Wala pa rin silang ideya kung kanino galing ang mga bulaklak. Ken made her put the flowers he gave her on a beautiful vase. They put it on the coffee table at the living room.

During the weekend, the two of them went out on a 'date'. Just like almost 6 years ago, they went out on a hike, out of town. Nagpunta sila sa UP Los Baños. Ken told her that there's a nice botanical garden inside the campus na kagaya ng park na pinuntahan nila dati.

He initially planned on taking her there again, kaso ay nagsara na raw ito 3 years ago.

"Are you sure you don't need help with that? " he asked, pointing at her backpack.

"No, thanks."

He offered her water. "Here. You already emptied yours earlier."

"I packed 3 bottles," she told him, remembering that he used to pack a lot of water when hiking.

"Ganun ba?"

He looked crestfallen and she can't help but wonder if this simple thing screams rejection to him.

"On second thought..." She took the bottle from him and drank from it. Hindi naman talaga siya uhaw, but she sweat a lot so she needed to hydrate. Kinalahati niya iyon at saka ibinalik kay Ken ang bote. "Thanks."

Walang kaabog-abog naman nitong inubos ang natitirang laman noon. She looked away as her face starts to heat up. She never thought that an indirect kiss could make her feel like she's been kissed for real.

--

Meanwhile, in another continent...

Iya was facing a huge full-body mirror, doing a last minute head to toe check before coming to the party downstairs. She and Hans were invited by a business partner who happens to live in Prague.

She's wearing a champagne-coloured glittery dress. Her hair was chopped off recently. Hanggang baba na lamang niya ito. It was reddish now and some strands were tucked behind one ear.

"Wow. Backless dress?"

Lumingon siya. Hans was standing at the doorway, looking immaculate in his Armani suit.

"You don't like it?"

She had been drooling at this dress for days. Nakita niya ito sa bintana ng isang high end store when she and Hans were strolling.  She wanted to buy it right away pero wala naman syang paggagamitan. When Hans told her that they're going to a party, she immediately went back to the store and bought the dress. It was kinda pricey, but she thought Hans would love it. Now, she's not so sure.

The front was fully covered. The top was almost up to her throat. Fully covered din ang mga braso niya dahil abot hanggang pulso ang sleeves nito. But the back was bare down to the small of her back.

Hans LOVES her back, so she thought that it would be a treat for him.

"Are you kidding me?" He walked towards her. He might ask her to wear another dress. Maybe it was too revealing. Pero ayaw niyang magsuot ng ibang damit.

Hinawakan siya nito sa bewang at saka hinalikan sa tungki ng ilong.

"I love it," he whispered in her ear. "You're a walking perfection, Iya."

Her blood-red lips curved up to a smile.

"You really do have a way with words, don't you?"

He kissed her neck, then traced her jawline.

"I also have a way with other things," he told her.

He's already hiking her dress up. Tinampal niya ang kamay nito.

"Hans, I'm already dressed."

"You don't have to undress, Iya," he pointed out.

Ikinawit niya ang mga kamay sa batok ng asawa at saka niya ito hinalikan sa pisngi.

"Later, you can have your ways with me."

--

"Where do you want to eat?" Ken asked Ahn. Tanghali na at nagugutom na siya. Ahn's been quiet all throughout the hike. Her answers to his questions were limited to the nodding and shaking of her head.

"Kahit saan," simple nitong sagot.

"Okay." Shrugging, naupo siya sa filid ng kalsada at saka binuksan ang bag para kunin ang pagkaing niluto niya kaninang umaga.

"What are you doing?" she asked, amused.

"Tinanong kita kung saan mo gustong kumain. Sagot mo, kahit saan. So... I'm eating here."

Ahn looked at the road ahead. May ilang taong naglalakad-lakad. Summer kasi.

"Ken, tumayo ka nga."

He was already opening the tupperwares.

"If not here, then where?"

"Sa may table naman."

"Okay." He returned the food inside his bag and stretched out his hand. "Help me up."

Kahit nag-aalangan ay sumunod ito. He put all his weight forward, so he ended up hugging her.

"K-Ken--"

"I won't be able to do this next week."

He heard her sigh. "You can. You just have to..."

When she didn't continue, he pulled away to look at her face. He wanted to ask what, but he's afraid of the answer. Ayaw rin niyang malaman kung ano ang sagot.

"Let's walk some more. We might find a more suitable place to eat."

--

"Can you tell your hands to behave?"

Hans grinned. They were slow-dancing to an unfamiliar song. He never let anyone else dance with her.

"Why?"

He put his hand on the small of her back.

"Stop that."

"I can't. It would be a sin not to touch you."

She smiled at him. He never fails to amaze her with his words. It must be his Hispanic background that made him so romantic. Whatever it is, she's very thankful for it. It made her feel loved and desired every day.

"You're very irresistible,  Iya."

"Yes, I know."

He placed both his hands on her back.

"Very irresistible..."

He started kissing her again.

"Hans, not here."

"I want a baby," he said out of the blue.

"What?"

"We've been trying for weeks but nothing's happening. Don't you think something might be wrong with either of us?"

She sighed.  Yes, they had been trying. But it's not easy to conceive a baby. Siguro ay inasahan ni Hans na mabubuntis siya kaagad. But it doesn't always happen that way.

"Ilang buwan pa lang naman tayong kasal e. Maybe it's not yet time."

She cupped his face.

"Is that why you're being like this? Because you badly want a baby?"

"Iya, I don't make love to you because I want a baby. I want a baby because I love you."

"I love you too, Hans. We'll try again, I promise. But let's not rush things, okay?"

He kissed her.

"Okay."

--

Nasa kalagitnaan sila ng pagkain nang biglang umulan. Hindi na sila nagtaka. Magulo ang panahon, parang relasyon nila. Kahit mainit, biglang uulan.

It's a good thing that Ahn brought an umbrella. Mabilis nilang inimpis ang pagkaing nangangalahati pa lang at saka sila naghanap ng masisilungan.

She kept on swatting the mosquitos. Napakalamok sa lugar. Ken shrugged off his sweater and put in on her shoulders.

"Thanks."

"Sorry for the crappy date."

"It wasn't crappy."

"Nag-e-enjoy ka bang papakin ng lamok?" he asked, amused.

"No. But I enjoyed the hike." And your company, she wanted to add.

Sumandal siya sa balikat nito.

"Do you mind?" she asked.

"No."

She closed her eyes and listened to the rain. Ken didn't speak for a good 10 minutes. Akala niya'y nakatulog na ito. He wasn't even moving.

"Ken?"

"Hmm?"

"Nothing."

She felt his arm go around her shoulders.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" he asked.

Wala ba tayong lakad bukas? she wanted to ask. "Wala," she answered instead.

"Do you want to go somewhere tomorrow?"

That's when she opened her eyes.

"Saan?"

She felt him shrug. "I don't know. Where do you want to go?"

Nag-isip siya. Saan nga ba? Honestly, anywhere's fine with her, as long as she's with him.

"May spare clothes tayo, di ba?"

He told her to bring extra clothes. Just in case.

"Oo."

"Can we stay here? Gusto kong magsimba sa Pakil."

Kinabukasan, nagpunta silang dalawa sa Pakil. Maganda ang simbahan doon. She had been wanting to visit that church.  Mabutina lamang at sa Laguna sila nagpunta ni Ken.

But when they got there, she got very disappointed. The church doors were closed. Puro bulaklak at papel de hapon ang nakapalamuti sa pintuan ng simbahan. May kasal daw.

And as if that's not bad enough, the bride just arrived. Lulan ito ng jeep. She could not take her eyes off of her. She might be an average woman with average height and beauty, but she sparkled that day. Glowing. Espesyal ang kasal para sa mga babae. She envy the bride so much for looking so beautiful on her wedding day.

"Let's go," aya niya kay Ken.  "Sa iba na lang tayo magsimba."

Alam niyang kanina pa ito nakatingin sa kanya. Hindi niya maiwasang isipin na sinasadya nito ang nangyayari. But what did he do exactly? Siya naman ang nag-ayang pumunta sa lugar na iyon.

Binilisan niya ang lakad, mot wanting him to see the tears that started falling.