"Hi?" Half-smile niyang bati sakin I don't know what's wrong with his face kahit naka-ngiti naman siya and I don't know why kung baket para akong tanga na hindi makapaniwala na he's really here, infront of me. Baket ba ko kinakabahan? It's just Aidan.

"Err. I t-thought. 1 week kang mawawala?" I ask him while he's staring at me and it sends shivers done my spine. Yung mga titig ni Aidan na ganyan, I know it's not good.

"I can't afford being away with you, I just can't." Mahinahon niyang sabi habang nakatayo pa rin siya sa harap ko not making any move na lumapit sakin. Ugh, nakaka-frustrate yung ganito cause I wanna hug and kiss him at this very moment!

"It's not like matagal kang mawawala." I said habang nagbuntong-hininga lang siya and I why do I see a disappointed look? Really, minsan hindi ko mabasa si Aidan. 

"Matagal na ang 1 week sakin at lalong mas naiisip kong matagal yon pag nalalaman kong magkasama kayo nung Borromeo na yon!" 

"Aidan, Kent's a friend and you don't have to worry." I reassure him. I know, he's cared. Pero sinabi ko naman sa kanyang mahal ko siya it's just that, wala pa kaming label as girlfriend/boyfriend but our feelings is mutual at isa pa, hindi pa niya ko tinatanong! Ayoko din naman magmadali cause I want to know him better and I guess, it works both ways.

"Maybe for you he's a friend. Pero lalake ako Safara. Alam kong gusto ka niya kaya nga nakikipaglapit siya sayo." Kalmado pa din niyang sabi. He's Aidan. He's stubborn, moody, ass, but he's mine. Ngumiti lang ako at niyakap siya and I feel his heartbeat really going fast.

"Shut up. I'm yours so screw that, 'Kent wants you' okay?" I said and kiss his cheeks and there, he's back to his normal self. Aidan and his insecurities. Really. I didn't know na sanay siyang ma-insecure. He's Aidan. Baka makipagpatayan ang mga babae para sa kanya. Naglakad lang kami habang magkahawak ng kamay palabas ng caf. Mamaya pa naman ang next class ko at wala namang pasok si Aidan ngayon kaya uuwi daw siya sa bahay talaga nila ngayon to settle some things.

"Hindi ba magagalit si Tito Mike dahil umuwi ka dito ng maaga?" I ask him dahil alam ko namang business yung dahilan ng pag-alis niya.

"Believe me Safara, halos palayasin na ko ni dad nung nalaman niyang nandito na ko ulit sa pilipinas." Sabi niya at nagawa pa talaga niyang tumawa.

"Sira ka talaga! Baket ba kasi umuwi ka pa dito?!" Inis kong tanong sa kanya habang hinampas ko lang siya sa braso niya.

"Ayokong nakaka-score si Borromeo sayo." Inis niyang sagot sabay hinto sa paglalakad kaya pati ako napahinto din dahil hawak niya pa rin yung kamay ko.

"What the hell. Anong nakaka-score? I told you Aidan, he's just a friend!"

"I don't approve."

"Aidan!"

"But I trust you." Sabi niya sabay halik sa forehead ko.

"So, aalis ka na ulit?"

"Pinaaalis mo ba ko, Mori?"

"No. Yes. No."

"Gulo mo kaya siguro patay na patay ako sayo no?" Sabi niya sabay yakap nanaman sakin. Ang corny naming dalawa. I remember myself not beong like this. I just can't believe myself falling for this man. Minsan, nakaka-overwhelm na yung thought.

"You're mine." I said while we're still hugging each other sa gitna ng hallway. Pag si Aidan talaga ang kasama ko, walang hiya-hiya cause it feels like it's just me and him no one else, just us.

"Of course let alone na akin ka lang din." He said and kissed my forehead once again. 

"San mo gustong pumunta?" Tanong ko sa kanya dahil mukhang wala naman kaming mapupuntahan na matino dito sa school.

"You have class." Sagot niya.

"I can ditch that-- ouch!" Napahawak naman ako sa noo ko na pinitik niya. Minsan talaga, brutal 'tong si Aidan eh.

"You can't ditch your class for me, Safara. I must be the one doing that for you. I must be the one doing shitty things cause I love you more than you love me, I must be the one doing everything because I love you a lot, I must be the one sacrificing cause my love for you is greater, I must be the one chasing you cause you are worth it, and I must be the one who's loving you more and more cause you deserve to be." He said and it leaves me breathless. Minsan talaga napapa-isip ako if I deserve this kind of treatment and love. I don't know but it will wreck me pag nawala si Aidan. Baka hindi ko kayanin cause this is the first time, I take risk. Risk with him and I hope this is all real. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko sa kanya cause I just want to cry because i'm so happy so I ended up, hugging and kissing him.

"Don't cry."

"I want to cry."

"No, you can't. I hate seeing you cry."

"You make me cry, cry because of happiness. I love you."

"So, tayo na?" He asks and who I am to say no to him? So I nod while still hugging him.

"Wag ka ng umiyak. Ayokong sasagutin mo ko ng umiiyak ka." Sabi niya habang pinupunasan yung mukha ko then he kiss my forehead again. His habit.

"So, tayo na nga?" Pagtatanong niya ulit as if hindi siya naniniwala.

"Oo nga." 

"I love you, Safara." Seryoso niyang sabi and I melt.

"I love you, too. Wag mo kong paiiyakin ha?" 

"Ayokong mag promise kasi gusto ko gagawin ko. Malay mo palagi kang umiyak sa tuwa dahil sobrang mahal kita."

"Ugh Aidan, you make me so speechless! Pag ako sinaktan mong lalake ka, ewan ko na lang talaga."

"Wala naman akong planong saktan ka." Sabi niya at hinawakan ulit yung kamay ko. Finally, we're officially together.

"Mori! Aidan!" Agad kaming napalingon kay Venice na kumakaway sa dulo ng hallway. Tumakbo lang siya palapit samin habang ngiting-ngiti.

"Kayo na noh?"

"Of course." Proud na proud na sabi ni Aidan habang lumakad na ulit kami papunta sa main lobby ng school.

"Hindi man lang nagpakipot 'tong si Safara?"

"No need for that, Venice. Ang importante yung kami na." Seryosong sabi ni Aidan at tango lang ng tango si Venice. Ano ba kasi alam niyan sa love love na yan eh for sure, hindi rin seryoso yng sa kanila ni Steven. Knowing Venice? She always play, she's the cliff and when you fall hard, you're dead.

"You both go to your class. Susunduin kita, okay?" Sabi ni Aidan sakin habang hinalikan nanaman ako sa forehead ko.

"Ayy flashy!" Epal ni Venice. Inirapan lang siya ni Aidan. Hahaha!

"Iniirapan mo ba ko, Oxrin? Baka gusto mong ibenta ko yang girlfriend mo sa mga lalakeng patay na patay diyan!" Natatawa na lang talaga ko sa kanilang dalawa dahil halatang naiinis si Aidan sa mga pinagsasabi ni Venice.

"My girlfriend is my girlfriend, Henares. Wag mo ng subukan.

"Taray neto! Sweet ka pala Aidan? Ba't hindi ako yung niligawan mo?"

"Hoy!" I butt in dahil hindi na tama ang sinasabi ni Venice. Aidan is mine.

"Joke lang naman, girl! Osige na mag bye-bye na kayo sa isa't-isa."

"Bye, Aidan. Love you." I said at hinalikan siya. It's just a smack and I don't care about Venice matanda na yan if I know.

"Bye, A.Z" Nagtaka naman ako. A.Z?!

"Kakasagot ko lang sayo may A.Z ka ng nalalaman! Sino yon?!"

"Oo nga! Nako, Aidan!" Epal nanaman ni Venice pero naka-ngiti lang si Aidan as if hindi ako naiinis. Ang moody ko ba? No. Hindi ko lang matanggap na tinatawag niya kong A.Z dahil baka initials yan ng babaeng nabola din niya.

"Silly." Tanging sagot niya habang may malawak na ngiti pa din. Ugggh.

"Tigilan mo, Aidan. Sino yung A.Z?!"

"I call you A.Z because it all begins and ends with you." And there I am again, feeling speechless and happy.