Ahn got in, which was surprisingly easy for her. Pagkarating nila sa office, ipinakilala lang siya ni Greg sa tita nito na nasa HR, then she reviewed her application, asked her a few questions and then 'Welcome to the company' agad. Tinanong pa niya ng ilang beses kung seryoso ba ito.

"Ni-recommend ka ng pamangkin ko. Sapat na iyon," nakangiti nitong sabi sa kanya. "Sayang nga lang at married ka na pala."

She ignored that remark and simple said thanks before exiting the office. She was given the rest of the week para ayusin ang mga requirements sa trabaho, tapos next week ay magsisimula na siya.

Dahil tuwang-tuwa siya at swerteng may trabaho na siya agad, inilibre nya ng lunch si Greg. At doon nito inamin sa kanya na crush siya nito simula noong mga unang araw pa lang nila sa OJT.

"Akala ko talaga wala kang boyfriend noon."

Ngumiti na lamang siya, not wanting to give him any reason to pry.

"Bakit nga pala hindi kayo sa simbahan ikinasal?"

Bakit nga ba? Gusto niyang isa-isahin dito ang mga dahilan. Tapos ay iiyak siya ay magmumukmok. Pero hindi pwede.

"We'll have a church wedding, just not now," pagsisinungaling niya.

"A, so para kayong yung ibang couples na gusto kasal na sa huwes, kasal pa sa simbahan."

"Yeah, something like that."

After nilang mananghalian, Greg offered na ihatid siya kahit hanggang sakayan lang. Kung dati siguro, walang kaso iyon, kaya lang ay kasal na siya. People might start spreading rumors na ikagagalit ni Ken. Ayaw na niyang dagdagan pa ang gulo.

So she politely refused Greg. Tumungo siya sa sakayan mag-isa. Ken called her before she could board the van.

"Bakit hindi ka nagrereply?" bungad nitong tanong.

"Kailangan ba?"

She heard him exhale sharply. "Where are you?"

"Pauwi na."

"Kumain ka na ng lunch?"

"Yeah."

"Kumusta yung interview mo?"

"Hindi ako tanggap dun sa una. Buti na lang nagkita kami ni Greg—"

"Greg?" She could hear his voice becoming edgy.

"Yes, si Greg, yung ka-OJT ko dati. Inilakad nya yung application ko so okay na, may trabaho na 'ko," she explained.

"Ken?" she called out when he didn't respond.

"I'm busy. We'll talk later."

"Oh. Oka—"

Kumunot ang noo niya nang pagbabaan siya nito ng phone. Napakasungit naman yata nito ngayong araw.

--

Nawala sa trabaho ang focus ni Ken. Greg? That Greg again? Ang kapal naman ng mukha nitong lapitan si Ahn at alukin ng trabaho. She's already married! To him! Damn!

He had no choice but to sit and work and wait for the day to end. Alas syete pa sya makauuwi dahil tanghali na siyang pumasok kanina. Pagkatapos na pagkatapos niya ay agad siyang nagpunta sa parking lot. Gutom na gutom na siya pero mas minabuti niyang sa bahay na lang kumain. His hunger can wait.

Pagdating niya sa bahay, naabutan niya si Ahn na nagluluto ng pagkain nito. She didn't even throw him a glance when he went in.

"Kanina ka pa?" tanong niya.

"Oo," sagot nito.

"What are you cooking?"

"My dinner."

"Sa 'yo lang?"

Saka lang ito lumingon sa kanya. "Sa pagkakaalam ko, ayaw mo ng luto ko."

"I didn't say that."

"And I thought you already ate," dagdag pa nito.

"Mas gusto kong kumain dito."

"Then cook your own dinner."

Nilapitan niya ito. Nakataas ang buhok ni Ahn into a messy bun, kaya kitang-kita ang mabuti nitong batok. He suddenly had the urge to hug her from behind.

Nakita niyang naggigisa ito ng corned beef. He could easily whip up a better dinner, if she could just wait—which she obviously can't. Muntikan pa silang magkabungguan when she turned around to get a plate.

"Kasya na naman siguro sa dalawa yan," sabi niya nang mailipat nito ang corned beef sa plato.

"Gutom na gutom ako," sagot nito sa kanya.

"Gutom na gutom na rin ako, Ahn. Pwede naman tayong mag-share e. Ipagluluto na lang ulit kita."

Napabuntong-hininga ito saka tiningnan siya ng mataman. Grunting, she took another plate and placed half of the corned beef there.

"Kapag nagreklamo ka ulit sa luto ko—"

"I won't complain." Nginitian niya ito. "Thank you."

--

Kanina lang ay galit ito, tapos ngayon naman, nakangiti si Ken? At wala rin siyang narinig na ni isang reklamo habang kumakain ito ng luto niya. Ano ba talaga ang trip nito sa buhay?

"When will you start working?" he asked.

"Next week."

"Magkasama ba kayo ni Greg sa office?"

If she didn't know any better, iisipin niyang nagseselos ito.  But that's the thing. She knew better.

"Yes."

"All the time?"

"Seat mates kami."

Hindi niya inasahan ang pagkalampag nito sa mesa.

"Don't take the job!"

"Why not?"

She tried to ignore the erratic beating of her heart as it grows louder. Hindi nga kaya nagseselos si Ken? He stood up and walked towards her. Nakatayo siya noon sa may lababo, doon kumakain dahil ayaw niyang kasama si Ken sa iisang table.

He put her plate down.

"Because I said so."

Nakaramdam siya ng inis. So ganun na lang yun? Tuwing may ayaw si Ken, pagbabawalan siya nito at kung may gusto ito, sapilitan niyang gagawin? Iyon ba ang paghihiganting gusto nitong mangyari?

"I'm your wife, not your slave, Ken. Don't treat me like I have no say on things."

That softened him up. Sort of.

"Take any job, Ahn. Just not this one."

"Why?"

Kung sasabihin nitong nagseselos ito kay Greg, she will consider forgetting every damnable thing that he did to her. If he will just say those words...

But instead, he just cupped her face and stared at her with longing. Longing for what? she wondered.

"Because I don't want him near you."

Halos hindi siya humihinga nang sabihin nito iyon. Why?! she wanted to pry. May malalim bang dahilan kung bakit ayaw nito iyon? When she opened her mouth to ask, he took the opportunity to kiss her. Hindi lang dampi, kagaya nang ginawa nito noong kasal nila.

It was deeper, longer... as if he's been wanting to do this for a very, very, very long time.

She balled her fists on the collars of his shirt, suddenly feeling heady. Her first kiss! Her first freaking real kiss! It's already happening and it felt so good. Kahit alam niyang mali, she savored it. Isa lang, pangungumbinsi niya sa sarili.

When she found the strength to stop it, she pulled away. Sinalubong siya ng mga mata ni Ken. May panghihinayang sa mga iyon.

"T-This is wrong..."

"Ahn, please..." Hinapit siya nito sa bewang at saka ito yumukong muli. His lips brushed hers and she just lost her will to protest.

"I've been wanting to do this for a long time," he whispered against her lips.

Me too, she wanted to say.

It felt like hours but she didn't care. She wanted it to go on forever. It was not until she felt his hand on her belly that she was jerked back to reality.

He wanted more. And she wanted more. But they cannot have more.

She stopped his hand when it started wandering upward. Nagkatitigan silang dalawa. There was wild desire in his eyes. It was both scary and exciting at the same time. And she knew it was evident in her eyes too. Pero hindi pwede.

"P-Please, Ken. I can't have sex with you. Punish me in any other way, just not this. Please."

Napatulala si Ken sa kanya.

"W-What?"

"I know you wanted to get even but please spare me this. Hayaan mong ibigay ko ang sarili ko sa taong mahal ko at mahal din ako."

Please say you love me.

Para itong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa sinabi niya.

"Okay. I'm—I'm sorry."

Nauna na itong umakyat sa kwarto habang siya naman ay naiwan sa kusina, nangingilid ang luha. He only had to tell her that he loves her and she will give him everything.

Too bad he couldn't say those words. Too bad, he doesn't love her.

--

Shit!

Napasabunot si Ken sa buhok niya. He wanted her and she wanted him too. Did he get the wrong message? He was so sure...

"P-Please, Ken. I can't have sex with you. Punish me in any other way, just not this. Please."

Was it just sex to her? Because it was a whole other thing for him. It wasn't just lust. He wasn't just driven by his hormones. Hindi ba nito mahalata sa mga kilos niya?

"W-What?"

"I know you wanted to get even but please spare me this. Hayaan mong ibigay ko ang sarili ko sa taong mahal ko at mahal din ako."

But I love you! he almost blurted out. But instead, he gave her that crappy response.

"Okay. I'm—I'm sorry."

Napamura siyang muli. He needs to take a really cold shower after that. Yung may yelo.