Thank you for reading! Let's meet in my next story.

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Epilogue

"Gael! Will you please listen to me and looked at me even just for a minute?!" Darlene's voice bursted and echoed inside the office.

Napatahimik naman si Graham at tinuro ang pintuan upang magpaalam na lalabas siya upang makapag-usap kami ni Darlene.

I just nodded at him before I turned to Darlene. Hindi ko maiwasang mapataas ang kilay ko nang makita ko ang madumi niyang damit ngunit naiwasan ko naman ang aking pagtawa.

"What happened to you?" I asked her.

"A bitch just poured her frappe on me! I'm so embarrassed! You weren't even there to protect me." she shouted and blamed me for what happened.

"Why did she pour her frappe on you? May ginawa ka ba?" tanong ko sa kaniya at sinusubukang alamin ang nangyari.

"I don't know! She just did!" she exclaimed.

Nanliit naman ang aking mata habang nakatingin sa kaniya. I can tell that she really doesn't know why... but maybe, the one who poured her drink on her can answer my question.

"What's her name?" tipid kong tanong.

Kita ko namang nagliwanag ang kaniyang mukha sa aking tanong.

"Blair Alcoberes." agad niyang sagot.

Bahagya akong napatigil ng marinig ko ang pangalang binanggit niya.

"She also wants to be a lawyer when she grows up. I can see that she'll do great. Her academic achievements are very overwhelming. Nakaka-proud ang batang 'yan. She can do anything on her own." I heard her father said to my father.

I looked at the girl whom they said that's only the same age as me. She's smiling from ear to ear while eating her chocolate cupcake at the bench. She's even licking the icing at the top of it and I can't help but to lick my lips.

Napaangat naman siya ng tingin sa akin at kumunot ang kaniyang noo. She pouted and she suddenly raised her cupcake before she gave me a sweet smile and I saw how her eyes glittered.

My lips slightly parted when she offered me her sweets. Napaiwas naman ako ng tingin at pinakiramdaman ang biglang bumilis na pagtibok ng puso.

"Parehas pala sila nitong si Gael." My stepdad said. "He also wants to be a lawyer. He admires you, actually. He read an article about you at napagkwentuhan ka namin kama-kailan lang. He couldn't believe that we're friends."

My Dad's friend heartily laughed. "You're making me embarrassed."

"It's true, Jay." sabi ni Daddy. "I hope you can be a help to him if he will need it someday. Can I count on you with that?"

"Of course, you can. Walang problema." sabi nito.

Muli naman akong napa-angat ng tingin kung saan siya nakaupo kanina ngunit ng makita kong wala siya doon ay bumagsak ang aking balikat.

Where did she go?

"You don't want cupcakes."

Halos mapatalon ako nang may malambing na boses na bumalot sa aking tenga at agad akong napalingon sa babaeng katinginan ko kanina na ngayo'y nasa tabi ko na. She's still offering me her cupcakes and this time, it seems she won't take no for an answer.

"Blair, where's your Mom?" bigla namang tanong sa kaniya ng kaniyang ama.

Nilingon niya naman ito upang sagutin. "She's in the bathroom, Daddy." she simply answered.

She turned to look at me and once again, she offered me a cupcake.

"You will like it. It's delicious." she tried to convince me.

"Gael, take Blair's cupcake. Your Tito told me that she bought it on the way here. Mukhang masarap." my stepdad told me.

Huminga naman ako ng malalim at muling nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya galing sa cupcake na kaniyang hawak.

I slowly raised my arm and was about to take the cupcake when she suddenly stepped back and moved the cupcakes far away from me.

She laughed and I can't almost see her eyes. Agad ding namula ang kaniyang pisngi dahil sa pagtawa.

"I'm just joking." she said. "Ayoko ngang bigyan ka. Akin lang 'to." pagdadamot niya bago ako dinilaan at saka tumakbo paalis.

"Blair Nicole Alcoberes!" sigaw ng kaniyang ama.

Hahabulin sana siya nito ngunit imbes na gawin iyon ay huminga na lamang siya ng malalim at humingi ng paumanhin sa akin at pati na rin sa aking step dad.

I let out a faint curse when she suddenly switched her direction. I immediately followed her and grabbed her arm to stop her and make her face me.

Agad naman niyang ibinaba ang kaniyang matalim na tingin sa kamay kong nakahawak sa kaniyang braso.

"Hands off."mariin niyang sabi.

I didn't let go of her arm. Instead, I tightened my grip on her.

"I said, hands off." ngayon ay mas mariin pa niyang sabi ngunit hindi ko pa rin siya pinakinggan.

No, I won't let you get away this time, Miss Little Chocolate Cupcake. Ngayon ay hindi lang cupcake ang kukunin ko sa'yo. I'm gonna get you and make every inch of you mine cause you already made me yours the first time I saw you smile.

"I still can't believe that you just let that incident slip away!" Darlene kept on ranting ever since I started to drive her on her way home. "You should've punished her or report her to the dean. O kaya ay kahit bigyan lamang siya ng atleast ten hours of community service."

Humigpit naman ang pagkakahawak ko sa aking manibela bago inihinto sa tabi ng kalsada ang sasakyan.

"Your house is not that far from here. You can just walk already." malamig kong sabi sa kaniya.

"What are you—"

"Out now, Darlene." I calmly told her.

"Gael!" she exclaimed in frustration. "Just take me home and stop being unreasonable!"

I averted my cold stare at her and she immediately shut her mouth.

"I said out." mariin kong sabi.

She exhaled a deep sigh and unbuckled her seatbelt. But before she finally went out of my car, I spoke up again.

"By the way, let's break up. If there was really an us..." sabi ko naman. "But don't worry, you can just tell everyone that you're the one who broke up with me to keep your pride. It's fine with me."

"Why are you doing this, Gael? We were just fine." sabi niya at nahimigan ko ang kirot sa kaniyang boses.

I was slightly guilty. Even if I don't love her, I treated her so special. I treated her like my real girlfriend.

"Is it because of a girl?" she mocked me. "I swear, Gael! If it's because of a girl. You know what I can do." pagbabanta niya bago bumaba sa aking sasakyan.

My mind suddenly travelled to Blair's safety. I know Darlene and her wicked ways so much. I will not let anyone hurt or harm her. If I need to lie low while I'm planning on how to win her then I will.

"I wanna know, Gael." pilit niya. "Let me know."

Napangisi ako dahil sa tuwa. She's curious about me. I can't help but to feel happy. But when I suddenly remembered Darlene's low key threat, agad akong sumeryoso.

"Who are you?" I coldly asked her and my heart dropped when I saw her took a step back. "Sino ka ba?" I still continued.

I saw how speechless she was. If only I can answer my question to her myself and tell her that she's the woman that I've been waiting for, but I can't. Not yet.

"I'm not obliged to answer your question. I'm not obliged to tell you about what happened to me and Darlene. We're not even close." though I really want to be close to you. "Don't bother asking me again."

Bago ko pa mabawi ang mga salitang binitawan ko ay agad na akong sumakay sa aking sasakyan upang mapigilan ang sarili ko at umalis na.

Even though I'm trying to stay away from her for the mean time, it seems like destiny is the one who's doing the deed for us two.

We met each other again because of our parents. I managed to win her heart though there are so many complicated situations that came into our life to test how fierce and strong our love is to each other.

And I know how much her father wants me to be with her, that's why I don't understand why he had an affair with my Mom that made our relationship I worked so hard for fall.

"Mommy, what was that?!" I asked in pure rage. "What the fucking fuck was that?!"

"Gael, I'm sorry..."

"Hindi ka pa ba nadala dati, Ma?" puno ng hinanakit ang aking boses. "Hindi pa ba sapat ang nangyari noon? You already did it before and now, you're doing it again! Mom, you're more than just being a mistress. Know your fucking worth! I treat you like a queen because you're my mother but you're making yourself a slave of a married man."

Words that are covered with pain kept on flowing from my mouth. Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko sa pangangaral sa sarili kong ina habang iniisip ang pagkawala sa akin ni Blair.

"I understand that it was a mistake before. I'm thankful that the mistake you did is the reason why I'm alive now. Pero yung ngayon... it's like you're killing me with the second mistake you did because I just lost the girl I love so much because of you." my voice broke. "I lost Blair, Mom..."

"I'm sorry, Gael..." she apologized while trying to reach out for me. "I only did it for you and Genie. I want to give you a father... a complete family!" she tried to reason out.

"I don't need a father! I already have one! And even without one, I can still survive and live my life." I told her. "And as for Genie, I will give her all the love a father can give. I will protect and take care of her with all I've got."

"I just can't leave you two alone..." hikbi ni Mommy. "I'm sorry if I acted so wrong, Gael. Forgive me, son."

"I don't think I can forgive you. Not until Blair comes back to me again." determinado kong sabi at saka nagmadaling umalis ng aming tahanan.

I love my Mom so much. But this time, even though I lover her, I know that she's the one who's wrong and I want her to learn. I want her to see her faults and mistakes. I want her to continue reflect on it. If it takes leaving her, then I will.

"I and Kuya Isaiah talked to Blair, Kuya." Ida suddenly said when we're hanging out the garden.

I'm currently residing at their home. My Dad insisted that I should stay here for the mean time while I'm still not ready to go home and face my Mom. They already knew what happened. I told them.

"What?" nabigla kong tanong sa kaniya at nilingon siya na seryosong nakatingin sa kawalan. "Why'd you talk to her? Anong sinabi niyo sa kaniya?"

"I want Blair to open up her mind." she said. "I understand that she's hurt and felt betrayed. But she's just blinded by the pain that your mom and her father caused her and especially, her mom. I want her to understand that it's not your fault. I also don't want her to regret her decision in the end, Kuya. What if you already find someone new and that's only the time when realized she's wrong?"

"That will never happen, Ida." I said, full with conviction and confidence. "I'm not planning to find someone new. Ang tanging pinaplano ko lang ay kung paano ko siya maibabalik sa akin. Ang tanging pinagkakaabalahan ko lang ay ang paghihintay sa kaniya hanggang sa maging handa siya ulit."

I pressed the home button of my phone and a smiling Blair appeared on my lockscreen.

Napangiti ako. I can't wait to see her smiling again. I can't wait for her to share her happiness to me. I can't wait to hold her in my arms so tight. I can't wait to kiss her and tell her that it'll be alright. I can't wait to be the man she wants to spend her whole life with.

"You see, Ida... It seems like you still don't know that my life already depends on her. She is the axis of my life where my world revolves in. And without her, my world cannot continue to revolve." I said. "I tried to detach myself from her when she asked me too, but I can't. Pakiramdam ko mababaliw ako tuwing sinusubukan ko. I'd rather be crazy because I have her, than be crazy because I lost her."

I was staring at the first page of our wedding invitation for such a long time and I was even smiling like a fool. If only I can put Ondevilla as her surname on the invitation then it'll be much better.

I can't believe that it's finally happening soon.

Pero hindi dapat ako masiyadong maging panatag. Hindi pa ako dapat maging masaya ng sobra dahil baka maudlot ang lahat. She's not my wife yet. Binabalot pa rin ako ng takot araw-araw na maaaring magbago ang isip niya at bitawan akong muli.

I don't want to experience life without her again. Even if it's just for a day, I don't. When she left me before, I barely even survived living for a day. The only thing that's making me live is the hope that she might come back to me again.

"Gael."

Nang marinig ko ang malambing niyang boses ay agad akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya.

Napangiti ako habang tinitignan siyang nakanguso't paniguradong nagtatampo sa akin dahil hindi ko siya pinapansin sa sobrang pagtitig ko sa aming imbitasyon.

"Yung totoo? Ako ba ang papakasalan mo o ang imbitasyon na 'yan?" masungit niyang tanong sa akin.

Natawa naman ako sa kaniyang pagtatampo at agad siyang niyakap. Hinalikan ko ang kaniyang balikat at napangiti naman siya ng dahil doon.

"Will Graham and Ida pick us up on the airport?" tanong naman sa akin ni Blair habang ako'y komportable pa ring nakayakap sa kaniya.

I nodded and hugged her tighter. "I told them to drive us straight to the cemetery before we go home. I will give Mom her invitation."

Ramdam ko ang paglingon sa akin ni Blair ngunit ipinikit ko nalang ang aking mga mata. Naramdaman ko ang paghalik niya sa aking noo at niyakap din ako pabalik.

"I'm sure your Mom will come to our wedding." she whispered. "She won't miss her beloved son's wedding, right?"

Ngumiti naman ako. "That sounds scary, Blair. Thinking about it is creeping me out." biro ko upang gumaan ang aming paligid.

Marahan niya naman akong hinampas sa aking braso at mas lalo lamang akong natawa.

"I'm just trying to lift up our mood. Magandang isipin na kumpleto ang mga mahal natin sa buhay sa araw ng kasal natin." she reasoned out.

"Kahit na tayong dalawa lang ang nasa araw ng kasal natin, matutuloy pa rin ang kasal. Tayong dalawa lang naman ang importante doon." sabi ko sa kaniya.

Blair looked straight into my eyes and I saw how those tears shined inside her eyes. I'm slightly terrified because of those tears but when I saw her smiling, my heart melted. Damn. I love her so much.

I slowly moved closer to her face. She closed her eyes when I softly touched her rosy cheek and it travelled down to her flawless arm.

In just an inch, our lips are about to touch.

"Kuya!"

Mabilis akong napalayo kay Blair ng biglang sumilip si Genie galing sa kaniyang kinauupuan sa harapan namin ni Blair.

"Yes, baby girl?" panis akong ngumiti sa kaniya.

"Nakalimutan ko na sasabihin ko." simpleng sabi niya at tinikom ang bibig saka bumalik sa pagkakaupo ng maayos kung saan hindi namin siya makikita.

Nilingon ko naman si Blair na ngayo'y nakakunot ang noo.

"I really hate your sister." she whispered and crossed her arms.

Tumawa naman ako at muli siyang niyakap. "She's also going to be your sister, Atty. Blair Ondevilla."