Sunrise.

Leira closed her eyes again and took a deep breath. Iniisip na baka sakaling nananaginip lang siya ng gising o sobrang stress sa pinapagawa sa kanya ni Ves, na boss niya. Kaya siya nakakakita ng multo mula sa nakaraan niya. She slap her face as she took a deep breath again!

"Sunrise?"

Damn it! She's not imagining nor dreaming while she's wide awake! It's really him. He's here. Her dumbass ex boyfriend is back! Her blood boiled when she heard his voice again after a years, she lost count because she got tired of waiting. Leira smirked and massage the bridge of her nose, napaka ganda naman talaga ng timing. Bakit dito pa sila sa tambayan niya nagkita ulit? Sa dinami dami ng lugar!

"Hey, baby sunrise! Notice me idol?" mapag larong sabi nito habang nakangiti sa kanya, showing his bright smile.

Khairus Perez.

Nanatiling walang buhay ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa lalaki. He was smiling at her but she's giving him a cold treatment. Wala sa tamang timpla ang isip niya, at sa mga ganitong pagkakataon. Leira choose to be silent, so she can think. Dahil kapag ganitong stress siya, baka kung ano ang mga salitang mailabas niya.

Khairus changed a lot, from his face to his body built. Mas lalo itong gumwapo kumpara noon, ang katawan ni Khairus noon hindi payat at hindi din ganoon kataba. May mga biceps ito pero maliit lang. But looking at him now, he looks more matured, pero nandoon parin ang mapang asar na ngiti na laging nakapaskil sa mukha. Ang dating maliit na braso ay biglang lumaki ngayon, nakikita na ang mga ugat nito at hapit na hapit sa katawan ang suot na tee shirt. He was like the fictional character she used to write. His hair was now blonde, bumagay sa kaputian nito.

Ipinilig niya ng bahagya ang ulo at itinuon ang tingin sa notebook na dala at inumpisahan na ulit ang pagsusulat. May mas importante pa siyang kailangan tapusin, at ang i entertain ang lalaking nang-iwan sa kanya ng maraming taon na ang nakalipas ay wala sa schedule niya. She will not entertain a nuisance in her life again!

"What are you doing? I thought you'll end up as a nurse." daldal nito pero dedma lang ang peg ni Leira. Sumimsim siya sa malamig na kape habang nilalaro ang ballpen sa daliri.

If it's a typical story that she'll write, may natapos na sana siya. Pero dahil may twist ang gagawin niya ngayon, she need something new to spiced her story up. Ves was right, this will be the biggest challenge for her. Lalo na at sa mga librong naisulat niya hanggang halik lang sa labi ang mga karakter na gawa niya.

"Hindi mo ba ako na miss? Bakit ang lamig mo sa akin ngayon?" Khairus held her hand and grab the pen in her hand. Pati ang notebook niya at kinuha nito. Leira tried her best to calm down.

"I'm busy, Khairus. Bring back my notebook and pen." pinagkrus niya ang mga braso sa tapat ng dibdib niya. Wala nang nagawa si Leira nang basahin ni Khairus ang laman ng notebook niya. Lahat ng ideas na nabuo niya sa utak na naipon niya, naisulat na niya. Ang kailangan nalang niyang gawin ay ang title at i-out line ang story na gagawin.

"I'm proud you know. Hindi ko alam na may future ka sa pagsusulat." kumunot ang noo ni Leira. She's not sure if it's regret and sadness in his eyes, mabilis lang 'yon at nawala din kaagad. Napalitan agad ng saya ang kislap ng mga mata nito.

"Thank you, ngayon ibalik mo na ang notebook ko." walang emosyon na sabi niya. But there's one thing that didn't change, ayon ang ugali ni Khairus na pagiging makulit at matigas ang ulo. She rolled her eyes and sigh.

She knew him too well, after all these years na hindi sila mag kasama. Kilalang kilala pa rin niya ang ugali ni Khairus. He was her boyfriend for almost a year, si Khairus ang tipo ng lalaki na papangarapin mo na maging asawa, nasa kaniya na ang lahat. He is like a living fictional character in this world, maalaga ito pagdating sa kanya, hindi hinahayaan ni Khairus na matuyuan siya ng pawis sa likod. Lagi itong may dalang baby powder at extra na towel para ilagay sa likod niya.

Kapag may gusto siyang kainin, binibili agad ni Khairus. When she's in a bad shape because she failed her exams, Khairos was on her side to cheer her up. Gumagawa ito ng weird na mukha para lang mapatawa siya, o kaya naman ay bigla nalang siya nito na hihilain sa mall at mag d-date. But just like in a story, there was a conflict. Katulad ng madalas na naisusulat niya, aalis ang lalaki na walang paalam.

"Azia..." he called.

"Please don't call me sunrise nor Azia." she flatly said and grab her notebook and pen before leaving. She's not really in the mood to entertain someone.

After that encounter with Khairus,  ang akala niya ayon na din ang huling pagtatagpo ng landas nila. Oh how wrong she was! Kinabukasan, nakita nalang niya ang lalaki sa tapat ng bahay niya! Ang siraulong lalaki na 'yon, binili ang bahay sa tapat niya!

"Good morning, Sunrise!" he greeted when he saw her. Tumaas ang kilay ni Leira, naka jogging pants ang lalaki at sweater. Wala sa sariling napalingon si Leira sa kalangitan.

Sunrise...

Her gazed drop off to Khairus again who's looking at her intently. Leira wanted to smack her head on the spot! Bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya, kulang nalang ay lumabas ito sa dibdib at tumakbo papunta kay Khairus! Napalunok siya nang magtama ang mga mata nilang dalawa, afraid that Khairus might see through her feelings again. Tinalikuran niya ang lalaki at pumasok ulit sa loob ng bahay habang hawak hawak ang dibdib. Mabilis pa rin ang tahip nito!

"Fuck!" malutong na mura niya at umakyat pabalik sa kwarto niya. Tuluyan nang kinalimutan na mag j-jogging pala dapat siya pero dahil sa kumag na ex niya, napilitan siyang bumalik sa loob ng kwarto at matulog!

SEEING Leira walking away from him, Khairus heart was slowly breaking into pieces. He's at fault for leaving without a word. Khairus stared at Leira's house, a nurse student who became a writer. Life is really full of surprises.

"I think I need to buy some of your books." hr whispered to himself, pinasadahan niya ang kanyang buhok bago nag-umpisang tumakbo.

Nagiging malinaw ang isip niya kapag tumatakbo sa umaga. It became his habit when he go to abroad and work as an architect there. Ang akala niya hindi na siya makaka uwi sa Pilipinas, but thanks to his cousin, Xyrus, he manage to pulled him out and get his ass back here in the Philippines. Life was tough abroad. Hindi katulad kapag nasa sarili kang bansa.

Tumigil siya sa pag takbo nang maramdaman na nag vibrate ang suot na apple watch, he smirked when he saw the name of his new found friend.

"Good morning, Ves. Don't you think it's too early for a call?" Khairus said as he started to walk slowly. Nabitin siya sa pag takbo.

[No? It's 6:35 in the morning. Not early at all.] dahilan nito.

Khairus scoffed. "What do you need? I'm in a jog you know?" sarkastikong sabi niya para naman makaramdam ang bagong kaibigan niya.

[Well, I am planning to build a new building. Ikaw ang gusto kong Architect.] ngumisi si Khairus sa narinig. Ang sagwang pakinggan ng huli, pero titiisin nalang niya. His new found friend owns a Publishing Company, he's sure that this man can provide him the books he need in return.

"Do you know an Author name Leira Azia Mariano? I want all of her published books. Kapag naibigay mo sa akin 'yon papayag ako na maging Architect ng bago mong building, ako na din bahala na kukuha ng Engineer."

[Huh? Ang babaw mo naman, Khairus. Exclusive writer si Leira sa Vessarios, of course I can give you all of her published books.]

Khairus smirked as he stared at the sky, the sun is finally arise.

"Then it's settled. Kukunin ko nalang mamaya sa office mo." damn, he's excited as fuck!

[Are you trying to hit one of my exclusive writer, Khairus?] tanong ni Ves.

"No, just want to claim what's mine in the first place." he seriously said before ending the call.

Khairus balled his hand into fist and clenched it. He inhaled deeply and exhaled after. He flashed a smile before running again, pabalik sa bahay na binili niya. This time, he'll make sure that he's not going to messed up, he'll make sure that he's giving his best shot! Na lahat ng pinangako niya noon kay Leira, matutupad na niya ng paunti unti. He'll prove himself to her. Hindi na siya ang dating Khairus na mawawala nalang na parang bula, just because he want to grab the opportunity badly!  He's such an asshole!

"Leira Azia Mariano. I'm going to Claim you again, Sunrise."