Unti-unti naming binuo ang pagkakaibigan namin. Dahan-dahan kaming nas naging open sa isa't isa at kinuwento ang mga nangyari sa buhay namin lalo na noong mga taong magkahiwalay kami.

Sinabi niya 'di madali ang naging experience niya sa bahay nila roon. He felt invisible. Akala niya kapag nakita na siya ulit ang Mama niya, hindi siya ituturing na parang wala lang. Pero minsan, kung sino pa 'yung nagluwal sa 'yo, siya pa 'yung magpaparamdam na hindi ka kamahal-mahal.

Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit nang magsimula nang pumatak ang kanyang mga luha. His half-siblings were a bit rude towards him. Ilang taon siyang nagtiis. He never felt home there. Pakiramdam niya ay naroon lang siya, hindi dahil parte siya ng pamilya, kung hindi, para lang sa offer.

"I'm so sorry, Eleazar..." I mumbled, caressing his back.He pulled away and I wiped off his tears using my thumb.

He visited me in my apartment and we both cooked for our lunch. Kakatapos lang namin kumain at naghugas. We were on the couch now.

He smiled. It was a genuine smile. "No, Prim. Thank you. Kasi dahil sa 'yo, unti-unti kong natutupad mga pangarap ko. You made me dream and hope," he uttered in a most sincere way possible. "You gave me strength."

I chuckled with the tears that escaped from my eyes. They were happy tears. "Salamat din, Eleazar... My life is very bumpy. But because of you, it's bearable..."

Umayos siya nang upo patagilid. Nakatupi ang isang binti at ang isa ay nakababa naman. He held my both hands. "Primrose, pwede na ba kitang ligawan?" His face went red. "Hindi kita pine-pressure, ah... Ligaw lang." He chuckled, feeling shy. "Pwede na ba akong lumagpas sa linya ng pagkakaibigan natin?" dagdag niya. My face heated. Ang... biglaan naman! Umawang ang mga labi ko nang maproseso ang ibig niyang sabihin. He panicked. "H-Hala! N-Nabigla na naman ba kita?" I gave him a cute pout and shook my head. "Hindi pwede...?" Lumukot ang kanyang mukha kaya mahina akong napatawa.

"Tatanggi pa ba ako?" I tilted my head and his exrpression changed. "Oo naman..." He was happy, ruffling his hair, could not believe that this is happening. He pinched his forearm. "Hindi ako nananaginip!"

"Hoy, ligaw pa lang, ha! Ikaw, feeling mo yata sinasagot na kita!" I hissed, joking.

He bit his lower lip. "Hmm, ang cute mo!" He pinched my cheeks and I giggled. "Ay, teka." He paused.

My brows knitted together. "Ano 'yon?" tanong ko.

"Gusto ko rin hingiin ang permiso ni Tito..." Bumitaw siya at napakamot sa ulo.

Napangiti ako at hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat niya. "Eleazar," I called him. "Alam kong bilang respeto mo 'yon kay Papa... pero sure ka bang papayag talaga siya?" Ngumisi ako.

He gasped. "Prim!?" He raised his brows. "Dati pa lang nagpapalakas na ako kay Tito! Pati kina Eston at Brielle!"

"Feeling ka talaga!" Tumayo siya sa aking harapan at hinigit ako sa kanyang bisig. "Oh, ayaw mo na 'ko pakawalan niyan..." I smiled and wrapped my arms on his body, resting my head.

"Wala nang aalis..." he whispered.

He told me that he owned a business and he brought me there the day after I let him court me. He opened the glass door for me and I stepped in first. I was amused by the design inside. The ambiance has relaxing vibes and the place smells so nice.

"Wow..." I unconsciously smiled. "Proud ako sa 'yo, Eleazar..." I touched the books on the book racks, beside the counter. May mga bookshelf din malapit sa glass windows at malapit sa pader at naka-row ito. "Ang ganda..."

"Ikaw ang iniisip ko habang pinaplano pa lang 'to... You love reading and Cheryl told me once that someday, you want to have a book cafe."

Ang mga table at upuan ay nordic style. The walls were white as well as the lightings. The exterior's looks historic renaissance. The book cafe doesn't only provides drinks but also pastries. There were some motivational quotes on little wood boards. Mag mga honeycomb spaces din at mukhang komportable roon at maraming customers ang naroon.

That's now my favorite spot to have a date with Eleazar. We spent most of the time there.

We personally went to my house and told my father that he was courting me. My siblings still have their school so he just bought them foods when they'll come home.

My father seemed glad about the news and I was taken aback when he hugged Eleazar. "Alagaan mo at mahalin ang anak ko... Deserve niyong dalawa ng pagmanahal... Salamat, ha?"

Eleazar chuckled when they pulled away. "Salamat din po sa pagtitiwala sa akin, Tito... Hindi pa nga lang ako sinasagot." I playfully rolled my eyes when he looked at me.

We became official and said 'yes' on the same day as his birthday. We were now nine months together.

I received an email and the sender's name made my heart leap in nervousness. Bianca. She was the one who emailed me. She wants us to meet and talk.

Sinabi ko ito kay Eleazar at sinabi kong makikipag-usap ako kay Bianca. Tinanggap naman niya ang aking desisyon at nag-offer na sasamahan ako roon at kahit sa labas lang daw siya. I just told him that there's no need to bring him there and I can handle it.

I was sitting against the countertop, with my hands on my side. "Okay... Kahit ako na maghatid sa 'yo, pwede?" He glanced and I nodded as I watched him pour the broth on our meal. "Tapos sa supermarket na ako mamimili... Ite-text na lang kita." He gave me a quick kiss on my lips. "Love you," he uttered.

I giggled. "Love you too, mi amor..." I pulled him closer and gave him a longer kiss.

Kabado ako nang makababa sa sasakyan ni Eleazar. He bid goodbye before I went inside. The atmosphere felt heavy.

I just found myself seating across her. She was wearing a black tank top and white shorts. Ako naman ay naka-baby blue sleeveless dreass na taas konti ng tuhod.

"It's too late..." she started. "So if you're not going to believe or listen to what I am going to say, I know I don't deserve your forgiveness..." She inhaled deeply. "For all the things I've done to you... It's so painful." Mariin akong lumunok. "I loved Eleazar... in a wrong way... I love him so much that it came to the point where I did wrong and horrible things. I intentionally hurt you because I was so jealous... I used my fame to destroy you..." Yumuko siya.

"Feeling ko inaagaw mo siya sa akin noon..." She lifted her gaze back to me. "'Yon pala, dati pa lang pinipili ka niya... Dati pa lang, ikaw na talaga..."

I licked my lower lip and hold my hands together under the table. "Sobrang baba ng tingin ko sa sarili ko dahil sa mga binabato sa 'kin ng mga tao..." I painfully smile. "Naiisip ko na hindi naman nila ako kilala pero bakit agad nila ako hinuhusgahan? Bakit ang sakit nila magsalita? Pakiramdam ko, ako ang pinakapangit na tao sa mundo... La-Lahat ng ginagawa ko, may nasasabi ang iba. I felt caged and I came to the point of hating myself. I was so confused... I was so hurt..."

My heart clenched in pain, remembering those days when I myself, looked down on my own. Not taking care and loving myself. And, for not being able to look for the beauty within me. Lagi lang akong naka-focus sa sinasabi ng iba at nakalimutan na mayroon pa akong 'ako' at si Eleazar at ang pamilya ko.

"Lhadeen, I'm truly sorry..." She placed her hands together in her front, gesturing to ask me for forgiveness, and closed her eyes, begging. "You can slap me if y-you want..." Garalgal ang kanyang boses. "P-Pwede mo a-akong sabunutan p-para makaganti ka..."

I exhaled slowly. She opened her eyes and our gazes met. "Hindi ako ganoong klaseng tao, Bianca. Ayaw ko nang gumaganti. Ayaw na ayaw ko ng gulo... Gusto ko lang naman talaga ng tahimik at payapang buhay," sambit ko sa kanya.

Kanyang ibinaba ang mga kamay at sunod-sunod na napalunok. "S-Sorry..."

I gave her a small smile. Then, I heard my phone beeped from my purse. My eyes were on the screen. I grinned when Eleazar has already texted me. I locked the screen before I stood up. "It was nice seeing you again for a long time, Bianca." I gestured my head towards the glass door of the cafe. "Mauna na ako." I didn't wait for her reply. Diretso lang akong lumabas doon at nagpapasalamat na bahagyang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.

Eleazar both promised to take things slow. We had already talked about making loved and both agreed that we'll do is if we were both ready and married.

We also swore that we'll have an open communication to one another. Pareho naming susuportahan ang gusto ng isa't isa. Pag-uusapan ang mga gagawing desisyon at problema. We fought sometimes. Petty fight.

But he'd never raise his voice at me and that's one of the things that I am grateful for. Ayaw na ayaw ko nang tinataasan ako ng boses. It's normal to have fights or arguments in a relationship. What's not normal is, when the two of you won't fix it because of youre pride.

"Kung galit ka sa akin, magalit ka lang. Gusto kong sinusuyo ka," he uttered and laughed softly afterwards. We were lying on his bed, talking things, laughing, cuddling, flirting.

"Talaga ba?" I arched a brow. "Kung ganoon, kahit paiba-iba ang mood ko, hindi ka magsasawa sa akin?" tanong ko.

He caressed my hair and planted a soft kiss on my cheek. "Hindi ako magsasawa. Ikaw ang gusto kong makasama hanggang sa pagtanda, kaya mahaba-habang pasensya at pag-unawa o kahit ano pa 'yan, kaya kong gawin para sa 'yo."

His remarks made me smile. I turned to my side and buried my face on his chest and he wrapped his arms on my body until there was no space between us. "Kung darating ang araw na ready na tayo magkaanak, ilan ang gusto mo?" marahan kong tanong.

Ang tagal ko rin 'tong laging pinag-iisipan. Darating ang panahon na magpapakasal kami at bubuo ng pamilya. Gusto ko lang din marinig ang opinyon niya tungkol dito.

"Kung ilan ang kaya mo." I felt his lips on the top of my head. "Pero kung ayaw mo, ayos lang din. Kung isa, ayos lang din. Ikaw ang magdadala ng bata ng siyam na buwan, mahirap din 'yon, kaya nasa sa 'yo pa rin naman..." I nodded.

"Pero kung sa 'yo..." I trailed off. "Iyong gusto mo talaga, ha? Kung hindi mo ako iisipin. Ilang anak ang gusto mo?" I lift my head and looked up to him.

He was looking at me, thinking. "Hmm..." He tilted his head making me laugh. Parang mapapasabak yata ako sa dami ng iniisip niya! "Kung ako... siguro kahit dalawa..." He plastered a dazzling smile.

I clicked my tongue and nodded. "I think I liked it too..." I quickly gave him a peck on his lips and giggled. "Kailan natin sisimulan?" pagbibiro ko bago ngumisi.

Eleazar accepted my flaws and by that, I blossom. A life with him is indeed really for keeps.

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