✶　 𝑜𝑎𝑡𝑠.𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗲𝘀　˛

HAPPY   ANNIVERSARY   PIPER   &   YOHAN   !

yohan   didn't   take   into   account   that   this   would   be   the   first   time   that   they   won't   be   surrounded   by   friends   and   family   over   the   holidays   and   he   wasn't   sure   how   piper   would   react   to   that     .     there   was   concern   in   his   eyes     ,     worried   that   she   might   become   upset     .     before   he   could   even   say   anything     ,     he   felt   her   lips   quickly   brush   over   his   as   if   taking   all   the   words   right   from   his   mouth     .     yohan   responded   by   wrapping   his   arms   around   her   waist   and   pulling   her   down   on   top   of   the   bed   with   him     ,     carefully   switching   places   so   that   she   was   underneath   him     .     “     we're   touring   europe   for   a   month     ,     pero   i   won't   tell   you   each   stop   until   we   arrive     ,     but   i'll   give   you   hints     ,     ”     he   started     ,     smiling   softly   while   his   fingers   brush   away   the   hair   from   her   face     .     “     but   it's   only   gonna   be   us   during   christmas     ,     hon—   i'm   sorry     ,     i   know   december   is   really   important   to   you     ,     but   i   made   sure   naman   na   to   pack   lahat   ng   gifts   mo   from   friends   and   family     ,     pinaalam   ko   din   tong   cruise   na   to   kay   santi   and   kay   tita     .     ”

౨ৎ⠀ׂ ✿⠀࣭  ꒰         piper   often   finds   herself   marveling   at   just   how   lucky   she   is   to   have   yohan   in   her   life   .   in   a   world   where   so   many   people   are   careless   with   their   words   and   actions   ,   yohan   is   a   rare   gem—   loving   ,   gentle   ,   and   endlessly   thoughtful   .   he   doesn’t   just   tell   her   he   loves   her   ;   he   shows   it   every   single   day   ,   in   a   hundred   little   ways   that   make   her   heart   swell   .   he   remembers   the   tiniest   details   about   her—   like   how   she   takes   her   matcha   or   the   songs   that   make   her   smile—   and   never   hesitates   to   put   her   needs   before   his   own   .   he   listens   to   her   ,   truly   listens   ,   even   when   she   rambles   about   things   she   knows   most   people   wouldn’t   care   about   . yohan   is   patient   and   kind   ,   always   quick   to   comfort   her   when   she’s   upset   and   just   as   quick   to   celebrate   her   joys   ,   no   matter   how   small   they   might   seem   .   he   has   a   way   of   making   her   feel   safe   ,   like   she   can   be   completely   herself   without   fear   of   judgment   or   rejection   .   it’s   not   just   his   actions   that   set   him   apart;   it’s   the   way   he   looks   at   her   ,   like   she’s   the   most   important   person   in   the   world   ,   the   way   he   speaks   to   her   with   such   tenderness   it   leaves   her   breathless   .   yohan   isn’t   just   her   partner   ;   he’s   her   safe   haven   ,   her   biggest   supporter   ,   and   her   greatest   love   .   piper   knows   she’s   found   something   people   spend   their   entire   lives   searching   for   ,   and   she   never   takes   a   single   moment   of   it   for   granted   . with   yohan   gently   pulling   her   down   on   top   of   him   ,   piper   has   no   choice   but   to   melt   into   his   arms   ,   her   body   relaxing   as   she   rests   her   cheek   against   his   chest   ,   listening   to   the   steady   rhythm   of   his   heartbeat   .   his   warmth   soothes   her   ,   momentarily   easing   the   ache   of   being   away   for   the   holiday   ,   even   as   her   emotions   stir   beneath   the   surface   .   yohan   shifts   ,   rolling   them   over   until   he   hovers   above   her   ,   his   tender   gaze   locking   with   hers   .   piper   reaches   up   ,   her   thumb   brushing   his   cheek   ,   a   soft   smile   forming   as   he   tries   to   reassure   her   ,   though   she   doesn’t   want   to   show   him   how   being   away   upsets   her   .   “   i   love   you   so   much   ,   ”   she   says   quietly   ,   her   voice   filled   with   affection   .   “   lahat   talaga   ng   ginagawa   mo   para   sa’kin   ,   no   ?   ”   she   chuckles   ,   pulling   him   down   closer   until   his   weight   presses   against   her   ,   grounding   her   even   further   .   “   paano   naman   ang   regalo   ng   baby   ko   ?   ”   she   teases   ,   her   laughter   bubbling   as   she   peppers   his   cheeks   with   kisses   ,   holding   him   tightly   .   “   ang   importante   ,   kasama   kita   .   and   i’m   still   excited   kung   saan   tayo   mapupunta   .   but…   ”   she   pauses   ,   her   eyes   widening   slightly   as   the   realization   hits   .   “   do   i   even   have   clothes   para   sa   mga   bansang   pupuntahan   natin   ?   i   didn’t   pack   !   ”   her   tone   is   playful   ,   laced   with   curiosity   ,   but   the   sparkle   in   her   eyes   says   she’s   not   too   worried—   being   with   yohan   is   all   that   matters   ,   and   whatever   comes   next   ,   she   knows   they’ll   face   it   together   .

"right,   because   she   absolutely   needs   a   new   sound   system.   sino   ba   talagang   gagamit   niyan—baby   natin   o   ikaw?"

౨ৎ⠀ׂ ✿⠀࣭  ꒰         “   para   sa   lullaby   niya   ,   love   .   para   mahimbing   ang   tulog   ng   baby   natin   .   our   baby   deserves   the   best   ,   kahit   pa   bagong   sound   system   ‘yan   .   ”

"oh?   i   thought   you'd   be   more   excited.   magiging   ninang   ka   na.   kulang   nalang   magsuot   ka   ng   dress   shirt   at   long   denim   skirt."

౨ৎ⠀ׂ ✿⠀࣭  ꒰         “   syempre   ,   excited   !   pero   mas   exciting   kung   magiging   ninong   ka   .   para   partner   tayo—   yieee   !   ay   ,   wait   ,   ang   jologs   naman   nun   !   ”

“i’m   really   sorry   for   calling   you   over   so   late.”   it   was   three   in   the   morning.   he   hadn’t   expected   mikee   to   pick   up,   much   less   actually   come   over.   “i   just...”   he   trailed   off,   words   stuck   in   his   throat.   i   really   wanted   to   see   you.   i   miss   you.   “i   couldn’t   sleep.”

౨ৎ⠀ׂ ✿⠀࣭  ꒰         it’s   no   surprise   to   mikee—   or   anyone   ,   really—   that   he   always   answers   anthony’s   calls   ,   no   matter   how   late   ,   or   that   he’d   drop   everything   to   go   to   him   the   moment   anthony   needs   him   .   truthfully   ,   mikee   doesn’t   have   anything   better   to   do   than   to   be   there   for   him   .   “   it’s   okay   .   let’s   try   to   get   some   sleep   ,   yeah   ?   ”   he   says   softly   ,   not   even   waiting   for   a   response   .   instead   ,   he   takes   anthony’s   hand   and   gently   guides   him   to   the   bed   ,   lying   down   beside   him   with   quiet   care   .

"are   you   here   to   gloat?   can   you   at   least   let   me   take   this   shot   first?"

౨ৎ⠀ׂ ✿⠀࣭  ꒰         “   i   can’t   help   but   enjoy   watching   you   this   miserable—   it   just   fires   me   up   to   beat   your   ass   again   next   time   .   ”

"do   you   ever   wonder   what   our   lives   will   be   like   in   ten   years?"

౨ৎ⠀ׂ ✿⠀࣭  ꒰         “   i   haven’t   really   given   it   much   thought   .   i’m   just   living   in   the   moment   and   enjoying   life   .   how   about   you   ?   where   do   you   see   yourself   in   ten   years   ?   ”

"how   many   more   times   do   you   need   me   to   apologise?"

౨ৎ⠀ׂ ✿⠀࣭  ꒰         “   maybe   when   you   get   down   on   your   knees   and   start   begging   ?   ”

"ang   bitter   bitter   mo   naman,   anong   masama   sa   valentine's   day?"

౨ৎ⠀ׂ ✿⠀࣭  ꒰         “   hindi   ko   naman   sinasabing   masama   ,   ha   .   ang   punto   ko   lang   ,   bakit   kailangan   i-celebrate   ?   eh   wala   naman   tayong   jowa   .   ”

ㅤ       ◟      ï๑      ♡       summers   in   sagada   were   nice.   compared   to   manila,   the   air   was   cooler,   lighter,   and   free   of   the   gross   heat   that   clung   to   the   city   streets.   he   loved   it.   it   made   the   mornings   pleasant,   the   afternoons   tolerable,   and   the   evenings   perfect   for   sitting   outside   under   the   stars   with   a   mug   of   steaming   tea.   sagada   was   a   year-round   tourist   destination,   though,   always   bustling   with   visitors.   but   summers   were   particularly   lively,   with   families   taking   advantage   of   the   school   break   to   escape   the   lowland   heat.   the   influx   of   tourists   meant   the   souvenir   shop   saw   a   steady   stream   of   customers.   business   was   good,   sure,   but   the   thing   beau   looked   forward   to   most   wasn’t   that   at   all—it   was   the   arrival   of   noah. noah   was   tj’s   nephew,   the   son   of   his   older   brother   jiho,   and   a   bundle   of   pure   joy.   now   in   kindergarten   and   gearing   up   for   his   first   year   of   elementary   school   in   june,   noah   was   growing   fast,   but   he   was   still   the   same   wide-eyed,   excitable   boy   who   had   stolen   beau's   heart   the   first   time   he   held   him.   noah   wasn’t   just   tj's   nephew;   he   was   family   to   all   of   them.   everyone   in   sagada   seemed   to   feel   the   same   way.   noah   was   spoiled   rotten   by   their   friends,   doted   on   by   neighbours,   and   had   become   something   of   a   local   favourite   during   his   annual   summer   stays.   noah,   of   course,   loved   the   attention   and   always   insisted   on   returning   every   year,   much   to   beau’s   delight.   jiho,   to   his   credit,   trusted   them   with   his   only   son,   often   joking   it   was   his   way   of   getting   a   much-needed   break. on   noah’s   second   day   back,   his   excitement   was   contagious.   the   little   boy   had   already   planned   a   full   day   in   his   head,   ready   to   rush   out   and   play.   but   first,   breakfast.   beau   had   made   a   simple   spread—fried   rice,   eggs,   and   beef   tapa.   nothing   fancy,   but   it   was   more   than   enough   for   him,   tj,   and   noah.   they'd   sat   down   together,   the   boy   already   chattering   about   his   plans   for   the   day.   “anong   gagawin   natin   today?”   he   grinned,   glancing   up   at   tj,   “should   we   go   to   baguio?”

౨ৎ⠀ׂ ✿⠀࣭  ꒰         in   sagada,   summer   brought   cooler   air,   a   gentle   contrast   to   the   sweltering   heat   elsewhere,   and   for   tj,   it   had   become   his   favorite   season   for   one   reason:   his   nephew,   noah,   would   come   to   visit.   every   year,   as   soon   as   the   school   year   ended,   tj’s   brother   jiho   and   his   family   would   spend   a   week   or   two   in   sagada,   filling   tj’s   quiet   life   with   laughter   and   boundless   energy.   but   the   best   part   came   when   noah’s   summer   stretched   longer   than   his   parents’   leave,   prompting   the   boy   to   linger   behind.   with   some   persuasion   from   tj   and   their   friends,   jiho   had   grown   comfortable   with   the   arrangement,   allowing   noah   to   stay   for   the   entirety   of   his   vacation.   those   weeks   became   tj’s   greatest   joy,   a   time   for   hiking   hidden   trails,   going   down   to   baguio   for   day   trips,   and   sharing   quiet   mornings   under   the   sea   of   clouds. it   seemed   tj   wasn’t   the   only   one   eagerly   awaiting   summer   and   noah’s   arrival—   his   friends   had   made   it   a   tradition   of   their   own   to   look   forward   to   noah’s   visit.   anthony,   ever   the   culinary   enthusiast,   would   go   all   out,   preparing   noah’s   favorite   foods   and   desserts,   with   an   abundance   of   fried   chicken   always   on   the   menu.   tj   and   beau,   on   the   other   hand,   took   it   upon   themselves   to   keep   the   boy   entertained   and   spoil   him   as   much   as   possible.   whether   it   was   with   new   toys,   trendy   clothes,   or   spontaneous   adventures,   they   ensured   every   day   was   filled   with   excitement.   their   annual   day   trip   to   baguio   was   a   highlight,   touring   noah   through   the   city’s   famous   tourist   spots,   indulging   in   local   delicacies,   and   even   helping   him   practice   biking   at   burnham   park.   it   was   exhausting   at   times,   but   every   ounce   of   effort   was   worth   it   when   they   saw   the   unfiltered   joy   lighting   up   noah’s   face—   a   happiness   that   made   summer   in   sagada   more   than   just   a   season. this   year   feels   different   as   jiho   barely   lingered   after   dropping   noah   off   at   tj’s   place,   rushing   back   to   the   city   for   work   and   leaving   his   son   in   tj’s   care   for   the   entire   summer,   but   noah   doesn’t   seem   to   mind,   his   excitement   radiating   as   he   settles   into   the   familiar   comfort   of   tj   and   beau’s   company,   ready   for   another   season   of   fun   and   adventure.   at   breakfast,   tj   ensures   noah   starts   the   day   with   a   full   plate   of   eggs,   fried   rice,   beef   tapa,   corned   beef,   and   a   steaming   cup   of   hot   milo,   watching   with   satisfaction   as   his   nephew   eats   excitedly.   when   beau   asks   what   they   should   do   today,   tj   glances   at   noah,   then   back   at   beau   with   a   grin   and   says,   “   pwede   naman.   punta   tayo   sa   heritage   park,   bagong   tourist   destination   ‘yon.   ”   he   looks   at   noah   again,   his   tone   turning   playful.   “   inggitin   natin   magulang   mo.   magmumukhang   nagpunta   ka   sa   japan   pag   doon.   kukunan   ka   namin   ng   maraming   pictures.   ”   then,   with   a   burst   of   excitement,   he   adds,   “   tapos   sky   ranch   tayo   sa   gabi   ?   ”