"Waiting is a sign of true love and patience. Anyone can say I love you, but not everyone can wait and prove it's true." - Unknown

------------------------------

Xavi's POV

And it worked.

I could see Kaydence was tensed when I was walking towards her. The same face that I could see every time we would see each other back then.

She was trying to step backwards pero wala na siyang pupuntahan. Sukol na siya dahil napahawak na siya sa mesang naroon.

"What you need to do right now is to become a parent to Joshua by marrying me."

Titig na titig ako sa mukha niya at mas lalo akong natutuwa dahil sa nakikita kong pagkataranta doon.

Alam kong magpo-protesta si Kay kaya mabilis kong hinawakan ang ulo niya ay hinalikan siya sa labi.

Damn. How I missed her. Her scent. Her natural scent that I was longing for seven years. It was her. It was really her that I made love that night seven years ago.

Nagulat ako ng bigla akong itulak ni Kay.

"Kadiri ka! 'Yang bibig mo pinanghalik mo pa sa ibang babae tapos ihahalik mo sa akin," nagpipilit na makawala sa akin si Kay pero nanatili akong naka-dikit sa kanya. Parang diring-diri na pinapahid pa niya ang bibig at masamang tumingin sa akin.

Naguluhan ako sa sinabi niya pero kita ko pa rin ang pagkataranta sa mukha niya. I know she could feel the tension between us. The same tension that we felt every time we were together.

"Mag-mouthwash ka ng Lysol para matanggal ang bacteria ng babae mo," pilit na kumakawala siya sa akin pero pinigilan ko lang siya.

"Wala naman sakit si Sophie."

Lalong nag-apoy ang mata ni Kaydence at malakas akong itinulak. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay nakawala na siya sa akin at mabilis na lumayo. Napapabuga pa ng hangin at hindi malaman kung tatakbo o ano.

Napahinga ako ng malalim at napailing.

"Kay, can we talk please?"

Napalunok siya at kitang-kita ko pa rin ang tensyon sa kanya kaya natawa ako.

"You felt it, right?" Nanunuksong sabi ko.

"A-anong felt? Wala akong nararamdaman." Pilit na umiiwas sa akin si Kaydence kaya mabilis akong lumapit sa kanya at ikinulong ko siya sa mga bisig ko.

"Stop resisting it, Kay. I know you're feeling it too and let it loose. Wala na si Jeremy. Hindi ka na nakatali sa kasal." Titig na titig ako sa mukha niya at nakikita kong napapaiyak na si Kay habang nakatingin din sa akin. Marahan kong hinaplos ang mukha niya. "I've waited for this for so long. I've tried so hard to forget you pero isang ngiti mo lang, isang tingin mo lang tumitiklop ako sa iyo. You are the only woman who made me crazy like this."

"Made you crazy? Pero pumapapak ka ng ibang babae." I could still see jealousy in her eyes.

Natawa ako. "And it worked. Kung hindi ka pa bumigay sa pagpapaselos ko using Sophie, kikidnapin na kita at wala ka ng magagawa para ikasal ka sa akin."

Napapikit-pikit si Kaydence. Halatang pinipigil ang mapaiyak.

"I love you, Kay. Even if you're married, I would still love you. Kuntento na ako noon na mahalin ka mula sa malayo. Kuntento na akong mainggit habang nilalambing ka ni Jeremy. Parang pinipiga ang dibdib ko sa tuwing ikukuwento niya kung gaano siya kasuwerte na ikaw ang asawa niya. Inggit na inggit ako. I had it all but still I am longing for something that I cannot have and that was you. But Jeremy made something that would change everything. Huwag kang magalit kay Jeremy. He did that out of love for you. A selfish and selfless act at the same time."

Tuluyang nahulog ang mga luha ni Kaydence kaya marahan kong pinahid iyon.

"Pero bakit ikaw?" Umiiyak sa sabi niya.

Umiling lang ako habang nakatitig sa mukha niya.

"I don't know. Maybe his heart knew all along that I am madly in love with you and even if you can't love me back, I am still in love with you. Ang hirap 'nun, ah."

"Mahirap? Pero may pinapapak na nga na babae kanina."

Lalo kong hinigpitan ang yakap kay Kaydence.

"I tried to look to other women. Locals, foreigner. For seven years I was like crazy trying to forget you. You broke my heart into pieces but when I saw you again, after so many years, walang nagbago, Kay. Tanga pa rin akong umiibig sa iyo."

Natawa si Kaydence sa sinabi ko.

"Marry me, Kay. Tama na 'yung pitong taon na sinayang natin. Hindi ko sinasabing kalimutan mo si Jeremy but he is gone, and I am here. Mas gugustuhin ni Jeremy na tumanda ka ng may mag-aalaga sa iyo."

Lalong napaiyak si Kaydence at yumakap na sa akin. Doon humagulgol ng iyak.

Napapikit ako sa sarap ng pakiramdam. At last, after years of waiting in vain, just like Uncle Guido, I finally got the girl.

And when I kissed her this time, she willingly accepted it. She was kissing me back with full of passion. She was holding me tightly like she doesn't want to let me go.

"And you missed me too?" I said that in between kisses.

"Pinipilit ko lang isipin na si Jeremy pa rin. Pinipilit kong magpaka-lugmok sa alaala niya pero ang totoo, nagi-guilty kasi ako dahil pakiramdam ko pinalitan ko na siya dahil ikaw ang hinahanap ko. After 'nung nangyari sa atin pagkamatay niya, sobrang na-guilty ako kasi alam kong mali but it felt right."

"I know you felt it too." Napailing ako at napangiti ng mapakla. "So much years have wasted. Sana hindi na lang ako umalis. Sana kinulit kita. Sana hindi ako nag-give up."

"Siguro kung hindi naman tayo nagkalayo hindi rin magiging ganito. Hindi ko mare-realize kung ano 'yung worth mo. Hindi ko malalaman ang ginawa ni Jeremy." Nakita kong gumuhit ang sakit sa mukha ni Kaydence ng maisip ang ginawa ng asawa niya pero pinilit niyang ngumiti. "Masakit pa rin sa akin ang ginawa ni Jer but sabi mo nga, ginawa niya iyon dahil mahal niya ako." Nakatitig siya sa mukha ko. "Hindi ko pa kayang sabihin na mahal kita pero mararamdaman mo naman iyon, 'di ba? Hindi naman mahalaga ang mga salita."

"Okay lang sa akin. I just want you to marry me. Joshua needs a family." Napahinga ako ng malalim sa nakita ko noon na sitwasyon ni Joshua. "You did something to your child that hurt him. Just like me when I was little. I was trying to make my dad proud of me, but he never did, and I saw that on your son. Alam kong nagagalit ka sa kanya kasi hindi mo makita si Jeremy sa kanya. Ibang tao ang nakikita mo. But it's never too late. Puwede ka pang bumawi."

Napayuko si Kaydence at alam kong nahihiya siya.

"Bumabawi na ako sa anak ko. Itinatama ko na ang mga mali ko."

"At lalo kang bumawi kung pakakasalan mo na ako. Do you want to get married now?"

Nanlaki ang mata niyang tumingin sa akin. "Now? Ano ka ba? Ngayon lang tayo nagkausap ng ganito tapos magpapakasal ngayon? Saka baka mabigla si Joshua. Maguguluhan 'yung bata."

May punto naman doon si Kaydence.

"Then let's keep it a secret between us. Basta gusto ko magpakasal na tayo ngayon. Saka na natin sabihin kapag nasanay na si Joshua na kasama ako. Look, Jeremy could still be his father. It's fine if he would call me Uncle." Saglit akong parang nag-isip. "Uncle Xavi sounds good."

"Kung okay lang sa iyo." Sagot niya. Napatingin ako sa telepono ni Kaydence na tumutunog. Agad siyang lumayo sa akin at sinagot iyon. "Tom?"

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa kanya at sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Pakiramdam ko ay umiinit ang tenga ko dahil lang sa pakikipag-usap niya sa lalaking iyon. Sumenyas lang ng sandali sa akin si Kaydence.

"I am still here. Yes. Matatapos na rin." Napangiwi si Kaydence at halatang naiirita sa pakikipag-usap kay Tom tapos ay napataas ang kilay. "Nandiyan si Sophie? Nagsusumbong? Ng ano? Kami ni Xavi Costelo?" Tumingin siya sa akin na natatawa kaya natawa din ako. "May anak kami?"

Lumapit ako kay Kaydence at inagaw ko ang telepono sa kanya.

"Hi, Tom. Xavi Costelo here. Yes, we have a child together and we are going to get married today. She's not going back to your office anymore. I don't want her to work to an asshole like you. Bye." Tinapos ko ang tawag at itinapon ko sa kung saan ang telepono ni Kaydence.

"Anong ginawa mo?" Natatarantang kinuha niya ang telepono at akmang tatawagan si Tom para magpaliwanag pero inagaw ko ang telepono niya.

"You don't need to work. Kaya kitang buhayin ng parang reyna. I don't want you to work with him. He was taking advantage of you. Ayokong tinitingnan ka niya, ayokong hinahawakan ka niya ng ganoon. Baka sa pagkakatong ito, hindi ka nga mabibiyuda ulit pero mawawalan ka na naman ng asawa dahil makukulong ako kapag may nagawa akong hindi maganda sa kanya." Seryosong sabi ko.

"Grabe naman. Nakakatakot naman. Wala naman kaming ginagawa ni Tom." Protesta niya. "Boss ko iyon."

"Wala akong karapatang magselos noon dahil may-asawa ka. But this time, ako na ang pinaka-seloso sa lahat ng seloso. Mayabang na akong magselos ngayon kasi akin ka na."

Natawa si Kaydence sa sinabi ko. "Yabang."

"Talaga." Kumagat labi ako at hinapit siya palapit sa akin. "But, can we do the honeymoon first before we get married?"

Namula ang mukha ni Kaydence at parang nahiya sa akin.

"I missed you. And don't worry, I'll be gentle." Kumindat pa ako sa kanya.

"Siraulo. Ang bastos mo." Hinampas pa ako sa braso.

"Why? Of course, I am going to be gentle. It would be like first time. Seven years ba naman or may mga naging boyfriends ka din during that seven years that we're apart?" Nakaramdam agad ako ng pagseselos ng maisip kong may ibang lalaki pa sa buhay ni Kaydence bukod kay Jeremy.

"Siyempre wala. Nakatuon lang kay Joshua ang atensyon ko." Saglit na napa-ehem si kay. "Baka kasi, alam mo iyon? Sobrang tagal na." Napangiwi pa si Kaydence.

"Ako nga ang bahala. I promise you're going to enjoy it. Sa mesa sana," at tinapunan ko ng tingin ang dining table ko. "Para mas kinky pero baka mabigla ka." Kumindat ako sa kanya at ngumiti ako ng nakakaloko.

Nakita kong napalunok si Kay sa sinabi ko.

"Kaya ba tayo niyan?" Alanganing tanong niya.

"You want to try? Kapag nagiba bili uli tayo ng bago tapos gibain uli natin."

Kumagat-labi si Kaydence at napabuga ng hangin. Halatang kinakabahan.

"I am an animal in bed, Kay and I am going to unleash your animalistic side."

Bago pa siya nakasagot ay binuhat ko siya at inupo ko sa mesa. Panay ang tunog ng telepono niya pero hindi na namin pansin pareho. Kita ko ang pagkataranta sa mukha ni Kay, halatang kinakabahan pero hinihintay din niya ang susunod na gagawin ko.

I claimed her lips again. No inhibitions, no reservations. I was tasting it like this would be the last time that I could taste it. Nibbling her lips, sucking her tongue, probing its insides. She was kissing me back and pulling me closer to her.

The heat was beginning to envelope my whole being. I was starting to remove her clothes with her legs spread while sitting on the table and I am in front of her. My kisses were trailing from her mouth down to her neck and the same scent that I was longing for that scent long agoand it assaulted my nose. She smells good. Nakaka-addict. Nakakawala sa sarili. Mas lalo lang akong nakaramdam ng pag-iinit dahil sa amoy niya.

Kaydence was shocked when I pulled her blouse harshly. Nabubuwisit ako dahil hindi ko matanggal ang mga butones. Ayos lang masira ang damit niya kasi puwedeng hindi na rin naman siya nakadamit kung magkasama kami sa bahay. I want to make love to her every day.

Pakiramdam ko ay lalong nag-init ang pakiramdam ko ng makita ko ang dibdib niya na natatabingan ng bra. Unti-unting nawawala ang hiya.

I removed the cloth that covers her bosom. I felt my member stiffened when I saw her breasts. Damn, I missed this. My hands were shaking while I was trying to touch it. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes and opened it again just to tell myself that this isn't a dream anymore.

And this is not a dream. Kaydence is real. I am making love to her again. This time, we were doing it freely. Nothing was holding us back. No Jeremy, no guilt. Just the two of us savoring this pleasure.

I felt she held the end of my shirt and helped me to remove it. She was looking at my body and unconsciously, she traced my chest down to my stomach, down to the buttons of my pants. She started to unbutton it one by one. I let out a sigh because this gives me a sensation that I cannot explain. Grabe talaga ang epekto sa akin ni Kaydence. Ganito pa lang ang ginagawa niya sa akin pakiramdam ko, mawawala na ako sa huwisyo.

Tinanggal ko din ang pagkakabutones ng pantalon niya at hinila iyon pahubad sa kanya. What was left to her body was the tiny black bikini panty and I removed it too. I let my pants to go down to my feet letting loose of the hard shaft that needs to be petted.

I took Kay's hand and let it stroke my shaft and she did. I kissed her again while I am touching her core too. It was wet already. She was ready.

I pulled her closer to me letting her butt placed at the end of the table. She was looking at me with full of anticipation although I could still feel her anxiety. But in every touch that I made to her body I am assuring her that everything is going to be fine.

I aimed my rock-hard shaft to her opening. Slowly, I was trying to thrust, and she let out a soft moan when I was doing that. I was trying to make her comfortable at this moment.

When I felt that I was inside of her, I began to thrust. Slowly at first and I could feel her hips starting to sway moving at the same pace of my body rhythm. The feeling was so surreal, so perfect. Every move that she makes, every moan that she does makes me want to claim her more.

My pace became faster. I looked at her and she was looking at me. She got up and wrapped her arms to my neck. Eyes still glued to each other while I continuously thrusting on her while she was sitting at the end of the table. The table was moving but I don't care. I continued to thrust harder.

Her moans were like a whimpering animal. Her loud breaths were like she was going to pass out. The arousal was shrouding me, and I could feel that I would come anytime soon.

"Damn, Kay you're making me crazy," I whispered in her ear while I continue to thrust. She just keeps on moaning and pulling me closer to her. She let out a loud moan when I felt her juices covered my shaft inside of her and I couldn't hold it anymore.

I thrust faster and harder until I felt the release of my orgasm.

We were both panting while we were looking at each other.

"Told you, I am going to unleash your animalistic side," humihingal na sabi ko habang pareho pa rin kaming magkadikit.

Ngumiti lang siya habang patuloy na hinihingal. Idinikit ko ang noo ko sa noo niya.

"Matibay 'tong mesa mo," komento niya.

Natawa ako. "Then we should try another position next time para masubukan natin ang tibay pa niya."

Kumagat labi lang si Kay at nanatiling nakatingin sa akin. Marahan kong hinaplos ang mukha niya.

"I love you. Let's get married."

Tumango siya.

"Let's go."

Iyon na yata ang pinakamatamis na salitang narinig ko sa buong buhay ko bukod sa I love you.

At hindi ko na mahintay na maikasal pa sa babaeng kaya kong hintayin hanggang sa mamatay ako.

----------- END

Senyoras, sorry. I need to end Xavi's story. This is the hardest part again. The separation anxiety when everyone of us already invested too much emotions with the characters. Ayoko na siyang pahabain. Ayoko ng bigyan pa ng conflict because their relationship started with a conflict already. Masyado na silang maraming pinagdaanan and these two deserve the happy ever after that is due to them. I might add additional chapter soon but right now, this is the end.

Xavi and Kay signing off.

-HM❤️