"Here," bigla na lang niya sinabi at may kinuha sa kanyang likuran. Inalis ko ang pagkasandal sa balikat niya at tiningnan ang binigay niya sa akin.

"Is this the prize you got from earlier?!" Hysterical na sabi ko. Inabot lang naman niya sa akin ang necklace na nakuha niya sa akin. Nakita ko naman ang pagtango niya. I opened the jewelry box and saw the red scarlet inside. It was really beautiful! Beautiful than the picture that I saw in the internet!

"Wala talaga akong planong sumali kanina. But I heard you and your cousin talking about this necklace. And I've decided to earn it for you."

"I never knew that you'll be this romantic!" I exclaimed, glancing at him. At kahit medyo may kadiliman sa pwesto naming dalawa ay kita ko ang pagpula ng kayang tenga. I even saw him looked away!

"You don't have to be shy! Wala ka na dapat ikahiya. Besides, you already confessed your feelings to me. Wala nang bawian 'yon. And thank you for giving me this necklace. Kahit nakakainis ka kanina dahil mananalo na dapat ako." Pabiro kong hinampas ang balikat niya at tumingin ulit sa necklace.

"Then you should have run faster." Baling naman nito sa akin. I pouted my lips and crossed my arms to my chest.

"I did! Hindi ko lang aasahan na magdadive ka sa buhangin para lang manalo." Trevor let out a chuckle. And I couldn't help myself but smile while staring at his handsome face. He looked really comfortable right now and I don't want this moment to finish. I could live for just staring at his smiling face, which looked lively.

"Trevor? Is this real?" Bigla ko na lang naitanong. Bumaling ang atensiyon niya sa akin. He looked worried right now.

"It's just that... this moment seems like it was good to be true. I can't just grasp the idea of you loving me." I pause.

"This moment is the best thing that happened in my life." I added. Trevor reached for my hands and put it in his lips, giving it light kisses. Nakakunot na rin ang noo niya na parang pinagiisipan din ang gusto niyang sabihin sa akin.

"Tori, believe it or not, everything is real. I love you truly. And I'm sorry for putting you into difficult situations all these years." Humigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ko. He gave me a quick kiss on my lips. He sounded as if he was regretting everything.

"Then, are we already dating?" I just want to make it clear.

"If what we're doing now is not dating then I don't know what this is called."

"You're my boyfriend now," I said with a dismissive smile.

"And you're mine, Tori." My heart fluttered. That's why when I looked deeply into his eyes, I just pushed myself on him and gave him a tight hug. I caught him off guard, losing his balance. Kaya naman napahiga siya sa buhangin. At dahil nakayakap ako sa kanya ay napahiga na rin ako sa taas niya. Parehas kaming natawa sa sitwasyon naming dalawa.

"Tori, sabihin mo lang na gusto mo. Dahil pwede naman." Trevor gave me another meaningful look. Unti-unting nagsisink-in ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"Trevor!" I shouted and pinch the side of his waistline. I rolled over to his side.

"I'm not even thinking about doing that! Let alone in a public place."

"Let's see about that." I looked at him confused, trying to figure out what he's trying to say. Naramdaman ko ang pagkapula ng aking pisne dahil naalala ko na naman ang ginawa namin dalawa sa studio niya. Is there a possibility na mauulit ito?

"I will never regret falling in love with you." Bulalas ko habang nakatingin sa kalangitan. And I know that he can hear me. I can even feel the heat of his breath on my left cheek.

I close my eyes for a moment.

"Do you know the phrase I love you to death?" Napatingin ako kay Trevor na ngayon ay nagsalita. He's just lying there while looking at the night sky.

"It wasn't the case for me, Tori. I love you for life. And for the record, I didn't regret falling for you too." He diverted his eyes to me. I suddenly leap on his arms, pushing my body to him.

What did I do to my life to deserve a man like Trevor?

For another five minutes, we stayed in that kind of position. We're lying on the sand side by side while looking at the stars in the sky. We are surrounded by comfortable silence. But when I started to shiver because of the cold, he asked me if I want to go back to the cottage. Nakaramdam na rin ako ng pagkagutom at pagod kaya naman napagpasyahan naming bumalik na sa cottage.

Sabay kaming naglakad pabalik, he's holding my hands and I can't keep a straight face. The mere touching of our skins made me blush. Normal naman kiligin siguro na kiligin habang magkahawak kamay na naglalakad, diba?

Pero nang makita kong malapit na kami sa cottage, dahil nakikita ko na sila Nikos bigla akong napatigil. Trevor stopped too and looked at me.

"Oh God! Magtataka sila kapag nakita nilang sabay tayong bumalik?" Takhang tanong ko habang pinagmamasdan sila Hiro at Nikos mula sa malayo.

"Hindi ba sila nagtaka na nang sabay tayong nawala?" Trevor asked, glancing at his friends.

"Trevor, I think we shouldn't tell them that we're dating?" Baling ko sa kanya nang magtama ang aming mga tingin. He raised his eyebrows at me.

"Why not? Kinakahiya mo ba ako?" I shook my head.

"Syempre naman hindi! Sa pogi mong 'yan ikakahiya pa ba kita? It's just that I've been always telling them that I already move on from you. For all the drama that I brought to the family, I don't think this is the best time to show them that we're already dating." Napansin ko ang pagtahimik ni Trevor na parang pinagiisipan pa ang gusto kong iparating.

"Okay, but I want your family to know that we're already dating. However, since this is your decision I will respect it."

"Thank you," I tiptoe and give him a quick peck on his lips, he's about to deepen the kiss again but I started running towards the cottage. Iniwan ko ang binata na nakatayo habang napapailing sa ginawa ko. I mouthed sorry at him and waved my hands.

Ha! I just couldn't wait to get out of this place para ma solo ka na si Trevor. But with other people's presence, it seems so impossible for me to be with Trevor.

"Saan ka naman nagpunta?" Ito ang bungad sa akin ni Hiro. Basa ang buong damit niya. Hindi na ako nagtaka dahil naligo lang naman sila kanina sa dagat.

"Sumakit tyan ko, bakit sasama ka ba sakin?" Hiro crinkled his nose.

"Kapag ba sumasakit ang tyan ay namumula rin ang pisngi?" Bigla tuloy akong napahawak sa pisngi ko dahil sa sinabi ni Hiro.

"Just kidding." He said, ruffling my hair, as he walk towards Nikos and Raven.

"Good thing that you're back Tori. Gosh! Those guys are chaotic, wala na natatapos dahil sa pagbibiruan nila." Reeve said behind my back. Holding the rice cooker and putting it on the table. I helped Reeve in setting the table. Napatingin naman ako sa hotel. They'll probably be comfortable inside. But it's okay, staying outside wasn't bad at all.

Trevor comfortably approached his friends. As if nothing happened earlier. And when our eyes met, he secretly blew me a kiss. At dahil sa ginawa niya ay pakiramdam kong lalo lang namula ang aking pisngi. He casually sits beside Nikos and joins their conversation but he's looking at me from time to time. Tumuturo na rin ito sa kanyang pisngi. I gave him a confused look. Why is he pointing at his cheeks?

"Tori," tawag sa akin ni Reeve na ngayon ay nagsisimula na kumain ng dinner. I suddenly felt my stomach grumbling.

"Did you already look at yourself in the mirror?" Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa tanong niya.

"Nikos told me not to tell you but I don't think it's right. Meron ka kasing uling sa may right cheeks mo. Wait, I'll give you wet wipes." My face widened in shock. I hurriedly get my phone in my pocket and check my cheeks. Reeve is right!

Did Trevor just confess to me while I have charcoal on my cheeks!? I probably got this while I'm blowing the charcoal grill for the barbecue. Parang gusto ko na lang kainin ng lupa dahil dito.

When Reeve gave me the wet wipes, I hurriedly remove them from my face. And when I looked at Trevor for one more time, he was laughing at me.

***

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