The sound of the crashing waves echoed in the air.

A figure walks out of a glasshouse located just a few meters from the seashore.

In just a few steps, the tips of his toes touched the warm water.

The glaring sun shined as if today would be it’s last chance to give off its light.

He looked at the calm water and let out a sigh.

It's been 2 years since he felt the heat of the scorching sun of Palawan...

"Good Morning sunshine..." he said, his lips forming into a faint smile.

~

He first saw her in the Seoul concert. With her almost-orange banner held up together with hundreds more others, it was almost impossible to spot her. She was wearing a light-colored sleeveless top and her hair was tied up in a ponytail.

But for some reason, he saw her.

Then, as if fate was playing its tricks on him, he saw her again in the DVD. She was captured by the roaming video, together with hundreds of other fans in the crowd.

He found it amusing that he can always spot this girl in the crowd.

She’s definitely not the most gorgeous girl in the planet.

But for him, there’s something about this girl that makes people around her fade out.

Her eyes, her smile.

She reminds him of…

Sunshine...

~

"Where are you going, Hyung?" Junjin asked Eric.

"Philippines! Are you deaf or what?! I told you 5 times already!" Eric said as he pulled his luggage out of the room.

"What are you doing there?" Andy asked. He put down the control of the Playstation and looked at Eric.

"It would be my last stop to promote my comeback movie," Eric said, sitting on the sofa.

Comeback movie. He just came back from the military service a year ago.

He sighed.

Last week it’s Japan, then China. Last month was Singapore and Malaysia.

He’s been touring a lot.

He held his nape and tried to relax as he leaned back against the sofa.

"Ah..really? We've been there several years back. Do you remember, Eric?" Dongwan asked. He's going through Eric's cupboard, obviously looking for food.

He was evidently not listening.

Only thoughts of her ran through his mind.

He wants to see her.

It’s been 5 years since the concert.

"Eric? Eric? Yah..Eric!" Hyesung waved his hand in front of Eric.

Eric snaps back to reality.

"Huh? What were you saying?" Eric said.

"Your manager just called, he's already downstairs waiting for you," Minwoo said.

"Oh.. okay. I'll see you guys soon,” Eric said as he pulls his puts his messenger bag on. “And please. Clean the mess you've made in my apartment. Goodness," Eric said scratching his head as he waved goodbye and closed the door behind him.

~


She's waiting at the airport lobby.

Her palms are sweaty. Her heart is beating fast.

"Oh my god..." Nerie said, pointing at the electronic board.

Meg read it clearly as well.

KE *** from Seoul: Landed, it said.

Oh my god.

He's finally in Manila.

~

"I'm back," Eric said as he finally went out of the immigration area. He's with his manager and 2 bodyguards. He doesn't really want to bring bodyguards at first but the management insisted.

He went out like a normal passenger.

Two of his dramas have been shown in the Philippines. So technically, people here are familiar with him. That’s aside from the Kpop fans, of course.

“Here we go,” he said as he faced his last stop.

There aren't so many screaming fans.

Okay, that was an understatement.

There are screaming fans.

But this is definitely not like his arrival in Shanghai or Japan. He thought the airports there would crumble down because of too many people.

But this was still a sight to behold.

Girls grouped together, holding banners. Girls wearing orange; just like everyone else.

But there's only one person he's hoping to see right now.

His heart stopped for a second.

Tick…

tock.

And..

There SHE is.

~

There he is.

The girls screamed.

Or they made all sort of sounds that was almost equivalent to a scream.

While she, she was all quiet.

“Shiet.”

That was all she could say.

“Meg!!! Papunta siya dito…” Angel said. She’s now shaking her like crazy.

Nakikita ko… she thought.

She looked back and saw that they were standing near the exit.

Malamang, e nasa may exit tayo e…

A few more steps and he’ll pass by…

7..

6..

5..

4..

3..

2..

1..

…

And he stopped.

Right in front of her.

“Hi there. I finally meet you,” he says.

His voice.

She instinctively closed her eyes.

And shivered.

Is this real?

She could not speak.

She was paralyzed.

The only man she sees herself being married to is standing right in front of her.

Existing right in front of her.

Then, the world started to move really… really… slowly.

Okay. Don’t faint, Meg. Speak up. Damn it.

He removed his sunglasses.

“I’m Eric. And you’re?”

Dark brown eyes. Long lashes.

Dang.

She just stared at him.

The girls started pushing her.

“Meg. Her name is Meg. Sorry, she’s just in a state of shock right now,” Kate said practically apologizing to him.

Meg clears her throat.

“I’m sorry. Hi Eric. Yeah, my name is Meg. It’s really nice to meet you up close,” she said finally, her voice almost shaking.

Wow. That was great. Four nearly coherent sentences. Meg, you were able to say 4 sentences! Congrats!

-__-

“That’s all right. Will you be going to the press conference later?” He said then looked at the two bodyguards beside him who are already signaling him to go.

Meg looked at the girls. They all nod.

“Yeah.”

“So I’ll see you there, OKAY?”

OKAY.

He said it. He said it already. Just like the way I wanted it.

I can die. Seriously.

“Okay,” she heard herself saying.

Then, he offers a handshake.

And she took it.

It felt warm…

…just like hot chocolate.

He gave one last gorgeous smile before he put on his sunglasses and went out of the exit.

In less than 10 seconds, as expected, they were flocked by fellow fangirls.

Anong sabi sayo?

Guwapo ba?

They asked all sorts of questions.

She was really feeling dizzy.

“Wait. Nakita niyo naman di ba? Guwapo. At anong sabi sa akin? Bakit, kayo ba ang kausap niya?” Meg said matter-of-factly.

This time, yes, I’m possessive.

Then, she and the girls walk towards the exit as well.

~

Angel was driving along EDSA.

Nerie was sitting in front.

Gab, Kate, Rhanie and Meg were sitting at the back.

Everyone was quiet.

Rhanie broke the silence.

“Meg, anong meron sa inyo ni Eric? Parang malaman ang sinabi niya ah…” she laughs.

“Hindi ko rin alam e. Random na tao. Pati ako dinadamay,” Meg said, laughing for the first time today.

“Ang guwapo pala niya talaga no? Pakshet.” Meg said with a sigh.

The girls looked at each other.

That’s the cue. HAHA.

Nerie: KUYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Angel: HYUNG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kate: E..rric….

Rhans: *giggles*

Gab: *salivates*

Then, everyone spazzes.

~

Meg wiped the cold sweat on his forehead.

Kaya mo ‘to.

She can already see the presscon venue. They’re near.

Then suddenly, she remembered.

It was not a simple handshake.

… he offered a handshake.

And she took it.

It felt warm…

…just like hot chocolate.

She took out the note he secretly slipped into her hand.


I made my schedule free for three days.

Would you like to go with me somewhere?

Eric


The car made its full stop.

Angel turned off the engine.

“SHIET!!!!!!!!!”

The girls looked at Meg with their eyes wide open.

“BAKIT?” They chorused.

Meg showed them the note.

The windows of the car almost broke as loud shrieks were heard from the inside.

~

Where is she?

Eric looked for her in the crowd.

He was feeling a little cold.

She should be here.

Then the press conference started.

~

“Pahingi namang tubig,” Nerie told the others as Meg takes her pink tablets.

“Ikaw kasi e, masyado kang excited. Ang putla mo tuloy,” Gab said, getting worried.

“Sino ba namang di maeexcite no? At saka, hilo lang ‘to. Ang init sa airport kanina e. Tapos dumugin pa tayo ng mga tao,” Meg laughed as she drank more water.

She looks at the time.

It has started already.

“Tara na. Baka hinanahanap na tayo ni Eric.”

“Anong tayo? Ikaw lang ang kinausap kanina di ba?” Rhanie said, trying to put on an I’m-jealous look.

Meg stared at her. Then, she laughed.

“Rhans, ‘di bagay. HAHA,” Meg said.

“Sinubukan ko lang,” Rhanie sniggers as she and the other girls walked inside the restaurant.

~

“Okay, last question,” the emcee said as he called for another reporter.

Reporter: We heard you have a girlfriend, is this true?

I knew it. Someone was going to ask this.

“I really don’t want to talk about my personal life in public. But I’ll answer this just to clear everything up. I had a girlfriend. But we broke up a long time ago.”

A gust of warm air suddenly enveloped him.

She’s here.

~

Meg looked at Eric from afar.

… I had a girlfriend. But we broke up a long time ago.

Tears suddenly fell from her eyes.

She didn’t know why.

She wiped her tears and smiled.

“Excuse me, are you Meg?”

A Korean-looking person suddenly popped in front of us.

“Yes. Why?” I told her.

The reporters were dispersing already; the presscon had just finished.

“Mr. Mun wants to see you,” she said.

She looked at the girls.

“Kapag hindi ako dinala kay Eric nitong babaeng ‘to, irerecycyle ko ‘to,” she said.

“Don’t worry unnie. Wala na kaming papel sa bahay e. Kailangan pa ng mga kapatid ko,” Nerie said laughing.

“Basta text ko kayo ah, check your phones. Antayin niyo ko ah,” Meg said.

“Sige na. Don’t keep him waiting,” Rhanie said, pushing her.

Meg gives them a flying kiss and waves goodbye.

~

After almost an hour…

The girls received a message from Meg.

Peeps, we’re going to Palawan now. As in now na. Labo di ba? But before our flight, we’re going to the mall. He’s going to buy me clothes. May topak talaga ‘tong lalaking to. -___- Anyway, I’ll be back in three days. Tawagan ko kayo pagdating namin dun. I love you girls. Promise. Thanks for staying with me. I’ll see you when I come back.

~

What happened the next two days was pure bliss for the two of them.

Early morning walks along the beach…

Local food tripping…

Snuggling in the hammock…

Just holding hands…

~

He felt complete for the first time in his life.

She felt content for the first time in her life.

They were happy.

~

“Mommy…”

Eric suddenly snapped back to reality.

“Yes, dear. We’re going to mommy,” Eric said as he picked up a two-year old baby girl from the bed and carried her in his arms.

~

Eric held Meg’s hand as they walk along the beach.

It’s their last day together.

“Come on, let’s sit down. I’m a little tired,” Meg said.

The sun is about to set.

Meg rested her head on Eric’s shoulder. Eric wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m dying, Eric.”

~

With his daughter in his arms, Eric went to the backyard. The garden bloomed with different kinds of locally grown herbs and flowers. Roses, bougainvillea, orchids, chamomile, chrysanthemum among others. At the heart of this garden lay Meg’s haven.

“Say hi to, Mommy,” Eric told his daughter.

Tears fell from his eyes.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been here in a while, baby,” Eric said as he fell down on his knees and cried.

~

“The moment I learned I was sick, I prayed for a miracle. Not for me to get well, but for me to at least meet you. For the first time, I believed in miracles, Eric.”

Meg felt hot tears already forming. She slowly fights it back.

“I’m not suppose to cry right now,” she said as she tried to blink back the tears. “Anyway, I just wanted to tell you I’m really happy. You don’t know how grateful I am. The past three days we’ve been together, it just brought so much joy to my soul. I felt happy. This may sound absurd, but I love you Eric. I really do.”

Eric looked at her. She smiled.

“You don’t have to say anything. Your presence now is enough for me.”

She looked at Eric. He’s looking at the horizon. The sun has almost set.

“Five years, Meg. It took me five years before I finally met you. And now..” Eric’s voice started shaking.

“For the first time in my entire life, I felt complete,” Eric said as he hugged her really tight. "I’ll always remember you," She hugged him back.

“I’m sorry, Eric,” Meg said. Tears fell down her cheeks as she hugged him.

“I know, Meg,” Eric said as silent tears wet his cheeks and hugged her back.

THE END.