"I still couldn't believe you're here..." she uttered.

We both decided to go on a date after the event in the orphanage. I've met Danny again and Herold who I get to know when Cory told me about him back in Palawan. I found out that Danny was also talking to Herold to pull through this plan ahead of time.

After the plan, I'd asked her out since it was her birthday, I thought I should do something and talk through things with her. She might still be in the limelight of shock and surprise and what happened the past few months might blur them out for her.

I believe, just to make sure everything would is settled between us, I need to make sure we're both okay.

Danny didn't come with us and let us have our own space to talk. Danny spilled the tea back on the orphanage that put us in this position. Thinking back and how it went, it was far from what I'd imagined, and I'm happy that Cory didn't push me away.

"Don't you still believe I am, do you?"

She giggled. "Kind of. You also made me feel a little delusional earlier. I thought I was making it all up and talking to a ghost. I thought I was so stupid imagining you were there."

"Then if I was just a ghost then? How would you feel?"

"I would be... sad," she said. "I don't know..."

I grabbed her hand and entwined our fingers together. That kind of gesture I know would reassure her that I'm real and this is happening. I looked straight at her face and I thought I'll just dream of this moment, but it was real.

"I'm happy we're together again..."

"Me, too...."

"Happy Birthday, babe..."

She smiled. "Thank you..."

I planted a kiss on her head.

We went to a Taiwanese restaurant in Mega as she said they're famous for their signature dish so that's where we are heading. Good thing, we were able to reserve a seat beforehand we get into the place since walking in might take time for us to wait.

As we were seated, the staff attended to us and brief us on what they are offering tonight. 

"So, how are you?"

"Parang natanong mo na naman 'yan kanina?" Taas kilay nitong tanong sa akin.

I chuckled. "Hindi ba pwedeng ulitin? I would still like to know what you have been doing for the past few months?"

Napabitaw siya nang malalim na hininga. "Well, life has been pretty for me for the past couple of months. Right after I felt Palawan, I started working with the post-production team who will work on the videos we took back there. Aside from writing, drafting, and all sort of stuff, life has never been easy for me lately. Especially when..."

"Yeah, I get it... and I'm still so sorry how it all happened. It feels like I rubbed them into your face and pushed them for you to accept them. I was so wrong with that."

"It's hard for me back then to take it all at once. It didn't sink in quickly, it was a gradual process for me to believe they could be my real family. It's so hard to believe, to tell you honestly, 'cause I thought you were just joking."

"I had a hard time believing it could be true, too. I don't have much evidence, but I only knew your story and theirs, I just put them all in one and it tied together. That's how I came up with it... but I'm sorry if I pushed you too hard for it. I know you should also take your time."

"No, it's okay... it's been months already."

"So, everything's good?"

She shrugged off. "I wouldn't lie if I told you that I just put my attention on work so I could forget everything that happened in Palawan. I did that.  I didn't contact you by any means or them because I feel like I also needed that space to think about it. But also, at the same time, I felt guilty about the way I felt and I felt bad for them."

"They are sad, but they've been waiting for you. They're actually hoping for me to reach out too soon, but I've got no courage to do so as I'm afraid you'll push me away."

"Ohhh..." she mumbled.

"And if you remember that," I said pointing to the necklace she wore. "Do you remember how you got it back?"

She nodded. "Yes, I found it at the airport with a small note from it."

"Yeah, that was me."

"I knew it was you," she said. "I believe I saw you that day, but vanished in just a quick moment so thought I was imagining things then I stepped on this necklace and found your note. Was that the moment you try to stop and talk to me again?"

I nodded. "Yeah, that was the plan..."

"Why didn't you come to me?"

"Because the last time I did, you didn't listen to me," I honestly told her. "And I don't want to blame you for following your decision. I don't want to stop you anymore so I let you go. And I just thought if the time will come for us to meet again, maybe we'll have some closure..."

"Do you want to have some closure?" she asked creasing her forehead. 

"For the things that happened, yes, maybe... and maybe we could settle for new beginnings once we closed that chapter."

"I think that would be great..." she said. "Maybe let's start it today... so, I wanna as well what happened to you for the past few months. Have you met someone? Are you in a relationship and cheating with me right now? What's the deal on you right now, Doggy?"

I chuckled shaking my head at what she questioned me. "First of all, I'm not cheating on anyone else because I'm not in a relationship. Not with Hayley if you think that again. I'm with no one. When you left the island, I went back to work and do the usual stuff. It was pretty basic. I go home and get paid at work. I sometimes watched the videos from your team."

"I knew it was you!" she ecstatically said. "I saw a comment there before with a username called DAA and immediately thought it was you. Was it you?"

Napakamot ako sa ulo. "Yes, that was me."

"Then you were stalking me."

"Well, I was part of that project so how couldn't I miss it, right?" Ngisi koa pa. "Anyway, aside from those daily routines I do, I rarely used my bike these days since I got into an accident—"

"What?!" her voice uproar, almost getting the attention of people near our table. "Wait? Paano?"

"I was invited to a dinner that night and had to pick up Ankol before getting there and then suddenly a car showed up. I had to swerve away and ended up hitting on the wall. It was wrecked that day, but I'm glad all is well for me."

"Gosh... and you didn't tell anyone?"

"Ankol knew."

"Your parents?"

"I told them."

She exhaled as if she was relieved when she heard that from me. "Akala ko itinago mo na naman sa kanila iyong nangyari, e. Bakit ba masyado kang lapitin ng disgraya, ha?"

I shrugged off. "Hindi ko alam. I'm trying not to get involved in these activities anymore, but I couldn't run away from it."

"Let's just hope that it would be the last time you'll be ever into an accident, 'no?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yup, hope so."

When our food arrived, we started eating and continued talking about something random and whatever stuff we thought about. 

Cory talked about going to Australia soon and just like what she did in Palawan, she'll be going there to do a project and she's inviting me to come to her. At this point, I was still a little hesitant since I'd never been out of the country and that would be so much more expensive for me. I wouldn't be able to pay fifty thousand just for a flight. I've got no money for me.

But then Cory said she'll handle everything and I don't have to worry about the money if that was my only concern. Kung matutuloy man ako, kailangan ko ulit magpaalam sa boss ko sa Coron at hindi ko sigurado kapag nagpaalam pa ako this time ay makababalik pa ako. Though I'm positive he'll let me go dahil hindi naman siya mahigpit sa mga bagay na 'yon.

"Bukas, back to work na ako, since nag-holiday nitong nakaraang araw. Sinulit ko na talaga ang look weekend ko up unto my birthday. Paano ka bukas? Saan ka ba nag-stay ngayon?"

"Sa hotel malapit sa airport," sagot ko. "Iyon kasi ang sinabi ni Danny sa akin. Para hindi na rin hassle sa akin since hindi rin naman ako magtatagal, 'yon na ang binook ko.:

"Okay, if you want to, you can stay sa condo ko bukas if you want to."

"I would love to."

"Sure, that would be the plan. Hindi kasi ako pwede mag-extend na ng leave since I have to report on office tomorrow. I could actually work from home pero may onsite meeting din kami so I have to be there."

"Not a problem for me, I think I can entertain myself alone. Don't mind it."

When we finished our food, we thought about hooking up to watch a movie at the cinema as the recent films are interesting. But Cory has work tomorrow and I don't wanna be the reason she'll wake up late. Baka kurot-kurotin pa ako nito sa kung saan-saan.

"Thank you for making this day special for me... I still couldn't believe you were here..."

I smiled. "As I am... I hope we get to do this more often."

"'Yong ano? Paglipad mo rito from Coron to Manila?"

Napangisi ako. "That's an expensive thing to do, next time na lang ulit. But I mean this... what we have right now. So, before I let you go... can I just ask one more thing?"

Kumunot ang noo niya sa tanong ko. "Yes, go ahead?"

"Can we go ahead and forget about the past and more new wonders? Together?"

She took a deep breath and smiled. "Yes... I would love to do that with you. I don't know how, when, or where... but I'm excited to have it with you again."

"Okay... how do we start it?"

She looked down as if she was thinking of something else, and later on, she met my eyes back.

"How about meeting my biological family? I guess it's time for me to know them..."

I smiled at what she said. "I would love that... they would love that, Cors..."

I pulled her closer to me and hugged her.

"It would be a special thing for them to see you back..."

"Yeah..."

"Happy Birthday, babe... I hope you had a very good time today."

She giggled. "I did..."

Cory and I joined in a booked car together. Nauna siyang bumaba sa akin at ang hotel ko ang huling destinasyon. I would invite her to stay in my hotel, pero wala raw siyang damit na dala at iyong mga gamit niya ay nasa condo niya so it would be hard for her.

Danny was right, we found the closure to what happened a few months ago, and now we're starting anew.

To more wonders with Cory.

***