I was pacing back and forth at an empty hallway inside the library habang nagre-review para sa Anaphy—it was harder to study since they weren't jived together kaya imbes na Anaphy lang talaga ang inaalala ko, I had to take a re-route and go to Ana+Phy. God, I'm still infuriated sa Anaphy subject ko when I was still in MedTech kaya naiirita rin ako habang nagre-review ngayon. Imagine, I'd get the perfect scores every time but I still got an unreasonable grade from my professor, samantalang 'yung kaklase kong puro pa-gwapo pero bagsak naman lagi sa quizzes, uno?!

And they all tell me I get everything just because I'm the Vice President's granddaughter? Screw them.

Just thinking about it makes me irritated. Grabe. I ranted about that for a whole week—even cried over it! I didn't deserve that 1.75, jusko naman. Sometimes, professors can be really unfair with their students. I knew I deserved higher than that kahit sinasabi nila na okay lang naman 'yung naging grade ko. Hindi na rin naman ako makapagreklamo dahil sabi ng isa kong professor, kapag pinalitan ang grade ng isa, kailangan palitan lahat.

I just had to get that Summa to slap that professor. The biggest yikes I had, ever.

Really.

If you know you're better than that, and you deserve more than that then it's okay. Because you know yourself far better than anyone.

"Frontal, Sphenoid, Ethmoid..." I was pointing the parts as I whisper them to myself. I won't deny that I'm good in memorization—it was probably my sole weapon during my pre-medschool days which really worked for me, I guess. But, the medical field, for all honesty, isn't just about how good your memory works—you have to really work on it. Sure, it makes you survive, but at the end of the day what really matters the most is how you'd work in your environment.

Really. You can't save your patient on the deathbed if you only rely on your memory and not on your skills. Being smart would suck big time if you don't know how to empathize.

When I felt like I was okay with all the terms already, dumiretso na'ko sa table para mag-ayos ng gamit. Uno said he'd wait for me at the cafeteria and then we'll eat somewhere since cafeteria food always tasted bland. I even insisted na sa may malapit na lang ng condo niya kami kumain since alas sais pa ang klase niya, but he said he didn't want me to put all efforts since he knows how fucked up Medschool is—as if Law school wasn't, either.

"Couldn't wait, by the way." And if it wasn't too cliché—everything almost seemed to slow down when I heard Uno's voice. Mabilis akong napatungo para tignan kung totoo ba talaga—God, he was smiling so nicely that it just made me smile, too. "Ako na magbitbit niyang libro mo."

I shook my head, "May bitbit ka ring libro. I can do it. No need to baby me," I said, pointing at the codals he was holding.

"Compared to these codals, yours are heavier," he said, snatching my books from my hand—wala na rin akong nagawa dahil mabilis na siyang naglakad—but then he stopped and looked at me.

Then he reached for my hand.

Holy shit.

What the fuck, Uno Sanchez.

"There, better," he said, intertwining our fingers together. "Sorry. I couldn't wait anymore longer."

"With what? The label?"

He laughed, "I don't actually need labels, Brandi. I don't really, really care about it. What matters most is that I like you. That'd come, too."

I smiled, "What if I don't?"

He shrugged, "You're here. What's there to be scared of?"

I laughed, "Ay, ang yabang naman. Sobrang confident?"

Uno smiled, "Yes," he said. "And if I even have to boast to everyone that Brianna Andi likes me the way I do, then I'd absolutely do that."

Gosh...

"Seryoso, Brandi. It'd be too immature for me to whine about labels and everything else connected. We're two busy adults. Alam kong mas uunahin mo ang inaaral mo, pero nandito lang ako maghihintay."

I bit my lower lip, "Hindi ka mapapagod?"

Ngumiti siya, "Bakit ako mapapagod sa taong nagbibigay ng lakas sa'kin?"

Just when I thought I like him so much already—may ilalalim pa pala 'yung nararamdaman ko sa kaniya. Hindi ko alam kung dapat akong matakot, pero 'yun ang nararamdaman ko... kaunti.

But Uno told me not to be scared. He's here. He'll protect me.

That's enough for me to be brave.

I wrinkled my nose and made face to suppress my kilig, pero hindi rin yata nag-work 'yun kay Uno dahil mas lalo pa siyang natawa sa inakto ko. Mas hinigpitan naman niya 'yung paghawak sa kamay ko hanggang sa makalabas kami ng library. We were talking about random topics, tapos minsan napupunta sa medicine, tapos sa law—paikot-ikot lang, pero hindi nakakasawa.

As usual—may security protocol pa rin ako, pero dahil pumayag din naman si dad pati na si lolo kapag kasama ko si Uno, naka-convoy na lang kami lagi. Ang uncomfortable rin kasi kapag may kasama pa kaming bodyguard sa loob ng kotse ni Uno, hindi naman sa may tinatago pero wouldn't be that super awkward?

"Sa'n tayo kakain?"

"Diyan-diyan," natatawang sagot ni Uno. "You don't have to worry I already reserved a spot do'n sa favorite mong unli wings restaurant." Napatingin naman siya sa'kin at natawa sa naging reaction ko.

"I hate you! Goal mo bang patabain ako?!"

He shrugged, "You're too stressed out, need mo mag-unwind."

"Stress eating?!"

Natawa naman lalo si Uno at hinigpitan lalo ang pagkakahawak sa kamay ko, before he raised it and kissed my knuckles, "Don't really care if you get fat, Brandi."

I pouted, "Hello, the media would care!"

His laugh grew louder kaya pinaningkitan ko na siya ng mata, "Kidding. We'd set another day for your unli wings. L'Aubergine?"

"Seryoso ka?" God. That place's expensive as hell! I mean, sure, we can both afford it, pero hindi naman ako sobrang gastador. I still can balance my expenses naman. And L'Aubergine for lunch? "I mean... it's just lunch."

Uno laughed and shrugged his shoulders, "We can try."

"Baliw."

"But seriously. L'Aubergine. I already called for a reservation, since we're talking about you Brandi. Your safety's not only my concern, but the also the whole country."

I smiled.

So, he was thinking about my safety...

God, did I save a country in my past life for you to give me a man like this guy?

Kasi, seryoso, nag-research ba talaga 'tong si Uno at alam na alam niya kung saan ako dadalhin? Wala pa yata kaming pinuntahan na hindi ko nagustuhan 'yung pagkain—one time we went food hopping kasi nag-promise na rin ako sa kaniya na once a month, we'd get to eat the whole day at hindi ako magrereklamo, and everything just tasted nice. Wala rin masyadong tao no'ng pumunta kami kaya hindi hassle lalo sa bodyguards ko.

I felt free.

I felt safe.

I never felt that way before—until Uno came. Fear would still consume me, hindi naman na talaga mawawala 'yun sa'kin—I've been scared of them my whole life kasi lagi nilang sinasabi na hindi dapat kami magkamali sa kung ano man.

Pero alam mo 'yun? My family is full of absolute hypocrites. Ang daming nagkakamali, ang daming shitty scandals na kumakalat—pero bulag ang mga tao. Nananatili silang bulag kasi akala nila kakampi nila ang gobyerno... hindi nila alam nilalason lang sila nang paulit-ulit—tanggap naman sila nang tanggap.

Nakakatakot maging bulag.

Pero mas nakakatakot 'yung mulat ka na, pero mas pinili mo pa ring mag-bulag-bulag-an.

Kaya nakakatakot din ako sa sarili ko... kasi kahit alam ko naman kung ano'ng nangyayari, nananahimik pa rin ako.

Kasi natatakot din ako para sa sarili ko... para sa mga tao sa paligid ko.

Masama ba 'yun?

The whole ride, nakahawak lang si Uno sa kamay ko. It's very nice of him kasi as much as possible, hindi namin pinaguusapan ang pamilya ko. He knows how emotional I could get the moment it's about them already. God, it's so rare to find someone who'd understand you without directly saying it...

Sana talaga siya na...

It's Uno or no one.

I just can't see my future without him already.

And I don't know how much of a heartbreak it would be if he wouldn't be there.

Kasi nakakatakot if you had your future planned already, and then all of a sudden... hindi pala mangyayari. Parang biglang hindi mo na alam kung paano ire-reset. I know it's too early to plan about it all already, but where both adults anyway.

There's just no room for playing anymore. If we'd head somewhere, hell be damned, I'll make sure that it would be marriage.

Even if I had to exchange everything I have.

What's the use of being the granddaughter of the Vice President if you have no freedom in anything?

I'd rather live somewhere far and start anew, than be filthy rich but you have to keep your eyes and mouth shut... because if not... you just have to... die.

I love living.

They're just making me hate it.

"You okay, Bran?" I looked at Uno and smiled at him. Hindi na ulit nagsalita si Uno, pero mas hinigpitan niya pa lalo ang pagkakahawak sa kamay ko hanggang makarating kami sa restaurant. I was sure there were some paparazzi, but I didn't care about it already. It's all over the news naman na, some even interviewed my dad and told na it's okay since we're both adults.

I was just glad that they're not trying to hinder this one...

Maybe they're scared that I might turn up against them if they won't... Hindi ko na talaga alam. Kasi as much as possible, I don't want to use what happened to me against them, kasi hindi naman nila kasalanan... it was Fallon's doing.

They just... they were just accessories to his crime.

And it still hurt... until now. Pero hindi ko na talaga alam kung sinusubukan na lang nilang itama 'yung nangyari noon, o kung hinahayaan na lang nila ako para hindi na'ko magsalita.

Nakakalito.

Pero, hindi ko sila hahayaang bawiin sa'kin 'yung natitirang kasiyahan ko.

"Quiz?"

I nodded, "150," I said. "But let's not talk about that. Anatomy naman so it's kinda of okay naman na."

Uno laughed, "Confident, huh?"

Natawa naman ako at inirapan siya nang kaunti, "As if you're not confident with yourself, too," I said. Truth be told, that one day na free day niya raw kaya nag-food trip kami wasn't really a free day, since he actually had a class by 8:00 PM, and he only told me that no'ng hinatid na niya ako pauwi! I really wanted to smack the hell out of his brains kasi I didn't want him compromising his studies for me, only for him to message me by 10:03 PM na naka-uno siya sa recits nila.

"Huwag mo nang ulitin 'yun," I said.

A lopsided grin appeared on his face, "Yes, ma'am," he uttered. "Anything else?" I was about to playfully pinch his cheek when my eyes suddenly caught a familiar image.

And sana hindi na lang ako tumingin.

Parang bigla akong nanigas sa kinauupuan ko pagkakita ko sa kaniya—I couldn't even speak. Seeing him here, casually smiling—even raising his glass of red wine while looking at me felt like death.

"Brandi... Brandi." Mabilis akong napalingon kay Uno. I just felt his thumb on my cheek as he wipes away the tears falling down. He looked at the direction where my eyes were glued making his jaw clench. Agad niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko, naglabas ng P5,000 sa wallet bago ako hinila palabas ng L'Aubergine.

"Baby... I'm sorry..." I was still crying outside of the restaurant. Hindi ako makapagsalita nang maayos... ngayon ko na lang ulit nakita si Fallon... at kahit sabihin kong okay na'ko—nagsisinungaling pa rin pala ako sa sarili ko.

Uno cupped both of my cheeks and kissed my forehead.

"I'm sorry... I'm here. You don't have to worry about him."

"I-I'm still scared, Uno..." I whispered, almost trying to grasp the words that I want to tell. Naramdaman ko na lang na niyakap niya ako nang mahigpit. Iyak lang ako nang iyak—wala nang pakialam sa sasabihin ng iba. Wala namang nakakakita masyado dahil nasa harapan kami nang sasakyan, at pinapayungan din kami ni Gio.

"Do you really want to get away from him?" Gio asked out of the blue. Mabilis kaming napatingin sa kaniya.

"O-of course, Gio... that Fallon? He's a fucking devil. Seeing him around me... makes me want to die." Napatango lang siya at hindi na sumagot ulit.

"Do you want to get a restraining order?"

I sighed.

"Uno if I can, I would've done that years ago..." I said through gritted teeth. "Nobody aside from my friends, and my family, knows what he did to me... You think I can get away with that? Ang alam lang nila ayaw ko nang magpakasal... Na umalis si Fallon kasi nasaktan siya sa desisyon ko. They built a story out of it, Uno—as if I was an icon in showbiz... Nakakapagod kapag may nagtatanong pa rin kung tuloy pa ba 'yung kasal, kung ano'ng plano ko ngayong nandito na siya ulit—tangina, anong sinasabi nilang plano? Nakaka-frustrate na, Uno..." Hindi ko na napigilang mapaupo—they let me breakdown for a few more minutes habang hinahaplos lang ni Uno ang likod ko.

He just stayed there, whispering words to calm me down. And then when I finally stopped crying... he held my hand, and kissed my forehead again. As if reminding me that he'll always be there to keep me safe.

"You okay now?"

I nodded.

Uno smiled, squeezed my hand and kissed my knuckles, "I know... that it's hard to forget what he did... but I'll do anything to fill that void within you that he destroyed. I'll do anything to make you feel that I'll always be here, that I'll never leave you... just tell me anything, Brandi... Because I'm not scared of him, or anyone around you. I'm scared of you losing yourself, again, because of them... I don't want that. I want you reclaim yourself, to never lose yourself again... and I will be there every step of the way, baby."

I smiled, a tear dropping from my eyes again.

He chuckled and wiped it away.

"You still want to eat?"

I laughed.

"I just want Kare-Kare now..."

Uno smiled.

"Okay..." he whispered. "I swear Brandi... I will not even hesitate to kill him if ever he lay his finger on you again. I swear to God. I'm not afraid of him. I'll never be. Just so I could protect you."