I woke up when my phone was ringing that loud. I stretched my arms and I can smell delicious ones that made me hungry.

" Mum?" I asked her in a sleepy voice. My eyes were still closed while my other hand was on my head.

[ Sweetie!] She laughed. [ I need you to prepare a speech for later.]

" Speech for what?"

[ We will gonna introduce you as the future CEO later. I also sent the suit you will wear later. See you there.]

I changed my position and I glazed to the ceiling. Still not processing everything because I just woke up. UGH!

[ The hotel has free breakfast. So if you wanna eat, just go downstairs. We need to go now. Love you, sweetie.]

" Love you, mum."

I fixed the bed before going to the bathroom to wash my face so I can go downstairs. I went outside and changed into a bathrobe. I glazed to Gilbert who was wearing an apron and his brows furrowed when I'm walking to the door.

" Where... are... you going?" He asked me with his frowned face that made me curious. I glanced my sight to the breakfast table, I think he really woke up early to cook meals for me.

" I will eat downstairs. W-why?" I asked him while my hands were in my pockets.

" Uh... Can you have breakfast with me instead?" He puppy-eyed. I felt guilty about it and just gave him a nod. I don't want to waste the food and I want to appreciate the effort that he was exerted.

He even assisted me as I sat on the wooden chair. I saw that he removed his gloves and placed a bowl filled with noodles that really smells nice.

" What's that?" I asked him. I'm still addicted to the smell.

" Pancit Canton and then Pandesal. Masarap 'yan." He replied to me and removed his apron.

I got curious where did he get that! Maybe he packed with his garments. UGH!

He insisted to put an amount of canton and he let me tasted it and I replied with a smile even though it was still kinda hot.

" And turon," He put it on a plate that made me excited. It's been a long time since I ate turon! And seeing that food made me snatched from it immediately.

" Dahan-dahan lang." He warned me as he spill an iced tea into my glass.

" Thanks." I giggled.

" Welcome."

" Can you help me in making a speech?" I asked him who was now in front of me, eating.

He replied with a nod. " For?"

" I don't know... my parents wanted me to have a speech because they will announce me as a future CEO of the company," I replied as a twirl the noodles to the fork.

He sighed. " That's easy. Do you have any ideas? Scratch? Or kahit anong nasimulan?"

I remembered my greet when I was in high school that made me annoyed. I don't want to say that again! UGH!

" Nothing."

" How about... ipakilala mo muna yung sarili mo sa kanila? What they will expect to Ms. Natasha Shane De Verra, right? Give them an impression to you." He smiled. " Just be you."

" Okay," I smiled awkwardly. " But being me makes me nervous though. I mean what if they will not like me as being me?"

" What if... they like their current CEO, which is my dad, than me?" I added that made me sad. " I think they really expect me a lot. And here I am, hoping that I would do my best to serve them that really makes me anxious."

He suddenly stood up from the seat and he was now beside me. " You're doubting again and you really don't know who Natasha Shane is. The woman I knew, and the woman that I love." He cupped my chin as I wrapped my arms around his waist. He really could say words that make me happy. That makes me unworried. " I'm sure that they will love their future leader as I do."

We heard suddenly a knocked from the door and those who came in through the door were the butlers who were in a maroon uniform holding different suits and a butler who was pushing a silver trolley. Gilbert wanted to help them but I just tightened the hug. I don't want him to leave.

" A letter from Mr. and Mrs. De Verra." A butler bowed as he gave the letter to Gilbert.

" Champagne." A man butler opened it and placed a glass of it on the breakfast table.

" Thank you ho." He said as the butlers went out.

I read the card and they just mentioned that they bought a suit for us and we should pick the most elegant dress for the event this morning.

" Best wishes and good luck for the both of you," I whispered while he was now fixing the table.

Gilbert insisted to me that I could bathe first as he was washing the dishes. I did all my morning routine and I saw him topless, but he have a towel that was hanging on his shoulders.

" Fuck shit," I whispered and rolled my eyes because he smirked as a tease.

I just wore what my mum brought to us and good thing it was so gorgeous for me. It was a satin bodycon dress. A thin strap was holding on to it that was kinda revealing my cleavage a little bit. My mum even sent a hairstylist for us. And my hair just has curls, braided half-ponytail and he placed some hairpins to add some style. I partnered my wear with a black purse and a pair of black heels.

Gilbert was wearing the dress shirt and a pair of black slacks, matching my color. He tucked it on his pants and partnered with a designer belt as he added his silver watch.

He just brought our extra wear for the games later inside the paper bag.

" Can I use the lavender perfume?" I pouted. I really wanted to use that!

He nodded. " You can."

He folded his sleeves up and he gave me the perfume.

We were now walking on the sand. I was just touring my eyes around the island. I can saw a palm tree that was swaying around, the calm sea with its waves. The scorching sun and the sound of the birds flying in the air.

I was just looking at my eyes everywhere and I can notice that they were glazing their eyes at the guy beside me. Maybe because of his looks and aura plus his suit that made him more handsome and attractive.

I'm getting jealous because of the glanced of the employees and staff at him. I can see young faces too that added to my anger.

He held my hand while the paper bag was on his left. " I think they're looking for the future Chief Executive Officer," He said. " They must be lucky because lagi na nilang makikita ka." He teased.

I just rolled my eyes and just focused on walking.

" Welcome! Ms. De Verra." Staff placed a flower garland on my neck. I remembered that this is what I wanted the last team-building to be more fashionable! I'm so happy!

Gilbert held my waist and my mum suddenly appeared.

" You both look stunning!" My mum said with excitement and we kissed both sides of our cheeks.

" Where's dad?" I asked him but I suddenly looked at him and he was now on the stage.

I heard a clap from the audience and they looked at me that made me nervous.

" You can do it, my darling!" Gilbert whispered to me that made me relaxed.

I gulped and walked in front. I could saw Gilbert was clapping too.

" Thanks, dad."

" No problem my baby."

I glazed my eyes around. I can see some familiar faces to me and of course that fucking bull shit Earl.

' Just be you'

I remembered while my hands were shaking. I sighed heavily before I started my speech.

" Good Morning... Ladies and gentlemen. Good... Good morning to the employees and staff of the De Verra Corporate Company. Good morning to my mum and dad out there. Good morning everyone. I'm so pleased to be with you all for this kind of special event. I'm still kinda shocked but at the same time happy to be a leader... a good leader for everyone. And I'm so excited to be with you all everyone. Thank you."

I bowed slightly and smiled awkwardly at them. I think the short speech was better than the long, nonsense ones. I was just enjoying the cocktail here at the standing table. Smiling with the guys who were in formal wear when they will congratulate.

" You did great," Gilbert mentioned to me and he raised his brows repeatedly in front of me.

" I fucking know," I whispered as an answer. And he gave me a teasing chuckle.

It was already the time for the games and I just joined them. I don't want to be a killjoy. And also I need to have a good impression of them. It sucks. UGH!

It was my turn now to the sack game. And I can hear loud cheering noises coming from my team. And I'm glad that Earl wasn't my fucking teammate.

I was now jumping and turned myself around from the fucking chair as I fell from the sand.

" Fuck!" I shouted while I'm touching my knees. I wanted to stretch it but I'm hurting.

Kuya Roland suddenly carried me in his arms and placed me on the wooden bench. I glazed my sight to the employees and staff, they seems worried. I'm glad that my mum and dad were at a meeting at the venue.

" Ma'am Tash, I w-will look for pain relievers lang po." Kuya Roland worriedly mentioned to me as he lay me from the wooden bench.

" O-Okay, Kuya." I stuttered because it's really aching.

" Hey! Are you good?" A fucking guy suddenly appeared from my sight. Running out of breath as he said.

I was just silenced that time as Kuya Roland left me to get some pain relievers. So we were only left here.

" I'm here to help you. I think you're hurt." Earl mentioned to me as he placed my knee on the top of his legs while he was squatting on the sand.

" Just go away."

" Why are you always pushing me?!" He shouted to me that made me furrowed. " I'm sorry. I'm just here to help you."

" Really?! You're fucking here to help me?! That's not your attitude you bull shit. Leave me alone!"

" I want to be with you because you're hurt. Let me do this for you." Earl begged.

" I don't need your fucking help, okay?!"

" I will be real. I need you later at night because I will gonna propose to you. So I... I really need you to be healed."

" What?!" I shouted and I saw Gilbert suddenly appeared, holding a plastic bag filled with ice cubes.

" You love me and I love you too! Sorry if I'm dumb when we were Elementary. I'm just dumb that time. But now, I'm here. And I feel the same with you too."

He stopped when Gilbert came to me but I think he heard our full conversation. Fuck!

" Why are you here again?!" Earl shouted to Gilbert. I removed the knee immediately from his lap and placed it on the bench with me.

" Ouch!" I shouted. It's still hurt!

" You know fucking nothing, Mr. Guy!" Earl shouted again.

" I'm a med student. I know how this thing works so back off." Gilbert replied and he was now carefully placing up and down the ice cubes to my knee.

" Who are you huh? Bakit ka nakiki-alam sa relationship namin? She will be my fiancée later at night!" Earl suddenly interrupted while Gilbert was reducing the pain.

I glazed my sight to Gilbert who was now staring at long to the bench, not at me.

" Come again?" He whispered and he looks frown and broken.

" She will be my fiancé tonight. So, back off!" Earl slowly said.

Gilbert suddenly held the collar of Earl's dress shirt that made me complete shock.

" Pardon?!" Gilbert looks furious. His jaws were getting aggressive as he broke his voice.

He looked at me, shook his head and bit the inside of his cheeks, and walked in disappointment.

" What the fuck, Earl?!" I immediately shouted to him. I'm planning to walk so I can clear to him, but my knees were hurt and in pain.

" Hindi pa ba ako sapat, Natasha? Did you love me right? And I think that you still love me?!"

I just shook my head and a tear fell from my eye.

" Just say that you love him and I will go away... forever."

I looked up to the sky as my eyes became a pool of tears, " I love him, Earl. I really love him more than anyone in this world because he makes me a better... better woman. He makes me want you to love myself more. He answered what's the definition of love that I'm asking myself for a very long time. He's there for me even though I don't need him. Someday, I hope, you will find someone that will love you as much as I love him. And I hope that you will find someone that will not question your self-worth."

I was now holding my knees and I stood up slowly, feeling the pain. I couldn't look back so I can see Earl but I can say that forgetting who you love hurt that much. So I just hope that the best woman will love him as much I love Gilbert. I just continued walking where Gilbert was. Where the love of my life was. Where my happiness was.

The cold yet comforting breeze was touching my skin while I was going to his place. I just looked at him at the shore throwing some ice cubes to the sea.

" Hey," I caught his attention but he was not still noticing me " Propose his fucking face. Don't fucking believe in him. Ugh!"

I tried again to catch his attention while I was walking to his place again while enduring the pain. " Hey! I'm literally sorry-- ouch!"

" Hey! May masakit ba?!" He immediately placed the ice cubes down to help me.

" I'm just kidding."

" Umupo ka nga!" He sounds so deadly serious which made me stop laughing.

" Where?" I asked while holding my knees.

" Sa tabi ko."

" So do we have ice cubes left?" I asked and he put some ice cubes in a clean cloth. Then diniin niya sa paa ko na nagpa-aray.

" I thought you're a 'med student' and you still made me scream in hurt."

He just shook his head.

" So Doctor Villaflor, huh! 3 years left."

He chuckled. " I wish though."

" Surgeon..." I looked to the sea while the waves were almost touching us.

" Do you think I will have surgery because of my situation?" I asked him and I just chuckled.

" Just kidding again." I interrupted because I think he will say serious science words now.

And a silenced came while he was peacefully taking care of my knees.

" Even right now, I'm so very proud of you. Chasing your dreams and being focused. I can't wait to see you in a surgeon uniform though."

" At least you're already here with me. I have someone who will celebrate with me every milestone I have. And if you're will be a CEO, I'm there too. And I think I'm happy with that. I mean, I'm always happy when I'm with you." He seriously interrupted.

I rested my neck on his shoulders because he was beside me. " Can we be just like this? Free from being sad and free from crying and bad stuff."

" We can."

" I mean like every second, every minute, every single day--"

" We will be like this forever. I will not allow you to leave me again. Never."

I giggled because of how much he really mean those words. I know that I need to let go of the past and just focus on the present, focus on what was happening right now.

" I will not leave you again. No matter how much I'm jealous." I replied to him. " Promise to me that you will not leave me too!"

" I never did!" He fired back that made me punched him on the shoulders. But I remembered that I need to let go of the past because it caused too much pain for both of us.

" You're the only one I love. So how will I gonna leave you, huh?" He looked at me in the eyes seriously as he mentioned that.

" You know... I mean, we don't know what future brings to us."

" I know that future told to me that we will have a happy family. And the name of my wife is Natasha Shane. So stop overthinking okay?" He caressed my hair.

Our love is like waves, we have lows and highs that made me grateful that he never left me whatever the tide is. There is the sun who reminds us that we have another day to live, to have fun, to let out a tear, and to be with your love.

I could say that Gilbert Anche is the source of my happiness, the center of my whole world, and the love of my life. He gave me love when I always felt unloved, and he's always there even though I don't need his presence. I will never regret and forget the day that we bumped into each other because everything changed after that.

I suddenly screamed when he brought me up to his arms while I was dramatically looking at the peaceful sea and the birds flying in the air.

" Why?!" My brows furrowed and I just giggled when he gave me a cute smile. I just noticed that he was bringing me up and it was his favorite ones. He carried me like a bridal style!

" I'm the one who will gonna marry you, Ms. De Verra. No other man except me. Mr. Villaflor."

I was just silenced the whole time while we were just staring at our eyes seriously and deeply. It was like every second was that important to us. I can notice that his hair was moving because of the breeze and his lavender scent that made me stunned.

He licked his lower lip and mentioned, " I love you, my darling." He whispered to me slowly.

My eyes were close when I suddenly felt his lips that massaged on the top of mine before biting and pushing his lips inside of me. Before I hesitated but I just let his tongue enter mine. I sucked on it before he let me go. I was panting after that and I felt butterflies inside my tummy.

I gulped before saying these words. The words that the first time I will say to him and this time I really mean it. It also means that I'm accepting him again in my life.

" I love you," I whispered back and pressed my lips again to his.

He is the reason why I became a better and stronger woman. Without him, my life would be nothing, because he is my light, my happiness, my everything.

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♡