SPACING OUT in his room inside the Lust community was peaceful not until someone entered his house without his permission. Hindi siya gumalaw sa pagkakahiga niya. Light wanted to rest after a months of working abroad, this time, he went to Boston.

"Mahirap talaga kapag bobo ka ano?" Castiel teased him.

Light sighed heavily. Ang tarantado niyang kaibigan, nakahiligan na ang tawagin siyang bobo nang hindi niya sinasadya ma maikwento ang gabi na 'yon. That confession was still hunting him after years. Muntik pa siyang mabugbog ni Jyrelle, not because his sister liked him, but because he didn't say anything and he felt like he was rejecting Vyrlle. When in fact he's not.

He couldn't understand what's he was feeling at that moment.

His heart was beating fast and loud that he started to panick. That night, he started to appreciate every little details of Vyrlle's face and even her movements. She looks bright when she smiled, her eyes were shining as she looks at him, he finds her not so visible dimple on her left cheek sexy.

"What do you want?" Light dryly asked.

Sa loob ng ilang taon, they're slowly reaching their dreams. And in those years... His friends were lucky to have a wonderful woman. Even Laur was now happy with his partner, Jillian.

"What if hindi mo pinaandar ang kabobohan mo?" Castiel suddenly asked.

Mahina siyang natawa sa tanong nito. Siya siguro ang mauuna na magaasawa kay Castiel.

"Kasal na rin sana ako?" He chuckled.

"Kasal? Papayag ba si Jyrelle?" Pangaasar na naman nito.

Malalim siyang bumuntong hininga. He already has his permission. He even talked to their father, Brylle. It wasn't easy. Manhid ang buong katawan niya habang kaharap ang tatay nina Vyrlle.

"Hindi mo alam?" He shot back and stood up.

He already got their permission, he was just waiting for  Laur to propose. He's so done pretending not to know where she was. Tama si Xyria, giving him his rights to run their real estate company gives him a lot of connections. Alam ni Light kung saan siya nakatira, if she has been in a relationship, thank God! She's not dating anyone after confessing to him.

Umingos lang sa kanya si Castiel at nauna na bumaba sa kanya. He was smiling to himself while his hands stayed inside his jeans pocket. Light was still wearing his usual outfit, white button down long sleeves, a black jeans, a watch, na bigay ni Isabella sa kanya last Christmas.

It's almost 4 years, Light was clapping for himself for waiting this long.

Nang makababa sila, nasa crib na lahat ng baby at masarap ang tulog. Khaila was silently watching them.   He crouched down and kissed Khaila's head.

"Let them rest, Princess. Kain muna tayo hm?" He softly said. Light gently held her waist and lift her up so he can carry her.

"Tito? Bakit wala ka pang partner?" The cute little angel asked him.

Tipid lang siyang ngumiti rito at ginulo ang buhok ni Khaila. "Hindi pa binibigay e," he answered.

Palagi siyang nasa ibang bansa para magtrabaho, but his sister, Jyrelle and Laur knew better. Bukod sa pagtatrabaho may iba pa siyang dahilan. He wanted to be close to Vyrlle. Kaya lahat ng mga tinatanggap niyang projects ay yung malapit sa San Diego. Isang biyahe lang. Ilang kilometro ang layo.

Iniiwasan niya ang mismong lugar na 'yon. Because he knew that Vyrlle wanted to be so far away from him.

"Don't be sad na po, Tito," malambing na sabi nito at hinalikan ang pisngi niya.

Light smiled genuinely. This little angel really surely knows how to coed them. They were all wrapped around her small fingers.

"Thank you, now, go to your Papa. Nagseselos na sa akin oh!" He said and pointed Kyst.

Khaila just giggled, tsaka ito nagpababa sa kanya at tumakbo papunta kay Kyst. He was happy just watching his friends finally found their love one. They had their chaotic dinner and as usual, let someone picked a paper in a fishing bowl and let the lucky one to clean their mess. Thankfully, it wasn't him.

Nang magsipasok na ang mga ito sa kanya kanya nilang bahay sa loob ng Lust community, he picked up his keys and open his Arcade room na hindi naman nila madalas gamitin. Simply because none of his friends were not into this kind of games, ang pumapasok lang dito minsan ay si Ryker. Lalo na at nandito rin ang ibang gamit nito.

Light sat on a mono block chair and glance at the wall, wala 'yong laman noon, but it's now almost full of pictures frames. Ang pinakauna ay ang picture nila na Isabella pa lang ang kaisa isa na babae sa loob ng Lust community, hanggang sa madagdagan ito. From Isabella up to Jillian... Simula noon, palagi na rin silang may pictures kapag lasing sila. There's even one that they're all wearing a freaking maid outfit. Courtesy of Esel's wife, Shawn.

Hanggang ngayon ay nasa cabinet pa rin niya ang maid outfit na 'yon.

It was a right choice to build this place.

At dahil may mga bata na sa loob, natigil siya sa paninigarilyo, even Kade.

Even when he's working, and far from the kids, nadala na niya ang rules nila sa loob ng Lust community sa labas.

"What are you doing here?" He heard Jyrelle's voice.

Nang lingunin niya ito, nakasandal ito sa hamba ng pintuan at may hawak pa na baby bottle.

Light shrugged his shoulders. He really has no reason why he's here. Ang alam niya lang kapag umuuwi siya, dito agad siya dumeretso. Appreciating their pictures together. More importantly, he's always checking the ring.

"Seriously, I want to punch you." Jyrelle suddenly angrily said.

Mahina siyang natawa at tumayo sa kinauupuan niya. "Why? What did I do?" Inosente na tanong niya rito.

Umingos ito sa kanya at tuluyan na pumasok sa loob ng arcade room, his gazed settled to him. It was sharp and Light couldn't avoid it.

"You're seriously asking me? Stupid." Jyrelle spat at him.

Light sighed softly, "what do you want me to do then?" he asked.

"Be with her. Be with my sister." Jyrelle answered.

"Gusto ba niya na nasa tabi niya ako?" Light genuinely asked.

Jyrelle's brows furrowed. "Are you questioning my sister's feelings for you? You want to die now, Perez?" Sarkastiko na tanong nito sa kanya.

Umiling lang siya rito.

"I'm leaving tomorrow... You probably won't see my face for a month or so..."

"Sanay na kami na hindi nakikita ang pagmumukha mo," he answered and Light laughed at his remarks.

Hindi nga siya naka-attend sa binyag ng mga anak nila, but he still made sure na present siya sa kasalan para badtripin ang groom. Last time, he made Kade drink with them, lahat ng tagay niya ay pasimple na inaabot kay Kade. He did not stop until Kade lost his shit. Sadly, hindi niya 'yon nagawa kay Laur.

The next day, dumeretso siya sa airport. Supportive ang mga kaibigan niya dahil siya na lang daw ang walang love life. Mikael offered his private plane and Jyrelle offered an apartment near her sister's place. Castiel told him that Laur and Jillian were also there for their wedding anniversary.

Light was watching the clouds. He wondered how she looks like now.

Kinakabahan siya. Hindi niya alam kung paano ito haharapin. Does she still likes him? Light closed his eyes and reminisced that night. She did say that he doesn't need to reciprocate her feelings, but here he was, looking like a fool, wanting to be own by her.

Nagsisisi siya na hindi siya nagsalita noong gabi na 'yon. Nagsisisi siya na hinayaan niya itong makaalis na hindi man lang niya nasabi na gusto niya rin ito. He just didn't know when it started. Everyone says that he was oblivious to his own feelings. He was blinded by his own thoughts, that he loved Vyel. He really... Loved her. Hindi siya masasaktan kung hindi. He suddenly felt empty and wanted to be a freaking bad boy!

But when Vyrlle entered the picture. He stop. He changed and couldn't bring himself to fuck another woman.

Light sighed heavily. A simple 'I love you' was not enough to confess his feelings towards Vyrlle. It was more than that.

Hindi namalayan ni Light na sa kakaisip niya kung paano kakausapin si Vyrlle, nakatulog siya. But it wasn't that deep.

Panay ang laro niya sa relo na suot niya habang naghihintay na lumapag ang eroplano. Hindi sinuot ni Light ang relo na regalo sa kanya ni Isabella. He was wearing a different watch, he's wearing Rayos gift, napangisi siya nang maalala na hindi talaga 'yon galing kay Rayos. Even the white hard hat he's using now was not from his father.

Light learned that he wasn't only making his father and family's proud, kundi pati na rin ang nagbigay noon sa kanya. Vyrlle.

He did not bother to create an Instagram account after his old account. Alam niya sa sarili niya na wala siyang magagawang trabaho at tatambay na lang sa account ni Vyrlle kahit wala na rin itong update doon.

When the airplane landed, he was informed that there's a car waiting for him. A car that was provided by Jyrelle and Laur. Those two Clemente were showing their wealth off. Tumaas ang kilay ni Light nang may kumuha sa maliit na maleta na hawak niya, he didn't need to pack his things, palagi siyang may naka ready na maleta na may laman ng mga damit dahil sa klase ng trabaho niya.

"Here's the key, Sir," inabot sa kanya ang susi.

Umawang nang bahagya ang mga labi niya nang makita ang sasakyan. A freaking BMW.

"Tangina," he uttered under his breath.

Even if he's bank accounts were all loaded, hindi siya nagbalak na bumili ng ganitong klase ng sasakyan. Simply because he doesn't need one. Ang gamit niyang sasakyan kapag nasa Pilipinas siya ay ang sasakyan niya noong college pa siya o kaya naman ay ang sasakyan ng kapatid niya!

He slid himself inside the car and made himself feel comfortable before driving it. Papunta sa apartment na tutuluyan niya.

Light jaw almost dropped when he found out that Vyrlle's apartment was next to his. It was so fucking near!

Bumalik ang kaba sa dibdib niya, sarado ang bahay ni Vyrlle, she's still probably at her office. Working. He parked the car first and jump off. Kasama na ng susi ng sasakyan ang susi sa bahay na pansamanta niyang tutuluyan.

The house looks small from the outside, pero sobrang spacious nito sa loob. May isang kwarto, a bathroom, a kitchen and sala. There's even a space, kung saan nakalagay ang treadmill, a bench press and barbell that weighs 45 pounds.

Light licked his lower lip. Imbes na magpahinga muna siya, he undress himself and change his jeans into a comfortable pants. He started stretching first. He comfortably laid on the bench and lift the barbell. He was doing it for almost half an hour, pawis na pawis ang katawan niya pero wala siyang pakialam doon. He was doing this, para mawala ang kaba niya.

Nang magsawa na siya, he did some stretching again to cool down. He was drinking water when he heard a sound of a car from the outside. Light didn't think twice, mabilis siyang lumabas sa bahay kahit na pawisan siya at walang suot na pangitaas.

Light gulped hardly when he saw Vyrlle's face. Palagi niyang nakikita si Rayos pero hindi 'yon sapat sa kanya. He badly wanted to see Vyrlle's face.

"Vyrlle..." Humina ang boses niya nang makita ito na kinarga ang bata.

A baby? Did I miss something?

"What are you doing here...?" He heard Vyrlle. Pero napako ang tingin niya sa bata na hawak nito.

The baby was wearing a beige dress, naka clip din ang manipis na buhok nito. Her eyes... It's blue.

"I..." Hindi natuloy ang sasabihin niya. Parang may bumara sa lalamunan niya nang makita na humigpit ang yakap ng bata kay Vyrlle at tinawag itong mama.

Nanikip ang dibdib niya. He doesn't want Vyrlle to see him crying, he turned around and get inside his apartment. Nanginginig ang mga kamay na tinawagan niya si Jyrelle, his eyes were filled with unwanted tears.

Am I too late?

Masyado ba siyang naging confident na hindi siya nito ipagpapalit sa iba?

[Did you see her?]

"What the fuck, man! Bakit hindi mo sinabi agad sa akin na may pamilya na siya rito?!"

☕