GOOD NEWS: I found my drafts. Finally! It is my intention to continue this story but I had to stop because I had to finish school and I lost my draftS. I made some major cleaning in my room and I'm so glad I did.

BAD NEWS: I couldn't get my beta to talk to me. I think she's busy. So I have to say, all mistakes are mine. This is all me, forgive my grammar. I tried my best to correct what I can. But don't get me wrong, I still love her. I take it that she's just busy. We all know real life sucks. Now, enjoy.

WHILE IN LOVE

TEN

I wasn't sure if it was ten seconds or ten minutes or ten yards or ten feet. It could have been ten steps or ten deep breaths. Or ten agonizing huge leaps…

All that matters is that I am now holding Lisa in my arms. I can feel her trembling…

"Shhh… It's okay now."

"I thought I'd die…"

I held her in my arms. I can feel her knees shaking. I tried to stabilize her… I don't think I succeeded because even I was shaking. I wasn't very successful in hiding it either.

"I thought I'd never see you again…"

"Shhh…"

"I thought we'd part with anger---"

"We will not part." I tried to compose myself and calmly spoke. "I'm sorry."

Well, that's my first.

She looked at me, wrapped her arms around me as I took her right hand and placed it to my chest, "This is my heart. From now on, I'd breathe if you'd tell me to breathe and I'll stop when you tell me to stop."

"Stupid." She whispered in my ears.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have been jealous. I shouldn't have let you---"

"Stupid. You're stupid." I noticed that she's bleeding from the small cuts brought about by the pieces of glass that flew around after impact. I'm so glad she had just crossed the parking lot and haven't boarded her car yet when the accident happened. I have seen that her car was crushed by the other vehicles. The ER personnel are busy triaging the ones involved that has major injury.

"I'm sorry---"

"You're stupid. This isn't your fault."

"Still…"

"Stupid!"

"I know."

The paramedics came and took her to sew her cuts.

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TRANQUILITY

"The rain stopped."

"In the center of a typhoon, there's no rain or wind. Only tranquility…"

"Then, we are in the center of a typhoon?" I asked her as she sat herself beside me on the shore looking up at the stormy evening sky.

Actually, it was just a weekend getaway when we impulsively bought a ticket to fly to Miami. It was only on Saturday morning after the travel of Friday evening when we learned that a storm was brewing. It was just Sunday afternoon when the rain slightly subsided. I immediately called for a ticket reservation to fly us back to New Jersey by Monday but the operator said that all flights were cancelled for the next three days because the typhoon's tail had not crossed the whole state.

That is why right now we are still trapped at the beach house we rented, looking over the violent waves of the sea.

"It's beautiful." She always makes it a point to make every single moment we are together worth remembering. She became romantic and extremely sentimental after the river incident. "What's the probability of seeing something like this?" She asked.

Something about what happened that day must've changed her. Maybe she had a vision of some sort. I don't know. I looked at her intensely and answered: "What's the probability of us meeting each other in a lifetime?"

We stared at each other's eyes. She smiled, "Like the probability of seeing a star during a typhoon." She pointed to the single star glowing proudly in the darkened sky.

A star indeed, in her eyes, I felt its warmth burning of love for me. I sighed, "Lisa…"

"Hmm?"

"I made up my mind. I'll cry for you, laugh for you and live for you. You're the center of my universe." I told her without even blinking.

"You're easily offended, obsessed and possessive. You are very rude when you're upset and jealous, but I like that." She stroked the edges of my face with her warm and calming hands.

I moved closer to her and wrapped my arms around her, as if my pain is non-existent. "I wish we could stay here forever."

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RULES

LISA'S 7 RULES TO BE HAPPY

1. Never hate.

2. Don't worry too much.

3. Live simple.

4. Expect little.

5. Give a lot.

6. Always smile.

7. Best of all---Stay close to Greg. He got to love me.

I laughed when I saw it.

I just woke up. No mouthwash, no breakfast… no nothing. And I just laughed. I rolled over my bed, stood up and took the piece of paper Lisa posted on the fridge door still laughing.

I never had a great laugh in my life until now.

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P.M.S.

Lisa wiped her cheeks off of tears. It melts my heart to watch her hurt.

"Stop CRYING!" I couldn't help it but raise my voice a little. I know I made her cry so many times before but now…

"I can't help it!"

I scratched my head. I like her angry and sassy, I don't like her breaking down. "JUST STOP!"

She sniffed and said, "I hate you."

"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are!"

She looked at me, confused. "What?"

"Dora the Explorer." I said dismissingly.

"I'm sorry…" She said, still not understanding.

"I quoted Jagger and Socrates before. I just thought I'd quote Dora…"

She stood up, shook her head and said: "I hate you."

Cuddy's assistant will be so dead tomorrow. Upsetting Cuddy like that…

Tsk, tsk.

Hot sex postponed. I stared at the ceiling blankly. Definitely disappointed.

She'd definitely have her menses in the next 3 days. I took the calendar and marked a huge "X" on the corresponding date while I made a mental note to include some yogurt and sprinkles in my grocery list for tomorrow.

I took the remote and turned the TV on. Dora the Explorer will be starting in 5 minutes, Spongebob in 15.

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SILENCE

"Lis," I called her name. We are on board a plane from South Korea. Finally, Lisa made it to fulfill her wish to go to Jeju Island and brought me along with her.

"What?"

"What were you doing when I saw you at the top of the hill?"

Silence.

My eyebrow arched contentiously before she called my name. "Greg…"

"What?"

"Let's go back to Jeju Island."

"Why?"

Silence.

"Let's just go back there same date next year." Lisa said.

Silence.

"Greg…"

"My silence means yes, Lisa. How long have you known me?"

Silence.

"And the year after next year…"

Silence.

"And the year after that?"

Silence.

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ROSES

"I may not always do or say the little things to let you know how much I appreciate you as a part of my life, but there's one thing I'm sure of. MY WORLD SMILES MORE SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU'RE IN IT."

Shit!

Seriously? Did Wilson actually think I'd tell Cuddy that? So scripted… I crumpled the piece of paper where he wrote the phrase and threw it.

How about: "I already gave you my heart. You should marry me." Sounds more like an order than an invitation. Sounds like a desperate virgin…

Maybe I should just…

Lisa finally arrived.

I chilled. I have been standing on my feet in the cold of the ice skating rink waiting for her to arrive. Today I have planned to pop the big question but I can't seem to find the right words.

I wouldn't want her to reject me. I wouldn't take her answer if it's "No". It's either a "Yes" or I'm walking away from her. But as usual, I am freaked by the idea that after such a long time of childish escapades I'd end up marrying my beloved enemy and boss. If ever she'd say "yes".

The idea of living together just presented itself and eventually happened. Nobody asked the question on who should move in with whom. I was glad that this relationship with Lisa wasn't as hard as I thought this would be. But the idea of marriage is a different thing. Someone got to ask the question. It wouldn't be wonderful for both of us if I wouldn't prepare anything for an engagement. I should at least try to make a proposal plan to make it special for both of us. I wanted something that we would remember during reminisce therapy when we're old. Besides, we wouldn't just present ourselves to a City Hall and say our "I dos" spontaneously.

"Hey," Lisa said, approaching me, hugging herself. "It's cold."

"I know."

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Since after I called you and asked you to come here."

"That was like 20 minutes ago!"

"20 minutes it is then. I'm freezing."

"Ohhh…" She came to me and hugged me, trying to keep me warm. "Why are we here?"

"I have something to tell you."

"Is this mine?" She said, taking the bouquet of roses I was trying to hide in my back.

"No. It's for the gate keeper." I rolled my eyes.

"Thank you," then she kissed me. "Sweet. What would you tell me?"

I took a deep breath and draw some strength. "There have been many times when I have disturbed you, troubled you, irritated you, bugged you. On this day---" I sighed. "On this day, I just want to say---"

I looked at her face, trying to read how she'll react.

"I just want to tell you---" I should say it. I should continue. I should--- I paused instead.

"Tell me what?"

"Tell. You. That."

She smiled and appeared obviously confused.

"Tell you t-that I plan to continue." I handed her the roses and took off.

She laughed. I know she appreciate the gesture. It's just that I can't---not now.

Not yet.

Please review. More fun things to come---and drama.

~mariel