The talk I had with Savannah knocked some senses in me.

Since that day, I started looking at Grace on different perspective. I realized that she's right. She's still not fine and my words about Savannah hurt her more than I have ever realized. I shouldn't have told her things about Savannah. She may not want me back as her man, but she clearly stated that she still has this love for me.

"I saw Savannah at my department," Grace said as she puts her things on the couch. "She's talking to my professor. May pinag-uusapan sila na mukhang importante."

She sat on the couch and opened the TV. "Don't talk about her."

I heard her laughed. "Ang tagal na, Connor. Aren't you still moved on? Lapit na kami g-um-raduate."

I looked at her, only to see her winked at me. She's always teasing me about Savvy. I told her not to talk about her anymore. Bukod sa nakakaramdam ako ng lungkot, nag-aalala ako para sa kan'ya.

She laughed. "Connor, don't be plastic. I know that you only didn't want to talk about her is because you're worried about me."

Napabuntonghininga na lang ako bago bumangon sa pagkakahiga. "Hindi naman."

"Tss. So, what? Hindi ka pa nakaka-move on?"

The teasing in her face is so evident. Damn this girl. "Naka-move on na ako. Ang tagal na."

She laughed louder. "Don't tell bullshits on me. I studied Psychology, you know that." She smirked. "Really, bakit hindi mo pa balikan? Hindi pa ba tapos 'yung shrine na pinagawa mo para sa kan'ya?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa binanggit niyang 'yon. "Shrine?! Anong shrine?!"

Tumawa ulit siya nang malakas dahil sa nakuhang reaks'yon sa akin. "Gotcha!"

Napapailing na lang ako. The quirky Grace of my high school years came back as soon as she recovered from her illness years ago. I'm happy and proud of her, really. But she's really annoying when it comes to these things.

She's still cute, though. Swerte ng mamahalin niya, sa totoo lang.

"Wala akong pinapagawang shrine, 'no."

Her laugh slowly calms down. "Jin told me that he architected an art gallery and studio for you."

Napabuntonghininga na lang ako nang marinig ang pangalan ng chismosong 'yon. Nagkahiwa-hiwalay nga kami ng condo, pero nanatili namang chismoso ang tatlong 'yon. Lalo na si Jin. Kaya nabu-busted, eh. Magkakagusto na lang kasi, doon pa sa may boyfriend nang matagal.

Buti nga sa animal na 'yon.

"Hindi totoo 'yon," I said before rolling my eyes at her. "Alam mo namang chismoso ang tatlong 'yon."

She smirked before crossing her arms. "Forbes Park, Makati."

I heaved a deep sigh in disbelief when I realized that Jin really told her everything about a project I proposed to him.

"Okay. Hindi shrine 'yon, Grace."

She laughed. "I know! May joke ba sa mundo mo?"

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang marinig ang tanong na 'yon. I don't know why but it feels like Savannah just asked me the same question when we're together. Is this another déjà fucking vu episode of my life? I thought, it's all over. Ang tagal na noong huli. Last year pa yata.

"Anyway, Terrence brought me there with Aldrin. I saw Jin at the site and he's taking photos of the place. Ang ganda!" She showed me her two thumbs up. "Patapos na. Kailan mo ilalagay ang paintings?"

I smiled a little. Patapos na nga ang art gallery na pinagawa ko para sana kay Savannah. Ang tagal kong pinag-ipunan 'yon at ang tagal ko rin p-in-lano. I remembered Jin asking me when he's making the plan for my proposed project.

~~~

"Wow, you're really doing that, huh? Sigurado ka ba talagang ako? Katatapos ko lang sa apprenticeship ko at kapapasa ko pa lang sa ALE." He laughed.

"Oo naman, gago. Sino pa ba? Ang tagal na natin 'tong pinagplanuhan, ngayon mo pa ba itatanong sa akin kung sigurado ako?" I scoffed.

He smirked as he crossed his arms in front of him while sitting on his swivel chair. "Are you really sure that you're giving her an art gallery? Paano kung hindi pa rin bumalik?"

I rolled my eyes at him, once again. "Hindi ko ibibigay sa kan'ya 'yan para balikan ako. I wanted to make an art gallery and studio where I'll put all of her paintings I bought from her exhibit, and give it all to her, because she deserves it. I don't care if she'll come back to me or not. Hindi naman ito ang goal ko."

"Then what?" he asked, confused.

"I just wanted to shelter some of her masterpieces. I know that every painting she finished has its own story. Hindi naman na ako umaasa na bumalik siya sa akin. It's been years, pare." I sighed before drinking from the coffee he gave me. "Naka-move on na 'yon."

"Then you'll still give her the place?" I nodded. "What if she'll misinterpret?"

I shrugged. "I'll explain to her everything, then."

He laughed. "Pare, sarap mo naman magmahal. Ako na nga lang mahalin mo."

"Tang ina mo, doon ka nga sa Anna mo."

He chuckled again before sighing. "Wala, pare. Wala tayo pag-asa do'n."

"Alam ko, tanga."

Tumawa na lang siya bago muling pinag-usapan ang mga detalye para sa two-storey gallery and studio.

~~~

"Saka na," I answered Grace.

She smiled. "I can't judge you for loving her that way." She sighed. "She's a damn angel."

Napakunot ako ng noo sa sinabi niyang 'yon. "What?"

She crossed her legs as she looked at me directly. "We talked before, noong ilang buwan pa lang kayong break. I wanted to ask her, to take you back. I can't really watch you suddenly stopped talking about her. It feels like you just lost the last ounce of your hope that you'll get her back."

Napalunok ako sa sinabi niyang 'yon. Bakit naman niya kinausap? Hindi yata magandang ideya 'yon, ah?

"And then she told me that she won't take you back anymore. I asked her why. And she directly told me that she need no man in her life." She laughed. "Man, I really want to be like that, but with the way I lived years ago, I don't think I can live without a man in my whole lifetime."

I smiled a little, remembering how Savannah always told me that she needs no man in her life. With the years that we're not together anymore, she never had a boyfriend. I saw her in a few dates with different men but that's just date, I know. No one really entered her house except her friends.

I know because I watched her from afar. I never left her side.

And by watching her from afar, I saw her watch the rain with a sad face, unlike the first time I saw her dance under the rain. She really lost her love for the rain, like she said.

"But I asked her still. I insist on knowing why. And she told me that she knew what happened to me." Her right lip twitched as her smile slowly vanished. "I felt anxious, but she held my hands so it won't tremble." She looked at me with her wet eyes before she chuckled. "And she said that she's not judging me—that she understands me."

She smiled again but her eyes watered once more.

"That was the first time that a stranger to me understands and never judges me even after knowing how I literally went crazy." She laughed again as her tears fell from her eyes. "After that, she made me understand her reasons . . . and as a Psych major, if I were in her shoe, I'd do the same."

She nodded as she pursed her lips while her tears kept on falling.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin na nagkausap na pala kayo?" I asked.

She shrugged. "It was one of my happiest moments of my life. I wanted to treasure it in my heart. I wanted to be the only one, except her, who knows that it happened. It did."

"So, what's it?"

She smiled as she wiped her tears. "It was a secret. I won't tell you."

I smiled before nodding. "Okay, then."

"I asked her why she won't take you back. She told me that it's because of me. She's secretly watching me, reading my mannerisms and reactions like a professional psychiatrist, watching me like an eagle." She laughed. "I honestly felt so offended that time but then, I understand. And then she told me that I am not completely healed. She knew that I still have auditory hallucinations that time and I am just pretending that I don't have anymore. She knows that."

I nodded as I realized how she's frightened every time she's alone. Bakit nga ba hindi ko naisip na baka nga may naririnig pa siya noon? Bakit hindi ko man lang napansin?

"Her interest in Psychology and things that are not proven by experts and scientist saved me, Connor. She let go of you so that I won't be alone in those pretending times." She sighed as she leaned on the back rest of couch. "She really knew that having her next to you while I'm depending on you will never do me any good." She chuckled. "She told me that she knew that I don't like her."

I smiled again as I watched her talk about Savannah like that. She's really fine, I can't believe it. Sa tuwing naiisip ko pa rin 'yung nakaraan niya, kapag kinukumpara ko ang nakaraan niya sa kasalukuyan, I can really see how she's improved.

"I am not a good actress, Connor. She knew that time that I am not okay with her. If she took Psychology, she'll be a great Psychiatrist of this country." She sighed. "I remembered the guest speaker of the seminar, Serene Villanueva, from the other university. She's a professor there now. You know, she's really open on telling everyone that she's schizophrenic years ago."

Napakunot ako ng noo. I've heard that name from her many times before, but this is the first time that she told me that that Serene is also schizophrenic.

"Really? Ano nangyari sa kan'ya?"

She shrugged. "She's damn depressed and she can't admit it to herself. You know, nagkapatong-patong 'yung bigat ng loob niya. She decided to give up on her life. And while she's planning to kill herself, an imaginary friend who contradicts her thoughts was made." She smiled. "I even bought her book, Her Tranquility. Can you believe that one of the reasons that she's depressed is that, she can't write the way she writes before? For her, writing is like breathing. If she can't write, she feels like suffocating." She heaved a deep sigh.

"I just like that woman a lot. She's brave to live again after she really did drown herself. If I met that someone who saved her, I would really thank him or her for letting someone like her live again in this world. This world needs more of her."

I smiled at her before standing up and brushing her hair. She glared at me.

"This world needs more of you too, woman. So, cheer up because the past won't matter anymore. It's just a proof that you're brave enough to conquer that challenge you had. Look at where you are now."

She smiled before standing up and hugging me. I laughed before hugging her back. "And thank you for letting me depend on you while I finally started to heal myself."

I nodded. "You're always welcome. And thank you for letting yourself heal."

She cried more as we stayed in that position. She wouldn't stop thanking me until she calmed herself from too much crying.

When we moved away from the hug, her nose is stuff and her eyes are red. "Do you know what's left to do for me to completely heal?" she asked.

I gulped with her question. "Ano?"

She smiled. "You and Savvy—together again."

My smile vanished with what she said. "Mukhang mahirap 'yan, ah? Paano kung ayaw na niya?"

She shrugged. "She will. I believe that she still loves you. And if she don't, then I want your own happiness, at least. And Savvy's happiness, of course. Kasi masaya na ako ngayon, Connor, kahit ako na lang at ang ibang tao na mamahalin ko sa mga susunod na buwan at taon. Kahit hindi na ikaw."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit sobrang gaan ng loob ko sa kung paano magsalita ni Grace ngayon sa harap ko. It's like she finally melted down the walls I built between us. We're finally talking about the things I forbid her to talk to before.

I brushed her hair again. "We will get there too. Soon."

***

Months went by so fast.

Jin and I finished the final touches for the art gallery and studio I made only for Savannah. Puting-puti ang studio na may kaonting dark blue akong inilagay sa ilang parte nito.

Dark blue . . . kasing-kulay ng mga mata niya kapag natatamaan ng liwanag.

"Ano, pare?" napalingon ako kay Jin na nakangiti habang hawak ang camera na nakasabit sa batok ang strap. "Ilagay na natin mga painting mo para kumpleto na itong Savannah Shrine mo."

Humagalpak siya ng tawa matapos sabihin 'yon. Hindi ko na lang pinansin. Tinanggal ko na ang mga balot ng paintings na binili ko sa exhibit niya at malalaking pictures niya na pina-frame ko at isinabit na sa mga pagsasabitan. Sa laki at luwang ng art gallery and studio na ito, pwede nang gawing art workshop para sa mga hindi kayang kuhanin ang related course para dito. Sa totoo lang, pwede talagang gawin 'to ni Savannah kung sakali.

Sana talaga, tanggapin niya.

"Ang ganda talaga ng mata niyang si Savvy, 'no?" sabi ni Jin habang hawak ang isang malaking frame ng picture ni Savannah, kitang-kita ang pagka-blue ng mga mata niya. "Saan mo nga pala pinagkukuha pictures niya? Ang gaganda, ah?"

Ngumisi ako bago inilagay ang picture ni Savannah na nasa loob ng art studio ng school namin noon.

Of course, I took it myself. I never left Savvy's side even after we broke up. I always took photos of her from afar using a DSLR camera I bought so that I can capture her moments in HD.

I smirked. "Connections, pare."

He laughed. "Tang ina mo talaga."

Nagtawanan na lang kami at nagkwentuhan ng ilan hanggang sa matapos na ang paglalagay ng lahat ng painting at portraits niya.

"Tang ina, ang laki. Pwede nang bahay, ah?"

I smiled. "She deserves all of that."

He chuckled. "I know. I'd do the same if I have a woman of myself."

I laughed. "Hanap ka na lang ng iba, huwag ka na d'yan sa Anna. Hindi na sila maghihiwalay ng boyfriend niya."

Tumawa siya. "Hindi ko naman hinihiling na maghiwalay! Gusto ko na lang naman maging kaibigan."

I shrugged before we took our things and left the studio. I locked everything before going to my car. Jin entered the shotgun seat before I started the engine.

"Kapag nahanap ko na 'yung para sa akin, hindi lang studio ibibigay ko. Bituin, pare. Literal." He laughed.

I laughed too. "Maghanap ka muna ng pagbibigyan."

Another month has passed. Savannah already graduated last week and she'll be having an exhibit today at BGC. Kinuha ko na ang pagkakataon na 'to na maibigay sa kan'ya ang address ng art gallery na ibibigay ko sa kan'ya. Bahala na kung anong mangyayari. Wala na akong pakialam. Basta gusto ko na lang na ibigay sa kan'ya 'yon.

"Do you want me to come?" Grace asked on the phone when I told her that I'm on my way to Savvy's exhibit from the site. "Gusto ko rin makita ang new paintings niya."

I chuckled while driving. "Hindi na. Sa susunod na exhibit, sige, isasama kita."

She laughed. "Okay. Tell her that I'm asking how she's doing now, ha?"

"Okay, sure."

She ended the call right before I arrived at the venue.

Maraming mga tao ang naroon at halata mo naman sa itsura at pananamit nila na hindi sila basta tao lang. They are either an artist, politician or business tycoon. Those people who love to spend money on paintings that will be put in their mansions and office are here in the exhibit where Savvy's paintings are part too.

I'm so proud of how she managed to pursue her love for art while studying for a profession that will make her future life more stable. I suddenly looked forward for a day that I will engineered the house where she'll be the interior designer. Kung hindi kami magkabalikan, kahit sana 'yon na lang ang mangyari.

As I scanned the beautiful paintings, it may be abstract, minimalist, or realistic, I know that everything here are made out of passion and love, not just because they wanted to spread colors on canvas.

I stopped in front of the three paintings where some of the people are talking about. The way the paintings are put was like a reversed color palette; from dark to pastel. It was like a trilogy that one cannot be left alone.

The paintings are abstract. I almost did not understand what it says, but then I realized, si Savvy ang gumawa nito. Savvy always put a part of her in every masterpiece she made.

For the first painting, I saw a girl lying in bed with something in front of her. With the way that it was painted, it must be a girl experiencing a sleep paralysis. The second photo has a lighter mixture of color, and with the way the white paint were spread and the painting was slightly blur with it, it was like a dream—like a movie scene.

Based on my understanding, the second painting is a girl, holding an umbrella under a heavy rain. With the way that the person in this painting was painted, she looks like she doesn't like the rain.

I glanced at the first painting and saw that the thing in front of the girl lying on a bed that it was black clouds. So this is how the first and second painting is connected, huh?

The last painting made my heart pound.

An abstract girl is dancing in the rain while at the edge part of the painting, there is a silhouette, like he or she is watching her dance in the rain.

I heaved a sigh because of the feelings I felt after connecting all those paintings. Is this her way of telling her story? Does she hated the rain and realized that she loves it when she saw her Mom play with the rain?

Or does she fear the rain before?

I still don't know if I made sense with the realizations I had, but I know that it was all about how she conquered the rain because of her Mom.

"So, how does my painting looks now, less the mysteries I put before?"

Napalingon ako sa nagsalita sa likod ko at nakita ko si Savannah doon na nakatingin sa akin habang nakahalukipkip.

"S-Savannah . . ."

She smiled at me before asking for a hand shake. "It's been a while, Engineer Connor Lopez."

Napalunok ako bago tinanggap ang kamay niya. Nothing changes with the way I feel every time I held her hand. It still feels the same. It always feels like the first time.

Jamais vu . . .

She quickly let go of my hand and crossed her arms in front of her chest again. "Suki ka pa rin ng paintings ko?" She chuckled. "Thank you for supporting me, Connor."

I smiled. "You deserved to be supported like that."

She nodded. "Thank you, but you don't need to do that. I don't plan to do these things all my life."

I didn't answer because it made me feel nervous.

"This is my last exhibit. I'm quitting because I got a job offer. I'll focus on it now."

Bahagyang napaawang ang bibig ko. How can she just quit when she loves to paint so much?

"But . . . can't you continue—"

"I can't."

Hindi ulit ako nakapagsalita. Napatitig na lang ako sa mga mata niyang mas nahahalata na ang pagka-blue ngayon kahit na hindi na gaanong maliwanag ang lugar. I heaved a sigh when I realized that she's made up her mind again. I am not in the position to change her decisions.

I took the small envelop from my pocket and gave it to her. Her forehead creased.

"What's this?"

"Let's meet there. Later. I'll wait for you."

She sighed before looking at me in disbelief. "Ano muna 'to?"

"Basta pumunta ka. I'll tell you everything."

"How can I know if I am already at the place? Wala namang pangalan ng restaurant or what."

"You can call Terrence so that he can drive you. I'll give you his num—"

Umiling siya at iniabot pabalik sa akin ang envelop. "No. I am not going. I'm sorry."

Tumalikod na siya at aalis na sana pero pinigilan ko siya. Hinawakan ko ang palapulsuhan niya, dahilan para lumingon siya sa akin.

"What?" she asked.

I sighed before putting the envelope back on her palm. "Please come."

After that, I left her that and bought all of her paintings, since she told me that it was her last exhibit. I didn't dare to look back at her again because I was afraid that I might see her get angry at me.

Huwag na muna. Ipipikit ko na muna ang mga mata ko para magkaroon ako ng kahit na katiting na pag-asang pupunta siya.

Nang makuha ang mga painting at mabayaran ang mga 'yon, idiniretso ko ang lahat sa sasakyan ko at nag-drive papunta sa art gallery. Sa daan pa lang, kabang-kaba na ako dahil hindi naman ako sigurado kung pupunta nga ba si Savannah at kung tatanggapin niya 'yun kung sakali. Pero sana tanggapin niya pa rin.

Kahit 'yon na lang. Kahit hindi na ako.

Nang makarating ako ro'n, dinala ko na rin sa loob ang tatlong painting na binili ko kanina. Naghanap ako ng pwede kong paglagyan ng tatlong painting na magkakasunod. Nang maalala na isa pa lang ang laman ng kaisa-isang bedroom ng art gallery, doon ko na lang inilagay ang lahat at inilipat ang painting sa studio. Pagkatapos no'n, pinatay ko na ang lahat ng ilaw.

Nang matapos, naupo ako sa couch at hinintay si Savannah. Alam ko na sobrang labo ng chance na pupunta siya rito; lalong sobrang labo ng chance na magpahatid siya kay Terrence dahil pinutol na niya ang ugnayan sa lahat ng mga kaibigan ko matapos naming maghiwalay.

The years without her were really hard. Tinanggap ko na lang na kailangan namin 'yon, na para sa aming dalawa 'yon. Sa kabila ng lahat ng 'yon, hindi pa rin ako napagod umasa na babalik siya . . . na baka may kailangan lang akong patunayan sa panahon, hanggang sa pwede na kami ulit.

I checked my wrist watch. It's been few hours. 11:00 PM na. Sobrang kaba ko sa kabuuan ng mga oras na naghihintay ako sa kan'ya.

Ilang oras pa ang nagdaan bago ko nakita sa labas ng bintana ang paghinto ng sasakyan ni Terrence. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang lumabas siya ro'n at pinagbuksan ang kung sino man na nakaupo sa shotgun seat. Nang lumabas, lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil nakita ko si Savannah, nakatingin sa harap ng art gallery and studio kung nasaan ako ngayon.

I saw her asked Terrence about something but he just pointed the door of this place. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo, naghihintay na pumasok siya. Hindi ko na ngayon nakikita kung ano ang ginagawa niya ngayon dahil nasa bandang hagdanan na ako.

Ilang sandali pa, narinig ko na ang pagbukas ng pintuan. Kumabog ang dibdib ko sa kaba. Sobrang dilim, halos hindi ko siya makita. Hanggang sa pinindot na niya ang switch ng ilaw at nakita ko na ang kabuuan niya ngayon.

Kitang-kita ko sa pag-awang ng bibig niya ang mangha nang makita niya ang mga naka-frame sa dingding. Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad papunta sa bawat frame na nakasabit sa dingding, maging sa mga nakalagay sa stand na paintings niya. Nakita ko kung paano siya humikbi, kasabay ng pagtakip niya ng bibig, hanggang sa sunud-sunod nang tumulo ang mga luha niya.

Seeing her cry really hurts me. It's been years. I've never seen her cry with our breakup. I didn't even see her shed a single tear. Ngayon ko lang napagtanto ang lahat, na mas okay ngang hindi siya umiyak no'n, kasi baka ako pa ang magmakaawa sa kan'ya na umalis siya, kaysa makita siyang gano'n.

When she's finally done checking the paintings and her portrait, she went to me and faced me with her usual mysterious expression.

"So, what do you want me to do with this? Anong kinalaman ko rito?" she asked.

I smiled a little. "I wanted to shelter your paintings."

"I didn't put my paintings in my exhibit just for you to shelter it."

"Hindi ko naman binili lahat. Isa lang sa kada exhibit mo kasi alam kong deserved ng painting mo na makita sa iba't-ibang lugar."

I saw how she clenched her jaw before talking again. "What do you want from me? Are you stalking me this whole time just to have these damn portraits?"

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. "I'm sorry."

"Connor . . ." I looked at her. "What is your intention, really?"

"I just wanted to give this to you."

Nakita ko ang bahagyang panlalaki ng mga mata niya, dahilan para lalo kong makita ang kulay nito. "What this?"

"Everything. Even the place. This is yours, Savvy."

She scoffed. "Ano? Kaya ko ring magpagawa nito, Connor. Why do you need to give me this? No, I won't take it."

I sighed. "Sav . . ."

"Is this your way of asking me to come back to you? Kasi kung oo, parang binibili mo naman ang pagkatao ko niyan . . ." she said in disappointment.

"Savvy, hindi gano'n. I wanted to give you this because I know that you deserved it. You're a great artist; you can do a lot and this is my way of appreciating you, not just because I love you, but because you are doing very well in every field that you are in."

She gulped but didn't talk.

"I want you back but what I wanted more is for you to take this. I put everything here, Sav. Jin was the architect while I was the engineer. This is the first building I made for me and I really wanted this for you. Hindi ko binibigay 'to dahil lang may gusto akong makuha sa 'yo o dahil gusto ko lang na bumalik ka sa akin. Ibinibigay ko sa 'yo 'to nang walang hinihinging kapalit, kaya sana, sana tanggapin mo, Sav."

After hearing everything I said, she looked down as her shoulder started shaking.

"You shouldn't have waited. Anong oras na," she said in a broken tone while she's crying and her hands are wiping her tears. "You should've stopped loving me, Connor. Ilang taon na . . ."

I sighed before pulling her closer so that I can calm her. "Kung kaya ko naman, bakit hindi?" I sighed. "Kaso hindi ko kaya. I can only keep on loving you."

She cried louder after hearing what I said. "Connor, I'm sorry," she said in between her sobs. "I'm sorry for leaving you alone. I'm sorry."

I hugged her tighter while rubbing her back. "It's alright. You did what you think is the best for all of us."

"No," she said. "I did it because I am immature and selfish. I'm sorry, I don't deserve you. I don't deserve you in this lifetime, and I certainly don't deserve you in this universe."

I smiled a little when I heard what she said. I missed her talking about conspiracy theories about past lives and parallel universe but she obviously didn't have any idea about what she said.

I moved slightly away from the hug to look at her face. "I'm sorry for making you feel that my heart still belongs to someone from the past, Sav. I'm sorry for making you feel like that."

Umiling siya nang umiling. "No, sorry. I'm really, really sorry."

I smiled. "Okay na. Okay na rin si Grace. At lahat ng 'yon, dahil sa 'yo. Thank you, Sav. You did well. Thank you."

She smiled when I told her that. "T-Talaga?"

I nodded. "Oo. Wala ka nang dapat na ipag-alala sa kan'ya."

She wiped her tears before taking a step backward so that she could face me better. "Then, do you love me still? Like before? Like you used to?"

I chuckled with her question. "Always. And never in this lifetime will I lose that love I have for you." Her eyes watered again after I told her that. "Eh, ako? Mahal mo pa ba ako?"

She nodded. I felt my eyes heated.

"Sigurado ka na ba?"

She laughed. "Of course."

I smiled. "Then . . . will you come back to me now?"

She smiled as her tears fall. "Pwede pa ba?"

I chuckled. "Oo naman." I took her hand and pulled her closer. "Ikaw na lang ang hinihintay ko."

"I'm sorry for taking my time too long. I promise I won't leave you again."

I sighed in relief before hugging her tight. I closed my eyes when I felt my tears are starting to fall now.

I hugged her tight as I told her the words I've never told anyone for so many years.

"Mahal na mahal kita, Savannah. Mahal na mahal."

I heard her sniffed before hugging me back tighter.

"Mahal din kita."

Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin napapatunayan kung totoo ba ang parallel universe at past life—maging ang déjà vu—pero sa mga panahong wala si Savannah sa tabi ko, natutunan kong bigyan ang sarili ko ng interes sa mga bagay na hindi pa napapatunayan ng siyensiya, hanggang sa natutunan ko na ring maniwala rito.

Multiverse and past lives are not yet proven by the scientist. But even though there's no proof yet about their existence, I am sure with myself that it was, still, and will always be Savannah that I will love in this universe and in this lifetime.

Sa mundong ito, sa panahong ito, siya lang—wala nang iba.

THE END