part 1

Kai didn't mean to put her in this situation. This is the last thing on his mind when he started taking things seriously with her. Dealing with his family can be taxing even for him. And he knows how difficult his mother can get. How could he even think of placing the same burden on her?

But she's never said a word, never voiced out a single complaint about it.

Everytime he sees her at home waiting for him, she welcomes him with a sweet smile, one that has never failed to make his heart beat in a hundred different rhythms, in a hundred different ways.

But Kai knows. He sees it.

The weariness she tries to conceal beneath the mask of her smiles.

She's been juggling so many things all at once that it's starting to show on her despite her refusal to acknowledge it.

Something's wrong and he's afraid that she's spreading herself too thin for everyone else again.

She's not used to this, he knows. She's not one to have a set schedule for herself as she's always been whimsical and spontaneous, never in one place, never sitting still long enough, never doing the same thing.

Yet somehow, she ends up in one. Her love for her maestra, and her eagerness to be there for him, have kept her down, and he's not sure if it's for the better.

He'd ask, but he knows Milly.

She will never share her true feelings with him, not when she thinks she can still go on.

This is the least thing he can do for her now. At least by taking her out from the set obligations she set on herself, he can provide her some rest, some time to breathe for herself.

"You know, since you mentioned you don't really like eating outside, I'd thought we'd keep our relationship very private. I didn't peg you as the type to ask me out on casual dates to restaurants like this. It's very domestic and common, but you're not exactly the usual guy you'd meet on the streets," she says, staring at him after he hashes out their order to the waiter. "I still get surprised everytime you ask me out."

Kai returns the menu to the guy who scuttles back into the counter after and lifts a brow at her, stating, "Why is this still surprising? This isn't the first time we've gone out. If it's not obvious yet, I like taking you out."

A light grace of a smile dances on her lips. Her eyes sparkle. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Why is that?"

"Because I like seeing that."

"Seeing what?"

He nods at her. Does she really have no clue? "You, smiling like that. As if I did something good."

She pauses, blinking, as if she didn't expect to hear him say that, then she softens. "You did. I like it when you ask me out on dates. I've never really felt this before with others kahit naman sanay ako to go out with men before. But 'pag ikaw, you can take me anywhere and I get kilig pa rin. I think nga we got this backward." She laughs. "Nauna yung heat before the kilig. Maybe because you're my boyfriend now? You have this extraordinary ability of making me feel fuzzy inside."

"Do I, really?"

"Yeah... Wala sa hitsura mo, but you can be very sweet."

He doesn't say anything to that. Until now, he still doesn't know how to match her way of expressing her affection. Instead, he reaches over and clasps her hand with his.

"You look worn out. This is the least thing I can do for you. You should stop coming over and get some rest. Your classes are already taking too much of your time. 'Wag mo nang idagdag pa si Mama. 'Wag mo na kaming isipin. We'll be fine. We'll deal with it among ourselves."

"No, it's not that. I'm just stressed out. I'm still not done figuring out what to do with Maestra's piece. That, and I'm having a hard time getting back into shape. I'm not like before. I'm not as nimble. There are technique exercises that I could easily absorb back then that I can't do anymore now," she says. "But it's not you, okay? Actually, I'm kinda looking forward seeing you at home. These days, you're the number one reason why I'm even excited to wake up. For the first time, I'm living, you know? I have something to look forward to. My life has meaning. It can be tiring, sure, but I'm happy. And it's all because I'm excited to greet you in the morning, eat with you at lunch whenever we can, and sleep beside you at night. Bonus na lang what we do in between but yeah. I like being next to you, baby. If this is what it takes to have that, then so be it."

"Ako rin naman ganyan pero nag-aalala pa rin ako sa 'yo. Sinasabi sa 'kin ni Kylie mga pinagagawa sa 'yo ni Mama. Bakit ka pumapayag? Some of her asks are unreasonable. You don't need to do the laundry and iron out the bed sheets. It's not your house. Bakit mo hinahayaan na gawin ni Mama 'yon sa 'yo?"

"Because I'm trying to earn some cookie points?" she jokes, evidently trying to make the mood lighter, but he frowns.

"Milly. May mga kasambahay doon. 'Di ka dapat naglilinis na ng bahay. Yung kilala kong Milly, hindi basta-basta sumusunod at nagpapaapak kung kani-kanino."

"She's not just anyone, is she? She's your mom."

"Kahit pa. Tell me what's on your mind, really. Tell me honestly. Bakit? Bakit mo tinitiis yung ganito? You know what she's doing. Ni ayaw mong kausapin ko si Mama."

Milly hesitates and sighs.

"I just want to be good for you. They say mothers know best. That they will only want what's good for their children. I just thought... maybe she's right. Maybe this is a good way I can be good to you."

"You already are. 'Di mo na kailangan gawin 'tong mga bagay na 'to. Anong kinalaman ng mga 'yon sa 'ting dalawa?"

"Just let me, okay? 'Di naman unreasonable because I do the same thing for my place and our condo din naman. I want her to like me. In that way, I can make sure she'll never come between us and you will never have to choose between us."

"Is that what you're afraid of? That she will ask me to break up with you? That I will listen to her if she actually does?"

"No... from the start, we both know there's a high chance she won't like me naman talaga. Ayoko lang mag-away kayo. Because I know you will choose me and that's what I'm trying to avoid. Don't talk to her, Kai. If you do, she might take it the wrong way and I don't really wanna ruin this when I've already done so much to earn her respect."

"You're still putting others above yourself. I told you not to do this."

"You love your family, babe," she counters. "If we'll be together for a long time, I want us to be okay with them. I'm already far from mine. I don't want you to be cast out from yours just because of me."

"Kung mauwi man tayo d'yan, hindi 'yon dahil sa 'yo. I would be making the decision and it will never be because you did anything wrong. I know my family. I know what they can do. How harsh they can be. You don't have to experience what I spent years avoiding. Milly, you only need to think about us. 'Wag mo nang idagdag si Mama sa mga iniisip mo pa. Kesa siya, you should use that time to be with your sisters. Mas sasaya pa 'ko."

Milly laughs. "Your mom can be a terror. But it's worth it naman. I get to see you often." She pauses, the edges of her eyes crinkling slightly in that playful way she always does when she's teasing him. "Are we fighting over this?"

"No," he says, sighing. "Nag-aalala lang ako sa 'yo."

"Well? We should be grateful nga. At least she's not offering me money to leave you alone." The chimes of her laughter bring relief to his chest.

But his brows furrow, the joke lost on him. "Why would she do that?"

Still laughing, she shakes her head. "No, sorry. It's just an inside joke Master and I have coz Nev wasn't welcomed by the Vallejos before."

"Kakanood n'yo ng mga drama 'yan."

"It's a funny joke is all."

"'Di mangyayari 'yan. Mas mayaman pa pamilya mo kesa sa 'min."

"You're joking, right?" she says, amused. "Even my lolo knows about the D'Laurenti. Hell, even Lorenzo knows about your family. That's saying something."

"Ang sinasabi ko lang, 'di gagawin ni Mama 'yan. Mas plausible pang ipagkasundo niya tayo kesa paghiwalayin kung pera lang din naman ang usapan."

"Do you think she will, though? Find something as a reason to break us up?"

"'Di ko alam. Sa nakikita ko, gusto ka niya pero 'di ko gusto kung pano ka niya ginugulo. Araw-araw na lang. Ako nga hindi kita iniistorbo kasi sinabi mong kailangan mong pagtuunan ng pansin mga klase mo. Ta's itong si Mama, 'di ka na tinigilan."

"I'm just relieved she wants me for you. Let us be muna, please. Let me do what I can muna before you step in. Trust me? Okay? It's important to me that I don't mess this up."

Ano pa nga ba?

Can he even win against her? When she's pleading with him like this? As it is, he's still trying to figure out the best way to love her because if there's anything Milly has done to him, it's that she taught him how to fall in love with her but never how to love her in a manner that won't scare her off or push her away.

His shoulders slump when he concedes in defeat. "'Di ko muna kakausapin si Mama kung totoong maayos ka pa sa ganito. Pero Milly. Mangako ka sa 'kin. Na magsasabi ka 'pag sumosobra na siya. 'Pag may problema, kahit ano. Magsasabi ka."

To that, she only smiles.

The conversation gets interrupted when their meal comes in. Milly's happily taking photos of him, and the food, and he doesn't have the heart to dampen the mood again by bringing the topic back up again.

She didn't answer him. That in itself is worrying because he knows how she is when she's trying to evade answering. There's something wrong, he knows it. But he drops it for now to let her enjoy the night.

She asked him to trust her.

And he does.

But that doesn't mean the worry doesn't sit in his gut, still.

"This is why," he says after a while after she shares how much she wants to go back to Benguet with him again.

She blinks at him. "Hm?"

"This is exactly why I like taking you out and spending time with you. You know how to appreciate even the little things. You care too much. You give yourself too much. Gusto kong ako naman. Kahit sa simpleng bagay lang."

Milly casts her head low and smiles again, her cheeks glowing with a rosy hue. The contentment on her face satisfies him, indulges him. He watches as the smile never leaves her face throughout the remainder of the dinner.

Mahal kita, his mind screams. What used to be a soft whisper he can keep at bay has turned into a thunderous declaration he can't hold back anymore.

Kai grabs her hand from across the table and plants a kiss on her knuckles. Then he presses them onto his cheek as he memorizes every single detail and every single note of happiness visible on her face tonight.

Damn.

If he can see that picture of perfection everyday if he plays his cards right, then he'll gamble everything he's got just to make this relationship last.

Down bad, she says.

Down bad, he really is.

Because what need does he have for a museum when he already has a walking gallery of masterpieces right in front of him?

Milly's both a song and an art.

A story. To tell and to know.

A rhyme and a reason.

A poetry.

A complicated equation that he's afraid to get all the wrong answers to.

And it doesn't make sense how the people she loved failed to let her feel her value when all he wants now is to watch her everyday and remind her who she is in his life — who she is, in everyone's lives.

He didn't even know it's possible to feel for someone so deeply like this until he did.

It's like one taste of her—and he's hooked.

One smile—and he's breathless.

One tear—and he's moving heaven and hell just to make her happy again.

Family has failed her. Both of them.

But they're each other's home now, and Kai...

Kai wants to build something permanent out of that. He wants to do everything he can to protect them, protect her. And he knows she wants it too, though she doesn't know it nor will she ever admit it.

That's fine.

He can wait.

Good things take time.

She believes in happiness now.

He can wait until she believes in love one day.

Part 2

Maybe they were right. Something has changed in her. It's like the old her has died and in her place comes someone new, someone bolder and more hopeful, someone capable of doing what she thought she'd never risk her heart doing.

Or maybe this is who she's always been — someone eager and always looking for a chance to be loved, to be wanted.

Or maybe, maybe Ran was right when she called her out on it last night.

Maybe she's looking for permission to be with him because inherently, she knows it's wrong to keep him to herself when she can never give him what he's always said he wanted. If his mother approves of her, would it make her guilt and apprehension any less?

It's a dangerous game she's playing, she knows. One that can blow up in her face in a terrible outburst someday. This can go really well or massively bad for the two of them.

But she's new at this, having relationships.

She's new at everything.

She doesn't know how to do better so she's just doing what she can in the way she knows how.

Kai has always tried to shield her from his family and now, she knows why. The pressure and expectations do weigh heavy on her shoulders. But if they want to keep the relationship longer, they must address certain things now. They can't keep skirting the subject forever.

What she still doesn't know, however, is how she can maintain her good standing in his mother's eyes when she knows she can never be ready for marriage, which Tita Cecilia seems to want and demand from her.

She can try to want it... but is that the way to go?

Won't she just doom them to a sinking relationship if she blindly bulldoze her way into things just because she's eager to please him? Please them?

Ran is right.

Will it be worth it if she herself isn't a hundred percent committed to it?

"Anong nasa isip mo? Kanina ka pa tahimik. 'Di ka naman nanonood," Kai asks, pulling her from her somber thoughts. His right arm is stroking her waist, eyes now glancing down at hers to wait for her answer.

All the lights in the penthouse are switched off, and the movie she absentmindedly chose and put on is humming in the background and casting flickering shadows on his face. It's been a while since they've found time to snuggle and relax like this. The last few weeks have been quite hectic.

"Was I that obvious? Or do you really just know me well by now?"

"Both."

The answer warms her, tickles her chest. "How do you know that, though? 'Di ka rin siguro nanonood."

"'Di nga."

"Then why did you agree to a movie night kung ayaw mo naman pala? We can do something else."

He draws her closer to his side. "Gusto ko lang 'to."

"Cuddling?"

"Oo."

She laughs lightly, feeling the heavy press of tension in her chest ebb away. "Just last night, you were cuddling me to sleep, babe."

"Iba 'yon. Iba 'to. Pagod tayo kagabi. Galing ako sa trabaho. Ikaw, marami ka rin ginagawa. Ngayon na lang ulit kita nakasama nang walang ibang iniisip."

"It's only been a few weeks, but why does it feel longer than it does nga 'no?"

Kai doesn't answer, only heaves a sigh. He shifts in their position and lugs his other arm around her body, now trapping her entirely in his arms. "Tumatagal lalo kasi ang dami kong kahati sa 'yo. But this is fine. Sinabi ko naman, 'di ba? Basta sa 'kin ang pahinga mo, susuportahan kita sa kahit anong gusto mong gawin."

She smiles and nuzzles closer to him. The movie completely forgotten, she doesn't know how long they stayed like that for, with only their breathing and their heartbeats mixing and singing in her ears like a lyrical music.

"I can't wait for everything to get better. Once I finish Maestra's composition, I can relax na and take a break. Honestly, I don't need to be out everyday naman. But I feel antsy not doing anything when I have this looming task hovering over my head. With instruments pa naman, missing an hour of practice can heavily affect your skills and performance. It's imperative that I push harder now, especially since I'm still in the middle of transitioning back to my old roots."

"Napapagod ka na ba?"

"No naman. Nami-miss ko lang yung days when I have control over my days. Noon, it's less work and more play. Now, it's almost all work and no play. The only reprieve I have is when I come over to your place and see you at home."

"We don't even get to have much time together. Kahit pa agahan ko ang uwi lagi, gano'n pa rin naman. Bilang lang ang oras ko sa 'yo."

"You have work, e. I have my classes too. And Tita Cecilia has a curfew." She laughs. "Everyone sleeps at ten p.m. The last time I had a curfew was when Maestra's still alive pa."

He sighs. "I'll be thirty in a few years and Mom will still treat me the same. Don't let it get to you."

"It doesn't bother me but won't she get mad if she finds out you're sneaking into my room regardless of what she says? The only consolation we can give as an excuse siguro is I'm not willing to fuck you under her roof."

"Milly," he says. "Language."

She bites her cheek in amusement. "What, it's true."

"I don't like it when you call it like that."

"Then what should I call it?"

"Anything but that. It feels cold and dirty. That's not what I'm doing with you."

She's grinning now. "Then what are you doing with me, baby?"

His eyes are serious and set against hers. "What does it feel like I'm doing with you?"

She pouts, having an answer to that. But it's a topic she's not ready to dwell on right now. Not when everything is new. Not when the realization hasn't even sunk in with her just yet.

Benguet is a revelation that she's not ready to process just yet. Not now. Not when they're dealing with so many things at once.

Kai smirks when she fails to give a rebuttal.

She changes the subject.

"I have a gift for you."

He lifts a brow at that, but she only grins at him before she leaves his embrace and reaches down to pick up her Birkin bag. Out of it comes a black packaging box which she asks him to unseal.

"Ano 'to?"

"Open it."

He does, and a black phone case greets the two of them. He flips it over, revealing the words Make A Wish, 11 written in white letters.There's a black wrist strap attached to it.

"I was browsing and saw this shop that customizes phone cases and immediately thought of you. Can you try if it fits your phone? It should but I wanna be sure."

"Ako lang meron?" he says as he removes his original casing and slides his phone perfectly into her custom gift. "Yung sa 'yo?"

"I have one too." She takes her phone out and reveals the same phone case except hers is blue where his is black. A light blue wrist strap is dangling right underneath. "I don't know if you'll be comfortable using that. Baka tacky for you. I just wanted to give you something."

Kai's chuckling. "Kailan ko ba hindi ginamit ang mga bigay mo? I'm wearing your watch, your necklace, and your ring. A phone case is just another addition. Why don't you just own me for good? Gano'n na rin naman."

Her eyes drop to the aquamarine necklace resting above his shirt, and a satisfied smile spreads onto her face. He does look good wearing her gifts like that. Maybe she just likes spoiling him.

Kai has the tendency to be uncomfortable receiving from her without giving back. He's like that in bed, the first time she asked him to let her give him heads. And he's also like that in other things. Like when she goes out to meet him at lunch.

It's rare for him to accept anything from her without making any fuss.

"I already did, remember?" she says, pointing at the necklace.

She places their phones back down and finds her way back into his chest again. "It's getting late. Shouldn't you go home na? Your mom might be looking for you. Curfew mo na," she adds the last part in jest.

"Nagpaalam ako."

"Did you say we're going out?"

"Oo."

"What did she say?"

"Umuwi raw tayo nang maaga."

"Tayo?"

"She thinks you're coming home with me."

She had to laugh at the consistency.

"It's a bit odd, isn't it? She doesn't want us to sleep in one room, but I honestly think your mom's already preparing me to move in. One of these days, I think she'll drop the bomb. She doesn't know about this penthouse, does she?"

"Wala naman may ibang alam na nandito tayo maliban sa 'tin mismo. And Mom can be complicated like that. Thanks to you though, she has a distraction. Just the other day, no'ng wala ka, sinumbong ni Kylie na nagpatawag na ng lawyer si Mama. I can't stop her from selling her shares."

"Is she still very angry at her family?"

"Oo. Sinusubukan naman siyang kausapin pero ni hindi niya pinapapasok sa bahay kapag pinupuntahan siya. She's unforgiving like that."

"It must be hard for your grandparents seeing her like that. She seems so dead set on cutting them off na."

"Do you think so? Or is she just mad? 'Di ko rin alam. Gabi-gabi, umiiyak pa rin si Mama. You've heard her last time. 'Di ko rin alam ang gagawin. 'Di ko rin maintindihan kung ano gusto niya."

"Si Papa mo ba, 'di pa rin uuwi?"

"They have issues to fix. I doubt it can be resolved that easily. Cheating is a serious allegation and I know my dad. Hindi siya yung tipo na basta-basta nakikinig sa paliwanag. And Mom's too proud to talk this over calmly. 'Di ko alam pano sila nagtagal nang ganito kung parehas silang 'di makausap kapag nagagalit sila. Ayaw naman maghiwalay."

"Pride, maybe. Pride of keeping the family intact. Or maybe it's really just love. An ugly and misguided face of it but love nonetheless."

There's a stretch of silence as Kai pauses. "'Di tayo magkakagano'n. I'll make sure of that."

The sudden focus on them takes her by surprise.

"Kahit kailan 'di ko paiiralin ang galit at pride pagdating sa 'yo. Mag-usap tayo kahit mahirap."

"Kahit magkamali ako?"

"Oo."

"Kahit masaktan kita?"

"Oo."

"Why?"

Another pause that takes longer than a second as he takes a deep breath.  "Kasi 'yon ang tama."

"You always look at everything straight in the eye, babe. I wish I can be that courageous," she says and shifts the topic again before it gets uncomfortable. "What about your plan to find her family? Were you able to go to the orphanage na?"

"Oo. Sinamahan ako ni Lola no'ng isang araw."

"And?"

"Lumipat na raw ng bahay kaya 'di na nila alam kung nasa'n. Pero nalaman namin kung sino. We have names. Hahanapin na lang kung nasa'n na sila ngayon," he replies. "They looked for her, would you believe it? They had to give her up because she was sickly and they had no means to provide for her. But once they were able to, they tried looking for her. It was too late, though."

"Because she got adopted na?"

"Oo. No'ng nalaman daw na pamilya ni Lolo ang nakakuha kay Mama, pinabayaan na nila. Pero lagi raw nangangamusta noon. Humihingi pa ng photos para lang malaman kung kamusta na si Mama. Nag-iwan pa ng contact number sakaling hanapin sila. Sinubukan kong tawagan. Kaso 'di na gumagana."

"Have you told your mom this?"

"'Di ko pa alam pano. Baka 'di makatulong sa ngayon. Baka lalo lang magalit si Mama kina Lolo 'pag nalaman niyang sinubukan siyang balikan pero 'di na ginawa kasi nakuha na siya."

Milly sighs, hugging him. "But you will, one day?"

"Karapatan niya malaman."

"How do you plan to look for them, though? The country's big."

"Kumuha na ng private investigator si Kuya. Alam naman namin kung sino. Ipahahanap na lang."

"Once you find them, what are you planning to do na?"

"Gusto ko sanang kausapin. Kilalanin muna bago ko sabihan si Mama. Aalamin ko muna kasi 'di nga ako sigurado kung buhay pa ba sila o ano na ang lagay nila. Kailangan ko muna siguruhin na mahal nila si Mama at 'di lang gagamitin para sa pera. Magkakasakitan lang sila lalo."

"I think that's the wisest thing we can do for now, too. I'm glad you have Kuya Rigel supporting you on this. Nakakapag-usap na ba kayo?"

"Oo. 'Di masyado pero oo."

"You think you can bring back your old friendship? You only kept your distance from him naman coz ayaw mong nagagalit si Tita, right?"

"'Di ko masabi sa ngayon. Gustuhin ko man, kung 'di naman makakatulong, para sa'n pa?"

"Sayang naman, baby. You were so close back then. I hope one day you can reconnect properly. Away from all the hurt. You'll keep me updated on this, won't you?"

He leans his cheek against her head. "Isasama kita 'pag nahanap na sila. Ayokong magpunta ro'n mag-isa. Ikaw ang magaling makipag-usap sa mga tao. Mas madali kung nando'n ka. Ayoko na rin isama sina Lola. Masyado na siyang nasasaktan sa nangyayari sa kanila ni Mama."

"I feel bad for her, too. Imagine loving someone but it's not getting through coz ang daming issues and complications getting in the way. The hardest thing pa is loving someone who doesn't wanna accept or believe in your love. I felt that with Clea before but I'm one of the lucky ones. Because we're getting better. I hope things get better in your family too. And I hope we find your biological grandparents soon. It's hard not knowing what condition they're in. I hope wherever they are, that they are well."

Kai hums in assent. "Enough about them. We'll deal with that some other time. This night is supposed to be for us."

She looks up at him. "What do you wanna do?"

He shifts, hooks an arm around her waist, and lifts her up on his lap. Milly flanks her legs beside his, straddling him and getting comfortable in the new position.

Kai lowers his nose to a spot in the curve of her neck. "Vanilla and strawberries. Why do you smell so good today? Did you change your perfume?"

Laughing a bit, she tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. "You like it? I did change nga. It's still vanilla though. Just a stronger note."

He nuzzles her neck, planting a light kiss, and her hands automatically reach for his hair as a shock of thrill shoots through her spine. "Why?"

"I wanted a perfume especially for when I meet you."

"Why?"

"Coz I want you crazy over me?" She squirms when he nibbles on her skin. "Like how I go crazy over you? Why else?" Her laugh comes out as a giggle as the ticklish sensation fuses with her growing desire.

"Who says I haven't yet? Your scent's all over my bed that I feel out of place every time I sleep somewhere else. I have my own unit. I have my parents' home. Yet I always keep wanting to go back here."

An unbridled sigh tears out of her lips when she feels his mouth moving to the base of her throat. "I want more. I want you crazier than this."

"That's quite cruel of you, don't you think? As if I can still fall deeper than this."

One of his hands rides up her thigh under the skirt of her black bodycon dress. He gives a light nibble on her neck again, his light kisses going up and up to her jaw until she's breathless and he's making a full claim of her lips, his free hand reaching behind her head to untangle the dark blue ribbon holding her bun in place. In a second, waves of her hair run down across her back, and Kai angles her face to get deeper access to her mouth, fingers now carding through her locks, going down to tug her dress down.

"Tell me you want this," he rasps against her skin.

Her chest is rising and falling in faster staccatos when he briefly lets go to gaze into her in dark hunger, his breaths coming out in slow pants. His lips are now stained with her lipstick, and she wipes them off earnestly with her thumb, still flush with heat and desire.

"Take me," she whispers over his lips as she cups his cheek earnestly, longingly. "I'll do everything I can to deserve you."

The sofa bed undulates under his weight as he carefully sets her down, her back touching the softness of the cushion. He discards her dress in one swift motion and his shirt soon follows it on the floor. Another nibble on her skin sends her into a frenzy and she makes a fevered moan when he sucks on a sensitive spot under her ear. Gods.

Her hands find purchase in his hair just as he straightens up and looks at her.

"Close your eyes, Milly."

The low voice registers as a command and makes her tingle. She looks at him in confusion amidst the haze of her pleasure and realizes what he meant to do.

A dizzying wave of anticipation zaps through her skin when he wraps the ribbon over her eyes and secures it behind her head.

"Kai..."

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes," she breathes out. "Always."

"Then let me love you tonight."

She has no time to think about what he said because his mouth descends and captures hers in a hot searing kiss that makes writhe and ask for more. More, more, more. All thoughts vanish and her back automatically arches, eager to feel his touch, eager to bridge the gap, seeking, begging, and he doesn't disappoint, doesn't leave her wanting for long.

His tongue soon leaves her mouth and finds her where it aches and his hands generously strokes at her skin, leaving fiery trails everywhere he touches. His touch is teasing, playful. Gentle but quite mean. The delicious kind. Taking her there but never over the edge.

It's a different kind of Kai and a different kind of slow burning passion that she hasn't experienced in a while. But it's the same feeling of breaking and rebuilding and breaking over and over again under his touch that feels so familiar and so wildly intimate that has her gasping his name for more.

She wants this.

Wants all of it.

And she wants to take a fighting chance to make sure she can be deserving to be here, to keep him for as long as she can.

part 3

Last night feels different somehow. But what, she can't quite say. It almost feels like there's a solemn prayer in every kiss he burned and engraved on her skin, and she tries to hold in her memories all the million ways he whispered her name.

She's still in a daze when she gets up and brushes her hair to the side. The sun's filtering through the panes, assaulting her eyes. Kai's side of the bed is empty, but she knows from the faint sound of the classical music playing that he's just outside. Likely preparing breakfast. Or working out.

Such an early riser, he always is.

Half sleepy, she starts her morning rituals and soon finds him in the kitchen, making their meal. A soft, languid smile occupies her face when she walks to him, the view of his bare back, now red with the remnants of their passionate night, sending a tickle of pride in her chest. She did that. She's probably not looking any better.

She's pretty sure his mark is everywhere on her body, too.

Kai doesn't stir when she snakes her arms around his body but she feels his content sigh when their skin makes contact. She's wrapped in his scent, the white shirt he put on her last night hanging loosely over her much slimmer frame. "Good morning, baby."

"Morning. How are you feeling?"

"Good. Aga mo gumising?"

"'Di na ko makatulog ulit. Sit down. Tapos na 'to. I'm setting the table," he says, turning off the stove.

"Mm. Let me stay like this muna. I'm still sleepy."

She is. Her eyes are still half closed even as she presses her cheek against the warmth of his back.

She feels the rumble of his chuckle.

"Pagod?"

"Pinagod mo 'ko."

"I thought you said you have good stamina."

"I have," she says almost in a murmur. "You just have a way of... doing me."

"Anong nararamdaman mo?"

"Sore? Happy? I want more," she says the last part as a joke, and Kai chuckles again. She feels a sense of pride being able to do that.

"You can barely open your eyes after I was done with you last night. And you're asking for another?"

"I just miss having you close like that. I feel like it's been a while since I've felt you that close again. You were great. Like always. And your aftercare is still the best. Hands down."

He doesn't answer, so she opens up her eyes to look at him. Kai transfers the eggs and bacon to a plate and turns to her, hands falling down to her waist.

He kisses her forehead, both of her eyes, her nose, and then finally covers her lips with his own.

Milly brings her arms around his neck, drawing him closer. It's early in the morning and she feels like floating.

Kai rests his forehead against hers, mouth inches above hers. She chases after his lips again which he answers with a light brush of a kiss before saying, "Let's leave."

"To where?" she whispers.

"'Pag maayos na ulit si Mama at nakaalis na ulit ako sa bahay. Bumalik tayo ng Baguio. O puntahan natin yung isla mo. Tayong dalawa lang. Gawin na natin yung matagal na nating pinaplano. Gusto ko ng mas mahabang oras kasama ka."

She has half a mind to nod, smiling in contentment. "Mmkay. Let's take a longer vacation when everything gets better."

His thumb grazes her cheek and she feels it again, the soft repeated way he's touching her like he's saying an unspoken promise that she can't hear.

"Milly..."

"Yes, baby?"

When he doesn't answer, she asks again.

"What is it?"

His answer is another sweet kiss on her lips. She never gets to ask what he was trying to say.

part 4

"Bago ko makalimutan. I cleaned and dried your ribbon last night. Paki-spray yung pabango mo mamaya bago tayo umalis."

She blinks. "What for?"

He only chuckles in response and she thinks he's only joking. But when he brings the ribbon back to her later on and asks for a sprinkle of her vanilla scent, she realizes he meant it.

Her heart almost comes into a dizzying stop when he wraps the silk around the wrist strap of his new phone case.

When she asks why, Kai only says, "So I can take you with me wherever I go."