I FORGOT that I unblocked his phone number before. That's why he was able to text me ulit. And now... I'm back in this awkward situation with Cash. He was sitting across from me while we were waiting for Manong to come. Sabi kasi ni Cash umalis lang daw sandali si Manong, pero babalik din agad. Kaya nandito kami ngayon sa office naghihintay dahil maraming customer sa labas.

Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ako pumunta dito dahil lang sa text niya na nami-miss na raw ako ni Manong. Maybe... just maybe, there's still a part of me that somehow wanted to see Cash again after our encounter a while ago.

"Serenity," he called my name. My eyes easily found his, meeting his gaze. The expression in his eyes is soft and peaceful. Nakakapanibago dahil iyong huling beses ko siyang nakita ay puno nang pag-aalala at takot iyong mukha niya.

"Hmm?"

"Are you staying here for good?" he asked. His gaze didn't leave mine, waiting for my answer. The tension between us is palpable. It made my heartbeat race.

I pursed my lips into a thin line before slowly shaking my head. "Hindi," I swallowed hard. "Babalik din ako sa LA pagkatapos ng kasal ni Arlo." I added. I saw how the expression on his face changed.

He sighed abruptly before averting his gaze from mine. "Why?" nagulat din ako dahil sa biglaang pagtanong ko. I bit my lower lip, regretting my question.

Is it possible that even after a year of hard work, moving on from him is suddenly gone in the snap of a finger? I feel like the year that I spent trying to forget him was futile because here I am... still feeling the same way towards him.

The guy that I wanted to forget is also the guy who can make my heartbeat go wild with a simple gaze.

"Why do you look disappointed that I'm not staying?" I asked. He met my gaze once again. My breathing became heavy, and my jaws were clenched. I am staring at him intently, waiting for some answers from him that I've been wanting to hear.

"I—" he sighed, "I don't want you to go," diretsong sagot niya sa'kin. His eyes didn't falter.

"I don't want you to leave Serenity. I want you to stay." madiin na sagot niya.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth when I asked you before I left? Why do I have to hear it from Hank? Why couldn't you just tell me the truth, Cash?" The tears started pooling in my eyes. Bakit ang tagal ni Manong dumating?!

I waited for him to answer my questions, but a minute had passed, and he was just staring at me, just like before. Ni hindi niya ako mabigyan ng tamang sagot.

Parang dati lang, ako lang iyong gustong lumaban at kumapit kasi palagi siyang nauunahan nang takot.

Patayo na ako para sana hanapin si Manong dahil gusto ko nang umalis nang bigla siyang magsalita.

"I got scared..." he sighed. His eyes searched for mine. Sadness, longing, and fear were evident on his face. "I'm scared that my father will hurt you the same way he hurt Cynthia. I'm scared of loving you because you will only get hurt in return."

Sobrang bilis nang pag tibok ng puso ko. Finally, he is being honest with me about his feelings.

"I don't want you to get hurt that's why I lied. When Cynthia told me everything that happened to her, I feel like I'm a failure. A failure boyfriend and father who couldn't save his girlfriend and his baby from getting hurt." his eyes start to water.

"Do you know what the first thing that came into my mind?" he asks.

I shook my head.

"You," he says. "You were the first thing that I thought of after hearing what my evil father did to Cynthia. I got so scared for you that I chose to just let you go."

Tears were slowly streaming down my cheeks. Why couldn't he just tell me this before?

With a heavy heart, I said, "I was scared too... but I was ready to fight for you because I love you." I confessed. I wiped the tears cascading down. "Even after you proposed to me just to get back to your father, I couldn't stop myself from loving you."

"I'm really sorry if I got scared but I will never regret my decision if it means that you'll be safe."

"Then why are you telling me all of this now? Bakit ayaw mo akong umalis? Anong purpose mo Cash? Nandiyan pa rin naman iyong tatay mo para masaktan ako. Anong pinagkaiba ngayon sa dati?" Hindi ko mapigilan iyong pagtaas ng boses ko dahil hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko kung hahayaan lang ulit ako ni Cash na umalis pagkatapos niyang sabihin sa'kin lahat iyon.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang taon ang kailangan ko bago ko siya makalimutan dahil parang imposibleng mangyari iyon.

"I love you Serenity. I am still scared but I want to be selfish, and I want to love you." I feel like my breathing stops for a second. He really said those three words to me. He finally confessed.

Cash stood up from his seat and walks towards me. He crouched down in front of me and held my hand, gently squeezing it.

"I know that you're scared too but I promise that I will not let go of this hand until the end." Nakayuko ako at diretsong nakatingin sa mga mata niya. "Please give me another chance Serenity Rose?" he says before his warm hand cups my face and wiping the tears away with his thumb.

I stared at him, not knowing what to say. Is this just a dream? But then I felt his thumb brushing another batch of tears from my cheek. This is definitely not a dream.

Totoong nasa harapan ko si Cash at sinabing mahal niya rin ako.

"Do you want me to court you?" he nervously asks when I still didn't say anything. "I'm not sure if I'm good at making lugaw but I can try if that's what you want." muntik na akong matawa dahil sa sinabi niya pero pinigilan ko iyong sarili ko.

"It's ligaw, Hindi lugaw." I bit my lower lip to hide the smile on my lips. Napakamot siya sa batok niya dahil sa sinabi ko. Gusto kong tumawa nang malakas pero pinigilan ko iyong sarili ko.

"What's lugaw?" he asked with a puzzled look on his face. Kanina lang sobrang seryoso ng usapan namin tapos ngayon napunta kami sa lugaw!

I rolled my eyes playfully. "That's rice porridge. It's food."

"Oh!" he said in awe. Hindi ko na napigilan iyong sarili ko at natawa na ako. A warm smile dawn on his lips while staring at me.

"Is that a yes that I can make ligaw?" tanong niya ulit nang tumigil ako sa pagtawa. Nakayuko pa rin siya sa harapan ko. I exhale sharply before shaking my head. Mabilis napalitan nang lungkot iyong mukha niya.

"Ayaw kong ligawan mo ako Cash.I don't want that." I honestly say. His forehead creased slightly.

"What do you want? I will give everything, just give me another chance."

"I want a label this time. No more rules. No more friends with benefits. I want a real relationship this time." A smile slowly crept into my lips. Akala ko hindi nagets ni Cash iyong sinabi ko dahil hindi siya agad nakapagsalita pero mabilis siyang ngumiti bago niya hinawakan iyong kamay ko at tumitig nang diretso sa mata ko.

"Can you please be my girlfriend, Serenity Rose? No more friends with benefits and no more rules."

I slowly nodded my head at him while tears streaming down my cheeks, but this time because I am happy. "Yes, Cash Evander. I can be your girlfriend." I answered.

Cash didn't waste any second before he closed the gap between us and crashing his lips into mine. I closed my eyes and the world around me fades like it always does every time he kisses me. My arms automatically wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer, savouring every stroke of his sweet lips with mine.

His kiss was slow, gentle, and passionate as if he is taking all the time in the world while kissing me. My feelings for him didn't change even a single bit. Because when my heart decides to love him, I knew he is all that I want and no one else.

We pulled away, trying to catch our breath.

We stared at each other, smiling widely. God, this guy is so beautiful, especially when he smiles.

"Cash, can I ask you something?" I said when I finally caught my breath.

"Of course,"

"Where is Manong?" I asked and he immediately chuckles. My eyes slowly widening when I realized that he just tricked me.

"You did not!" I exclaimed. Feeling betrayed. He was still laughing.

"Sorry," he said, wiping the tears from his eyes from too much laughing. "Manong is here a while ago, but I sent him home after I texted you and told him that we will just come to their house instead."

Hindi ako makapag salita dahil sa sinabi niya. Tumayo siya sa harapan ko at naupo sa tabi ko.

"What will you do kung hindi pala ako pumunta?" tanong ko.

"Then, I will go to Manong's house to sulk just like what I've been doing for more than a year now."

"What?! Doon kapa sa bahay nila nagmumukmok?" I asked in disbelief, and he nodded his head instantly.

"Manong and his family treated me more like a real family than my own father." he smiles at me sadly and it's as if a reflex, I immediately wrapped my arms around him and patted his head.

"I'm here now. I can be your family too." I said, hugging him tighter.

W H A T Y A S E Y