Present day – Bali, Indonesia (14 years later)

Pagod na naupo sa isa sa mga sun loungers si Oreo, nakasuot pa siya ng gown at may makapal pang make – up sa mukha. Katatapos lang ng pool – side wedding ng kaibigan niyang sina Dessa at Arkhee. Halatang pinag – isipan ng mga kaibigan niya kung saan gaganapin ang kasal ng mga ito dahil ginanap ito sa isang hotel na may infinity pool, may view ng dagat at sunrise. They surely made everyone wake up so early because they wanted to view the sunrise while declaring their vows.

Oreo felt something in her heart, like an enchantment, seeing other people proclaiming their love for each other. At some point, she did not believe in love but after seeing her friends happily loving each other, it gave confusion in her mind. Napabuntong – hininga na lamang siya.

Am I even capable to love someone? Am I someone worthy to be loved wholeheartedly?

"Chocolate." Narinig niyang tawag sa pangalan niya ng isang pamilyar na boses. Iisang tao lamang ang tumatawag sa kaniya ng ganoon, si Kristoff. Nilingon niya ang tumawag. Nakasuot pa rin ito ng gray suit, walang ekspresyon ang gwapong mukha at nasa loob ng bulsa ng pantalon nito ang dalawang kamay. "We need to talk."

"Ahuh. What do we need to talk about?" she asked casually, meeting the gaze of the man she had been trying to avoid all this time. Mula nang magkita sila sa Brazil ay ngayon lang ulit nabigyan ng pagkakataon na mapag – isa silang dalawa.

"Our wedding." Oreo felt like she's about to have a heart attack or maybe a panic attack. Whatever it was, it felt like she was about to faint. "We need to plan it out now that you're back."

She stood up, frozen. This was not the plan she had in mind. She did not want Kristoff to open that matter first, she wanted herself to make the settlement with him. She wanted to break this stupid arrangement they got into. She needed to let Kristoff go. She sighed, taking up the courage to reply.

"Since you've opened this up, I guess this is the best time we talk about it." There was a distressing silence. "You don't have to marry me Kristoff. I'm letting you go. We don't have to keep the promise you had with my mother. Hindi mo na kailangan pang kaawaan ako. Matagal na akong nakatayo sa sarili kong mga paa. Marrying me would be a mistake. You should marry someone else, someone you really love."

Tahimik na lumapit si Kristoff sa kaniya. Mahirap mang aminin sa kaniyang sarili ngunit hindi niya maiwasang hangaan ang kagwapuhan nito. Isang metro lamang ang pagitan nilang dalawa, naaamoy tuloy niya ang pamilyar na gamit nitong pabango.

"I am marrying someone I love." He said matter-of-factly. Nagulat man sa sinabi ni Kristoff ay hindi niya iyon dinibdib. Sarkastiko siyang tumawa bago ito sinagot.

"You don't love me, Kris. What you feel is pity towards me, like what you've always felt when we were younger." Tinapik – tapik niya pa ang balikat nito. "Makipag – date ka rin kasi ng iba para naman may point of comparison ka."

Mabilis nitong hinawakan ang kamay niya, masama ang tingin na para bang kakainin siya ng buhay.

"When will you stop avoiding me? When will you stop running away?" His voice was hostile.

"Ikaw? Kailan ka hihinto na kaawaan ako?" She gritted her teeth.

Kristoff shook his head, looking dismayed. "How sure are you that I just pity you?"

"Oh well, the only thing certain is that nothing is certain Kris. I just know that it's pity rather than love."

"You're never going to learn. You're always so stubborn. Talagang hindi ka marunong magpatalo." Bigla siyang hinila ni Kristoff palapit sa katawan nito at hinawakan ng isang kamay nito ang mukha niya. Sa sobrang bilis ng pangyayari ay hindi nagawa ng utak niya na iproseso ang nangyayari sa kanila.

Kristoff kissed her, a sudden, unexpected press of his lips against hers. The faint scent of his aftershave lingered in the air between them, and her mind raced, grasping at the reality of what was unfolding. Her eyes remained wide open, disbelief paralyzing her, while her body betrayed her—frozen, unable to react. Her knees felt weak and the warmth of Kristoff's lips sent a wave of weakness coursing through her, amplifying her helplessness.

When their lips finally parted, it felt like an eternity had passed, as if time had stretched just to prolong her confusion. Oreo remained rooted in place, her heart pounding in her chest, while Kristoff stared back at her—his gaze blank, cold, and void of emotion. There was no tenderness in his eyes, just a calculated stillness that unsettled her.

"I'll keep doing that," he said with a chilling calmness, his voice low but sharp, "if you continue being stubborn."

The weight of his words sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn't just a kiss. It was a warning, a reminder that control now hung between them in a fragile balance. 

Alam niyang namumula ang mukha niya. Hindi niya mapagtanto kung dahil sa galit o kahihiyan, subalit alam niyang si Kristoff ang rason ng nararamdaman niya. Kinuyom niya ang mga palad.

"Pwede ba maghanap ka ng ibang babaeng pagnasaan! Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa 'yo," tinulak niya ito at mabilis siyang naglakad palayo sa lalaki. "Kainis ka talaga, Four-eyes!"

Patakbo niyang tinahak ang daan pabalik sa kaniyang hotel room. Nakacheck – in din siya sa hotel na ito, kasama niya sa kaniyang silid si Eliza na isa sa mga bridesmaids na siyang kapatid pala ni Enri Morales.

Naging malapit na kaklase niya rin si Enri noong senior year niya sa highschool na ngayon ay isa ng sikat na doktor. Nakapag kamustahan sila kanina nito ngunit dahil marami rin itong kakilala ay hindi rin nagtagal ang pag – uusap nila. Napagtanto ni Oreo na lumiliit nga talaga ang mundo niya kapag umuuwi siya dahil halos kilala niya ang mga dumalo sa kasal nina Dessa at Arkhee.

Nang makarating siya ng kaniyang silid ay mabilis niyang hinubad ang suot na gown at heels. Gusto niyang magpakawala ng stress kaya naisip niyang mag – beach at mag swimming. Mabuti na lang talaga ay isa ito sa mga facilities ng hotel, may private beach ito. Kaya dagli siyang nagsuot ng blue two – piece bikini, manipis na cover – up at beach slippers.

Oreo always loved the beach. When she was in Brazil, and she had the day – off, she spent most of her time at the majestic beaches in Rio. It always made her calm and made her thoughts composed. She loved the touch of the sand on her feet, the salty scent of the sea breeze, the echoes of the waves as it touched the shore, and she adored it.

That's the reason why she worked out because she always went for a swim. She went to the gym and did yoga to maintain her figure. She wanted to become healthy, too. A healthy body keeps a healthy mind, and that's her motto.

Nang makarating siya sa kaniyang destinasyon ay hinubad niya ang tsinelas at ang kaniyang suot na cover – up at inilagay ito sa isa sa mga sun loungers. Mabilis siyang nagtampisaw sa tubig – dagat at maya – maya pa ay nagsimula nang lumangoy sa mas malayong parte.

Pakiramdam niya ay hinigop na ng dagat ang lahat ng kaniyang mga iniisip. Hindi rin masyadong masakit sa balat ang init ng araw, kahit alas tres na iyon ng hapon. Kaya mas nasiyahan siyang maligo at makipaglaro sa mga alon.

Matagal – tagal din bago umahon si Oreo mula sa dagat at nagdesisyong bumalik na sa kaniyang silid. Kailangan niya nang maghanda dahil may after party pa mamayang gabi para sa newlyweds. Ayaw niya mang pumunta ay mapipilitan pa rin siyang dumalo dahil nakalaan para sa mga kaibigan ang party. Hindi na kasali ang mga senior citizens, kumbaga para sa mga single adults daw ang party, at hindi siya pwedeng umabsent.

Bumuntong – hininga si Oreo, inayos ang suot na bikini, ang kaniyang hanggang – balikat na buhok, at naglakad na pabalik kung saan iniwan niya ang mga dalang gamit kanina. Laking gulat niya nang may biglang humarang sa kaniyang dinaraanan, nakasuot pa ito ng pormal na damit na mukhang kagagaling ng kasal. At nang tingalain niya ito ay walang iba kundi ang galit na mukha ni Kristoff ang sumalubong sa kaniyang nagtatakang tingin.

"Can you wear something more decent?" He hissed, his voice intimidating.

She shrugged. "This is what you call bikini. You wear it at the beach."

"You can't wear that thing." Kristoff's face twitched. "Not unless you declare that we are in a relationship."

*****

Disclaimer: The image came from the internet po. But I've already visited Bali. So if you want to know more about this place, don't hesitate to ask!

Anong masasabi niyo sa chapter na ito? After all those years, finally, Oreo and Kristoff met again. Nacurious ba kayo anong nangyari sa kanila matapos nilang mag highschool?

Salamat po sa votes at comments!

Love & Light,

BC