"Good morning..." masayang bati ko kay Aidan nang mag-mulat siya ng kaniyang mga mata.

Gumuhit ang isang magandang ngiti sakanyang labi bago muling pumikit, he then reached for my hand and pulled me back to bed. "Dito ka muna... antok pa ko."

Natatawang yumakap naman ako sakanya, I felt him kissed the top of my head and hugged me protectively.

"Tumawag si mommy, kaya nagising ako."

"Ano daw sabi?" He started stroking the strands of my hair gently. "Hmm?"

"Romee is awake, sa susunod na araw ay ididischarge na siya." Tiningala ko siya at masayang nginitian. "I'm so happy, Aidan..."

"And I'm the happiest to see you happy..." he bent down to capture my lips in a brief but sweet kiss.

Lalo akong sumiksik ng yakap sakanya, burying my face on his chest. A throaty chuckle came out of his lips then he tightened his embrace, I can't help but feel better and better.

I planted soft kisses on his naked chest and draw soft circles on his back where my fingers are resting.

"Sarap ng ginagawa mo, baka hindi na tayo makabangon pag pinag-patuloy mo..." he groaned.

Doon ako huminto bago siya tingalain at kunutan ng noo. "You said you'll date me!"

Malakas na halakhak ang kaniyang pinakawalan bago pisilin ang aking ilong. "Will you stop being cute?"

Bumangon ako mula sa pagkakahiga sakanyang tabi at mas lalo siyang sinimangutan, hinampas ko ang kanyang hita na nakadantay sakin.

"Aidan! Bangon na!"

"Mamaya..." he chuckled softly.

"Dali na, ready mo na yung warm bath namin ni baby." I said, bago muling paluin ang kaniyang hita.

He reached for my hand and held it. Nakapikit parin ito.

"Excited ako, Aidan. This will be my first date in the history of everything. Kaso nababawasan yung excitement ko kasi parang hindi ka naman excited..." kunwaring pagtatampo ko.

Pinigilan kong mapangisi nang bumangon siyang kaagad. Gising na gising ang diwa. "Dammit, who's not excited about this?"

Natatawang mahinang sinampal ko ang kaniyang pisngi. "Sige na, ready mo na yung warm bath namin."

The trick played so nice with Aidan, mabilis ang naging kaniyang pagkilos. Matapos kong maligo ay siya naman, I changed into my simple jeans and shirt with my sneakers on.

Ilang sandali pa ay sabay na kaming lumabas ng silid, nang makababa kami ng hagdan ay siya namang pag-pasok ni Reid sa double door ng kabahayan.

He stopped his track when he saw us, sandaling nag-tama ang aming mga mata bago lumipat ang tingin nito kay Aidan atsaka muling ibinalik sakin.

"Hi, I didn't know you're home." I said, breaking the awkward silence.

Hindi ito nag-salita ngunit nakita ko ang kaunting kibot ng mga kilay nitong pirming nakasalubong.

"You jogged?" Obviously, he's on his runners. "Anyway, Reid this is Aidan, Aidan he's my brother Reid."

They've known each other, I know. But I still have to formally introduce them to each other, of course.

Isang ngiti ang binigay dito ni Aidan, but being Reid that he is, he didn't respond. Bumaba lamang ang tingin nito sa mga kamay namin ni Aidan na magkahawak bago muli umangat sakin.

"Reid..."

Mula sa hagdan ay narinig ko ang isang tinig, agad akong napalingon doon. I was a little surprised to see Spring walking down the stairs in her crimson silk blouse and dark jeans, mukha itong bagong paligo.

Spring smiled awkwardly at me, nang mapabaling saking kinatatayuan, nakita kong napanguso ito nang makita si Aidan. Bago ngumisi.

"Hi, Aidan." Lumapit siya saamin upang humalik sa pisngi ni Aidan, na ngayon ay kunot na kunot na ang noo.

Spring then turned to me.

"Hi, Paris. I've heard about your pregnancy, congratulations." She smiled.

"Thank you."

"Why are you here?" Medyo maaskad ang pagkakatanong ni Aidan dito.

Aidan and Spring are cousins, iyon ang pagkakaalam ko. Though Spring and her sisters doesn't carry the Castañedas name.

Si Spring naman ay umatras samin at lumapit kay Reid na ngayon ay nakatuon lamang ang atensyon dito, it's as if only Spring exists now.

"Why did you shower? I told you to wait for me." It was Reid.

My eyes widened. Nakita kong bahagyang nailang si Spring at palihim na siniko ang aking kapatid.

"You left your phone, your mom called. Romee is awake, maaari na daw natin siyang bisitahin." Sabi nito kay Reid.

"That's good news." He said, encircling his arms to Spring's waist and started walking back at the stairs.

Binalingan ako ni Reid bago tuluyang umakyat ng hagdan.

"We'll talk later, Paris." Iyon lamang at tinangay na nito si Spring paakyat ng kabahayan.

"Bye, Aidan! Bye, Paris!" Nagawa pa iyong sabihin ni Spring.

Nilingon ko si Aidan nang tuluyan ng mawala ang mga ito saming paningin upang tumuloy sa silid ni Reid.

"Buti pa sila, pwede pasyalan si Ro." I sighed.

Agad ko namang nakuha ang kanyang atensyon. He looked at me and sighed gently. "Iuuwi rin naman rito si Romee, don't be sad..."

Ngumiti ako atsaka tumango. Aidan always have the right words for everything.

After eating an egg and toast for breakfast, umalis na kami ni Aidan. I even find it cute that he asked for a bottle of water to our maid, akala ko kung para saan, iyon pala'y dadalhin namin sa byahe dahil baka daw mauhaw ako. He's always the most caring.

With ankles crossed and my knees leaning against the center console, I watch Aidan slide into the driver's seat, starting the engine with the push of a button. I want to touch him and run my fingers through his hair. Rubbing my hands together, I force them into submission. Observing his movements, a sigh escapes my lips. I adore the subtle tilt of his head when he turns onto the road. Every movement seems as though he's planned it out ahead of time. Feeling a chill, I rub my arms.

"Aidan, where are we going?" I asked, setting my eyes outside the tinted window.

"Secret..."

Binalingan ko ito at pinaningkitan ng mga mata, he's not looking at me, but there's a mischievous smile on his face. Marahan niyang inabot ang aking kamay at hinalikan ang likuran ng aking palad.

"Saan nga?" Pangungulit ko parin.

"Basta nga, surprise." Tumawa siya.

I sighed, hindi na ako nag-pumilit pa. I may be really curious, but the thing is, hindi rin naman sasabihin sakin ni Aidan ang sagot. So, I rather wait.

"Nauuhaw ka?" Tanong niya sakin makalipas ang ilang sandali.

Nilingon ko siya at inilingan, napatingin ako sakanyang mga labi. I sighed, I suddenly want to kiss him. I just feel like kissing him.

"Hmm?" He made a sound, nang mapansin na nakatitig na ako sakanya.

"Malayo pa ba tayo?"

Bahagya niya akong nilingon. "Naiinip ka na ba?"

"Hindi naman. Gusto kasi kitang i-kiss."

Nakita ko kung paan siya natigilan sa sinabi ko. Why? Is there anything wrong on what I said? I was just stating a fact. I really do wanna kiss him. Bawal ba yun? He's the father of my child, my fiancé.

"Fiancés do kiss."

He gave me a sideway glance before focusing back on the road, I can see him hide a smile after clearing his throat. "We'll kiss later, baby. Don't distract me."

"Hmp!" Inirapan ko siya at hinila ang aking kamay mula sakanyang pagkakahawak, humalukipkip ako atsaka ibinaling ang aking mga mata sa labas ng bintana.

Lumipas ang ilang sandali at idinuyan ako ng inis na aking nararamdaman sa pag-tulog. Nagising na lamang ako nang makaramdam ng kakaibang kiliti saking pisngi, patungo saking tenga. Agad akong napapiksi.

I gasped when I saw Aidan leaning on me, planting soft and tiny kisses all over my face. Bago pa ako makagalaw ay nakababa na ang kaniyang labi sakin, sealing my lips in a smooth and gentle kiss.

Agad na nag-laho ang inis na nararamdaman ko kanikanina lang.

His warm lips were gentle, but film. He drew away quickly and I want to pull him back. But I stopped myself. I don't know what's happening on me that heat rapidly engulfed my body.

"We're here..." he said.

Agad naman akong napaayos ng upo, matapos ay lumigid agad ang aking mga mata. Naramdaman ko ang pag-labas ni Aidan sa sasakyan, maya-maya pa'y pinag-buksan niya na ako ng pinto at inalalayan palabas ng sasakyan.

I looked around, the broad leaves shrubbery gossiped softly with the wind. I looked down at my wrist watch, it's just seven in the morning.

"Naiinitan ka? Gusto mo ng payong?" Tanong niya nang mapansing tinignan ko ang aking balat.

I shook my head and smiled at him.

"Good mood na baby ko ah..." he smiled back.

"That's because of the release of endorphins after being exposed to sunlight." I excused.

"Don't go scientifically smart on me," a smug smile crept his lips. "Your in the mood, because of..."

Sadya niyang binitin ang kaniyang sinasabi bago bumaba ang kaniyang mga tingin saking labi. Agad namang nag-init ang aking mukha sa nais ipahiwatig ng kaniyang mga tingin.

He let out a brief chuckle and bent down, giving me a quick peck. "I like it when you blush."

Sinimangutan ko siya at mahinang tinampal sa pisngi. "Magnanakaw!"

"Edi bawiin mo!" Parang batang sagot niya bago patulisin ang nguso.

Napairap ako. "Ewan ko sayo, Aidan! Nasaan na ba tayo?"

Itinulak ko siya upang makapag-lakad at ma-estima ang paligid. Agad naman siyang umagapay sakin. His arm rested on the small of my back.

"This property was owned by my grandfather, I liked it and so he gave it to me." Narinig kong sabi niya.

Napahinto ako nang marating namin ang isang apple orchard. My eyes widened in disbelief, am I really seeing things?

The orchard at the end of the lane is nothing like the big commercial operations. I saw an old man who probably lives here, plants only heirloom varieties. Their skins are works of art, perfect blends of red, yellow and green in patterns any hand could never paint. But better than that, they aren't shiny.

"Can we go near the apples?" I turned to Aidan and ask permission, before I look back at the apples like I don't wanna lose contact with them.

He chuckled, maybe because of the excitement he sees on my face. "Of course..."

Muli niya akong inalalayang patungo sa mas malapitang tanaw. I've seen different orchards, but none of them seems to have an appeal on me, kung paanong nakukuha ako ng tanawin saking harapan ngayon.

Their sizes are as uneven as beach pebbles and you can't predict the flavour unless you know the variety. They have brown spots and the occasional worm – they're real apples. They don't shine since they aren't coated with wax, and in their dullness I feel safe enough to take a bite. No chemicals, no trucking between states, just fruit right off the tree.

Bago pa ako makapag-paalam kay Aidan ay umabot na kaniyang kamay sa isa sa mga mansanas, I looked up at him and watch him took a bite. He smiled and hand me the apple.

"It's sweet..." he said.

Kinuha ko iyon mula sa kaniyang kamay atsaka pinaunlakan ang aking sarili para sa isang kagat, na agad pang nasundan nang matanto ko ang katamisan nun.

"Masarap?"

Magkakasunod na tango ang aking ginawa. I beamed like a kid. "Sarap, Aidan!"

There is nothing mathematical about the growth of the apple trees, or at least I challenge anyone to prove otherwise. The boughs twist like a bunch of pipe-cleaners after a pre-K class has been at them. True, they seek the light in their upturned wine glass shape, but in their own chaotic way. Were it not for pruning they would be more unruly still with small off shoots determined to grow fruits they could not support. They'd look more like my bed-head in the mornings than trees. Even with pruning the orchard is all the more beautiful for its wildness.

"Aidan, nariyan na pala kayo." Tila doon lang kami napansin nang matandang lalaking abalang abala sa pamimitas ng mansanas.

Agad akong inakay ni Aidan papalapit rito. "Tatang Sebio, kadarating lang ho namin."

Akmang aabutin niya ang kamay ng matanda upang mag-mano nang iwaksi nito iyon. "Naku, madumi ang kamay ko!"

"Si Tatang talaga." Natatawang nailing na lamang si Aidan, binalingan niya ako upang ipakilala sa matanda. "Tang, si Paris ho..."

Nagtama ang aming mga mata, slowly his lips curved a smile. Sinuklian ko naman iyon.

"Mapapang-asawa ko..."

There's nothing wrong about what he said or on how he introduced me, but my heart just suddenly went into its abnormal beating. It's crazy.

"Nabalitaan ko nga noong nakaraang araw na mapasyal rito sina Antonio at Laura." Ngumiti sakin ang matanda.

"Magandang umaga po." Bati ko.

"Magandang araw sayo, hija. Pagka-ganda-ganda mo naman, aba'y Aidan wag mong bibigyan ito ng sakit ng ulo."

"Tatang naman, good boy ako." Natatawang inakbayan ako ni Aidan.

"Nag-agahan na ba kayo? Pumasok muna kayo sa loob at naroon si Senang."

"Tapos na ho, Tang." Sabi niya sa matanda, "pwede ho ba kaming makahiram ng basket pipitas lang kami ng mansanas. Ito kasi ang pinaglilihian ng misis ko."

Muli kong pinakiramdaman ang karerahan ng dagundong saking dibdib. What's wrong with his words ba?!

"Ipagpipitas ko nalang kayo, baka mapagod pa itong si Paris." Sabi ng matanda.

"Hindi ho, Tang. Hindi ko naman pababayaan ang mag-ina ko." Paniniguro ni Aidan, he even turned to me and winked.

Pinahintulutan naman na kami ng matanda at inabot kay Aidan ang isang katamtamang laking basket. Inakay niya ko patungo sa gitna ng orchard.

Honeycrisp apple trees grows no more than fifteen feet tall, kaya naman abot kamay lang halos ang ibang bunga nito. Samantalang ang mga nasa tuktok na na bahagi ay bahagya ng kailangang gamitan ng hagdanan upang matungtungan.

"Apples bruise easily, so they must be picked from the tree by hand rather than by machine." Paliwanag ni Aidan. "If you see spots that are rotten, dark brown, or too soft, the apple has likely already gone bad."

Pumitas siya ng isang mansanas at pinakita iyon sakin, the apple looks perfect. I smiled, inabot ko iyon at ako mismo ang naglapag sa basket na bitbit nito.

"Blemishes or lack of shininess do not automatically mean the apple is bad. Blemishes are a natural part of growing and are not the same as bruises or rotten spots." Dagdag pa niya.

"How about the sweetness? Paanong nalaman mong matamis ito?" Inangat ko ang mansanas na kinagatan namin kanina, kinuha naman niya iyon at kumagat muli roon.

"In general, apples tend to be a full red or slightly orange color when they are fully ripe. Granny Smith and Golden delicious are green and yellow, respectively, but otherwise an apple with a lot of green on it is probably not very ripe. So, we usually want to get the most red we can find." He explained.

Doon ako tumango, I twitched my lips. "Oh yeah, I remember reading it somewhere that apples with a full color have absorbed a lot of sunlight, so they tend to be more flavorful than dull looking apples."

Lumawak ang kaniyang ngiti kasabay ng pag-tango. I always see that kind of smile on his face every time I'm explaining things based on what I've learned.

"Apples won't always be one solid color, but if half of the apple is still green, when it should be red, it has not ripened evenly and may not be the best choice." Sabi pa niya.

"Kaya pag sa stores na nabibili ang apple, mostly they're coated. It attracts people." I said.

"Ah-huh..."

Umangat ang kamay niya upang muling pumitas ng mansanas. Inabot niya iyon sakin, kinuha ko naman.

"Hold the apple between your thumb and your index finger. Squeeze the apple gently. You don't want to squeeze too hard or you will bruise it." He instructed.

I did. In a gentle squeeze, I know it was firm.

"If you give it a light squeeze and it doesn't squish, that's a good apple."

"It is!" I beamed and put it on the basket.

God, I'm enjoying it! I'm learning new things! This one is probably more fun than movie dates I've seen in chick flicks.

Umabot na naman ang kamay niya sa mansanas atsaka iyon muling binigay sakin. Magkahinang ang aming mga mata, he smiled at me so gently.

"Sniff the apple..." he said, I did. "If an apple is getting past its prime freshness, you can often tell by the smell. Give the apple a sniff and if it smells bad, it probably is. Good apples will have a pleasant aroma, while apples that have gone bad will smell rotten."

"It smells good, Aidan." I said, placing the apple inside the basket.

"It's not an exact science but the smell is a strong indicator of quality."

Ilang sandali pa kaming nag-ikot-ikot ni Aidan at halos mapangalahati rin namin ang basket, bago niya ako niyayang tumuloy na sa bahay na tinutukoy kanina ng matandang lalaki.

"Mainit na masyado, hindi na maganda sa kalusugan." Sabi niya nang makapasok kami sa kabahayan.

"Yup. Age gets blamed for wrinkles and rough, dry skin. But the real culprit is a combination of age and sun that dermatologists call photoaging. The short UVB wavelengths that cause sunburn can also damage DNA and suppress the skin's immune system. The longer, more penetrating UVA wavelengths may create highly reactive oxygen molecules capable of damaging skin cell membranes and the DNA inside." Napahinto ako nang mapansin na nakatitig na lamang siya sakin, with that stupid smile again. "What?"

Oh, shoot my mouth!

Napanguso ako at napahagikgik. "Sorry, ang daldal ko."

"You know I like it." He chuckled.

Ngitian ko lamang siya atsaka inilibot ang aking tingin sa paligid. The house was long and narrow, perhaps only twelve feet wide at the front, but it stretched some thirty feet back like a giant shoe box. It was two stories high and had a one story extension at the rear for the kitchen. The wooden framed sash windows were propped open with sticks and the brick work, a jaunty yellow. A small rose garden had been planted in front, obviously carefully planted and loved, was never riddled with weeds.

From the kitchen an old woman came out, not the kind you pity with their old bones and feeble limbs, but the kind who could still run an army kitchen given half a chance.

"Nanang.." Agad akong inakay ni Aidan patungo sa matanda na siya namang sumalubong samin.

Nag-mano si Aidan, kaya naman ganoon rin ang ginawa ko.

"Pagkaganda-gandang bata naman nito, Aidan." Nakangiting sabi ng matanda. "Siya na ba ang tinutukoy ni Laura na mapapang-asawa mo?"

Napakamot ng ulo si Aidan bago magaang na ngumiti. "Si Paris po, Nang. Opo, siya ho ang mapapang-asawa ko. Paris, si Nanang Senang. Asawa ni Tatang Sebio."

"Hello po..." sabi ko.

"Nagugutom na ba kayo? Halina kayo, mag-hahanda ako ng makakain." Paanyaya nito.

Nilingon ako ni Aidan. "Do you wanna eat?"

Umiling ako. "I wanna sit and rest."

Natawa naman siya. "Pagpapahingahin ko muna si Paris, Nang. Bababa nalang po kasi para sa tanghalian."

"Siya sige, mabuti pa nga." Ngiting-ngiting sabi ng matanda.

Inalalayan ako ni Aidan paakyat sa ikalawang palapag kung saan naroon ang silid niya.

"Are you sleepy?" He asked.

Umiling ako, nilapitan ko ang kama sa sentro ng silid at doon ako naupo. Nakamasid parin ito sakin. I smiled at him and raised my leg, showing him my foot covered with sneakers. I just wagged my brows and Aidan knows what to do.

Tumatawang lumakad ito papalapit sakin atsaka tumalungko saking harapan upang tanggalin ang aking sapatos.

"Masakit paa mo?" He asked, gently massaging my foot.

Umiling ako. "Pero masarap yan, massage mo lang."

Lalo siyang natawa. "Are you enjoying?"

"So far..." I nodded, then requested like a kid. "Balik tayo sa apples mamaya pag di na masyadong mainit..."

"As you wish..."

And I wish that this day will never end.