"Rules for happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for."

-Immanuel Kant

I've been spending my whole morning in this pool. I don't know why but hindi ako nakakaramdam ng pagod. Nakailang laps na ako but I'm still here enjoying it. Swimming is my kind of sport that helps when I want to clear my mind. My mind is such a mess right now after what happened last week it seems that she has now vanished from the face of the earth. I haven't heard anything from her since she left the hotel room. I tried to contact her but to no avail her line was always busy. You can always pay her a visit in her office you know! My insane other mind reminded me. Yes! Great idea! It's high time to shake the magnificent building of the Frosty Queen once again.

Phone ringing...

My usual downtime was disturb by the buzzing sound of my mobile.

Who the hell is calling this Sunday Morning?

Upon checking the phone I found out it was my best cousin. I slid my finger to the screen and the booming voice of Iesha sounded in the other line.

"Cuzzy!" She greeted me in an ecstatic voice.

I smiled out of nowhere because her happiness is infectious.

"Good Morning dear, Cuzzy! You're so much in the mood today. So what can I do for my dearest cousin?" I asked her.

There was a visible laughter in the other line, she seemed so amused. "Good Morning to you too, Cuzzy! Well I just have good news for you."

Now this is exciting. I'm now curious about this "good news" according to her. "Tell me!"

"You're looking for Sarah, right?..." Once I heard the name that has been bothering my thoughts for about a week my mind went crazy immediately.

"Yes! Why? Have you seen her? Where?" Tuloy tuloy kong tanong sa pinsan ko.

"There's no need to shout Cuzzy! I'm not deaf you, know." She said almost like laughing in the other line.

"Okay! Where is she?" I repeated myself impatiently.

"Well! I was having my morning run when I stopped over at a cafe to get something to drink. Then there, I saw Sarah having a morning coffee with someone."

"Really? What Cafe? Send me the address! I'll hang up now! Got to change Cuzzy!" I hurriedly answered.

"Why? Are you leaving for the cafe? Have you gone mad?" Nagtataka niyang tanong.

I really don't care, I just need to see her kahit hindi na ako lumapit basta makita ko lang siya.

"Send it now. Hurry! You're not a turtle so you better do it a little bit faster." Pagdedemand ko kay Iesha. Mukha ayaw pa atang ibigay. Tatawag pa sa akin tapos ayaw din pala ibigay.

"Done! You owe me with this one, Cuzzy! And before I forget, buy yourself a plain iced Americano and PB&J sandwich, it would be the perfect pair for what you're about to feel. Shall I say goodluck?" Pagkatapos niyang ibigay ang address she left me puzzled with her outro message. What does she mean about it?

Ah bahala na! I just need to see her para hindi ko na siya iisipin.

|

I found myself inside my car in the cafe's parking area. From my view I can clearly see Sarah. At hindi nga nagkakamali si Iesha, she's with a man - may coffee date ngang talaga! Dam*it! Jelly again Tanchellie? Pupunta ka pa kasi alam mo naman na may ka date yung tao! Panenermon ng utak kong magulo.

I hate to admit it but lately I was not myself at all. I miss her, maybe it's true after all that I really didn't let go. Yan! Ganyan! Amin amin din kasi. And right now I want to rip someone's head. You really look scary when you're mad with jealousy! I just hope you won't do anything stupid this time. Too late for that! Before I knew it I found myself marching inside the cafe.

"Can I talk to you Sarah, please?" I said softly, trying to suppress what I really feel right now. I didn't bother to greet them nor pay attention to the man she's with. I don't have time for pleasantries.

"Miss Lobete!" The startled Ice Queen said after she recovered from her shock. She wasn't expecting to see me today.

I forced a smile. "Yes, it's me. Can I talk to you please?" I didn't wait for her reply, I just walked my way out back to the parking lot. And good thing that she followed.

"What do you need Miss Lobete?" she started.

"I will tell you what I need the moment na pumasok ka sa sasakyan ko." I said brightly.

"You can tell it to me without getting inside the car." Pagrereklamo niya. For sure inis na inis na naman to sa akin.

"You will get in the car or sisigaw ako dito at mag iiskandalo?" Pagbabanta ko sa kanya. I don't like to force her kaya binigyan ko siya ng choice.

"You wouldn't do that!" She glared at me. Oh! How I missed her thunderous face when she's so mad with me.

"Try me, Sarah! You know what I am capable of."

Against her better judgement she immediately slid inside my car but not without sending me deathly glares. Heck! It won't even affect me, I'm already used to her cold and detached aura. One day lalambot ka rin sa akin.

After kong pumasok ay agad kong nilock ang doors. There's no way now that I would let her out, not without my permission.

"So what do you want?" She said, still wearing her deathly glares.

"Did you forget? Or need I remind you that you still have work that needs to be done? Mr. Lopez is a good catch but I need some more at least may pagpipilian ako but pasok na siya sa criteria ko. I just need some more and from there dun ako pipili kung sino ang pinaka the best fit." I answered.

"This is duly noted, your Highness. So if you would, I'd like to excuse myself. Because someone is waiting for me inside the cafe." She said as she tried to open the door.

And right there, she just reminded me of her date. Now, I remember why I am here in the first place. A wicked smile fitted my face as I changed the stick and drove to nowhere.

"As far as I'm concerned you are not going back there and you're coming with me." I smiled at her.

If looks could kill I'll be dead by now.

"Stop this in an instant!" She roared like a mad thunderstorm that was ready to create havoc.

"As if I would! Even if you'll kill me, there's no way I would let you have that date." I answered without giving a f*ck to whatever she said.

"Do you hear yourself? You know what? Why do you keep on bothering me? Don't you have a life to enjoy Miss Lobete?" She said while sending me sharp daggers.

"You should know by now that there's hell to pay with what you did to me!" I almost shouted at her. Why is it so difficult to talk to her?

"What did I do?" She asked in confusion.

I turned my head on her as we moved to stop in the traffic light. "Something like stirring my jealousy. You made me act like a madwoman every time I see you with another man." Finally, I was able to admit it to her.

Naked shock was visible on her face. She can't believe what I just said. She didn't bother to reply anymore. Probably debating if I am bluffing or not.

*

On another hand...

Someone's POV

"You're more devious than I give credit for, you really made her show up here." Alesso commented once I returned to my seat.

"You know what a capable cousin would do if it means for Tanchellie to finally admit what she truly feels for Sarah." I answered him.

In truth, the 3 of us are having a coffee date just like what we agreed from our last gym session. We're just discussing things over her foundation, of which Alesso was a co-founder and I being a great supporter, I helped them for the activities in the upcoming anniversary. Then I remember that my ever dear cousin is looking for Sarah, right that moment I just knew what to do.

"Good thing she doesn't know just yet our associations or else this would be a big fail." he said, rubbing his perfectly defined jaw.

"I will introduce you to her soon. But now, let her think what she wants to think." I answered.

|

The last thing I expected today was to be driven somewhere this Sunday morning. We were having our morning coffee in a cafe while discussing matters about the upcoming anniversary of the foundation when Tanchellie showed up and demanded to talk to me. Now, she dragged me with her to an unknown destination that only she knows.

Not just that, she just told me that she's jealous every time she sees me with a man? Honestly, I don't know if I should believe her. But my tratorious heart leaped with a slight happiness by her admission. Stop that Sarah! You know hindi mo siya mapagkakatiwalan sa ganyan. Can you risk your heart twice?

Yeah yeah! I just know what to do.

"Cat got your tongue Sarah G?" she asked, trying to get my attention.

I've been trying to ignore her after what she said. I don't want to share conversations with her as I've been avoiding her for weeks now. Because for sure she would just bring up things from the night of the birthday party.

"Can you just drive? I don't want to talk to you, hindi pa ba sapat tong ginawa mong pagkidnap sa akin? Dinagdagan mo lang atraso mo sa akin." I answered in a slight irritation. Now, I realized that there's no use being furious or mad about everything that she would do or say because it's all useless. She would just enjoy my outburst, ako rin yung talo. So Duh!

A wicked smile fitted her face. "Kidnap? You'll never wish it na kikidnapin kita. Isasama lang kita , besides you even promised one before."

"Okay, whatever. Just drive and ignore my existence here, Miss Lobere." I told her as I forced my eyes to close. Nakakasakit talaga ng ulo to kausap.

"Are we back on the last name basis again? I thought we were going to have a first name basis?" She said with a lopsided grin in her smile.

"When did I say that I'm going to call you by your first name?" I asked in disbelief. Now, her favorite thing to do was to make up stories.

"Let me remind you what you just said - 'I missed you Tanch' you just kissed me back passionately. Oh how I like to drag my first name on those sexy lips of yours." She said with equal amount of demonstration of the kiss.

Okay! Okay! I did remember kissing her back.

I thought to my mind.

No! Not just that, you permitted her to took liberties to your mouth that night and you loved it. The voice inside my head whispered harshly. Fine, so I did let her kiss me and that blasted kiss have been haunting me all these days kaya ko nga siya iniiwasan diba. She's that devil who wanted to claim my soul.

"All you need to do is ask." She said as she smiled brightly to me.

My gaze snapped back to her, dragging me out of my reverie. "Ano?"

"All you need to do is ask." She repeated herself. "If you want another kiss from me. All you have to do is ask. I would gladly give it to you any time you want, my Sarah G."

"Gumunaw man ang mundo!" I replied vehemently. "That night was just a moment of insanity in my part. Plus, I was intoxicated with alcohol that night."

She laughed out loud. "Oh, if that's the case. I intend for you to have a moment of insanity always. I like the result of it. Why don't we hit another bar tonight? What do you think?"

"Enough! Stop sprouting nonsense to me Miss Lobete!"

A frowned marked on her perfectly shaped eyebrows. "I do have a first name, Sarah. You have the sweetest voice when you called for my name that night."

"Like I said, I was not myself that night." I answered hesistantly. "I assure you it won't happen again, Miss Lobete."

She smiled wolfishly, as if taking my reply as a challenge. "Oh! I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, my sweet Sarah G. Because I intend to drag my first name out from that lovely lips of yours before this day ends."

"We'll see about that." I glared at her.

Yeah! You'll reall see, now that manage to start to creep in your heart once again... Once again? Or she's been there all along this time. All you have to do is admit. The demon voice inside my head reminded. No way! I won't let her! No way!

"We are here." She said as she pulled her car to a stop.

"What the!" I almost shouted. "What are we doing here?" I asked suprisingly.

She just pulled off right before the entrance of my grand parent's residence - in our mango farm.

"I was invited for a golf. So you're going to play with me." She annouced enthusiatically.

"No way! This is the home estate of my grand parents. How can you be invited?" I asked in disbelief.

"It's for us to find out but really I was invited here." She insisted.

"Anyway, welcome to our Mango Haven Farm!" I said with worried smile.

Now, what awaits on me now that she's about to meet my dear grandparents to the Garcia side. Just what she said, see it for yourself Sarah Joy... Not another trouble please, just please...

*I've been away. I'm really sorry. I didn't realize that it was UTMB trail running festival the previous week. You should know by now, that trail running is my first love. I'm really sorry. But I'm back. Let's get this done.

Mahal ko kayo.