"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life." - Albert Camus

It's been such a long time that I enjoyed playing the keys to someone; serenaded and poured all my emotion into a piece, to dedicate to a special one. I can't help but to smile at the thought, all these years I was already content and happy with my life. I didn't really know that there is so much for happiness...

Indeed happiness is not really about what you have, or what you possess, it is who you are with.

I smiled at her. "Come sing with me. I bet you know this song really well."

She gave me a look with so much affection "We will see about that." as she settles herself in the chair.

[plays I Finally Found Someone]

*Smiles to Tanch

Sarah:

I finally found someone, who knocks me off my feet; (locked my eyes with hers)

I finally found the one who makes me feel complete...

Tanch:

*Stares back (ayaw patalo)

It started over coffee, we started out as friends;

(She returns back the smile)

It's funny how from simple things; the best things begin... (winks)

Sarah:

(Blushing)

This time is different;

Tanch:

la la la la (grinning)

Sarah:

It's all because of you!..

Tanch:

(Blushed)

la la la la

Sarah:

(Shook my head! Tinamaan na talaga.)

It's better than it's ever been;

Both:

Cuz we can talk it through;

Tanch:

My favorite line was "Can I call you sometime?"; (tucks a strand of her hair)

It's all you had to say...

Both:

To take my breath away...

Both:

This is it!

Oh, I finally found someone; Someone to share my life;

I finally found the one - to be with every night;

Tanch:

Cause whatever I do

Sarah:

It's just gotta be you!

Both:

My life has just begun, I finally found someone...

Sarah:

Did I keep you waiting?

Tanch:

I didn't mind

Sarah:

I apologize

Tanch:

Baby, that's fine

Sarah:

I would wait forever

Both:

Just to know you were mine;

Sarah:

Ya Know - I love your hair...

Tanch:

Are you sure it looks right?

Sarah:

I love what you wear...

Tanch:

Isn't it too tight?

Sarah:

You're exceptional!

Both:

I can't wait for the rest of my life...

Oh This Is It!

I finally found someone; Someone to share my life,

I finally found the one; to be with every night...

Tanch:

Cause whatever I do

Sarah:

It's just gotta be you

Both:

My life has just begun; I finally found someone...

Tanch:

And whatever I do.

Sarah:

It's just gotta be you!

Both:

My life has just begun...

I finally found someone...

"So you finally found that someone?" she asked me right away after we finished the song.

I shook my head as I smiled, and answered. "Well, I really don't know."

Nawala naman bigla yung mga ngiti sa labi niya, at tila nalungkot siya sa sagot ko.

"Can you enlighten me, why?" paguusisa niya.

"Because I don't believe in someone, the one, the right and among other things." I told her.

"And why is that?" Kunot noong dagdag niyang tanong.

I give her a reassuring smile. "You know what Tanch, in the first place, how would you define that "someone, the one, or the right one"? Do they have certain qualifications or what? I don't believe in it because I rather believe in love, you choose to love, and for that reason, the right one or the one."

Parang hindi siya makapaniwala sa sagot ko sa kanya. Need ko pa atang mag explain nito.

She gave me an "are you sure" kind of look. "That was deep, so you still believe in love after all the tragedy you've been through?"

"Of course, there is a thin line between life and death - love."

Eto na naman siya sa look niyang ayaw maniwala.

"I know the pain will always be there, but still there is something so spiritual about love that we sometimes fail to capture. There is a reason why love is a promise. That true love is about hope. That there is something to look forward to, about what tomorrow might bring. Love cannot linger in the past. Love is something that we must fight for. Because, if we must love, then we must also believe that there is something greater than our pain. After all, a love that does not hurt, is not love." I almost explained emotionally.

"For to love, is to believe. We know, there is no such thing as absolute certainty. But you have to believe, for there is no other way if you want to be really happy. People who do not believe have found no hope. Not believing means to believe in our fears. It is a wager. But nobody really knows. If we choose to love, then we have to believe in the impossible. Love is impossible, but impossible is real." I added.

Para akong nabunutan ng tinik, that was actually indirectly admitting how I feel about her.

"And that real is you..." I whispered.

Her gloomy face broke into a bright smile. Magsasalita pa sana siya pero inunahan ko na siya.

"Come on, it's time." Agad akong tumayo at niyaya siya while checking the clock.

"Ano na naman tong paandar mo Sarah?" Naiinis niyang tanong sa akin, naasar siguro ito when I didn't give her the chance na magsalita pa.

"Chill ka lang ma'am ha, umupo at maghintay sa munting show na aking alay sayo." bilin ko sa kanya.

Agad naman akong kumilos para patayin ang mga ilaw sa treehouse.

"What the! Sarah? May brownout ba? Bakit nawala yung ilaw? Eh impossible naman kasi ang dami mong solar panels dito." Sigaw niya.

Tahimik akong bumalik sa veranda ko, kung saan ko siya iniwan, ng hindi sumasagot sa kanya.

Dahan dahan akong lumapit sa kanya. "Sssshhh! Wag kang ngang maingay diyan!" bulong ko sa kanyang likuran.

"Woaaahhh!" gulat niyang sigaw.

Halos mangiyak ako sa tawa, sa gulat na gulat niyang reaksyon.

"Gag*! Bakit kaba ng gugulat?" sabay hampas sa akin.

"Ang impatient mo kasi. Pinatay ko yung mga ilaw kasi... Eyes up here. Oh tignan mo nalang, ang ganda ng kalangitan di ba? Starry starry night!" pagpapaliwanag ko.

Bigla niya akong binigyan ng napakatamis na ngiti. "Ikaw talaga, ang dami mong nalalaman. Thank you babe!"

I smile in return naman. "Wag ka muna masyado kiligin at eyes on the sky pls at hindi sa mukha ko. At please wag kang kukurap, in 3, 2, 1."

✨✨Meteor Shower✨✨

Namangha. "Wow! Ang ganda!"

"Sobrang ganda! Alam mo kakaiba ang meteor shower na ito, it is called Geminid Meteor Shower. Kakaiba kasi, this was caused by an asteroid instead of a comet. Sobrang Amazing! Isa sa mga pangarap ko ang makakita ng ganitong kind of meteor shower with the northern lights."

I turned my head and stared at her intently. She looks so happy at ayaw kong mawala ang mga ngiting yun sa mukha niya. While I am busy staring at her, siya naman ay tahimik lang na nanunuod lang sa kalangitan.

"Tanch?" tawag ko sa kanyang attention.

Agad naman siyang lumingon paharap sa akin. "Yes, babe?"

Hindi ako sumagot instead mas lalo lang akong tumutig sa kanya.

"Uy Sarah!" pukaw niya sa akin.

Narinig ko naman siya, pero walang salitang gustong kumawala sa bibig ko.

I can feel the rapid beating of my heart. Ganito pala talaga, the moment it hit you, the emotions just overflows kaya hindi ka makapagsalita. Parang nalulunod ka sa sarili mong emosyon.

"Tanch, imagine me..." I started.

Now, her full attention is one me. "Imagine you, what?"

"Imagine me when you look up into the sky at a starry night." There I finally said.

"Why?"

"Basta, just imagine me." seryoso at may diin kong sambit sa kanya.

"Hay naku. May sasabihin pero ayaw ituloy kung bakit." Pagsusungit niya.

"Don't worry, you'll eventually know later." I assured her.

She finally smiled. "Siguraduhin mo lang talaga! Kundi makikita mo." While giving me a tiger look.

Tumawa lang ako at binalik ang attention ko sa kalangitan. While I was busy with the night sky, eh siya na pala tong nakakatitig naman na sa akin. I can feel her eyes in my face, pero pinili kong hayaan lang siya sa ginagawa niya.

"Anyway, babe, since sinabi mo kanina na you believe in love. So will you really marry for love?" biglang tanong niya sa akin.

"Eh knowing we are in the industry, na kung saan nag partner partner lang din ang mga angkan galing sa mga mayayaman to expand their businesses?"

"Of course I will marry for love." I answered with full conviction.

Tanch's POV

Awhile ago pagkatapos namin kumanta ay todo iwas na si Sarah sa mga tanong ko. She even got me distracted with the meteor shower, but now that my attention are all over her, ay naalala ko na naman ang mga tanong ko sa kanya. I admit, she got me there with her viewpoints and deeper understanding on certain matters, especially matters of the heart. Matindi talaga pinagdaanan ng babaeng to and with that, it made me even more interested about what she has to say. If kaya niya bang manindigan for love even if it's unconventional and would go beyond morals.

So I took the chance and asked anyway. Hindi naman niya ako binigo sa sagot niya.

"Of course I will marry for love." She answered ng medyo may diin talaga.

I hid my smile. Ayaw kong magpahalata that I am so interested about it. Instead I gave her a confusing look.

I fired right away. "And why?"

She shifted a little from her seat at tinuon ang attention niya sa akin. At binigyan ako ng tingin na nagsasabing why not.

"Why not?" At ayun na nga, tinanong din ako pabalik.

She reached for my hand and looked straight into my eyes. "Suffering for someone you love is not wrong but suffering with the wrong person is. Money can't buy happiness, happiness was never a possession; it is who you are with."

"Hmmm?" Yan lang tanging naisagot ko sa kanya. Tama nga naman ang sinabi niya but I wanted to know more. She may appear as mahiyain but I know she has deep and broader understanding of things, at gusto kong malaman yun.

She raise one of her brows and asked. "Yes?"

I acted na as if nagiisip. "Yeah sure you are in love with that person and the feeling is mutual, but what if when real life takes over? Then there's your family that doesn't approve of your relationship, and even hate it to the point that you will be disown? Would you still choose love if that's the case?"

She let a little laughter escape her sexy lips. "Uhhmm. Love over family, security and stability in life?" she stated rather than asked.

"If I choose love over family and all that comes with it, then one might think that I am a fool. If a choose to pay attention to what they has to say, then that means my security and with that I made the right choice." she started.

She smiled a little bit. "But does it always have to be that way? There is no greater tragedy than to lose my freedom to dictate on what is to become of my life and of course on who I must love. I would rather be dead if that's the case. And I couldn't careless if I would be a laughing stock, for all I know, most bright men of ages have died unhappy and I don't want to make it to the list."

I slightly nodded at her as I try to absorb the words she speaks that touches my heart. She really is amazing, alam ko talaga na kaya niyang manindigan sa kung ano mang decision na gagawin niya.

"...You know what Tanch, aside from all those I have said. Would you rather betray your heart and let them choose whom you must love?" walang preno niya paliwanag at tanong sa akin.

"Tama ka nga naman, you made sense but it will never be easy." I told her the exact truth.

She brushed off what I have said.

"Of course it will never be easy, it is not a piece of paper so it will never be. But let me tell you this, the moment you betray your heart, nothing practical, no amount of money, not even a car, can fill the emptiness that you will feel. But still, if you insist so, then try making love to your car."

Bigla akong tumawa ng napakalakas. She got me there, natauhan ako dahil sa outro niyang yun.

Ou nga naman Tanch diba? Huwag na kasi makulit, kasi she has all the reasons in this world kung bakit love parin ang pipiliin niya.

Ayaw ko lang ipahalata but I am really happy sa mga stand niya sa ganung bagay. Bihira nalang ang mga taong ganito, and I can say na sobrang swerte ko because I get to know someone like her.

"Oh bakit nakatunganga ka nalang diyan?" pukaw niyang sabi sa akin.

Kinurot ko ang mukha niya. "Ang cute mo kasi at sobrang deep ng mga sinabi mo kaya inaabsorb ko pa."

Bigla siyang tumayo sabay abot ng kamay ko. "Ano ba yan? Tarah, lets get going it is late you know, babyahe pa kaya tayo."

Inabot ko naman ang nakalahad niyang kamay at magkahawak kamay kaming bumaba ng treehouse niya.

I don't know what does it mean sa kanya but for me, it is one sweet gesture.

.

.

.

"Ulitin natin ulit to babe ha. Pag hindi ka busy, tambay tayo ulit sa treehouse mo." Paglalambing kong sabi sa kanya.

Tumango lang siya sa akin. Hanggang ngayo magkawak parin ang aming mga kamay habang naglalakad kami, papunta sa naghihintay niyang sasakyan.

Bigla naman akong napahinto. Wow! sabi ko sa sarili ko.

"Nice ride you got there madam!"

Bigla naman siyang namula na parang nahiya ng bahagya.

"Well, meet the reason kung bakit hindi ako umabot sa date namin ng brother mo." natatawa niyang paliwanag sabay bukas ng pinto para sa akin.

Binigyan ko siya ng confusing look.

"Kwento ko sayo later, sakay ka muna."

Agad naman akong sumakay. Ang bait talaga at sweet ng babaeng to, may pabukas at pagsirado ng pinto pa sa akin.

"So ano na?" bungad ka sa kanya pagkapasok palang niya ng sasakyan.

"Diba yun nga sabi ko nagkaflat tire ako, it was really an awful experience, napahiya tuloy brother mo dahil sa akin. Hindi ko lang talaga maintindihan bakit ako magkakaflat tires na tubeless naman sana ito. I bet may reason talaga kung bakit kailangan hindi ako umabot sa date namin ng kuya mo." pagpapaliwanag niya.

I fake a naiinis look dahil sa naalala kong ginawa niya sa brother ko. Pero hindi naman talaga totoong naiinis ako. Gusto ko lang siya iprank. "Eh nagcommute ka nalang sana pauwi baka umabot kapa sana, at di nagmukhang tanga brother ko." Kunwaring busangot ko sa kanya.

She gave me a sorry smile. At sobrang cute lang. Hay nako Sarah Garcia!

"Sorry babe, I can't just leave this car like that. This car means so much to me, may emotional attachment ako dito. I can't fail again the person who gave this to me." Ayaw man niyang ipahalata but there is a tear that about to drop from her eyes.

Whatever is on her mind right now, I know it really matters to her para mapaiyak siya just by a mere thought of it.

"Hindi ka naman mabiro babe! Hindi ako galit or naiinis dahil sa nangyari. I know it was never your intention. But maniwala ka, I'm glad you did. Kasi kung hindi mo ginawa yun, hindi kita susugurin at hindi tayo magtatagpo sana." nakangiti kong sabi ko sa kanya.

She smile in return sabay sabing "Yun nga din sasabihin ko sayo, it meant to happen so I can finally meet you. Ayie!" with kurot pa sa akin. Naku! Kinikilig naman to siya eh.

Hindi na ako sumagot sa kanya para maka alis na kami. I just heard her bringing her car to life. Wow! Sobrang ganda pala ng interior ng sasakyan niya, ngayon ko lang napansin ng paandarin niya na ito. May silver plated name pa niya talaga along with the car model.

Hindi ko naman namalayan na nakatanaw lang pala siya sa akin.

"Do you like it?" Tanong niya sa akin.

"Yes, super. Sana all may Ferrari at GT4c Lusso pa talaga. Sarah all talaga."

"Loko ka talaga! Gift lang naman to sa akin, I can't afford this kind of car."

"Sana all binibigyan ng Ferrari. Ikaw na talaga girl." tumawa ako ng malakas.

Sabay hampas niya naman sa akin.

"Hay naku! Tara na nga!" at agad niyang pinatakbo sa sasakyan.

"Woah babe! Grabe this is a beast! Eto pala tunog ng V12! Sarah all talaga!"

The drive way back to the Manila was eventful. Nagtatawanan lang kami dahil sa pangaasar ko sa kanya. We talked about what was her reaction after I left nung sinugod ko siya sa office niya and inaasar niya pa ako na para daw akong gutom na tigre noon na tutok na tutok at sarap na sarap sa katawan niya.

Napahiya tuloy ako dun, nahuli niya pala ako. Ang yummy niya naman kasi sa suot niyang yun, naalala ko tuloy siya sa utak ko. Shit! Mapapamura ka nalang talaga.

After 1 and half hour or so, eh nakarating din kami. I was surprised ng itigil niya ang sasakyan sa harap mismo ng bahay namin. Teka paano niya nalaman that I lived here?

"Ooops! Care to explain? Bakit alam mo kung saan bahay namin."

Tumawa tawa pa talaga siya ha.

"I've got sources you know." sabay wink.

I just let it go and give her a kiss in the cheeks instead. "Thank you for tonight babe, ako yung nagyaya ng date pero ako ang dinate mo. Nakakainis ka! Kaya let's have dinner tomorrow night, sunduin kita sa office mo."

Bigla naman akong nakakita ng kalungkutan sa kanyang mga mata. Bakit kaya?

She hugged me tight at bumitaw rin after a while.

"As much as I want to babe, but I'll be out for the rest of the week. I'm off to a Paris for a business trip.

"It's okay, sa pagbalik mo nalang."

She squeezed my hand slowly. "Thank you for tonight."

"No. Thank you for tonight. See when I see you." I told her at tuluyan ng bumaba ng sasakyan niya.

She waves her hand habang papasok ako ng bahay. Hinintay niya talagang makapasok ako bago pa siya tuluyang umalis.

I directly went upstair sa kwarto ko since wala naman akong nadatnan sa bahay bukod sa mga house helpers namin.

I immediately check the letter that came with the flowers, kanina ko pa talaga to gustong basahin but pinipigilan ko lang para hindi siya malagay awkward na sitwasyon.

20th March 2020

Tanchellie,

I really don't know what to write because words can't seem to describe how I feel about you. Yesterday I would just go with my usual routine but today I can't even keep going without thinking about you...

I know this may sound so weird, but I can see you everywhere, you're in my thoughts everyday, your smile they're the sweetest, your eyes make me lose sleep. I don't know how or why or when but I just know one thing, it is this, I love you.

And as you're reading this go out and see the night sky.

Imagine me when you look up in the sky on a starry night, that number of stars in the universe, is the number of times I have fallen in love with you.

With all my heart,

Sarah G.

*Much Love.