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"Hey, I got to wondering..." she started as she folded his pants and placed them into the luggage bag. "Kung ganito ang kasalukuyan mong sitwasyon, papaano mo nagagawang bihisan ang sarili mo? I mean, how are you able to put on your pants?"

Van was silent for a little while, pinag-iisipan kung ano ang tamang sagot na ibibigay kay Demani. Papaano nito sasabihin sa asawa na kaya naman nitong tumayo basta nakaalalay lang siya sa pader? Ang problema lang niya ay tuwid na paglalakad, his knees were juggling whenever he took steps. But he could definitely still stand and move his legs.

Bahaw na ngiti ang pinakawalan ni Van. "Do you really want to know?"

Wala sa loob na nagkibit-balikat si Demani, ang pansin ay naroon pa rin sa pagtutupi ng mga damit na isasama sa pag-empake.

"I can't decide kung anong mga damit ang dadalhin mo. I've checked the season in Arizona and it says it's gonna be summer next month. Kailangan mo ng maninipis at komportableng mga damit, but I can't find more shirts or lose sando in here. Kailangang presko ang pakiramdam mo kaya mukhang kailangan nating mamili ng mga isusuot mo. You only have a few here."

Si Van na nanatiling naka-tanga lang sa pagkamangha ay hindi naka-apuhap ng sasabihin. Demani was acting like how she used to. Maasikaso.

Nagpatuloy si Demani. "I'll borrow the car and go to the city, I'll buy you some clothes. Tutal ay magiging abala ka buong maghapon ay lalabas na muna ako." Nilingon nito si Van na hindi pa rin makapagsalita. "Of course babayaran mo 'yon."

"You... didn't have to bother yourself—"

"Well, it is my job dahil kasama ito sa obligasyon ko sa'yo bilang asawa mo. Isn't this why I am here?"

"Well..."

"Come on, alam kong hindi kayang dalhin ng pride mo na gawin ko ito para sa'yo, but let's throw your ego out of the window and allow me to just fulfill my responsibility. Anyway, you also need a few more pair of socks and pants. My gosh, Van. Hindi ka ba nagsa-shopping sa nakalipas na dalawang taon? These clothese were the same clothes you had before. At dahil pumayat ka dahil sa nangyari sa'yo ay maluwag na ang mga ito. Maybe you'll fit in medium shirts; I'll see what I can get."

Matagal na hindi nakapagsalita si Van kaya muli itong nilingon ni Demani.

"What? Natulala ka na riyan."

Doon lang nagpakawala ng ngiti si Van. Ngiti na puno ng samut saring damdamin na hindi kayang pangalanan isa-isa ni Demani. Hanggang sa...

"Thank you," he said, sincerity was all over his face. "Thank you for doing this, Demani. I truly appreciate it."

She nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders and closed the closet. Tumayo na ito at inisilid ang mga natuping damit sa maleta.

"Itatabi ko na muna ito rito; I'll just change my outfit and leave afterwards. Prepare your card."

Humakbang si Demani patungo sa pinto; si Van na nasa gilid niyon ay nakasunod lang ang tingin.

Hoping his wife would notice. Hoping she'd notice that he still cared.