"What day is it, Aria?"

I cleared my throat. "It's Friday, Sir Alex."

"Wrong. Today's the day you say yes to me."

I shot him a horrified look. Oh, my god. Ang corny. Nagkatinginan kami ni Dan at sabay kaming napangiwi. How can he say such things without cringing?

"I'm sorry, but no. I refuse to date you, Sir."

"I see. Not yet, huh?" bulong ni Sir Alex.

No, Sir Alex. I don't think I'll ever date you. Not today, not tomorrow, so don't say 'not yet' like it's only a matter of time, I laughingly thought to myself.

Anyway, this has been a common scene in my daily life. It's been two years, and I still work in Incognito. Wala naman akong rason para lumipat. Mataas ang sahod ko, maganda ang benefits, at mabait pa ang boss ko.

Well, minus the fact that he's head over heels for me, I think Sir Alex Alterra is a pretty good employer all in all.

Plus, his bodyguard Dan is also funny.

So there's never a dull moment in my life.

"Do I look better with my hair down, Aria?"

I tilted my head as I stared at Sir Alex. He purposely fixed his hair down in order to show it to me today. Hmm, what do I say...

"You look good in any hairstyle, anyway." komento ko at sinuklay ang bangs niya gamit ng mga daliri ko. "Pero mas bata ang hitsura mo kapag nakababa ang buhok mo, Sir."

"I see." Sir Alex had a smug look on his face. "So you think I look good in any hairstyle, Aria. Will you marry me, then?"

"I'm sorry, but I politely decline." I bowed.

He clicked his tongue. "That's the 378th rejection."

Sinulyapan ko si Dan na noo'y nagbabantay sa pintuan. Kumindat ako sa kanya at mukhang naintindihan naman niya ito. Napaubo siya.

"Will you marry me, Aria?" tanong ni Dan.

"I'd love to!" I chirped then burst into laughter upon seeing the sour look on Sir Alex's face.

"It seems that you enjoy making fun of me." Sir Alex said in a flat tone. "Should I get rid of you?"

Dan smiled. "You can't fire us, though?"

"Because you like us very much?" dugtong ko.

In the end, Sir Alex simply evaded our words. Perhaps he was too embarrassed to admit it, but it's obvious that he liked being with me and Dan.

During lunchtime, I left the office to buy myself lunch. Habang naglalakad ako, biglang tumunog ang phone ko kaya sinagot ko ang tumatawag.

Si Tobi.

"ARIAAAA!" he shouted from the other line.

Napangiti naman ako. "What is it, Tobi?"

"OMG, MY FIRSTBORN IS A BOY!"

Si Tobi talaga, minsan mapagkakamalan mong bading. Mas maarte pa kamo magsalita sa babae!

"Bakit parang di ka masaya na lalaki?"

"BECAUSE I WANTED A GIRL THAT LOOKS LIKE NAMI! I EVEN BOUGHT A LOT OF PINK STUFF!"

Napailing ako. "Bakit kasi bumili ka agad?"

"GANITO NA LANG. MAGBUNTIS KA NA TAPOS DAPAT BABAE, PARA MAIBENTA KO SAYO 'TO-"

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos at binabaan ko na siya. The thing about Tobi, he doesn't know when to stop talking. Tapos minsan ganyan pa siya, may pagka-scammer. Ang hilig magbenta ng kung anu-ano.

Still, I should visit Nami soon. So it was a boy.

Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa kalapit na restaurant, lumayag ang isip ko sa estado ng buhay ko ngayon.

I already turned thirty a few months ago. As usual, my friends are worried about me, but I told them it's okay. Hindi lang naman sa kasal umiikot ang buhay. Masaya naman ako kahit single ako.

And it's not like I'm closing my door shut.

I welcome suitors, except for Sir Alex, since he's technically my boss and I made a promise not to date any of my boss again. For that reason, he once tried to fire me just to date me, but it didn't work. Poor guy...

That aside, I'm contented with my life right now.

I couldn't finish my degree in college, but I have a stable job and I can say that I'm doing pretty well. Balak ko ring sumubok sa business kapag mas lumaki na ang ipon ko.

I reconnected with my family last year. It was okay, I guess. Medyo nagkasagutan kami ng mga magulang ko. Nagkasumbatan, nagkasakitan. Hindi man kami totally nagkaayos, ang mahalaga para sa akin ay nasabi ko 'yong mga bagay na ilang taon ko nang kinikimkim. I think that's a huge step.

Habang namimili ang order ko, napakurap ako nang mapadaan ang isang pamilyar na lalaki sa table ko. Napalingon din siya sa akin at pareho kaming nabigla.

"Genesis," I called him. "Long time no see."

He was taken aback. "Aria."

I had never really met him again after that certain incident. It's as if he completely vanished in my life after the day I confronted him.

I had often imagined what I'd do if I ever meet him again, but it seems I was worried for no reason.

It didn't hurt anymore. Napatawad ko na siya.

My gaze lowered to the little girl beside him.

"Is that your daughter, if I may ask?"

He laughed. "No, she's my niece. Aera, say hi."

The little girl raised her hand shyly to say hi.

"Uhm," Genesis awkwardly scratched his head then avoided my gaze. "Technically, she's also a niece of Lars."

My eyes stayed on the kid. "Is that so?"

It was unusual to hear his name from the mouth of someone else. I never really avoided it, but the people close to me made sure not to say it in front of me, afraid that they'd make me feel uncomfortable.

It was a needless concern.

Because I'm already okay.

And I mean it. I've accepted the it.

I realized that I've been drowning in too much love during the past years of my life. I struggled to keep myself up and I could barely breathe on my own.

I was too dependent on him.

All my bliss and my sadness, they were dependent on him. And I didn't want to live like that anymore.

I didn't want to love him like that anymore.

It took a while, but I slowly learned how to be happy on my own and to love myself more. Right now, I can say that my heart is at peace.

"I'm sorry."

A few drops of tears fell on the floor.

"I'm truly sorry, Aria."

When I looked up to Genesis, I realized that he was crying. I could tell that he was being genuinely apologetic. Those were sad tears.

Siguro ilang taon na rin niyang dala ito.

Iyong lungkot at pagsisisi. Mabigat.

Lars lost one of his eyes because of me, but maybe Genesis also felt partially guilty about that.

"It's okay." I smiled to him. "I forgive you, Genesis. Actually, no. I already forgave you a long time ago."

Hindi madaling maghilom ang mga sugat.

I told myself that I wouldn't be able to heal if I didn't come to terms with the past. In order to move forward in my life, I needed to forgive the people who wronged me, even if they didn't even ask for my forgiveness.

Kaya matagal ko nang napatawad si Genesis.

Kasi tapos na akong magalit at malungkot.

"Take care, Genesis. See you around."

Lumabas na ako mula sa restaurant. Sa iba na lang ako kakain. I didn't want to stay there any longer because I might get emotional.

"Daddy! I can see Aera and Uncle Gen!"

Kusang huminto ang mga paa ko.

"Hmm. Where are they?" He lifted his gaze in an attempt to look around, but then he saw me in front of him.

We were equally shocked to see each other.

"Oh." Lars blinked twice. "Aria."

Nothing changed about him. He still looked as debonair as ever. The only difference was that he looked more mature than before.

Perhaps it's because he already has a child of his own, so the air around him changed?

"Hi." I smiled. "Long time no see, Lars."

"Ah, yes. It's been a while." His eyes darted on his son who was running to the restaurant. "Slow down! Don't run or you might trip!"

Lars returned his gaze to me then smiled.

"How have you been? Sa Incognito ka parin?"

Natawa naman ako. "Yup. The pay is good and the benefits are sweet, so I can't leave. It's too good there."

Maging siya ay natawa sa sinabi ko.

"Anyway, I bumped into Genesis inside." Tinuro ko ang direksyon ni Genesis at kumaway na ako upang magpaalam. "Dito na ako. Ingat ka."

Lars simply smiled to me in response.

Hindi ko na siya hinintay na sumagot at tumalikod na ako upang umalis. Medyo malayo na ako noon nang bigla akong habulin ni Lars kaya napahinto ako.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm really happy right now." aniya at muling ngumiti sa akin. "I'm genuinely happy with my life at the moment, so I hope you are, too."

The corner of his eyes watered with tears.

"I hope that we can finally remember each other without feeling sad or resentful." His voice cracked as he spoke. "And from the bottom of my heart, I just wanted to say thank you."

Tears streamed down to my cheeks.

"Thank you, Aria Moya."

I watched him as he walked away from me.

I should be the one thanking you.

When we first met, I was just an insecure and hopeless girl who didn't know where to go. But because you showed up in my life, I was able to get where I am right now.

I would never remember you while feeling sad or resentful. The years that I spent with you were the most meaningful times of my life.

I hope that when you look at the scar on your eye, you wouldn't remember me as someone who intentionally hurt you.

And when I look at the wrists that I cut after losing you, I won't remember you as the reason for it.

"I love you. I think I will for as long as I live." I chuckled. "Always and forever, unfortunately."

Thank you, Lars Altaria.

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