can't believe it," he said, shaking his head. "Of all the places, of all the moments—it's like we were meant to see each other even before we knew each other."

"Invisible strings," I whispered, eyes meeting his. "Maybe it was always meant to be."

He turned to me, a small, wistful smile touching his lips. "Exactly." For a moment, the heaviness of his story felt lighter, as if shared memories—even accidental ones—held a strange kind of comfort.

We lapsed into easy conversation, letting the earlier intensity ebb away. I recounted stories from my year in Bali—the days spent working at the resort, the bustling night markets filled with color and spice, the sunrises that painted the sky in breathtaking hues.

"I can imagine you there," CL said, his tone warm. "Golden hair in the sun, laughing as you barter for souvenirs. You'd fit right in."

"Oh, I did," I laughed. "I was practically a local by the end of it. I even learned how to ride a motorbike—with minimal accidents," I added with a playful nudge.

"Minimal?" He raised an eyebrow, eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Dalawa lang. Tapos 'yong isa hindi ko kasalanan!"

We both chuckled, the sound filling the room, blending with the muted hum of the city outside. It felt good—natural—to talk like this. The vulnerability we shared had cracked something open, making space for a deeper connection.

As the conversation meandered into lighter territory—childhood memories, funny patient stories, the quirks of our favorite movies—the clock crept forward. I glanced at the time and noted it was well past 1 AM. We both had the rare luxury of a shared day off, and it seemed we were determined to make the most of it.

Eventually, the fatigue caught up with us. "We should get some sleep," I said, stifling a yawn.

CL nodded, stretching his arms before letting one rest across the back of the sofa. "Yeah, you're right." He turned to me, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Thank you for tonight. For everything."

"Always," I replied, the word carrying more weight than I'd anticipated.

As we stood and made our way to the bedroom, there was an unspoken understanding between us—a shared moment that needed no further words. CL leaned in and kissed me, a gentle, lingering touch that spoke of comfort and promise.

"Good night, Shan," bulong niya.

"Good night, CL," I murmured, feeling a warmth bloom in my chest.

We climbed into bed, the room now enveloped in quiet. He shifted closer, his arm draping around me as we settled into the familiar embrace. The night held no more questions, only a comforting silence that spoke of new beginnings and the invisible threads that bound us together.