MANILA - One thing the series writers of "The Story of Us" has always been very good at is portraying unflinching, selfish characters –be it when Tin (Kim Chiu) rejected her childhood sweetheart and married another man out of convenience, or when Macoy (Xian Lim) let his ego torture him into breaking the heart of the woman he loves.

Friday's finale was no exception, as Tin and Macoy, trapped in an island, became prisoners of the moment and found themselves locking lips, lost in a passionate reverie. "Mali ito," said Macoy as he pushed Tin away, remembering his love for Lucia (Shaina Magdayao) –the woman who trusted him when Tin did not.

They were saved soon after, and Tin and Macoy parted briefly.

Macoy, dejected as he recalls his feelings for Tin, apologized to Lucia, whose tear-filled eyes betrayed her words when she told him that she will have to let him go.

"Ang sabi ko, maghihintay ako na ako lang ang magiging laman ng puso mo, pero hindi ibig sabihin noon ay okay lang na kaming dalawa ang nandiyan," Lucia, referring to Tin, told Macoy. "Mahal kita pero mahal ko ang sarili ko."

Macoy replied with silence. He did not run after Lucia when she stormed out of the room. He knew the truth and it was that he could not earn back Lucia's trust in him.

Tin, meanwhile, talked to CJ, the man who gave her a second lease in life –to be blunt. She had nothing when she migrated to the U.S., and it was CJ who saw in her the potential to become someone better than a girl sweeping the floor of a beauty salon.

Tin did reject Macoy for CJ at one point, but she filed for divorced once she realized her mistake. It was a cold-hearted decision, but one that falls well within the character of Tin, who has been prone to jump ship once things get difficult in a relationship.

"It's still him?" CJ asked Tin despite already knowing her reply.

The most powerful moment from the episode came at the very end when Tin and Macoy met once again –this time, unburdened with financial issues that plagued the first chapters of their love story. With Lucia and CJ whisked away to the side, they are now better suited to embark on their road to forever.

But Macoy asked Tin to wait, wait for him to completely purge Lucia out of his heart so that he can snuggle her in there comfortably.

"Ang gusto ko kapag minahal kita ulit, gusto ko kagaya noong dati," he reasoned. "Tin, iyong higit pa sa buhay ko, iyong hindi na kailangan ng salita, iyong sapat na iyong bawat hininga ko para iparamdam sa iyo lahat ng nararamdaman ko."

It was a fitting end to the series, which has provided viewers a bleak, honest account of messy relationships that struggle to deal with problems with money and family throughout its four-month run. Love is selfish seems to be its message.

It's finding the one person in the world that you aren't willing to share with someone else, the person you'll do anything to get, and the person that makes you feel like that he or she is the only one you could possibly ever love.