The one

4. Never ever

Caleb was still hugging Aiko very tight. Ayaw na niya itong pakawalan. He won't let her runaway from him now - not ever, bigla siyang tinulak nito. 

"Ano ba!" Sigaw nito sa kanya. He stared at her. All he could think was the fact that he died when she left him and now.. she's here, she's really here, she's finally here where he could actually touch her. He felt like he had gone to heaven, and back again. He had died and he had been resurrected. They we'ew just looking at each other's eyes. No one, not even him dared to break the silence, no one dared to move. They were just standing there, facing each other. They were -- he thought - both scared that if someone moves, the moment will be gone. 

On the other hand, he was thing of the right words to say. But it seems like words were out of reach right now. He could only think of one thing, but he was arguing with himself. Gagawin niya ba o hindi? If he took a step forward, hold her tigthly again, he might not let go. But what could he do? He wated for seven years, he's not going to let this moment pass by. 

NO. He will not let the moment pass by. The conclusion came before he could even think of it.  He acted by his instinct. He took a step closer, pulled her near him and tilted her head. Bahala na si batman was all he could think about. He closed his etes and felt the moment - that moment when his lips crushed into here. 

Her lips were still as sweet as he could remember, it was intoxicating. He felt like he was slowly coming to life. Pitonmg taon ng paghihibtay, matagal na panahon ng pagiging malungkot and he couldn't believe that a kiss could ease all the pain away. He wanted this moment to last but then, aiko pushed him away.

"Caleb!" naeeskandalong sigaw nito. Pagkatapos noon ay pinadapo nito ang kamay nito sa kanyang pisngi. "What the hell do you think your doing?!" He looked at her. Her cheeks were red. Now he knew that he has still the same effect on her, pero, hindi sapat iyon. Nandito siya, nandito rin ito, pero bakit sinampal siya nito?

"What? It was a welcome back kiss." He smiled smugly. Nanlaki ang mga singkit niyang mata. 

"Why do you need to do that?" tanong nito sa kanya. He just shrugged. 

"Girlfriend kita. You've been gone for a long time. Natural na na-miss kita." He answered. Aiko shook her head. 

"Nagkakamali ka. We broke up. I left you." Malumanay ngunit mariin ang pagkakasabi nito. He shook his head. 

"Hindi naman ako pumayag noon diba? I waited for you. Ngayong nandito ka na. tayo na ulit." 

"Oh no!" she hissed at him. Pinamaywangan pa siya nito. "You got it all wrong!" 

"Ikaw ang nagkakamali!" Nainis na siya. How dare this woman? PInaghintay siya nito ng matagal na panahon tapos sasabihin nito na he got it all wrong? 

"Pwes anong ginagawa mo dito?!" He demanded. Aiko just shook her head. 

"I have no time for this." Umiiling na sagot nito. She turned around. "I have to go, Caleb. Nice seeing you." Pinal na pahayag nito. Mabilis na hinablot niya ang braso nito. 

"Wait, Aiko! Please don't be like this! Matagal na akong naghintay, wag ka nang magpakipot!" Sigaw niya dito. Itinulak siya nito. 

"Hindi ako nagpapakipot. To make it clear, hindi na tayo. You should've realized that seven years ago, after I turned my back on you!" Parang nakarinig siya ng tunog ng basag na salamin. He was looking at her, namumula ang mga pisngi nito sa sobrang inis. Ganoon na ganoon rin ang expression nito noon sa tuwing maiinis ito sa kanya. 

"To make it clear, hindi na tayo..." Paulit-ulit na nag-e-echo sa kanyang tainga ang mga katagang binitiwan nito. 

"Kung hindi tayo, anong ginagawa mo dito?"N