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DISCLAIMER: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SCENES THAT MAY BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES.

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BRIGHT'S POV

"I'm not letting you go... because I like you so much, I couldn't bear the thought of letting this chance pass, but please, wait for me, I'm in the process of building myself back up. I want you to have the best version of me" 

"but I'll love you despite your flaws. I'll be there through the bad, that's what it's supposed to be like right? thick and thin... you can't keep pushing me away because I wouldn't mind hurting because of you, but I also do get tired I guess..."

I was pulled out of my daydream when I heard him calling me. 

"Good Day sir, what can I get you for a drink today?" He smiled trying to maintain the eye contact. 

It was awkward for him but I am beyond happy to see him to the things he loves. 

"I'll go for coffee... the usual that you make if possible," I said which made him pause for a minute. He knows what I was talking about, I always loved how he makes his coffee. 

"Anything else you would like?" He asked again not making eye contact anymore. 

"That would be it for now." I said and smiled. 

He gave me a small smile. Maybe I caught him off-guard but I also do think he was expecting that to happen. I wanted to talk to him but not the right time and place. 

It took a while before another attendant delivered my coffee, I was surprised it wasn't Win who brought it but then I saw him serving another passenger... maybe he's just busy... 

I don't know how I managed to keep my smiles all to myself throughout the flight but I was happy seeing him, despite all the questions that I have... 

"Win can we talk?" I asked when he settled my meal in front of me. 

"I'm sorry... I'm working..." He responded. 

"Yeah I meant... if you have the free time..." I responded. 

"I-I'd be free after this flight." He said and left. 

Is that a yes? Are we talking after this flight? I wanted to ask him again but I stopped myself... He is working after all... 

I didn't notice how long the flight actually was but I was happy and I was beyond  proud, he made it, he changed a bit, he looks more of a professional now, he doesn't seem to be that playful crybaby I used to know... above everything that changed, it was his smile that caught me the most, it wasn't as bright as before, as if he was just forcing it now. There was sadness that lingers in his smile, and he was quiet. I was observing him with his workmates, he barely talked to them unless they needed to do something work related. 

When it was time to disembark, I headed to the front door of the plane where Win was greeting the passengers, there were only a few of us left when I decided to head to his direction. I was about to ask him when we're talking when he handed me a paper...

"Thank you for flying with us, we'll see you soon" He greeted and proceeded to make himself busy. 

I was supposed to talk to him but then there were other passengers that followed me going out. When I was settled with my luggage and all, I took the piece of paper out and read what he wrote there...

Meet me at the aisle of sakura, sunset. Until then, We shall save everything we have to say.

-Win

I didn't know how to feel about that but I was hopeful. I haven't felt anything for a long while and seeing him, being able to talk to him, makes me want to jump for joy, there may be no guarantee where this talk is headed, but the small spark of hope in me tells me, maybe, just maybe, it is the right time for whatever we almost had back then...

It was hours before the sunset when I arrived, I couldn't focus on anything but the mere thought of seeing Win, I'm gonna be able to talk to him... It felt like I was flying, the fear was also tugging on a part of me but what else do I have to lose?

I kept checking the forecast for sunset, I was already at the meet-up place for hours even before the forecasted time of sunset... I just couldn't wait... until I saw him walking towards me, he changed, he seemed to have grown so much... 

We sat by the cemented wall that served as a view deck as well... 

"How are you?" He asked. 

"I've been doing okay... I graduated Win." I told him and I saw a hint of smile on his face. 

"Congratulations." He said quietly. 

"Congratulations to you as well. I'm so proud of you." I looked at him and felt a few tears coming up to my eyes.

"We need to talk..." He said and sighed. 

His sigh, it scared me... It gave me uncertainty and pain rather than assurance that we'd be alright after this talk...

"Is it finally time to talk about us?" I asked with shaky voice...

We were quiet for a while as we both stared into the setting sun... 

"You have to listen to me, no matter what I say, you have to listen to me, until I finish..." He said carefully not taking his eyes off the setting sun...

"I've been so ready to listen to whatever you have to say even years back..." I told him.

He sighed and looked at me for a while, there was pain in his eyes which scared me more...

"The world was against us, I was scared, I didn't know how to fight for you when it came to my family... I thought I could when things were a lot easier with only mom and Chi, but as much as I hate it, there are still other people in the picture. For that I really am sorry, it's not that I am ashamed of you, or I didn't loved you enough to fight for you. God knows how much I love you Bright, but often, love isn't just enough I guess? I was scared, of how powerful our families were and how they can do terrible things. I loved you that much that I had to let you go, I didn't have any much of a choice, I know you're gonna say I could've gone against the odds and fought with you, but I was scared that I would lose you forever if I pushed for it." Win said. 

I was in tears when I heard him... I couldn't imagine how much he has to go through, yet I chose to be stubborn and let anger get to me.

"I didn't wanna stay away and be indifferent a few years back, but it was my family at risk and your life at risk. I had to make choices that would save the greater good. I wanted it to work so bad Bright, but when the world seemed to be against you, it gets exhausting to fight for something no matter how badly you want it." He said as I saw a tear roll down his cheek. 

"That's why you left me... Sorry...." I couldn't help but interrupt.

"I'm really really sorry, I know how terribly it affected you. I watched it before my eyes how you spiraled into a very dark place because of me. It will forever haunt me how much you had to go through. I watched you, from a far, how you struggled and how you got through... and I couldn't be more proud." He said which made me cry even more. 

"I never left you for a fact Bright... I was there, I never left the country, I never went anywhere, I made sure I was updated with how you were doing in life. I had to show everyone in my life that I didn't care for them to leave you at peace." He said as a few more tears rolled down his cheeks. 

We were silently sobbing for a few minutes, we were both hurting...

"I'm sorry, and I would say that for a lifetime if I could" He said. 

"I don't know what to say Win... I wasn't as happy as I appeared to be as well, but I made it, I got through all of it, I graduated with the hope you were there, we promised each other to be there when we got through College..." I told him.

"I was there..." He said and smiled at me. 

We stared at each other as the skies glimmer in hues of orange, pink and yellow... 

We were crying as we stared, but the attraction was there... and we couldn't ignore as we draw closer to each other. 

The sun completely set as our lips met, and the pain has magically vanished. His lips started moving and so did mine, we kissed as if we were making up for lost time...

"I love you..." I muffled. 

"Oh Bright, I love you too." He said.

"It's time to go..."  I cut the kisses and pulled him. 

We were on a hurry as we made our way to my hotel... There's that desire that overrides the both of us... 

I melt with his kisses and touches, it was as if he was putting all my pieces back together... We managed to undress each other... 

"I don't wanna miss you this much anymore" I told him as I pushed him to the bed. 

"B-bright, I want you..." He said as he pulled me in for a kiss

"I still respect you the same Win, are you ready for this?" I asked him as we burned with passion, as much as I want him so bad, his consent, his choices, matter to me as well. 

"I want you Bright, I want all of you." He said. 

I woke up with Win next to me sound asleep. It was indeed a night. I could feel my eyes a little sore from all the crying we have done... 

I stared at Win, I missed this, tears rolled down my cheeks, I couldn't imagine all of this being real... I can't afford to lose him again... 

"Hmmm, w-what's wrong? Why are you crying?" He asked as he woke. 

"Nothing... I just couldn't believe that all of this is real." I told him. 

"Cuddles?" He asked in the cutest way, my bunny, always asking for cuddles. 

"Win?" I called to him...

"Hmmm?" He asked and looked up at me.

"What happens to us after this?" I asked as much as I don't wanna burst our bubble, I have to know where this is going. 

"I don't know..." He said which made me quiet... 

He doesn't know? How is that even possible? What do we do after this?

"Time is very tricky thing isn't it?" I asked.

"It is... why?" He looked at me seriously. 

"You think it is ever the right time for us?" I asked as my heart pounded in my chest.

"You're saying, you wanna try again?" Win asked. 

"If you would want..." I said. 

"Bright... I'd love to, and as much as I'm still scared, time is very tricky indeed, will ou face it all with me, for real this time?" He looked at me intently, I saw fear in his eyes but we're gonna fight through it. 

We stayed in bed for a couple more minutes until we felt like getting breakfast. 

"Until when are you here in Japan?" He asked as he cut through his pancake. 

"I'd be staying for a month..." I told him. 

"May I suggest a few good spots?" He smiled proudly. 

"I'll take them into consideration." I smiled. 

"I'll leave in a week, I have to work, I'll be at Manila for a good while" He smiled to me. 

"I'll keep in touch and see you around then, but by any chance, can I ask you out on a date? For a week..." I smiled as I made the offer. 

"I'll gladly take it." He said and smiled.

We've come a long way to make things work for us. I am taking every chance I am getting, but only if Win would be with me. I still see him holding something back, but I don't wanna force him to tell me what was still bothering him. 

"I miss Paradise..." I told him as we stroll around Japan. 

"You haven't been back?" He asked surprised.

"I barely went back, it hold so much of our happy memories, I didn't wanna be back the state I was when you met me, I might actually go for the cliff." I told him. 

He was quiet for a while but then he saw a takoyaki vendor and decided to get us some. 

"You can't go to Japan just to stare at me Bright, every place, will mean so much to you when you make memories, live the life you love Bright, with or without me in it... I never wanna lose you again, but I don't wanna lose ourselves when were too dependent on each other again. It scares me, that we love each other too much, I can't lose you again Bright." He said and sighed trying to hold back a few tears. 

"Come here, we'll make it right this time okay? You... stop looking after me, it's my time to do that, I'm the wolf remember? and I protect the bunny." I told him.

We went around Japan and made more memories, we barely left each others sight, we couldn't bare to be apart that soon. Whatever is still bothering him, I will take away. 

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