Dio's POV

I adjusted my grip on the handle of the train.

'A few years from now, we should come back here...'

A lifetime. It took us a lifetime to finally come back to Athens.

Tinignan ko ang suot kong relo at napangiti.

I'm on my way to the Plaza, just hours after we landed in Greece... and it's already past midnight.

I lifted my gaze and looked at my reflection on the window across me.

Hindi ako kinakabahan. Hindi ako takot. Masaya lang ako.

Sino bang hindi? Simula nang mapagtanto kong nahulog na nang buo ang loob ko sa kanya, hinanda ko na ang sarili ko para sa gabing ito.

Dinamdam ko ang maliit na kahon na nasa bulsa ng coat ko.

It's here.

I'm here.

But is she?

I didn't leave any letter or texted her or anything, because I know I don't have to. I just wish she didn't get too tired from the long flight, or else she has not noticed me disappear. Then I might just have to postpone proposing.

Huminto na sa pagtakbo ang tren. Pagkaapak ko sa platform, saka lang ako nakaramdam ng kaba.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko.

Don't get me wrong but I'm not nervous because I'm about to propose. Instead, I'm getting anxious of what our marriage will turn out like.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad papalabas ng station habang nakapamulsa.

Kara and I... we have our differences, and sometimes, these differences get the best of us.

I'm worried.

What if she gets exhausted?

I stopped walking after sighting the fountain in the middle of the plaza.

'Because, Kara, on this exact same spot, is where I'm going to ask you to marry me.'

Inilabas ko ang pulang kahon mula sa bulsa ko at napatingin dito.

"A different time..." I whispered and tightened my fingers around it. "But under the same sky..."

Tumingala ako sa mga bituin at sa buwan na bahagyang nakasilip mula sa likod ng mga ulap.

Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata nang maalala ko ang panahon noong ginamit ako ni Eris na saktan siya. Isang malaking pagsisisi. Isang pangyayari na alam kong hindi ko maiwasan, ngunit pinilit ko pa ring iwasan.

Kaya sa huli...

Itinuring ko itong pagkakamali ko, at lubos na sinisi ang sarili ko.

"Hmm." Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang aking mga mata.

Kahit anong paghahanda ang gawin ko, hinding-hindi ako maging handa pagdating sa kanya. Ilang taon ko na siyang kilala, ilang beses nang nakita, ngunit sa bawat pagdapo ng aking mga mata sa kanya, nababaguhan pa rin ako sa nararamdaman ko.

Muli akong napangiti habang nakatuon sa kalangitan.

Who was I to say I didn't deserve her?

No one deserves someone like her.

But I was wrong, when I couldn't see that she chose me.

As imperfect as I am, she chose to love me. She saw me in ways I couldn't. She made me believe not in love at first sight, but in love at every sight, every glance we gave to each other.

Ibinaba ko ang aking ulo sabay bulsa ng maliit na kahon. Laking gulat ko nalang pagkatapos matagpuan ang isang babae na nakatalikod sa'kin at nakamasid sa tabi ng fountain.

Napalunok muna ako bago napagdesisyunang tuluyan na ngang lumapit sa kanya.

Tumigil ako sa tabi niya.

"Took you so long," puna niya nang hindi ako binabalingan ng tingin. "Are you having doubts?"

I scoffed. "Nah," sagot ko. "I just had a panic attack."

Sinundan ito ng ilang segundo ng katahimikan.

"Kara-"

"Dio," sambit niya sabay harap sa'kin. "Are you-" Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Are you sure? I already told you-"

"And I thought I already responded?" I slowly turned to face her completely. "What more do you want me to say, Kara? To make you believe how much I love you?"

Napansin ko ang mahina niyang pagsinghap, tila hindi pa rin makapaniwala.

"Is it still hard for you to accept that somebody loves you this much?" tanong ko. "That someone wants to spend his whole life with you?"

Umiwas siya ng tingin. "A-A little bit... yes..."

"Ilang beses ko pa ba kailangang ipaalala sa'yo?" Ipiniling ko nang kaunti ang aking ulo sa gilid. "Hmm?"

"How many confessions will it take to finally convince you?" I asked.

"I-"

"Because I will, Kara." Namuo ang isang malambot na ngiti sa aking labi. "I will keep confessing my love to you every day, for the rest of my life, if that's what it takes."

"It's not going to wear out?" Curiosity and the need for assurance sparked her eyes when she finally looked back at me. "What you feel for me?"

"You're not going to get tired?" she shook her head.

Umangat ang aking kilay. "Tired? Of you?"

"Some people fall out of love, Dio," she said. "It happens."

"So?"

Kumurap-kurap siya. "So?"

"Some people stay in love, too," I replied. "And trust me when I say we will."

"You're asking for a lot," aniya. "Are you sure you can handle a lifetime with me?"

I lightly scratched the back of my neck. "Actually, I'm not-"

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin dahilan na matawa ako.

"I'm kidding," I gave her a gentle flick on the forehead causing her to flinch. "I am sure. More than sure, actually. One hundred and one percent."

Pinaningkitan niya ako.

"In this world full of uncertainties, Kara, you're the only one that's certain." saad ko. "Kaya maniwala ka na sa'kin kung sasabihin kong mahal na mahal kita."

Ilang sandali pa'y napabuntong-hininga siya. "Fine."

Napangiti ako ngunit mabilis itong nabura nang bitawan niya ang kasunod na mga kataga.

"Will you marry me?"

I blinked the confusion from my eyes. "W-What?"

"Will..." She glanced at the people around us before meeting my gaze once again. "Will you marry me, Dio?"

Napaatras ako nang isang hakbang. "Wait-"

Isn't this supposed to be the other way around?

"I should be the one asking you-"

"But I was the first to ask," giit niya.

Blood rushed to my face when I realized she was serious. "I-I-"

I was completely taken aback.

She smiled at me and from one of her pockets, she revealed a silver ring with a streak of navy blue metal embedded in the middle.

The ring moved along with the subtle movements of her hand and light reflected on the blue metal, making it look like it was moving water.

Nanlalaki ang aking mga mata nang iangat ko ang aking tingin sa kanya.

"Marry me, Dio." She looked and sounded determined. "Let's go through the uncertain together."

Napatakip ako ng bibig.

Shit. How will I tell this to the boys?

"I..." Sa wakas ay nagkaroon na ako ng lakas ng loob na sumagot. "I will."

Inilahad niya ang kamay niya at hinawakan ko naman ito.

Bago pa niya isuot ang singsing sa daliri ko ay pinigilan ko siya. "No! Wait!"

"What?"

"Don't tell anyone about this," tugon ko. "Please."

Tinawanan niya ako. "Fine," she agreed and slipped the ring on my finger. "Let's just say I was the first one to wear a ring."

Mabilis kong hinablot ang kamay ko mula sa kanya para tignan ang singsing. "It looks good on me."

Naluluha ang aking mga mata nang tignan siya. "It looks so fucking good on me, babe."

She shrugged.

"Come here," I pulled her to a tight embrace.

I heard her chuckle.

"Gods-" I whispered. "I love you."

She ran her hands on my back. "I love you, too."

We remained around each other's arms for a few seconds until she spoke again.

"Oh and..." Bumitaw siya mula sa pagkakayapos sa'kin. "I forgot to tell you but there is a chance we can have a child."

"A blessing," dugtong niya. "From the gods."

"How?" usisa ko. "And why?"

"They're gods," paalala niya. "They can do and give whatever they want."

"You're telling me..." My fingers grazed against her soft cheek. "There's a chance that I get to have another you?"

Her smile widened. "Or you."

Natawa ako nang marahan. "Or us both."

Hinawakan ko ang baba niya at napatingin sa labi niyang nakakurba sa isang perpektong ngiti. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"You didn't have to do much." she answered.

"Really?"

"I had a hard time opening my heart but you helped me," aniya. "And when I did, my heart led me to you."

I pursed my lips and studied every corner of her face.

The first time my eyes changed its color was because of her. I almost drowned an island for her, and I will, sink the tallest mountains and drown the largest lands, just as I promised before, for her and only her.

Everything for her.

'Everything for you.'

I heard my father's voice inside my head. Nagdulot ito ng ngiti sa labi ko.

'You both deserve each other, Dio.'

My eyes drifted to her now relaxed lips.

'Love, like the ocean, moves in waves. Waves can crash against each other, and waves can fade upon reaching the shore. But it is only love that is like the ocean. Not you. For you are the ones in control of this ocean.'

I pulled her closer to me.

'You can be still, you can be rough, you can be everything you want to be with love.'

Her lips pressed against mine and it felt like the first time I kissed her. A burst of emotions. A surge of warmth.

'Whatever you do with love, my son, come to know that you are in control.'

I kissed her. I swam the deepest trenches without ever coming up for air.

I can't drown. I won't. I will never. No matter how strong the pressure.

Because what really mattered was her.

She was my first and final breath of life. My only will to live. My only means to survive.

A tear escaped from the corner of my eye and ran down on my cheek. I was overflowing with uncontainable emotions.

Marrying her was more than I could ask for.

My proudest grace.