We all know, Theo. Yes we do. 

Hailey's

THEO didn't come home that night. We both laid down the bed, facing each other, holding each other's hand while looking at each other's eyes. I couldn't even blink. I was so afraid that this moment would be gone. I didn't want Theo gone. Hindi ko ma-explain ang nararamdaman ko, pero masaya ako ngayon. He said that he wanted to try and that made me so happy. I realized that I deserve to be with a person like Theo, someone that could take care of me, he takes care of me all the time and now I realized that I wanted to be taken cared of by someone else for the first time in my life. I realized that I want to be treated better. Perseus used to do that, but jealousy, pain and anger changed our dynamics, we became so toxic with each other that we don't care of we keep on hurting ourselves and now, I want something better and I will work hard to get that.

Theo slowly caressed my cheek, I finally closed my eyes and when I did, I felt him moving closer to me, in return, I buried my face on his chest. I love inhaling his scent, it's not too manly, not to musky, but to me, Theo smells like home.

"Did you really tell my dad all the things you told me earlier?" Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses kong tinanong iyon kay Theo, palagi rin naman niyang simasagot ang tanong ko kahit na paulit – ulit pa iyon. I am always anticipating the answer. I need to hear it, his answers makes me feel good.

Sa tagal nang pamahong nabubuhay ako sa sikreto at sa tagal nang panahong nagtatago ako sa mga tao, I feel like I want to hear him say it repeatedly just 'cause it makes me feel good. I never thought someone would think of me that way despite of all the things I did in the past. Hindi ako mabuting babae, pero nandito si Theo, he thinks highly of me and it touched my heart.

"I did. I told him that you deserve the best." Malumanay na sagot niya sa akin. Napapakit ako. Talagang dinadama ko bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig niya. There's this permanent smile on my face. Parang hindi nan ga iyon matatanggal kasi talagang napakasaya ko ngayon. I didn't open my eyes, instead, I moved even closer for me to hear his heartbeat. It's such a wonderful sound. Hearing it and knowing that it could beat also for me, makes me feel a million times better. Oh, how I love the feel of his warmth around me.

I fell asleep with a smile plastered in my face. I kept thinking how thankful I am for having him with me. I kept thinking that it's a dream and I was hoping that when I wake up the next morning he'd still be by my side, he'd be with me and we're really going to start this new chapter in our lives. We're really going to try.

xxxx

THEO'S

I woke up in the middle of the night because my arm felt funny. I was feeling a bit disoriented at that time, but when I saw a mop of dark brown hair just under my nose, I suddenly remembered where I am and who is with me at that moment. I have my arm wrapped around Hailey's body. She is warm and homey. I had always wondered why I love Hailey's warmth, now that I have her again in my arms, I couldn't help but think about the time the people around me kept telling me that I am in love with her.

Mas nakakatakot para sa akin ang kaisipang maaari siyang mawala sa buhay ko, hindi ko rin gustong nakikita siyang umiiyak. I love my smiling Hailey and from this day on, I will make sure that she is always smiling. I will try my best to make her happy because I really want this to work. I took a deep breath and kissed her forehead. She stirred a bit, naramdaman kong humigpit ang hawak niya sa shirt ko. She nuzzled my chest, I just had to sigh again because I really love the feeling of her in my arms.

"Hmm, sleep..." Hailey mumbled. Gumapang ang kamay niya mula sa leeg ko papunta sa mismong mukha ko. She was trying to feel if my eyes were open and when she felt that it was, tinapik niya pa ang pisngi ko. "Sleep pa. Sleep..."

"I really need to go home..." I whispered, I hoped that it was loud enough for her to hear. To my surprise, lalong humigpit ang hawak niya sa akin. She even tangled our legs together.

"Uhmmm noo... stay. Sleep pa..." Hailey buried her face in the crook of my neck. My arm found her waist. We looked so close, and to my thoughts, we are too intimate. I was sighing repeatedly. How can I not want this?

"I need to go home. I need to talk to my father..." I whispered again. Hailey grumbled, her eyes were still closed, but I could feel that she was slowly letting me go and when I was finally free, I chuckled a bit and then kissed her forehead again. "I'll see you in the morning, okay? Sleep tight." I kissed her cheeks before I climbed down the bed. I even tucked her in. Mukhang masama ang loob ni Hailey, nakakunot pa kasi ang noo niya. I touched her cheek lovingly. Ang hirap umalis. I want to stay, but the truth is, if we are seen by one of her family members in that kind of compromising position, it might not look good, it might send them the wrong impression and I want a clean slate.

Slowly, I went out of Hailey's room. Dahan – dahan kong binubuksan ang pinto at dahan – dahan ko rin iyong isinasara. Dahan – dahan at tahimik rin akong naglakad sa hallway ng second floor, ayokong may makarinig sa akin, pero pagdating ko sa dulo ay nakita kong naroon si Helios Demitri. He looks creepy with his dark blue silk robe, may hawak siyang tobacco at parang kanina niya pa talaga ako hinihintay.

"Let's talk." He said to me. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil bigla kong naalala iyong mga Korean drama na pinapapanood sa akin ni Hailey noon. Kapag nagsabi ng Let's talk iyong lalaki, scam iyon kasi maghahalikan sila. Napansin kong nakakunot ang noo ni Mr. Demitri. "Why are you looking at me like that, Calimbao?"

"No-no reason." What was I even thinking? But can someone blame me? For me, he's just really creepy. Nagtungo kami sa verandah ng mansion niya. He lit the cigar and puffed on it while looking at me intently. Nagpapalinga – linga naman ako, naghahanap ako ng witness, iniisip ko kung sisigaw ba ako rito, may makakarinig kaya sa akin, baka bigla akong itapon ni Helios Demitri rito tapos sa gubat na makikita ang katawan ko, walang buhay, may mga paso ng tobacco tapos, tapos...

"Are you even listening to me?" He asked me in an annoyed tone. I bit my lower lip. I looked at him.

"Ah, may sinasabi ka ba?"

"Alam mo, Calimbao, mukha ka namang matalino, galing ka sa magandang pamilya, pero madalas kang wala sa sarili mo. May problema ka ba?"

"Wala naman po, Mr. Demitri. It's just that..." Well, he creeps me out and if I say that, will he let me live? I cleared my throat. "I was just thinking about Hailey."

"Nagkausap na ba kayo? Well, you are just getting out now, something good happened, I supposed."

"Hindi po kami nag-sex kung iyan ang iniisip ninyo, Mr. Demitri!" Napasigaw ako. Why would he even think about that?!"

"I wasn't even thinking that way!" Tumaas ang boses niya. "Why would I think about that! Hailey is my daughter! I was just saying that maybe you two talked and that you managed to fix things! You made her cry in the restaurant! You fool!" Binatukan ako ni Mr. Demitri! "Good Lord! Bakit ganito ang mga mamanuganingin ko! Si Abel, napakakulit! Ikaw naman ang hirap mong kausap!"

Nahaplos ko ang ulo kong hinampas ni Mr. Demitri. Hindi lang talaga ako komportableng kausap siya. Napalunok pa ako lalo nang maging seryoso ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya.

"Look..." He said. There was something in his voice, like a quiet warning, or was it a subtle sadness? "Hailey has been through a lot this past few months and I want to make sure of her happiness. Hindi ko siya sinisisi dahil sa nangyari sa kanila ni Perseus noon, I'm thinking of it as my fault. Hindi ko alam kung paano ipaliliwanag sa'yo, Theo, but I chose you because we both believe that after all the things that she's been through, she deserves the best. Nakikita kong aalagaan mo siya at hindi mo siya hahayaang masaktan basta. I'm betting on you. I know you will make her happy. Make her happy. Make sure that Perseus will never come near her again."

"Yes, Sir." He nodded at me. May kung anong ngiti sa labi niya tapos ay bigla na lang niya akong tinapik sa balikat.

"Thank you, Theo. You can leave now. We're done here."

I nodded at him. Tumaliko na ako para bumaba at nang makauwi na rin. Habang nagda-drive pauwi ay noon ko lang naramdaman kung gaano kabilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Walang ibang laman ang isip ko kundi si Hailey at ang lahat ng nangyari kanina. I feel so happy and complete. Sa tagal nang pagkakaibigan naming dalawa kahit kailan ay hindi ko naisip na maaaring mangyari ito sa amin.

I reached home and the first thing I did is going to my parents' room. Hindi naka-lock ang pinto kaya nakapasok ako. I found my parents' on their bed, asleep. My father was hugging mama, I was so sure he's dreaming. I had to tiptoe, so I won't make any noises. When I got to his side, I slowly went under the sheets.

"Pa..." Bulong ko sa tainga niya. "Pa... pa..." I blew air to his ear, dahilan kung bakit bigla siyang napalingon sa akin.

"Theo? What are you doing here?! Hindi ka na bata para tumabi ka sa amin ng Mama mo!" He was hissing.

"What's that?" Mom mumbled. Pinanlakihan naman ako ng mata ni Papa. He caressed Mom's hair.

"Nothing, Love, go back to sleep." He looked at me again. "What the hell?!"

"Hailey and I decided that we wanted to give it a try."

"Can't it wait until tomorrow?"

"I... well, my heart feels like it's about to explode, so I needed to tell someone, Papa. I'm happy. Maybe, maybe, maybe everybody is right, maybe I had been in love with Hailey for the longest time. I was just too busy to be aware of it."

"SHHH!" Nagulat kami pareho ni Papa nang magsalita si Mama. "YOU'VE BEEN IN LOVE WITH HER EVER SINCE YOU CAME HOME THAT DAY AND STARTED TELLING ME ABOUT HER. NO, THEO, YOU'RE NOT TOO BUSY, YOU'RE JUST TOO BLIND TO SEE WHAT YOUR REAL PRIORITIES SHOULD BE JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER HERE."

"Nia naman... I was President of the—"

"SHUT UP! ANG INGAY NINYONG MAG – AMA. LUMAYAS KAYONG DALAWA SA KWARTO KO KUNG AYAW NINYONG MATULOG NA DALAWA! ALIS!" Papa was startled when Mom kicked her. Nahulog ako sa kama, si Papa naman ay pinanlalakihan ako ng mata. Sinenyasan niya akong umalis na, dali – dali naman akong tumayo at lumabas ng silid.

"IF I HEAR ANOTHER WORD FROM THE TWO OF YOU, YOU'RE SLEEPING AT THE LIVING ROOM, TEDDY!"

I closed the door. I stood in the middle of the hallway, feeling my heart.

Yes, yes, I am in love with Hailey, and from now on, I am going to be taking care of her.