"Get in the car," utas ni Dom.

Dali-dali namang umalis ang pito papunta sa sasakyan. Umupo si Morriah sa harapan habang pinagkasiya ng lima ang sarili nila sa passenger seat. Sinusundan lamang nila ang motor kung saan magdadala sa kanila sa hospital na pinagdalhan kay Rik. Ang mga naiwan sa sementeryo ay walang ideya sa nangyari at inabisuhan na lamang ni Morriah ang kamag-anak na asikasuhin ito. Wala siyang binanggit na rason dahil tiyak ay mag-aalala rin sila.

Malalalim na kabog ng dibdib ang nararamdaman ni Morriah ngayon. She clasped her hand, praying Rik would be in good hands. Iyon lamang ang tumatakbo sa isipan niya ngayon. She wanted to see Rik alive. She wanted to see him smiling. She still wanted to be with him.

"Rik will be okay, Morri," sabi pa ni Alleah at inabot nito ang balikat ng dalaga at hinimas. "He'll be fine. . ."

She tried not to cry a single tear as she knew this time of the year also bore a piece of bad news to her. Ayaw na niyang maulit iyon. She was away when she got that news. Malayong-malayo siya sa pamilya niya nang balitaan siyang na-aksidenta sila at kailangan niyang umuwi. Morriah travelled four hours just to get there and and see them gone by the time she arrived. Sobrang panlulumo ang naramdaman ni Morriah at ayaw niyang maranasan muli iyon sa taong lubos din siyang minahal.

Nang marating ang hospital ay agad na tumungo si Morriah sa front desk at binanggit nito ang pangalan ng lalaki. Itinuro siya isang private room na ikinaripas ng takbo nito. Sa puntong narating niya ang kwarto ay halos nabunutan siya ng tinik nang pagpasok pa lamang niya ay binungaran siya ng ngiti ng lalaki.

"Rik. . ." banggit ni Morriah.

Mabilis itong lumapit sa lalaki at niyakap ito nang mahigpit. Napakusot ang mukha ni Rik nang matamaan nito ang napuruhang balikat, pero ininda lamang niya maramdaman lamang ang yapos ng babae.

"I was so scared. . ." she uttered, still wouldn't let him go. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you. . ."

"I am so sorry, babe. . ." he uttered. "I was trying to make this day more special for you, but I only made it worse."

"It's fine. . ." she said, caressing the back of his head. Nanatili sila sa gano'ng posisyon ng ilang pang minuto. Dumating din naman ang anim at nasilayan ang dalawa sa kama. 

"There's the yema cake. . ." Pagturo pa ni Rik nito sa lamesa kung nasaan ang cake. Hinampas naman ng mahina ng babae ang balikat ni Rik dahilan para maramdaman nito ang sakit. Napatakip ng bibig at nanlaki ang mata ni Morriah nang mapasirit ito sa sakit. "It's okay, babe. . . Don't worry!"

"No, no! I'm sorry!" pag-aalala ng dalaga. "I hugged you and you didn't say anything to me!"

"Your hug's more important to me," he said, smirking. "I'll be fine. . . I've only got a few scratches on my legs and hurt my shoulder, but other than that, no other serious damage. Well, I think I'll be paying more for the bike. It has a lot of damage now."

"We'll pay them, don't worry. What's important for me is that you're okay. . . and alive," she uttered. "I wanted to hug you, but I'm scared of hurting you. . ."

"Get it, babe. You can hug me on the left side. . ."

Pumwesto naman sa kabilang banda si Morriah para mailagan niya ang pagtama sa balikat ni Rik. Umupo naman ang anim at kinamusta ang pakiramdam ni Rik. Lubos din silang nag-aalala dahil sa biglaang balita na narinig nila kanina. Itinawa na lamang iyon ni Rik, pero hindi natuwa si Morriah sa kanya.

"I'm sorry if I wasn't able to come," ani Rik, ramdam naman ni Morriah ang sinseridad nito.

"It's okay if you didn't make it. I know they're happy that you're here now. . ."

"I'll come and see them once I got out of this place," he promised. "I shouldn't let their daughter worry about me. I made her so much worried about what happened."

"What happened nga ba, Rik?" tanong pa ni Dom.

"A car was trying to catch on me. I was driving forty kilometers per hour. It's normal. I tried to avoid them, but I lost control of my wheel and got side tracked."

"Let's report whoever they are."

"I don't think they're locals," sagot pa ni Rik. "I haven't seen that car around so they probably be stopping by around. Let's not waste our time with them. I'm glad I'm still okay. I'll get better. If the doctor would see me tonight, I could possibly get out tomorrow."

"But your shoulder. What about it?"

"They said they will heal in itself, so I shouldn't worry about it all."

"Okay. . . That's good to hear. . ."

"Would you like to eat something? Are you thirsty?" Morriah asked him.

Rik nodded. "Yeah, kind of."

"Okay, I'll get you some water. . . I'll be back. Girls, would you like to come with me? If anyone likes. . ."

"I would come with you," sabi pa ni Alleah hangga't sa sumama na rin ang lahat ng babae.

Nang maiwan sina Mando, Dom, at Kenny sa kwarto ni Rik at kinuha ng lalaki ang atensyon ng tatlong magkakaibigan.

"I've been thinking lately," panimula ni Rik. "I wanted to propose to Morriah again."

"Woah!" sabay-sabay pa na reaksyon ng tatlo.

"Calm down, guys," sabi pa nito at saka huminahon ang tatlo. "I want you to play out something for me. Once I could go out tomorrow, I would do it. Since I wasn't able to come to her parent's death anniversary, I would do it there. I want them to see how much I love their daughter. They've seen us engaged before and I wanted to do it again in front of them. Could you do it for me? I've got a plan in my head so I hope we can do it?"

Nagkatinginan naman ang tatlo nang sabay-sabay at tumango.

"Yes, we will!" all the boys answered in unison.

***

"Alright, everything is settled," Rik said to Morriah as he met her in the lobby. "I will pay you, babe. I'm sorry again."

"Don't bother," Morriah said, shaking her head. "It's fine. I was more worried about your safety, okay? I'm happy that you're feeling okay now. I hope having that shoulder support would make you remind not to be so cocky when driving the bike."

Napangiwi naman si Rik. "I'll keep that in mind. . ."

"Sure you should," Morriah said, nodding her head.

Lumabas ng hospital ang dalawa. Naghihintay naman ang sasakyan kung saan lulan sina Dom at Kenny. Pumwesto ang dalawa sa passenger seat. Ang alam ni Morriah ay babalik na sila sa hotel, pero may ibang ipinaplano ang lalaki.

"Dom, before we go home, I'd like to go somewhere else, please. . ."

Dom looked at him from the rearview mirror. "Sure. Wherever you like."

"Thank you."

"Ah. . . Okay. . . At saan 'yon?" taka pang tanong ni Morriah. She stared at Rik waiting for an answer. "Where are we going?"

Kibit balikat na lang din naman ang isinagot ni Rik kaya napuno ng tanong si Morriah sa isip nang paandarin ni Dom ang sasakyan. She was asking Dom kung saan sila pupunta. Walang binanggit si Rik na destinasyon, pero may lugar silang pupuntahan ngayon. She even told them she would jumped out of the car kung hindi nila sasabihin iyon. Rik just hold her hand. At that point, kahit gusto niyang umangal dahil alam niyang may trabaho pang naghihintay sa kanya pabalik ng hotel, ay hinayaan na lamang niya ang tatlo na dalhin siya sa kung saan man.

As she was recognizing where they are heading, unti-unti nang nagkakaroon ng idea si Morriah. Natumpok naman nito ang kanyang hinala nang marating nila ang sementeryo. Bumaba ang apat ng sasakyan. Hawak-hawak ni Rik si Morriah sa kaliwang kamay habang tinatahak ang daan patungo sa puntod ng magulang ni Morriah.

"I didn't know we'd come here sooner. . ." Morriah said.

"I should've been here yesterday," Rik said. "And I'm still sorry if I missed it."

"My parents would understand," Morriah said, giggling.

As soon as they reached their grave, Rik and Morriah stood in front of them.

"Hi, Mister and Mrs Casillas, I'm finally here. . ." Natatawa pa nitong panimula. Pinalo naman siya ni Morriah sa braso. "I'm with your daughter here right now. I'm sorry if I wasn't able to come here yesterday. Something bad happened, but I'm glad to show up okay and alive. . ."

Napatingin si Morriah sa lalaki at ngiti na lamang ang nangingibabaw sa labi nito. She knew for a fact that getting back with Rik was the best decision she had made. Hindi niya ipagpapalit ang lalaking ito sa kahit na sino man kaya nang bumalik si Rik ay may pag-aalinlangan mang pumasok sa isipan niya ay hindi na niya ito papakawalan pa. She already did that once and she wouldn't ever do it again. Never again. Not in this lifetime.

"I've got the yema cake for you, tito." Inilapag naman ni Morriah iyon. "Well, that's only a slice left since we ate some yesterday. It was still good as it was before. . ."

"You're making him jealous more than ever." Hagikgik pa ni Morriah.

Rik chuckled. "I've still got one more thing. . ."

Napakunot ng noo si Morriah. "What do you have?"

"Well, I have one thing for you. . ." Rik turned to Morriah. He scooped something out of his pocket and slowly got down on his knees. Natulala at nanlaki na lamang ang mata ni Morriah sa ginawa ng lalaki. "I came down on my knees, in front of your parents, so they could witness my undying love for their daughter once again. It has been a wild ride and the past year hasn't been easy for both of us, but I'm ready to take this journey with you once again if you would like to be my wife—for real this time?"

Morriah was speechless. Her vision started blurring as she was looking at the man in front of him.

"Morriah Paula Casillas, will you marry me?"

Morriah's chin was trembling as she was on the verge of crying. At that moment, she couldn't say anything but nod her head. With that confirmation, she watched Rik put the ring on her finger. It was the same ring she handed over a year ago after she called their relationship off. The group of friends quickly showed up, popping confetti around which surprised Morriah. She pulled Rik to get up on his feet then hugged him so tightly and uttered the word yes repeatedly.

Hindi makapaniwala si Morriah na nangyari ito ngayong araw. She was scared of losing the person she once loved and forever will be. Hindi na niya papakawalan pa si Rik. She kept thinking those words in her head because there wouldn't be a third time for her to get back with him. Pinasalamatan naman nina Rik at Morriah ang pagsama sa kanila ng mga magkakaibigan. They made it more special and teased of being invited to their wedding soon.

When Rik mentioned that, Alleah looked at Mando who looked at her with a smile on his face, but at the back of his mind, he wasn't sure about anything anymore. Looking at Alleah who was so happy, hurting her would be the last thing to do, and he was getting between these thoughts strangling him right to the core.

The group of friends decided to give them space and headed back to where the car was parked. Pinag-usapan naman ng anim kung gaano sila natuwa na muling nagkabalikan ang dalawa. The four of them teased Alleah and Mando to do the same thing. Natawa na lamang si Mando habang hopeful namang nagba-blush si Alleah. 

Rik and Morriah sat down on the ground, next to her parent's grave, and told her parents, "I wish you could see everything I did for the Casa. I know you're proud of me, and trust me, I wouldn't make the same mistake again. . . I won't. . ."

Morriah rested her head on Rik's left shoulder and stayed there for another thirty until the sky turned gray and rain.