---------------BOOK DETAILS----------------

[BOOK NAME] The girl who just can't move

[TOTALPARTS] 16
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[ BOOK DESCRIPTION ]
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Robi only knows one thing, he's still in love with Ian. He was ready to be with her
now, he's willing to do everything just to be with her, but there is a problem, Ian
already gave him up. What would Robi do to beat the odds and be with his Super Ian
again?

A story of believing, not giving up and loving the one person you promised to spend
your forever with.
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[1] The girl who just can't move
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FOR THE REAL SUPER IAN.

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ONE

"Tulala ka na naman dyan. Dark clouds shrouding over you again?"

"No... I got an e-mail from James. He's getting married." I turned to Trey.

"I know. He sent me an invitation. He's getting married to a girl named Irish. Do
you know her?"

"Yeah. She's... Was Robi's fiancé." I sighed at the thought of how ironic it was.

"So... are you going? I mean, you and James are best friends and you've been away
from them for ages now. Don't you think it's about time you go back and face every
one?"

I thought about what Trey said. Am I ready to go back already? Everything's fine
between Robi and the guys. He's back in the band now. Making hits after hits.
Still, he's singing my song. He took my title. He's now known as 'the man who can't
be moved'.

"What about you? Don't you think it's about time you tell them about Angelika? It's
been a year now. They're your friends too, Trey. Kung hindi pa kita pinuntahan dito
sa New York, hindi ko malalaman na wala na..."
"Ian, please... I know it's been a year already and I've accepted that she's gone.
But my heart is still hurting every time I hear that given fact. Time doesn't
really heal all wounds. You just get used to it. I'll live... Trust me." He gave me
an assuring smile.

Trey turned on the TV. Life really has its ways of showing you how ironic the
universe is, 'coz as soon as Trey turned on the TV, it was Robi's face on close up-
singing 'The Man Who Can't be Moved' yet again.

"Don't you think that fate is trying to tell you something?" Trey asked me as if
trying to shoot some sense in my head.

"Whatever fate has to say, I'm not interested." I stood up.

"You still haven't answered my question." Trey stood up as well.

"I did. I said I'm not interested."

"No. You still haven't answered my question about going to James' wedding. It's
James' special day. Decide because of James and not because of Robi. Besides, you
and Robi still live in the same planet. Not unless you move to another planet, the
chances of you and Robi meeting again will never be scored to zero."

"Haiii... Sana naging alien na lang talaga ako para isang tawag lang sa planeta
namin darating na yung mother ship para ilayo ako dito."

"Wag naman. Ikaw na nga lang nasasabihan ko tungkol sa pagiging miserable ko, tapos
balak mo pa mangibang planeta. Tinalikuran mo lahat-lahat ng meron ka just to
escape from Robi. Fame. Friends. Alam mo Ian, sooner or later, you'll have to go
back and face the chances of you and Robi bumping into eachother. It's inevitable."

"I know..."

"Yun naman pala eh. So why not do it on James' wedding?"

"Trey..." I sighed. I wanted to beg him not to make me go back.

"Ian. You're very important to James. Everyone in the band knows that. He always
took care of you, watched over you, and supported you. It's time that you return
that favor."

Typical Trey- always knowing the right words to say to persuade us into doing
something that we don't feel like doing.

"I'll do it if you go with me to the wedding and tell them about what happened to
you... I can't do this without you Trey. James is getting married and he was the
one who always held my hand and handed me tissues every time my dam of tears is
cracking. James always knew how to make me feel better. Now that he's getting
married, he can't do that anymore. Meron na syang Irish ngayon eh. Meron na syang
Irish forever."

"Selos ka naman?" Trey joked.

"No... I'm happy for James. Really. Maxcardo deserves a love na sa kanya lang- yung
walang kaagaw. Yung sya ang first choice. Who would've thought they would end up
together. Yung dalawang taong nasaktan namin ni Robi, happy in each other's arms.
Ang kulit ng mundo diba?"

"Ganyan ka na ba mag-express ng happiness? Para kang iiyak eh."

"Kasi naman... Lahat kayo kinasal na. Angelika may be in heaven already, but still,
you were married to her. Your soul bonded with hers in the eye of the heavens. All
of you reached your happily ever afters na. Eh ako? Still the bride's maid sa
wedding ng banda."

"Then go to James' wedding. Walang best man si James kasi babae yung pinili nya.
You're James best girl. Iba na yung role mo. Hindi ka na bride's maid."

"Feeling mo naman nakakatawa ka?" I smirked.

"It's true. Ikaw ang pinili nya. Read the invitation." Trey handed me the invite.
"I'm going out for a walk. Iwan muna kita dito. Marami na kong stock ng gummy bears
dyan, ubusin mo kung gusto mo."
"Yey! Thanks Trey..."

"And, correction. Not all of us reached our happily ever afters. Wala pa ring
happily ever after si Robi. He can't have his happily ever after without you..."
Trey smiled and left me speechless.

I didn't know what to say. If Robi's happily ever after depended on me, will I give
it to him? I don't think I can. It's too painful... I don't think I can look at him
and not feel all the pain he caused me rushing through my soul. I don't want to
feel that pain ever again. This pain and huge hole in my heart is enough already.
If another surge of pain and emptiness comes, it will be the death of my heart and
my soul- and I don't feel like dying yet. I haven't seen the whole world yet, so
dying is not an option.

After the nationwide tour with the band a year ago, I left. I left without telling
anyone where I was going. I wanted to be alone I wanted to isolate myself from
everyone who's protecting me. I felt like the more they protected me, the more I
can't manage the pain. After the concert in Palawan, I took the first flight to
Australia. I went home to my family. I missed them so much. I've passed up on
spending years with my family because I chose to wait for Robi. Every time I
thought about the things I've given up for Robi, the more I feel like I didn't know
myself apart from him. I don't know who I am without him in my life. I did certain
things because of Robi. I learned drums because he taught me. I love playing the
drums because he loves it too. I'm a part of Neon because of him. I learned how to
love because of him. I've hurt Irish and my bestfriend because of him. I left my
life because of him. I threw my caution to the wind because of him. And now, I'm
all confused because of him. After a year of trying to heal myself and living with
the pain, I'm still here... Still trying... Still hurting... Still dying...

What if self exile is not the remedy to this empty and painful feeling in my chest?
What if I try doing it the other way around? What if I stop running away and face
everyone? What if I go back living the life I left in the Philippines? Will I be
able to face Robi without my heart cracking? Wait... My heart's already smashed
into gazillion pieces. What else is there to break? Obviously, my tears haven't
gone dry. I still have a damn of tears to cry. Sometimes, my tears would just burst
out. It has become something that I can't control. That's how miserable I have
become- much, much more miserable than missing and waiting in vain for Robi for 5
years.

I sat on the swing on Trey's backyard. I looked up at the night sky. No stars. No
spark of hope for me. I sighed.
"I have to go back now, right? I have to be the bestfriend to James now. He was
always the bestfriend. I never gave him my fair share of that friendship. It's the
least I can do for him... As for Robi, I'll try to make him a faded background of
my present."

....and that's how I ended up standing on the shore of James' island in a white
dress waiting for my best friend's wedding to start.

"Kala ko i-indian-in mo ko eh."

It was James' voice.

"I almost did. But I won't be able to forgive myself if I did that." I turned to
him and smiled.

He walked up to me. I'm glad that his eyes are finally filled with happiness. The
last time I saw him was almost a year ago in Spain. He was looking for me- and he
did find me with the help of Irish, only I didn't want him to find me. His eyes
back then were filled with confusion, hurt, loneliness... and even emptiness. Now,
he seems to be the happiest guy in the planet.

"Can I get a hug?" I opened my arms.

He opened his arms as well and hugged me tightly.

"I missed you, you little pain in the neck." He whispered.

"I missed you too my PSG." I whispered to him. "I'm happy for you. I'm happy that
you found someone who can give you the same love and happiness you give. I'm happy
for you and Irish." I pulled away.

Nothing can wipe away the smile on James' face. He messed my hair.
"Can you fix my tie?" He pleaded.

"Haii naku. Hanggang ngayon hindi ka pa din marunong mag-ayos ng tie mo?" I
smirked. "Sige na nga. For the last time. Kasi, si Irish na yung gagawa nito para
sayo." I said while fixing his tie. "Ayan. Perfect. Gwapo mo na Yi Jeong."

"I will always be your Yi Jeong kahit na Jun Pyo na ko ng Jan Di ko. Thank you for
being here, Ian."

"Wala yun. You've always been there for me. You were always the best friend kahit
wala akong maibigay sayo in return. Now, it's my turn to be the best friend to
you."

"Asus! Papasakitin mo lang ulo ko eh." He started walking to where the ceremony was
set up.

"Hindi ah. Nagbago na po kaya ako." I said as I followed him.

He took out his phone and looked at it.

"They're here. Nasa villa na sila Ali. Kasama na daw nila si Trey. Hindi pa nila
alam na nandito ka. Sigurado ako, magugulat sila pag nakita ka nila. Tara, puntahan
na natin sila!"

We ran to the villa where the guys are. Kinakabahan ako. One year na since last ko
sila nakita. Umalis ako ng Palawan without a word. We were about to enter the villa
when I pulled James' hand.

"O, bakit?" James asked.

"Kinakabahan ako eh. Pano kung galit sila sakin kasi hindi ako nagparamdam ng isang
taon?"

"Hindi magagalit yug mga yun. Babatukan ko kung sino man ang magalit sayo. Okay?
Akong bahala. Tago ka sa likod ko. Gugulatin natin sila."
I took a deep breath. James turned his back on me and I stepped closer to him so I
won't be seen as we enter the villa.

"Ready?" James asked.

"Ready." I answered.

He opened the door and I heard the voices I missed so much. Anton's laugh, Rika's
authoritative voice, Ali and Rapah's bantering. Zach and Audrina's sweet nothings.

"JAIME!" Ali yelled. "Ang tagal mo. Kanina pa kami naghihintay dito. Anong oras ba
magsisimula yung kasal nyo? Swimming na swimming na kami ni Rapah."

"In 15 minutes. Pasensya na ha. May kinuha kasi ako sa tabing dagat eh. Welcome
gift ko sana sa inyo." James said.

I took a deep breath again.

"Wow! Ang sosyal naman. May welcoming gift ka pa para samin. Ano ba yan?" Anton
asked in curiosity.

"Magsi-kapit na kayo sa kinauupuan nyo kasi baka hindi nyo kayanin yung regalo ko
sa inyo." James building the excitement.

"Ano ba kasi yan kuya?!" Rapah asked impatiently.

"Ready na ba kayo?!" James asked.

"Stop it already!" Zach exclaimed.

"One, two, three!!!" James yelled as I revealed myself to them.

"SINONG NAMISS NYONG LAHAT?!" I screamed.

"IAN!!!" They all jumped off of their seats and ran to me locking me up in a tight
group hug.

"Can't breathe." I said as I was gasping for air.

"You're back! Buo na talaga tayo!" Ali yelled in happiness.

So this is what happiness felt like. Ang tagal ko na nga sigurong malungkot kaya
nakalimutan ko na maging masaya. Being surrounded and embraced by the people I
love, covers up the huge hole in my heart and soul. In the corner of my eye, I saw
that dark figure standing at the other end of the room staring at me. He looked
tired, lonely, empty, miserable- but his eyes suddenly lit up with hope. Then, my
heart started beating fast and electric currents came rushing down my spine. It
felt like I was being brought back to life. But as soon as I realized who it was,
reality dawned on me why those electric currents suddenly hurt. It was ROBI.

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[2] The girl who just can't move (TWO)
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After the hugs from Rika, Rapah, Audrina and my five super gwapo unofficial
boyfriends, we went out to the beach side where the ceremony will be held. I stood
by James as he watched his lovely bride stride in white sand. Irish looked like a
fairy, a very gorgeous fairy. We caught each other's eye and smiled. Then, I
realized that Robi was marching in front of Irish. What the hell? Does this mean
that he is Irish's maid of honor? Or guy of honor, rather? What the hell again?!
Why do I even care?! I took a deep breath and focused on Irish marching towards
James. If I would be asked to describe the word happiness, I would instantly point
to James and Irish. They're the perfect description of happiness right now.

The ceremony ended and the after party started. It is a tradition that the maid of
honor and the best man would propose a toast or share a story or simple words to
the couple, but in this case the best girl and the guy of honor will do the
tradition. I raised my glass first.

"I just want to share this incident that happened in Spain a year ago. As everyone
know, I went missing in action after the tour and then after three months James
went missing too. Well... James wasn't really sick unlike what the press said. And
no, he didn't go to prison or rehab unlike what our rivals have spread. James went
to Spain looking for me. That's how good of a friend he is. He just went to Spain
not knowing how he could look for me nor where to start, but then he saw Irish from
that second hand shop wearing a really, really beautiful wedding gown. He went out
of the car he was on, mesmerized with what he had seen. Right there and then, I
knew that you've finally found your Gail, my best friend Yi Jeong."
James looked at me with surprised expression.

"Gulat ka noh? Nandun ako. I saw you chasing Irish on the street. And I knew that
if I give you more time to be with her, you'll see how she can simply light up your
world. And, as always, tama ako... James, take care of Irish. Take care of your
happiness. Irish, take care of my best friend. He always took care of us, now, it's
time that someone takes good care of him. Masarap magmahal yan si Maxcardo. You're
lucky to have the privilege of feeling that love forever. And as for you Maxcardo,
mahalin mo pa ng sobra-sobra si Irish, dahil wala ka ng makukuha na ganyan kaganda.
To Mr. and Mrs. Jaime Maxcardo. Music. Happiness. And lots and lots and lots of
love. Cheers!" I cheered as I raised my champagne glass.

"Cheers!" Everyone chorused.

I went back to my seat feeling proud of my speech. Then, Robi stood up and went up
front to give his speech to the happy couple. He looked anxious.

"How do I start this? I don't even know what to say..." Robi sighed.

I couldn't bear looking at him. I turned my gaze to the sea.

"James and I were best friends from way back. Magkasundo kami when it comes to
music. We like the same things. And we even liked the same girls. I think it's
right to assume that everyone here knows about the happy couple's love story. I
never thought that Mr. It's Complicated and the Spanish Senorita would end up
together. But, when they did, I realized that they're perfect for each other. James
is the type of guy who falls so deep that he would take all the painful blow for
the person he loves. He's selfless when it comes to love. Irish, on the other hand,
will give everything for love. Two people with so much love to give deserve so much
love in return. Both of you can fill this island with love. Of all the pain the two
of you have been through, I'm sure that everything becomes worth it when you look
at each other. I'm happy that you've reached you happily ever after. To Mr. and
Mrs. It's Complicated No More, love, happiness, more love, more happiness, and even
more love. Cheers."

Everyone clapped again. I felt like my heart was going to burst. I couldn't
breathe. I stood up and walked to the shore. I need to breathe. I need to be far
away from all the things that reminded me of this painful thing in my chest.

"Ano ba Adrianne?" I whispered to myself. "After one year, he still has the same
effect on you? Maawa ka naman sa sarili mo. Nagpapaka-ta.."
"Yanyan, are you okay?"

Shit. I froze up. It's him. I couldn't move.

"I really wished hard na sana dumating ka. Then, I remembered it's James we're
talking about. Malakas yun masyado sayo para Indian-in mo sya... How are you? You
were gone for so long."

"You don't have to pretend like you care." I walked out on him.

"Ian, wait!" He called out to me and grabbed my wrist.

I kept my stance. I didn't move from where I was standing. My back still turned to
him. Then, He let go of my wrist and hugged me tightly.

Oh no... dam of tears now cracking.

"Ano ba?! Will you stop this drama!" I raised my voice.

"One minute lang, Ian. Please.. I missed you so much."

I struggled to free myself from his embrace.

"Pwede ba, tumigil ka na. Noon nga, ginawa ko yan sayo hindi gumana, what makes you
think na gagana yan sakin ngayon? And please, this is James' and Irish's wedding.
Don't make this about you. Spare this day from your selfish schemes." I turned away
and went back to the reception.

I sat on my designated seat and that's when I felt my heart getting smashed again.

James lent the island to us for a whole week while they're away for the honeymoon.
Trey already confessed to the guys what happened to Angelika. They all felt bad,
but Trey handled it really well. The only people left in the island were me, the
whole band, and their sweethearts. And when I say the whole band I meant Robi too.
He's part of Neon again. They stayed true to their words that only three people can
be replacements- Trey, Robi and me. Trey was out of reach, I was MIA, so they went
for Robi.

I couldn't sleep that night so I decided go out for a walk, but then I saw Rika,
Rapah and Audrina sitting by the small bonfire.

"Adrianne!" Rika waved. "Come! Join us!"

I walked to where they were.

"Rapah..." I said as I sat down. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to come to your wedding."

"Okay na yun. You made up for it naman with the video and the song you wrote for
us. We played it on our wedding day. Thanks, again." Rapah smiled and hugged me.

"It's been a while, the girl who can't be moved." Rika sighed. "Do you wanna get
back in the music scene?"

"Rika..." Audrina gave Rika a meaningful look. "Ian just got back. Let her enjoy
her home coming."

"I'm just asking. It's not like I'm gonna make her start right away." Rika
explained.

"Riks, the band is already complete. They don't need me." I said.

"Well... I was kind of hoping to sign you as a soloist. You see, the record company
has an open slot for another talent."

"No... I didn't even want to join the band then. I only accepted the offer because
of..." I can't even say his name out loud. "...the wrong reason."

"Well... You could be their stylist again!" Rapah suggested.

"Oo nga." Audrina agreed. "The boys may know how to dress, but let's admit that
they looked better nung ikaw pa yung nagbibihis sa kanila."

"Wala ba silang stylist?" I asked.

"Wala po." Rapah confirmed. "Kasi, maarte yung mga yun. Ayaw nila ng bagong
stylist. Gusto nila, ikaw lang yung magaayos sa kanila."

"Yeah. I'll hire you na lang as the band's stylist." Rika said.

"Well... I need to earn again after blowing off all of my 24 years worth of
savings."

"Great. So you start on Tuesday next week." Rika smiled.

"And as for that new talent you were saying, I think I know someone who'll be
perfect for that slot." I said in confidence. "I know this guy from way back. His
name's Caleb and he's in a band called The Pastels. Kasabayan sila ng Neon when I
was in college. They were starting to make a name sa mga bars when I left. They're
good."

"The Pastels?" Audrina, thinking aloud. "I think Zach and I heard them play a few
weeks back."

"Caleb? The Pastels?" Rapah repeated. "Oh my gosh! You know Caleb?"

"Yeah." I said in surprise.

"Oh my gosh. Small world. Caleb is my bestfriend's boyfriend. Remember Cinderella?

Boyfriend nya si Caleb."

"Wow... Really small world." I said as I felt my heart sinking.

It's a really small world indeed. So small that not meeting Robi in this lifetime
is impossible.

"Ian... Natutulala ka na naman." Rika squeezed my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Yes... No... I don't know the difference anymore. I guess I got so used to not
being okay that it doesn't matter anymore if I am or not. And I never really had
girl friends before so I don't do girl talks. For the longest time, I've had your
guys standing by me, and now, they have their own lives and own wives to watch. Now
I know why you need girl friends too. Nakakaingit..."

"Adrianne... Those guys love you so much. Kahit pa may pamilya na sila, for them,
you will always be their non-official girlfriend and we are more than okay with
that." Audrina comforted.

"At kung mga girl friends at kachikahan lang yung kailangan mo, nandito lang kami.
Handa naman kami makinig eh..." Rapah enthused.

"Ian... We all know that you're still not okay. Maybe we've known each other far
too long and way too deep- lahat tayo, lalo na yung mga boys. They're all worried
about you. When you ran away, they went crazy looking for you. And... Robi went
crazy too. He sat in front of your house everyday waiting for you" Rika said.

I knew that. I knew that Robi sat in front of our house because he was on the Neon
news. When I suddenly went missing the press started going around trying to find
where I was. They went to my house and saw Robi sitting there with a cardboard in
his hand. Written there was the phrase: 'Have you seen her?' and a picture of me
stuck next to it. Literal much? But still... I waited for him for five years...
Five fucking agonizing years and all he gave me was another fucking agony. Let him
wait. I still have feelings for him. Otherwise I won't be in pain right now. I
still love Robi. But I don' want to love him like this. I don't want to love when
my heart is still sooo torn and broken. If I was able to wait for five years, maybe
he can too. He knows me. I can never be contained. He knows that I've always wanted
to travel and see different places. But when he promised me forever, I refused to
move. I stayed right where he left me- figuratively and a bit literally. I've
planted myself where Robi left me. Maybe I'll be able to love loving him again if
he could wait that long. But then again, 1 year pa lang kami magkahiwalay noon,
kinalimutan na nya ko. We'll he be able to wait when I keep pushing him away?

"At least ngayon alam na nya yung feeling na maghintay para sa wala... Sya naman
yung masaktan." I said.
They gave me a surprised look.

"I'm sorry if I'm being mean... It's just that I'm still mad at him for making me
hurt like this. Ang tagal-tagal na, pero ang sakit sakit pa din..." I explained
while my tears betrayed me.

Audrina hugged me.

"Don't you think maybe you're hurting up until now because you and Robi still
aren't together? Naeliminate na sa picture yung mga bagay na pumipigil sa inyo
noon. Why not try..."

"Drins... Tama na. I've been stupid all my life. I don't have the energy to play
stupid again. I'll be fine... Soon.." I smiled.

"So... What do you guys want, tequila or beer? I think James filled the wine
cabinets and fridge para satin." Rika suggested.

"Agree ako dyan. Tara! Inuman tayo. Let's all drown our craziness over Neon boys."
Rapah cheered.

I laughed about what she said. Craziness over Neon boys...

We spent hours by the beach drinking shots of tequila. So that's how girl bonding
feels like. It didn't take long before Zach went out para sunduin si Audrina. Then,
as if on cue, si Ali naman yung sumundo kay Rapah. Then Anton went to get Rika. She
was tipsy already. Anton pulled her up and held her on the waist.

"Yanyan, let's go in na. It's really late na." Anton said.

"No. I'm okay. I'll stay here muna."

"Are you feeling tipsy? I'll help you up as soon as I get Rika to bed."
"Wag na. Ayoko pa naman pumasok eh. And, kaya ko naman. Nag-wala kaya ako sa Paris.
As in drinking session every night, sanay na ko. Don't worry about me." I assured
him.

"Pag ready ka na, we'll talk about it ha. Tayong magkakaibigan."

"We'll see."

"Sige na. Ipapasok ko na 'tong babaeng to. Pumasok ka na din pamaya-maya ha."

I nodded. I can't help but smile as I watch them walk together to the house. Pag
ininom ko kaya to lahat at malasing ako, may sasalo kaya sakin? Will someone get me
here or tatangayin na lang ako ng alon sa malayong-malayo? I'm happy that my guys
found their happiness. Sabi ko na nga ba eh. I remember Anton and Rika's wedding.
Naisip ko noon na maiiwan nila ako, and I'm right. Naiwan nga ako. Natatawa na lang
ako sa pagiging loser ko. I stood up with the bottle of tequila in my hand. I
walked nearer to the shore- small waves touching my feet. I took a swig of that
throat burning drink and screamed in frustration.

"Ang daya-daya! Bakit lahat sila masaya na?! Bakit ako naiwan mag-isa! Masama ba
akong tao?! I want to be happy too! Ayoko na! Masyado ng masakit! Hindi ko na
kaya!" I cried out. "Ayoko na! Ayoko na!"

Then, I heard Trey calling out my name. I turned to him. Ali, Anton and Zach were
running to where I was as well. I turned back to the sea and burned my throat again
with another swig of tequila.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!! Ayoko na!"

Then, Trey grabbed the bottle from my hand and hugged me.

"Ian... Tama na..." He whispered.

I struggled to move away from him.

"No! Bitawan mo ko! Let go!"

"Ian... stop it..." He whispered again.

Anton, Ali and Zach wrapped their arms around me, enclosing us in a group hug.

"Ayoko na... I can't take the pain anymore..." I sobbed. "Until now, miserable pa
din ako... Ayoko na..."

They were quiet. They didn't say anything. They just kept me warm in their arms as
I cried my soul out.

*******************************************
[3] The girl who just can't move (Three)
*******************************************

I saw her. I saw Ian and the guys by the shore. I heard her screaming and I ran as
fast as I could but when I heard what she was screaming, I knew that I would only
hurt her further if I went near. So, I stayed where I was and watched our friends
comfort her. Alam ko naman kung anong dapat kong gawin para hindi na sya masa

ktan, pero hindi ko kaya gawin. Hindi ko kaya na tuluyan na syang mawala sakin.
Kaya ko maghintay hangang sa maging okay na sya. Kahit pa ilang taon akong
maghintay sa harap ng bahay nya, gagawin ko. I know that she still loves me.
Letting her go once was a huge mistake... Letting her go again will be plain
stupidity and a mistake I will regret for the rest of my life. I love her way too
much that I can't let her go.

I kept watching Ian and the guys from afar. They sat there and waited for the sun
to rise. Ian rested her head on Trey's shoulder. Next to James, she's closest to
Trey. Ali stood up and carried Ian. She's asleep. She must be really tired... And
it kills me that I'm not the one taking care of her. It kills me that taking care
of her would also hurt her. It kills me that even just the sight of me hurts her.
But not loving her would also kill me. I watched them take Ian back to the house. I
have to leave. I have to give Ian a chance to rest. I have to give her more time to
heal. I have to give her time to be okay and to finally give us a shot again. So, I
went back to my room and packed my stuff. I have to leave this island so she can
have her peace. When they go back to Manila, I'll do whatever it takes to be her
Robin Hood again.

I was about to step out of the villa when Audrina saw me.

"Robi. Are you leaving? Bakit" She asked.

"I need to give Ian her peace." I told her.

"Does this mean you're giving up on her?"

"No. Of course not. I just need to give her time. I know what I've done and how
much I've hurt her. I'll wait for her. Even if she begs me to stop waiting, I'll
still wait. If staying away from her for a while will make her feel a bit better,
then I'd be more than willing to keep my distance. I have to let her go to make her
come back to me. So, I'm not giving up. I'm just waiting- waiting for her to fall
happily in love with me again."

"I know recently lang tayo nagkakilala talaga, but I'm rooting on you Robi. For Ian
to be hurt like that, she must really love you. And for her to love you so much,
baka nga para talaga kayo sa isa't-isa. Hang in there Robi. Malay mo konti na lang
pala babalik na sya sayo. I remember the band talking about miracles. A year ago,
Zach told me that they asked Ian to just give up on you because there are other
miracles. And you know what Ian told them? She said that you're the only miracle
she wants. Too bad that the miracle happened the day she finally gave up hoping...
Robi, don't ever stop hoping and waiting. Don't let the miracle go just because
it's taking too long to happen. Malay mo, konti na lang pala mangyayari na. Wag mo
hayaang mangyari ulit yung nangyari noon."

"I won't... Even if it takes a life time, I'll still wait for her... Thank you,
Audrina."

Then, I left the island. I went back to the real world. I went back to the corner
where I first saw her.
---------------------------
3 weeks after James' wedding, we were already working our asses off. Rika got us to
sign for another album with Revert Records. She told us the news as soon as James
stepped out of the airport fresh from his honeymoon. The band didn't come back with
Ian. They said that she wanted to stay there for a while. I also heard from Rika
that Ian's the band's stylist again. I'm happy that somehow I can still be near
her.

"Asan na ba si Ian? She's supposed to be here an hour ago." Rika panicking.

"Pangga, chill. She'll be here. Tinawagan na sya ni James. She just got caught up
in traffic." Anton tried calming Rika.

"I'm here na! Rika, I'm sorry!" Ian was running with shopping bags at hand.
"Promise, I have a really good excuse... But, before that... Boys, get your clothes
here and get dressed."

"I'm so glad I don't have to shop for my clothes again. Thanks, Ian." Zach took the
bag with his name on it.

"And I'm glad Rapah won't have to dress me up. All she does is buy me boy band
clothes. I miss looking like a rockstar. Thanks, Ian." Ali took his and went to the
dressing room.

"Just be on time, sa susunod. You're gonna give my wife a heart attack. You know
how much of a control freak she is pagdating sa schedule." Anton said in a hushed
tone.

"I'm sorry... James!" Ian exclaimed when she saw James enter the room.

She ran to him and hugged him. I know he's already married and that they're
bestfriends, but this green eyed monster in my chest just can't help but feel like
exploding.

"You're back. Pasalubong ko?" Ian asked.

"Nasa bahay. But, eto muna for now." James said and handed her a pack of gummy
bears and Chuckie.
"Thank you..." Ian kept the pack in her bag and gave James his clothes.

James looked at the bag left on the table with my name on it. Ian was silent.

"Do you want me to give it?" James asked her.

She took a deep breath before she answered.

"No. I'll do it. I have to be professional. I work for you guys, remember?"

"You don't just work for us. Pagkakaibigan bago ang lahat, remember?" James messed
he hair.

"Yeah. Pagkakaibigan bago ang lahat. Sige na. Bihis na." Ian said and grabbed the
last bag on the table.

She walked towards me and handed me the bag.

"Here're your clothes. Hurry up. You guys only have 30 minutes left before the
press con. I know it's my fault 'cause I'm late, but it won't excuse you for moving
slow. Move." She said snobbishly and turned away.

"Thanks for these." I muttered and went to get dressed.

When we finished dressing up, I was surprised to see Ian talking to Rika with a guy
beside her. I think I've seen him before.

"He's the reason why I got caught up in traffic." Ian told Rika. "I was having
breakfast at Mc Donalds when this guy just sat in front of me and took the book I
was reading. I almost punched him buti na lang nakilala ko sya agad. He's the guy I
was telling you about..."

She looked excited and I couldn't contain myself.

"Sino sya?" I blurted out of nowhere. Even I could here that obsessive and
protective tone in my voice.

They turned to me. Ian's smile was suddenly wiped away.

"Caleb. He's name is Caleb." Ian said. "He's in a band called The Pastels."

"Yeah... Kasi... Ano... Revert Records has an open slot for a new talent and they
want another band under the label. Ian suggested Caleb's band." Rika explained
panicking.

"Oh. Okay. A brother band. That's cool. Caleb, I'm Robi." I introduced myself.

"Nice to meet the man who can't be moved." He said as we shook hands.

"You'll love the perks of being under this label. You'll have your own road
manager, your own van, your own place to jam, your own PA's and even your very own
stylist. Too bad YOU WON'T have the chance to be dressed up by Ian. She's the best
among the stylists here. Neon's consecutive best dressed band awards serves as a
proof of just how good she is. AND, she would only dress US- NEON." I said as if
threatening Caleb that I would happily slit his throat and burn in hell than see
him with Ian.

"Robi... ano ba..." Ian hissed.

"Bro, mag-o-audition pa lang yung banda ko. Relax ka lang." Caleb said.

"Hindi dito yung audition studio. Sa studio 3 yun. Gusto mo samahan pa kita eh.
Tara na. Nakakaistorbo ka lang dito." I lead him towards the door.

"Robi, ano ba?!" Ian shouted. "Stop bullying Caleb. At pwede ba, stop acting like a
pre-school. Nakakahiya ka eh..."

"What's wrong?" James entered the room.

"Wala. At kung meron mang 'wrong' dito, it's your tie. AGAIN. Honestly James, when
will you learn to tie your own tie?" Ian said irritatedly.

She walked towards James and fixed his tie. This is so unfair! Bakit nakita nya
agad yung tie ni James, samantalang yung sakin hindi nya napansin. Sinadya ko na
ngang hindi itali eh. Sinadya ko na din na hindi i-butones 'tong shirt ko.

"Pwede ba, tigilan nyo na nga yang bestfriend moment nyo. Asan ba si Irish? Diba
sya na dapat yung gumagawa nyan para sayo?" I asked James a bit pissed off. "Hindi
lang ikaw ang kailangan asikasuhin ni Ian."

James just grinned while Ian glared at me as she continued fixing his tie.

"Hmmm.." Ali entered the room. "Smells like jellybeans dito. Sino ba pinagseselosan
ni Robin Hood? Letter A, si bespren James? Letter B, si Mr. Whatever his name is?"
Ali referring to Caleb. "C, naiinggit lang kasi hindi sya pinapansin ni Ian? Or, D,
all of the above."

"Mukang all of the above ata." Anton whispered.

"Tumigil na nga kayo. Ang tagal nyo mag bihis. 10 minutes left and you guys are
still a mess. No wonder you lost the best dressed band award last year. Ali, come
here, ayusin natin yang polo mo." Ian ordered.

"Ano ba?! Hindi mo ba ko papansinin?" I yelled. "Kanina pa ko nagpapapansin sayo

ah."

"Ali, may naririnig ka ba? Para kasing nabibingi ako eh." She ridiculed.

"Huy... Tumigil na nga kayo. Para kayong bata eh. Tama na yan." Ali said worriedly.

I just felt like grabbing Ian's hand and drag her away from everyone. And, to my
surprise, I did just that.

"Robi, ano ba?! Let go of me!" She yelled.

I stopped walking and carried her on my shoulder. She kept slapping my back but I
didn't feel a thing. All I could feel was that rush of pain in my chest. I took her
to the instrument studio. I locked us up.

"What do you want?! Why are you doing this, huh?!" She yelled as she slapped me in
the face.

I just want to be with you!" I grabbed her wrists and pinned her on the wall.
"Gusto ko tignan mo naman ako... I want you to let me exist in your world. Kung
hindi mo pa kaya, okay lang. Pero sana wag mo na ipakita sakin yung pag-aalaga mo
sa ibang lalaki."

"I'm just doing my job. Trabaho kong asikasuhin yung banda! Mga kaibigan ko sila,
at may mga ASAWA na sila! Pwede ba, pigilan mo yang pag-kitid ng utak mo!"

"What about Caleb?!"

"Huh! Caleb is my schoolmate back in college. I'm helping his band to make it
because they are really good! Caleb is a nice guy! He deserves to be helped! At ano
naman sayo kung magustuhan ko sya!? Wala ka ng pakialam sakin! You don't own me, so
you have no right to dictate what I want to do! Let go of me!" Ian pushed me.

"Ian... please... tignan mo naman ako." I couldn't hold back the tears. "Please...
Akin ka na lang ulit... Mahalin mo na lang ako ulit... Please..."

Then, her tears started falling too. She sobbed.

"Shhh... Please don't cry... Wag ka na umiyak, Ian..." I hugged her. "Am I hurting
you again?" I asked.

"Yes..." She whispered.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Then I let her go. I stepped back and let her cry. "I'm
sorry..."
*******************************************
[4] The girl who just can't move (Four)
*******************************************
A week after that incident, Ian started avoiding me. Kung noon she was trying to
act professional, ngayon ni hindi man lang niya ako matingnan. What pisses me off
more was she was always with Jaime. Lagi silang magkasama, nag-uusap, it was as if,
James never got married, like he was still in love with my Super Ian.

Napaka-unfair naman kasi, I know that James was just trying to protect Ian from me,
but the thing was, the guys were acting like I will hurt Ian anytime of the day,
iyong tipong makita ko pa lang siya, sasaktan ko na siya. Hindi ba nila naisip na
kung nasasaktan si Ian, mas nasasaktan ako? She's so close and yet so far, I
couldnt' even touch her, I couldn't even look at her. Ang sakit-sakit na. Pero
kahit ano pa yatang gawin ko hindi nila maiintindihan iyon.

It was unfair, they're supposed to be my bestfriends, my brothers, they're supposed

to back me up and support me, but I guess that's not gonna happen.

Sinusubukan ko naman silang intindihin, ang masaklap, kahit naiintidihan ko sila,

hindi ko pa rin mapigilan ang mainis. It's like the guys put up a barrier around
Ian, isang barrier na mahirap gibain... I feel so frustrated.

Gabi-gabi na lang akong nag-iisip kung ano ba ang dapat kong gawin para mabawi si
Ian, I tried giving her flowers -- kahit na alam kong hindi niya gusto iyon, one
time, naisip ko pa nga na magpalipas nang gabi sa labas ng bahay niya, thinking na
maaawa siya sa akin pero nagkamali ako. Nakalimutan ko na matigas nga pala ang ulo
niya at kapag sinabi niyang ayaw niya, ayaw niya talaga.

"What the hell?" narinig kong nagsalita si James. Zach stopped singing, Anton
turned to me.

"What?!" nagtatakang tanong ko. Anton shook his head.

"You're supposed to hit the drums with your drumsticks Robi, so we can produce a
harmonious music.." Ali explained to me like he was talking to a moron. Napakunot
ang noo ko. Lumapit sa akin si Anton at saka pinalo ang snare drums ko.

"Just like that, Robin Hood." tatlong beses niyang inulit iyon. Napailing naman
ako. Kinuha ko sa kanya ang "the keeper of my heart" drumsticks ------- i gave that
to Ian the night before I left for Spain, but she gave it back to me that day I
last saw her...

"I know what to do..." mahinang sabi ko. Nakita kong napailing si Ali.

"I guess we have to take a break now, mukhang pagod na si drummer boy." I sighed.

"Look you don't have to do that.. I'm fine.." I said in a low voice. James shook
his head. Napakunot naman ang noo ko, ano na namang ibig sabihin ng ginawa niyang
iyon? Was he disappointed? Tumalikod si James, Ali followed him.

"Break ninyo?" biglang bumukas ang pinto at saka pumasok si Rika. Automatically,
biglang tumayo si Anton at saka lumapit sa kanya. He even kissed her cheeks.

"I missed you..." bulong pa nito. Rika blushed.

"P.D.A. much?" narinig kong kumento ni James.

"Tawagin mo si Irish para hindi ka naiinggit." tatawa-tawang sabi ni Zach.

I shook my head. I looked at Anton, I know that it's impolite to stare but i just
couldn't help it. Naiinggit ako.

Naisip ko bigla, kung hindi kaya ako umalis, ano na kaya kami ni Ian ngayon? What
if I stayed? Tulad na rin kaya kami nila Anton at Rika ngayon? I promised her
forever, kung hindi siguro ako umalis, nasimulan ko nang tuparin ang pangako kong
iyon sa kanya.

"Honey..." the door opened again, and this time Rapah entered. Ali smiled so wide i
could see his gums form where I was.

"Stop kissing Rapah, Ali! She's still my sister!" reklamo ni James.

"We're married, dude. Nothing you can do about it.." Ali took out his tounge and
made a face, then he turned to Rapah to kiss her again.

It was tiring to see all these guys happy. Nakakainggit, hanggang ngayon hindi ako
makapaniwala na lahat sila, may kanya-kanya nang happy endings.

"Kuya Robi, bakit?" natahimik ang lahat nang tanungin ako ni Rapah. I just
shrugged.

"I was just thinking." I said. Rapah smiled even more.

"About Ate Ian again.. uyy..."

"Nah.. I was just thinking about..." I took a deep breath. I looked at them. They
were actually waiting for the next thing that will come out of my mouth.

"What's the secret? How do you guys do it? Is there some sort of a technique to
finally get a happy ending? Cause you know, natutunaw na ang utak ko kaka-isip kung
paano ko mababawi si Ian." i sighed. i sounded so despearte. I couldn't believe
that I'm actually having this conversation with them!

To my surprise, they laughed. Rapah smiled at me. Pero hindi naibsan noon ang
pagkainis na nararamdaman ko. Why are they laughing at me?

"What the hell is wrong?" I demanded.

"You know, Robi. Not so long ago. Ian asked us that question." zach said, still
laughing. I glared at James, tumatawa rin siya.

"What happened? What did you tell her?" Anton shook his head..

"Things..." ngumiti siya saka hinawakan ang kamay ni Rika.

"Like what?" suddenly, nothing matters anymore. Knowing that Ian asked them the
same question gave me lost of hope. Kung anuman ang sinabi nila Anton sa kanya,
gustung-gusto ko ring iyon malaman. Baka mamaya, matulungan ako noon para mabawi ko
na siya.

"Go figure it out yourself Robi." biglang sabi ni James. I looked at him.

"What?" he just shrugged.

"Figure it out. I'm with Ian on this one. Hindi ko hahayaang maging madali sa'yo
ang mga bagay-bagay."

Great, just great. Umiral na naman ang pagiging kontrabida ni James. I glared at
him. He was just grinning. Unfair! Sobrang unfair.

"Robi.." i heard Rika. i just shook my head. Tumayo ako. Aalis nga muna ako dahil
baka mamaya, bigla ko na lang masapak si Jaime.

I was walking down the corridor when I heard someone, shouted my name.

"Robi!" it was Audrina. She was waving at me. Kasama rin niya si Ian. Dahan-dahan
akong lumapit sa kanila. I was just staring at Ian, trying to memorize every detail
of her face... savoring this moment...

"Hey..." mahinang sabi ko. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. A huge ball of goo flushed in
my stomach.

"Hi, Drins..." I smiled at her. I was still looking at Ian. Habang siya, binibilang
yata ang alikabok na nasa window glass. I sighed. I held her hand. I don't care
kung mapahiya ako sa harapan ni Drins, i just really need to tell her this.

"I love you. I never stopped loving you and I will never stop loving you kahit na
ang tigas-tigas ng ulo mo at ayaw mo na sa akin. Mahal pa rin kita. I still want to
spend my forever with you..." I stared at her. I saw a tear fell down her eyes, I
immediately wiped it. Then finally I let go of her hand.. and I walked away..

____

"Hey Ian, waiting for your bus?"

I smiled when I saw Caleb walking towards me. He was still wearing that same sad
smile.

"I'd rather take a cab, Caleb." ngumiti ako saka sinuntok siya sa balikat. "What
are you doing here? Rika called you?"

"She did. She wanted me to go back on Monday with the boys, for an audition with
the producers." napangiti ako lalo.

"I'm happy for you Caleb." Caleb looked at me.

"Really? We'll thanks, although I can't say the same for you.."

"Huh?" Ano bang sinasabi niya? Hindi ko siya maintindihan.

"We'll Ian, you have to give it to Robi. Nakikita mo naman siguro na hanggang
ngayon, para pa rin siya sa'yo? I saw him in the news. He was sitting in front of
your house. Mukha siyang tanga, dahil araw-araw na pumupunta ang mga friendly
reporters doon, nandoon siya. Kulang na lang ipaskil niya sa ibaba ng picture mo
ang salitang wanted. O kaya naman, 'Please, Ian, come back to me.'"

Napanganga ako. I couldn't believe that Caleb is telling me these things. I never
really thought that the day will come na sasabihin niya sa akin ang mga ito.

"What's wrong with you, Caleb?" alanganing tumawa ako. He shrugged.

"We'll I just wanna wake you up, Ian. Gumising ka na. Heto na iyong chance mo para
maging masaya, are you just gonna let it slip away?" he sighed. "If I were you,
sumuko ka na kay Robi. Naiingit nga ako sa'yo eh. You know? I would give everything
just to have her back."

Caleb turned to me.

"Ang swerte-swerte mo, Ian." he said in a low voice.

I stared at Caleb for a while. He smiled again. Sa tuwing ngumingiti siya, lalong
nakikita ang kalungkutan sa kanyang mga mata.

"Mas swerte iyong hinihitay mo kaysa sakin. Kasi, yung prince charming nya,
pinapanindigan sya at papanindigan sya kahit gaano katagal..." I punched him
lightly on the shoulder.

"Well... You did your time of waiting too. Quits lang tayo."

"Hindi rin. I think... Waiting is when you just keep on waiting even if that person
asks you to stop waiting... Walang time limit ang paghihintay. Hindi mo bibilangin
kung gaano ka katagal naghintay. Mali ang term na 'waiting' sa kagagahan ko kay
Robi noon. I believe the right term would be 'fighting'. I was fighting for my so
called happiness. A fight I lost."

"Hindi ka natalo. You won Robi. You made him remember how much he loves you."

"I would've won if I made him remember the day before I decided to just walk away.
I would've won kung buzzer beater. Kaso hindi eh. Robi remembered a day late.
Sayang noh? Tumatalon na sana kami ngayon sa tuwa... Alam mo, kahit pa anong gawin
nya, hindi ko pa din kayang payagan yung sarili ko na mahalin sya. I know na it's a
given fact that I love him, pero I despise that fact. Masyadong masakit yung
nangyari noon. I can't look at him without feeling my heart being torn into a
billion pieces more."

"I understand... And I think he does too. Maybe he just can't wait to start his
forever with you. But I have this feeling na sya ang magiging perfect example ng
definition mo ng 'waiting'."

"Sana nga. Hayy naku! Too much drama... Wait, meron na ba kayong susuotin for the
audition? Importante yun. Alam mo ba kung ano ang unang-unang binigyan ng thumbs ng
mga producer nung nag-audition ang Neon?"

"Their clothes..."
"Pano mo nalaman?"

"Isa ka sa mga sikat na stylist sa industry plus you're a Neon too. My mga fansite
at profiles kayo sa internet. Nabasa ko sa history nyo. And, kailangan pa ba
itanong yun? Ikaw ang stylist ng Neon. Period."

"Well, yeah... I'm Neon's stylist, and I'm also going to dress an up and coming
band who will become as huge as Neon- The Pastels."

"Ano?" He was surprised.

"Yeah... I'm going to help you guys. I'll be your stylist. I know malaking
percentage ng pagsikat is talent and luck, but image can do wonders too. Ang dami
ngang mga feeling singers sa industry na chaka naman talaga yung boses pero sikat
kasi magaling sila magdala."

"Wow... Ian, maraming-maraming salamat... Tinulungan mo na nga kami kay Ms. Rika,
pati sa image tutulungan mo din kami. Thank you talaga."

"Wala yun... You're like my best friend now. Nung nag-asawa kasi si James, hindi na
kami masyado nakakapag-bond o kaya nagkukwentuhan. Lahat sila married na, si Trey
naman, may sariling mundo... So ayun. Naiwan ako mag-isa."

"Ikaw din, para kitang best friend. Nasasabi ko sayo lahat ng kadramahan ko sa
buhay. Yung mga kabanda ko kasi, hindi ko naman masabihan. Puro kalokohan at
pambababae lang ang alam."

"I wanna meet your band. And mabuti na din na makilala ko sila so I know what to
make you guys wear sa audition."

"Sakto, may gig kami tonight. The guys will be sooo surprised pag nakita ka nila.
Lalo na pag nalaman nila na ikaw ang magbibihis samin. Tara sakay na tayo ng bus."

He was going to hail the approaching bus when I tugged on his arm.

"Let's take a cab instead." I whispered.

"Sorry. Nakalimutan ko..." He apologized and hailed a cab.

*******************************************
[5] The girl who just can't move (Five)
*******************************************
Caleb brought me to their jamming place. Sa kwarto ng kabanda nilang si Kerky.

"Mga bok! Papakilala ko na sa inyo yung guardian angel natin... Charaaaaaaaann!"

Caleb presented me to the band. "Mga bok, meet the girl who can't be moved- aka
Ian. Ian, meet the guys. The guy with the Mohawk is our guitarist - Kerky. Lex
plays the keyboard, the drums and composes most of our songs. Calen is my twin
brother, he plays bass. And Nathan- though he;s not here used to be our lead guitar
- but he's a doctor now."

"Hi, Ian!" They chorused.

"Hi, Pastels. Nice to meet all of you." I said a little shy.

"Uhmm... Kerky, baka matunaw. Yari tayo sa Neon pag nagkataon." Caleb said.

"Huh?" I asked in confusion.

"May tama kasi yan sayo." Caleb explained.

"Talaga?" I blushed.

"Hindi kaya! Wala naman!" tanggi nito.Napakamot pa ng ulo si Kerky, halatang

namumula ang mga pisngi.

"Uhmm... Tara. Let's go shopping." I told them.

"Shopping?" They asked in unison.

"Yeah. I'm your stylist now. First project ko with you guys is on Monday- your
audition with Revert Records' big bosses. You have to dress as well as you play.
So, tara na?"

"Let's go!" Caleb cheered.

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

ROBI's

Ian's been busy with The Pastels. Ever since they got signed up, she's the one
taking care of them. Rika said that it's just temporary since they haven't found a
road manager for them yet. Sabi ko nga si Jenny na lang yung gawin nilang road
manager, Rika almost said yes, kaya lang ayaw naman ni Trey. I guess Jenny is doing
a good job on taking care of Trey. Nauuso na naman yung unfixed tie dahil kay
James. Wala kasi si Ian para ayusin yung tie nya. Lagi lang nya pinapadala yung
damit namin along with pictures of how our outfit should look like. Minsan nga
naiisip ko na wag suotin yung mga damit na pinapadala nya. Baka sakaling maisipan
nya na bisitahin kami. Baka sakaling pagalitan nya ko. Mas okay yun, kesa naman sa
hindi ko sya nakikita or hindi nya ko kinakausap. I miss her so badly.

Lately, lumalabas sa balita na she's always seen with the drummer dude from The
Pastels. Lagi daw sila nakikita sa mga coffee shop late at night. One time, they
were spotted on a swing in some random park, and it scared me. I was scared of the
possibility that she's okay now because of another person other than me. Mas gwapo
naman ako dun. Ano bang pinagmamalaki nya? Yung shark head nya? Bagay din naman
sakin magpa-mohawk ah. Sigurado naman akong mas magaling pa ko mag-drums kesa sa
kanya. She can't fall in love with someone else. I don't want her to be in love
with anyone else but me. Gusto ko ako lang yung mahal nya.

"Robi! Tulala ka na naman!" James yelled.

"Lumilipad ang puso at utak sa SM Megamall." Ali commented.

"SM Megamall?" Zach asked.

"Dun kasi yung mall show ngayon ng The Pastels. Meaning, nandun din si Ian." Anton
whispered to Zach.

"Aaaahhh... okay."

"Tara. Punta tayo dun." I suggested.

"Ops! Hindi tayo pwede pumunta dun. Sabi ng asawa ko hindi muna tayo pwede
pagsamahin ng Pastels. Kasi nga ineexpose pa lang sila. Pag pinagsama tayo, baka
maiwan sila. Pwede ba, wag nyo na pasakitin yung ulo ng asawa ko- lalo na ngayong
magiging kuya na si Bonbon." Anton said.

"Ano?!" Zach, James, Ali, and I exclaimed.

"Ang tindi mo Anton. Naka-hole in one ka na naman. Kailangan na namin bilisan ni

Rapah. Mahirap nang mahuli." Ali said.

"Anung pinagsasasabi mong bilisan? Baka gusto mong hindi na magkaanak. Bata pa si
Rapah." James being protective again.

"Dude, kasal na si Ali and Rapah, kaya what happens in their bedroom, wala ka ng
magagawa dun. Kaya, kung ako sayo, bilisan mo na lang din bago ka maunahan ng baby
sister mo." Zach whispered.

Buti pa 'tong mga ugok na 'to. Nakakapag-usap tungkol sa pag-buo ng pamilya. Ako,
hindi ko kaya bumuo ng pamilya kung hindi si Ian ang kasama ko. I'd rather spend
the rest of my life alone than spend it with anyone else. Nagtatalo pa din sila
when I left the room. I couldn't stay there for another second. I have to see her.
I have to see my Ian.

---------------
Still Robi's

I went to The Pastels mall show. Huge crowd. They'll definitely make it big. I
watched them from afar. When their final song ended they called Ian out to the
stage and introduced her to the crowd. Of course the crowd cheered. Some guys were
even holding up a banner with her name on it.

"Wow. Even after a year of being MIA, gusto pa rin sya ng tao."

I turned to see who was speaking. It was Diego- a soulless showbiz reporter.

"Do you think she'll still be this famous kung lumabas sa news yung nangyari noon?"
He hissed.

"I already gave you what you asked for. Sumunod ka sa usapan." I said.

"I'm a man of my word. Besides, nasayo na lahat ng ebidensya. Wala akong tinira
katulad ng pinag-usapan natin."

"Siguraduhin mo lang. Dahil wala akong pakialam kung sirain mo ko, basta sisirain
ko yang muka mo pati buhay mo oras na galawin mo si Ian."

"Don't worry. I won't. Naisip ko lang na masaya pala paglaruan yung mga sikat na
katulad nyo. It makes me love my job even more."

"I'm warning you." I turned to him and grabbed his collar. "Masaktan mo lang kahit
dulo ng daliri ni Ian, o kahit kumirot lang ng konti yung puso nya dahil sayo,
mapapatay kita."

"You should kill yourself then. Tutal ikaw naman yung dahilan kung bakit sya
nagwala sa Barcelona at sa Germany. Ooops... That slipped out. Anyway... I have to
go. So much to gossip, so little time. See you around, Robi." He walked away.

I thought I've already took care of that issue. Bakit bumabalik ulit? I have to do
something. Iiyak na naman si Ian pag nalaman nyo yung tungkol dun, and I don't want
that to happen. I can't allow that to happen.
*******************************************
[6] The girl who just can't move (Six)
*******************************************
Robi's

Another barkada lunch was held at Anton and Rika's place, and as usual, wala na
naman si Ian. Hindi ko alam kung busy talaga sya with the Pastels or ginagawa na
lang nyang excuse yun para hindi kami magkita. The happy couples played another
couple game. Minsan naiisip ko sinasadya nila maglaro ng ganun para mang-asar. Trey
followed wherever the hell her PA went. Naiwan akong loner sa sala kasama ang mga
happy people na naglalaro ng happy game nila. I stood up and just left. I walked to
the gates of the village and hailed a bus. I just want to go home and breathe. I
sat at the very back of the bus. Then, I realized that it was our bus. Ian and
mine.

"You're the one who left, but why does it feel like I'm the one who's lost?"

Another one of Ian's writings on this bus. I traced those words with my finger, and
it pierced right through my heart. Kung malungkot ako ngayon, paano pa kaya si Ian
noon? Kung nagawa nya isulat yung kalungkutan nya sa bawat upuan dito, baka nga
wala pa sa kalingkingan yung sakit na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

I took out a marker and wrote: "I'm back now... You were never lost, because you
have always stayed in my heart..."

IAN's

It's been a while since I last bonded with Neon. I really miss those guys, but
everytime I'm with them, I can't help but feel jealous. Lahat kasi sila masaya na.
Trey seems to be doing well now- thanks to her PA whom I haven't met yet. I'm very
much thankful to Rika for making me The Pastel's road manager. The band and I are
always on the road, going from one gig to another. It helps that I'm always busy.
It gets my mind off of the fact that I still feel empty- that deep inside, I still
wanted to scream and die.

I was shopping for Neon's press con clothes when I bumped into that person I forgot
I really missed. James. I haven't seen him for almost a month now.

"I almost went to the police station and filed for missing person. Kala ko naglayas
ka na naman papunta sa kabilang lupalop ng mundo." James messd my hair.

"Namiss mo ko?" I grinned.

"Oo naman. Alika nga dito." James grabbed my wrist and pulled me close to him and
hugged me. "Miss na miss na kita."

I hugged him back.

"Ako din. Miss na miss na kita."

"Teka. Ang payat mo na ah. Hindi ka ba pinapakain ng Pastels?" James asked a little
irritated.

"Huh? Pano mo naman nasabing pumayat ako?"

"Dati pag inaakap kita kalahati ng braso ko yung nagpapang-abot. Ngayon ¾ na ng

braso ko yung nagpapang-abot. Alika nga. Sumama ka sakin." He grabbed my wrist
again and dragged me.

"Aray naman! San ba tayo pupunta?"

"Papakainin kita. Kailangan bumalik sa dating sukat yung yakap ko sayo."

"OA mo!"

We stopped at a restaurant called Green Tomato. We sat down and the waiter gave us
the menu. I was going topen it when James took it away from me.

"Ako ang oorder." James said.

"Eh ako naman yung kakain eh." I objected.

"Ako naman magbabayad."

"Excuse you! Kaya ko magbayad. Mayaman ako noh. I have 3 jobs, remember?"

"3 jobs?" James was confused.

"Oo. Neon's stylist, The Pastel's stylist and road manager."

"Wah... Magkano kinikita mo? Magwawala ako kung kasing laki yan ng pinagsama-samang
sweldo ng Neon yan."

"Wag kang OA! At ano naman kung ganun kalaki yung kitain ko?! Di hamak naman na mas
masipag ako sa inyo noh. HMP!"

"Galit ka na nyan?"
"Hindi... Pero namiss kita ng ganito kalaki!" I spread my arms in glee.

"Ganyan lang kalaki? Ako namiss kita simula basement hanggang rooftop ng mall na
'to. Ganun kalaki yung pagka-miss ko sayo..." James said a little exaggerated.

I laughed.

"Gaano na ba kayo katagal ng The Pastels?" He asked.

"Magfa-five months na."

"So, ganun mo na pala kami katagal inabandona?"

"Inabandona ka dyan?!"

"OPO! Wala ng personal touch yung pagiging stylist mo samin. Tapos, lahat ng
barkada lunch natin binoycot mo. Hindi ba abandonment ang tawag dun? I-fire ka na
lang kaya namin para magkaroon ka ng time para samin?"

"Hoy! Wag naman! Kailangan ko mag-ipon para sa next tour ko noh."

"Tour?"

"Tour. Gusto ko kasi mag-travel ulit."

"Bakit? Tinotopak ka na naman?"

"No... Hindi ako tinotopak... Gusto ko lang makita yung mga dapat kong nakita noon.
I want to see those places again. This time gusto ko, sober ako."

"Sober? Bakit? Lasing ka ba nung nag-tour ka?"

"Basta! Mahabang storya. Mag-order ka na nga... Gutom na ko eh."

"Ganyan ba ang mayaman? Gutom?"

"Wala naman kasing nag-aalaga sakin, hindi katulad nyo."

"Nakuuu...Tampurorot na naman si baby Ian namin..."

"Hindi po."

He gave our orders to the waiter.

"Ikaw naman 'tong lumalayo samin eh." James said.

"Hindi ako lumalayo. Busy lang talaga ako."

"Eh ano yung coffee nights and swing afternoons nyo ni Kerky? It was all over the
news. Muka namang napapangiti ka nya."

"He does..." I smiled. "Alam mo bang org mate ko sya dati sa theatre? Sya lagi yung
musical director namin and he composed a song for me dun sa play namin. He supplies
me with gummy bears and Chuckie too. Kerky is a really nice guy."

"Ikaw ha... Ipagpapalit mo na kami sa Pastels na yan."

"Okay lang yun... Pinagpalit nyo naman na ko sa mga asawa nyo eh."
"Ian..." He sighed.

"Joke lang! Naiintindihan ko naman kayo eh. Hirap lang siguro ako tanggapin na
hindi na ako yung number 1 girl nyo. Namimiss ko din naman yung mga times na
inaalagaan nyo ko. Namimiss ko nung ako lang yung girlfriend nyong lahat. Pero,
hindi lang din naman kasi sakin umiikot yung mundo diba? Masaya ako kasi, kahit
papano, nararamdaman ko kila Caleb yung samahan natin dati. They take care of me."

"May 'take care' ba na ginugutom? Dun ka na lang nga sa Pastels mo... Kalimutan mo
na kami."

"Ang arte... Ganyan ba pag may asawa? Nagiging madrama?"

"Ganyan ba pag madaming pera? Kinakalimutan na yung mga kaibigan?"

"Hindi naman kaya. Nandito kayo lahat sa bulsa ko."

"Sa bulsa mo? Hind ba dapat sa puso mo?"

"Sa bulsa ko." I took out something from my pocket and handed it to him.

"Huh! Bakit wala kaming kopya nito? Talagang kumpleto ah. Even Robi is here."

"Well... He's a Neon, diba?"

"I think we should post this on the website."

I took the picture from him.

"Ayoko nga. Dito lang yan sa bulsa ko."

"Damot... Ian..."

"Ano yun?"

"Kumusta ka? I mean, anon a bang nangyayari sayo besides the obvious? Anong
nararamdaman mo?"

I didn't know how to answer James. I turned away and took a deep breath. I faced
him again and smiled.

"Naaalala mo ba nung sinabi ko sayo na kung nakilala kita sa ibang panahon or sa

ibang pagkakataon, ikaw ang mamahalin ko? Pano kung sabihin ko sayo na nakilala
kita sa ibang pagkakataon? I mean sa ibang... What's the right term? Sa ibang
katauhan?"

"Hindi ko gets." James had 'confused' written on his forehead.

"It's Kerky. You guys are so alike. He understands me. Nababasa nya ko the way you
do. Alam nyo kung kelan gusto ko lang ng makikinig sakin or kung kelan ko kailangan
ng payo. He makes me feel better, just like you do. Hindi nga lang nya kamuka si Gu
Jun Pyo, but he looks like Dao Ming Si."

"Dao Ming Si?"

"Taiwanese counterpart ni Gu Jun Pyo. Mas gwapo nga lang si Jun Pyo, pero mas macho
naman si Dao Ming Si."
"Anong ibig mong sabihin? Mas macho yung Kerky mo kesa sakin?"

"Oo eh. Yummy sya."

"Hoy! Seven deadly sins yan! LUST!"

"Talagang kailangan sinisigaw in public?! I'm not lusting over him... It's just
that, with Kerky, parang okay lang ako. Hindi ko masyado nararamdaman yung sakit
dito sa puso ko. Hindi ba, good sign yun? Ibig sabihin may pag-asa pa ko. May pag-
asa pa na maging okay yung puso ko. Maybe Kerky can make it happen for me."

"I'm glad that he makes you feel better. But are you ready to settle with 'okay'
lang? Ian-yan, 'okay' is still far from 'happy'. Life shouldn't be settled with a
rating of 'okay'. It should be rated with the highest rates."

"James... After everything I've been through, of knowing how much will it cost me
to get that happiness, I think I'll be willing to settle with 'okay lang'."

"Ian... I wish you the same happiness that Zach, Anton, Ali and I are feeling right
now. And even the happiness that Trey felt when he married Angelika. Gusto kong
maramdaman mo yun kasi it's the best feeling of all- yung parang you've gone to
heaven and back. It's feeling that's enough to last you two lifetimes. That's how
wonderful and magical life can be. Don't settle with 'okay' lang... Please, Ian-
yan?" He messed my hair again.

I smiled at him.

"I'll try..."

"Chicken Parmigiana, Osso Buco, Shrimp and Feta, Sundried Tomatoes and Pesto." The
waiter said as he laid out James' orders.

"Last Supper?" I whispered.

"Ayokong nagugutom ka eh. At lalong ayoko na ipagpalit mo kami sa Pastels na yun.

Di hamak naman na mas gwapo kami dun noh."

"Hindi rin..."

"Ikaw, pinagpapalit mo na talaga kami!"

-----------------------
Robi's

It's Trey's birthday. Another agonizing barkada lunch. Sabi nila Zach birthday
celebration ni Trey, but I have this feeling that it will be another couple show
off day- and another day wishing for Ian to walk in the God damned door. All the
couples were settled on the couch already when I arrived.

"Where's the birthday dude?" I asked glumly.

"Who knows? We've been calling him kanina pa but he's not answering." Rika said.

"Why not call her PA since close na close na sila nun?" I suggested sarcastically.

"Oo nga noh... Why haven't we thought of it kanina?" Rapah said. "Ate Riks, call
Jenny."

Rika took her phone and dialled.

"Beer please." I sighed.

"Robi... Maaga pa para uminom." Audrina said a little worried.

"Fine... Chuckie, please..." I said.

"Better..."Audrina smiled. "Yaya... Pakuha naman ng Chuckie si Robi."

The maid approached us.

"Eh, mam, wala naman po tayo nun. Medyo matagal pa naman bago lumabas si baby Zach
kaya hindi pa ko nag-go-grocery para sa kanya." The maid explained.

"It's okei... Tubig na lang." I smiled half- heartedly.

"Uhmm... Yaya, bili ka na lang. Here." Audrina handed her the money. "Robi... Cheer
up a little."

"I swear, I'm trying."

"Try harder." Audrina smiled.

"Hindi rin sinasagot ni Jenny yung phone nya." Rika announced.

"Jenny, who?" Someone asked from behind.

We all turned around to see who it was. I froze.

"IAN-YAN!!!" Everyone screamed and stood up.

They ran to where she was standing and hugged her.

"Kala ko bo-boycotin mo na naman kami." James said.

"Mag-drama at mag-inarte ka ba naman nung isang araw eh... Baka kasuhan mo pa ko ng

abandonment. Sayang ang career." Ian said and stuck her tongue out. "Where's Trey?"

"Who knows..." Rapah exasperated. "I missed you, Ian-yan!" She hugged Ian again.
"Wait... Sino sya?" Rapah pointed at the guy by the door.

"Oh... I almost forgot." Ian ran to the guy, grabbed his wrist and dragged him to
where we were. "Guys, I want you to meet Kerky. Kerky, meet Neon and the lucky love
of their lives."

"Hi. Uhmm... Hinatid ko lang talaga si Ian. Sige, mauna na ko. Band practice."
Kerky said.

"Wait. Nandito ka na rin lang, join us for lunch na." Rika suggested.

"Wag na. Mukang may pupuntahan pa yan eh." I interfered. "Sige, dude. Ingat ka ha."

"Kerky, stay for a while." Ian held his arm.

I had to take a deep breath to keep myself from punching Kerky's face.

"It seems like Trey and Jenny aren't going to show up, so let's go eat." Zach
suggested.
I could feel that he was trying to divert the tension away.

We went to the dining room. I was the last to walk there. Everyone was already
seated. Then, I realized there weren't any chairs left.

"Even numbers ba talaga 'tong mga upuan sa inyo?" I asked Zach sarcastically.

"Sorry. Kala kasi namin another MIA day si Ian eh. And we weren't expecting that
she'll bring someone along." Audrina explained. "Manang, pakuha naman ng chair si
Robi."

Manang dragged a chair for me.

"Thanks." I pulled the chair beside Ian's.

Awkward silence.

"Parang...Never mind... I'll keep my mouth shut now." Ali said.

"Kain ka lang." Ian told Kerky. "Try mo yung pasta. Masarap yan for sure."

"Oo nga. Kain ka na, baka mahuli ka pa sa rehearsal nyo." I added.

Awkward silence again.

"Parang..." Rapah said and turned to Ali.

"Kung ano man yung sasabihin mo, ibulsa mo na lang. Wag ka na magsalita." Ali told
Rapah.

Kerky took the bowl of pasta and filled a fourth of Ian's plate.

"Mahilig si Ian sa pasta. Kulang yan. Gusto mo ba sya gutumin?" I asked him a bit
irritated.

"Okay lang. Marami naman kasing niluto si Audrina. Gusto ko tikman lahat." Ian
explained.

"Hmmm... Parang... alam ko na yung 'parang' nyo Ali and Rapah." James said.

Irish nudged James.

"Uhmm... Eto. Sigurado masarap 'to" Kerky took the plateful of baked mussels and
put some on Ian's plate.

Everyone dropped their spoon and forks and stared at Kerky.

"Papatayin mo ba sya sa harap namin? Allergic si Ian sa tahong. Kahit isang piraso
lang, hinihingal na sya." I said as I picked out the mussels on Ian's plate. "Ang
gusto nya, ito... Fried chicken. Barbeque. Sugpo. More pasta." I said as I filled
Ian's plate.

"Hmmm... Kinakabahan ako...Parang napanood ko na 'to eh." Anton said. "Kimerald?"

"Hindi eh." Rika said. "Enchong-Erich?"

"Hindi noh... Juday-Piolo?" Zach kind of guessing.

"Mas lalong hindi... Sarah- John Lloyd?" Audrina was trying to guess too.
"Mali kayong lahat. Bea-John Lloyd yan." Rapah said.

"Anong pinagsasasabi nyo?" Ian asked in confusion.

"Uhm... Bea-John Lloyd movie. One More Chance. Best pinoy movie of all time." Ali
said.

"Hindi kaya." Ian objected. "Rico- Claudine's Got to Believe, is the best Pinoy
movie ever. And tungkol saan ba yung movie na yun?"

"What?! You mean hindi mo pa napapanood yung movie na yun?!" Rapah gasped.

Ian shook her head.

"Irish, ilabas ang laptop." Rika ordered.

Irish stood up and walked to Ian.

"Kerky, dyan ka muna ha. Io-orient ko lang si Ian sa One More Chance. Robi, try not
to kill Kerky. Guys, paki tali kung kinakailangan ha."

Ian stood up and left the room with Irish.

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

"You look great, Irish. Wait... Don't tell me you're pregnant too. I seem to be
getting that news quite often." I said as we waited for the movie to load.

"No. Gusto muna namin enjoy-in yung kami lang dalawa. But then again, if it comes,
it comes. A baby would be really lovely... Ayan na. I-skip ko na lang dun sa part
na parang nangyayari kanina dun ha." Irish said.

"Okay."

We watched this scene where the group was eating in some sort of a bistro. John
Lloyd who looked so rugged was acting bitter towards Bea and the guy he's with.
Then I realized, para ngang kami yun kanina. The next scene made me tear up a bit,
especially when the rugged Popoy bursted saying "Mahal kita... At ang sakit-sakit
na..."

"I swear, ganyan ang mangyayari kung hindi mapipigilan si Robi... Ian, hindi mo ba
talaga kayang patawarin si Robi? Hindi mo na ba sya mahal?"

"Irish... Kailangan ko pa ba sagutin kung mahal ko pa sya? Alam mo naman yung sagot
dun eh." I tried to smile. "It's just that, hanggang ngayon, masakit pa din eh. I
can't go on loving him with the fear of dying once he hurt me again. I miss him.
Yet, I'm scared of being with him. Para kong nilalagay sa piligro yung puso ko sa
tuwing magkakalapit kami. Alam mo bang pinilit lang ako ni Kerky pumunta ngayon?
Sabi nya kasi, hindi ko pwedeng i-layo yug sarili ko sa inyong lahat dahil lang sa
ayokong magkalapit kami ni Robi. Na kahit pag-bali-baligtarin ko yung mundo, iisa
pa din yung iniikutan namin ni Robi."

"I know, mahirap yung hihilingin ko sayo, pero kung hindi mo kaya ipakita na mahal
mo pa si Robi, sana kahit i-trato mo na lang syang kaibigan. He's been feeling like
an outsider sa Neon, kaya sana wag mo na sya gawing outsider sa buhay mo... Please,
Ian?"

I know how much it hurts to be pushed away by someone you love. Masakit masyado
yun. Do I want him to feel that same pain kahit pa sya mismo yung nagparamdam sakin
nun? No... Even after all the pain he has put me through, ayoko pa din sya
masaktan... Ano ba 'tong puso na to? Maging bato ka naman kahit konti.

"Okay..." I smiled reassuringly.

"Thanks." Irish said and hugged me. "Ayoko lang kasi na malungkot si Robi just the
way James doesn't want you to be sad."

We went back to the dining room. I sat in between Kerky and Robi again. I took a
dep breath and smiled.

"Sorry guys, Got to Believe pa din ako. Masyado mabigat sa puso yung movie nyo eh.
And I really think the Enchong- Erich team is better." I took a bite of the pasta.
"Namiss ko yung luto mo, Drins."

"Thanks." Audrina said.

Robi was just staring at me. I turned to him. Then, I took the pasta bowl and
filled Robi's plate.

"Mahilig ka din sa pasta diba. Ayan... Kain ka na." I told Robi.

Everyone dropped their spoon and forks again and stared at me. I took a deep
breath. I don't want Robi to burst like that. I don't want him to fall apart the
way Popoy did. I can't erase the fact that I still care for him.

"Ma'am Audrina, wala pong Chuckie sa tindahan eh. Lima na po yung napuntahan ko,
wala talaga." The maid said.

"Ah. Sige. Bigyan mo na lang ng juice si Robi. I hope that's okay with you, Robi?"
Audrina said.

Robi looked down to his food and started twirling the pasta with his fork.

I reached in my bag and handed him my Chuckie.

"Here. You can have mine..." I offered.

He took it and punched the straw in. He took a sip. Then, Kerky placed a carton of
Chuckie in front of me.

"Thanks." I said.

Robi took a long sip until he finished the whole carton. I took the Chuckie that
Kerky gave me and handed it to Robi.

"Gusto mo pa?" I offered.

"Wag na. Okay na ko. Baka pag ininom ko yan, sumama na naman yung pakiramdam ko.
Guys, dun na lang ako kakain sa sala. Hindi ako belong dito eh." Robi stood up,
took his plate and left the room.

Ganun ba kasakit yung nararamdaman nya kaya sobra din akong nasasaktan ngayon?

*******************************************
[7] The girl who just can't move (Seven)
*******************************************
Super Ian's
"So guys, agreed na that The Pastels will be guesting on the concert. Remember we
want this to be way huge than your past concerts. Mahiya naman kayo kung bababa ang
level nyo. Homeworks... Song line up. At least five medleys. A tribute to whomever
you want to give tribute to. Of course, your hits. And please prepare your solos.
And for the first time, all of you will sing one song each." Rika cleared out. "Ian
and Trey will take part in the concert too- group performance and solo singing as
well."

"What?!" I objected. "Riks, we've already talked about me going back behind the
scenes. I won't do fronts anymore."

"But it's one of the executive producers demands. They want the whole Neon on that
huge stage..." Rika explained.

"Wait... Asan si Robi?" I asked.

"Hindi ko napansin eh. He's been the walk out king for a while now." James
answered.

"Hanapin ko lang sya." I stood up.

Everyone went quiet and stared at me.

"Why are you all looking at me?" I asked.

"Hindi na kami magtatanong. Hihintayin na lang namin yung mangyayari. Popcorn na

lang kulang, blockbuster movie na talaga 'to." Ali said.

"Wait... We're not yet done." Rika said.

"I'll think about it, Riks." I said.

"But we're signing the contract the day after tomorrow. I need your answer now."

"What about Trey? Papayag ba sya?" I asked.

"He already said yes."

"Riks, ayoko na talaga eh." I confessed.

"Ian... You said you'll think about it... Give me an answer tomorrow."

"Fine... I'll think about it. Mauna na ko. Byebye." I left the room

Asan ka na naman ba Robi? Bigla-bigla na lang nawawala.

I opened every door on that floor looking for Robi. I already tried the recording
studio, the composition room, the piano room, and the record hall. Asan kaya
nagpunta yun? Sabi nung guard, hindi nya nakitang lumabas si Robi ng building, ibig
sabihin nandito lang sya. Saan naman kaya yun susuot? I looked down the hall.
Nakakamiss din pala 'tong Revert Records. I'm always on the road nowadays.
Samantalang dati, labas pasok ako dito. I wonder kung buhay pa yung drum room- the
most isolated room in this place. Puro naman kasi luma and sirang drum set yung
nakalagay dun. I always stay there pag gusto ko magpakalugmok kay Robi. Maybe it's
time for me to pay that room a visit.

I went to the top floor and opened the door at the far end of the hall. I was
surprised to see Robi inside the room.
"I found you." I said. "And I see that you found my favorite place in this
building... Bakit bigla kang nawala kanina?"

He didn't answer.

"You can't stay quiet all the time... Huy... Kausapin mo naman kaya ako..." I
pleaded.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him up.

"Tara, alis tayo." I said and dragged him out of the room.

==============

Super Robi's

"Where are we going?" I asked Ian while she was still dragging me.

This feels so good.

"Wala lang. I really need a break. I've been too busy since The Pastels, and I'll
be busy again soon. Since, ayaw mo naman umattend ng meeting, and ayoko din naman,
eh di magbulakbol na lang tayong dalawa. Rika will understand." Ian explained.

Ian didn't wait for me to answer. She just hailed a cab and away we go to wherever.

"San tayo pupunta?" I asked her again.

"My favorite hang out place when I was in 6th grade." She smiled. "I sure hope
you've stocked up your fridge with Chuckie and your cupboard with gummy bears."

"Sa bahay ko?" I tried to make sure.

She just smiled. That sweet smile I've been missing for more than six years now.

We arrived at my house and she rushed to the couch.

"Have I told you how much I love the feel of your couch? I remember I always fall
asleep on this couch during and after homeworks. And then you'll try to wake me up
by throwing gummy bears on my face or running an open pack under my nose, making me
sniff the goodness of those neon colored bears." Ian said as if reminiscing.

"Stay there. May kukunin lang ako." I told her and went to the kitchen.

I grabbed four cartons of Chuckie from the fridge and the tub of gummy bears on the
cupboard. I went back to the living room and set the stuff on the center table.

"Yey... Nakalimutan ko magbaon kanina nito eh." Ian said as she took one Chuckie.
"Hindi na ko binibigyan nila Ali nito. Pati din si James."

"May Kokey naman na nagbibigay sayo nyan eh." I said.

"Kerky. His name's Kerky. Yes. He does give me Chuckie from time to time, but it
doesn't feel the same. Mas gusto ko yung feeling pag bigay nila James. Namimiss ko
yung mga panahon na inaalagaan nila ako. Namimiss ko yung mga panahon na ako lang
yung baby nila... But I can't complain. They have their life too."

Her smile faded. I want it back I want her smile back. I opened the tub of gummy
bears and threw a piece at her.

"Wag ka na mag drama. Pagbali-baligtarin man yung mga planeta, mahal ka pa din nung
mga yun. Ikaw pa din yung baby nila." I comforted her.

"Yeah right." She said sarcastically. "Robi..." She lied down on the couch and took
a long sip. "Tell me something I don't know... Kahit ano. Pag alam ko na yung
sinabi mo, sasampalin kita."

I chuckled.

"Pano kung hindi mo pa alam yung sinabi ko?" I asked.

"Wala lang. Thank you lang. Kailangan ba reward and consequence?"

"Newton's law of motion yun. For every action there's a corresponding reaction."

"Eh di ikaw na matalino at laging nakikinig kay teacher Gene."

"Palibasa tinutulugan mo yung Physics."

"Yabang... Eh, boring naman kasi sya eh. Ikaw lang 'tong eager beaver sa subject
nya! Sige na kasi. Tell me something I don't know."

"I'll tell you, but you have to tell me something too."

"Sige. I'll think of something. Go na. Tell me something I don't know."

"Hmmm... I really wanted to be friends with you the first time I saw you. Huge
shirt, jumper shorts, baseball cap and all. Kaya lang, binelatan mo ko eh. Bad
trip."

"Kelan yun?" She asked.

"Nung araw na lumipat kayo sa tapat namin. Sobra kang nakasimangot nun."

"Naaalala mo pa yun?"

"Of course. Alalang-alala ko pa. Yun kasi yung unang sobrang nakakainis na ginawa
mo sakin."

"Eh ano naman yung second na sobrang nakakainis na ginawa ko sayo?"

"Nung umalis ka papuntang Australia when we were in 6th grade. Kasi naman... Close
na tayo nun eh. Tapos, bigla ka na lang pumayag umalis. Goodbye supposedly fun
summer."

"Something you don't know about... I've put on a hunger strike when my parents told
me that I will be spending my summer in Oz. I didn't want to go. I'd rather spend
my summer playing water guns, climbing mango trees, eat gummy bears until our tummy
explodes, Chuckie drinking marathon. I didn't want to miss all the fun."

"Kunyari ka pa. Ang sabihin mo, you didn't want to miss me." I teased.

"Yabang!" She threw a pillow at me. "But, that's one of the reasons too... O,
sampalin mo na ko. I told you something that you already know."

"Hindi noh. Hindi ko naman alam na totoo pala yun eh. Nagjo-joke lang naman ako eh.
And thanks."
"What for?"

"For putting up a hunger strike because you 'sort of' wanted to spend your summer
with me."

"Drama mo... Ano pa? Tell me more..."

"Hmmm... Something you don't know... The 'keeper of my heart' drumstick? It's the
drumstick you gave me."

"What?!" She sat up.

"Yung pasalubong mo na drumstick sakin from Austrlia, it's the 'keeper of my heart'
drumstick."

"Astig... You kept my pasalubong all these years."

"Another something that you don't know... I took drum lessons because of you... "

"Huh?"

"I took drum lessons 'cause I needed something to distract myself from missing you.
Yes... I missed you a lot back then. I was just too proud to admit it even to
myself."

"Thanks, I guess... But... why drums? Of all the instruments to learn, you chose
drums?"

"Another something that you don't know or you might not even remember at all...
Elementary graduation. We were talking while the valedictorian was giving her
speech. I asked you what's that one thing that never fails to impress you. And you
answered drum solos by Keith Moon. I guess I didn't want to miss you, but at the
back of my head I still wanted to remember you."

"Another thanks..." She smiled.

"Something you don't know, sobra akong nalungkot nung pinagpalit mo ko sa drums.
Kaya kahit gusto ko matutuo mag-drums noon, inayawan ko..."

"I knew that James was inlove with you and that it was only a matter of time before
he says it out loud. So, before he can even say anything, inunahan ko na sya. The
day I knew that I was inlove with you... you were crying because we had another
fight. Sabi mo nun, hindi ka na sasama sa jamming sessions namin, na isaksak ko sa
baga ko yung banda ko, and ang damot-damot ko. I laughed coz your make up smudged.
Then, you said 'Bakit ka tumatawa?! Crazy ka ba?'. I always seem to realize how
much you mean to me everytime I come close to losing you. I guess... I had to lose
you before it hit me how much I love you. Ian, I love you. Hindi ko talaga kaya
pigilan eh. I love you..."

She just stared at me... Then, she slapped me really hard.

"I know that already." She whispered.

Then, she held my cheek. And then, she kissed me... On the lips... We kissed as if
there were no tomorrows to come... We kissed as if our souls missed each other so
much that they never want to be apart ever again... We kissed just because we
couldn't take it anymore... We kissed maybe because our souls knew that there's no
other soul meant for them... Because our souls knew that it would only be Robin
Hood and Super Ian- holding hands, together, forever.

==========

Super Ian's

I wanted to hold on to our memories, so when I woke up that morning with him on the
bed, I just sighed and stared at him. This is the view that I wanted to see every
waking moment of my life.

I keep asking myself kung hanggang kailan ba ako matatakot sa katotohanang matagal
nang nakahain sa harapan ko. I know James and the others were so sick and tired
about me always denying that I am still in love with Robi. Pero iyon naman talaga
ang totoo.

I went to Spain, thinking that if I go there I'll be able to leave everything

behind, thinking that if I try to exorcise his memories, his thoughts, I'll be able
to free myslef, but I was wrong, I end up falling even more deeper in love with
him.

So I cameback. I found him with the Neon guys, he's now my old Robi. Bumalik na
iyong Robi ni Super Ian, pero natatakot naman si Super Ian na magpakatoto dahil
ayaw na niyang muling masaktan.

That's right. I don't want to get hurt pero hindi ko naman mapigilan ang sarili ko
sa tuwing makikita ko siya. Everytime he's near me, I feel like I want to kiss him.
Everytime I'm kissing him, I feel like making hot steamy love with him. Saan ko pa
ba ilulugar ang sarili ko? Si Robi naman kasi, habang tumatagal lalong guma-gwapo.
At ako, habang tumatagal, lalong naloloko.

That's how much I love my Robi.

My thoughts were interuppted when I suddenly felt his arms around my waist.
Nakapikit pa rin ang kanyang mga mata ngunit nakita ko ang isang ngiting gumuhit sa
kanyang mga labi.

"Don't ever think about leaving me. Not today, Adriane." he opened his left eyes
and smiled.

"Paano pa ako aalis eh gising ka na." ngumuso ako. Napuno ng halakhak niya ang
silid. I looked around, the walls seemed to be radiating with his laughter,
everything seemed to be lighter and livelier.

"Your are the view that I want to see every waking moment of my life." he whispered
as he looked at me. I bit my lower lip, talk about mind reading. I touched his
face.

I want to tell him that I was thinking the same thing, but I chickened out. Natakot
na naman akong magpakatotoo.

"You have to go." I suddenly said. Kumunot ang noo niya.

"What?" bigla siyang bumangon. "After last night? After the other night and the
nights before that? After the kisses and the happy times we had for the last month,
sasabihin mo sa akin that I have to go? Alien ka!" napatitig ako kay Robi. What the
hell?
"Ikaw ang Alien! Rika called, may mall show daw kayo so you have to go because your
going to be late and since I was the one who answered your phone, Rika knew that
were together, and if you don't make it, she'll kill me. Naiintindihan mo?"

Saglit siyang natigilan na parang bang pino-process pa ng isip niya ang mga bagay
na sinabi ko.

"Oh... Alright." he stood up and looked for his shirt while I was busy watching
him. All I can think about is how much my heart beats for him. Mahal na mahal ko si
Robi, pero hindi naman maalis ang takot ko.

When he came back again, bagong ligo na siya. He smiled and just by that he was
able to take my morning breath away.

"See you later, Ian." ngumiti siya.

"Oh my gosh! Do not kiss me, hindi pa ako nagto-tooth brush!" sigaw ko sa kanya but
it was to late, he already did. He gave me a lingering kiss that juggled my whole
being.

He smiled at me. "You have the freshest breath ever." then he winked at me, my
heart skipped a beat.

*******************************************
[8] The girl who just can't move (Eight)
*******************************************
Super Ian's

Cloud Nine. That is where I am right now. I sighed. I didn't know that I could
still feel this kind of happiness. Ni hindi ko na nga alam na posible palang maging
masaya ang isang tao ng ganito. Naisip ko ang tagal ko na palang malungkot na
dumating sa punto na nakalimutan ko na kung paano maging masaya. And right now, I'm
so happy. And the most unbelievable thing about it was that, the reason of my
loneliness was also the reason for my happiness.

I guess I just needed to overdose myself with the Robi capsule.

"Good afternoon, Maam" the guard greeted me. Masayang nginitian ko siya. I didn't
know that when you're this happy, everything around you will look so much better.
Even Kuyang Guard looked better.

"Nandito pa po ba iyong Neon?" I asked him. The guard smiled at me again.

"Umalis na sila. Pero si Sir Trey nandyan pa." he said. Iminuwestra niya sa akin
ang itaas. I shrugged. What would Trey do upstairs? Napailing ako. He's been acting
really weird these past few days. I noticed that right after Neon's anniversarry
concert. He wasn't the usual Trey anymore and that worries me.

I found him sitting on a chair inside the recording booth, looking serious as if he
was thiking about something really deep. I pushed the door open and just like that
he looked at me. I could see an unfamiliar emotion in his eyes - something that I'm
not used on seeing.
"Trey? Why are you still here?" I asked, amused. He sighed and turned to me.

"I'm thinking." he simply said.I walked towards him to take a goo look.

"Sino?" he smirked. I smiled. The thing with Trey was he seldom smiles anymore.
Mula noong mawala si Angelika, minsan ko na lang din makita ang ngiting niya.

"Bakit sino agad ang tanong mo? Hindi ba pwedeng ano, o bakit?" napangiti siya.

"Dalawa lang naman iyan eh.. It's either your thinking of living the country again
or your just simply thinking about Jenny." I shrugged. Trey looked lost for a
moment. At habang nakatingin ako sa kanya, I knew that he had ound his way back.

"I don't know..." he whispered.

"Bakit naman?" I asked. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang excitement na nararamdaman ko.

Knowing that my friend was back - the old Trey was here again - I couldn't help but
to be happy for him.

"I know I'm in love with Jenny, but everytime I think of Angel, I feel so guilty.
It's like ---"

"Cheating?" He nodded. "Hindi naman ganun iyon Trey eh. Kai loved you, we all knew
that. Kung hindi, di sana hindi ka niya pinakasalan. Mahal ka niya, nakita namin
kung gaano ka niya minahal, and she died loving you... Ano nga uli iyong mantra
ninyo? Always and forever and ever..." huminga siya ng malalim. "wala na naman
akong sense kausap..." natawa ako. Looking at Trey and knowing that he finally
found someone to share his always and forever with made my insides melt.

Suddenly, Robin Hood's face flashed in my mind. And I felt like I wanted to run
away and be wherever he is.

"Ano ba si Robi sa'yo?" napaamaang ako sa tanong ni Trey. I looked at him and after
some seconds I punched his shoulder.

"What the?!"

"Ikaw ang pinag-uusapan hindi kami!"

"Bakit hindi mo masagot? Mahirap ba?" nginisihan niya ako. I made a face. I guess
the tables have turned now. Ako na ang nasa hot seat at hindi na siya. I thought
about Robi and the memories that we have shared. I remembered him scolding me
because I fell down the tree. I thought of that moment when he said that he hated
me but then he decided to spend the day with me eating street food, running around
the park and skating. I thought of all the times he went on my soccer game just to
cheer me kahit na mukha na siyang tanga... then those moments when he made me cry,
the moments he made me feel special -- right after making me cry.

I bit my lower lip.Oh my gosh! Realization hit me. I held back the tears...
Kahit pala anong gawin ko - kahit sabihin kong kinamumuhian ko si Robin Hood ay
hindi mawawala sa isipan at sa puso ko ang pagmamahal ko para sa kanya. Nakatatak
na sa akin iyon at kahit anong gawin ko ay hindi na mabubura.

"Robi is that guy, actually, he's the only guy that can make me, laugh, cry, mad
----all at the same time ---- and he's the only one that can stir emotions inside
my being that I didn't even knew existed. Iyon siya... he makes my heart beat fast
kahit wala siya.. and by just hearing his name, it's enough para mag-sommer sault
ang mundo ko... Iyon siya para sa akin..."

"Eh bakit mo pa pinapatagal? Robi's still in love with you, malinaw pa sa tubig
dagat na mahal mo rin siya so bakit hindi pa maging kayo?" biglang tanong ko.

Again, the tables have turned. I am now under Trey's microscopic eyes. I just
sighed and shook my head. Actually,I wanted to be with Robi since I could remember.
Pero bakit ba hindi ko pa i-grab ang opportunity na ito ngayon? Abot kamay ko na
siya. Bakit ko ba pinatatagal.

"As I said, ikaw ang pinag-uusapan at hindi ako. Ano ba sa'yo si Jenny."

It was Trey's turn to fell silent. Tulad ko ay napaisip rin siya. Maybe he was
thinking about Jenny the same way I am thinking about Robi right now.

And then I realized that the reason why I didn't want to be with him even though
I'm so in love with him was the fact that I am still scared that Robi might leave
me hanging on thread again. I don't want to get hurt again. Hindi pa nga ako
nakaka-move on sa five yeras na heartaches at uncertainties na siya ang dahilan
tapos madadagdagan na naman. I don't wan to be Ian - the passive girl that couldn't
move. I want to be Ian - the girl who can move, Ian who is genuinely happy because
she love life and everything it has to offer. Ian - the girl who couldn't move
can't be like that.

But then again, if Robi's not with me - I couldn't be the happy Ian. Kasi kahit
itanggi ko sa aking sarili, my heart and soul knew that without Robi, my world
won't move.

Ang hirap ng situation.

Your happiness can alway be the reason of your pain.

Saan ba ako lulugar?

Nagulat ako nang biglang tumayo si Trey.

"Where are you going?" I asked, confused. Then, he smiled at me. A smile of
happiness and pure bliss - the same smile I wanted to have - the smiled that I had
been longing to see on my face for a long, long time.

"Mag-iipon ng confidence." he winked at me. Before he reached the door, I called

him.

"Hindi mo na kailangan iyon, gwapo ka na eh."

After that he was out of the door. I sighed. I was left inside the recording studio
not knowing what I should do or think or feel about this newly found happiness -
and - uncertainties I have found now that I am allowing myself to be with Robi.

Masaya ako.

Siguro iyon muna ang uunahin ko.Ang sayang nararamdaman ko. I took a deep breath,
took out my phone and dialled Robi's number. I felt disappointed when I heard his
answering machine. I decided to just leave a message.

"Hey." I said. "I - I dont know Robi. I'm not sure about this." I bit my lower lip.
"But I am happy and that's all I wanted to be. I've been so sad for the past few
years that you're not with me and I actually forgot how to be happy. But now... I
guess it doesn't matter anymore. I love you. I'm in love with you and I think I'll
be in this state for a long, long time. Yeah. Wala lang. I missed you and I love
you. Bye. I guess."

I turned off my phone. I stayed in that position for a few minutes. Then I decided
to go home but before I could tale a step towards the door, bumakas iyon at iniluwa
si Robi. He was standing in front of me with that amused smile on his face - his
phone on his left ear. He looked at me.

"I am happy too. And I love you very much, Ian. I still want to spend my forever
with you. Babawi ako. Hinding-hindi na kita paiiyakin."

We stared at each other for a while. Then I put my hands on my waist.

"You have that look." he said.

"What look?" I asked. "Move over."

And he did. The next thing I knew I was running towards him. Robi caught me. I
wrapped my legs around his waist tilted his head and gave him an honest to goodness
kiss that originated in France.

We were breathless but I didn't want to stop. It was only when we heard an annoying
"ubo" - we froze and looked at the other side of the corridor.

We saw Ali and Rapah standing there - Rapah - teary eyed and awe struck, Ali
grinning like a little boy.

"Baby! I guess I have a new car!" Ali exclaimed. "Panalo ako sa pustahan namin ni
James!"

Napatingin ako kay Robi. He was looking at Ali. Then he looked at me.

"Let's get out of here." Ibinababa niya ako pagkatapos ay hinawakan ang kamay ko. I
could hear Rapah's laughter and Ali's scream of joy. Tiningnan ko ang kamay ni Robi
na nakahawak sa kamay ko.
Bahala na si Batman. Basta masaya kami ni Robin Hood, okay na sa akin.

*******************************************
[9] The girl who just can't move (NINE)
*******************************************

Super Ian's

I was looking at Trey and I couldn't deny the happiness I was feeling for him.
Finally aftre two years of hiding in his own world he finally let someone in and
that someone was Jenny -- the odd girl whom Rika met and hired as Trey's assistant.
Hindi lang ako ang masaya para kay Trey, kundi ang buong Neon. It was asi if their
long lost brother had been found again.

We were at Rika's house that night. She wanted to celebrate Trey and Jenny's happy
ending. Siyempre another delicious meal was prepared by her and Audrina and
everybody ended up eating more than they could digest. I was sitting at the
backyard swing when suddenly James approached me. He sat beside me and looked agt
me like I was some kind of ghost.

"Robi's smiling again." komento niya. "You're smiling again."

"People smile all the time, James." I answered.

"You know what I mean."

I sighed. I knew that this moment will come. The moment when I have to come clean
to mu best friend. I faced him and smiled.

"I'm still scared. But I'm happy. Nakalimutan ko na iyong pakiramdam na maging
masaya kasi ang tagal-tagal kong nalulungkot. I don't care if you don't approve of
me dating Robi again but I want you to know how happy I am today."

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. We both smirked.

"That sounded much better in my head." natatawang sabi ko.

"I'm happy you're happy." he sincerly said. I nodded. I took his hand.

"Please, James.... Don't scare Robi away."

"Ian.." natatawang sabi niya. "Much as I want to think that Robi was actually
scared of me eh niloloko ko lang ang sarili ko. Robi is not scared of me. He is
scared of you.. scared of the thought that he might lose you again."

I moved the swing closer to James. I realized that just like what he said, I was
actually scared of losing Robi again. I'm so in love with Robi. Siguro redundant na
talaga pero mahal ko siya and losing him means losing my insanity.

Ayokong mabaliw. Ayoko talaga.

"I'm scared too." I whispered at him. "But I really wanna be with him."

"Just remember, if he leaves you again. I'll hurt him this time, Ian and I mean
it."

I looked up at James. He had a soft expression and yet I knew for a fact that he
wasn'tn kidding either. Tumango ako at saka humilig sa kanyang balikat. I miss
this. James and me sharing thoughts, secrets -- just the two of us. I realized that
I have been missing my five unofficial boyfriends and I would really be glad to
have them all by myself. Pero hindi na posible iyon ngayon.

"Hi..."

James and I both looked at the voice's direction. We saw Irish standing, looking at
us with that weird smile on her face.

"Honey..." mabilis pa sa alas kwatro na tumayo si James at nilapitan si Irish. He

put his arms around her waist and kissed her temple. Irish closed her eyes and
smiled even more. Then they looked at each other and I felt like dirt while
watching them. Isa akong malaking hadlang.

"Eherm..." kapagkuwan ay wika ko. Tumayo ako at saka sumenyas na aalis. "Doon muna
ako..."
"Bye, Ian-yan!

I waved them goodbye. I walked around the area pero kahit saan yata ako magpunta ay
napapalibutan ako ng mga happy lovers. I went to the kitchen and I found Anton,
Rika and Yana there. Anton was helping Yana finish her food while Rika prepares the
dessert. They looked so happy. And from where I was standing I could see the way
Anton glares at Rika -- he was so in love with her, it was written all over his
face. I turned to the living room and there were Ali and Rapah goofing around,
acting like children. I went outside and I saw the new couple, Jenny and Trey
playing patintero with each other and I wasn't really surprised when I went to the
garage and I saw Zach serenading Audrina -- the love of his life.

I sighed. Where is Robi when you needed him. I settled myself at the foot of the
stairs in front of Rika's porch. Nangalumbaba ako roon at saka tumingala. After a
while, I checke my phone to see if there are any messages from him but there was
none. I sighed again.

I dialled my phone. Hindi na ako makatiis. I need to talk to the love of my life. I
haven;t seen him all day and I couldn't stand this place infested with lovers. Ang
lagay ba ay ako na lang ang wala?

After three rings, he answerd. Hindi ko na siya hinintay mag-hello.

"Nasan ka ba?! Ang daya-daya mo!" I was biting my lower lip as I said those words.
To my surprise I heard his laughter at the other line.

"Nami-miss mo ako?" He teased. Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Hindi naman ganyan ang sagot sa tanong ko eh! Nasan ka kasi!" naiinis na
napapadyak ako. Again he laughed.

"Tell me first if you're missing me." he said. I know Robi so well that even if he
wasn't in front of me, I knew that he was smiling right now.

"Robin hood!" gigil na gigil ako.

"Ow, baby. You look so pretty when you're blushing."

"I am blushing because I am angry--- wait how did you know that?" kunot noong
tanong ko. Agad akong napatayo.

"Where the hell are you, Robin hood?" muling tanong ko. Hindi siya sumagot. Halos
humaba naman ang leeg ko kakahanap sa kanya. Alam kong nandito siya. Hindi naman
niya malalaman na nagba-blush ako kung hindi niya ako nakikita. I looked around to
see if I could find him but it was too dark and I couldn't see anything.

"Robi?!"

"You're in Rika's porch. Talking to me. Looking murderous and yet you're still the
most beautiful creature I've ever laid eyes on. Still the view I want to see every
waking moment of my life."

"Robi..." I was out of breathe. I was still moving my head trying so hard to get a
glimpse of him. Bumaba ako mula sa hagdan. I walked towards the gate. I ignored
Jenny and Trey. I was busy looking for Robi. Lumakad ako ng lumakad hanggang sa
marating ko ang dulo ng street nila Anton pero hindi ko pa rin siya nakita.

"Robi..." I said to him. "Where the hell are you?!" I demanded.

As if on cue, the big narra tree on my left lightened up. My eyes widened with
surprise and amamzement. The tree was adorned with tiny yellow lights. Teka, pasko
na ba? Bakit my Christmas lights na iyong kapitbahay nila Anton?

I took a step backward and that was when I realized that there were rose petals on
the street. Nadagdagan ang pagkabigla ko. Ano bang meron? Tumalikod ako ngunit
muling natigilan. My mouth fell open. Tears started falling down from my eyes.

I saw Robi, he was standing in front of me, looking so good with that black over
coat, plain white shirt, faded blue jeans and those worn out sneakers. He was
holding a boquet of yellow lollipops. I smiled.

"You don't like flowers so I asked them if they could make candies like this." he
said as he handed me the boquet.
"What the hell is this?" I asked. He wiped my tears.

"Wag kang umiyak. Wala pa nga akong ginagawa."

"Ikaw kasi!" hinampas ko siya sa balikat. Matapos iyon ay hinawakan ko ang kanyang
kamay. "Tara na nga. Uwi na tayo. Tapos kikiss kita sa lips." biro ko. Natigilan
ako nang hindi tuminag si Robi. He was just holding my hand. I looked back at him.
He had this funny look on his face. Para bang kinakabahan siya na natatakot na
hindi ko maintindihan.

"R-robi?" untag ko sa kanya. He shook his head. I bit my lower lip. "Robi..."

"Ian... Adriane." he took a deep breath. Bigla ay may nahagip ang mga mata ko. I
saw his car and inside there were three luggages on the passenger's seat.
Nakaramdam ako ng takot. Hindi ko mapigilang maisip ang nangyari sa amin almost
seven years ago. Ganito rin iyon. Magkaharap kami. He was wearing an overcoat. He
told me he loved me and then...

He left.

He left me hanging on a thread. He made me wait..

And now...

"Y-you're leaving me... Again?"

*******************************************
[10] The girl who just can't move (TEN)
*******************************************

Super Ian's

"Why do you keep on doing this to me, Robi?"

I asked while still trying to keep myself sane and composed. I relaxed myself but
deep inside, I really wanted to yell at him, hit him, hurt him. Hindi pa ba sapat
na pinaghintay niya ako ng pitong mahabang taon? Ngayon aalis na naman siya? What
if he comes back again tapos maulit na naman iyong nangyari noon? What if he
forgets about me again? What if I forget about him this time? Ayoko nang mabuhay ng
hindi ko kasama si Robi. Masyado nang mahaba ang panahong ipinaghintay ko sa kanya.
Hindi ko na kakayanin ang isa na namang madugong paghihintay para sa kanya.

"Ian, please, if you just listen."

I looked at him. He wated me to listen to him? Ganito din ang nangyari noon. We
were standing in front of my house tapos he took my hand and he put it in his chest
and asked me what I could feel. Was he going to do that now? Was he really trying
to kill me inside?

"I don't wanna listen, Robi, because I know what's gonna happen. You're going to
take my hand asked me whatever the hell was going inside your body and leave me
again. I don't want to get through this again. I'm fed up! I'm sick and tired of
you leaving me, I'm tired of waiting for my damn happy ending! I swear f you leave
me again tonight, I'm gonna find myself a decent prince and get married in any
church that I could find!"

I knew I sounded so childish, so desperate, but hey, can you blame me? The man I
love was about to leave me again and--- wait! Why was he laughing at me?

"What the hell is wrong with you!" I yelled at him. He smiled wider. This time he
took my hand.

"You were right." he sighed. "I was going to take your hand and put it in my
chest." he moved closer. "Now, Adriane, can you please tell me what's going on
inside my chest? Can you feel my heartbeat, Adriane?"

Robi, he never calls me Adriane for no reason. Tinatawag niya lang akong Adriane,
kapag galit siya sa akin o kaya man may gusto siyang sabihin. I am very sure na
hindi naman siya galit sa akin, so in other words he was about to tell me
something. Something that I might not want to hear because I was so afraid that it
could be another painful goodbye.

"Feel my heart..." he held on tighter. I gasped as he was now closer.

"Y-your heart.. It's beating so fast. It's as if there's a storm going on inside...
a natural disaster, a chaos..." my mouth fell open. I looked up at him. He was
smiling down at me but I could see that he was very nervous as well.

"Why.. why is it like that, Robi?" I asked still trying not to cry. "A-are you
leaving me again?" I couldn't help but ask.

Robi didn't answer my question. Instead, he leaned forward and gave me a light kiss
on the lips. He stared at me, we stayed like that for a while when I suddenly
realized that he was lowering himself and the next thing I knew he was kneeling, he
was looking up at me while taking something out from his pocket.

Instantly my tears started falling down.

I'm not stupid. I knew what he was trying to do. I knew what's gonna happen next, I
knew what he was going to ask me and somehow, I knew what my answer will be.

"Hey..." muli siyang tumayo. He wiped my tears away. "Adriane, don't cry. I've
prepared this one shot romantic speech for you. You're supposed to cry after
hearing it. Please..."

"Are you.. are you really going to ask----"

"Shhh! Nawawala naman kasi iyong element of surprise eh!" tila naiinis na wika
niya. "Ang hirap talaga kapag atat ang girlfriend." bulong ni Robi. Napaawang ang
mga labi ko.

"What did you say?" I asked him. He shook his head.

"Basta. Don't cry." he sighed again. "I'm going at it again. Don't cry until my
speech is over." muling lumuhod si Robi sa aking harapan. He took out the blue
velvet box he was holding earlier and took a deep, deep, breath.

"I'm an asshole----"

"What a word to start your so called romantic speech." I said trying hard not to
stiffle a laugh.

"Shh!" he smirked at me. "As I was saying. I'm an asshole. Asshole for letting you
know my real feelings for you that night of my departure. I'm an asshole for making
you promise to wait for me. I became an even bigger asshole when you tried to keep
in touch with me and I just ignored it, asshole for believing that you'd move on
and fall in love with James. I was a coward for not believing in you, in your love
for me. I'm an asshole for making you wait for seven years, asshole for coming back
as the insentive Robi, asshole for hurting you that night when I introduced Irish
to everyone as my future. Asshole for not believing in movies anymore, for not
being able to love you the way you love me...."

By that time, I couldn't bear to stand it. I let my tears fall down my cheeks.
Hearing Robi's one shot romantic speech made me realized that he actually
remembered the times that he had caused me pain and I don't know if I should be
happy or pissed but i was crying -- yet I don't know what for.

"When you left me the morning after we made love, I realized that I was still
deeply, madly and truly in love with you. I waited for you pero hindi ka na
bumalik. The next thing I knew you were gone --- for a year. But still I waited.
Sabi ko sa sarili ko, kung nakaya mo akong hintayin ng pitong taon nang walang
kasiguraduhan, kakayanin ko rin iyon. Nagmukha akong tanga, pumangit ako, umitim
but it was all worth it because you're here now and you're actually giving me a
second chance. I wanna grab this second chance and never let it go. So, here I am
now, in front of you, kneeling, telling you how much of an asshole I was for
hurting you, confessing my undying love for you... begging you, if you could spend
your forever with me, Robin Hood -- the one -- according to that drawing in our bus
-- the one who stole your heart..."

I put my hand over my mouth. Tears just kept coming down. Hilam na hilam na ng luha
ang aking mukha and yet I could clearly see my Robin Hood. I smiled at him. Tulad
niya ay lumuhod rin ako sa kanyang harapan. I took his left hand and put it in my
chest.

"Will it be cheesy if I said YES?" I said in between sobs. Robi shook his head.

"That was the most romantic word I have ever heard, Adriane."

I smiled at him.

"Same as your speech." I took the ring from the box. "This is a big rock! I
exclaimed.

"It was my Grandmother's." kinuha niya sa akin ang singsing at saka isinuot iyon sa
aking daliri. I was looking at him while he was doing that and boy! Robi never
looked as sexy!

"Come, let's go..." niyakag ko siya matapos niyang isuot ang singsing na iyon sa
akin.

"Sasabihin na natin?" He was smiling as I drag him inside his car. I looked at him
and winked.

"Bukas na lang. Right now, I wanna go home, go in our room and make love to you
with nothing but this ring on my finger."

Robi grinned at me.

"Yeah, the guys could wait." he said before giving me an honest to goodness
kiss....

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

Robin Hood's

I woke up that morning with the feeling of overflowing happiness in my chest. I

smiled while looking at the most beautiful sight ever --- Ian, my Super Ian. Her
eyes were still closed, her hair tossled over the pillow, her lips slightly open,
she was still deep in slumber island and yet she managed to be this beautiful. I
kissed her nose and stared at her. I couldn't believe it, I guess I'll have a hard
time believing the fact that my Super Ian said yes to me last night after proposing
to her. Finally, I'd have a chance of giving her the happy ending that she
deserves.

"You're staring at me..." bigla na lang siyang nagsalita. I smiled wider.

"Morning, future wife." I leaned over to give her a kiss but then she pushed me
away. "What?!" kunot noong tanong ko. Napangiti ako nang biglang takpan ni Ian ang
bibig niya.

"Hindi pa ako nagtu-tooth brush." pagkasabi noon ay tumayo siya at saka pumasok sa
bathroom. I was laughing habang pinapanood ko siya. Ian never fails to make me
laugh. Kahit tahimik lang siya ay napapatawa niya ako. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit
but there was something in Ian that makes me smile everytime. I remember back when
I was still in Madrid, kapag nalulungkot ako, iisipin ko lang siya and things would
feel okay --- I won't be completely happy but I'd feel okay and that was all
because of Ian.

"Hey, are we going to tell the guys about last night?" tanong ko sa kanya. She was
still inside the bathroom and I was standing outside the door.

"What do you think?" she asked me back. I didn't answer instead I sighed. May dapat
kasi akong gawin na noon ko pa dapat ginawa but I was trying to avoid it but now
that I've asked her I know that I need to do that thing.

"You think it'll be okay if I...."

Sasabihin ko ba sa kanya? I crossed my arms and leaned against the door. I have
thought about this a hundred times and I know that I really have to do it but then
what good will come of it?

Biglang bumukas ang pinto ng bathroom dahilan kung bakit nawalan ako ng balanse,
good thing Ian was there to push me back.

"What? What? What?" sunod-sunod na tanong niya. "Ow come on Robi! You got to finish
your sentence! What is it?"

"Do you think it'll be okay if I talk to James first before we tell everybody about
our engagement?"

"Kakausapin mo si Jaime?" nagtatakang tanong niya. I nodded. "W-why?"

"We'll he's my best friend - he's still my best friend and he's your best friend
too and somehow that frienndship complicated things between us and I just wanted to
fix that before we ... uhm .. you know, get married."
"You're not scared of James, are you?" she asked suspiciously. Natawa naman ako.

"What? No! Why would you think that?"

Ian shrugged and walked passed at me. I was eyeing her, she was uneasy.

"Cause he might scare you away and then you'll leave me again..."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Looking at Ian, I realized that she was really scared.
Hanggang ngayon ay nanatakot siyang baka iwan ko siya. I wanted to punch myself.
Nilapitan ko siya. She was sitting on the bed, I kneeled in front of her.

"I will never do that to you, ever again, Ian."

"I-i know.. it's a ... " she sighed. "Basta... " ipinatong niya ang kanyang mga
kamay sa balikat ko. I kissed her knuckles.

"I'll talk to James today." I told her. She nodded.

"Just don't let him scare you off. Mas gwapo ka dun!" she made a face. Umiling
naman ako. Muli siyang tumayo at saka bumalik sa bathroom. Isa-isa ko namang
pinulot ang mga damit na kung saan ko na lang ibinato kahapon. I started getting
dressed. Sa bahay na lang ako maliligo. Right now, I have to take care of my
future. I have to cook breakfast for her. I was about to put in my shirt when my
phone beeped. I have a txt message. I took my blackberry only to be surprised when
I found out who the sender was...

The text was from Diego --- ang pinakamumuhian kong tao sa buong mundo.

*******************************************
[11] The girl who just can't move (Eleven(
*******************************************

Robin Hood's

I left Ian after having breakfast with her. I was so keen on letting her see how
nervous I was today. Hindi naman ako kinakabahan dahil kay James. Kinakabahan ako
dahil kay Diego. The last time I checked tapos na ang deal namin. Noong huli kaming
nag-usap ay naibigay ko na sa kanya ang gusto niya, so bakit gusto na naman niyang
makipagkita ngayon? Huwag naman niyang sabihin na meron pa siyang kailangan dahil
ang alam ko naibigay na niyang lahat sa akin ang pictures, vidoes at lahat ng
negatives na may kinalaman sa "MIA" ni Ian sa Europe. Ano pang kailangan niya?
Lalong kumukunot ang noo ko. I just couldn't figure out what Diego wants.
Napabuntong hininga ako. I'll deal with Diego later ngayon kailangan ko munang
kausapin si James -- that is kung kakausapin niya ako.

I went to Revert Records that morning because Irish told me that James was there.
He was having his morning routine with Anton. Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng
morning routine ang ginagawa nilang dalawa pero kung anuman iyon ay wala akong
pakialam. I just need to talk to him. I went to his office thinking that he'd be
there but the sercretary informed me that he's in the gym at the 7th floor of this
building. Nagpunta ako doon. He's in the gym, it means that he's working out.
That's okay... ibig sabihin malaki ang posibilidad na makausap ko nga siya...

Narating ko ang gym, I saw James standing inside the boxing ring, he was taking off
his boxing gloves. Napalunok ako. Hindi ko alam na nagbo-boxing pala siya. I stared
at him ffor a while. I was thinking so hard if this was good timing or my unlucky
day.

"Robi, nandito ka pala." I almost jumped when I heard Anton. Hindi ko napansin na
nakatayo pala siya sa gilid ng boxing ring na kinatatayuan naman ni James. Tumingin
sa direksyon ko si James. He gave me a stare to die for. Napalunok ako. Sigurado ba
akong ngayon ko siya kakausapin?

"Hey, uhm.. I need to talk to James."

Halos magkasabay na kumunot ang noo ni James at ni Anton. They looked at me as if

they misheard what I said.

"Dude, alam mo naman na ayaw ni Rika na nagkakagulo kayo diba?" mahinahong wika ni
Anton.

"I'm not here to do that." I sighed. "I just really want to talk to James."
Sinalubong ko ang mga tingin niya. He looked at me like he was ready to murder me.
But I'm not scared. I'm not backing down now. I need to do this. For Ian.

"What for?" finally, he spoke. "I don't have time for this, Robi." tumalikod siya.
Napailing naman ako. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit ganoon na lang kalaki
ang galit niya sa akin. Besides leaving Ian and hurting her, ano pa ba ang ginawa
ko na ikinagalit ng husto ni James?

"I've asked Ian to marry me." wika ko bago siya tuluyang tumalikod. That stopped
him. He turned to me. I swallowed hard. I have unleashed the dragon -- level 99.
"She said yes."

My eyes widened when he tossed me the red boxing gloves he took from the floor.
Aligagang sinalo ko iyon.

"One round, Robi. If you hit me, I'll let you marry, Ian. Pero kapag hindi, you
know what's gonna happen."

Literal akong napanganga. He wanted me to fight him? What for? As far as I know,
he's already married. He married my ex fiance tapos hanggang ngayon overprotective
siya kay Ian? Why was he acting this way?

"James ano ba----"

"Shut up, Anton. I know you're supposed to be the responsible one but this is
between me and Robin Hood. If you haven't notice, we have issues that we need to
settle." litanya pa ni James. I shook my head. This is the first time that he ever
acknowledge the silent war between us.

"What are you waiting for? Get up here and fight me!" sigaw pa ni James. I did what
he said. But first I took of my shirt and I put on the gloves and then I joined him
inside the ring. Sumunod din si Anton sa amin. I think he was about to recite the
rules of boxing when James stopped him.

"No rules, Dude."

Is that even safe? I swallowed again. Bahala na si Batman. Alam ko namang hindi ako
papatayin ni James. Kung sakali man na mapatay niya ako, at least I had the chance
to be with my beloved Ian.

Nagsimula nang umikot-ikot si James. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. I'm not really
interested in boxing. I watch it but I don't know how to. Noong high school kami ni
James madalas kaming makipagbasag - ulo pero boxing... pareho lang naman siguro
iyon. Just like what he said earlier, there are no rules.
Inundayan niya ako ng suntok. I was lucky enough to avoid it.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked him.

"Because I want to. I'm the overprotective best friend and my role is to give you a
hard time." he answered back.

"Doesn't it occur to you that you're also giving Ian a hard time?"

Muli niya akong sinuntok, muli kong naiwasan iyon. He grinned at me.

"I'll take anybody for Ian's boyfriend, Robi but not you." he laughed evily. "To be
honest, mas gusto ko si Mowhawk kaysa sa'yo. Too bad he's dating someone else now."

Sinuntok niya ako. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay minalas na ako. He hit me right on my

nose.

"Fuck!" I exclaimed. "Seriously, James!" sigaw ko. Wala namang pinatutunguhan ang
ginagawa namin but I knew that I have to fight him.

"That's for making Ian cry the first week you decided to stop calling, emailing and
texting her."

"W-what?!" I could feel my blood gushing out of my nose. Again, James hit me.
Natamaan naman niya sa may pisngi.

"That's for not telling Ian about your engagement!" he yelled. He punched me again.
"That one's for not telling Irish about Ian!"

Susuntukin na sana niya ako muli nang bigla akong tumayo ng tuwid at saka pinigilan
siya.

"Wait..." humihingal na sabi ko. "You kidnapped Irish to convince her to break up
with me." Bahagyang natigilan si James. Tinititigan niya lang ako. Ngayon naisip ko
na hindi niya pala alam na sinabi ni Irish sa akin ang bagay na iyon.

"You kidnapped Irish!" Anton exclaimed.

"You didn't know about that?" Nilingon ko si Anton. Bakas sa mukha niya ang
pagtataka.

"That's not the point!" sigaw ni James.

"Then what's the point Jaime?" balik tanong ko. "As far as I know this is Ian were
talking about. I know you love her but dude, you're fucking married. You married
Irish after kidnapping her. She's pregnant now and you're the father so what the
hell is the point?!"

Hindi siya makasagot. I shook my head.

"It's one thing to let you hit me thrice but if it's Ian were talking about then
you have got to get the point out Jaime, because right now, nandoon na ako sa punto
ng buhay ko kung saan hindi ko na siya pakakawalan at hindi ko hahayaang masira
kami ng isang maliit na bagay tulad niyang tampo mo."

"Are you still in love with Adriane, James?" tanong ko sa kanya. I swear if he said
yes, I'm going to kill him.

"I'm not in love with her anymore. I love my wife. I'm perfectly happy with her.
But just like what you said, this is Ian were taling about and you know how much
she means to me."

"Alam ko. Kaya nga nandito ako. I want to fix this for her." I sighed. "I want her
to see that I'll beat all the odds just to make her happy."

"Nagpapapogi ka lang pala kay Ian eh." tila naiinis na sabi niya.

"Tang ina, James! Hindi ko na kailangan gawin iyon dahil sa mga mata ni Ian pogi na
talaga ako. I am doing this for myself too, because honestly speaking I'm tired of
us trying to kill each other everytime we get into each others nerves. I want my
friend back. That friend who taught me to cut class, to smoke, to drink, to pick up
girls, iyong kaibigan kong kasama kong bumuo ng pangarap noon. I want him back. Not
just because I'm going to marry the girl we once both loved but because I missed
him. That's just it. I missed you..."

Silence filled the room. James and I stood in front of each other, staring. No one
even tried to break that silence. We just stood there.

"Wow..." finally he spoke to me. A smile formed on his face. "That sounded so gay."
nauwi sa halakhak ang ngiti niya. I shook my head.

"That sounded better inside my head." napapailing na sabi ko.

"I know!" he was still laughing. Maya-maya ay tumigil siya sa pagtawa. "You know,
if you hurt Ian, I will hunt you down."

"I know that... somehow.." napangiwi ako. "So does this mean were good?"

James nodded. I smiled. I didn't realized that it would be this easy. Fixing my
friendship with James only cost me a broken nose and broken cheek -- but it doesn't
matter -- as long as we're friends again.

"Group hug!!" biglang sumigaw si Anton. He entered the ring and hugged us. We were
at the middle of that cheesy group hug when I heard Ali's voice.

"What the hell?" nagtatakang tanong niya. Sabay-sabay kaming tumingin sa

kinaroroonan niya. Kasama pala ni si Trey.

"What happened to your nose?'' it was Trey.

"Don't ask. Group hug!!!" this time, Trey and Ali joined us in our little chessy
group hug. I was on the verge of crying but I controlled myself. I am happy. Happy
because finally I got my friends back. Finally after seven long years, I am home.

I just got to deal with one more thing before I reach my happy ending. Si Diego na
lang.
---------------------------------------

Super Ian's

"Hi Ian."

Nag-angat ako ng ulo nang marinig ko ang pangalan ko.I was on the waiting louge odf
Revert Records that afternoon, waiting for Robi's call. I saw Audrina moving closer
to me. Ngiting-ngiti siya. As usual she was wearing a classy dress, her hair pulled
up and she just looked so beautiful. I smirked. I wish I could look like her one
day --- preferably at my wedding day. Napalitan ng ngiti ang reaksyon ko. Everytime
I think about my wedding day, nagkakaroon ng butterflies sa tiyan ko. Hindi kasi
talaga ako makapaniwala na nagpropose si Robi sa akin kagabi. Hindi ako
makapaniwala na ilang hakbang na lang ang lalakarin ko at makukuha ko na ang
happily ever after ko.

"Hi Drins..." bati ko sa kanya. Umupo siya sa tabi ko. "Ikaw lang?"

"Nope, nandyan si Zach kasama niya si Baby Zach, nag-aaway pa kasi sila sa susi ng
kotse kaya nauna na ako." nakangiting pahayag niya habang nakatingin sa akin. I
stared at her, nagra-radiate ang happiness sa mukha niya. Parang ang saya-saya
talaga niya. Hindi naman malabong mangyari iyon dahil masaya talaga sila ni Zach.
They have been married for four years now pero hanggang ngayon ay mahal na mahal pa
rin nila ang isa't-isa.

"You look happy." puna niya sa akin. "May nangyari bang dapat kong malaman?" she
asked. I opened my mouth to answer her pero muli ko iyong sinara. Instead I looked
at my Blackeberry again to see if there were any messages from Robi. Hindi ko
pwedeng sabihin kay Audrina ang nangyari hangga't hindi pa okay si Robi at si
James. Napabuntong hininga ako. Kaninang umaga pa kami nagkahiwalay ni Robi, pero
wala pa rin tawag o text mula sa kanya. Hapon na pero hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa
rin alam kung anong nangyari sa kanya at kay James.

"Mama." agad na napatayo si Audrina upang salubungin si Baby Zach na mabuway pang
naglalakad papunta sa kanya.

"Baby..." agad niyang kinarga ang bata at tumingin sa akin. Zach -- the grown up
one -- greeted me. I stood up.
"Do you have any idea where the hell is James or Robi?" agad na tanong ko sa kanya.
Zach stepped back.

"Whoa! Kakarating ko lang! Easy, Adriane!"

"May problema ba?" Audrina asked.

"I'm just fucking worried!" inis na sigaw ko. Napasinghap si Zach, tumingin ako sa
kanya. "What the fuck?"

"Hey! My kid can hear you!"

I bit my lower lip.

"Sorry..."

"Talk about outbursts." natatawang wika ni Audrina. "Doon muna kami kay Ninang Rika
okay?"

"I'll miss you, honey..." nakangiting sabi ni Zach. Audrina looked back at him.

"I'll miss you too. Love you."

"Baduy lang?" biro ko kay Zach.

"Kapag in love ka, baduy ka." nakangiting sabi niya. "Ikaw nga diyan, mas baduy ka.
Naghintay ka ng seven years."

"Oo, ako na. Ako na." bigla ay napayakap ako sa aking sarili. "Zach, could you
please call James. Tinatawagan ko kasi siya hanggang ngayon wala."

"Ano bang nangyayari, Ian?"

Napabuntong hininga ako. Kailangan kong sabihin kay Zach para matulungan niya ako.

"Robi asked me to marry him. I said yes."

"That's inevitable. Why are you worried?" he asked.

"Cause he said that he'll talk to James pero hanggang ngayon wala akong balita sa
kanya. I'm worried that he might have scared Robi off."

"Robi is not scared of James."

Magsasalita na sana ako nang biglang bumukas ang elevator sa aking kaliwa at
iniluwa niyon si Rika, Irish at Audrina.

"Papa." tawag ni Baby Zach kay Zach. Lumapit si Audrina kay Zach at saka ibinigay
ang bata.

"Hey Ian, good to see you." Irish greeted me.

"Where is James?" walang kaabog-abog na tanong ko. Mukha tulad ni Zach ay nagulat
rin siya.

"He's with Anton. Why? is there something wrong?" si Rika ang sumagot sa akin.

"Anton's with him?" kahit paano ay nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Kasama nila si Anton
ibig sabihin safe si Robi.

"Anong nangyayari?" tanong ni Rika. I bit my lower lip. Paano ko ba sisimulan?

Hindi ko alam. Bahala na. Magpapaliwanag na sana ako nang biglang muling bumukas
ang elevator sa aking kaliwa. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makita ko si Anton, he
stepped out of the elevator. Pagkatapos noon ay sunud-sunod nang iniluwa niyon sina
Ali, Trey, James at si Robi.
"Oh my god!" I exclaimed when I noticed Robi's broken nose. Agad akong lumapit kay
Robi.

"I'm okay... Don't worry." he whispered.

"Que barbaridad!" that was Irish's reaction.

"Anton!" that was Rika's reaction.

Iba't-iba man kami ng reaksyon iisang tanong lang ang lumabas sa aming bibig.

"What the hell happen?!"

"Who did that?!" Rika shouted.

"Baby, I can explain..." Anton said in a low voice.

"I did that." James said.

"Jaime Maxcardo! ¿Qué demonios? Te dije que dejar de asustar Robi descuento!
¿Cuándo vas a escuchar a mí? Eres tan terco!" it was Irish's turn to shout.

"Hey, don't blame him. Que fue mi culpa. James sólo hizo lo que tenía que hacer.."
napatingin ako kay Robi nang sabihin niya ang mga salitang iyon.

"Por que, Robi?!"

"Irish, it's okay." Robi looked at me. "We're okay." he smiled. I thought of what
he said, then it sank in. I looked at James who was looking at me, just like Robi,
he smiled at me.

"We're okay." sabi rin niya.

"Really?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. They both nodded.

"Can someone tell me what happened? I'm the manager and I demand to know!" Rika
shouted again. Naramdaman kong biglang itinaas ni Robi ang kaliwang kamay ko.

"We're engage!" sigaw niya. Everybody looked at us.

"Really?!" halos magkasabay na sigaw ni Irish, Rika at ni Audrina.

After that, the hugs and the congratulations came in next. Niyakap nila kamk ni
Robi.

"We should celebrate! Finally after seven years!" kinikilig na wika ni Rika.

"Let's eat out. Si Robi ang taya kasi nasapak siya ni James!" natatawang wika ni
Ali.

"I'll pick up Jenny. Call me kung saan tayo magkikita." paalam ni Trey.

"Ako din pala, susunduin ko si Rapah. Kita na lang din tayo mamaya!" sumunod si Ali
kay Trey. Naiwan kami nila Zach doon sa waiting lounge. Masaya akong
nakikipagkwentuhan sa kanila nang mapansin kong biglang nawala si Robi sa tabi ko.
I looked for him and I found him at a corner , talking to his phone. Parang seryoso
ang pinag-uusapan nila -- kung sinuman ang nasa kabilang linya. Nilapitan ko siya.

"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow." inis na inis ang reaksyon ng mukha niya.

"Robi, Is everything okay?"

Agad na lumambot ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya ng tumingin siya sa akin.

"Yeah.. That was nothing." he took my head then he kissed my lips. "I love you,
Ian. No matter what happens, do not forget that."
*******************************************
[12] The girl who just can't move (TWELVE)
*******************************************
Robin Hood's

It's been two days since the engagement and although I am very happy, I couldn't
help but to feel worried. I worry about what Diego wants. Nabunutan nga ako ng
tinik sa lalamunan nang magkaayos kami ni James, heto naman ang isa pang problema.
Ang buong akala ko ay nagkaintindihan na kami, iyon pala hindi pa. Sabi niya may
kailangan pa siya sa akin. Isang bagay na kailangan kong ibigay at kapag ginawa ko
iyon, titigilan na niya kami ni Ian.

Today, I am going to meet Diego. Actually, late na siya ng ten minutes. I was
sitting inside that cafe, anxiously waiting for this episode in my life to be over
pero parang nananadya ang Diego na iyon dahil hanggang ngayon ay wala pa siya. Nag-
angat ako ng tingin nang makita kong muling bumukas ang glass door ng coffee shop.
There, I saw Diego entering, his eyes fixed at my direction, he was grinning evily
while looking at me. Matapos ang ilang segundo ay naupo na siya sa tapat ko. He
took off his rayban and looked at me, eye to eye.

"What do you want?" I gritted my teeth.

"Excited ka naman. Why don't we have coffee first?"

"I don't have time for your games. Just tell me what you want!" I demanded. Diego
shook his head.

"Always the imaptient one." he sighed. "Fine. Give me the details about the Patrona
Project."

Napaawang ang labi ko. Kulang ang sabihing nabigla ako sa sinabi niya. How the hell
did he knew about that project? It was supposed to be top secret and nobody knew
about it except for my dad, my sister and me. Naikuyom ko ang aking kamao. I wanted
to smash Diego in the face.

"Why are you asking me? Haven't I given you what you want the first time we
talked?" halos hangin na lang na lumabas ang mga salitang iyon sa aking bibig.
Diego grinned at me. Ipinag-krus niya ang kanyang mga braso at saka ako
pinakatitigan.
"Right. And because of that, I gained millions of peso. I didn't know that dealing
with you can make me a millionaire." ngiting-ngiting sabi nito sa akin. Napailing
ako. I made a mistake of dealing with Diego the first time. Wala naman talaga akong
balak na makipag-usap sa kanya noon kung hindi niya ipinadala sa akin ang mga
pictures ni Ian noong nasa Europe siya. I was shocked when I saw the photos. I've
never seen Ian in a very compromising situation. The photos showed Ian, drinking,
dancing wildly with some show girls, having the time of her life... ayos naman
sana, but one photo got my attention. A photo of Ian without clothes. I didn't want
other people to see that. So I called Diego and asked him what he wants. At noong
sabihin niya iyon sa akin, hindi ako nagdalawang isip. I gave him the details about
the Orion Project.

I hated myself after that. The Orion project was the blood and the tears of my
sister. It was about a microchip that you can put in your car for voice
regocnition. Kung mailalabas iyon ng kompanya ng pamilya ko, it will make our
company number one not only in Spain but in Europe. But because of Diego -
blackmailing me - nawala ang pinaghirapan ng kapatid ko. We were all shocked when
we saw Grid - the number one competitor of our company - launched that microchip.
At dahil matalino ang kapatid ko, she knew that somebody sold the details of her
design. She was so mad. And I knew if she found out that I was the one who sold it,
she'll kill me -- literally.

Hindi lang iyon ang naging bunga ng ginawa kong pakikipag-deal kay Diego. Because
Grid lauched the Orion project, we lost almost 1/4 of our investors. Galit na galit
ang Papa ko.

"I don't know what you're talking about." mariing sabi ko. Napailing si Diego.

"Too bad.." huminga siya ng malalim. "Hindi mo naman siguro gusto na makita nila
ang pinakamamahal mong si Ian with this..."

Mula sa bag na dala niya, kinuha niya ang isang litrato. He gave it to me. I took
it. Ang alam ko ay ibinigay na ni Diego sa akin ang lahat as in LAHAT ng litrato na
may patungkol kay Ian. My eyes widened when I saw what was on that photo. It was
Ian kissing a German Guy. Tiningnan ko ang iba. There she was making out with that
same guy.

Parang gusto kong maiyak. I wanted to run to Ian and ask her about this. I wanted
to know why she tried destroying herself. Galit ako. Hindi dahil nagawa ni Ian ang
mga bagay na ito. Galit ako sa sarili ko becauase I know for a fact that the reason
why she did this was because of me.

"Akala ko nasa akin na ang lahat?" gigil na gigil na tanong ko kay Diego. He
grinned at me.
"I reserved that for special uses like this." ngising-ngising sabi niya. Napailing
ako. I hate this guy. Why is he trying to ruin my life and Ian's life? Why is he
doing this to us?

"Why are you doing this?" sa sobrang inis ko ay pinunit ko ang mga litrato. He
shook his head.

"You realize that even if you ruin that picture, I still have a copy. And if you
don't give me what I want, I'll leak everything. Tingnan natin kung anong
mangyayari sa Ian mo." nakipagsukatan ako ng tingin sa kanya. While looking at him,
I noticed his broken nose. Kumunot ang noo ko. Sino kaya ang may gawa noon sa
kanya? Whoever did that, I wanted to meet him.

"I'll give you two days, Robi. Kapag walan akong natanggap. Pasensyahan na lang
tayo." Walanng sabi-sabing bigla na lang siyang tumayo at iniwan ako. I wanted to
go after him, puch him on the face and run over his body over and over until he
dies. Gusto ko siyang saktan!

Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Ano bang dapat kong gawin para mawala na sa buhay
namin ni Ian ang Diego na iyon?

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

"Where are you?"

I texted Robi for ithe nth time that afternoon. Hindi kasi ako mapakali. Pakiramdam
ko may nangyayaring hindi maganda kay Robi. I sighed. I was sitting at the coffee
shop just outside our village drinking my favorite latte. Nakatingin ako sa labas
nang bintana. Tapos ay bigla akong napapangiti. Hindi kasi talaga ako makapaniwala
na nangyayari ito.

I am engage with Robi.

After seven years of waiting and being a certified masochist and martir, natupad na
ang pangarap ko. Magpapakasal na kami ni Robi.

"Ian?" nag-angat ako ng tingin. I saw Irish standing in front of my table, looking
as beautiful as always. I reluctantly smiled at her. "Can I sit?" tumango ako.
Umupo siya sa tapat ko at saka muling ngumiti.

"Wow!" she exclaimed when she saw my ring. "That's a big rock."

"May mas lalaki pa ba sa binigay sa'yong Cushion-cut Micropave Diamond ring ni

James?" biro ko sa kanya. She laughed.

"Talagang alam mo iyong description?" nakangiting tanong niya.

"He emailed it to me the night before he asked you."

"Really? We'll yours is much better because it is an heirloom. I used to ask Robi
about that. Sabi ko bakit hindi na lang iyan iyong ibigay niya sa akin." bigla
siyang tumahimik. "Na-reserve pala kasi sa'yo."

Bigla ay nakadama ako ng guilt. Nakaawang ang mga labi na tinitigan ko si Irish. I
guess its about time that we acknowledge the issue between us.

"I'm sorry, Irish." I sighed. "I never wanted to be the kontrabida in your fairy
tale with Robi." madamdaming pahayag ko. She shook her head and held my hand.

"Don't be! I mean.." she smiled. "If it weren't for you and Robi, I will never meet
my real prince charming. Siguro, kasama lang sa destiny ko ang chapter na iyon.
Those were the events that brought me to my true love."

"You really love James..." nakangiting sabi ko. Tumango si Irish.

"I fell in love with him in the most unexpected time. Ikaw rin naman. You will not
wait for seven years if you didn't love Robi that much."

"I guess.." natawa ako. Bigla kong naalala iyong nangyari sa amin ni Irish a year
ago dito sa lugar na ito. She accidentally saw the keeper of my heart drumsticks
and that sent her off. I didn't mean to hurt her pero nangyari na. But look at us
now, we're in the coffee shop, talking about the love of lives like were teenage
girls.
"Umaano ka nga pala dito? Where's James? Bakit mag-isa ka?"

"He's with Ali. Best friend bonding chuchu.. ewan ko. Maybe he just wanted time for
himself."

"Nag-aaway ba kayo?" nakadama ako ng pag-aalala. Wala naman nababanggit sa akin si

James. To my surprise, tumawa ng malakas si Irish.

"Hindi! Nakakatuwa ka naman. You're really concerned." she leaned closer. "Alam mo
Ian, when you're married, mapi-feel mo rin iyon. Like us, we're always together,
minsan kailangan namin ng time para sa sarili namin, para ma-miss naman namin ang
isa't-isa."

Irish looked like she was going to say something else when her phone rang. Sinagot
niya ito.

"Hey, Babe." sa tono ng boses niya, alam kong si James iyon. "Oo, pabalik na. I'm
with Ian by th way. Alright, I'll see you. Drive safely."

"Babalik ka na?" I asked.

"Yup. Maglalakad lang ako. The doctor said, walking is good for the baby." tumayo
na siya. Sumunod na rin naman ako. We walked side by side habang papasok kami sa
village. I never had a chance to talk to Irish like this. Napakabait niya pala at
nakakatuwa siyang kakwentuhan. No wonder James and Robi fell in love with her.
Narating namin ang street nila. Doon rin naman ako papunta because I wanted to
check on Robi. Baka kasi nasa bahay na siya.

"Oh my..." napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang marinig ko ang boses nI Irish. I looked
at her. She looked shock.

"Anong problema?" nag-aalalang tanong ko. "Masakit pa ang tiyan mo?" kinakabahan
ako.

"Why is she here?" kunot noong tumingin ako sa kanya. Mayroon siyang tinatanaw.
Sinundan ko ang kanyang tingin and I saw what she was looking at. She was looking
at Robi's house. Sa labas ng bahay ni Robi ay may isang kulay silver na mercedes at
nakasandal doon ang isang babaeng naka-black dress na may kausap sa telepono.
Mukhang naramdaman ng babae ang presensya namin ni Irish. She looked at us. And
from where I was standing, I saw her face. A sense of familiarity hit me. Saan ko
ba nakita ang babaeng ito?

"Irish, ¿eres tú?" the woman in the black dress spoke. Kilala siya ni Irish? Kung
magkakilala sila, bakit ganito ang reaksyon niya? Bakit parang takot siya? The
woman walked towards us. Ilang segundo lang ang nakalipas ay nakatayo na siya sa
harapan namin. Tiningnan niya si Irish mula ulo hanggang paa at saka ngumiti.

"¡Es usted! Estás muy guapa, como siempre! ¿Cómo has estado?!" niyakap ng babae si
Irish.

"Reena..." nanginginig ang boses na wika ni Irish. "What are you doing here?"

Reena? Kumunot lalo ang noo ko. Pamilyar sa akin ang pangalang iyon. Saan ko ba
iyon narinig?

*******************************************
[13] The girl who just can't move (Thirteen)
*******************************************

After that excruciating talk I had with Diego, I went to Revert Records to see
Rika. This had to stop. Kailangan nang matigil ng pamba-black mail sa akin ng Diego
na iyon. I don't care if he will beat me for this, all I know was I had to protect
Ian. And I knew Rika will be the one who could help me with this. She has been a
good manager to Neon. She was so good in damage control and maybe if I told her the
truth about Ian and what she did in Madrid, maybe she could help me.

I barged in her office and I found her sitting on Anton's lap, kissing.

"Guys!" napapkit ako. I didn't know what to do or say. "What the hell?!"

"Don't you know how to knock?!" sigaw ni Anton sa akin. Tumalikod ako.

"I'm sorry! Last time I checked this was an office not a making out spot!" I can't
believe I caught the two making out! I've never seen them do that before and this
was a shock for me! Panandaliang nabalutan ng katahimikan ang paligid. Maya-maya ay
hindi ko na napigilan ang magsalita. "Is it okay to look now?"

"Fine. What is it?" tanong ni Rika sa akin. Napailing ako. Anton was smiling smugly
at me. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa ang gago sa reaksyon ko. "Stop doing that!" pareho
kaming nagulat nang bigla siyang hampasin ni Rika.

"Sorry." nakangising tanong ni Anton. Rika phased around her office while looking
at me. Si Anton naman ay nakaupo sa silya at nakatingin sa akin.

"What is it, Robin?" Huminga ako nang malalim at saka lumapit kay Rika. Dala ko sa
aking kamay ang mga litratong sana ay hindi ko na lang nakita. I wanted her to see
this. Rika was the genius one when it comes to damage control. Hindi ko na hahayaan
na mapaikot muli ako ni Diego. This had to stop. I will never pbertray my family
again.

"Remember when Ian went MIA for a year?" I asked her.

"Yep, she went to Spain. James looked for her. We all know what happened there,
Robi. So what's the big deal?"

"She had fun, Rika." malungkot na sabi ko. Kumunot ang noo niya habang nakatingin
sa akin.

"What?" nagtatakang tanong niya. Ibingay ko sa kanya ang brown envelop.

"Too much fun, Rika." mahinang sabi ko. Nakatitig sa akin si Rika habang binubuksan
ang envelop. Anton stood beside her, curious.

"Please, Anton. Once you see that, you can never tell anyone about it."

I closed my eyes when I saw that the pictures were out. Rika's mouth literally fell
open as she scanned the photos. Anton's eyes widened with disbelief, after a while
he turned his back and I hear him mutter something that I was sure could make the
angels cry.

"What the hell is this Robi? Where did you fucking get these crap?!" sigaw ni Rika.
Halos lumabas na ang litid niya sa leeg.

"Diego gave that to me, he ----"

"How long have you known this?"

"Six months." mabilis kong sagot.

"And you're only telling me now because?"

"Because I cannot betray my family again."

Pinakatitigan ako ni Rika. Napilitan akong sabihin sa kanya ang lahat-lahat. Anton
sat beside Rika, intently listening to me. Nakita kong nakakuyom na ang kanyang mga
kamao. I know what he was feeling. I know that he wanted to punch Diego on the
face, frankly speaking, I wanted to do more than that. I wanted to kill him.

"You did all that for Ian?" Rika said, softly.

"Yes."

"You really love her."

"I do. I really do, so you have to help me. I don't want anyone to know about what
she did in Madrid." nakadama ako ng kirot. "Galit na galit ako sa sarili ko, Rika.
I knew that Ian did those things to forget me. She loved me so but I hurt her too
much that she ended up doing all of these. I love her, Rika. Kahit na kung anu-
anong nangyari sa amin, sa kanya noong nasa Madrid siya, tanggap ko. Masyado kong
mahal si Ian para sumuko pa ngayon. If I lose her again, I might just die." umiiyak
na sabi ko. I felt Rika's hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry, Robi. I'll take care of it."

I looked up at her and smiled.

"Thank you, Rika. You're a great friend."

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

"What are you doing here?"

I stood there feeling like crap as I look at Irish and that mysterious girl she
called Reena. Kung titingnan silang dalawa ay mukha silang mga diyosa na bumaba
mula sa kalangitan upang silawin ako ng kagandahan nila. The woman standing in fron
of Irish was too beautiful. She had a pair of long legs, tapos ay nakasuot pa ito
ng, sa tantya ko ay four inches na heels. She was over towering Irish and me. Her
black dress emphasized her curves. I guess she wasn't wearing any make up maliban
na lang sa lipstick na nakapinta sa kanyang labi. Her hair reached her shoulders.
Tuwid na tuwid iyon.

"Vine aquí por Robi. Voy a matarlo!"

Robi? Napamulagat ako.Why did se mentioned Robi's name? And can they please talk in
a language that I could actually understand?

"Irish..." siniko ko si Irish. She looked at me.

"She's Robi's sister. And she said that she wanted to kill Robi." nagtatakang
napatingin ako sa babaeng nasa harapan ko. Robi's sister? I remember that Robi had
a sister, her name was Ena and she only stayed here for six months because after
her graduation she flew to Spain para doon na mag-aral. Muli ay napanganga ako. So
this is Ena now.

"Ena?" her eyes flew at me. She stared at me for a while then she smirked.

"For God's sake!" she said. "You're Ian? You're the girl who makes my brother
crazy, irresponsible and stupid. Por amor de Dios!"

Nagulat ako. Anong sinasabi niya? Why was she looking at me that way? Dahan-dahang
nilapitan niya ako.

"Reena..." nakita kong hinawakan ni Irish ang braso ni Reena.

"No! Don't touch me" naiinis na wika ni Reena kay Irish."This girl is the reason
why you didn't marry Robi. This girl was the reason why my father was so
disappointed with my little brother. The girl who can't be moved. The so called
Robi's love o his life." itinulak niya ako sa papamagitan ng kanyang hintuturo. "I
don't like you."mariing sabi niya. "You are the reason why my brother betrayed our
family."

"A-ano bang pinagsasabi mo?" hindi napigilang tanong ko. She smirked at me
pagkatapos ay tinitigan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Matapos iyon ay may inilabas
siyang isang maliit na white envelope at ibinato sa akin. Mula roon ay sumabog ang
mga litratong magpapaiyak sa akin at guguho sa aking mundo.

Napasinghap ako nang makilala ko ang aking sarili. I saw myself drinking, dancing,
kissing a stranger, making oiut with a man I couldn't remember I met, french
kissing some girl...

"Oh my god..." nanginginig ang tinig ko. I looked at the pictures lying on the
ground. I did those things wasted and oblivious. I didn't even know that someone
was taking pictures of me, if I had known then... I would've never ...

"Hindi ka bagay sa kapatid ko. Because of you, Robi betrayed me!" Reena slapped me
so hard I heard bells ringing on my ear. "Layuan mo si Robi or else I'll make your
life a living hell!"

My tears fell. My knees were shaking. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko.All I
knew was that I needed to get out of there. So I ran, I ran fast and I never looked
back.

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

"So what's the plan, Baby?"

Pinanood ko si Rika habang nakatingin sa kung saan. Ilang minuto na rin siyang
tahimik.She was looking at Diego's picture na ginawa namang dart board ni Anton.

"Ewan ko. Ano nga ba? Ang hirap nito, Robi. Kahit sabihin nating takutin si Diego,
hindi pa rin natin hawak iyong original copies ng pictures ni Ian. We need to have
that bago tayo gumawa ng kung anong hakbang."

"What if we go inside his house?"

"Trespassing iyan." dismayadong sabi ni Rika.

"No, Baby, dalawa lang kami ni Robi, kaya hindi counted as Trespassing iyon."

Kahit paano ay napangiti ako. I knew Anton was trying to lighten up the situation.
I, on the other hand took one dart and threw it on the dart board. Sapol sa ilong
ni Diego.

"Who broke his nose?" naiusal ko. Anton looked at me.

"Beats me. But whoever that is, maybe he could help us."

Muli na namang napuno ng katahimikan ang aming paligid. Anton looked as if he was
thinking hard, ganoon rin si Rika. Ako rin naman ay nag-iisip. Hindi ko alam kung
anong dapat kong gawin. I will never let anybody hurt Ian.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina ni Rika Sabay kaming napalingon ni Anton. We
saw Trey entered the room at kasunod nito si Jenny -- his girlfriend. Tumingin siya
sa akin matapos noon ay napatingin siya sa dart board kung saan nakadikit ang mukha
ni Diego. I was amazed by her reaction. Her face suddenly turned red, she bit her
lower lip and said:

"Bakit may picture kayo ng baklang pinsan ni Dora?" nagpipigil ng galit na wika
niya. Trey looked at her and held her hand.

"Jenny.." umingos si Jenny.

"You know, Diego?" tanong ko. Trey nodded.

"He wrote nasty things about her back at the days. Buti nga tinigilan na niya si
Jenny eh." kalmadong wika nito.

"Hmp. Ang sabihin mo natakot lang siya sa suntok ko."

Rika, Anton and I, we all looked at Jenny.

"You punched Diego?" halos di makapaniwalang wika ni Rika.

"Yup! Right in the nose!" proud na proud na sabi ni Trey. "Amazona itong girlfriend
ko eh!"

The three of us looked at each other. I guess Anton was thinking what I was
thinking.

"Then Jeny could help us!" I exclaimed as Anton nodded.

*******************************************
[14] The girl who just can't move (Fourteen)
*******************************************

"Are we really going to do this now?"

Iyon ang paulit-ulit kong tanong kina Anton habang papunta kami sa pad ni Diego.
Anton and Trey have deviced a plan to finally get rid of that monster and I agreed
with them, ang hindi ko lang kasi maintindihan ay kung bakit ngayon namin kailangan
gawin ito. I haven't seen Ian for a day, at hindi ko alam kung ano itong kabang
nararamdaman ko. It just felt like something was wrong. Naaaligaga ako. Nag-aalala.
At mas lalong tumindi ang pag-aalala ko nang hindi niya sagutin ang mga tawag ko.
Parang may mali kasi. Hindi ko alam. Basta, something wasn't right.

"For the nth time, Robi. Yes we are doing it now!" inis na sigaw ni Anton. We got
out of the car. We stood side by side in front of Diego's building. Hindi ko alam
kung sino bang hinihintay namin. Maybe we were waiting for Trey or for James or for
a miracle. Sa tingin ko kasi talaga ay napaka-imposible ng planong gagawin namin.

The plan was to get inside Diego's pad and take the usb or memory card or the
camera that contains all of Ian's picture. Pagkatapos noon ay aalis na. But how
could we actually do that if we don't know where Diego hides those things?

"A-anton, this is going to fail." huminga ako nang malalim matapos ko siyang
harapin.

"Don't you trust us?" he said grinning. "Oh nandito na pala iyong ibang
accomplice."

Nakakunot ang noo na sinundan ko ng tingin ang direksyong tinatanaw ni Anton. I saw
a dark blue fortuner approaching. If i'm not mistaken, that was Trey's car. Huminto
ang kotse at mula roon ay bumaba si Trey, si Jenny at ang isang di ko kilalang
babae. They all smiled at us.

"This will be easy." nakangiting turan ni Jenny. Napailing ako.

"How easy? What are you talking about?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

"This is the plan, Robi." nakangiti si Anton. "You will go up, see Diego, talk to
him and make him believe that you're in for whatever he wants you to do."

"While doing that, Jenny and Ella ---" pinigilan ko si Trey.

"Who the hell is Ella?" naguguluhang tanong ko. Napatingin ako nang magtaas ng
kamay ang babaeng nakatayo sa likod ni Jenny.

"I am Ella." seryosong sagot niya.

"Best friend ko." nakatawang sabi ni Jenny. "Bale, Sir Robi, aakyatin iyong pad ng
Diegong bading na iyon na pinsan ni Dora. Tapos kukunin iyong itim na USB sa drawer
niya, pangatlong kahon tapos, tapos na ang problema."
I looked at Anton and Trey. Parang hindi ako makapaniwala.

"Aakyatin ninyo iyong pad ni Diego? At paano ninyo nalaman kung anong kukunin ninyo
at kung saang part ng bahay?" nanlalaki ang mga matang sabi ko.

"Nope." umiling si Anton. I looked at Trey. Itinuro niya ang dalawang babaeng
nakatayo sa tabi niya.

"Jenny and Ella will do that job. Dito lang kami, look out." Literal na napanganga
ako. Jenny will go up there? Could she really do that?

"K-kaya ninyo iyon?" I was really surpirsed when I heard the confidence on Trey's
voice. I knew how proud he was of Jenny. I spent countless moments with Trey na ang
pinag-uusapan lang namin ay si Jenny. The man was so in love with his girlfriend
that I sometimes think that he was paying homage to her every moment he gets.

"Oo naman, Sir." nakangiting inakbayan ni Jenny ang kanyang kaibigan. "Pangarap
yata naming maging akyat bahay nitong si mamhen, noong nasa college pa lang kami."

"This job is easy." That Ella girl said. Tumaas ang kilay ko. They talk like they
have done this before.

"Okay... let's do this. Are you ready?" tanong ni Anton.

"Make me proud, Jenny." hinagkan ni Trey si Jenny sa noo.

"Let's go!"

"What am I gonna do?" I asked a bit confused.

"Just go and use your charms, Robin hood! We'll be down here." tinapik ni Anton ang
balikat ko.

"In our case..." The Ella girl spoke. "We'll be up there."

"Go!" tulak sa akin ni Anton. I looked at the four of them before I finally decided
that this thing might actually work. Hindi ko alam kung anong mangyayari I just
have to trust my friend or in this case Jenny and that girl... I just really hope
this works...

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

I go up and I went straight to Diego's apartment. I was really nervous about this.
Hanggang sa pagkakataong iyon ay hindi ko talaga alam kung itutuloy ko iyon o
hindi. I needed to know if things were okay. Kung sakali kasi, maaaring mapahamak
si Jenny at ang kaibigan niya. Hindi ko talaga ma-imagine kung paano nila aakyatin
ang apartment ni Diego.

Kinatok ko ang pintuan niya. Agad namang bumukas iyon. Mukhang nagulat siya nang
makita ako na nakatayo sa kanyang harap.

"Diego." tinanguan ko siya. He grinned at me.

"Robi Santos." niluwagan niya ang bukas ng pinto. Pumasok ako. Sumunod siya sa
akin. Diego's place was clean and organized. Hindi ganoon kalaki ang lugar pero
spacious ito. I looked around the place and I saw frames where he put his different
articles. They were hanging on the wall. I saw something Neon - related but I was
too nervouse I didn't have time to look at it.
"To what element do I owe your visit, Robi?" nakangiting sabi niya. Humarap ako.
Noon ko lang napansin that he was wearing a leopard print bath robe. He was
holding, on his left hand a glass of wine.

"Tungkol doon sa pinag-usapan natin." mariing sabi ko. He looked at me. Nadi-
distract talaga ako sa baling ilong niya. I can't believe Jenny did that. I mean
how the hell? Jenny was smaller than Diego, she was lighter than him so how did she
manage to punch Diego on his nose? Mas malala pa ang pagkabali ng ilong niya kaysa
sa ilong ko.

"So you are going to give me the details about the Patrona project?" he asked.

"Yes. But I have my terms." namulsa ako. Diego looked at me. "If ever I give you
the Patrona Project, you will never ever never ever disturb me and Ian. You are
going to to give me all -- as in ALL the pictures you have of Ian. Hindi mo na ako
maloloko ngayon, Diego. If I deal with you again, you have to give me everything."
mariing sabi ko.

Diego stared at me. He smiled. I guess he was about to say something but the phone
rang. Tumayo siya at saka binalingan ako.

"I'll deal with you. Robi. I just had to take this." iniwan ako ni Diego sa sala. I
looked around again looking for something. Lumakad ako ng kaunti. I found myself
standing in front of his glass door. Diegos' place had a view of the metro and
given the situation, I still find it pretty. I sighed. Patalikod na ako nang
mapansin ko ang isang bulto ng babae na gumagapang papasok.

"Jenny?" I whispered. She looked up at me.

"Did you see Ella?" pabulong na tanong niya. Umiling ako. "Naku, baka namali siya
ng bintanang napasukan!"

"What?!" I said. Sabi ko na nga ba at papalpak ang plano.

"Robi?" narinig ko ang boses ni Diego. I looked at Jenny.

"Go. Go before he sees you!"

"Anong ginagawa mo diyan?" nagtatakangb tanong nito. I looked back at him. Naitas
ko ang kamay ko at inilagay iyon sa aking ulo. What should I tell him? God! It was
excruciating!

"You have a good view up here." that was all I could come up. I smiled. He shook
his head.

"It looked like you were talking to somebody." komento nito. Muli na naman siyang
naupo sa couch at saka tinginan ako. "As I was saying ---"

"Blag!"

Isang malakas na tunog galing sa kwarto ni Diego ang pumainlanlang sa buong lugar.
Napatingin siya sa akin at saka tumayo. He was about to walk towards his room nang
harangin ko siya.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Anong sinasabi mo? Anong nangyayari? Tumabi ka nga!" he pushed me. And for a gay
man, Diego was really strong. Mabilis na sinundan ko siya papasok sa kwarto. We
found Jenny standing near the huge windown of his room holding a digital camera, a
USB and an APPLE laptop.

"Ikaw!" sigaw ni Diego kay Jenny. Tumingin si Jenny kay Diego at saka ngumisi.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" tanong nito. Diego faced me. "You were in to this!"

"Whatever, Diego! I just need you to stop bothering me. And you can't do that
anymore if you don't have the pictures."

"Tama ka diyan, Sir. So Diegong bading na pinsan ni Dora, say goodbye to your
prized possesions." And just like that, Jenny throw the digicam on the window.
Matapos noon ay isinunod niya ang laptop.

"No!!!" sigaw ni Diego. Nanginig ang boses nito at maya-maya ay napaluhod pa. I
smiled at myself. I can't believe it.

"Paano ba iyan, Diegong bading na pinsan ni Dora." nakangising sabi ni Jenny.

"You!" tumayo bigla si Diego at saka dinampot ang telepono. "I'm going to call the
police. I'm going to report you! Idedemanda ko kayo!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita kong pinpindot nga ni Diego nang wireless phone
na iyon. Gumana ang instinct ko at saka ko kinuha sa kanya ng telepono. Inilaglag
ko iyon sa sahig at saka tinapakan.

"No phone. No cellphone." kinuha ko rin ang I-phone niya at saka ihihagis iyon kay
Jenny. Jenny threw it at the window.

"Mga lapastangan!" Diego yelled at us. Sinenyasan ko si Jenny. Tumalikod na ako.

But then I saw Diego running towards the door. Naunahan niya akong lumabas at doon
sa hallway, nagsisigaw siya.

"Tulong! Tulong! I'm being rob!" Tumakbo din ako. I will get Diego and if I did,
I'll punch him on the face but then, mas mabilis tumakbo si Jenny. Nakita ko na
lang na hinawakan niya si Diego sa braso dahilan para humarap ito sa kanya and
after that, Jenny cupped his face to give him a kiss on his lips.

My mouth literally fell open. Jenny kissed Diego on the lips! I almost threw up on
my mouth.

"Yuck!" Jenny exclaimed after that disgusting kiss. I looked at Diego, tulala siya.
Nakatingin lang siya sa kawalan. "Nakakainis!" sigaw ni Jenny bago niya itinaas ang
kamao niya. She will hit Diego, I stopped her. Napatingin siya sa akin.

"Let me do that." mariing sabi ko. I stepped in front of Diego. "This is for what
you did to the love of my life." I said. Then I hit him right on his cheek. Napaupo
si Diego sa gitna ng hallway. "Do not mess with Neon again Diego. Or you will
regret it for the rest of your miserable life."

For the last time I looked at Diego and somehow, nawala na ang tinik sa aking
lalamunan. I looked at Jenny. She looked really disgusted with the fact that she
kissed this gay man. I smiled at her.

"Let's go. We are done here." tumalikod na ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit but I feel
really happy tonight. I guess after what he had just experienced, Diego will be out
of our lives forever. I closed my eyes as I walkn down that hallway. I thought of
Ian's face and again, everything felt good. I am going to see her after this. I am
going to kiss her and tell her how much I love her. Finally. I am going to have my
own happy ending with the girl whom I promised forever, the girl who waited for me
for seven years - the girl who can't be moved.
"Everything fine?" iyon agad ang salubong sa akin ni Anton nang makababa kami. I
smiled at him.

"Santiago! Santiago!" napatingin kaming pareho ni Anton kay Jenny. She was frantic,
she ran to Trey. "Halikan mo ako sa lips! Ngayon na!"

Napailing na lang ako. Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Anton.

"Did you see the laptop?" I said smiling. He nodded. I sighed. "Thank you, Anton."

"You're always welcome, Robin Hood." he said smiling. "Now let us all go home so we
can make love to our wives!" pabirong sabi niya.

Muli ay tumingin ako sa pinagbagsakan ng laptop ni Diego. Lalong lumawak ang

pagkakangiti ko. Wala na ang nag-iisang problema. I could live happily with Ian
now. Pwede na akong matulog nang hindi iniisip kung anong lalabas na balita tungkol
kay Ian pagkagising ko sa umaga.

We were all smiling as we drove back to our village. Jenny and Trey took off after
we said our goodbyes. I wanted to ask Jenny kung anong nangyari sa kaibigan niyang
si Ella but I was too happy to even remember. Ibinaba ako ni Anton sa tapat ng
bahay ko. We shook hands before I get off his car. Muli ko siyang pinasalamatan
dahil sa tulong niya.

I was still smiling habang naglalakad ako papunta sa bahay ni Ian. I missed her so
much. Tumingala ako and I saw her lights were still on. I thought of something.
Kumuha ako ng bato at saka isa-isang inihagis iyon sa kanyang bintana. Maya-maya ay
bumakas iyon, inalabas niya ang kanyang ulo at saka ngumiti.

"You were gone the whole day." she said to me.

"Did you missed me?" I asked instead of answering her questions. Hindi siya
sumagot. Sa halip ay muli niyang isinara ang bintana at pinatay ang ilaw. Napakunot
ang noo ko. Anong nangyayari? Naulinigan ko na lang ang pagbukas ng front door.
Lumabas roon si Ian at saka patakbong yumakap sa akin. She embraced me so tight I
find it hard to breathe.

"Ian?" I asked her.

"Please, just let me hold you like this..."

Nagtataka man ay hinayaan kong yakapin niya ako. That hig made my day. It took all
my stress away.

"I love you.." I whispered in her ear.

"I love you too." she answered. "And I'm not going to let anything break us apart.
I'm not letting you go. I'm going to fight for you."

I really don't know what she was talking about but it felt so good hearing it from
her so I just let it slip away. I took a deep breath. Ilang hakbang na lang,
mararating ko na ang last page. And the best thing about it was, I am with Ian. The
one I will spen my forever with.

*******************************************
[15] The girl who just can't move (Fifteen)
*******************************************
Robin Hood's

I put Ian to bed that same night. I could sense that something was wrong but she
didn't wanna tell me. I stared at her. Even when she's asleep, she could still take
my breath away. I wanted to know what was bothering her. But she was too stubborn.
Ayaw niya sabihin. Instead of answering me, she keeps on distracting me by kissing
my lips. I sighed. Are we about to face another problem again? I ran my left hand
through my hair. I don't want another problem. Kakatapos lang ng problema ko kay
Diego meron na naman? Can't we just fast forward our lives to that day when we are
finally living the dream? I kissed her forehead and tuck her in. I decided to go
home for tonight. My gut tells me that I should go home. I wrote a note and paste
it on Ian's bedside table. I told her that I'll see her in the morning, and that I
love her. After that, I slowly walked out of her room and I quietly walked out her
house. I was banging my head as I crossed the street. Napapakanta pa ako. Kahit na
nakakaramdam ako ng pagod ay masaya ako. I got rid of Diego. Thanks to my dear
friends.

Tahimik ang buong kabahayan nang pumasok ako. What do I expect? Umiingay lang naman
dito sa tuwing narito si Ian. She gives life and laughter to this lonely place.
She's like the sun to my darkest lonely day. I shut the door. Nakadama ako ng
pagkabigla nang bigla na lang bumukas ang ilaw.

"Shit!" hindi ko masyadong naipinid ang pinto dahil sa gulat. May nakapasok na
magnanakaw! Agad akong lumingon upang sinuhin ang pumasok pero ako pa ang nagulat.
Standing near the staircase was none other than my sister.

"Reena? What are you doing here?" kulang pa ang sabihing nagulat ako sa aking
nakita. She was supposed to be in Madrid. Working her ass off not here infront of
me.

"Mi querido hermano, sorprendido de verme?" nakangising tanong niya. "I've been
waiting for you."

"What are you doing here?" I asked again. Inilang hakbang niya ako at saka binigyan
ng mag-asawang sampal. Napatigalgal ako. Parang may nag-ring na bells sa tenga ko.
Hindi pa nakuntento ang kapatid ko, she slapped me harder.

"You sold me out!" she yelled at me. "Do you think that it would be difficult for
me to find out who betrayed the company?"

I was speechless. Reena knows the truth. She knows that I was the one who sold out
the Orion Project. She knows now what I did and I'm sure that she already told our
father about it. I looked at her. Her eyes were full of anger. It was also visible
on her face. I knew that she wanted to kill me, rip my body apart and feed my soul
to the dogs. She may be may sister but when it comes to the family business, she
was ruthless.

"I c-can e-explain.." naitaas ko ang mga kamay ko nang bigla niya akong batuhin ng
figurine na nadampot niya kung saan. Nailagan ko iyon at tumama sa pader.

"You are my brother! You're supposed to be loyal to the family and yet you sold us
all out for that girl!" sigaw niya. Halos lumabas na ang lahat ng litid niya sa
leeg. She continued to throw all sorts of things at me. I'm tried to avoid it.
Reena was angry. At kahit anong sabihin ko sa kanya, alam kong hindi siya
makikinig. She was too angry and too crazy that she wouldn't want to understand my
reason.

"Listen to me!" I ran to the left part of the house.

"I don't want too!" she yelled back. Classic Reena, always being the stubborn one.

"I love her!" sigaw ko. That stopped her. Tumayo siya ng tuwid at saka pinagkrus
ang kanyang mga kamay. She lookied at me intently and laughed sarcastically.

"How could you love someone like that?" she smirked. "I know who she is Robi. She's
Ian, your childhood sweetheart."

"I love her."

"You don't. You just have a hangover of your first love. Gosh Robi! When are you
gonna grow up!" inis na inis na wika nito.

"I don't care what you think. I love Ian, no matter what." mariing sabi ko.
Napailing si Reena. Nakita kong may kinuha siyang brown envelope. Ibinato niya iyon
sa akin dahilan upang malaglag ang mga laman niyon. My eyes widened when I saw
Ian's compromising pictures -- all of it.

"Where did you get that?" I asked.

"I don't know. Someone sent that to me. Pero kung sino man siya, it was a blessing
in disguise. I found out the kind of woman she is." she laughed darkly. "And
frankly, Robi, how low could you get? You replaced Irish with that?"

Isa-isa kong pinulot ang mjga litratong iyon ni Ian. I didn't want anybody to see
that.

"So how did you feel? Disappointed? Angry? I'd say you break up with her and get
back together with Irish." muling wika niya.

"I don't care about this, Reena." sabi ko nang mapulot ko na ang lahat ng litrato
ni Ian.

"What? Robin! What kind of principle do you have in life? She made out with a
stranger! She kissed some french girls, she lost herself when she was in Europe and
God knows what elses she did and yet you don't care about it! What the hell is
wrong with you?!"

"I love her, Reena! One thing that you will understand because you're too busy
building an empire!" humihingal na sigaw ko. "Matagal ko ng alam lahat iyan. I've
known it for six months and it never bothered me. I love Adriane, she loves me. At
kahit ano pang nangyari sa kanya sa Madrid, sinoman ang hinalikan niya or even if
she had sex with anybody, I DON'T CARE!" hindi ko napigilan ang pagluha. I wanted
Reena to understand me. I want her to see Ian the way I see her.

"You're stupid. You sold us out for her?" disappointed na sabi ni Reena. "You do
realize that dad is furious when I told him what you did."

"Yes. I did, Reena. I sold the Orion Project to Diego Delos Reyes because I didn't
want anyone to see those awful pictures! and you were right. Dad maybe furious but
dad has always been furious at me ever since I chose to be me, Robi the drummer,
and not the Robi he wants me to be. It didn't change anything, Reena."

"You can always change that." I shook my head.

"One thing I learned when I fell in love with Ian was that if you really love
somebody, you will love everything about them, kasama pati tulo laway, utot,
kulangot and even the deepest and their darkest secret, mamahalin mo iyon, Reena."
"Eres tan estúpido, Robi!"sigaw niya sa akin. "Hindi ako papayag na sirain mo ang
buhay mo para sa babaeng iyon! Mother wouldn't want to see her precious Robi ruin
his life!"

"The only way that you will ruin my life is if you take Ian away from me." I
sighed. "I have live my life in the dark for seven years. Ngayong nakita ko nang
ngumiti sa akin ang liwanag. Hindi ko na hahayaang mawala iyon sa akin."

I stared at Reena. Then I turned away. I couldn't hide the tears anymore. I let
them flow. As I walk out of my house, I cried like I haven't cried before. I cried
like a child. I went to that pavement where I made my promise to Ian. I sat there.
I looked up at the sky feeling unsure of what's gonna happen tomorrow. Pero kahit
ano pa iyon, kakayanin ko. Kakayanin ko para kay Ian.

"Robi..." agad kong pinahid ang mga luhang kanina lang ay nag-uunahang pumatak sa
aking mukha. I smiled when I turned to Ian. She was standing near me, maya-maya ay
umupo na siya sa aking tabi. Hinawakan ko ang kanyang kamay.

"Hey, you're supposed to be asleep." Malumanay na wika ko. She put her left hand on
my cheer then she wiped my tears away. She gave me a light kiss. "Ian?"

Muli siyang ngumiti. Nakita ko ang mga luhang dahan-dahang umaagos sa kanyang
pisngi.

"Ian?" kinabahan ako. She took may palm. Ibinuka niya ang palad ko, noon ko
naramdaman ang isang malamig na bagay sa gitna niyon. She put something on my palm.
Tiningnan ko iyon. "Ian?"

"I'm so-sorry..." humahagulgol na wika niya. I looked at her, then I looked at my

palm again. There lies the enagagement ring I gave Ian just four days ago. I felt
my tears falling again. I held her hand.

"Ian.. Ian please..." umiiyak na sabi ko. "Mahal kita... "

----------------------------------------
Super Ian's

Ian.. Ian please, mahal kita."

I cried so hard when I heard Robi said those words. I couldn't even bear looking at
him. Ayoko siyang makitang nasasaktan yet I am the one causing him pain right now.
Lumayo ako sa kanya. All I could say was..

"I'm sorry, Robi...." naiiyak na sabi ko.

"Ian please..." nagmamamakaawang wika niya. Umiling ako. Hindi niya siguro ako
maintidihan sa ngayon pero kailangan kong gawin ito. I need to set him free.

"Robi, don't make this hard for me." mahinang sabi ko. "We need to do this. It's
for your own good, for your family, for your future."

"How can you talk about my future? Iiwan mo ako, and tapos sasabihin mong for my
future?" he shook his head. "There's no future if your not with me."

"You know what I did in Madrid." halos bulong na lumabas iyon mula sa aking bibig.
Hindi ako makapaniwala na alam na niya ang lahat ng iyon. I heard him. Nagising ako
kanina dahil hinahanap ko siya. Ang buong akala ko ay bumaba lang siya but when I
went down stairs, I saw that he crossed the street. Sumunod ako. Naisip ko na gusto
kong matulog na kasama siya but before I could eneter the house, narinig ko na ang
sigawan nilang dalawa ni Reena.

God! Reena was so awful to Robi. How could she have said those things. I knew that
Robi didn't sold his family.. pero nagkamali ako. Sa mismong bibig ni Robi ko
narinig na pinagtaksilan niya ang kanyang pamilya para sa akin. How could he do
that? Pinili niya ako kaysa sa pamilya niya? He said he loved me despite of the
things that I have done in Madrid. He said that it didn't matter. Pero bakit? Dapat
magalit siya.

"Yes, yes, but it doesn't matter, Ian. I love you and I don't care about it."

"Dapat magalit ka sa akin, Robi!" napaiyak na ako ng tuluyan. Pinagbabayo ko ang

dibdib niya. "Magalit ka sa akin! Saktan mo ako! Ginawa kong lahat iyon dahil galit
ako sa'yo at gusto kitang makalimutan! I wanted to exorcise you from my thoughts
that I ended up destroying myself! You've hurt me, but that's not an excuse!" sigaw
ko. Niyakap ako nang mahigpit ni Robi.

I don't deserve this. I wasted my life in Madrid. I semi-cheated on him, and what
do I get? A warm hug and a sweet kiss?

Itinulak ko siya.

"Ian..."

"Magalit ka!" sigaw ko.

"Do you think I didn't feel anything when I saw those pictures Ian? I was devasted!
I couldn't live with myself. I couldn't even talk for days because I knew that you
did those things because of me! If I didn't left you seven years ago, hindi tayo
darating sa punto na ito. Pero kung magagalit ako sa'yo o sa kung sinuman, it will
be a waste of energy, what's done is done and frankly, I really don't care because
I love you. I accept what you did because it's a part of you and if I refuse any
part of you, ibig sabihin lang noon, hindi kita mahal."

Napailing ako. Hindi ako naiintindihan ni Robi.

"Marry me, Ian. I don't care about the past. I just want to be with you in my
future, in my forever."

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at saka hinila ako papalapit. Hinapit niya ako sa
baywang at saka ginawaran ng isang halik. I couldn't explain the way he kisses me.
It was full of love, longing and passion. He was kissing me so beautifully, I find
myself crying. It was clear. Robi didn't want to let me go. He loves me too much...

And I don't deserve that.

Slowly, I pushed him away.

"I'm so sorry, Robi." umiiyak na sabi ko.

"Ian, please..." to my surprise, lumuhod si Robi sa harap ko at niyakap ang mga
hita ko. "Ian wag mo akong iwan, please. Nagmamakaawa ako sa'yo wag mo akong iwan.
Parang awa mo na." humahagulgol na sabi niya. Napahagulgol na rin ako.

"R-robi, wag kang ganyan...." hilam na ang mga mata ko ng luha.

"You said you'll never let me go. You said that you'll fight for me, for us. Why
are you giving up now? Diba lagi mong sinasabi noon na ang sumuko pangit? Kapag
iniwan mo ako, pangit ka."

"I'd rather be ugly than be with you. I can't do this anymore. I'm tired of
fighting." huminga ako ng mamalim bago ko tuluyang inilayo ang sarili ko sa kanya.
"Let's just accept the fact that maybe we're not meant to be together."

Tunalikuran ko siya. I knew that he was still kneeling down. I hated myself for
hurting the one person I love with all my heart. Ayoko siyang iwan pero kailangan
kong gawin ito. Hindi ko kasi maibibigay ng buo ang pagmamahal ko kay Robi hangga't
hindi ko nahahanap ang sarili kong nawala nang iwan niya ako.

I know it was very much JLC alike but that was the truth. When Robi came back seven
years after he made that promise to me, I realized that my Robin Hood was gone,
pero unti-unti siyang bumalik ngunit kasabay noon ay ang unti-unting pagkawala ng
Ian na minsan ay minahal niya. I knew a part of that Ian was still with me but I
had to find her missing pieces before I could fully love Robi.

Tama naman si Reena, hindi ako bagay kay Robi. Ayokong sirain ni Robi ang buhay
niya at ang pamilya niya dahil sa akin.

Iiwan ko siya ngayon. Hahanapin ko ang sarili ko.

I looked back at him before I enter the house.

Maybe I'll get lucky,by the time that I come back, he would still be here, waiting
for me... again.

*******************************************
[16] The girl who just can't move (END)
*******************************************

Super Ian's

It's been three months since I left the metro and I have this big whole in my
heart. Tatalong buwang ganoon ang pakiramdam ko. I left that night after finally
really giving up whatever it was that I had with Robi. I left again without
telling anyone.I didn't think it was neccessary to say goodbye to anybody. They all
have their own lives now. Hindi na pwedeng ihinto ang mundo ni James o ni Anton o
ni Trey para sa akin. Sa pagkakataon kasing iyon, kailangan ko nang matututong
tumayo sa sarili kong mga paa. So I left, I boarded the first plain to Seattle. I
don't know why I went there but I did. Doon ko sinimulang hanapin ang sarili ko.
There was nothing special with that place. I just want to be there because I
thought it was less dramatic if I go there not in Europe. I wanted to go to Europe
but I knew that of I did, I'd only kill myself because Europe was filled with Robi
memories. At hangga't maaari ay ayokong maalala si Robi.

So I stayed in Seattle for three months. Maayos naman ang lahat but then I knew
that I had to comeback. So after three months of hiding, I came back. I didn't tell
anyone that I came back. Hindi na nila kailangan malaman iyon. Ang mahalaga ay
bumalik ako.

"Para na, kuya." nginitian ko ang taxi driver matapos niyang huminto sa tapat ng
bahay ko. Ibinigay ko ang bayad sa kanya at saka ako lumabas ng sasakyan. I was
nervous, a small part of my brain was expecting to see Robi, sitting on our spot,
waiting for me. But he wasn't there. Huminga na lang ako ng malalim at saka hinatak
ang bag na dala ko. Tahimim na binuksan ko ang gate, tahimik na pumasok ako sa
loob. At tulad ng dati ay katahimikan at kalungkutan ang sumalubong sa akin nang
makapasok ako sa bahay. The house looked so empty, so lonely and so cold. Halatang
walang nakatira dito. Parang gusto kong maiyak. Sumasaya lang naman ang bahay ko
kapag nandito si Robi. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko alam kung anong meron kay Robi
at parang nabubuhay ang lahat ng bagay sa bahay ko sa tuwing naroon siya.

Tinungo ko ang hagdan, Naupo ako sa unang baitang noon at saka tuluyan nang
hinayaan ang mga luhang kanina pa nagbabadya sa aking mga mata.

"It's fucking sad!" bigla kong naiusal. Kahit anong tanggi ko sa aking sarili ay
pinagsisisihan ko ang gabi kung kailan iniwan ko si Robi. Ang sakit-sakit. Wala
naman akong ibang dapat sisihin kundi ang sarili ko. He wanted us to work. He
fought hard for what we had. I was the only one who gave up. Robi, he never gave
up, even though he thought he did, deep inside him, he was still fighting.

"Ang tanga ko kasi," lumuluhang sabi ko. Hinayaan kong tumulo ang mga luhang iyon.
Ang akala ko kasi ay hindi na ako iiyak, pero heto, ramdam na ramdam ko ang sugat.
The pain was so raw I could feel it cutting every vein in my heart.

Matapos ang ilang saglit ay pinahid ko ang aking luha. Ayoko nang umiyak. Pagod na
akong umiyak. Muli akong tumayo nang bigla na lang bumukas ang pinto. Bahagyang
umawang ang aking labi. Hindi ko alam kung tatawa ba ako o maiiyak o maiinis sa
hitsura ni Ali -- oo si Ali, he was the one who opened my door.

Nakatingin kami sa isa't-isa, humangos siya, pawis na pawis, He was wearing a

sports shirt, a pair of running shorts and his running shoes. He was looking at me
like I'm some kinda of zombie.

"Have you been running?" hindi matiis na tanong ko.

"You're here!" he exclaimed. "It's really you! I have to go and tell them!" walang
kaabog-abog na tinalikuran ako ni Ali at muling tumakbo. Napailing ako. I ran after
him.

"Ali?!" I shouted as I ran. Hindi ko na siya naabutan. Jeez! Could he really run as
fast as that? Napagpasyahan kong maghintay muna sa labas. Alam kong babalik si Ali.
Habang nakatayo ako roon ay hindi ko maiwasang tingnan ang bahay sa tapat ko.
Robi's house. Too many memories. Too many happy moments. Too many painful things.
I sighed when I noticed the "for sale" sign hanging just right the gate.

I guess Robi have finally decided to move on. And again, I was left here, hanging.
Nakakainis. Kung hindi siguro ako umalis noon, malamang kasal na kami ngayon. Maybe
we're happy, at kahit naman siguro kasama ko siya ay kaya kong hanapin ang sarili
ko. Bakit nga ba kasi ako umalis?

Bago pa muling tumulo ang mga luha ko ay naisipan ko nang pumasok bago ko pa man
marating ang pinto ay may narinig akong sasakyan na huminto sa harap ng bahay ko.
Tiningnan ko ang mga iyon. There were four different cars parked in front of my
house. Halos sabay-sabay bumukas ang mga pintuan noon at mula roon ay lumabas ang
mga taong miss na miss ko na. They were all here, James, Anton, Zach, Ali and even
Trey.

Napangiti ako. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko. I ran towards them. They all
welcomed me with open arms.

"Group hug!" sigaw ko. And we did. I missed this guys. I couldn't believe that I
lasted for that long without seeing them.

"You're really back!" sigaw ni Zach.

"Ayos ang timing mo. May birthday party tayo bukas!" wika naman ni Ali. Tumingin
ako sa kanila.

"Sinong may birthday?" I asked.

"Baby Zach" wika naman ni Zach. I smiled.

"Oo, alam ko. Akala mo ba nakalimutan ko." napalis ang ngiti ko nang mapansin kong
lahat sila ay nakatingin sa akin. "Bakit?"

"Rika had a feeling you'd comeback. She was right." James said, quitely. I looked
at all of them. Kahit namimiss ko sila ay hindi ko mapigilan ang mainis.

"You owe us Ian." mariing sabi ni James.

"Yup. We're pretty mad at you for leaving again." It was Trey who spoke. I bit my
lower lip. Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko. I sighed.

"Fine. I'm sorry." malumanay na sabi ko. Nag-high five si Anton at si Ali. "Okay,
who's hungry. May pasalubong akong chocolates."

"Kami!" nag-unahang pumasok si Zach at Ali sa loob. Sumunod naman si Anton at Trey.
James stood there looking at me.

"James?" nagtatakang tanong ko. Why bwas he looking at me like that?

"He left, Ian." makahulugang sabi niya habang nakatingin sa akin. Was he talking
about Robi? "He left the next day after you left without saying goodbye."

"He didn't leave, James. He chose to move on."

Iyon ang katotohanang napakahirap tanggapin. Ang katotohanan na umalis rin si Robi
upang makalimot.

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

"Robin Hood's

"Why?"

Inayos ni Ella ang kanyang salamin bago muling tumingin sa akin. Tulad ng palagi
niyang ginagawa ay nakalabi siya sa tuwing tatanungin ko siya ng "bakit". Hindi ko
kasi talaga makuha ang joke na sinasabi niya.

Ella was Jenny's best friend. Isa siya sa mga tumulong sa akin noong panahong pilit
kong kinukuha kay Diego ang mga litrato ni Ian.

"Because, seven eight nine." ulit niya sa kanyang sinabi. Napakunot ang noo ko. I
learend to spend time with Ella dahil na rin sa palagi kong kasama si Trey. Trey
had been my instant companion because the other Neon boys were too busy making a
life with their wives. Nakakalungkot ngang isipin. Kung hindi siguro umalis si Ian
noon, malamang magkasama kami ngayon, maybe we're married already, maybe we're
happy now. Siguro.. I sighed. Puro na lang ako what if's saka siguro. Hindi ko nga
alam kung anong mangyayari bukas. I was always wondering when she would come back o
kung kakayanin ko pang maghintay ng matagal.

"Sorry, Ella. Hindi ko talaga magets." nakangiting sabi ko. We were at the coffee
shop just outside my village. Ella was waiting for Jenny, I was just killing time.

"Alam mo, ang slow mo." tila naiinis na sabi nito. Natawa ako. Wala pang taong
nagsasabi sa akin na slow ako, maliban kay Ella. She's really something. Bigla ay
napatitig ako sa kanya. May naalala ako. I leaned over to look at her.

"Did you remember the night when we went to Diego's house?" I asked her. Matagal ko
nang gustong tanungin sa kanya iyon. "Bakit bigla kang nawala? You were supposed to
go with Jenny."

"Eh kasi namali ako ng pasok ng bintana. Pinauna ako ni Jenny but then I
miscalculated. Dapat pala hindi ko sinama sa bilang iyong lobby. Ayun, sa ibang
room ako napasok." natawa ako. Ella looked like she didn't want to remember that
night. May kung ano sa kanyang mga mata. Napailing na lang ako. I took a zip of my
iced tea at saka ko pinagala ang mga mata ko. Maghahapon na noon. Matatapos na
naman ang araw, pero hindi pa rin bumabalik si Ian. I missed her.

The day after she left, umalis rin ako. I went back to Madrid and I tried reasoning
with my father. Reena was right, he was really mad at me. Siguro kahit sinong anak
ay magagalit kapag nalaman niya na traydor ng kompanya ang kanyang anak. I told him
the thing that I thought he would understand pero tulad ni Reena, he was too
stubborn. Mabuti na lang ang pumagitan sa amin si Mama kung hindi, malamang bangkay
na ako ngayon.

But a miracle happened. The day before I left Spain, he talked to me. Forb the
first time in twenty eight years, we had a father and sone heart to heart talk. And
that talk changed everything. I realized that my father loved me too.

Wala nang hadlang sa amin ni Ian. My father gave me his blessing. I can marry Ian
anytime I want. Ganoon din si Reena. Ang problema ko na lang ngayon ay ang
pagkawala niya. Kailan nga kaya siya babalik? It's been three months...

"I miss her." mahinang wika ko.

"Babalik din iyon." sagot naman nI Ella. "Mahal ka noon eh."

"Mahal niya ako bakit niya ako iniwan?"

"Kasi, Robi, may mga bagay sa buhay natin na hindi kayang sagutin. Rhetorical
question kumbaga. Siguro kahit si Ian, hindi niya masasagot ang tanong mo."

"Bakit?"

Ella shrugged.

"Kasi, you're in love. When you're in love, you don't think. You just do." she
smiled. "Where ever she is right now. I know that she's missing you. Babalik iyon.
Babalik at babalik iyon dahil nandito ko."

Hindi ko pa ganoong kakilala si Ella, pero ang mga bagay na sinabi niya ay
nakapagpagaan talaga ng loob ko. I smiled at her, then I reached for her hand.

"Thank you." I sighed. "Hey, you wanna walk with me?"

"Okay!" nakatawang wika niya. Sabay kaming tumayo. Sabay rin naming nilakad ang
palabas ng coffee shop. I walked side by side with Ella habang papasok ng village.
Nagkekwentuhan kami, nagtatawanan nang bigla na lang siyang ma-out of balance. As
reflex, hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at saka bigla siyang hinapit.

"Are you alright?" mabilis na tanong ko. She looked at me, eye to eye. Awkwardness
was written in her eyes.

"Oo.. okay na ako," isang pilit na ngiti ang gumuhit sa kanyang mga labi. "Salamat
ha."

Binitiwan ko siya.

"Mag-ingat ka kasi." paalala ko. Tumango lang siya. We continued to walk. Pagharap
ko, bigla akong natigilan. Nawala ang ngiti sa aking labi when I recognized the
girl standing in front of us, looking at Ella like she wanted to murder her.

"Ian.. y-you're back." nagsimula na naman ang chais sa loon ng katawan ko. My heart
started beating like crazy, my palms were sweating, my knees were trembling. She's
here.

"Who is she?" tanong niya habang nakatitig pa rin kay Ella. I knew what she was
thinking, I knew that I should say that it's not what she thinks but then an idea
crossed my mind. Muli kong hinapit si Ella.

"Uy!" usal ni Ella.

"Si Ella. Girlfriend ko."

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

Super Ian's
"Si Ella. Girlfriend ko."

I've been back for only one day pero isang malaking delubyo na ang sumalubong sa
akin. I had an idea that Robi had move on but I didn't expect it to be like this.
Ganito kaaga, nagka-girlfriend siya? At sino ang babaeng ito? Saan siya nakilala ni
Robi and why was Robi holding her like that?

"Si Ian, she's a band member too." muling nagsalita si Robi. I am a band member?
Just a band member? Bakit hindi niya sabihin sa babaeng iyon ang totoo? Na ako ang
ex girlfriend niya, that three months ago, he asked me to marry him? That he
promised me forever! Why can't he tell her?!

"Mauna na kami, Ian. See you around."

I've been gone for three months and all I got from him was "see you around?" Ni
hindi niya man lang nasabi na "I missed you?" Kasi ako sa bawat araw na hindi ko
siya kasama, para na akong namamatay! Tapos siya, ni hindi niya ako namiss?!

Nilagpasan na ako ni Robi at ng babaeng iyon. I looked back at them. Robi was still
holding Ella's hand and they were walking side by side. My heart, my brain and all
the veins in my body were aching. Parang gusto kong magpasagasa. Ang sakit! Ang
buong akala ko, uuwi ako dito at naghihintay siya. Pero hindi!

Kahit anong sabi ko noon na kapag umuwi ako at naka-move on na si Robi ay magiging
okay ako, hindi pala! Masakit pala! Sobrang sakit! Kung sabagay, kasalanan ko
naman. Robi fought hard for us, but I gave up...

Tumakbo ako palabas njg village. I stood near the bus stop at nang may humintong
bus ay agad akong sumakay. I was too busy catching my breath that I didn't notice
where I was.

Naglakad ako sa aisle ng bus na iyon at kahit pigilin ko pa ang aking sarili ay
kusang nagbibilang ng upuan ang utak ko. When I found seat number seven, ay agad
naman akong naupo roon. I wanted to cry... Nawala sa akin si Robi dahil sa
katangahan ko!

Tahimik akong umupo roon. I wasn't expecting the traffic pero iyon naman ang
naabutan ko nang makarating kami sa main road. Nakadama ako ng inip. Nagpalinga-
linga ako at saka ko lang naisip kung nasaan ako. I was on the ROBIN HOOD - SUPER
IAN bus, I am sitting on seat number seven and right in front of me was the stick
figure of Super Ian and Robin hood.

Nananadya yata ang tadhana.

I couldn't help but to trace that stick figure I drew almost eight years ago. I
drew this when Robi decided that he wanted to spend a day with me. I drew this
after telling him that he was the thief who stole my heart.

"Ikaw na naman?" nag-angat ako ng tingin nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses ni
Manong Konduktor. "Magsusulat ka na naman? Tingnan mo nga itong bus namin! Puro
vandal na dahil sa'yo tapos may isang lalaki pang gumagaya sa'yo kung anu-ano din
iyong pinagsusulat!"

"Isang lalaki?" nagtatakang tanong ko. Tumayo ako at nilagpasan ko si Manong.

"Hoy! Umupo ka nga! Baka masubsob ka!" I looked around the bus and Manong was right
there were new writtings on the wall, on the back of the seats. They were replies
to my woes!
"R-robi.." naiusal ko. He was the only one that I could think of. Siya lang ang
gagawa nito. I looked at the back seat. May nakasulat rin doon. Ang una kong binasa
ay ang sinulat ko a year ago. I wrote; How can I move on, if I'm still in love with
you. Sa ilalim noon ay may nakasulat. It says: I thought I moved on until I
realized that I was still in love with you.

The next writing says;

What I wrote; You were the one who left, but why does it feel like I was the one
who's lost?

What he wrote; You were never lost cause you were always in my heart.

Another one;

What I wrote: Does your heart still beat fast whenever you think of me?

What he wrote: Yes. It will forever be like that.

Another one:

What I wrote: You stole my heart, you took my breath away and then you left me
hanging. Should I hold on?

What he wrote: I stole your heart but I left mine with you. I took your breath
away, but I stopped breathing the moment my heart started missing you. Please hold
on. Our forever will begin soon.

I didn't realized that I was crying until an old lady gave me her hankie. I smiled
as I took it. Robi really loves me. Tahimik na bumalik ako sa seat number seven at
saka umiyak. Bakit ko ba kasi siya iniwan? I thought I'm gonna find myself, but I
was wrong.

"Uy, nandito ka na. Bumaba ka na. Tama na iyang moment." tinapik ako ni Manong. I
smiled at him. Bago ako tumayo ay may nahagip ang aking mata. On the left side of
seat number seven, were words that I was sure was written by Robi. It says:

"Still waiting for our forever to begin. Where are you the girl who can't be moved?
Love, The man who can't be moved."

Humihikibing tumingin ako sa mamang konduktor.

"Take me back!" I yelled at him. I don;t care if there were other passengers inside
that bus. I need to go back to Robi. Wala akong pakialam kung may girlfriend na
siya. I need to have him back. I couldn't see myself living the next years of my
life without him. Hindi ko isusuko si Robi. Kesehodang lantaran ko siyang agawin sa
babaeng iyon, gagawin ko makasama ko lang siya!

"Ano bang sinasabi mo?" tanong ng konduktor.

"Take me back to my village or I swear to god, tatalon ako ng bus ninyo at hindi
ako nagbibiro!"

The bus conductor stared at me. Maya-maya ay huminga siya ng malalim. Tinapik niya
ang bubong ng bus at saka sinabing;

"Balik tayo!"

"Thank you, Manong!" humihikbing sabi ko. I bit my lower lip, sana ay hindi pa huli
ang lahat. Sana hindi pa talaga.

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

Super Ian's

Matapos ang ilang minutong pakikipagpatintero sa traffic ay narating din namin ng

bus ang village namin. Ayokong bumaba. I need this bus to prove to Robi how much he
loves me. I knew that he still loves me. Hindi niya isusulat ang mga salitang iyon
kung hindi na niya ako mahal.

"Sige na, guard. Papasukin ninyo na kami ng bus." pakiusap ko sa gwardya. Napkamot
siya ng ulo.

"Ma'am Ian, papagalitan ako ng management eh."

"Akong bahala sa'yo. Please!" naiiyak na sabi ko. "I need the bus, guard. I need
this. Please let us in so I could have my happy ending." napahikbi na ako.
Nakipagtitigan sa akin ang gwardyan at saka tumango.

"Sagot ninyo ako, Ma'am Ian ah." napangiti na ako.

"Thank you!" sigaw ko sa kanya. Binuksan niya ang dalawang naglalakihang gate at
saka pinatuloy kami. I was standing near the bus' window, trying to calm my nerves
but I was too nervous. Sana maging okay ang lahat. I'm going to chase after the man
I love and I will never give him up without a fight. Kahit makipagsabunutan pa ako
kay Ella na iyon, wala akong pakialam. I need this, I need Robi in my life.

"Liko mo, Manong!" sigaw ko nang makita ko ang street namin ni Robi. Iniliko ng
driver ang bus at saka nagdirediretso. Napapangiti na ako. Natatanaw ko na ang
bahay namin ni Robi.

"Stop!" I yelled. Nabigla yata ang driver kaya bigla siyang napapreno. Tumatakbong
bumaba ako ng bus at saka tumapat sa bahay ni Robi.

"Robin Santos!" sigaw ko. "Robin Santos! Lumabas ka siyan sa lungga mo at harapin
mo ako! Robi! Robi! Robi!" halos mapatid na ang litid ko kakasigaw. Naawa na lang
yata sa akin iyong bus kaya bumusina siya nang malakas. Matapos ang ilang sandali
ay biglang lumabas si Robi sa kanyang bahay. He was looking at me like I'm a crazy
woman.

"What the? Ian what are you doing?" nagtatakang tanong niya. "You're disturbing the
neighbors."

"You still love me!" sigaw ko. Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Alien ka ba? May girlfriend na nga ako diba," naikuyom ko ang aking mga palad. Sa
inis ko ay sinikmuraan ko siya. "Aray!" matapos iyon ay hinatak ko ang kanyang
kamay papasok sa bus.

"Hindi ako Alien at wala akong pakialam kung may girlfriend ka na! Girlfriend lang
iyon. Iyong fiance mo nga nadispatsya ko, iyong girlfriend pa kaya!"

"Ian, there are actual people on this bus." namamanghang tanong niya.

"Hindi mo ba alam kung nasan tayo?" I asked him. "This is our bus, Robi,"
"So, if this is our bus, what do you want me to do?" tila nang-iinis na tanong
niya. Hindi na ba talaga niya ako mahal? Tiningnan ko ang kanyang mukha. Walang
reaksyon iyon. Ni walang warmth sa kanyang mga mata. Napaluha ako. Sa inis ko ay
pinagbabayo ko ang kanyang dibdib.

"Nakakainis ka! Sinasaktan mo na naman ako!" sigaw ko sa kanya. Hinuli ni Robi ang
aking mga kamay.

"Sinaktan mo rin ako! I begged you to not leave me. Lumuhod pa nga ako sa harapan
mo pero di ka nakinig. Iniwan mo ako!" he yelled.

"Iniwan nga kita pero hindi mo ako hinintay!" I yelled back.

"I asked you to marry me, you left, I got hurt and you expect me to wait for you?!"

"OO! Gusto kong hintayin mo ako! Gusto ko iyon! Hindi mo nga ba ako hinintay Robi?
You wrote a reply sa lahat ng broken hearted writings ko, and yet sinasabi mo sa
akin na hindi mo na ako mahal! I wanted you to wait for me, because I still believe
in that promise you made almost ten years ago! I love you! And right now my heart
is beating so fast, my brain and every vein in mu body are aching for your touch! I
love you too much that I couldn't even see myself living the next years of my life
without you by my side!"

Sigaw ko sa kanya. Wala na akong pakialam kung may ibang tao sa loob ng bus na
iyon. Wala na akong pakialam kung nagmumukha na akong alien. I want my Robi back
and I'm going to do everything just to have him again. Even if that means going
back to square one.

"Good!" he yelled back. "Because I love you too and I still want you to be my wife
kahit na ang tigas-tigas ng ulo mo!"

Dahan-dahang umawang ang labi ko. Did I hear him right? Natulala ako. Naramdaman ko
ang pagtapik ng isang babae sa aking balikat.

"Hija, papakasalan ka daw niya." nakangiting turan ng babae. I smiled at her then I
looked back to Robi. He was still smiling.

"Paano iyong girlfriend mo?"

"Ikaw ang girlfriend ko. Kahit na noong iniwan mo ako. girlfriend pa rin ang tawag
ko sa'yo. I just said na si Ella ang girlfriend ko para maramdaman mo iyong
naramdaman ko noong iwan mo ako."

"Eh gago ka pala!" muli ko siyang sinuntok. Napahagulgol na naman ako. "Ang-ang-
akala-ko-hindi mo na ako mahal!" humihikbing sabi ko.

"Ian, Adriane, my gosh!" he exclaimed. Ang dami na nating pinagdaan, ngayon pa ba

naman ako susuko? I will never stop loving you. You have to understand that even if
you don't want me around. I'm here to stay. I love you."

Napangiti ako. He loves me. I was right, he was still in love with me.

"Para tayong magnet, Ian. Kahit saan mapunta.." itinuro niya ako. "babalik at
babalik siya sa kinalalagyan niya. Parang tayo, wherever we go, ilang milya man ang
layo natin sa isa't-isa, may force na hahatak sa atin pabalik. I came back because
I wanted to be with you. You left and yet you still came back because you wanna be
with me."

Hinapit niya ako sa baywang.

"I wanna be with you. Let's cut the chase dahil kung tatakbo ulit ang isa sa atin,
bubugbugin na tayo nila James." nakangiting sabi niya. Bakit ganoon, bakit si Robi
natatawa, bakit ako naiiyak?

"Paano iyong photos?" nahihiyang sabi ko.

"Ilan beses kong sasabihin na wala akong pakialam? I've known that for a long time
pero wala naman sa akin. I love you, its all that matters."

"Si Reena?" muling sabi ko.

"I went to Madrid and I reasoned with my family. I told them that whatever it
takes, I'm gonna marry you because you're my life."

Napapangiti na ako... I came home expecting to see Robi still waiting for me and
when I thought that he didn't nasaktan talaga ako. Ngayon naman that he was
confessing his love for me in front of these people, tatanggi pa ba ako?

I love him, he loves me. What else do we need.

" Inilabas niya mula sa kanyang bulsa ang isang kahita, binuksan niya iyon at saka
lumuhod muli sa aking harapan. Nagsigawan lalo ang mga tao. I couldn't hear what
Robi was saying because they were too noisy. Pero kahit na gaano pa sila kaingay ay
alam ko naman kung anong itatanong niya.

"Yes!" sigaw ko. Robi smiled widely, took my hand and put the ring back on my
finger. After that, he gave me a kiss. A kiss that would surely be on the papers
tomorrow morning. But I didn't care, all I know was how amazing it felt to finally
be with the one you want to spend your lifetime with.

Forever, with my Robin Hood.

Could I get any happier?

The END

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STORY END
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