He put things he was holding on the center table. "I am Carter Meneses but you can call me Nae Sarang," the man said and shook her hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you." 
She just watched him while he was still holding her hand, and gave her a flower with his other hand. She wanted to hug him and kiss him. But she was happy enough just to hold his hand.
Her eyes started to water. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
“Since three is a crowd, I must go. Take care of my friend, Carter. Let her taste the ramen you’ve been bragging about,” Mikha said and winked at him.
“Don’t worry. I will be a perfect gentleman,” Carter answered. 
There was a soft click when Mikha left. Cheska was still standing there and Carter had to move to close the door. “Is it okay for me to use your kitchen? It might take time before I finish cooking.”
“What are you doing here, Carter? You didn’t contact me for three months and then you will just show up here as if nothing happened?”
“No, a lot of things happened. While you were looking for yourself, I was fixing my own life. I’m gonna stay in the Philippines for good,” he said, carrying the paper bag to the kitchen.
"What about Aunt Selina and Eun Young?"
“They will follow me here. Eun Young will just finish her school year. Omma has decided to sell the house there to Park Gung to start a new life. You can be with me now. You can get to know me better. I can take care of you and watch over you. You don’t have to be alone if you still want me.”
Tears welled up in her eyes and she ran to him to hug him. “I hate you, Carter Meneses. I've been miserable for almost three months because I thought you didn't want me anymore. You were ignoring my post. I just don’t know what to do anymore to show you that I really love you. That you’re the one that I want.”
 “I can never compete with a perfect illusion, Cheska. I am not perfect but I can love you for real. But I also know that I would need to give you my best as well. I need to get my life in order. I know you won't leave me when I need you. But I also want you to feel that I’m taking care of you and protecting you. Now, I can.”
Then he kissed her. That lousy kiss that could make her toes curl. She felt like a jigsaw puzzle that was slowly being completed. She knew Carter was the only one missing.
"Lousy kisser," she teased him.
“I'm sorry. Is that all you can criticize me for besides my handsomeness?”
She pressed a kiss to his lips. “I also tried to complete myself when you left me. I have new friends now. I also tried going out with other men.”
"Is that supposed to make me feel jealous?"
“Don’t be. They were all just good friends now. And I hook them up with other friends. I also volunteer to take care of the children who are victims of violence. Kids who felt that their only way out of life was also through violence. I tried to volunteer. Honestly, I'm just waiting for you to come back into my life. I am glad that things are doing great for you. What did your father say?”
“We already talked last night. He had accepted that Mom is coming back. He even said that if Mom would come back to him, he would accept her as well as Eun Young. I think my father is still in love with my mom.”
“Ahh! How romantic!” she uttered.
“My sister has a choice if she wants to stay in Seoul. She passed for Seoul University. The Gangster Juniors also passed the exam.”
"I am happy for those kids."
“Park Gung wants to make the homestay a review center. That was the only condition he asked of me when he took the house at a good price. He wanted me to teach there when the college entrance exam was near.”
“I will come with you when you go to Korea. I don’t want Min Ji hanging around you again,” she said, giving him an eyeful.
“I will never be attracted to someone like her again. You are my destiny.”
“Carter, it's destiny that we met but it's my choice to love you and choose to be with you. I chose to be happy when I can stay sad and mourning. And you also chose me even though there is someone like Min Ji who is sexy and popular.”
He let out a sarcastic laugh. “Well, it looks like she's going to be famous. She said she will be in a Korean drama but I am not interested.”
"Why?"
“Because of you, nae sarang. My beloved. You are my reality. And I choose to love you just like you had chosen to love me.”
She hugged him tightly. Wherever they end up to and whatever trials would come, she knew their hearts would never be separated again. They may not be perfect, but their love could endure anything.