"Ladies and gentlemen, as we start our descent, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position..."

The flight attendant continued with the announcement as I sat on my seat, agitated for some reason.

I can't believe that the first thing I thought of when I saw him again is to run away. I can't believe that even after all these years, he still has an effect on me... or maybe it's because of the guilt... maybe it's because of the thought that I owe him.

I left him without an explanation and now that I saw him, all I could think of is to escape... again.

"You look panicky, Capt.," a familiar voice said. I looked up to Lara and saw her usual sweet smile. She sat on the seat beside me and that's when I realized that the plane already descended and I'm the only passenger left.

"What made you come to Maldives, Capt.?" She asked while my mind went blank for a while.

"I'm in Maldives?"

I think I panicked more than I'm supposed to to the point that I didn't even know where I was heading. All I knew when I was running out from the hospital is that I wanted to get away. I didn't want him to see me because I don't think I can bear it.

Hindi ko pa kaya at hindi pa ako handa. Ilang beses ko itong pinag-isipan noon at sinubukang ihanda ang sarili para sa oras na magkikita kami ulit pero mukhang hinding-hindi talaga ako tuluyang magiging handa.

"Uh... yeah?" Nalilitong sagot ni Lara at mukhang naguguluhan na wala akong alam kung nasa anong flight ako.

Bago pa ako makasagot, nagsipuntahan na ang iba pang mga cabin crew sa puwesto ko at binati ako at nakipagkamayan sa akin.

"Long time no see, kapitana!"

"Promotion naman diyan, Capt."

"Capt., it's nice to see you again."

"Alam mo ba, kapitana, may bigating passenger sa first class!"

"It's a miracle that you're on a vacay, Capt."

Patuloy sila sa pagbati sa akin at naghalo-halo na ang kanilang mga sinasabi na wala na akong maintindihan. Nagsitigil lang sila sa pagsasalita nang dumating ang dalawang piloto.

"Gazella?!" Gulat na sambit nina Olivia at Sasha na ikinangiti ko naman. Tumayo ako sa pagkakaupo at niyakap ang dalawang kaibigan.

"Friendship goals, grabe!" Anang isang flight attendant.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in first class?" Tanong ni Sasha.

"Yeah, why is the Captain who also happens to be a stockholder of the airline flying in economy class?" Another familiar voice said.

I brought my eyes to the aisle and saw one of my colleagues casually walking towards us. Lahat ng kasama namin, maliban sa dalawang kaibigan, ay nagsitilian at tinukso ako.

"Maxton!" Nakangiti kong bati at nakipagkamayan sa kaniya na ikinatili na naman ng mga kasamahan.

I don't know when this started but one day in college, I started to notice the mischievous and malicious grins and looks that our colleagues were giving us when the two of us are together.

"Why so formal, Gazella?" Aniya ulit sabay ngisi.

Napailing na lang ako at bumaling sa dalawang kaibigan. Kailangan ko ng tulong nila dahil una sa lahat, ang pagpunta rito sa Maldives ay wala sa mga plano ko. Wala akong hotel na nai-book at mas lalong wala akong kilala na makakatulong sa akin dito.

I gave the two of them "the look" which they both understood. Sasha winked at me and started giving out instructions to the cabin crews.

"Come on, guys!" Olivia urged them to move. "It's not all the time that kapitana goes on vacation."

Nang makaalis na ang lahat at kaming tatlo na lang ang naiwan, kuryoso akong napatingin sa dalawa. "Ba't niyo nga ako tinatawag na kapitana?"

"Just because," the two answered in unison with a shrug, then pulling me out of the plane.

The three of us went to a cafe and while they were ordering, I called my manager slash assistant.

"Babes! I'm at Maldives!"

"What?!" Kinailangan ko pang ilayo ang cellphone mula sa tainga dahil sa kaniyang sigaw. Manipis at maingay ang normal na boses ni Babes at mas lumalala ito kapag nagugulat katulad ngayon. "Ba't ka nandiyan?"

"Hindi ko alam."

"Anong hindi mo alam? Iyan din ang sagot mo sa akin nang sinabihan mo ako noong napunta ka sa Italy, Singapore, Morocco at iba pang mga bansa na hindi mo alam kung ba't ka roon na napadapad!"

Natawa na lang ako sa kaniyang sinabi dahil ang mga dahilan kung ba't ako napunta sa mga bansang iyon ay katulad ng sa ngayon.

"Isa na lang talaga, Galaxy, at iisipin ko nang kriminal ka kaya palagi ka napapadpad sa kung saan-saan dahil sa katatago mo!" Dagdag pa niya at halatang stress na stress na sa akin. "May tinatakbuhan ka, ano?"

"Kung nagtatago ako, edi hindi sana kita hinire!" Sagot ko naman.

There was a point in my life after what happened that I felt alone. I isolated myself. I left social media and focused on my studies instead. I got scared that I would experience the same pain of being left by my sister and the pain of leaving Martell.

But then I realized that something was missing... parte na ng buhay ko ang ginagawa ko at hindi ko iyon kayang iwan. I thought I was doing myself a favor but it was only a false promise of comfort. I thought being alone will make me feel better.

A part of me wanted to stay away from the limelight because I'm scared of Martell... I'm scared to see and know anything that has something to do with him.

So if I'm always on social media, there's a big chance that I'd encounter topics about him. So what I did is to hire a manager. I hired Babes.

Siya ang bahala sa lahat ng social media accounts ko at nakikialam lang ako kung may gusto akong gawin. Because in that way, less likely na makakakita ako ng kung ano-ano tungkol kay Martell.

It's safe to say that it was part of my "moving on" plan. But then, it didn't work. All I did in the past years is to get through each day until I reached where I am today.

I tell myself that if I wake up in the morning, then it simply means I'm still not done here on Earth. It means that I have to go through another day.

"O siya, sige na! Mag-enjoy ka riyan. Ime-message kita kapag napadala ko na ang mga damit mo," ani Babes at saka nagpaalam na. Wala naman daw akong iba pang mga importanteng mga appointments kaya okay lang daw kung magbabakasyon ako.

Saktong pagkatapos ng tawag ay ang pagbalik nina Sasha at Olivia. Nagsimula na kaming kumain at nagsimula na rin ako sa pagkuwento.

"So let me get this straight," si Sasha. "You're supposed to be with Sugar who got hospitalized but then you saw him and now you're here?"

"Yup, that's pretty much it," Olivia answered for me with a smile. "Until when are you gonna run away, Gazella?"

Sasha nodded in agreement. "True! Maybe it's time for the two of you to make amends?"

Mabilis akong umiling sa kanilang sinabi. I'd be lying if I say that I don't want the two of us to be in good terms but then, it's next to impossible!

Umalis ako nang walang sabi at ilang taon na ang nakalipas. Naka-move on na siya at ayaw ko nang guluhin pa ulit ang kaniyang mundo.

Our time has passed already. There's no need for us to revisit the past and let an old wound bleed again.

Wala akong balak magpakita sa kaniya at ipaliwanag ang sarili dahil alam kong ako ang may kasalanan. I had time to tell him but I chose not to do so, thinking that it'd be a burden to him.

Wala na rin akong mukha na kayang iharap sa kaniya. Alam ko rin kasi na kahit magpaliwanag ako, malaki ang posibilidad na wala na siyang pakialam dahil pitong taon na ang nakalipas.

"Well, then what's your plan?" Sasha asked, eyeing me suspiciously. Alam kong alam niya na ang sagot kaya nagngiting aso na lang ako.

The both of them sighed while shaking their heads, then taking their phones and started helping me out. They booked me a place to stay and a driver who can take me to different tourist spots. Laking pasasalamat ko na silang dalawa na ang umasikaso para sa akin.

"Take care, Gazella." Both Sasha and Olivia kissed my cheeks goodbye while I went inside the car they rented for me.

Wala akong dalang mga damit at tanging bag ko lang talaga ang dala ko na ang laman ay passport, wallet at cellphone kaya ang una kong ginawa pagkarating ng parang resort na 'to ay ang pagbili ng mga damit sa parang pasalubong center.

Sasha and Olivia booked me an overwater bungalow. It's quite huge for one person but I'm not complaining. I first went to the reception desk and got my keycard. I was about to leave with the staff who's gonna walk me to my place when I felt someone tapping my shoulder.

I turned around and saw a woman with blonde hair identical to Barbie's. She smiled at me and waved.

"We've met before, right?" I had no idea who she is so I just smiled. "I'm Aubrey Madison Brightly. I think we saw each other on one of Milena's fashion show."

"Ah..." iyon lang ang naisagot ko dahil kahit namumukhaan ko siya, hindi naman ako sigurado kung magkakilala talaga kami. "Well, nice to meet you."

Nginitian ko siya at nagpaalam na. The staff and I passed several bungalows until we reached mine's.

Nilibot ko ang tingin at nakitang hindi lahat ng bungalows ay okupado maliban na lang sa katabi ng akin na bukas ang ilaw.

Nagpasalamat ako sa staff at pumasok na sa loob ng bungalow at ang unang bumungad sa akin ay ang salas at sa tabi nito ay ang maliit na kusina. Sandali kong nilibot ang tingin at hindi mapigilang mamangha sa interiors nito.

I then walked towards the glass door and went out of it, leading me to the rectangular pool with two sun lounger on its leftmost. On the right part of the pool is a ladder-like staircase which would then lead to the beach waters.

Napangiti ako habang nilalanghap ang sariwang hangin, sandaling nakalimutan ang mga iniisip. Nagbihis na rin ako ng two-piece bathing suit na binili ko para makalangoy na.

I sat on one of the wooden steps of the ladder and submerged half of my body on the water. I was about to go down and start swimming when I heard a splashing noise.

I looked to the side and saw that the person from the bungalow beside me is now swimming. Imbes na lumangoy, naupo na lang ako sa hagdan at tulalang pinagmasdan ang matipunong likod ng lalaking lumalangoy.

Kuryoso ako sa kaniyang hitsura dahil kahit nakatalikod, halatang-halata na gwapo 'tong lalaking 'to! Hanggang ngayon kasi, lumalangoy pa rin ito at hindi pa tumingin sa direksyon ko.

After a while, he swam back to the bungalow, his back muscles flexing as he did. His back looks familiar and I don't know why.

When he reached his bungalow, he stood up, giving me a chance to see his face from the side. And that's when I realized why his back looks familiar!

Naramdaman niya yata na nakatingin ako sa kaniya at alam kong titingin na siya sa direksyon ko kaya dali-dali naman akong umakyat. Minamalas yata ako ngayon at nadulas pa ako at nabunggo ang baba ko sa may hagdan.

Kahit nakaramdam ng sakit, patuloy akong umakyat at patakbong pumasok. Nang masiguradong hindi niya na ako nakikita, napaupo ako, hinihingal. Bumilis ang pintig ng puso ko at parang mahihimatay ako sa kaba.

Kinuha ko ang phone at tinawagan si Gretchen. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin at sa tingin ko magpa-panic ako kung wala akong mapagsabihan tungkol dito.

"I saw him! I saw him!" I said the moment my sister accepted the call. I was pacing back and forth while biting my nails. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nagkakaganito. Ang alam ko lang ay parang maha-heart attack ako dahil sa nararamdaman.

"I'm not sure who you're talking about but guessing on your panicky voice, I'm guessing it's Mar—"

"Don't!" Pagpigil ko sa kapatid. "Don't say it, Gretch—"

"Oh come on, it's been what? Seven? Eight years? Don't tell me you still can't face him?" Anang kapatid sa kabilang linya sabay singhal. "Are you even sure that it's him?"

"No... not really..." napalunok ako pero agad din namang nabawasan ang pangambang nararamdaman. I guess I'm just overreacting and giving myself some reason to panic.

My sister pep-talked me and I must say, it helped me calm down.

Imbes na mag-swimming, nagbihis na lang ako ng damit pang-gym. Nasa isang overwater bungalow din kasi ang gym kaya natitiyak kong mae-enjoy ko ang tanawin habang nag-e-exercise.

Sinamahan ako ng isang staff patungong gym at ako naman ay naglibot-libot muna. Walang tao rito maliban na lang sa dalawang receptionist.

May maliit na espasyo rin na nakalaan para sa snack bar. May isang vending machine roon at nakita ko na may yogurt silang binebenta kaya iyon ang inuna ko.

When I realized something, I stopped abruptly. My heart started hammering and I'm getting this weird sensation in my chest. This feels... deja vu!

Everything— from the first time we met in front of the hospital's vending machine to what happened earlier when I saw him again, to Sasha's words about us making amends and to the familiar back and side profile of the guy who stays in the bungalow beside mine's.

All of this sense of familiarity is scaring me and I feel like I know what's gonna happen next. I don't know why I was able to think such but I just... know...

Umatras ako, lalayo na sana sa vending machine at aalis na ng gym nang nabunggo ko ang kung anong matigas sa may likuran ko. If it isn't for the thoughts I have, I probably would've just assumed that I bumped into a wall... but no! Alam ko na kung ano— no scratch that! Alam ko na kung sino ang nasa likuran ko!

Ang pamilyar na init at sensasyon na tanging siya lang ang makakabigay sa akin ay unti-unting pumuno sa aking sistema. Gusto kong lumayo... gusto kong tumakbo... pero alam ko na makikita't makikita niya ako.

I shut my eyes close for a second. I don't know why but the person behind me seemed to still a bit too. I'm sure that the two receptionist are already giving us weird looks as to why the both of seemed to be frozen at the spot.

I swallowed hard and gathered all my strength to face him and shock is an understatement on what I'm feeling right now.

Mas dumoble ang pintig ng puso ko at parang mahihimatay talaga ako sa nararamdaman. Hindi ito ang Martell na nakilala ko. Sa uri pa lang ng pagtitig niya sa akin, alam ko na agad na malaki ang ipinagbago niya.

Hindi ko mapigilang makaramdam ng kaunting pagsisisi pero agad din naman iyong naglaho nang natandaan ang mga dahilan ko. Kahit pa bigyan ako ng isa pang pagkakataon at bumalik sa nakaraan, hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na gawin ang parehong desisyon.

Kung ako, parang mahihimatay na dahil sa kabang nararamdaman, siya naman ay parang... wala lang... parang hindi man lang siya nagulat na makita ako rito... parang hindi niya ako kilala...

His eyes were stone-cold and I fought the urge to look away. They were once these gentle set of innocent-looking eyes but now... they're emotionless...

Dumukwang siya palapit sa akin kaya napaatras ako. Hindi ko mabasa ang kaniyang expresyon kaya lalo akong kinabahan.

"So, we meet again..." Aniya sa malamig na boses at saka ako nilagpasan.