This is where Zach and Sam's story truly ends. It's been one hell of a ride writing this! This trilogy was the first thing I have ever written here on Wattpad. This is where it all started and I'm happy that we already have come this far! This is nothing without all your votes and constant reminders for me to update hehe. 

I'm really glad that you were with me on this journey. I will forever be grateful. 

Songs: Tragedy Is Not The End- Joel Ansett

Soldier- Gavin DeGraw

Moments- Westlife

Zach

"You may now kiss the bride!"

When I heard those words, that's where it finally sunk it. I married the girl of my dreams. I married the love of my life.

I pressed my forehead into hers. I closed my eyes to feel this moment. Ito 'yung araw na pinakahihintay ko. Marami man kaming pinagdaanan, marami mang pagsubok ang dumating, masaya ako na dito parin kami nagtapos.

Now I truly believe in the saying that if it's meant for you, it's for you.

This made me realize that there is no one else for me but Sam.

"Thank you... for making me believe in love again." I said.

I opened my eyes when she held both of my cheeks. I held her hand and kissed her palm. I stared directly into her eyes.

"Thank you for choosing to stay with me. Thank you for everything you've done for me. I don't know what else I'll do if you're not here with me." she said with tears in her eyes, it looks like she's trying so hard to hold back her tears.

I should be the one thanking her. She saved me. Kung hindi dahil sakanya, hindi ako magiging ganito. Hindi ako matututong magmahal muli. Without her, I wouldn't be the Zach Dela Merced that I am today. Without her, I will feel nothing.

She's my anchor. She saved me when I was drowning. That's why I'll also do everything to save her.

"You have my heart, Samantha. Always and forever. You are... my everything."

I can still clearly remember how I spent my nights crying for her. Crying for the time we've lost. There are so many what-ifs in my head.

I keep on asking myself... What if her memories won't come back? What if she ends up with Timothy and not me? What if... we're really not meant for each other?

There are so many nights where I long for her. I long for her kiss. I long for her touch. During those moments, I don't know how I'll accept that the person who saved me won't be with me anymore.

I feel so devastated when I saw her got engaged with Timothy. Out of all the people she'll say yes to, sa gagong 'yon pa?! Kung alam niya lang kung gaano siya ginagago ng isang 'yan at kung paano siya pinaglalaruan nito.

Sa sobrang galit ay hindi ko napigilan ang sarili na magsabi ng hindi magagandang salita. I don't care if I'll spill the truth. Everybody deserves to know especially her. They did her dirty! They played with her mind! They took advantage of her situation and fed her mind with lies!

Kitang-kita ko sa mukha niya kung gaano siya nabigla sa lahat ng sinabi ko. While Timothy, on the other hand, looks ashamed of himself. He should be! He should've known better! Hinayaan niyang gamitin siya ni Isabella sa plano niya.

Kitang-kita ko sa mukha niya kung gaano niya gustong ipagtanggol ang sarili ngunit hindi niya magawa dahil alam niyang wala siya sa tama. I saw Samantha crying now. I clenched my fist.

What? Truth hurts, right?

"Well, congratulations! You succeeded! You succeeded by making her believe in all your bullshits!" that was the last thing I said before I stormed off that fucking ballroom.

I don't want to be there anymore. I don't want to see their faces. I fucking lose hope that she's still going to remember me.

Maybe this is where it all just ends. Maybe... just maybe... this happened for a reason.

As much as I didn't want to believe it... maybe we're just not meant for each other? Maybe she really does belong to someone else. Maybe our story was just a phase. Maybe I'll also find someone for me.

I shrug that thought off. No... there's no one else better for me. If I'll leave my whole life alone, then so be it. Wala nang mas hihigit pa kay Sam. At ayoko rin pumasok sa relasyon na alam kong hindi ko kaya.

I'll forever long for her. She's everything to me. It's like my whole world was taken away from me.

I told my parents to leave me alone. Pahuhupain ko lang ang galit na ito. I don't want my anger to affect Tony and Ryan when I come home.

I was about to exit the hotel when I heard a familiar voice calling my name. Hindi ako lumingon. No, Sam... I can't bear to see your face anymore. It will only remind me of the pain that this has caused me.

Sobrang sakit na, Sam. Tama na. Hayaan mo na akong tanggapin ang lahat.

Nang inabot niya ang kamay ko ay doon lang ako nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob na lingunin siya. Her eyes tell me that she's confused and she's hurt.

"That's not fair! What the hell were you thinking?" she asked, almost shouting at me.

I wanted to laugh at that moment. Not fair? Ako pa ang hindi fair ngayon? I was just trying to save her from the hell she's trying to get herself into. I ran my hand through my mouth because of the frustration that I'm feeling inside.

I turn towards her angrily. Hindi ko man gustohing magalit sakanya, hindi ko magawa. Alam kong hindi niya kasalanan ang lahat ng ito. Naturingan lang na siya ang napaggigitnaan ng lahat.

If there's someone to blame, it should be Isabella and Timothy.

"Maybe... I should be the one asking you that question. What the hell were you thinking? Accepting his proposal, Sam, really?"

Images of her saying yes to Timothy flashed inside my mind. Kung alam niya lang kung ilang beses kong hinangad na pakasalan siya. Ilang beses kong inuulit-ulit sa utak ko na ako ang dapat na nasa pwesto ni Timothy at hindi siya.

I have always imagined myself proposing to her. That's why it's hard for me to watch her get engaged to someone else. Hindi ko akalain na kailangan pang umabot sa ganito ang kwento namin.

Hindi siya sumagot at nanatili lang na nakatitig sa akin. I'm purposely making her see the pain that this caused me. I hope she knows that. I hope she realizes that she's behind all of this pain.

Nagpatuloy ako nang hindi siya nagsalita.

"You made a promise to me, you know... you made a promise that you'll marry me. Pero ano 'to? You gave yourself to a man who did nothing but lie to you!"

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin sa akin.

I clenched my jaw. Kung hindi man talaga kami para sa isa't isa... patuloy ko parin ipagdadasal na sana makaalala siya. Kahit 'yun nalang. After all, she truly deserves to know the truth.

"'Yung pagmamahal na ibinigay ko sa'yo, tinatapon mo na sa iba ngayon." I shake my head. Hindi ko naiwasang hindi masaktan nang sinabi ko iyon. "I don't know what to do anymore, Sam. I just lost the woman I love the most. We could never fulfill the promises we made for each other, because you, yourself broke that."

"Pero hindi tama na ipinagkalandakan mong may amnesia ako. Ano nalang ang iisipin ng iba-"

'Yun pa talaga ang iniisip niya? Kung ano ang sasabihin ng iba? Unbelievable! Pupwede bang kahit saglit, sarili niya naman ang isipin niya at hindi ang ibang tao? Wala silang kinalaman dito!

"Ang hindi tama ay 'yung naniniwala ka sakanila. They tried to ruin your life once, I'm sure they're still capable of doing that!"

She shakes her head, still not convinced of what I'm saying. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin para paniwalain siya sa kung anong totoo. Dahil sa tuwing sinusubukan kong gawin iyon, pilit niyang itinatanggi kung ano ang totoo.

"But that won't change anything, right? Because no matter how many times I try to tell you the truth, I'm still a stranger... that you will always refuse to believe."

And that's it... that's fucking it. I will never look back anymore.

Maybe this is where our story ends.

Lumabas ako ng hotel at agad na pinalis ang mga luhang lumandas sa aking mga mata. I look so helpless. Parang bumabalik na naman 'yung dating ako. 'Yung Zach na naging mailap sa tao.

It took me days before I finally decided that it's not good for me to stay here anymore. Every time I'm in this house, I will always remember her. It's time to leave everything behind.

It's time to move forward... alone.

"Are you really sure you want that to happen?" tanong ni Ryan.

I breathed hard. It was painful for me to make this decision. Hindi ko naman pinili na humantong pa sa ganito. I just need a breath of fresh air. I need to leave everything here.

Doing this wasn't easy at all. I have to sacrifice a lot of things. But if this will help me get over it, who am I to complain?

"Just take of the house, Ryan. Do... whatever you want. It's yours now." sabi ko habang inaayos ang aking mga gamit.

I'll be leaving tomorrow. Sinabi ko na rin sa magulang ko ang aking desisyon. Hindi sila sang-ayon noong una pero sinabi ko naman ang dahilan ko kaya sa huli ay wala rin silang nagawa.

"Zach, I can't take it," nilingon niya si Tony. "We can't take it. Ito nalang ang meron kayo ni Sam! Wag mong sabihin na pati ito, iiwan mo rin?"

"I have no choice. What's the point of living her if she isn't with me? We're supposed to build a family in this house? Pero ano? Hindi na mangyayari 'yun dahil baka hanggang dito nalang talaga..."

"Don't tell me you're giving up..." bulong ni Tony.

"I'm afraid so."

"P-Pero paano kung nakaalala na si Sam? Iiwan mo parin ba siya?"

"Prove to me that she remembers everything. If that's the case then why should I leave? That is my chance to continue our story. 'Yun lang rin naman ang hinihintay ko, e. Ang makaalala siya. But isn't it too late to remember?"

Umiling si Ryan, mukhang hindi nagiging sangayon sa pananaw ko.

"Nothing's too late! Come on, Zach, you can't just leave everything behind!"

"There's nothing you can do. I'm leaving. The last thing that you can do is to support me."

Hindi na naiwasan pa ni Ryan na maluha. Believe me, I didn't want to give up on his best friend. Pero paano naman ako? Hindi ko naman ata kaya na saktan nalang ang sarili palagi. I also need to save myself because no one's going to do that to me anymore.

When everything's set for my flight, I bid my goodbye to Tony and Ryan. They've seen me at my worst. Both of them had helped me in so many ways.

I smiled at them for the last time before I enter the car. My father is driving me to the airport. I asked my mother not to join anymore because I know she'll only get emotional. Sinabihan ko na rin si Papa na wag na kong hinatayin na makapagboard pa sa plane.

Nang makarating kami sa airport ay tinulungan ako ni Papa na ibaba ang mga bagahe ko sa kotse. So, this is it. This is where I'll leave everything behind.

It's time for me to start again. I'll leave the painful past behind. This is where it should be buried.

"See you again soon, Son. Lagi kang mag-iingat doon. Call us when you get there, okay?" paalala ni Papa.

Tumango ako at niyakap siya. Nang pumasok ako sa loob ng airport ay hindi na ako lumingon pa. I still have an hour left before my flight.

Nagpunta ako sa counter upang icheck-in na ang mga bagahe ko. The line is seemingly long. Kailangan ba naging kaunti ang pasahero dito sa NAIA? Araw-araw nalang ata laging may umaalis.

I was next in line when I received a multiple call from Ryan. Kanina ko pa iyon ibinabalewala dahil desidido na talaga akong umalis. But out of nowhere, I suddenly answered his call.

Nakita kong nagtaas ng kamay ang babae na nasa counter, hudyat na ako na ang sunod. Nagtungo ako doon at agad na ibinigay ang aking passport?

"Ryan,"

"Zach, don't leave!"

"Ryan, I thought we're already clear about this? I told you-"

"Hindi ka pupwedeng umalis! Papunta si Sam dyan ngayon!" agad na kumunot ang noo ko nang dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Why? F-For what reason?"

Bigla akong kinabahan. Something must be happening. May iniabot na papel ang babae sa akin at nagdadalawang isip pa ako kung susulatan ko na bai yon o wag na muna.

"She remembers everything now, Zach! Nakakaalala na siya! Galing siya dito kanina at hinahanap ka! Zach, kung aalis ka man, wag ka nang tumuloy. She is coming back to you now..." his voice broke on the other line.

Bumuka ang bibig ko. Tama ba ang narinig ko? Nakakaalala na siya?

Bigla akong nabuhayan nang dahil doon. This is such a good timing. Kung kailan paalis na ako, tsaka siya nakaalala. Now I've got reason to stay.

Kami parin pala hanggang sa huli.

Mabilis kong inayos ang aking gamit. I need to see her. I need to know if she really remembers everything now.

"Miss, I have to cancel my flight. Something came up and I can't go."

Nagulat ang babae nang dahil sa sinabi ko. Nag-aalinlangan pa siya kung ibibigay niya na ba ang passport ko o hindi ngunit dahil nagmakaawa ako, wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang ibalik ito.

Mabilis akong umalis sa lugar na iyon. I texted Ryan to ask where she is. But he hasn't replied yet. Naglibot ako sa buong airport, sinusubukan na hanapin si Sam. Pero ilang beses akong nabibigo.

Hindi kaya ginamit lang ni Ryan iyon para pigilan akong umalis? But that isn't a good joke!

I ran my fingers through my hair. Hindi ko na talaga alam ang gagawin.

I was about to turn back and return to my line again. On board na ang flight ko, baka pupwede pa akong makahabol.

But all of a sudden, I stopped in my tracks when I heard my name.

"Zach! Zach! Zach!"

Kumunot ang noo ko. Pamilyar ang boses na iyon. Hindi kaya... totoo ang sinasabi ni Ryan?

I turned back again to check who it is. I feel like I could pass out anytime by now when I saw her slumped down of the floor. Her shoulders are shaking and I figured that maybe she's crying.

My lips started to shake. She's really here... she came back to me.

Lumapit ako sa kinatatayuan niya. I heard her muttering a lot of sorry's. She's wearing a gown which made me confused. Saan siya galing?

I bit my lip. I found my reason to live again. '

"What are you sorry for?" tanong ko.

Wala na akong pakialam pa kung pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga tao dito. This is such an important scene in my life. She finally remembers now! Finally! Finally!

Natigilan siya nang dahil sa narinig ko. Hindi pa siya lumilingon sa akin kaya pinanood ko siya habang pinapalis niya ang kanyang mga luha. I hold back my tears and tried to hide my smile.

Then there's this what ifs again. What if I really did leave today? Paano kung kailan nakaalis na ako tsaka siya dumating?

I'll probably regret leaving.

"What are you sorry for huh? Sam?" I asked again, this time my voice broke a little.

Tumayo siya at nilingon ako. Agad na tumulo ang mga luha sa kanyang mga mata nang makita niya ako. Totoo ngang nakakaalala na siya.

Bumalik na ang tingin na ibinibigay niya sa akin noon. That is my only confirmation that she remembers everything now. She doesn't look at me with so much indifference anymore.

Sam is looking at me like how she looks at her Zach.

"Zach..." she called out my name.

A small smile appeared on my lips. "So you're coming back to me now huh?"

Mabilis na bumuhos ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. She ran towards me and crushed me into a tight hug. I accepted her again.

Finally! The woman that I cherish the most is back in my arms. No one can take this away from me again. No one. I'll make sure of that.

Kaya naman nang makabalik na siya sa akin ay hindi na ako nagaksaya pa ng oras. Watching Ian and Kelly get married, made me think that it's also time for me to settle down.

I don't want to wait any longer. Ang tagal ko na rin naghihintay. Sawa na akong maghintay.

Now that she's here again, I'll make sure to never make her leave again. Itatali ko siya sa akin agad-agad.

I was supposed to propose in front of my whole family. But I couldn't wait any longer. The more that I stare at her, the more that I have this urge to ask her hand now.

I already ask her father for her hand before she died. Kaya wala na rin akong makitang rason para patagalin pa 'to.

I can't wait to replace her surname with mine. It will perfectly fit her name.

Samantha Greyshel E. Dela Merced

Damn! I feel like I'm in cloud nine while hearing those. I can't wait to marry this woman. She's the woman that God sent to me to keep me whole again.

We may have a rough start, but this is where we end. This is where we should be—in front of the altar.

Hindi ko na talaga inaksaya pa ang panahon. My previous team in NFL asked me to go back, but I refused. Because I wanted to focus on my family. I wanted to give them my time. Fully.

Sam and I enjoyed each other's company. We traveled to a lot of places already. Watched a lot of games with her.

One time, we were casually just talking about some funny things when suddenly the people around us are telling us that we're on the kiss cam! Nagawi ang tingin namin doon at nagulat.

They started cheering for us to kiss now. Sam chuckled before I grab her jaw to place a sweet kiss on her lips. At nang mga oras na iyon ay tsaka niya ipinaalam sa akin na buntis siya.

Imagine... telling the whole world you're finally pregnant? That is insane! Napatalon nalang ako sa tuwa.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti habang inaalala ang lahat nang nangyari sa amin. Nakatuko ang aking siko sa unan habang pinagmamasdan ko ang natutulog kong mag-ina.

I woke up early today for work. Isasabay ko na rin ang paghatid kay Ellie sa school. But for some reason, I didn't wake her up just yet. Pinagmasdan ko silang dalawa.

Napakagandang tanawin nito. This is why I always looks forward on waking up the next morning, dahil ito ang bubungad sa akin sa araw-araw.

This is just enough to start my day.

My eyes went down to my wife's swollen belly. I finally convinced her to have Ellie follow. Our next baby is a boy. Finally! May kakampi na ako!

If Ellie looks just like her mother, I'm sure our baby boy, looks so much like me. A future heartbreaker.

Sam shifted from her sleep, mamaya maya pa ay unti-unti na niyang iminulat ang kanyang mga mata. She immediately smiled at me. I couldn't help but smile back.

That was the same smile that made me hopelessly and deeply in love with her. Kahit na kasal na kami sa isa't isa at may dalawa nang anak, I will forever fall in love with her.

"What time is it?" tanong niya.

"Six."

"Ellie should get ready now. She might be late for school!"

I scoff. "Don't worry. Ako na ang bahala sakanya. Just stay there and worry about baby number two."

She rolled her eyes at me. Ginising ko naman si Ellie pagkatapos noon. I help her get ready. The maid already cooked the food for us, siya na rin ang nagpaligo kay Ellie habang ako naman ay nag-aayos para sa trabaho.

Nang lumabas ako sa walk-in closet ay nakita ko si Sam na inaayos ang buhok ni Ellie. Tuwang tuwa ang anak ko habang pinapanood ang sarili na inaayusan ng kanyang Mommy.

"Wow! Ellie is so pretty just like her mommy!" sabay silang napalingon sa akin. Ngumiti si Sam.

Hinalikan niya naman si Ellie sa pisngi at tsaka hinayaan ang anak na magtungo sa akin. Samantha stood up from the bed. Ngumiti siya sa amin.

"You ready?" I asked Ellie. She looked up at me.

"Yes! I'm excited to see my friends again!"

Kinuha ko ang kanyang back pack at isinukbit ito sa aking balikat. Narinig ko naman ang pagtawa ni Sam sa aking likod. I gave her a glare for teasing me.

Ang sabi niya sa akin natatawa daw siya sa tuwing nakikita niya akong suot ang bag ni Ellie.

"Ang laki mo kasing tao tapos biglang may suot kang bag na ganyan!" aniya nang tinanong ko siya kung bakit tuwang-tuwa siya sa tuwing nakikita ako na ganoon ang ayos.

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at tsaka sumunod sa amin palabas ng pinto. I started the engine of my car.

"Kiss mommy goodbye!" sabi ni Sam at tsaka yumuko para makahalik ang anak sa kanyang pisngi.

"Ako rin ba?" I asked with a smirk on my lips.

She rolled her eyes, pilit na tinatago ang kilig. She raised a brow, base palang sa tingin niyang iyon alam ko na ang ibig niyang sabihin. Ano pa daw ba ang hinihintay ko?

Lumapit ako sa kanya na parang bata na excited para sa kanyang candy. I kissed her sweetly.

"Yiieee!"

Nahinto lang ang paghalik ko kay Sam nang marinig namin si Ellie. Manang-mana talaga sa nanay! Tumawa kami.

Nang oras na para kami ay umalis ay walang humpay si Ellie sa pagkaway kay Samantha. She keeps on saying bye to her and her baby brother. Ellie is excited to meet her brother.

Kaya ko rin sinabi kay Sam na sundan na si Ellie dahil ilang beses na rin nagrerequest ito ng kapatid. Kaya ayun at pinagbigyan ko na!

I waved at Sam for the last time before I drive away from the house. I swear the smile didn't leave my face. I am just genuinely happy.

This is the life I always imagined living. I am just so grateful that God has given me so much and I don't know how I'll thank Him for everything that He has given me.

I look over to my daughter who's busy watching the view from the outside. This is all that matters to me.

I have everything now. And I couldn't ask for anything more.