The next morning was really awkward. She had to get up early to get her requirements ready for the job. Ken had to get up early for his work. Both of them had coffee at the same time. He just finished stirring his second cup when she went down to make her own. She guessed he made another on purpose.

They simply looked at each other, but no one said a word.

She could still remember the kiss from last night. She avoided looking at his lips, in fear that the want to kiss him again might come back.

Pinauna na niya itong maligo, since he has work. Pagkatapos nito, saka siya kumilos. Sinadya niyang tagalan para hindi sila magkasabay sa pag-alis. When she stepped out of the bathroom, nakaalis na ito.

She spent the whole afternoon finishing all her requirements. Inuna niya ang pagpapa-medical dahil iyon ang mabusisisi. She had to get the result in a few days. Then, the government IDs, NBI clearance, police clearance at kung anu-ano pa. Lucky for her, naasikaso na niya ang mga necessary IDs bago pa sya mag-OJT.

Umuwi siya ng bandang alas kwatro ng hapon. Ken's still at work so solo nya ang buong bahay. It felt eerie and empty without him but she prefer it that way than awkward.

Nanuod na lang sya ng TV dahil hindi nya iyon magagawa pagdating ni Ken. Nagluto na rin siya ng pagkain habang nanunuod para mamaya, hindi na niya kailangang sumabay ng hapunan dito. After cooking, she sat down on the couch to concentrate on the movie she's watching.

Napatigil siya sa pagsubo nang may bigla siyang ma-realize. Sukob. Sukob ang kasal nila ni Ken! Sa movie kasi, minulto yung magkapatid na kinasal sa loob ng isang taon. Sukob ang kasal nila, only months apart! Pinangilabutan siya sa nalaman. They didn't even bother heeding that superstition. Wala naman kasing naniniwala sa pamilya nila sa sukob.

Binilisan niya ang pagkain. The house suddenly seemed so scary. She can't help glancing at the dark corners. This is the reason why she's not fond of watching horror movies. Her imagination turns hyperactive.

Pagkakain ay nagdala siya ng toothbrush palabas ng bahay. Carrying only money, her phone and a toothbrush, she locked the doors and went to her parents' house.

--

Ken went home at around six in the evening. Patay ang mga ilaw. Nakailang doorbell na siya pero walang sumasagot. Fumbling through his keys, he thought of the worst. Did Ahn leave him? O baka naman may masama na namang nangyari rito habang wala sya? Or maybe she's not home yet. Nakikipag-date kaya ito kay Greg?

He calmed himself down and opened the door.

"Ahn?"

He switched on the lights. Sinilip niya ito sa kwarto nito. She's not there. He decided to ask first before making any conclusions. They're already walking on thin ice. Baka mas lumala pa kapag inuna niya ang galit.

To: Ahn

Where are you?

Nahiga siya sa couch at pumikit. Maya-maya ay tumunog ang phone niya.

From: Ahn

Nasa bahay namin.

He frowned.

To: Ahn

What are you doing there?

From: Ahn

Natatakot ako sa bahay mo.

He would have laughed at the absurdity of that statement, had it not been for that possessive noun at the end.

To: Ahn

Bakit naman?

From: Ahn

Sukob ang kasal natin.

He smiled at that.

To: Ahn

Don't tell me... naniniwala ka dun?

From: Ahn

No. But I watched a movie about it and it scared me.

He could imagine her curling at the sofa, hugging a throw pillow and hiding half of her face behind it. She looked so cute.

To: Ahn

There's nothing to be afraid of. I'm here.

--

From: Ken

There's nothing to be afraid of. I'm here.

"Psh. Parang mas nakakatakot nga 'yon e," bulong niya sa sarili.

Nagulat kanina ang parents niya dahil bigla na lamang siyang bumulaga sa pintuan. Akala ng mga ito'y nag-away sila ni Ken. But when she told them the reason why she's there, they just laughed at her. Welcome naman sya sa bahay nila, it's just different. Her bedroom's already filled with unused things. Natawa siya sa irony. Ganoon din kasi ang tulugan niya sa bahay ni Ken.

Her mom made her bed and provided her with sheets, blankets and pillows.

Habang naghahanda ng hapunan sa ibaba ay nagpahinga muna siya sa kwarto. Kahit mag-isa siya roon ay hindi sya natatakot. Probably because she grew up sleeping there.

From: Ken

Sunduin na kita dyan.

To: Ken

Ayoko. Dito ako matutulog.

From: Ken

Then I'm coming over.

She groaned. Minsan na nga lang makalayo rito e. She looked at the Totoro clock on the bedside table. When she left the house, she left it too. She told her mom to just leave it there. Huwag kamo nitong itago o itapon. Just leave it in her room, standing on the bedside table.

"Ang kulit mo," she said to it, wrinkling her nose.

Thirty minutes later, Ken's already at the door. Pinasalo sila sa pagkain kahit anong tanggi niya. Ken put on a show and she was obliged to play along. He even volunteered to wash the dishes, provided that she would help him. Wala naman siyang nagawa kundi pumayag.

Habang nagpapababa ng kinain ang mga kapamilya nila sa sala ay nandoon sila sa kusina, elbow to elbow at the sink.

"Ako na lang kasi ang maghuhugas," giit niya.

"What? And have all the fun?" Ngumisi ito sa kanya. "I don't think so."

He leaned down and kissed her nose. Agad naman siyang lumayo.

"What are you doing?"

"Acting."

With his soapy hand, he pulled her by the waist and rained kisses all over her face.

"K-Ken—"

"Play along," bulong nito sa kanya.

May tumikhim ng malakas. Itinulak niya ito. She saw her mom shaking her head.

"Young man," she pointed at Ken. "No baby-making in my kitchen."

Pinamulahan siya. Si Ken naman ay tumawa lang at saka nag-salute sa mommy niya.

"Yes, ma'am!" he said cheerily.

"Doon ka na muna sa sala. I'll help Ahn wash the dishes."

"Okay po." He gave her another tender kiss and smiled. "I'll see you later."

Sya naman ay napilitang ngumiti pabalik.

Her mom gave her a knowing look when Ken left the kitchen. "He can't get enough of you, can he?"

She shyly looked away. Her mom gave her a side hug.

"I'm so glad to see you this happy, anak."

Happy? Gusto niyang matawa. Were they so good at pretending at pati ang mga magulang nila ay nauuto nila?

"I was worried, you know. Noong una. Kababalik nya lang and then he just asked you to marry him. All my maternal alarms went blaring. But seeing him so in love with you somehow puts me at ease."

"What if he's just faking it, mom?" she can't help but ask.

Her mother frowned. "Faking it? Why would he fake it?"

She shrugged. "Paano kung hindi naman pala totoo? Can you tell the difference?"

"Anak, you can't fake love. People in love have this certain look, this certain glow. It's like every time they look at the person they love, their face just lights up."

"And his face does?"

Ngumiti ito. "Like a lightbulb."

I don't see it, she wanted to say.

"Sometimes you can't see it for yourself. It's because he often gives you that look kapag hindi ka nakatingin," dagdag nito, as if she could read her mind.

Her mom sighed.

"I can still remember the first time that I saw his face light up like that."

"When?"

"When you turned fifteen," her mother answered.

--

Ahn had no choice but to sleep in the same room with Ken. Wala siyang magagawa dahil kataka-taka naman kung sa hiwalay na kwarto sila matutulog. People just assumed that they already did the deed a few times so there's no need to sleep separately. Pero silang dalawa, alam nila ang totoo.

Wala pa ring nangyayari hanggang ngayon and she intends to keep it that way.

Kanina pa niya pinag-iisipan ang sinabi sa kanya ng mommy niya. Is Ken really in love with her? Kanina pa niya hinuhuli ang mga mata nito pero bihira itong tumingin sa kanya. She could only feel his gaze on her kapag sa iba siya nakatingin.

Pagkapasok nila ng kwarto ay agad niyang hinawakan si Ken sa tigkabilang pisngi. The latter smiled and stoop down, thinking that she wanted a kiss. But she pressed his cheeks hard at saka niya inilayo ang ulo nito sa kanya.

"What are you doing?" he asked, frowning.

Hindi siya sumagot. She just stared into his eyes. But she couldn't see anything significant. What was she looking for, anyway?

"Nothing," she told him, finally letting go of his cheeks. Disappointed, she went to the bathroom to clean up.

Pagbalik niya ng kwarto, nakahiga na si Ken sa kama.

"Dyan ako," sabi niya rito.

"I'm not sleeping on the floor. There's enough space in here to accommodate us both."

He patted the bed.

"Fine! Ako na lang sa sahig."

She marched to the bed, took a pillow and a blanket and laid them on the floor. Saka siya doon nahiga. Dinungaw siya ni Ken mula sa kama at saka ito sumimangot.

"Bakit ba ang tigas ng ulo mo?"

Bumangon ito. He yanked her up. She landed on top of him.

"Ken, let me go!" inis niyang sabi as he lock his arms around her waist. "My parents could walk in!" she hissed at him.

"They won't. I locked the door."

Pinandilatan niya ito. Nang magpumiglas siya ay pinakawalan din siya nito. Agad siyang bumangon at tinungo ang pintuan. She would feel safer kung hindi iyon naka-lock. The danger is inside her room anyway.

"What are you so afraid of? We're married. We're both adults. And we're obviously attracted to each other..."

She froze. Attraction. Yes. How can she be so stupid? He's not in love with her. He's simply attracted to her! Her mom was wrong. He's not in love. He's just attracted. Muntik na pa naman siyang maniwala.

After unlocking the door, she went back to the bed. Doon siya sa kagilid-giliran. Tinalikuran niya ito at saka siya nagtalukbong ng kumot.

"Ahn, what's wrong?" she heard him ask.

Naramdaman niya itong yumakap sa kanya.

"Don't touch me."