Song: Harder To Believe- Gavin De Graw 

Happy

I swear I couldn't remove the smile off of my face. I am just so happy to be back in his arms again.

He pressed his forehead in mine when he pulled away from the hug. Pumikit siya at sa tingin ko sinusubukan niya paring iproseso ang nangyayari sa kanyang utak.

"I've waited for this... for a long time..." he whispered.

Pinikit ko ang aking mata nang dahil sa sinabi niya. I just can't imagine the sacrifices that he made while waiting for me to wake up in coma. Tinuloy niya baa ng pagfofootball? Is he still in their team?

"I'm sorry that it took me a long time to remember."

"Shh..." he said, immediately shutting me off.

Inalis niya ang pagkakasandal ng kanyang noo sa akin. He reaches for my face and he made me look into his eyes.

"It's okay. I know you tried. I know it was hard for you. But, baby, you tried and that's all that matters."

Tumango ako at niyakap siyang muli. Everything feels nostalgic. I miss him so damn much it's insane!

The sad look in his eyes will forever haunt me but now I'm glad that his eyes weren't sad anymore.

Zach eyed me from head to toe. Nang bumalik ang tingin sa aking mga mata ay kita ko ang kuryosidad doon.

"Why are you wearing gown?"

"Engagement party," I answered his question.

"Oh! That's today?"

"Yeah. But as you can see it didn't turn out fine for them."

"How? Because you suddenly remembered everything?" I scoff a little.

"No. I already remember everything even before the engagement party," agad na kumunot ang noo niya nang dahil sa sinabi ko.

"But why didn't you-"

"Because I have a plan. I asked Timothy to organize an engagement party because that's where I was planning to expose him. And I guess ig went well."

"Where are they now?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Probably at the police station."

Sumilay ang ngiti sa kanyang labi nang dahil doon. "You had them arrested?"

"They should be. What they did was evil. I couldn't let that one pass."

He gently rubbed my cheeks using his thumb. Nakita ko naman na bumaba ang tingin niya sa aking labi. There's a meaningful look in his eyes when he returned his gaze to me.

I smirked. Couldn't wait any longer huh?

"I miss you." he whispered. Lumapit siya sa akin.

"Me, too..."

He grabs me by my jaw and pulls me closer to him.

Nang kaunti nalang ang pagitan ng mga labi namin ay tsaka pa dumating si Alisha.

"I've been looking for you- Oh!"

Agad kong naitulak si Zach palayo sa akin. I wasn't shy to kiss my boyfriend in front of everyone but when Alisha came, I don't know what has gotten into me to push Zach away from me. Weird.

Nakita ko na agad siyang tumalikod sa amin.

"Oh, you can continue! I'll wait for you in the car!"

Aalis na sana siya nang pinigilan ko siya.

"Alisha, no. Wait!"

Hinawakan ko siya sa kanyang palapulsuan upang pigilan siya sa tinatangka niyang pag-alis. Agad niya akong nilakihan ng mata nang lumingon siya sa akin.

"You can continue what you're doing! I know you missed each other a lot!" she hissed at me. I laughed because of her remark.

"No, come on. Let me introduce you to him."

"But we've met already!"

"But not properly!"

Sinubukan ko siyang hilahin pero agad niya akong pinigilan. I glared at her.

"Come on."

"Sam..."

Pero hindi na siya nakapagreklamo pa nang hinarap kong muli si Zach. He has a confused look on his face.

"Zach, I know you've met her before but I'd like to introduce you to her properly this time." Nilingon ko si Alisha. I wiggled my brows at her. She glared at me this time.

"I'd like you to meet my another best friend, Alisha."

Nahihiyang ngumiti si Alisha sakanya. Zach offered his hand to her.

"Zach," pakilala niya.

"Alisha. It's nice to meet you. Again."

Zach chuckled a little. Binalik niya naman muli ang tingin sa akin.

"She's the one who helped me with my plan. Siya rin ang nagdala sa akin sa bahay noong unang punta ko. But Isabella caught us so..."

"She did? Oh, wow!" Bumaling siyang muli kay Alisha. "Thank you."

"No problem. I just really want to help her remember. I'm tired of seeing my brother take advantage of her situation." napairap siya sa kawalan.

"You have a lot of explaining to do." ani Zach sa akin. Tumango ako.

"I know. I guess we better leave now. I'm sure Ryan and Tony are already waiting for us."

Inayos naman ni Zach ang kanyang bagahe. I offered to help him with one of his bags.

"You can drive my car. Magpapasundo nalang ako kay Xander dito." Alisha offered.

Agad akong umiling. "Ugh! Don't be ridiculous! You're coming with us!"

"But-"

"You need to meet Ryan and Tony!" I insisted.

"It's okay. I can meet them on some other time-"

"No, you're coming. I'll let Zach drive."

Nilingon niya si Zach at nakita kong nagtaas ito ng kilay sakanya na para bang sumasangayon sa gusto kong mangyari.

Alisha sighed heavily. She leans in to me to whisper something.

"I'm going to thirdwheel?!" the concern in her voice is very evident which made me laugh a little too loud.

"I've been thirdwheeling you and Xander for a while now. I didn't complain. Come on. And invite Xander over." bawi ko. Hinila ko siya at wala na rin siyang nagawa pa.

Nang makabalik kami sa bahay ay agad naman kaming sinalubong ni Ryan at Tony. Ryan already has a teasing smirk on his lips when he spotted us.

"Look at these two!" aniya. Lumapat naman ang tingin niya kay Alisha. Ngumiti siya rito. "Hi! It's nice to see you again!"

Ryan offered her a hug. Hindi naman nagdalawang isip itong si Alisha para yakapin rin si Ryan pabalik. She chuckled a little.

"It's nice to see you again! The last conversation that we had didn't end well though." biro ni Alisha. Humagikhik naman si Ryan nang maalala niya.

The day that Ryan found out that Xander cheated on me because of Alisha, he went to her to confront her. Sinubukan ko namang pigilan siya noon, e. Pero di nagpaawat si bakla at gusto pa atang sabunutan si Alisha noon.

Buti at dumating si Xander para pigilan siya. And that was the last memory I have with them together.

Pagkatapos magpakilala ni Tony sakanya ay nauna na siyang pumasok ng bahay. Ryan turns his gaze to us again. Nginisian niya kaming muli.

Pabiro akong umirap at umiling nalang. Tony went to us to help Zach with his baggages. Binitawan ni Zach ang kamay ko at tsaka iginiya papasok ng bahay.

It's still hard to believe that I'm finally back. I'm finally back home.

Sa likod ko naman ay naririnig kong nag-aasaran silang tatlo. Ryan keeps bumping Zach on his side while teasing him.

"Uy! He's smiling again! He's smiling again!"

Si Tony naman ay nasa likod ni Zach at minamasahe nito ang balikat niya. Sumali na rin siya sa pang-aasar ni Ryan.

"There's the smile! There's the smile!"

Zach chuckles and shakes his head. "Tss..."

Naghanap naman agad ni Zach ang mga mata ko at tinaasan ko sila ng kilay.

"Are you usually like this to him?" tanong ko sa mag-asawa. Ryan shakes his head innocently.

"Of course not! Ngayon nalang kasi ulit namin nakita na ganito si Zach kaya ang sarap niya lang asarin!"

Ngumiti ako at lumapit muli kay Zach. I wrap my arms around his waist. Iniwan naman kami ng dalawa upang daluhan si Alisha at para ilagay na sa kwarto ang mga gamit ni Zach.

Nasayang lang tuloy ang pag-iimpake niya. Mukhang ang dami niya pa namang dala.

"May mga damit pa ba ako dito? I want to change."

Zach brushed my hair and tucked it gently behind my ear. Ngumuso ako.

"You have a lot in your closet. Don't worry about it."

I changed into a more comfortable clothes. Nang lumabas kaming dalawa ni Zach sa kwarto ay nakita naming naghanda na sila ng dinner para sa aming lahat. Xander is here, too.

Nilingon ko si Zach at nakitang nakapamulsa na siya ngayon habang nakatingin kay Xander. He must've felt my stare so he turned to me. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay na para bang hindi ko napansin ang paninitig niya kay Xander.

Ngumisi ako at sinalubong si Xander.

"How did it go?" I asked.

"Nasa kulungan na sila. Your step-mother told me that she wants to talk to you. Baka magmamakaawa 'yun na ipatras mo ang kaso."

Kumunot ang noo ko. At bakit ko naman gagawin 'yun? Kidnapping is a non-bailable act. Dapat lang sakanilang dalawa na mabulok sa kulungan.

My lawyer told me that there's a big chance that we're going to win the case. We just need more witnesses. But that will be easy.

"How about Alisha's parents? Anong sabi nila?"

"They didn't do anything about it. Umamin rin kasi si Timothy. Their mother keeps on crying though. Hindi kasi makapaniwala na magagawa ni Timothy iyon."

I sigh heavily. Tumango ako at pinasalamatan siya.

Mamaya maya pa ay tinawag na kami ni Ryan para kumain. Tumabi ako kay Alisha na siyang katapat ni Xander. Muntikan pa ngang mabulunan si Ryan nang makita niyang magkatabi ni Zach at Xander, e.

Zach just quietly sits there with a cold expression. While Xander just keeps on smiling at everyone. Nilingon niya si Zach na walang emosyon siyang binalingan ng tingin.

"Hey, man. Nice to see you again." pagbati ni Xander sakanya.

I waited for Zach to say something but what I got from him is a simple nod. Bahagya namang nagulat si Xander kaya bumaling nalang siya sa amin ni Alisha. His girlfriend tried not to laugh at him. Napansin siguro iyon ni Xander kaya sinamaan niya ito ng tingin.

"Mukhang may reunion ah?" ani Ryan.

"Tss." Si Zach.

Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga. Di ko ba alam kung bakit ang sungit sungit nitong boyfriend ko! Parang kanina hindi naman siya ganyan ah?

"I invited them over because I want you guys to know that they're the ones who helped me with my plan. If it wasn't for them, baka nakatali parin ako kay Isabella at Timothy ngayon."

Napakamot nalang si Zach sa kanyang noo nang dahil sa sinabi ko. He has nothing to worry about, though. Xander and I are way too over! I am very happy and satisfied with my relationship. He is, too.

While eating dinner, I first told them how I came across with Alisha again.

"I knew something was up because my brother rarely goes back to New York. He's usually there to work. Pero nagtaka na ako nung hindi na siya bumalik so I decided to surprise him. Pero mukhang ako pa ang nasurpresa."

"Timothy and Isabella even prohibited me from seeing her when they found out that she's the one who brought me here. Umalis pa kami sa mansion nila para lang malayo nila ako sakanya. I stayed at Timothy's resthouse for quite some time."

"I know." Ani Zach. Agad namang tumaas ang kilay ko. Nagulat kaming lahat maliban kay Ryan at Tony.

"How?"

"He used to follow you everywhere." Sabi ni Ryan. Agad na namilog ang mga mata ko.

"He's such a creep." Pagsali ni Tony. Sinamaan naman siya ng tingin ni Zach.

"Is that why you were also at the bar?" tanong ko. Hindi naman kumibo si Zach at pinagpatuloy niya lang pagkain ng hapunan. "So it wasn't a coincidence. You were there for a reason!"

"Bakit? Ano ba ang nangyari nung araw na 'yun?" kuryosong tanong ni Alisha.

"Well, your brother made me hang out with this group of friends that I don't even know. Baka binayaran rin 'yun. Nagpunta kami sa bar at nakita ko si Zach doon. He's the guy who keeps on staring at me though." mapang-asar kong sinabi.

"Ugh! Sam!" nahihiyang sinabi ni Zach.

"Nung pauwi na ko sabi niya nagulat siyang nakita niya ako doon. Pero ang totoo, alam niya naman pala talaga na nandoon ako kasi siya 'yung lalaki sa tapat ng table namin."

Everyone laughed when I exposed Zach. Kulang nalang magtago siya sa sobrang kahihiyan.

"Such a creep!" si Tony. Zach mocked at him.

Nang mapunta ang usapan tungkol sa naging plano namin ay tila ba nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin.

"I knew something was up so I decided to accept his proposal. Sinubukan kong sabayan siya sa gusto niyang gawin. It wasn't my intention to hurt anyone. Especially you," tumingin ako kay Zach na seryoso na ring nakatingin sa akin. "The day after that proposal, I asked the both of them to come over. Walang nagawa si Timothy. Noong araw na rin na iyon ay tsaka ko naalala ang lahat.

"They prohibited me from using the internet because they knew that there are a lot of things about us that's posted in there. Patago pa akong gumamit para lang makaalala. I even saw your note for me before. That's the note that you gave me before I leave for Miami for my shoot. Hinalungkat ko pa iyon sa bodega kung saan nila tinatago ang mga gamit ko dati."

Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagkwento hanggang sa napunta na sa nangyari kanina. Ryan felt so relieved when he knew that Isabella's in jail already.

"Buti naman at nakulong na rin sa wakas ang bruhang 'yon! Jusko! Pag hindi pa talaga natigil 'yon, ako na mismo ang susugot sakanya! Ang tagal niya na ring sakit sa ulo noh!" he dramatically slumped down. Halatang gigil na gigil.

"When's the hearing?" tanong ni Zach.

"My lawyer hasn't told me yet. Pero sa tingin ko magiging mabilis rin ang proseso ng kaso nila. I just need more witnesses."

"I'm going to help. I hired someone to look for the nurse that they paid to get you from the hospital. Pinapahanap ko na rin sakanila iyong inutusan nila para icut 'yung CCTV video. I'm just waiting for their reply."

Xander scoffs. Bahagya naman kaming nagulat. Kumunot ang noo ni Zach.

"Mabilis kumilos. I'm impressed." Ani Xander. Ramdam ko na sinipa siya ni Alisha sa ilalim ng lamesa. Xander shrugged his shoulder innocently. "I mean, hindi na siya nag-aksaya pa ng panahon! I'm just really impressed! What's wrong with that?!"

Natawa kami nang dahil sa naging reaksyon niya. He suddenly became so defensive. Akala ko nung una he was just mocking Zach pero hindi naman pala. Totoo lang talaga na namangha siya sa mabilis na kilos ng boyfriend ko.

"If there's something that we could do, Xander and I are willing to help." Ani Alisha. Nilingon ko naman siya at tsaka siya nginitian.

"You've already done so much for me, Alisha. I'm so thankful."

"Anything for you, Sam. You deserve to live a happy and peaceful life."