The day was silent for me. My family's out of town while I'm in my condo putting groceries to its right places. Keeno and Krono aren't around to bother me. They usually come and irritate the shit out of me.

Amelie's busy with their clearance signing. Hindi ko pwedeng istorbohin at dalhin dito sa condo ko so we can cuddle. I'm feeling under the weather.

O baka miss ko lang talaga siya. Iba talaga kapag nalulumbay at kulang sa lambing.

I forced myself to buy groceries awhile ago even though my head is terribly aching. School is stressful as fuck. Wish I could kiss Amelie in the cheeks and then cuddle her until I feel better.

Ako:
Baby, I miss you. Please text me back. I'm lonely. I feel so lonely.

I dozed off.

Nagising ako na madilim na sa kwarto. And when I looked outside my balcony, it's already night. I sat on my bed and cursed on myself when I felt like throwing up. That's when I realize I have a fever.

I tried so hard to reach for my phone and when I finally did, I found my mom and Amelie's message upon opening it. Una kong binuksan ang kay Mommy. Nag-send lang pala ng picture sa trip nila.

Amelie:
I miss you too po. Where are you? Can I come by at your house?

Amelie:
You didn't reply ;( what's wrong, baby?

Amelie:
Are you okay po?

Amelie:
Please reply.

Kinusot ko ang mga mata ko dahil nagiging blurry ang message ni Amelie. May pumatak na tubig sa cellphone ko. I mentally cursed when I found myself crying because of a damned fever.

Ako:
Hello, baby. I'm sorry for not replying. I have a fever. I'm in my condo and the rest of the fam's out for a trip. I don't have the strength to cook so I'll probably just sleep. Nakauwi ka na? I miss you like crazy.

I rested my eyes for a while as they started to feel stingy from the phone's radiation. Nang tumunog ay saka lang ako nagdilat ulit.

Amelie:
Where is that condo of yours? I can commute. Tatakas lang ako saglit para lutuan ka ng makakain. I'll be back before ten so I'll be fine.

Amelie:
Where is your condo located?

Amelie:
Kithiannnnn

I got up and turned on the light to see better. I walked out of my room to see the stuff in the kitchen. Makalat pa iyon dahil hindi ko natapos.

Kithian:
No. Stay in your house, it's unsafe for you to travel alone.

Amelie:
E di magpapahatid ako sa driver namin. Tell me where your condo is.

Kithian:
I'll be fine here. Nasa kitchen ako. I'll try to cook soup or something and then I'll have my medicine after. I'll be fine.

Amelie did not reply. I didn't bother texting mom about my condition as she'll only worry about me. Thirty boring minutes have passed and someone knocked on my door. I lazily got up from the couch and open the door only to see the worried face of Amelie.

"Damn it. What are you doing here?"

I held her in and went out to look if someone followed her here.

"Nag-aalala ako, okay? God! Ang init mo, Kithian!"

"Sinong kasama mo? And how did you found my condo?"

She's on her pajamas. May dalang plastic na ang laman ay gamot at prutas.

"I came here by myself. I got your location from your brother. Nagluto ka?"

Umiling ako. She tsked and guided me to sit on the couch.

"You could've told me so I could get you."

"Sinabi ko naman ah but you keep on insisting I shouldn't. Lulutuan kita ng makakain. Bumili rin ako ng gamot sa labas."

"Delikado na sa labas ng ganitong oras," paalala ko.

I saw her walk to the kitchen and started rumbling things. Pinanood ko lang siya at hinayaan sa ginagawa. I'm still surprised that she's here. Baka naman nagha-hallucinate lang ako.

"Matanda naman na ako."

"Danger doesn't care about ages, Amelie. I'll drive you home after that," I calmly said. "Thank you."

"Ano 'yon?" Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin.

"Thank you. For coming here. I appreciate this so much but don't do it again."

She smiled and nodded.

"Sa kwarto ka muna. Kakatukin nalang kita kapag tapos na ako."

Ayos lang naman kung papasok siya. There's actually no need for her to knock. But I was too tired to even tell her that so I just nodded and went to my room. Humilata ako agad at nakatulog.

"Kithian? Kithian. Wake up. Your soup's here."

Nakaramdam ako ng yugyog. It took me a while before I opened my eyes. I couldn't even give a smile to Amelie and I feel so bad that I can't force myself to smile for my darling. My lovely baby. My cutesy Amelie.

"Oh, hello there, my lovely darling. You look hot in your pj's." Absentmindedly, I said.

"Upo ka muna para makain mo 'to. You can rest after."

I did what she said. Kaya ko namang subuan ang sarili ko pero namalayan ko nalang na sinusubuan niya na ako. Gusto ko siyang halikan sa pisngi. Nanlalamig pa naman ako. Naiisip ko ang sarap siguro sa pakiramdam na mayakap siya.

"I tried knocking kanina but you didn't answer so I went in. I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry about?"

"For coming in without your permission."

"You're very welcome here. You can even sleep in my bed if you want to."

She chuckled and continued giving me my soup. This soup is mine and Amelie too. Salamat sa sakit na 'to, Lord. Blessing in disguise.

"Your room's cute," she commented.

"My mom designed this. She loves purple."

"Hm. I can tell."

She made me drink my medicine after. My medicine. My Amelie.

"Are you going home?" I asked when I layed down confortably.

"Huhugasan ko muna 'to tapos aalis na. Bakit?" she innocently asked.

"Stay here for the night. Ihahatid kita pauwi bukas ng madaling araw. I don't want you to get caught with me. We're not official yet so it's kinda inappropriate."

"Then let's make this official," she whispered.

"What, Amelie?"

With fierce eyes, she answered. "Let's make this official. Sinasagot na kita, Kithian."

My mouth hung open. I forced myself to sit so I could talk to her firm and straight.

"Ngayon na may sakit ako? Sinasagot mo ako? Amelie, what?"

She hurriedly went back to me and fixed my back on the headrest, puting a pillow in between.

"Oo nga. Ulit-ulit naman e." Namumula ang kaniyang mukha.

"That means you're my girlfriend now? Like the official label?"

"Yes, Kithian. I am your girlfriend now."

"Wow. I... may sakit ako." I stated.

"And?" she asked, confused.

"I just think this is embarrassing. Bakit ngayon? Bakit hindi bukas o kung kailan maayos ako? I'm a mess right now."

Her brows shot up. She put the bowl on my study table and sat on the bed, facing me.

"I initially planned on saying yes to your courting last sunday, when we were in church. But I got embarrassed so I didn't. And back at home, I would always think about the perfect timing. And then I realized, there is no perfect timing. Kaya ngayong nandito ako, at kaharap kita, sinabi ko. I don't want to think about the perfect timing, Kithian. I just want us to officially date."

I'm full of love. I'm full of... love. I love my life.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib. I rolled a little and then smiled shyly at Amelie.

"You're my girlfriend now, then?" I asked again.

"Oo nga, Kithian." She chuckled.

I rolled even more on the bed, gripping my shirt tighter.

Tangina.

Kinikilig ako.

"We're going to date anywhere? With no limits? I get to see you anytime I want? I get to miss you and tell you? I get to say I love you anytime I want?"

"Yes for all of that, Kithian."

I rolled on the bed a little longer. I hear Amelie's laugh but just gets excited even more.

"We could go on a date tomorrow?"

"Only if you're all healed up. So you gotta rest, alright?"

"I get to call you anything I want?"

She nodded and smiled wider. Her ears going red.

"I can call you baby? Or babe? Or darling?"

Again, she nodded.

"Can you cuddle me please, my pretty baby?"

Tanginang buhay 'to. Kinikilig akong talaga.

"Ibabalik ko muna 'to."

"I want my girlfriend now, please. Let that bowl sit there all by itself. I need my girlfriend. I want my sweet baby."

Amelie laughed hard but I didn't mind. I pulled her close to me and smelled her scent. Ang bango-bango. Para na akong nasa heaven.

"On the second thought, I think it's better for your to sleep at the guest room next door so you wouldn't catch cold from me." I whispered.

"Flus aren't transmitted physically, Kithian. At mas better din 'to para mainitan ka," she answered. "I love you so much, Kithian."

Lord naman, grabe na 'tong blessing mo sa 'kin. Answered prayer naman talaga. Thank you po ulit. I guide niyo po sana kami hanggang sa maiharap ko na siya sa simbahan.

Dati pinagmamasdan lang kitang magbasa sa simbahan, Amelie. Ngayon pwede na kitang yakapin at halikan.

"I love you, Amelie. So much that I wanna marry you right here, right now."

"You wanna marry me?" she whispered back.

"Of course. That's the initial plan, baby."

I love you rin, Lord. The best ka, Bro.