Ibinalik ko na sa pinaglalagyan ang mga portfolio na tiningnan ko, saka pinatay ang ilaw bago lumabas ng guest room at ni-lock ang pinto. Isinoli ko na rin sa pinagkuhanan ko ang susi at sinigurado na hindi malalaman ni Grayson na pinakialaman ko ang gamit niya.

He doesn't care kahit pakialaman ko lahat pero ayaw ko pa rin malaman niya . . . lalo na ngayon na marami na akong nalaman tungkol sa nakaraan niya.

Itinuloy ko na ang plano kong maligo, tutal, wala pa rin si Grayson hanggang ngayon. Sa sobrang dami ng iniisip kong gawin, lalo akong nagtagal sa pagligo. Natapos ako na almost 7:00 p.m. na.

Wala pa rin si Grayson. Uminom kaya sila?

I sighed as I took my phone that's turned on. Sa pagkakaalala ko talaga, pinatay ko ito kanina, eh. Pero hindi ko siguro napindot nang maayos kaya naiwang nakabukas.

Tatawagan ko sana si Grayson para malaman kung anong oras siyang uuwi pero may naalala na naman ako sa mga bagay na iniisip ko lang gawin kanina. Ayaw ko sanang gawin 'to . . . pero matapos kong makita ang lahat . . . pakiramdam ko, dapat lang na magkita sila at magkausap.

Kahit 'yun lang, magawa ko para kay Grayson kung sakali man na kailangan ko nang bumalik ng Manila.

Kahit na makita niya man lang si Love makalipas ang dalawang taon na hindi niya ito nakikita . . . siguro, malaking bagay na 'yon para sa kan'ya.

I searched for Maria's number and called it. Mabilis na mabilis lang din ay sinagot niya ito.

"Ruth!" she screamed on the other line that made me laugh. "Omg! Kumusta ka na?! Kailan ka uuwi?!" excited at sunod-sunod na tanong niya.

I chuckled. "Maybe next week pero hindi pa sure. Kumusta, Maria?"

"Okay lang! Miss ka na namin! P'wede ka pang bumalik, ha?"

I chuckled. "Pag-iisipan ko, Maria." She chuckled as she said yes. "Anyway, can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure! Ano 'yon?"

I gulped. "I'll send you the name and other details of a woman. I might also send you a photo. Can you help me get her contact information? Importante lang."

"Hmmm . . ."

I suddenly got nervous when Maria fell silent as she thinks if she'll do me a favor. Alam kong masyado na akong nanghihimasok sa buhay ni Grayson pero hindi ko kayang manatili dito sa tabi niya at walang gawin gayong nakita ko na naging genuine ang happiness niya kasama ang mag-ina niya.

"Try ko, ah? I'll send you an update kaagad!"

I heaved a sigh. "Thank you, Maria!"

"Anyway, balita ko may bagong boylet ka na raw?"

Napakunot-noo ako dahil sa sinabi niya, kasabay ng pagkabog ng dibdib ko. "Huh?"

"Usap-usapan lang! May nakakakita raw ng tagged photos sa 'yo sa Instagram. Ang pogi, ah! Mas pogi si Enzo pero pogi rin 'yang jowa mo d'yan!" She giggled.

I smiled. "Hindi ka ba galit?"

"Huh?! Bakit ako magagalit???"

"Kasi may bago na ako."

She laughed. "Shunga! Break naman na kayo ni Enzo! Alangan namang mag-hold on ka sa taong binitiwan ka na nga? Hindi ka naman nagkulang sa paghahabol, bakla! Magagalit ako kung nag-cheat ka kaso hindi naman. Kung bakit ba naman kasi parang walang plano ang lalaking 'yon na pakasalan ka, ang tagal tagal n'yo na! Ayan tuloy, nagkahiwalay pa kayo!"

Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot dahil buong akala ko, ako lang ang nakapansin ng tungkol sa bagay na 'yon. Kahit pala ibang tao, naiisip o napapansin kapag may planong pakasalan ka ng isang tao o wala.

"Anyway, update kita, ah? Nagluluto kasi ako ngayon. Text or chat kita. Or call! Basta, bahala na!"

I smiled. "Okay, Maria. Thank you!"

She ended the call after.

T-in-ext ko na sa kan'ya ang buong pangalan ni Jennaica at ang ibang detalye na alam ko tungkol sa kan'ya. Bumalik ako sa closet ni Grayson para kuhanan sandali ang picture ni Jenna na nasa frame niya, saka i-s-in-end kay Maria. Pagkatapos, binura ko na ang conversation namin, para kung sakali man na mabuksan ni Grayson ang cellphone ko, hindi niya malalaman ang ginagawa ko.

Pinatay ko na ulit ang WiFi at ang sim card ko, saka iniwan ang cellphone sa k'warto bago ako lumabas at bumaba.

Pagkababa ko, saktong pagpasok naman ni Grayson mula sa front door. Mamula-mula ang mukha at mata niya. Mukhang nag-inom sila maghapon, ah?

"Grayson, did you drink there?" I asked as I walked towards him.

He smiled a little as he welcomed me with his arms wide open. "My love!" he said as he hugged me tight.

I chuckled. "Yes, my love? Lasing ka. Hindi mo ako sinama."

He hugged me tighter. "I love you so fucking bad. This is fucking bad now, Summer. I don't want to live without you anymore."

My smile slowly vanished as he talked to me in his drunk state. This is the first time that he's this drunk. Siguro nga, pagkarating niya ro'n, nag-inuman kaagad sila.

Pero bakit naman nagpakalasing 'to nang ganito?

"Summer . . . don't leave me."

Bahagya akong kumawala bago hinawakan ang mukha niya. "I'm here, Grayson."

He smiled a little as he cupped my face and claimed my lips. "I love you." He claimed my lips once again as he walked towards the sofa. "I love you so bad."

I sat on the bed as he pushed me and made me lay on it. He kept on kissing me but I doubt that we'll ever have sex tonight because he's not in his best state! He's very drunk and I don't think that he'll be turned on in this state.

"Grayson, you're drunk. Let's go to your room."

He shook his head as he played with my mounds. I moaned a little as he started sucking the side of my neck. "But my love for you was never because I'm drunk. I truly do . . ." He sighed. "Don't leave me alone."

I nodded a little. "I won't leave. I'm here."

He tore my clothes apart once again as he kept on kissing my lips hungrily. I kissed back since I know that everything I do with him, I wanted it. Lahat . . . lahat-lahat.

"Let's get married . . ."

Para akong binuhusan nang malamig na tubig sa sinabi niya bago habang hinahalikan ako.

"Summer . . . marry me . . ."

His lips went down to my neck once again. I heard noises from the way he sucked it. Gustuhin ko man na mapaungol sa ginagawa niya, hindi ko magawa dahil . . . ito ang unang beses na narinig ko ang mga salitang 'yon na sinabi sa akin.

"Grayson . . . y-you're drunk . . ." I said as lumps started to form in my throat.

"I don't care . . ." he whispered as he stopped sucking my neck. I can hear his heavy breathing now. "I want to be with you for a lifetime. I want us to . . . last . . . a lifetime. This is the only way I know."

Hindi ko alam kung dala lang ba ng alak 'to kaya niya nasasabi ang mga ito. For fuck's sake, tatlong linggo pa lang kaming nagsasama. Tatlong linggo pa lang kaming magkakilala! Bakit niya ako aayaing magpakasal? Hindi nga namin alam pareho kung mahal ko na ba siya o kung talagang sigurado ba siyang mahal niya ako!

"G-Grayson, let's talk about this tomorrow, please . . ."

He sighed. "There will never be no difference, my Summer. I have wanted to marry you since before . . . and I will want to marry you even after so many years have passed . . . I know."

Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang pag-agos ng mga luha ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit naging emosyonal ako sa bagay na ito. It was just an impulsive moment for a drunk person, right? He didn't mean it, right???

But why do I want this to be a genuine question that was thrown at me?

Why do I want to say yes even though I wasn't sure of anything yet? Especially now that I found out so much about his past with Jenna.

"Grayson . . . tomorrow, please . . ."

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa. He just gave small kisses on my neck before he stopped moving. It feels like he just fell asleep on top of me. Nagpalipas ako ng ilang minuto bago marahan siyang inialis sa ibabaw ko para umalis sa sofa. Pinahiga ko siya ro'n nang maayos.

Inayos ko ang damit kong pinunit niya bago umakyat sa kwarto bago kumuha ng unan at kumot na gagamitin niya. Hindi ko siya kayang buhatin o akayin papunta sa k'warto niya sa itaas kaya hinayaan ko na lang siyang matulog doon.

Nang makakuha na, bumalik ako sa living room at inilagay ang unan at kumot sa kan'ya. He looked more comfortable now than a while ago. I stayed there for a moment, watching him sleep peacefully as he slightly snored because he's too drunk. I played with his hair as I thought of the things that I wanted to tell him.

Grayson . . . you were my bravest risk I took in my whole life. Never in my whole life did I trust someone so easily like I did to you . . . and I had no regrets yet. I know I'll never have regrets that I let you be with me on my trip here.

I've never had sex with someone I just met a few weeks ago. I never kissed someone I met just a few days ago. And I never had a boyfriend whom I knew for a whole two weeks only. But all of these . . . I did it with you . . . for you . . . and only you . . . and I never regret any of it.

I cherished every kiss, hug, and making love that we did.

All of the laughs, smiles, tears that we shared . . .

All of the photos you took of me . . .

All of the dried mangoes you made me eat . . .

And these questions that you asked me a while ago . . . a question that Enzo was not brave enough to ask me even after so many years in a relationship . . . I will cherish it all.

I will bring it with me back to Manila . . . and I will make those memories last with me , , , for a lifetime.