Tulala pa rin si Marianne hanggang makauwi siya ng bahay. Akala niya ay maisasara na niya ang kabanata nila ni Ryan. Pero pinaglaruan yata sila ng tadhana. Dapat ay sanay na siya sa mga twists ng istorya dahil nagsusulat siya. Pero iba pa rin pala kapag nangyari sa totoong buhay.
Ibang Ryan ang nakaharap niya kanina. She’s proud. Hindi na ito parang high school na nabubulol. He was confident and slightly flirting. Demanding na rin ito di gaya noon. Kung sabagay, isang gabi niya lang naman ito nakasama. Who is she to analyze him? Pero hindi niya lang siguro inaasahang ganitong Ryan na pala ang makakaharap niya.
“His girlfriend did a good job then.” Muli niyang naalala ang kasama nitong babae sa sinehan. Napabuntonghininga si Marianne. Muling bumalik sa kanyang alaala ang nangyari limang taon na ang lumipas…
After their lovemaking, Ryan kissed her and gathered her in his arms. Tila bakal ang mga bisig nito sa pagyakap sa kanya. Gustong kumawala ni Marianne. Hindi sya sanay sa ganitong tenderness. She’s used to men who quickly dress or sleep with their backs on her after ejaculation. Mayroon pang dali-dali syang pagbibihisin matapos ang lahat. She got used to it all. The men shared a lot of stories before and during sex. But they go back to their protective shells. And Marianne is left like an intruder; unwelcome and unloved.
But with Ryan, there were no stories. She knew things about the men after sex dahil naikuwento na yata ng mga ito lahat just to get her to bed. But with Ryan, there is still that sense of mystery. Parang gusto pa niyang manatili sa tabi bito hanggang kinabukasan. She imagined how it is to wake up beside this man. Pero agad nya ring pinalis ang pangarap na iyon. She inhaled his scent at lalong nagpailalim sa yakap nito. Hindi nito malalaman kung gaano niya hiniling na magtagal ang gabing iyon. Then she remembered her cellphone ringing. Kumalas siya sa mga bisig ni Ryan at kinuha ang bag.
Propesor nya ang tumawag. Sinundan nito ng text ang pagtawag. Inaprubahan daw ng isang Korean film company ang pinadala niyang script at kailangan siya roon. Her professor mentioned the possibility that she will be staying there till graduation. Or longer, she thought.
She looked at Ryan and smiled. Hindi na rin masama that this was the last time she’ll have sex. It was a good experience. The best form of goodbye. She wanted to thank this man. So she did something she never did before to any of her men. She cooked breakfast.
Isang tikhim ang nagpabalik kay Marianne sa kasalukuyan. Bumaling sya sa pinanggalingan niyon.
“Love!” Wika niya.
Pababa ng hagdan si Henry. Nais sanang takbuhin ni Marianne ang lalaki upang alalayan pero tiyak na magagalit ito. But it was painful to watch him.
“I brought mangoes for you, love.” Nasabi niya nang makalapit si Henry.
“Why are you sad, Angel?” Tanong nito. Gaya ng una niya itong makilala, he can still see through her.
Ikinuwento ni Marianne ang muli nilang pagkikita ni Ryan.
“This time, I wanna show him I’ve changed.” Pangako niya.
Henry winced. Akala ni Marianne ay dahil sa sakit pero sandali lamang iyon.
“Maybe he changed too. And he can now crush your heart to pieces. So be careful.” Babala ni Henry.