"Sa tingin ko ay kailangan kong magpagawa ng mas malaking closet para sa mga damit ko..." ani Calley sa sarili habang pinagmamasdan ang dalawang empty layers sa loob ng closet ni Phillian.

            Nang hapong iyon ay wala siyang ibang ginawa kung hindi ang ayusin ang closet upang magbigay espasyo sa mga damit niyang ipadadala mula New York patungo roon sa Contreras. She had also instructed her Ninong Lito to send her luggage to Batangas, the luggage she left at the hotel. Makikipagkita siya rito sa susunod na araw para kunin iyon.

           Sigurado na siya sa desisyon niya. Mananatili siya roon sa Contreras at sasabihin na niya ang totoo kay Phillian. Kapag nalaman na nito ang totoo niyang pagkatao ay saka niya sasabihin ditong magpakasal na sila. And once he agreed, she would have all her stuff delivered to Batangas. Then, she would live peacefully in this town—with Phillian.

           Kailangan nilang mag-usap ngayong gabi para makausad na siya sa mga plano niya. Kailangan nilang mag-usap pag-uwi nito.

           Tumayo na siya at inisara ang closet. Inayos na rin niya ang mga gamit ni Phill sa pagpinta sa tabi ng closet—wala nang dahilan upang itago nito iyon. She would encourage him to paint everyday—at ko-kombinsihin niya rin itong unti-unting ipaalam sa marami ang tungkol sa hobby nito.

           Kasamang ipadadala ang mga mahahalagang papeles niya. Kapag nakuha na niya ang mga iyon ay maaari na siyang mag-umpisang pumasok sa healthcare center bilang isa sa mga volunteer doctors. She couldn't wait; gusto na niyang muling magsilbi sa mga bata—she would be the town's resident pedia.

           Napalingon siya sa veranda nang marinig ang pagdating ng sasakyan ni Phillian. Sinulyapan niya ang oras sa automatic clock na nakapatong sa side table at napangiti.

Maagang nakauwi si Phillian; katatapos lang din nila ni Nelly na maghapunan.

            Mabilis siyang humakbang patungo sa banyo—she freshened up and fixed herself in the mirror. Nang masiyahan sa itsura ay muli siyang lumabas ng silid at sinindihan ang mga scented candles na nakapatong sa chest of drawers. Nang masindihan niya ang mga iyon ay saka niya pinatay ang ilaw sa silid. She then walked towards the veranda door and closed it.

           Saktong inisara niya ang glass door nang bumukas naman ang pinto ng silid. Kaagad siyang naghanda ng malapad na ngiti at hinarap si Phillian.

           "Welcome ho—" She immediately paused. Nahinto siya nang makita ang seryosong anyo nito.

            Wala na siyang ibang nasabi hanggang sa makapasok si Phillian at maisara nito ang pinto.

           He didn't say a single word, nor smile at her like he used to. He was just silently looking at her with a serious expression that gave her chills. Hindi niya alam kung bakit, pero bigla siyang kinabahan.

           She gulped and raised her chin.

            Did Phillian find out something? Did he learn something about her? How? And where would he find the information?

           In the next few seconds, they just stared at one another, neither saying a word nor moving a step closer. She wanted him to speak first; she wanted him to tell her what he had found out. Dahil kung wala ay bakit kay seryoso at kay blangko ng anyo nito? At bakit tila may mali siyang nararamdaman?

           Natigil siya sa pag-iisip nang bumaba ang tingin ni Phillian sa kaniyang suot na bestida. She was wearing the white dress that she wore the day he found her. Pero inayos niya ang tabas niyon—binawasan. Ginupitan niya ang tela hanggang sa kaniyang tuhod upang magmukha iyong simpleng beach dress. And she liked what she did to it. Nagustuhan din kaya iyon ni Phillian?

           She was about to break the silence and ask him if he liked her dress, but when his eyes roamed down to her legs, further down to her feet, something odd hit her.

           Hindi nito tiningnan ang kaniyang damit, bagkus ay sinuri nito ang kaniyang kabuoan. He was... staring at her whole body as if this was the first time he'd seen her. At ang kaninang seryoso nitong anyo ay may bahid na ng emosyon.

           Emotions like... amusement?

            No, disbelief and shock.

           But why?

           "Is... everything alright, Phill?" she asked.

           Ibinalik nito ang tingin sa kaniya, at nang diretso niya itong matitigan sa mga mata'y nakita niya ang bahagyang pagkalito sa mga iyon.

           "The day you woke up and saw me, you immediately recognized my face, and you remembered my whole name," Phillian started; his voice was low and a little unsteady. "At first, I was confused. Kahit sa university ay hindi ako nagpakilala sa mga estudyante sa kompleto kong pangalan, and people had been calling me by my second name..." Muli siya nitong sinuri ng tingin, at habang ginagawa nito iyon ay nagpatuloy si Phill. "And I knew something was off, pero hindi ko na gaanong binigyan ng pansin. And then... the familiarity that I feel about you; there was something about you that haunts me, pero hindi ko maipaliwanag kung ano. Now I know why."

           She gulped once again; ang kaniyang didbib ay malakas na dumadagundong.

           Nasa anyo nito ang labis na pagkamangha nang muling bumaba ang tingin nito sa kabuoan niya.

           "You've... changed a lot I didn't recognize you even just a bit."

           Muntik nang sumabog ang dibdib niya sa huling sinabi nito. Doon pa lang ay alam na niya kung ano ang ibig nitong sabihin.

           But, how?

           Natigil siya sa pag-iisip nang muli itong nag-angat ng tingin at sinalubong ang kaniyang mga mata.

           "Is it true?" he said, his voice was still wavering. "Are you really... Calley El Mundo?"

           Hindi siya kaagad na nakasagot. Parang may kung anong sumabog sa paligid niya at nabingi siya. Ang kaniyang mga mata nama'y pinamunuan ng mga luha, at ang kaniyang lalamunan ay nanikip.

           She bit her lower lip to stop it from shaking; naghanda na siya ng mga sasabihin niya rito sa pag-amin ng totoo at ang buong akala niya'y magagawa niya iyon nang walang problema. Pero inunahan siya nito and she was lost for words.

           "Are you that woman I met through a dating service ten years ago, Caty?" Nasa tinig nito ang pakiusap. Nakikiusap na magsabi siya ng totoo.

           Huminga siya nang malalim, at muling itinaas ang mukha upang salubungin ng buong tapang ang mga mata nito.

            "Yes, Phill. That was me."

           Sa kompiramasyon niya ay muli itong namangha at hindi kaagad na nakapagsalita. Muli siya nitong sinuri ng tingin mula sa kaniyang mukha pababa sa kaniyang katawan. She's used to him staring at her body with earnest desire, but it's different now. This time, his gaze was full of amusement and disbelief.

           "If... you really are that woman... what was the name of the guy you booked on the website?" Muli nitong ibinalik ang tingin sa kaniyang mukha habang hinihintay ang kaniyang pagsagot. She could see him holding his breath as he waited for the confirmation that would seal their fate.

            She raised her chin and answered, "Jefferson. I booked for a tall, dark, handsome guy named Jefferson. But the company sent me a lanky, mestizo guy who, despite the retainers on his teeth, looked really charming. And that was you, right, Phill?"

            "I..." He gulped; his eyes sparkled like ocean water in the middle of a hot, sunny day. "I never told anybody this information."

            She shrugged; trying her best to be as nonchalant as possible to cover her agitation. "Well, I guess I'm indeed the person you've been searching for."

           Nabitiwan nito ang dalang paperbag sa sahig. Then, his face lit up and his eyes became misty.

           And she had somehow expected him to start asking questions, like why and how, but it never happened.

           Instead, he approached her, slowly walking as if he got all the time in the world. At habang papalapit ito nang papalapit sa kaniya ay muli itong nagsalita.

           "Don't just stand there—come here and kiss me."

           Mesmerized by the gentleness in his tone, she stepped forward and found herself wrapped in a crushing embrace. Phillian's mouth then opened over hers and everything else went obscure.

           The kiss was different from before. It had more feelings, more pressure, more passion.

           O baka iniisip lang niyang ganoon?

           But no—this kiss indeed felt different.

            It felt more like... home.

           She closed her eyes in surrender, raised her arms on his shoulders, and curled them around his neck as she responded with equal affection. This was everything she ever wanted and yearned for.

            She thought she needed to beg for him to listen to her explanations, she didn't expect that he would accept the truth so easily.

           He kissed her slowly, deeply, passionately, and then with an urgent hunger, running his hands down her sides, cupping her bottom and pulling her tightly against his hard body.

           She heard herself moan as heat gathered in the center of her body. Ang maramdaman ang init mula sa katawan ni Phillian ay sapat na upang gisingin ang init ng sa kaniya.

           "Oh, Calley..." usal nito sa pagitan ng halik. "Calley... I knew it. I just knew it. You taste so familiar it drives me nuts. I knew I wasn't just imagining things." He continued to kiss her so passionately she almost drowned in her own desire.

            Isa pang ungol ang kumawala sa kaniya nang humigpit ang mga kamay ni Phill sa pang-upo niya. She raised her body to deepen the kiss and to inform him that the fire inside of her was slowly burning all her control. But then, it seemed that it wasn't just her. As their bodies pinned against one another, she found him growing hard down there.

            "Oh... I could feel you hard and ready, Phill..." she whispered between kisses.

           Phillian slid his lips down her neck, making her shudder in excitement. "I've been looking for you for so long... I've been waiting for this moment to come..." His lips traveled back to her face. "Oh, Calley... This is such a miracle... " Then, he buried his lips on hers once again.

           Tuluyang nagtayuan ang mga balahibo niya sa buong katawan nang maramdaman ang labis na pananabik ni Phillian sa kaniya—kay Calley. Kung paano itong manabik sa kaniya bilang si Caty ay humigit pa ngayon.

           And just then she realized how genuine his feelings were for her—for the Calley he once met.

           At tinugunan niya ang pananabik nito ng kapantay na kapusukan. Now that Phillian learned the truth, she could breathe with ease now. Hindi na mabigat ang dibidb niya—wala na siyang sikretong dinadala. Mas magiging maayos ang samahan nila, at mas magiging madali na ang lahat.

           With his lips still locked to hers, Phillian put his arm beneath her knees and swept her into his arms. Awtomatikong pumulupot ang isa niyang braso sa leeg nito.

           The next thing she remembered was Phillian gently placing her on the bed, and there they continued to share that passionate kiss they both had yearned for. Ang kaniyang mga kamay ay muling kumapit sa mga balikat nito habang ang kay Phillian ay patuloy sa paglalakbay sa buo niyang katawan, slowly building the heat.

            Clinging desperately to that special moment, she closed her eyes and arched her body while he stripped off her clothes. Nagmulat lang siyang muli nang humiwalay ang mga labi nito sa kaniya. Doo'y nakita niya ang paglipad ng kaniyang damit sa ere hanggang sa bumagsak iyon sa sahig.

           Napakurap siya at ibinalik ang pansin kay Phillian na sandaling inangat ang sarili mula sa pagkakadagan sa kaniya upang hubarin ang suot na pang-itaas. Ang mga mata nitoy hindi humihiwalay sa kaniya hanggang sa ihagis din nito ang Hawaiian shirt sa ere.

           "You have a lot of explaining to do later, Calley," he said in a husky, lustful voice. "For now, I just want to fill you in and make love until I could no longer move my lower body."

           Tumango siya at tinulungan itong ibaba ang zipper ng suot nitong pants. "No objection," she asnwered.

           In seconds, she and Phillian were both fully naked.

           "I wanted to make up for the lost years, babe. So, be ready."

           She swallowed and waited for his lips when he lowered his head again. Pero hindi dumampi ang mga labi nito sa kaniya; his lips went down to the side of her neck, tracing hot little kisses until they reached her velvety shoulder blade. There, he started biting her skin while his hands slid around her back, tracing it down until they found her round butt to grip and squish. Ilang sandali pa'y mahigpit siya nitong hinawakan doon at iginiya pataas upang salubungin ang nag-iinit nitong katawan.

           Phillian's lips were now on her chest, licking the softness of her skin down to her aching ni.pple. Muli siyang napaliyad nang maramdaman ang mainit nitong hininga roon.

           "Oh, Phill... Take me now, please," she pleaded. She wanted him so badly she couldn't wait anymore.

           She felt him smile against her skin, and she moaned again when his lips gently rubbed her ni.pple before taking it into his mouth for a little sucking. A loud moan of intense pleasure came out of her mouth, and it sounded like music in Phillian's ears, driving him even crazier. He suckled her tip with a bit of pressure this time, increasing and tightening his mouth around it, making her cry for more.

           Her fingers slid into his brown hair as Phillian continued to glorify her breast, one after another.

           Then, she felt his hand suddenly slide in the middle of her thighs.

           She knew where it was leading. And when it did, she arched her body once again as intense need flowed through her body. Phillian's fingers found the spot, and they thrust in without hesitation. Ilang sandali pa'y nag-angat ito ng ulo at binalikan ang mga labi niya. "You are so wet down here, baby..." he whispered in her lips. "Your body's always ready for me."

            "I am always in need of you, Phill." Napaliyad siyang muli nang lumalim pa ang mapangahas na mga daliri nito. "Oh, why are you torturing me this way..."

            Ngumisi ito at nagpatuloy sa ginagawa sa ibabang parte niya habang pinagmamasdan ang kaniyang reaksyon.

            His fingers sped up, and she was writing underneath them as if she was chasing something.

            "Oh, Calley..." he said, kissing her lips. "My Calley..."

           The possession in his voice melted her heart. Other times, in another circumstance, possession wouldn't sound this romantic. But this time, at this very moment, that's what all she really needed.

           She needed him to possess all of her.

            She was his. Now and forever.

           Yes, forever.

           Because she couldn't think of anybody else to offer her body, and soul but him. Only him.

           A few moments later, Phillian released his fingers out of her wetness, Her body followed, not wanting his hand to move away.

            Itinaas ni Phillian ang kamay na ginamit nito sa pagsalakay sa ibabang parte niya at sa pagkamangha niya'y dinala nito iyon sa bibig, licking his fingers as if they were some kind of popsicles.

            Oh, lalong tumindi ang pagnanasa siya sa ginawa nito.

            Sa pagkamangha rin ni Phillian ay inabot niya ang kamay nito at dinala ang gitnang daliri nito sa kaniyang bibig—licking her own, fuc.king honey from it.

           Phillian's eyes sparkled in uncontrollable desire, and before she knew it, he positioned himself between her thighs to prepare for invasion.

           "Calley," he uttered again, his eyes turned a shade darker as lust consumed his whole being. His hands held her waist to retain her in the position.

            "Hmm?" she answered, holding her breath to prepare for the action.

            "I expect to see you still sleeping beside me tomorrow morning. No running away again, okay, babe?"

            Her face flushed when she felt him position onto her moist portal. "I will never run away again, Phill. Never."

            He gave her a sexy grin before thrusting in deeply, so deeply it took her breath away.

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