I didn't want it to bother me—Unique's voice, the pain he's feeling—everything. But as much as I didn't let it bother me, it just keeps on hurting me more, over and over again.

Hindi ko naman siya gustong saktan, it's just that—is it wrong? Is it wrong to choose your happiness? Is it insanity? Isn't choosing him over the one person I love is already crazy enough? Baka pareho lang kaming mabaliw.

But I would never deny it, Unique has a special place inside my heart. But, still, it isn't enough for me to like or even love him.

Maybe that's just how the both of us are meant to end up.

"Cass... are you okay?" Napangiti ako nang bahagya nang maramdam ko ang pagyakap ni Blaster sa bewang ko, at ang ulo niya na nakasiksik sa balikat ko. "I don't want to see you hurting."

The smile plastered on my face grew bigger as I held his hand. Umikot ako para humarap sa kaniya, and my heart pounded faster and faster—realizing that our faces were only inches apart, "I'm okay, okay? Don't worry," I said and cupped both of his cheeks. "Just be with me, and I will be okay. Kalimutan muna natin ang lahat. It's only you and me, okay?"

Blaster smiled, "You and me," he whispered. "Sounds perfect, Mrs. Silonga."

I smiled and pinched his nose, "You and your words."

He chuckled and hugged me, "Why? I find it perfect. I've always imagined how my future wife's name is going to be—now I realize, it's Cassandra."

I laughed. But I was barely even breathing. Every word escaping from his mouth felt like big blocks on my chest. But the feeling was ecstatic. It was painful, yet so beautiful.

This. This was the kind of pain I was yearning for. The pain you feel inside your chest when someone just gives you happy memories? That's the best pain.

Wait--It's not even pain. Maybe overwhelming happiness. Maybe you feel the pain because it feels like your heart just wants to jump out of your body. Because you're just to happy.

"I missed this," he whispered. Still hugging me. "I missed us."

"Us?" I chuckled. "Wala namang tayo, Blaster. For your information Mr. Silonga."

Natawa naman siya sa sinabi ko. Hindi ko alam kung ramdam niyang PDA na kami rito sa labas ng restaurant at nakikita rin kami nila Zild, pero it just felt nice—him, not being afraid of what others would say just for him to prove to me that he loves me.

"E 'di liligawan kita."

It was my time to laugh.

And then I smiled and hugged him back.

"Sigurado ka?"

He smiled, "I will do anything for you. Basta ikaw. Basta tayo lang."

The smile on my face grew bigger, "Tayo na."

"Ha?" Napakalas naman siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin at napahawak naman sa balikat ko. "U-ulitin mo nga."

"Tayo na," I said, and chuckled. "I mean tayo na kasi aalis na sila, o," I added and pointed at his dad and the whole crew who were already walking out from the restaurant. Kumaway naman sa amin si Zild at Badjao kaya nginitian ko sila.

He sighed and scratched for his nape.

"Ay... sorry. Nabigla lang. Akala ko kasi tayo na," natatawang sambit niya at hinawakan na ang kamay ko at hinila na ako papunta sa kotse.

I smiled.

God knows I meant both.

**

Marami na ring tao no'ng nakarating kami sa venue ng gig nila. I felt so guilty for ditching classes again and ignoring my friends' messages kaya in exchange, nakipag-videocall na lang ako sa kanila while I was with Blaster.

As expected, lahat sila gulat na gulat. Isang buwan ba namang si Unique lagi ang kasama ko, tapos biglang naging si Blaster. I can't even argue with people telling na ang landi-landi ko raw dahil sa pinaggagagawa ko.

Anyway, hindi naman nila alam kung ano'ng nangyayari.

Because for me, Unique's just a friend.

It took me 10 minutes to explain everything to my friends through videocall. Pagkatapos kong mag-explain lahat sila tuwang-tuwa. Alam naman din nila, that Unique was just a friend for me. Nothing else.

"That felt nice," Blaster murmured, his head still on my shoulder. Mahina kong itinulak ang ulo niya papalayo sa akin dahilan para mapanguso siya. The next thing he knew, ako na ang nakadantay sa balikat niya.

Napangiti naman siya at inakbayan ako.

"What felt nice?" I asked.

"That. You defending us. You saying you love me," he said and kissed my hair. "Akala ko hindi na ulit kita makakasama. It hurt everytime I see you happy with him, so I thought you were already choosing him over me. Honestly, nawawalan na rin ako ng pag-asa noon, Cass."

I sighed, "Sorry," I said and chewed on my lower lip. Hinawakan naman niya ang magkabilang balikat ko at inayos ako sa pagkakaupo.

"No, sorry. Okay? Alam ko sobrang dami kong ginawang mali. Sobrang naging madamot ako. I keep on hurting you without even noticing and I realized we really needed the space. Sobrang sakit para sa akin na pakawalan ka muna, pero hindi ko na kayang makitang umiiyak ka dahil sa akin. If letting you go means finding ourselves first, then I would always be willing to do that. Pero, ngayon hindi na. Nahanap ko na ang sarili ko, Cass. Nahanap ko na sa'yo."

I smiled.

"Kaya sana huwag mo na akong iiwan pa, kasi handa kong gawin at ibigay ang lahat para sa'yo," dagdag niya at hinalikan ang noo ko. "I love you, okay? Always remember that. Just trust in me."

Tumango naman ako at niyakap siya.

May mga ilang minuto pa bago magsimula ang gig nila kaya nagkuwentuhan lang kami dalawa. Everyone could see us, pero wala na rin kaming pakialam. Sobrang sarap pala sa feeling, na okay na sa kaniya, na wala nang pwedeng makapagpahiwalay sa akin.

Lumapit naman sa amin si Zild. Nag-excuse naman si Blaster dahil may tumatawag sa kaniya sa labas, "Blaster, may nagpapa-picture sa'yo," natatawang sambit ni Zild. "Uy, Cass! Musta na?"

"Okay lang. Masaya na ulit finally," sambit ko. "Musta kayo ni Shanne? Congrats pala sa bagong single niya. Sobrang ganda."

Napangiti naman si Zild.

Just by looking at his smile and his glances made me realize how much he loves Shanne. Sobra pa yata sa sobra. If I were to define a perfect couple, then it would be the both of them. Sobrang swerte nila sa isa't-isa.

"Sinabi mo na kay Blaster?" Nagulat ako nang biglang lumapit sa amin si kuya Badjao at umupo sa tabi ko.

"A-alam mo rin kuya?" Tumango naman siya at napangiti. "Nando'n ako no'ng sinabi ni Tita. Papunta kaming Hype noon, e."

Napangiti ako.

"I won't go," I said. "Ngayon pa ba?"

Zild smiled, but there was a hint of sadness, "You don't know what will happen next. Just trust him, okay?" I nodded.

What are they even talking about?

Couple of minutes later, nagsimula na ang gig nila kaya lumabas na rin ako para manood. I was just watching Blaster perform.

I couldn't help but to whisper to myself, "Sobrang swerte ko."

After one song, nagsalita muna si Zild to introduce themselves again and say thank you to everyone who's watching. Tumingin naman siya kay Blaster at ngumiti, "May sasabihin ka raw, Blaster?"

Lumapit siya sa mic, "Hello. Thank you," sambit niya. Halos mabingi naman ako sa sigawan ng mga fans nila, kaya napangiti na lang ako. "Cass, I love you."

Their screams became louder. Nagulat na lang ako nang biglang may lumapit sa akin, in-escort ako papunta sa itaas.

"Ano 'to?" I mouthed. Ngumiti lang si Blaster. Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang lumuhod, kasabay ng pagsisimula nilang tumugtog ng Mundo.

"Cass," sambit niya, may malawak pa ring ngiti. "Sa harap ng libo-libong tao rito... pwede ba kitang ligawan? Officially. Wala nang ibang dahilan. Wala nang alinlangan."

Hindi ko na namalayan ang unti-unting pagtulo ng luha mula sa mga mata ko.

I smiled and hugged him.

"Yes," I whispered.

No. I'm not scared anymore, just as long as he's there beside me.

I will never be scared of taking the risk again.