Main Song: Free Love by Honne

 

TITLE: LOVING RAIDEN

 

I can’t get you all that stuff, but I can give you all my love.

 

Nakatingin ka lamang at pinagmamasdan ang babaeng nasa harapan ng buong klase ngayon, her hair white like snow and too short for your liking, the woman wearing a sweater and pants, at nakangiti pa rin siya kahit na sobrang sama na ng tingin ng teacher niyo sa sobrang white na kulay ng buhok niya, pero sobrang confident pa rin ng tingin ni ate girl kahit na parang pinapatay na siya ng tingin ng teacher niyong masungit.

 

“Hi,” pagsisimula niya, her small hands waving towards the class, at hindi mo mapigilan na pagmasdan siya dahil sobrang stand out talaga siya sa lahat ng kaklase mo, even with the whole school ay walang kaparehas na kulay ng buhok ang babaeng ito, and you can’t help but stare… for long.

 

“My name is Wendylyn Adrianne Ortega, nice to meet you all.” Sabi ng babaeng todo ang ngiti, pero pagrinig mo ng apelyido ng babaeng ito ay parang nawalan ka na ng gana pang makipagkilala, dahil alam mong hindi mo siya ka-level.

 

Ortega.

 

Anak ng Congressman… taray.

 

“You may sit beside Miss Rivera, and please… change your hair color.” Inis na sagot ng teacher, at napabuntong hininga ka naman dahil ang kaisa-isang empty seat ay napunta sa right mo dahil nakatabi ka sa leftmost part ng classroom at sa window seat na nagooverlook ng buong buildings sa loob ng school niyo, and with your attitude rumors ay walang gustong tumabi sa’yo.

 

But she took a seat beside you, smiling and laying her hand out for you to shake, at tinitigan mo lamang iyon habang nakatingin siya sa’yo, expecting for you to shake her hand… at para matigil na lamang ang sobrang pagtingin niya sa’yo ay ginawa mo na lamang ang gusto niyang gawin.

 

“I’m sure you heard my name earlier, Miss…” she trailed off, at pinigilan mo ang urge na bumuntong hininga ulit at nginitian na lamang siya ng pilit, shaking her hand tight and spitting out your name as fast as you can spit it out of your petty mouth, but still making sure that the woman beside you heard it just fine.

 

“Joy Raiden Rivera.” Maikli mong sagot, at nginitian ka lamang niya ulit, finally getting off your back and listening to the teacher na nagsimula nang magdiscuss, pero hindi mo talaga mapigilan ang sarili mo na kahit paunti-unti ay magnakaw ng tingin sa babaeng nasa tabi mo ngayon, smiling silently as you see her scrunched nose while trying to keep up with your teacher’s spit fire rapping of the lesson at hand, pero pinigilan mo rin ang sarili mo dahil you were taught that it is rude to stare at strangers.

 

But why does my heart feel like she isn’t a stranger?

 

You and your white hair…

 

Ano bang meron sa’yo?

 

Hindi ka naman ganun karupok para mafall in love at first sight. Siguro nga nanibago at nagulat ka lang dahil sa sobrang puting buhok niya na winindang ang buong klase at ginalit ang prof niyo na karaniwan ay sobrang hinhin at hindi makabasag pinggan kahit na laging masungit (if that is possible), pero ano nga bang meron ang babaeng ito na nasa gilid mo, na ramdam mo rin ang momentaryong pagsulyap niya sa’yo?

 

Wendy Adrianne… what a nice name.

 

*

 

But definitely not nice behavior, you can add that, dahil the next week ay nagpakita siya na ngayon naman ay brown ang buhok, and her hair is longer with attachments and hair extensions na kulay blonde ulit, and once again your homeroom teacher is shocked and angry out of her wits, at agad naman siyang binigyan ng isang pink slip, at narecognize mo na agad kung ano iyon—detention.

 

So you did something that you cannot forget for the rest of your life dahil nilapitan mo ang isang lalakeng tinatawanan ang bagong buhok at hairstyle ni ate girl at biglang hinablot mo ang mahaba nitong buhok, pulling it upward dahilan para mapatayo siya mula sa kinauupuan niya, at dahil nga matagal mo na itong gustong itry na gawin… you kicked him right on his beloved part, sa gulat ng lahat.

 

“Miss Rivera! Out, now!” sigaw ng mahinhin niyong homeroom teacher, sabay bigay sa’yo ng pink slip at agad ka namang lumabas mula sa classroom niyo, the brown haired woman then following you without any words, dahil siguro hindi niya alam kung saan papuntang detention room ng malaking school niyo—or she’s shy, which you don’t expect.

 

Anak siya ng congressman tapos mahiyain siya?

 

Weird.

 

“Thank you—”

 

“I’m not doing this because of you, Ortega. Boring kasi yung class na yon.” Mabilis mong pagdadahilan, at napansin mo ang pagkawala ng ngiti niya upon hearing her surname coming from your lips, and as much as you want to reverse that smile ay hindi mo magawa… dahil nahihiya ka na din, at dinadahilan mo sa sarili mo na hindi naman kayo close para makipaginteract pa sa kanya without any special reason.

 

Langit siya, lupa ka, Joy. Wala kang pag-asa diya, awat na.

 

“I’m… I’m not her true daughter, Joy.” Sagot ni Wendy, dahilan para mapatigil ka mula sa paglalakad at lumingon pabalik, widening your eyes as you see her move closer towards you, taking both of your pink slips for detention and you only widen your eyes as you watch her rip it apart into pieces, scattering it upon the air.

 

“Pagod na akong magpakaperpekto… sasamahan mo ba ako?” tanong ni Wendy habang bigla niyang hinablot ang brown niyang buhok, revealing her blonde almost white hair into view, tied up, at agad niyang inalis ang tali ng buhok niya, at tinitigan mo lamang siya ng walang kahit anong expression sa mga mata mo… pero mukhang unconsciously ay marupok ka.

 

Pinigilan mong itaas ang kilay mo nang makita mo siyang ngumiti uli after opening your mouth, and there you realize na pumayag ka, na nagsabi ka ng oo sa suhestiyon niya, and it’s already too late to back out dahil maya-maya pa ay hinihila ka na niya paalis ng campus, the wig she wore getting left behind the hallway with both of your pink slips, at hindi mo mapigilan na mapangiti habang sinabayan mo ang pagtakbo niya palabas ng borders ng school, nakikisabay sa mga taga am shift na lumalabas.

 

“Do you even have some place in mind?” tanong mo habang hinila mo siya papunta sa malapit na parking lot na malapit sa school, fishing out the keys upon your motorcycle that you discreetly parked there (dahil bawal ang motorcycle on school grounds) at sumakay doon, putting on a helmet over Wendy’s head at tinulungan mo siyang sumakay sa sasakyan na gagamitin niyo, tensing up a little as you feel the woman hug you tight, her forehead leaning upon your back.

 

“The ocean… I haven’t seen the ocean.” Wendy says, and you only nod at that, starting to speed away towards the bay, na kahit medyo malayo at medyo hindi mo na naaalalang pumunta doon mula sa initial starting point mo na sa parking lot sa tabi ng school ay nairaos mo naman na dalhin siya sa dagat.

 

Punyeta. Nasiraan na ata ako ng ulo.

 

Bakit ko dadalhin ang babaeng ito sa bay? Hindi ko naman siya ganun kakilala?

I must be out of my mind for doing this just to see her smile.

 

She’s out of my league… alam ko yon.

 

Pero bakit parang hinihiling ng puso ko na sana hindi?

 

Ewan.

 

You parked your motorcycle in a secure place bago mo siya tulungang makababa mula sa sasakyan, picking up the helmet from her who’s quickly fixing her hair messed up by the wind upon her face, at hindi mo na napansin ang mga daliri mong nilagay ang piraso ng buhok niya sa likod ng tenga niya, making the woman smile as they move closer towards the beach.

 

“Baka madapa ka pa niyan. Take off your shoes.” Strikto mong sagot, at nang hindi gumalaw ang babaeng nasa harapan mo ngayon ay hinila mo siya patungo sa isang bench at doon mo ibinaba ang gamit niyong dalawa, making sure to take valuable things with you as you made her sit down and you slowly took off her shoes and her socks, setting it down next to your backpack habang ginaya mo naman ang ginawa mo sa kanya sa sarili mo, taking off your boots like shoes and putting them down next to Wendy’s small ones.

 

Soon the two of you trudged down upon the sandy path of the beach, the peaceful air making you smile as you supported her clumsy state while walking down upon the beach, and soon water hit both of your feet, the cool water making you smile even more habang kalmadong gumagalaw ang dagat papunta sa inyong dalawa, na tila umaalis ng panandalian pero bumabalik din, ano man ang mangyari.

“Ang ganda…” manghang sabi ni Wendy habang tinititigan niya ang tanawin sa malayo, na para bang ngayon pa lamang siya makakapunta sa lugar na ito, na parang hindi siya nakalabas ng kung saan man siya galing ng matagal na panahon, pero nahiya ka na lamang na tanungin kung saan ba talaga nanggaling ang babaeng ito, at hinayaan mo na lamang siyang pagmasdan ang tanawin na meron ngayon.

 

“Thank you.” Nakangiting sabi ni Wendy habang unti-unti siyang bumaba at akmang uupo, pero agad na hinubad ni Joy ang leather jacket na suot niya (siguradong magagalit ang kaibigan at roommie niyang si Seulgi pag nakita niya ang buhangin sa jacket na ipinahiram nito) at inilahad ito sa buhangin, hinahayaang maupo si Wendy doon para hindi madumihan ang palda na suot niya.

 

You only watch while standing up as she played with the sand with her fingers, at hindi mo talaga maitago ang pagtataka kung bakit parang sobrang bago sa kanya ng lahat, and why she had always struck a chord inside you—na parang ang dali lang sa’yo na samahan siya dito, na sundin ang gusto niyang gawin, na nagcut ka ng class at pinahamak mo pa ang sarili mo sa detention at sa klase para lamang samahan siya.

 

You open your mouth to speak but find no words coming out, only staring at the woman’s white hair that fly along the wind, making her ten times more beautiful than ever… nafall ka na ba? Hindi mo rin alam.

 

Basta ang alam mo lamang ay hindi mo matanggal ang tingin mo sa kanya, hindi mo matigilan ang pagmasdan ang kagandahan niyang ngayon mo lamang nakita, hangaan at patuloy na panoorin ang parang bata niyang paglalaro ng buhangin sa kanyang mga kamay, as well as smiling upon her momentarily peeks upon the horizon—something you had not seen even if you had lived in this city for as long as you can remember.

 

Wendy Adrianne Ortega… ano nga ba ang meron sa’yo?

 

Hindi ko maintindihan… bakit ako nagkakaganito sa babaeng hindi ko pa naman ganun kilala?

 

Ah, ewan.

 

“Is there any place you want to go to?” isa pang tanong mo nang mapansin mong tumayo na siya mula sa pagkakaupo niya, picking up your jacket from the ground at agad naman niyang pinagpag iyon, getting rid of the sand that clung to it, at binigay niya iyon sa’yo habang nagiisip ng kung saan ba sila susunod na pupunta, and once again… hinahayaan mo siya.

 

So the two of you ride your bike across town; the woman holding onto you for dear life, holding on tight to the point na medyo masikip na pero the marupokpok that you are, hinahayaan mo lamang siya, for deep inside you know in yourself na you’re thankful that you brought Seulgi’s bike today and not your car.

 

“Thank you, Joy.” Mahina niyang sagot habang nakayapos siya sa’yo at nakakapit habang nagdadrive ka na pabalik sa school dahil susunduin daw siya doon, and she says she trusts you to keep this a secret from everyone, and she would do things to nullify your detention punishment, which you agreed… dahil sino ba ang kailangang makaalam nito?

 

“Looks like I have to say goodbye to this hair.” Natatawang sabi ni Wendy habang tinulungan mo siyang bumaba at nagpark ka sa parking lot na pinagparkingan mo ng motor mo kanina, and you smile and nod at that as you once again unconsciously tuck her hair behind her ear, a small smile upon your face habang marahan mo siyang pinagmasdan na nakangiti sa’yo habang inaayos mo ang buhok niyang nilipad ng hangin.

 

You wouldn’t let anyone take away her smile, that’s what you say to yourself.

 

Ang ganda ng ngiti mo.

 

If the price to see you smiling would be me doing things like this…

 

…then I don’t ing care.

 

*

 

Ano ba to?

 

Secret?

 

Lowkey?

 

Tinatago mo ba ako, Adrianne?

Hindi mo rin alam ang isasagot sa milyon-milyong tanong na dumadaloy sa isipan mo ngayon, dahil ang mahalaga… masaya ka. You’re happy with her, you’re happy being with her most of the time, you’re happy being the reason behind her lovely smile, the reason behind her laughter that fills the air and invades your senses, making you smile unconsciously once you hear that sound from her.

 

Wala ka nang pakielam kahit itago ka pa niya habang buhay, dahil masaya ka.

 

Who needs to know?

 

Nobody needs to know.

 

Anong meron kayo?

 

Wala.

 

Masaya kami.

 

Yun na ba ang bagong label ngayon?

 

Ah, hindi ko na rin alam.

 

Your mind is begging to ask her that question habang naglalakad kayo ng palihim papunta ng parking lot, this time you had the insight to bring your car for the first time in a long time to school, at sigurado ka na magtatampo ang roommate mong si Seulgi at ang best friend slash kachikahan mong si Yerim pag nalaman nila na mas nauna mo pang pasakayin ang isang transferee at complete stranger kaysa sa kanila na matagal mo nang kilala.

 

But your heart scolds you for even thinking about it, dahil ang laki ng tiwala mo sa kanya. You trust Wendy with all your heart starting from the time that she ripped up your pink slip, and your strong, strict and cold façade had been broken down so easily, by the moment you had your gaze upon her hair that was as white as snow, now black and still too short for your liking, pero bagay na bagay sa kanya ang hairstyle niya.

 

And so you sneak away from your classes again, dahil alam mo sa sarili mo na makakahabol ka naman with your skills and with Seulgi’s girlfriend, that loveable and kind woman Irene helping you kahit na medyo nahihiya ka nang manghingi ng tulong sa kanya, but you know in yourself that you can’t miss being with her.

 

Natatakot ka, na baka kapag hindi mo siya samahan ay… ay makakahanap siya ng ibang kasama.

 

You’re afraid that you’re just a temporary piece of Wendy Ortega’s life, na kahit anong gawin mo ay hinding hindi ka magiging permanente… and that is why you’re doing everything to be with her, dahil ngayon ay natatakot kang baka bigla ka nalang mawalan ng pwesto sa malaki niyang mundo.

 

“You look like you have a lot in your mind, Raiden.” Sweet niyang tanong sa’yo habang kinakain niya ang donut na galing sa cafeteria, that being her breakfast dahil nag-aya siya ngayon na pumunta daw kayo sa amusement park, her paying all the expenses again as long as you accompany her—kahit na nahihiya ka na talaga dahil medyo tight ang budget mo ngayon with your expenses and you having to pick up at least two part time jobs in the days na hindi mo kasama ang babaeng ito, but she assures you that it is all fine.

 

Hindi pa daw kasi siya nakakapunta ng amusement park… raising another question in your mind, pero hinayaan mo na lamang na malunod ka sa mga katanungang pilit na bumabagabag sa iyong isipan, at hinayaan mo na lamang ang sarili mong magdrive ng tahimik papunta sa pinagplanuhan niyang destinasyon, ang amusement park sa gitna ng siyudad na sigurado ay hindi matao at this time of day.

 

“Baka kasi maligaw tayo… I’m just focusing.” Sagot mo, at natawa naman si Wendy sa sinabi mo, the woman leaning towards the window and taking in the sights of the sceneries of this city that she’s so unfamiliar with, at iilan pa lamang ang alam mo tungkol sa kanya.

 

One, isa siyang anak sa labas ng Ortega family, a family known for its political roots in this city that they have.

 

Two, this is the first time that she would attend a school after being homeschooled for so long, at ang hinala mo ay mukhang itinago siya ng pamilya niya dahil ang tingin ng pamilya nito sa kanya ay isang kahihiyan, pero hindi mo ito kayang tanungin sa kanya dahil ayaw mong mawala ang maganda niyang ngiti.

 

Three… hindi mo talaga alam kung bakit gustong gusto niyang kasama ka, to the point na para na siyang sugar mommy na binibilhan ka ng kung ano-ano just to keep you by her side… at hindi mo ito maintindihan, dahil kahit naman hindi ka niya bilhan ng kahit ano ay sasamahan mo pa rin siya—

 

Okay. Masyado ka nang marupok.

 

Hinay hinay lang, self.

 

Napaghahalataan kang simp diyan sa babaeng nasa tabi mo ngayon… istahp.

 

But nevertheless, even if she’s really not so transparent with herself to you ay okay lang sa’yo, dahil ang mahalaga… masaya ka. Yun naman ang importante, hindi ba? Ang masaya ka, na hindi ka nasasaktan sa ginagawa mo ngayon, hindi ba?

 

This is a dangerous game you’re playing, alam mo yon.

 

Para kang nasa bangin, na parang anytime ay malalaglag ka either by you falling in head first or with someone on your back, ready to kick you to your death at any moment, at feeling mo ay nasa bingit ka na ng kamatayan every time you’re with her… dahil ikamamatay mo kapag hindi na niya gustong makasama ka pa.

 

So what is this that you’re doing?

 

Bakit kahit parang malalaglag ka na sa bangin ay nagtitiwala ka parin sa taong nasa likod mo na hindi ka niya itutulak? Na hindi ka niya sisipain papunta sa bangin na malapit ka nang malaglag?

 

Why do you trust that Wendy would still be there when you realize in yourself that you had fallen in love with her?

 

Hindi mo na din alam. Ganun ka na ba kadali magtiwala, Joy?

 

“We’re here.” Mahina mong sabi, as you remember that it had already been almost two months since you’ve found yourself a routine that you can never live without, something na hinding hindi mo na kayang abandonahin, at pinagdadasal mo na lamang na sana… sana hindi na siya mawala sa buhay mo.

 

Her smile… her laughter… her eyes whenever she looks at you.

 

Those things are already embedded and etched in every corner of your mind, so how would it feel if this dreamlike reality of yours suddenly breaks?

 

Ikamamatay ko ata… hindi ko rin alam.

 

“You know… I enjoy the most when I’m with you, Raiden.” Nakangiting sabi ni Wendy habang nakapila kayong dalawa sa mga rides, and you find your cheeks and your ears heating up as you feel her hand slowly intertwining with yours, and you feel as if the million answers inside your head disappears immediately, na para bang wala naman talagang mga katanungang bumabagabag sa’yo in the first place.

 

“You may think na kaya kita sinasamahan kasi ikaw yung nandyan… but no, Raiden. All this time na you’re with me, ever since you accompanied me to our supposed detention that day at dinala mo ako sa beach… I knew in myself na parang hindi na ata kita dapat pakawalan.” Natatawang sabi ni Wendy sa’yo habang patuloy na lumiliit ang pila papunta sa ferris wheel (for Wendy, again, hadn’t ridden that thing in all her life).

 

Hindi mo alam kung bakit, pero kinikilig ka ng sobra, especially with seeing how she smiles as she says those words to you, na para bang lumilipad ka na sa kalangitan… and you never want to let go of her hand anymore, for even if this is the first time you two had met…

 

Why does it fit so perfectly, Wendy?

 

Why does it feel as if your hand was made to hold mine?

 

“Love doesn’t need to be complicated, Raiden, hindi ba? I assure you… I’ve liked you ever since I laid my eyes on you that day, and unconsciously… I was courting you by giving you these gifts and all that, kasi… kasi hindi ko naman talaga alam kung paano magmahal—”

 

“All of us have their own way of loving someone, Adrianne. I like you as well, I admit that, but loving someone doesn’t mean that it has to be extravagant and all that… nahihiya na nga ako na lagi mo akong nililibre eh… I just want to have a permanent spot in your life—in your heart.” Sagot mo, at hindi mo mapigilan na mapangiti nang marahan niyang pigain ang kamay mo matapos mong sabihin ang litaniyang iyon, and you feel as if a large thorn had been taken out of your heart by her words, by her actions, at once again… nakuha ka nanaman ng mga ngiti niyang ubod ng liwanag, na para bang naiinlove ka nanaman ng paulit-ulit.

 

So this is what it feels like?

 

Oo, aminado kang nainlove ka na talaga sa kanya… even if it’s still too early, even if it’s only been two months since you knew her, since you were used to this setup between the two of you, but she’s right. Hindi naman talaga dapat gawing complicated ang lahat, hindi ba?

 

And with both your hands intertwined with each other, hindi mo maiwasang mapangiti habang marahan siyang sumandal sa’yo habang papalapit na kayo sa pila, and you feel as if your life had already been complete—as if she’s the missing puzzle piece you’ve been unconsciously trying to find all your life.

 

Love without any complications… I can do that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WENDY

 

You’re Wendy Adrianne Ortega, ang tinatagong anak ng congressman ng city na ito, and sure, it took you almost all your whole life just to attain this one bit of freedom, that is studying in this prestigious university and getting to keep your surname, at wala daw silang pakielam if you get good grades or not because in truth, they don’t really care about you—and you were about to do just that, until a certain tall woman caught your attention.

 

There’s something about this Joy Raiden Rivera that definitely caught your eyes on the first day na nakita mo siya, and luck seems to be on your side, as well as the fates, dahil it just so happens na ang tanging empty seat at the time ay ang upuan na nasa tabi niya, and there you sat happily, pero hindi ka nagpapahalata dahil baka magmistulan kang isang creep sa harap niya—and you wouldn’t want that to be your first impression, right?

 

Your white, astounding hair is already very striking as a first impression already.

 

And the week later… all the events began, at nahanap mo ang sarili mong lagi siyang gustong kasama, na lagi mo siyang nililibre para lamang samahan ka niya sa kung ano mang gusto mong gawin—whether it be the bay, different restaurants, parks, and the most memorable trip for the two of you—the amusement park, where you didn’t really plan to tell her anything, pero mukhang nanguna na ang puso mong sabihin ang itinatago mong katotohanan.

 

In truth, loving Raiden had been giving you happiness, dahil… hindi mo rin talaga alam… ang dami mo talagang hindi alam sa buhay, dahil hindi naman itinuro sa’yo ito. But even if you’re running blind towards this situation, towards everything ay parang kakayanin mo naman, basta kasama mo siya.

When she said that day na gusto lamang niyang magkaroon ng permanenteng pwesto sa buhay at sa puso mo… parang nanalo ka ng malaking prize sa lotto… dahil simula pa lang naman, may permanent place na siya dun, no questions asked.

 

“Are you really sure you like me like this, Adrianne?” tanong ni Joy habang nasa galaan nanaman kayong dalawa, a week after that amusement park date, at nalaman mong sobrang dami palang tanong na nasa loob ng isipan ng kasama mo ngayon; questions na naipon lamang sa isip niya mula nung simula, about you, about her place with you, about the two of you being so close like this, and you were sad na hindi niya naitanong because of you; because she was considering your feelings all this time.

 

Ayaw ko kasing matanggal iyang ngiti mo, she said when you asked her why she didn’t ask you anything, and it was both incredibly sweet and frustrating: sweet because she cares about you so much, and frustrating dahil naiinis ka sa sarili mo na dahil sa’yo ay sobrang nagoverthink siya about sa inyong dalawa.

 

So you’re going to answer all her questions right now, kahit abutin pa kayo ng siyam siyam, dahil natutunan mo sa sarili mo na no one, absolutely no one deserves to be left hanging and be left with so many questions that would make them drown alone.

 

“Yes, Raiden, I’m sure. Even if I’ve heard from the rumors around the school na you’re not exactly that kind and easy to approach, for me you’re not like that. You’re the only one who had taken away my attention from the start, and believe it or not… it’s my determination kung bakit tayo magkasama ngayong dalawa, hindi ba?” natatawang sabi mo habang hinawakan mong muli ang kamay niya, frowning as you notice it shivering due to the cold of this month, so you did the sensible thing.

You unconsciously bring her hand up, kissing the back of her hand with your lips and then putting both your hands inside the jacket she lent you dahil nga sinabi mo kanina na nilalamig ka—a textbook sweet move na natutunan mo through binge watching different dramas habang tinuturan ka ni Irene, that beautiful girl na girlfriend daw nung roommate ni Raiden, about being sweet—and you’re hoping that this works.

 

Napangiti ka na lamang nang makita mong biglang namula ang tenga niya, a sign you always see whenever you make these little banats and cute acts around her, at alam mong kinikilig siya dahil sa pinaggagagawa mo, no matter how clumsy it is, and she doesn’t have any idea how it’s making you happy and fall harder for her.

 

Ang cute mo kasi…

 

Sana akin ka nalang.

 

Akin ka nalang, pwede ba?

 

“I just… feeling ko kasi, langit ka, lupa ako, and I don’t deserve you—”

 

“Shh, don’t say that. For me, you deserve the love I’m going to give you, alright? As I said, it doesn’t have to be complicated, Raiden. Loving you doesn’t need to be complicated, dahil nandito ako para iassure ka na you’re the only one in my heart right now, and you don’t need to overthink when you’re with me, because I have a goal.” Nakangiting sabi mo habang hawak mo pa rin ang kamay niya, and she finds a smile upon her lips as she stares at you, wondering what that goal is.

 

“My goal is for the two of us to grow together, to be happy together, and for this relationship to be as healthy as possible… dahil hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero gustong gusto ng puso ko na mahalin ka habambuhay, Raiden.” Sabi mo, and you do not fail to notice her ears turning red again, as well as her grip upon your hand tightening slowly.

 

“I’d… I’d like that… so much.” Rinig mong sabi niya, and once again you feel like you own the world.

 

Hinding hindi kita itatago, Raiden.

 

The world deserves to know how I love you, how I feel like I could take on the world with you.

 

“Are you happy? Being with me?” tanong ko, and it makes me smile to see you smile wide, a smile that only I could see despite everyone saying that you never smile, and it makes my heart so happy to know that you smile for me—because of me.

 

“Yes… I am. Sobra… with you.”

 

Loving Raiden makes me feel so complete.

 

I love you, my Raiden.