APHRODITE was excitedly waiting at the reception hall with Shi-An. Umalis si Zane para sunduin ang pamilya nito sa airport.
(In Korean) "Ms. Aphrodite, you may sit down while waiting, you know," natatawang sabi ni Shi-An. Kanina pa siya palakad lakad ng pabalik balik.
(In Korean) "I'm just excited, shishi."
(In Korean) "You're too excited just meeting his family, what more on your wedding day?"
(In Korean) "I'll probably faint," natatawang sabi niya. Tinawanan din siya nito
Sabay silang napahinto sa pagtawa nang biglang bumukas ang pinto. It was the queen. She looked terrified as she walked towards them. Bigla siyang kinabahan.
(In Korean) "Baby..." bigla siyang niyakap na kanyang ina nang tuluyan itong makalapit sa kanya.
(In Korean) "W-what's happening, Mom?"
HINDI inaasahan ni Aphrodite ang nangyari. Nag-crash ang sinasakyang eroplano ng pamilya ni Zane. Ang bunsong kapatid lamang nito ang nakaligtas na nasa malubhang kalagayan din. It was the darkest moments of Zane, and she didn't leave him. Her parents allowed her to stay in the Philippines for a while.
Hindi siya umalis sa tabi ng binata. Zane was really lost. Ginawa ni Aphrodite ang lahat upang ibalik ang dating sigla nito. His brother finally recovered after a month, but it wasn't enough to make Zane get back on his feet. But Aphrodite didn't give up.
AFTER THREE MONTHS, Zane finally started to live again. Nagsimula itong ayusin ang kompanyang naiwan ng kanyang ina at nakatatandang kapatid. It was the company his mother established after his father died. His sister helped his mother maintained it. But now, he was the only one to manage it. His younger brother was still studying in college. He could already support his brother with his novels, but he didn't want to abandon the company that his mother and sister had been worked on. He felt that it was the only thing he could do to honor their memories.
ANOTHER month passed. Aphrodite already needed to go back to Korea. She also had responsibilities as a princess. But before she went back, she made sure that Zane was already okay. Zane was already busy managing his company. Ito pa mismo ang nagpumilit sa kanya na bumalik ng Korea. Nangako ito sa kanya na ito mismo ang pupunta sa Korea upang pormal na hingin ang kanyang kamay mula sa hari kapag naayos na niya ang lahat. Kailangan lamang nitong ayusin ang kompanya. He planned to transfer the company to Korea, so he could live with her.
PAGKABALIK ni Aphrodite sa Korea, siya naman ang natambakan ng trabaho. But she always made sure to make a video call with Zane every day. May mga araw na hindi nito nasasagot ang kanyang tawag dahil abala din ito sa kompanya. Gayunpaman ay bumabawi naman ito sa kanya. Everyday, she would receive a bouquet of flowers from him.
When she got a lot of free time, she would take the chance to go to the Philippines just to visit him. She always missed him. She couldn't wait for their marriage anymore.
NGUNIT makalipas ang tatlong taon, wala pa ring kasalang naganap.
"D-does he still love me, Shishi?" mahinang tanong na Aphrodite sa kanya. Kasalukuyan siyang nasa silid nito habang umiinom sila ng soju. Kakatapos lang ng last shooting ng bagong movie niya. Iyon ang unang pelikula na kanyang ginawa mula nang malaman ng buong mundo na isa siyang prinsesa. Hindi niya dapat tatanggapin nag proyekto na iyon, ngunit pinsan niya mismo ang director at nagpumilit sa kanya.
(In Korean) "What do you feel?" tanong ni Shi-An.
(In Korean) "I t-think so. B-but I just feel like I'm not in his priorities anymore."
