I immediately thought about my situation with Alexandros after hearing those words from the actress whose eyes were still swollen when I chatted with her. I was confident that Alexandros would never pull the trigger, though. Because he would never accept the gun in the first place, never knowing that there were so many ways to kill me without having to pull the trigger…
I shook my head at the thought of it. This moment was too special to entertain such negative ideas. Because of the hectic schedule I had, it took me a while before I could contact Alexandros. Thankfully, he gave me his contact number the night before we separated after we made the deal.
I could not afford any distraction for the past days when I was trying my best to wrap up all of my works as quickly as possible so I could see him soon without any paper works getting in the way.
“It’s all right. Take all the time you need, Alison. And if one day, you realized that you don’t really need to push through with the deal, I want you to know that it will be all right with me as well,” I remember him saying. He even sounded relieved when I called him.
I was aware that he was waiting for me to back out, but how could I do that when I only had thirty days with him? That’s why I refused to be discouraged. Because the days pass by so quickly. After thirty days, everything I had with Alexandros would only become memories.
I was in high school when I created a list about the things I would do if I were to have a boyfriend. Alexandros couldn’t be my boyfriend. He made it clear many times already. But he was still the man that I love. And I would have wanted to fulfill that list with him. Yet, I chose to forget all about it the morning before I came here. The list was just about me, about my wishes. And the thirty days I was going to spend with him were not about me. I wanted it to be about Alexandros. I don’t want to restrict ourselves with those plans. I wanted my days with him to flow naturally.
Alexandros insisted that he’d pick me up this morning and the rest of the mornings to come for the whole month. He wanted us to go together in Quezon and in the rest of the places that we would visit. But I declined his offer. I didn’t want to get used to seeing him outside my door every morning to pick me up. I didn’t want to get used to this joy I feel upon the sight of him that’s why even if I wanted to be with him, I still opted to drive alone.
“Let’s just do whatever that makes you smile, Alison. You lead. And I will follow,” were all he said when I called him last night. How could a self-proclaimed beast let out those words? If he really was a beast, then he was my romantic and kind-hearted beast.

BUT OF COURSE, Alexandros did not know that. He did not know that instead of a beast, he could actually be a Prince Charming.
And when I saw him on the entrance earlier, I thought of striking another deal. I want to make him at least half as happy as he makes me feel. I just hope that it was working.
“Alison?”
I turned to Alexandros. Concern was written in his eyes. “Hmm?”
“What’s the matter? Why are you crying? Are you still afraid?” He gently wiped my tears away. “I’ve been talking here for a while now. But your mind seems to be wandering elsewhere. What have you been thinking?”
“You. I’ve been thinking about you. Just you. It’s always you, Alexandros.”
He did not answer. He just looked at me for a really long time. But his eyes were giving away what he felt inside. When I thought about what Alexandros said seconds just before we dived, a sweet smile curled on my lips. The second I heard those wonderful words, I felt like I could freefall again and again. Because I feel confident and brave again. And it was all because of him… and his love.
“How about you? What are you thinking right now, Alexandros?”
“I was just wondering what you saw in me for you to be like this,” he replied, looking completely clueless, but still very handsome nonetheless.
“Everything,” I replied with tears in my eyes. Alexandros had no idea how much he deserved to be loved despite his rough edges. I could still remember the things I saw in his house. It was like a factory, a beautiful one. Every corner was filled with the things he bought from the old vendors whenever he would go to work. There were towels, children books, toys, and other stuff. Whenever he would see an old vendor, he would buy all the items that person was selling and store it in his house. He also said he planned to donate all those things to the orphanage that he often visits.
“And you say you’re a beast,” I told him before. My head was shaking in disbelief. “But what do you call this? You don’t terrorize people, Alexandros. Instead, you help them every chance that you get. And for those people, you are the embodiment of an angel.”
“You’re wrong. I… I don’t really help them.” He scratched the back of his head as if he was suddenly embarrassed. “I just bought them because it was raining heavily at that time. And the old seller didn’t have an umbrella with her. If she were to get sick, then all her sacrifices would be in vain. She’d spend more in the hospital. I was just-“
“Concerned?” I asked, smiling this time.
“Of course not.”
“Really? Then what about those dozens of rags? What’s the story behind them?”
“The weather was too hot and the vendor of those was a thin old man. I just didn’t want him to collapse because of the weather.”
He even remembered his encounter with them. That was adorable.