Maagang nagising si Morriah para mag-asikaso sa hotel. Rik also had to leave early to get back to his hostel so he could start packing his things up and move in with Morriah. Pansin naman niyang medyo tahimik ang paligid ng hotel ngayong araw dahilan para maging emosyonal din ito. 

She received a text message earlier this morning na ang ilang kamag-anak nila ay bibisita para Baler para sa death anniversary ng magulang nito. She wanted to make it more special kaya inimbitihan niya ang mga ito, though at some point ay gusto niyang mapag-isa at alalahanin ang lahat ng magagandang alaala kasama sila.

She couldn't forget about that day.

Morriah and Rik were engaged and decided to move out of Baler and live in the city. Both were already looking forward to their future and their plans. Napag-usapan din nila kung ilan na rin ang gusto nilang maging anak. She giggled looking back at those times. Kinakantyawan na rin kasi sila ng magulang ni Morriah no'n na kapag ikinasal sila ay bibigyan agad nito ng mga apo.

Mga apo agad ang hiling nila kaya hindi makapaniwala si Morriah. Natatawa na lang si Rik no'n dahil alam niyang kakayanin naman niya basta't ready ang fiancee.

All their plans and future quickly turned upside down when her parents died. Parang kasama na rin no'n na namatay ang lahat ng pangarap sa buhay ni Morriah. Ayaw niyang paniwalaan na wala na ang mga magulang nito. Sa loob ng mga panahong iyon ay gusto lamang niyang mapag-isa dahilan para tapusin ang kanyang relasyon kay Rik. He was ready to support, guide, and be with her at all times. Hinding-hindi bibitawan ni Rik si Morriah, pero ang babae mismo ang sumuko. She even handed over the engagement ring and called it off. Nasaktan nang lubusan si Rik. He wanted to pick their relationship up once again, but Morriah was out of reach. Napabayaan na rin nito ang sarili maging ang hotel ay tuluyang nagsara sa mga panahong iyon.

He loses hope of their relationship and she doesn't want any more of him. Umalis si Rik ng bansa at doon mas lalong naramdamn ni Morriah ang pangungulila. He was there for her, pero pinagtabuyan niya ito. He loved her deeply, pero binaliwala niya iyon. He was doing all the things for her to feel better after her parents died in a tragic accident, but she made him feel like he was the one who killed them.

Rik was hurt and Morriah knew she wouldn't be able to regain his trust after all the things that had happened. He wouldn't come back for her. He would've found someone else by traveling the world, but after a year, he still returned to where he fell in love with a woman he wanted to end up with.

She can't take their situation now for granted when she is given a second chance to rekindle the flames of their relationship.

"Miss Mo, gusto niyo po ng iced coffee?" pag-aalok naman ng isang staff kay Morriah.

"Of course, hindi ko tatanggihan 'yan!" Hagikgik pa nito. "Oo nga pala, I need to get an update sa mga pinapagawa natin, ha? We need to get those rooms ready soon dahil may mga personal guest akong darating."

"No worries, miss. I will update you. . . Nasaan po pala si Sir Rik?"

"Ah, he went back lang sa hostel niya. I'm asking him to move na rito para hindi na hassle sa kanya," sabi pa ni Morriah.

"Okay po! I think may nabanggit po kasi siya last time may pinaplano niyang mag-Cebu kaya akala ko tumuloy na siya ro'n."

"Hm? Hindi niya nabanggit sa akin 'yon."

"Ahhh," aniya at saka tatango-tango ito. "Baka nagbago lang po isip niya. Babalik na po ako sa trabaho. Enjoy your iced coffee po kahit medyo malamig ang hangin today!"

Morriah giggled. "Iced coffee could never go wrong! Thank you rin. . ."

Muling mag-isa si Morriah sa reception desk. May ilang new guest din ang dumating nang maaga na siyang in-enertertain niya. Hindi naman niya agad mapapa-check in ang bagong guests dahil strict nilang sinusunod ang oras kaya naman sinuggest niya na pwede mula silang mag-ikot sa tabing isla o kaya naman maghintay sa bar area para makapag-check in. 

Lumipas ang oras, pero napansin ni Morriah na hindi niya pa nakikita ang magkakaibigan o baka hindi niya lang napansin dahil sa sobrang tutok niya sa laptop. Nang pumatak ang oras ng check-in ay agad na itinuon ni Morriah ang pansin sa mga bagong guest. Ipinatawag din nito ang isa pang staff na maghahatid sa kanila sa kanilang kwarto. 

Saglit lang din ay natanaw ni Morriah sina Mando at Alleah na sa tingin niya ay galing sa tabing dagat at naligo dahil basa pa ang mga damit nito. Tumungo naman ang dalawa at lumapit sa kanya. They were laughing at each other as if they talked about something funny and couldn't get over with it. Masaya naman si Morriah na makitang magkaayos na ang dalawa.

"Saan kayo galing? Hindi ko kayo napansin na umalis," tanong pa nito.

"We went out early," sagot ni Mando. "Wala pa ata sa pwesto mo kanina no'ng lumabas kami."

"Ah, I see! Kasi I've been here since morning kaya nagulat ako kung hindi ko kayo napansin or what."

"Nag-ikot lang kami sa malapit na area tapos naligo na rin," kwento pa ni Alleah. "Nakita mo na ba 'yong apat?"

"Hindi pa nga, e," ani Morriah. "Kaya nagtataka ako kung nasaan kayo. Naisip ko na lang na siguro late kayong nakauwi lahat kagabi kaya mga puyat kayo."

Nagkatinginan naman sina Mando at Alleah dahil alam nila kung anong nangyari kagabi—pati na rin kina Morriah at Rik.

"Late na nga," sagot pa ni Mando. "I think mga three na sila umuwi, e. Sobrang wasted nila. May pupuntahan sana kami ngayon, pero mukhang hindi na naman matutuloy."

"Oh? Saan kayo pupunta? Maybe I can get a staff for you na magdadala sa inyo ro'n," suggestion pa ni Morriah.

Umiling si Alleah. "Hindi na po. Ang dami mo nang ginawa para sa amin. Supposedly pupunta dapat kami sa may mini golf course na place o kaya ro'n sa Balete Tree na matagal na naming pinag-uusapan, pero hindi natutuloy na puntahan. Kung magising man sila by two o'clock, baka tumuloy kami."

"Nice! Hindi naman 'yon, but it would be better to visit there nang may liwanag pa. Marami kasing natatakot na pupunta sila ro'n ng gabi, e. Baka raw may bumulaga sa kanila which won't happen naman."

"Mas okay na talaga na maliwanag tayo pumunta," sabi pa ni Alleah. "Ayokong may sumunod sa akin pauwi."

Natawa naman si Morriah. "Wala namang kaso 'yon. You can leave an alay naman kung gusto niyo. It was a gesture of respect na rin para sa Balete Tree. It can be monetary or whatever you'd like to give."

"We'll keep that in mind."

"Ang sabi ko naman sa kanila wala naman gaanong special do'n," kwento pa ni Mando. "But it was one of the spots na hindi mo pwedeng makalimutang puntahan kapag nasa Baler ka."

"Yeah, I agree with you, Armand. But it was still mystic to see them in person. Mamamangha na lang kayo."

"Sabi mo 'yan, ha?" paninigurado pa ni Alleah. "Baka kasi kilabutan lang ako, e."

Napahagikgik si Morriah. "Oh, I feel you. Ganyan rin naman ako no'ng una. Kahit nakatira ako rito sa Baler, ang tagal nila akong napilit na bumisita ro'n. I think I was fifteen years old when I finally decided to see it in person. Ayun, wala namang nangyari masama. Namangha ako at palagi ko na siyang binibisita. Madalas din na 'yon ang gustong puntahan ng mga guest namin."

"We have to do it today," sabi ni Alleah. "We should get them up na kahit malakas pa ang tama ng hangover nila."

Morriah laughed at her.

"Nasa'n nga pala si Rik?" taka pang tanong ni Mando.

"Is someone looking for me?" Biglang bungad ni Rik at inakbayan sina Alleah at Mando. "How are you, guys? And why are you wet? Did you go to the beach or something else?"

Natawa si Mando sa kanya. "We went to the beach."

"I figured," Rik, nodding his head. "But I'm finally here!"

"Where have you been?" takang tanong ni Alleah. "Why do you have your stuff with you? Are you leaving Baler already?"

Rik crossed his brows together, shaking his head. "No, I'm not!"

"He's moving in with me," sagot ni Morriah. Saka lang naman na-gets ng dalawa kung anong nangyari talaga kagabi sa kanila. "Ang hassle rin kasi sa kanya na pupunta siya rito tapos uuwi, so it would be better for him to stay here. He was living with us nman before so hindi na bago sa kanya 'to. Saka para hindi na rin siya gumastos sa accommodation niya."

"So Rik could save for the wedding?" Mando queried.

Rik laughed. "Ha. Ha. Brother." Minasahe nito ang balikat ng lalaki. "You're thinking ahead of me. We're not at that point yet."

"We'll wait," Mando said, smiling. "And we're hoping to get the invitation."

"Yeah, boy, I think you should take a shower now," sabi pa ni Rik. "Take your girl with you."

"We'll see you later guys," pagpapaalam ni Alleah.

Nang maiwan sina Morriah at Rik sa reception desk at tinaasan ng kiay babae ang lalaki. She was trying to taunt him after coming back so late. Ang usapan lamang nila kanina ay babalik siya kaagad nang hindi tatagal ng isang oras, pero lagpas lunch time na rin ito nakabalik ng hotel kaya wala siyang takas kay Morriah. 

"Why did you take so long to come back?"

"Oh, you missed me already?" He smirked.

Morriah's face fell nonchalant. "Ewan ko sa 'yo."

"Well, here's what happened," aniya at ipinatong ang mga siko sa desk. It seemed like he had a lot of stories to tell, but he only waited a few hours there and bid his good byes to his hostelmates. "They took so long to process my refund request and had to call someone else. It took them a long time to let me and my money go, but I'm here now, babe. You don't have to worry about it."

"I still have one more thing to talk about with you," Morriah said.

"Oh, spare me, babe," Rik said but quickly laughed about it. "No, I'm just kidding. What is it?"

"One of our staff said that you'll be going to Cebu. What are you going to do in Cebu?" she questioned.

"Ah," he said, nodding his head as he realized what it was. "I told them that before you gave me a job. I thought if everything didn't work out here, I would just go to Cebu and probably continue my backpacking journey. It would be so nice for you to come with me, but I'm not sure what was going on in your head at that time. Let it go, babe. I won't be going anywhere else at this point."

"Alright. . . I was just asking, too. You became so defensive, huh?"

Rik chuckled.

"Now, you know where our room is. Get your stuff there. Have you eaten lunch yet?" she asked, Rik shook his head. "Alright. Meet me at the bar area after. I'll get us some food. I haven't eaten yet as I was waiting for you."

"You really love me, don't you?" Rik teased. Hindi niya alam kung kikiligin ba siya sa tuwing ginagawa ito ng lalaki. Gusto na lang niya pingutin ang matangos na ilong.

Morriah rolled her eyes while Rik kissed her on head head. Umalis din naman ito ng reception desk para dalhin ang gamit niya sa kwarto nila. Mabilis din namang nag-request si Morriah na pagkain para sa kanila ni Rik. While she was finishing some of her tasks before she could eat, hindi nito mapigilang mapangiti. 

Having Rik by her side meant so much for her. Kung bumalik man sa dati ang lahat ay wala na siyang aaksayahing pagkakataon pa, pero ngayon na kasama niya ito at ramdam ang pusong punong-puno ng pagmamahal ay sapat na para sa kanya. She hasn't felt this kind of love after her parents died and she knew Rik would fill her with any forms of love.