The sun was bright and high as CL and I made our way up the winding roads leading to Baguio. Ang amoy ng mga pine tree ay pumasok sa bahagyang nakabukas na mga bintana, sumasama sa malamig na hangin ng bundok.

It's the last day of October, and I'm going to spend the rest of the week with CL and his family. I could feel my heartbeat picking up speed with each mile we covered. I glanced at CL, who sat comfortably in the driver's seat, his fingers loosely gripping the wheel, his eyes steady on the road ahead. My nerves must have been palpable because he turned to me with a reassuring smile and reached for my hand.

"Hey," he said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. "You're going to be fine. I promise, they're going to love you."

"Sana nga," sagot ko, ang boses ko mas mahina kaysa sa inaasahan ko. I tried to return his smile, but my anxiety made it feel more like a grimace. I'd been looking forward to this trip for weeks, but now that we were moments away from stepping into his world, the anticipation was almost overwhelming.

After what felt like an eternity, we arrived at CL's family home. The house was magnificent—a sprawling property nestled among the trees, its façade a beautiful mix of stone and glass, with ivy climbing up one side. I stared, my jaw slack.

"Hindi mo sinabi sa akin na ganito kalaki ang bahay niyo," I said, half-joking, half-stunned.

Tumawa si CL habang pinapatay ang makina at bumaba. "Maniwala ka man o hindi," sabi niya habang binubuksan ang aking pinto, "we weren't always this fortunate. My dad built everything from the ground up—literally from rags to riches."

Lumabas ako, pinagmamasdan ang tanawin ng malaking bahay, kasama ang malalawak na balkonahe at maayos na mga hardin. It looked like something out of a lifestyle magazine, but there was a quietness to it, an emptiness that made me feel small.

Once we'd settled in CL's bedroom—a spacious, light-filled room decorated with framed photos of family moments and medical school achievements—we headed downstairs to the pool area. The soft sound of laughter drifted through the air as we approached. There, gathered around a large, shaded table were CL's parents, Dr. Paul and Dr. Jenna, and his younger sister, Love, who was animatedly chatting with a man I assumed was her boyfriend, Frisco.

"Mom, Dad," tawag ni CL habang papalapit kami. Nang huminto ang mga usapan, lahat ng mata ay napatingin sa amin. "This is Shan."

Dr. Paul's face lit up with recognition, his kind eyes crinkling at the corners. "Ah, Shan," he said warmly, extending his hand. "Good to see you again."

"It's a pleasure to meet you again, Dr. Paul," I said, shaking his hand, grateful for the immediate welcome.

"Please, just Tito," he insisted with a laugh.

Inilipat ko ang aking tingin kay Dr. Jenna, na ngumiti nang magalang ngunit nanatiling may distansya. "Nice to meet you," she said, her tone cordial but lacking the warmth she'd shown to Frisco, who sat comfortably beside Love.

Tumalon si Love at lumapit, niyakap ako na ikinagulat ko. "Finally, I get to meet you, Ate Shan," she said, her voice full of enthusiasm. "I hope my brother isn't giving you too hard of a time."

"He's been wonderful," I said, glancing at CL, who winked at me.

We all sat down for lunch—a spread that could rival a feast, complete with roasted chicken, fresh salads, and warm bread. Dr. Paul leaned forward, his attention on me. "So, CL mentioned you're an architect. That's impressive. It's a field that demands both creativity and resilience."

"Thank you po," sabi ko, na medyo naging komportable. "It's definitely challenging, but I love it. The process of turning an idea into something tangible is incredibly rewarding."

Tito Paul nodded approvingly. "I've always admired architects for that exact reason. We're healers of bodies, but you're healers of spaces."

"Well said, Dad," sabi ni CL habang tumatawa.

As lunch continued, Love leaned closer and started sharing stories about CL's childhood—the time he accidentally set the backyard shed on fire with a homemade chemistry experiment, the time he got lost in the market trying to follow a stray dog. Each story made me laugh and glance at CL, who groaned good-naturedly but couldn't hide his own grin.

"And that's how I met Frisco," Love said, finishing her tale with a wide smile. "Med school buddies turned partners-in-crime."

"It's been two years now," dagdag ni Frisco, na may mapagmahal na tingin kay Love. "We're both first-year residents in Internal Medicine, so life is hectic, but we make it work."

I glanced at Dr. Jenna, who was still polite but noticeably distant, her attention drifting between me and the others. I hoped that, over time, she would warm up to me. But for now, being surrounded by the genuine warmth of CL's father and sister felt like a good start.

***

The warm afternoon sun filtered gently through the leafy canopy of the garden, casting dappled shadows that danced along the stone pathway. Ang halimuyak ng mga namumulaklak na bulaklak ay pumuno sa hangin, sumasama sa malamig at preskong amoy ng simoy ng hangin mula sa bundok ng Baguio. Humigop ako nang malalim na hininga at niyakap ang sarili, nararamdaman ang halo ng ginhawa at pagkabalisa.

I had left CL asleep in his room, his soft, even breathing a testament to how exhausted he was. The peaceful rhythm had refused to lull me to sleep, so I decided a walk in the garden might help calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

Rounding a corner, I noticed Tito Paul sitting quietly on a stone bench under an old pine tree. He looked serene, lost in thought, his eyes soft with nostalgia. When he noticed me approaching, he offered a kind smile and gestured to the space beside him.

"Feel free to join me, Shan," he said, his voice deep but warm.

Tumango ako, naramdaman ang kaunting pag-alog ng nerbiyos, at umupo sa tabi niya. Sa loob ng isang sandali, wala sa amin ang nagsalita, hinayaan ang kaluskos ng mga dahon at malalayong pagtweet ng mga ibon na punuin ang katahimikan. I felt a sense of peace wash over me as I adjusted to the quiet rhythm of the garden.

"Ang ganda dito," sabi ko sa wakas, habang sumulyap sa mga makukulay na pulang, dilaw, at lila na mga bulaklak na nakapalibot sa daan.

"Totoo," Tito Paul agreed, turning his gaze out toward the garden. "Jenna and I always believed in creating spaces that nurture the soul."

A gentle pause followed before he turned back to me, his expression shifting to one of tender seriousness.

"Shan, I'd like to apologize for Jenna earlier," he said, his eyes searching mine for understanding.

Surprised, I blinked and quickly shook my head. "Oh, Tito Paul, there's no need to apologize. Naiintindihan ko—"

Itinaas niya ang kamay, pinigilan ako nang mahinahon. "Hayaan mong ipaliwanag ko," mariing sabi niya. "Hindi naman na ayaw sa'yo ni Jenna. Sa kabaligtaran, marami siyang magagandang narinig tungkol sa'yo mula kay CL. She just... she doesn't want to get attached again."

"Attached?" ulit ko, may bahid ng kalituhan sa aking tinig.

Tito Paul's eyes grew distant, his smile tinged with melancholy. "The last time Jenna let herself grow close to someone was with Naomi, CL's ex-girlfriend. Jenna adored her. We all did, in our own way. But when Naomi broke CL's heart, Jenna was devastated. It was like seeing her own child suffer, and it nearly broke her, too."

A pang of sympathy hit me, making my chest tighten. I shifted in my seat, glancing down at my hands as I absorbed his words. The image of CL's mother—so poised and polite yet distant—suddenly made sense.

"She just doesn't want to go through that again," patuloy ni Tito Paul, mas malambot na ang boses niya ngayon. "It's not you, Shan. It's her way of protecting herself, and in her mind, protecting CL."

"Naiintindihan ko po," bulong ko, habang nakatingin kay Tito Paul. "I can't imagine how hard that must have been for all of you."

Tumango siya, may maliit na malungkot na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. "It was. But I've watched you today, how you are with CL, how he looks at you. It's different. He's happier than I've seen him in a long time."

Isang init ang kumalat sa akin sa kanyang mga salita, pinapalambot ang higpit na naramdaman ko mula nang dumating kami.

"Thank you, Tito Paul," I said, my voice steadier now. "That means a lot to me."

"Bigyan mo lang ng oras si Jenna," he advised, resting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "I have no doubt she'll come to see what I see."

Tumango ako, naramdaman ang bigat ng pag-unawa na kumportable nang bumalot sa amin. Ang hardin ay tila mas mapayapa ngayon, mas maliwanag ang mga kulay, mas presko ang hangin. We sat in companionable silence for a few moments longer, letting the afternoon light wrap around us like an old, familiar blanket.

When I returned to CL's bedroom, the room was steeped in the kind of quiet that holds secrets, the ones only shared in the deep hours of the afternoon. Natutulog pa rin siya, ang pantay na pag-angat at pagbaba ng kanyang dibdib ay nagpapakita ng kapayapaang natagpuan niya sa mga bihirang sandali ng pahinga. I tiptoed closer, feeling a pang of guilt that his world, with all its chaos and long shifts, barely allowed him this luxury.

I slid into bed, curling up behind him and wrapping my arm around his waist, the warmth between us a silent promise. My touch must have stirred him, because he shifted and turned to face me, eyes half-open but soft with affection. Sa isang sandali, wala ni isa sa amin ang nagsalita. We simply looked at each other, caught in the silent language that had grown between us—a blend of comfort, unspoken questions, and something deeper we weren't quite brave enough to name until now.

Pumatak ang mga luha sa aking mga mata bago ko pa man ito mapigilan, dumaloy sa aking pisngi habang inabot ko ang kanyang mukha. His skin was warm, the faint stubble rough beneath my fingertips, grounding me. I could barely find my voice. "I'm so sorry," I whispered. "I'm sorry you had to go through all that. You didn't deserve it, CL. You're an incredible man, and she was a fool not to see that. I'm sorry I came into your life so late."

A slow smile broke across his lips, small at first, then growing with that boyish charm that made my heart stutter. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, lingering just long enough to make me close my eyes and soak in the feeling.

When he pulled back, his gaze was serious, more intense than I had ever seen it. "Shan," he said, his voice low and a little hesitant, "I didn't think I'd be saying this so soon, but I don't want to hold it back." He paused, searching my face as if for permission. "Mahal kita."

The world seemed to still. I hadn't expected the words, not now, not yet—but somehow, they felt right, more right than anything ever had. And so, I smiled through my tears and said the words that felt like breathing.

"Mahal din kita."

______

a/n: 8 chapters left before the epilogue. What do you think will happen? :( Anyway, starting tomorrow, once a day na lang po ang update for the remaining chapters. Thank you!