"Where are we going next?" Orion asked.

"Pahinga muna tayo. Hindi ka ba pagod?"

Bumaling siya sa akin at saka ngumisi. "I'm always well rested when I'm with you," banat niya sabay kindat.

Napakagat-labi na lang ako at sinabayan ang trip niya. At dahil hindi pa naman daw siya pagod, dumiretso na lang kami sa isa ko pang gustong puntahan.

Kung kanina, si Tavora ang binisita namin, ngayon naman si Malds. Ilang taon na rin akong walang balita tungkol sa kaniya ngunit hindi katulad ni Tavora, mukhang mas mabuti ang kalagayan ni Architect Mallorie.

"I don't regret what I did," aniya. "But rest assured that I will no longer bother you once I get out."

Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil sa sinabi niya. Mas agresibo siya kaysa kay Tavora pero sa tingin ko, ganito lang talaga ang pagkatao niya.

"Take good care of him or I might snatch him from you," she added with a smirk.

I mimicked her expression and leaned towards her. "We're not here for your apologies. I just wanted to see you so I could fully make peace with my past."

I gave her one last smile before heading to the door. I already achieved my agenda and that is to see her for the last time. There's no need for us to stay any longer.

"Some people just can't change, huh?" I scoffed, then going inside the car.

Orion sighed. "I do believe that not everyone can change especially those who are trapped in their beliefs that there's nothing wrong with them."

I couldn't help but agree with his words. I actually thought that just like Tavora, Malds would at least be resentful of her actions.

I sighed heavily and closed my eyes. It wasn't easy for me to do this but I'm glad that I did. I'm glad that I tried.

We drove to a Filipino restaurant and ate lunch. We then spent the whole afternoon in my condo planning for our trip tomorrow.

The following day, we flew to Minnesota. We checked in to our hotel first before heading to the main purpose of our visit here.

It's been years since I last set foot here but I can still remember where it is.

We walked on the wide lawn with candles and a basket of flowers on our hands. And when we reached the exact spot, my tears started falling.

I knelt in front of the gravestone and placed the basket of flowers while Orion lit the candles.

"I miss you, mama," I cried, my heart full of longing for her. "The guy whom you're so fond with is here with me too. I still can't believe that you named your sons after him," I added, now with a chuckle.

Umupo si Orion sa tabi ko at saka ako inakbayan. "Hi, mama."

Gulat akong napatingin sa kaniya ngunit nginisihan niya lang ako. "What? She told me before that I can call her that."

Napailing na lang ako sa kaniya at binalik na ang tingin sa lapida. "Orion left me and broke my heart, mama," pagsusumbong ko.

Orion faked a gasp and dramatically sighed but I continued.

"But even after what happened, I still love him, mama," pagpapatuloy ko na ikinangiti naman ng katabi ko.

I continued talking, pretending that mama is listening. And when I was done, Orion insisted that we should stay first because he also wants to say something.

"As much as I'm ashamed to admit this, I did leave your London, mama. Walking away from her broke my heart too," he started, then glancing at me. "There wasn't a day that I wasn't thinking about her and longing for her. What I thought was the right thing to do broke her heart."

"We broke each other's heart," I added in a whisper, just enough for the both of us to hear. "You broke mine when you left. I broke yours when I blamed you for it without even thinking that it was hard for you to make such decision."

Napatingin siya sa akin at mukhang nagulat sa narinig kaya nagpatuloy ako. "Now that my mind isn't clouded with biases, I'm actually grateful because you didn't let me suffer the pain of making a decision. Yes, I was hurt and left alone, but I wasn't carrying the guilt of leaving. We both suffered but I only thought about myself. While you..." You suffered the pain of having to leave for me and the pain of knowing that I'll despise you when we meet again.

He smiled at me while shaking his head as if signaling me that I don't have to continue and that he understands already.

"I still feel regretful at times for leaving her, mama. But every time I remember that it was for the best, I feel better," he continued, then pausing and looked at me. It was as if he remembered something really special.

"Remember the time when we talked, mama? You asked me if I was serious about her and I told you that I wanted to marry her. You even told me that it might change... but guess what, it's still her mama. It's still London after everything. She's still the woman I want to marry..."

My eyes widened on what he said. He bit his lips and glanced at me, then pulling something out from his pocket.

"Only if she'll allow me," he continued. But this time, he was intently looking at me.

"Will you, Lorelle Andionna, marry me?"

Napanganga ako sa narinig at hindi pa nakatulong nang makita ang singsing na kaniyang hawak.

I feel like I'm in a dream but my pounding heart is the proof that I'm not!

This is real! He's proposing to me!

I launched myself onto him and hugged him tight. "Of course! Yes!"

Nagulat ko yata siya sa biglaang pagyakap ko dahil muntik na siyang mapahiga sa damuhan.

He let out a chuckle and kissed my temple before taking the ring from the box and slid it to my finger.

"I'm engaged!" I looked at the ring with awe as the diamond gleamed when the ray of the afternoon sun shone on it.

Simple lang ang kulay pilak na band pero bawing-bawi naman ng diamanteng nasa gitna nito. Pabilog iyon at pinapalibutan ng mga mas maliliit na mga brilyante.

"Mama, I'm engaged!" Natutuwa kong pagkausap sa lapida, kunyare si mama iyon.

We spent the whole afternoon in the cemetery before heading somewhere else. Orion didn't tell me where we're going but I'm starting to get excited.

We passed by several familiar establishments which made me realize where we're heading.

"We're here!" He announced.

"What happened? I mean... how?" Tanong ko, hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita.

The house where my parents and siblings used to live in, the one here in Minnesota, was turned into a cafe. Base on the huge signage, it was now "Cafe Celestina".

"I named it after her," he answered casually before clamping my hand and pulled me inside.

The interior of the cafe was celestial inspired. The tables and chairs were metallic bronze in color and the whole place was lit by fairy lights and hanging cage lights.

"Do you like it?" Aniya at napakamot pa ng ulo. "I hope you don't mind that I named it after her—"

Hindi niya na natapos ang sinasabi dahil inatake ko na siya ng yakap. Alam kong pinagtitinginan na kami pero wala akong pakialam. I'm too happy to care.

He let out a sigh of relief and hugged me. We dined at the cafe before heading back to the hotel.

Bukas ng hapon ang balik namin sa Massachusetts dahil si mama lang naman ang pinunta namin dito.

I made myself comfortable on the velvet chair. I focused my eyes on the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the Minnesota skyline that are bathed in the moon's gleaming beams.

The sky with its mellow hues and the tiny dots of light that were sprinkled all over the sky made my view seem like it came straight out from a famous artwork of a Dutch painter.

I was lost in thoughts until my phone vibrated, taking my attention from the scenic view.

My inbox were full of congratulatory messages from family and friends.

Vanilla:

I'm so happy 😭 let me help with the planning 🥺❤️

Caramel:

Hala kami na lang ni Vanilla ang single ladies 💍👯‍♀️

Galaxy:

YAAAYY magkapamilya na tayo!!!

Sugar:

Mukhang effective nga ang rules mo ;)

Vanilla:

Sent a photo.

I clicked what she sent and saw that it was a scanned copy of the original copy of my list on how to avoid heartbreaks. My list was with her all these times!

I read my list and a sudden rush of nostalgia hit me. It feels like it was just yesterday when I got really scared of heartbreaks that I made a list on how to avoid it.

I can't believe that the girl who wrote it is now engaged!

The girl who used to be scared of commitments and relationships is now smitten in love!

I can't believe that the list that was supposed to help me get rid of what I had for Orion back then. But instead of helping me avoid the things I feared, it unconsciously led me to my heartbreaks...

"What are you reading?" Tanong ng bagong ligong Orion.

It led me to him...

I got up from my seat and brought myself to him, then lazily draping my arms on his neck.

I guess it's time to introduce to my heartbreaker my list on how to avoid heartbreaks.