"Ang ganda ng ngiti ni Ate Leah!" Mimay gushed. She joined the staff soon after Leah's accident and became the victim of Leah's outburst when she accidentally switched on a stereo that was in the kitchen. Leah's dad brought it there because his nephew, Andy, was going to look at it. When the stereo switched on, it was on full volume and the loud music startled everyone. When Leah met Kento, her mood and foul behavior soon improved. This led to her apologizing to Mimay for her outburst.

"In love e." Gina, the other helper, replied.

After dinner, they watched some TV in the living room. Kento noticed the closed door beside the stairs. He had been curious about it since the day before. It was the only room that Leah didn't mention about when she gave him a tour of the house.

"Li, wait lang..." Kento said as he moved to get up from the sofa. They were in an embrace so Kento had to move his arms to 'release' Leah.

"Where are you going?"

"Wiwi lang ako." Kento said. He started moving toward the stairs.

"There nalang." Leah said, pointing to the closed door.

"Sigurado ka?"

"Yeah. Den yan."

"Ah, sige. Wait lang."

The room was dark when Kento entered; He found the switch on the wall. In the center of the room was baby grand piano. On top of the piano bench was a wrapped box. The display cases by one wall were filled with trophies, plaques, and some photos. Certificates and awards were hung from another wall. There was a sofa set on one side and next to it was another door which Kento assumed was the toilet. After using the toilet, Kento curiously went up to the display shelf opposite the piano, gently running his fingers over the keys. Some of the photos showed Leah playing the violin. Kento wondered if Leah played the violin again after her accident. He tried to recall if she mentioned anything about music since they met at the therapy center months ago, she didn't. When Kento brought up the topic of music and playing the violin, Leah changed the topic. She secretly wanted to play again but was unsure of her skills since it took her a while to get back the strength and control of her hands and fingers.

"Are you okay?" Leah asked when Kento returned to the living room.

"Ah, huh?"

"Ang tagal mo e. Did you find the switches to the lights?"

Kento was deliberating on whether to ask Leah about music and her skills or to answer Leah's question about the light switches.

"Ah, oo. Medyo hi-tech e." Kento said, giggling a little. "May baby grand pala kayo." Kento began.

Leah was surprised to hear about the piano. She had not entered their music room/den since the accident. Her parents had not mentioned about any renovations done to the house while she was in the States either. Leah recalled having an upright piano, not a baby grand or grand piano. Come to think of it, she had not seen the piano in the house since the accident. Her mom liked to rearrange the furniture every now and then so Leah assumed that the piano was brought into the den like before. She also never told anyone about the messages she received from her music mentor and colleagues, inviting her back to the orchestra. "Pinalipat ko na yung mattress mo sa room ko, ha?" Leah said, changing the topic.

"Huh? Bakit?"

"Sabi ni Gina, sira daw yung aircon sa guest room." Leah said.

"Hindi naman. Okay lang din ako mag-electric fan." Kento replied.

"Away mo akong makasama? I only have a few days left here in Manila." Leah reminded and pouted like a little kid.

"Asus! Nagmakaawa ang baby." Kento said, hugging Leah. "O sige, pero sa sahig ako mahihiga, okay?"

Leah nodded. "The mattress will be next to my bed."

---

Hand in hand, they go upstairs to Leah's room. "Shower muna tayo." Kento suggests.

"Sabay?"

"Woi! Hindi! Dito ka sa banyo mo, dun ako sa banyo sa guest room." Kento said, exiting Leah's bedroom.

Many minutes later, Kento returned to Leah's now cold bedroom. Leah is seated on the bed, flipping through a magazine. Kento sits opposite her and Leah puts the magazine away.

"Bakit?" Leah asks, noticing that Kento was staring at her.

"Wala naman. Ang ganda-ganda mo kasi." Kento says, brushing a few stray hair strands away from Leah's face and tucking it behind her ear.

"Sus! Nambola pa!" Leah giggles.

"Hindi. Seryoso. Ang ganda mo talaga! Sabagay, complement sa kapogian ko." Kento says, wiggling his eyebrows and posing.

"Wow! Ang yabang!" Leah laughs, pushing Kento.

"Di mo ma-resist yung charm ko e. Chi-neck ko yung aircon sa guest room, maayos naman. Gusto mo lang na dito ako matulog sa kwarto mo kasi di mo matiis ang kagwapuhan ko. Yung animal appeal ko! Rawr!" Kento teases and growls. They laugh and wrestle each other on the bed until Kento pins Leah to the bed. They stare at each other for a moment then Leah lifts her head and gives Kento a peck on the lips. This leads to another long and intense kiss.

---

"Bakit Kento? Joaquin ka diba? Bakit Kento? May lahi kayong Japanese?" Leah asks. They are now cuddling on Kento's mattress.

"Yes, Joaquin Alessandro. Ang dapat daw na palayaw ko, Kenzo kaso bulol ako at pinipilit kong Kento ang tawag sa akin kaya yun. Ako rin daw ang nagbigay ng pangalan na "Ai" kay Ate. Pag pinapasabi sa akin yung "Alexandra", "Ai" lang ako ng "Ai" kaya yun na yung tawag namin sa kanya."

"Pero Kitoy din ang tawag sa yo?"

"Yup! Kiti-kiti kasi ako nung bata ako. Ang likot ko e." Kento said while pointing to some scars he had all over his body. "Nagulat nga sila na naging therapist ako."

"Bakit naman?"

"Kasi nga, isip nila, lampa ako. Paano ko daw matutulungan o matuturuan yung mga tao gumalaw ng maayos kung lagi naman akong naaksidente?"

"Ay! Grabe sila!"

"Ngayon, konting kirot lang sa katawan dahil natapilok or kaya may naipit na ugat, ako naman ang tinatanong o tinatawag. Ako naman ang magtatanong."

"Okay. Shoot."

"Kelan kita maririnig tumugtog uit?"

Leah felt her heart skip. When she became paralyzed due to her accident, she lost confidence and hope in playing the violin again. Although she loved the high she got whenever she got to play and perform, she was afraid that she wouldn't be good enough anymore because of her weakened muscle control.

"Anong oras na?" Leah looked at the clock on her bedside table. "May work ka pa tomorrow. I'll be spending the day din with Andrea, yung best friend ko. May brunch kami tapos magpupunta kami sa salon. Nagpromise akong magpapamasahe din kami."

"Li. Di kita pinipilit kung di ka ready pero nire-remind lang kita na sayang naman yung talent mo." Kento followed Leah with his gaze as she moved back to her bed. "May regalo din pala yung Mommy at Daddy mo dun sa den."

"Goodnight" Leah said, leaning over toward Kento.

"Goodnight. Sleep well." Kento said and gave her a smack on the lips. Leah clapped her hands and the bedroom lights went off.

"Wow!" Kento exclaimed in amazement.

Leah switched off the bedside lamp. Kento turned to his side and pulled his blanket up to his ear. On her bed, Leah stared into the darkness, recalling the days when she used to play an instrument.