"I'm sorry, hon, I couldn't make it. Nagkaroon lang ng kaunting aberya sa isang business deal, and it is something that I have to fix urgently. Don't wait for me tonight though, hindi ko alam kung ano'ng oras ako uuwi."

Bagsak ang mga balikat na sinulyapan ni Demani ang mesa kung saan naroon at nakahain na ang mga pagkaing ini-handa niya para sa gabing iyon. Kanina pa ang mga iyon naghihintay sa pag-uwi ni Van— only to be informed that he wouldn't make it to dinner. She felt bad but she understood the situation. Pilit siyang tumango na tila nasa harapan lang ang kausap.

"It's okay, honey. Please don't go home too late, and don't drive if you are too tired. Baka makatulog ka at maaksidente pa sa daan," paalala niya rito.

"I'm fine, babe. Uuwi ako mamaya pero siguradong tulog ka na sa oras na iyon. And don't wait up— hindi ko alam kung anong oras ako matatapos."

Lumabi siya. "You have been busy the whole week, honey, matutuloy pa ba ang bakasyon natin ngayong may aberya na naman sa negosyo?"

Malalim na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ni Van sa kabilang linya. "I am really sorry about this, babe. But I think we need to cancel the vacation. Hindi ko alam kung magagawan ko ng paraang maayos kaagad ang gusot na ito, pero hindi ako mapapanatag na magbakasyon kung hindi stable ang kompanya. Please bear with me, sweetheart, okay?"

"Okay..." marahan niyang sagot. Gusto niyang magtampo pero pinigilan niya ang sarili. Her husband is working hard for the future of their family. Alam niyang ang ginagawa nito'y para rin sa kinabukasan ng magiging mga anak nila. They have the lifetime to spend with each other, maliit na bagay lang ang bakasyon-bakasyon na iyon. Kapag naisaayos na ni Van ang gusot sa negosyo ay maaari nilang ituloy ang naunsiyaming bakasyon.

Sinulyapan niya ang oras na naka-sabit na malaking wall clock sa kusina. It's thirty minutes past nine. Her husband would surely come home very late.

"How about tomorrow, hon? Sabado bukas at may gusto akong bilhing carpet sa home depot. Masasamahan mo ba ako?"

"I'll try, babe, but I can't promise. Okay, I have to go, I have a call on the other line. I love you and see you later."

Akma niyang sasagutin ang sinabi nito subalit busy tone na ang sunod niyang narinig. With a heavy heart, she put back the phone on its cradle and took all the food out of the table.

*

*

*

Tunay nga sa inasahan niya, naging abala si Van sa pagta-trabaho sa study room nito sa buong Sabado. Kahit sa oras ng pagkain ay hindi ito lumalabas. Ayon dito ay nawawalan ito ng gana kapag ganoong may inaasikaso ito, kaya naman kumain siyang mag-isa— sa kabila nang naroon lang sa bahay ang asawa.

But then again, the next day's Sunday. And she needed to remind Van about it. Nataon din kasi na ang Linggong iyon ay espesyal dahil kaarawan ng daddy niya. So she and her husband should be at the party without question. Hinahanapan lang niya ng pagkakataon na sabihin iyon sa asawa, ganitong may suliranin ito.

Kaya nang hapon na iyon, ay nagkusa na siyang pasukin ito sa study room. Bitbit ang isang tasa ng kape ay pumasok siya at inabutan itong may binabasang mga dokumento. Lumapit siya sa study table nito at inilapag sa mesa ang dala.

"Thanks, babe," he said while his eyes remained on the papers.

Dumukwang siya sa desk upang kunin ang pansin nito. Hindi siya umalis doon hanggang sa hindi siya nito tapunan ng tingin.

"What's up?" he asked, smiling a little. Nasa mukha nito ang pagod at kahit ang pag-ngiti ay pilit na pilit.

"It's five in the afternoon and... I was wondering if we could still make it to the home depot?" aniya. "Are you still too busy to come with me?"

Napa-ungol ito, ipinikit ang mga mata saka hinagod ang batok. "Ahhh, shit. Nawala sa isip ko ang tungkol sa lakad natin ngayon." Nagmulat ito at sandali siyang tinitigan bago bumuntong-hininga at ginagap ang kamay niya. "I have been busy these past few days. I just really need to fix this problem in the company before something bad happens. There are hundreds of people working in the company and most of them have families to support. Hindi ko pwedeng pabayaang tuluyang bumagsak ang kompanya, I'm so sorry, babe..."

Pilit siyang ngumiti. "Naiintindihan ko, at hindi ako nagrereklamo. Pasensya ka na rin kung inaabala kita sa maliliit na mga bagay. Gusto ko lang na kasama kita sa lahat ng gagawin ko para sa tahanan natin. But if you're still busy, don't worry. Makapaghihintay naman ang plano kong palitan ang kulay ng carpet natin sa itaas." She giggled to make the situation light for him.

He smiled back at her. "You know what, hon? I think I should give myself a little bit of a break. How about we go out tomorrow? Do you wanna go shopping? Spa and full-body massage? We'll grab lunch in a fancy restaurant and club-hopping in the evening. Let's have a good time tomorrow."

That was the chance she was waiting for the whole day. She bit her lower lip and hesitated at first— but she thought it was now or never. "That's another thing, hon. Gusto kong ipaalala sa iyo na Linggo bukas at... birthday ni Daddy. The family is expecting us to be there."

Van's smile disappeared in an instance. Kahit ang pagkakahawak nito sa kamay niya ay bahagyang lumuwag. Sandali itong nag-isip, at pigil ang hiningang in-antabayanan niya ang susunod nitong sasabihin.

Until his lips stretched for a smile. "Yeah, sure. Let's see your family tomorrow."

Naka-hinga siya nang maluwag at nagpakawala ng malapad na ngiti. Tumayo siya at dumukwang upang halikan ang asawa. She was planning to give him a quick and gentle kiss, but his hand went at the back of her head to pull her closer. Thus, the kiss deepened.

They kiss for a long moment— hot and deep— until he released her and stared at her fiery eyes.

"I think I'll have a two-hour break."

She frowned. "Two-hour break?"

He grinned sheepishly. "Yeah. And I want to spend it in the bedroom with my wife." Tumayo ito at umikot sa kinaroroonan niya. Nang makalapit ay kinuha nito ang aluminum tray mula sa kaniya, inilapag iyon sa ibabaw ng desk nito at binuhat siya.

"Let's go, wife. I'm craving for you."

*

*

*

"Why are you alone here, Van?"

Nag-mulat siya at tiningala ang taong nagsalita. It was Demani's uncle— ang panganay sa tatlong anak ni Lola Val, si Uncle Lau. Ito ang ama ng kambal na sina Maureen at Coreen; may katabaan ng kaunti at ang buhok ay naka-kalbo na. He was holding a bottle of the family's favorite organic beer.

Naroon siya sa hardin at naka-higa sa wooden bench na sinisilungan ng malaking puno ng acacia. The ladies of the family are in the kitchen, cooking, while the boys are at the porch, having their drinks. Kanina ay kasama niya ang mga ito roon, but he excused himself and went to the garden. Ang isa pang lalaking anak ni Lola Val na si Uncle Larry, at ang nag-iisa nitong anak na lalaki na si Levi ay nag-uusap tungkol sa mga sinu-suportahang basketball teams, habang ang asawa naman ni Maureen na si Jimmy ay nagku-kwento tungkol sa malaking halagang naipatalo nito sa sabong— perang hindi alam ni Maureen na nawala na parang bula. Jimmy had a small factory of handbags and shoes at maayos nitong napapa-takbo ang negosyo, kaya hindi ito namo-morblema sa pera. Habang ang asawa naman ni Coreen na si Sam, tulad niya, ay tahimik na nakikinig. Wala siyang mai-kwento sa mga ito, and he couldn't even relate to their topics, so he just chose to leave and go somewhere else.

He had nothing against the family's Sunday-get together. Naisip niyang maganda iyon upang lalo siyang mapalapit sa buong pamilya. They were all nice people. It's just that— he didn't share the same interests as them.

Most of the time, he'd find his day around all the family members boring and unenjoyable. At nanghihinayang siya sa oras na sana ay magkasama sila ng asawa niya, spending time together, o kung hindi man ay sa trabahong nagawa sana niya sa buong araw na iyon.

Oh well. He's part of this family now. Kailangan niyang magtiis at makisama.

Bumangon siya mula sa pagkakahiga at nginitian si Uncle Lau. "I was just having a nap, Uncle. Madaling araw na akong natulog kagabi dahil sa pagta-trabaho."

Tumango ito at tumabi sa kaniya. Uncle Lau was a nice and friendly person, and he liked him. Well, lahat naman sa pamilya ay gusto niya at puro mababait— maliban kay Sam.

"I admire how hardworking you are, Van. I really like people like you— masipag at may pangarap. I hope my sons-in-law are like you."

Lihim siyang napa-ismid. "Jimmy's business is doing well, based on his stories. Aren't you proud of him?"

Umiling ito. "Akala mo lang. Pero ilang beses nang umuutang sa akin ang batang iyon sa loob ng isang buwan. His business is still running because of my money. Without my help, he is probably drowning with bank loans now. Kung hindi lang ako naaawa kay Maureen na malapit nang manganak at pinabayaan ko na ang batang iyon."

He was expecting to hear sympathy and sadness in Uncle Lau's voice, but there was none. Ang nahihimigan niya ay disappointment. And a little bit of anger— which was unusual. He never saw Uncle Lau got mad about anything in the past three months since he joined the family.

Nagpatuloy ang may-edad na lalaki. "That boy is ambitious, but he didn't know how to hustle well. I have been a businessman for three decades and I've never asked for any assistance from my parents when I was starting. Ginapang ko ang negosyo ko noon nang mag-isa. Hanggang sa mag-retire ako." Pumalatak ito at tinungga ang hawak na alak. Ilang sandali pa'y nagpatuloy ito. "Coreen's husband is the worst. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nakita ng anak ko roon at pinatulan. He doesn't even look attractive, my wife says. Kulang sa diskarte sa buhay! Mantakin mong sa loob ng ilang buwang wala siyang trabaho ay kami ng asawa ko ang bumibili ng groceries nila? Coreen's earnings from that ticketing outlet are not enough to support her whole family! Ahhh, I blame this on the family tradition; kung hindi sa tradisyon ng pamilya ay matagal ko nang tinulungan ang anak kong iyon na mag-file ng annulment."

If you only knew what Sam did to Coreen's fortnight earnings, Uncle...

Nagpatuloy si Uncle Lau, "My sons-in-law did nothing but disappoint me, Van." Sandali itong huminto saka huminga ng malalim. "If I could only choose, I would rather have you as my son-in-law. You are way better than those two. Nakikita ko ang sarili ko sa iyo."

Yeah, we probably are alike, Uncle, he whispered in his mind. Because we both think that the family traditions are more like a curse than anything else. Helping each other get through their problems is okay, but the family goes overboard about it most of the time. And I don't like it.

Gusto niyang isatinig iyon, but he didn't know what's stopping him. Marahil dahil ayaw niyang maki-sali sa problema ng pamilya? So he would rather just keep his mouth shut than say something that would trigger more issues in the family? Nag-aalala siyang baka ang opinyon niya ay maging simula ng mas malalim na hindi pagkakaunawaan.

I just don't like getting involved in family problems. I am not used to this— since I grew up without a family. Tsk, this is why I don't feel good coming to Sunday family-get-together. Too many dramas to handle.

"Hey boys, lunch is ready!"

Sabay silang napalingon nang marinig si Demani. Napa-ngiti siya nang makita ang asawa. She was wearing a pretty yellow summer dress, making her look adorable. His determination to make his wife happy was the only reason why he's here in this situation. Kung hindi dahil dito ay hindi siya magtitiis.

Nang makalapit si Demani ay tumayo na si Uncle Lau. The old man turned to him and tapped his shoulder. "Well, let's go, hijo. Kanina pa ako gutom at mukhang ihip na ihip na si Luis sa birthday cake niya."

Luis was Demani's father.

Naunang umalis si Uncle Lau. Tumayo na rin siya at lumapit sa asawa saka inakbayan ito.

"Ano'ng pinag-usapan ninyo ni Uncle?" tanong ni Demani habang naglalakad na sila patungo sa loob ng bahay.

"Business, as usual," tipid niyang sagot. He kissed her on the top of her head, then he chuckled. "You smell like fried chicken..."

Bumusangot it. Akma itong sasagot nang muli siyang nagsalita,

"And I like it. Alam mong paborito ko ang fried chicken," naka-ngisi niyang sabi na ikina-tawa nito.