An odd feeling poured over me as the aircraft descended on the airport's runway. It was as if time had suddenly stopped, and transported back to a different time and place.

Naalala ko ang feeling ko noong bumalik ako sa Pinas noong isang taon, knowing that I'll be longing for Kaito.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to shake off the sense of familiarity that was creepin on me. But it was no use. The memories flooded back, unbidden and unstoppable. Memories of laughter and late-night conversations, of stolen kisses and whispered promises.

Memories of him.

As I stepped off the plane and felt the warm embrace of the sun, I felt a sense of deja vu like I had never felt before. I made my way through the airport and towards the baggage claim, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen.

Sana maging okay na ako kasi sinabi kong magiging magkaibigan kami. Kaya makakasalumuha ko pa siya sa mga parties, reunions, and weddings so I have to be prepared.

"Rienne, okay ka lang?"

Agad ako nabalik sa realidad noong tinapik ni Claire ang balikat ko. I forced out a smile before nodding at her.

Noong nakarating na ako sa condo unit ko, agad akong humiga. I know that the way to fight jet lag is to stay awake, but I really want to sleep. I'm the boss, so I can do whatever the fuck I want—

Napatayo ako noong narinig ko 'yong cellphone kong umiyak. Tangina naman talaga. I checked the caller ID and it was my secretary.

[Good morning, Miss Fleurienne. I just want to ask if you're going here at the company? The papers on your desk are already as high as a composite volcano!] She exaggerated kaya napahawak naman ako sa ulo ko bago bumuntong hininga. Sumasakit na ulo ko dahil wala akong tulog.

"Uhm... Okay, I'll just message you when I'm already on my way. I  just have to settle down, fix my things, and take a shower. Kakabalik ko lang kasi sa condo ko from a one hour drive,"  I told her while walking towards my luggage to start unpacking my things.

[Right... I'm sorry, Miss Fleurienne. I shouldn't have called. Take your time po.]

"It's fine," I said before ending the call.

I'm the fucking CEO yet I can't take a day off of work. Pero para sa kumpanya naman din ito dahil ilang linggo rin akong missing in action. I also need to release a statement to my casual employees to return to work now.

They got a long break, and they now deserve a lot of workload to get their pay at the end of the month. Hindi kasi kinsenas ang swelduhan ko rito sa kumpanya ko. They earn their wage every 30th or 31st. They also get extra allowance to get them through the month which is fair for them considering that their job is easy.

After I took a shower, pumunta ako sa office ko para gawin lahat ng trabahong naipon sa lamesa ko. I was already so stressed because I was suffering from jet lag but had to deal with work.

Nag overtime ako sa office to finish everything para bukas p'wede akong ma-late. As I was packing my things to go home at 10:45 PM, my phone rang and I was excited to pick it up because I saw that it was Kazuko.

I'm sure Krissha is holding his phone again. Pero ang nakakapag-taka ay bakit ganitong oras siya tumatawag.

"Mommy!" She said while jumping on her bed. It was a video call and it's nice seeing her lovely face. I miss her already.

"Hello, Krissha! Why are you awake at this hour?" I acted like I was mad but she just had her mischievous grin while looking at me.

"Daddy came home late! I think he's cheating on you," she whispered at natawa naman ako roon. This girl knows too much, and I think it's because of the influence of social media.

"Hey! I heard you," narinig ko si Kazuko sa linya pero mukhang malayo siya. "I am not cheating on your Mom, Krissha." Sambit nito ulit noong nakalapit na siya sa bata. "Hello, Rienne. You look stressed out, everything going on okay there?"

I nodded, "I just finished all of the office work I left here in the Philippines. I'm also planning on doing every single work I need to accomplish for the next few weeks because I'm leaving for Greece next week, right?" Pagkukwento ko sa kaniya and he was just listening.

After our quick chat, pinatulog ko na si Krissha by singing her a lullaby even when I am far away from her. After that, I went home and dozed off to sleep.

The next day, I just did the same routine. Woke up, went to the gym, showered, ate breakfast, and went to work. As I was doing a report, I heard someone knock on my door and when it opened, I saw my secretary.

"Do you need anything, Carmine?" I asked without looking at her.

"Someone is looking for you down at the lobby," she said kaya inangat ko ang tingin ko at tinaasan siya ng kilay para sabihin sa akin kung sino iyon. "Kaito Ren po ang pangalan." I pretended that I didn't hear her because what the hell?

Sinundan ba naman ako rito. Ano ginagawa niya sa Pilipinas? Doesn't he have a  business to run? Actually, hindi ko alam kung ano mayroon sa buhay niya ngayon! Siya lang ang may alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa akin ngayon which is totally unfair.

But I think that's mostly my fault because I didn't really ask much about him.

"Sino?" I asked again just to make sure. Baka kasi mali pagkakarinig ko.

"Kaito Ren po," ulit niya. Okay, hindi mali ang pagkakarinig ko.

"Okay, tell him to come here. Thank you," I smiled at her at tinanguan niya naman ako bago lumabas. Agad ko naman tiningnan ang hitsura ko sa salamin para tingnan kung mukha ba akong kulang sa tulog at haggard.

Medyo okay pa naman ang mukha ko kaya nilugay ko na lang buhok ko bago tutukan ulit 'yong laptop ko.

After a few minutes, narinig ko ulit ang katok sa pintuan ko. "Come in!" The door opened, and I saw Kaito wearing a white dress shirt with a navy blue necktie and gray smart pants. He looked like he just came from work... And he's holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Good morning, Miss Fleurienne," he winked at me before placing the flowers on my desk. Tinigil ko naman ang ginagawa ko para makita siya nang buo. He sat down in front of me and I rested both of my elbows on the table before squinting my eyes at me.

"What does Kaito Ren need from me? Are you inquiring for a collaboration? Do you need help from my marketing team to market your product? Do you want me to endorse something?" I asked continuously and he just laughed before shaking his head.

"Actually, no. But thanks for the idea, I might actually inquire here with all of what you said. Mas mayaman ka na kasi sa akin ngayon at kaunti na lang mas kilala na. I need the exposure," he said with a grin and I rolled my eyes.

"Mataas ang singilan namin dito," I said and he scoffed.

"Name your price, love," he leaned back on his chair with confidence and I just disregarded what he said.

"So ano nga ang ginagawa mo rito?"

"I want to take you out," he said at halos masamid ako sa kinauupuan ko kahit wala akong iniinom. "I mean, tara kain tayo. Libre ko, alam ko namang kuripot ka," he chuckled.

"I have work to do, Kai."

It took him a hot minute before replying, "You're the CEO, Fleurienne. You control what you do, not the workload. Besides, you worked your ass off for months trying to get here... Don't you think you deserve a break?"

He's right. Deserve ko naman talaga ang pahinga pero hindi puwedeng iwan ko 'yong trabaho ko dahil aalis na naman ako ng bansa next week. Claire's bachelorette party is also coming up at tatlong araw pa 'yon at Solaire.

"Why are you even asking me out?" I asked and I saw a smirk form.

"I'm just asking you out on a friendly date, Rienne. We're friends, right?" He asked and I nodded before standing up to fix my things and wore my blazer again.

"For your information, Kaito. Friends don't give friends a bouquet of flowers," I told him at umiling naman siya.

"Iba ako sa kanila," he answered. I almost rolled my eyes. Iba sa kanila e nagawa mo nga akong saktan.

He drove us to a sushi store which is perfect because I was actually craving for maki! Siguro nabasa nito utak ko. At libre rin naman ni Kaito ito so I can order anything I want.

We actually talked casually like how we were back then. While we were both laughing, I was just thinking of the long list of possibilities if we were still together again. Tuwing kasama ko 'tong lalaking 'to hindi na 'yon nawawala sa utak ko.

After we ate, akala ko dadalhin niya na 'ko ulit sa office ko and say good bye pero sa ibang route kami dumaan.

"Where are you taking me, Kai?" I asked pero hindi naman niya ako sinagot. I saw how he gripped on the steering wheel as his jaw locked. He was tensing up for no reason and I am concerned. I looked back at the road and I realized where we were going.

"Why are we going to my parent's grave, Kaito?" I asked again and he still didn't answer my question. I just sat there in silence, waiting for him to say something. Pero nakarating na kami sa sementeryo nang hindi siya umiimik.

We got out of the car at may kinuha siyang bulaklak sa likod at nagsimula nang maglakad patungo sa puntod nang aking mga magulang. Pinauna ko siya ng lakad para malaman kung alam niya kung saan ito and he definitely knows.

Hindi ngayon ang unang beses niyang pumunta rito.

Tumalikod muna ako para sagutin ang tawag ng aking secretary to let her know that I'll be gone for the day and that she'll be the one to close the office.

As I approached the grave of my parents, my heart sank at the sight of Kaito kneeling beside it, his head bowed and his shoulders shaking with sobs. Seeing him so vulnerable, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy and concern.

Ano ba ang ginagawa niya?

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do, and it seemed he was about to talk to my parents. My curiosity piqued, I quietly approached him, trying not to startle him. As I got closer, I could see tears streaming down his face, and my heart broke for him.

The pain of losing both of my parents was still there. I never really healed from it, and seeing him cry on my parent's grave is contagious. I was already teary-eyed.

I stood there for a moment, watching him in silence, trying to gather my thoughts and emotions. I didn't want to intrude on his grief, but at the same time, I wanted to offer him some comfort, some solace.

Nakakapag-taka nga kasi bakit siya ganito ka-lungkot? Ako nga dapat 'yong naglulumpasay sa sakit ngayon e.

Finally, I mustered up the courage to speak. "Kaito," I said softly, "what are we doing here?"

He looked up, and quickly wiped away his tears. "I... I just wanted to pay my respects," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, understanding. "I know," I said.

We stood there in silence for a few moments, both lost in our own thoughts and memories. Then, Kaito spoke again, his voice barely audible. "I just wanted to tell them... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything."

I wanted to also break in front of him. Pero hindi ko kakayanin.

"Mr. and Mrs. Keller," He says. "I am so sorry for what I have done to your daughter. I know that there is no excuse for my behavior. I was a selfish and immature man. I took Rienne for granted. I hurt her in ways that I can never forgive myself for." He cried at doon na ako tuluyang naiyak.

"Sorry po, Tito... Hindi ko natupad ang pangako kong aalagaan at mamahalin ko nang sobra si Rienne. Nasaktan ko po siya," he continued and I tried telling him to stand up  but he just cried

"I know that I cannot undo the pain that I have caused. But I hope that you can find it in your hearts to forgive me. I am truly sorry for all of the wrong I did to your daughter."

"I still love Rienne very much. I would do anything to get her back. But I know that I do not deserve her. I am not a good man. But I am trying to be better. I am trying to be the man that Rienne deserves," he said and I swallowed a lump in my throat.

Bakit niya 'yon kailangan sabihin? Putangina naman talaga.

"Thank you for listening," Kaito said before standing up. He looked at me with his red, and puffy eyes. I walked towards him before tip toeing to wipe his tears bago siya yakapin.

"Tahan na," I said and we just stayed in that position until we both decided to sit down and stay for a few more minutes.

Pagkatapos namin mag-iyakan sa sementeryo, umalis na kami at dumiretso naman kami sa penthouse niya.

When the elevator opened, I  immediately saw all of the cherry blossom trees that were planted. I knew that some of it was artificial but it still looks so pretty.

Habang naglalakad ako ay naramdaman ko ang hawak ni Kaito sa akin. He made me look into his eyes, and I was nervous.

"Rienne, alam kong sinabi mo na sa akin na hindi mo na 'ko makikita bilang boyfriend mo, pero nandito ako para sabihin sa 'yo na hindi ako titigil para patunayan ko sa iyo na ikaw pa rin ang mahal ko."