Ikinulong nito sa mga kamay nito ang kanyang mukha. “Makapaghihintay pa naman ako, eh,” sabi nito. Muli siyang hinalikan nito. If the purpose of that kiss was to calm her down, when he raised his head again, she was more than calm. She was aware that she was where she was supposed to be. Mas confident na rin siya sa maraming bagay tungkol sa kanilang dalawa.
About what he felt for her. About what she felt for him.

“Kapag naiisip kong mawawala ka, nararamdaman ko ang pinakamatinding takot at lungkot na hindi ko pa nararanasan kahit kalian… So I know that I’ll fight for you.”

In moments of weaknesses, she sometimes thought she would gladly trade all the loneliness if she would be given the chance… To be held by the man she loved, to feel his protection, to feel his presence in her life…

Napabuntong-hininga siya. “Alam mo, Butch, it’s already too late to keep yourself away from me. You never should have kissed me last night, and you never should have wiped my tears away. Do you know that I’m a sucker for those things, especially when they come from a very handsome man?” Nakangiti siya nang iwan niya ito na natitigilan.

“Miss, lumabas ka na para matapos na ito,” muling tawag ni Lt. Cruiser. “Puwersahan pa ba ang gusto mo? Makukuha ka namin diyan sa ayaw mo at sa gusto.”
Nakarinig siya ng sigok, pagkatapos ay singhot. Narinig niya ang tinig nito na parang pinitpit na luya ang dating mula sa loob. “S-sandali lang po, m-mamang pulis. L-lalabas na p-po ako.”

Bakit ba niya nilalabanan ang kanyang puso? So what if they don’t reach forever? Basta ba binigyan niya ng pagkakataon na ibigin ito…

“Hindi ko alam kung ano na’ng nangyari sa akin kung wala ka sa tabi ko palagi. Kung wala ka, hindi siguro mabubuo ang pagkatao ko. Hindi magkakaroon ng kahulugan ang buhay ko.”

“I see you. I see your shyness. I see a woman who’s so fully grown and perfectly beautiful pero parang isang wild swan, napakailap…”

“When you’re looking at me like that, pakiramdam ko, pang-Miss Universe ang beauty ko.”

“Sabina?”
Napapitlag siya sa kinauupuan. Nag-angat siya ng tingin at bumungad sa kanya ang taong nagpapagulo sa kanyang isip. “A-ano’ng ginagawa mo rito? Hindi kita nakitang lumapit.”
“Nag-alala ako. I saw you leave suddenly. Masama ba ang pakiramdam mo? Is there something wrong?”