Ken had a mini heart attack that morning when he reached out to Ahn and didn't find her there. Napabalikwas siya ng bangon. Nawala agad ang antok nya. His first instinct was to look for her downstairs. And if she's not there, he might just run around in panic.

Luckily, she's just in the kitchen, cooking. As if that's not treat enough, she's cooking with just his shirt on. She may not have realized how sexy that was yet. Ahn's dense that way.

When he embraced her, he found it hard to let go. And one thing lead to another. He asked for a proper honeymoon. The first one was blah. Nothing really happened. They were very cold towards each other. Kung hindi pa sila mapapaligiran ng ibang tao, hindi pa sila aarteng parang normal na mag-asawa.

"I'll think about it." That's what she told him. For how long, she didn't say.

--

It took Ken a lot of convincing to leave her alone for a few minutes just so she could get ready for work. Gusto pa nitong mag-day off para magkasama sila maghapon. She liked the idea very much, but it was also scary. Pati na rin ang concept ng honeymoon. A week of just being together. Just the thought of it made her throat dry.

She was wearing her usual day blouse and a pair of black pants, but something felt different today. She wasn't the only one who noticed. Ilang officemates din ang nagsabi sa kanya na blooming daw siya.

Taking it as a good sign, she decided to surprise Ken later that day. Nagpasama siya sa isa niyang officemate sa pagbili ng dress after work.

"Ano'ng meron?" tanong ni Robelyn sa kanya.

"Wala lang," kaswal niyang sagot.

Maybe it's because she's feeling confident about herself and with her relationship with Ken. Gusto niyang magpaganda para rito.

Robelyn led her to a few boutiques and presented her with 3 dresses on each.

"Bumili ka ng isa per boutique. Investment na rin. Dapat nagsasanay ka ng magsuot ng dress."

Pumayag sya since kasi-sweldo lang naman nila. They went to five boutiques and she got one dress from each store. Una nitong ipinabili sa kanya ang isang black dress na a few inches above the knee ang hemline. Simpleng spaghetti strap with a sweetheart neckline ang bodice, tapos lacy A-line naman ang skirt. Dapat daw ay may black dress siya sa bahay. It's a closet staple.

Her mom used to tell her that, but since there's no need to wear one, she didn't bother.

Bumili rin siya ng black and white structured dress na body hugging pero strict and formal looking, isang flowery dress, neon yellow assymetrical dress at isang long gown na hindi niya alam kung saan niya gagamitin.

"Ang dami naman," reklamo niya. Halos malagas ang kalahati ng sweldo niya dahil sa mga damit.

"Kokonti pa nga 'yan e," sabi nito sa kanya. "Dapat kalahati ng closet mo, puro dress."

Napangiwi siya. "Mas kumportableng mag-pants."

"Mag-dress ka palagi para masanay ka. Saka I'm sure na mas prefer ng asawa mong naka-dress ka."

Rob gave her a knowing look, which made her blush.

Bago sila umuwi ay pinagpalit siya nito ng damit. Rob made her wear the black dress, which she found too revealing. Pero yun lang ang masusuot niya. The yellow dress was too loud. The black and white dress was too formal. The flowery dress was too daytime and the last one's too... party-ish.

"Bumili rin kaya ako ng cardigan?"

"Huwag na. Okay naman na 'yan e."

Gusto niyang takpan ang dibdib. The neckline was too low for her.

"Masyadong mababa 'yung ano e."

Rob tsk-ed. "Hindi ka lang sanay."

Tinatampal ni Robelyn yung kamay niya kapag tinatakpan niya ang sarili. In the end, she was asked to hold the bags of her purchased goods para manatiling nakababa ang kamay niya.

Hinila siya nito sa isang makeup booth kung saan pwede silang makeup-an ng libre. After that, she made her call Ken para sunduin na siya nito sa mall.

"Huwag kang mag-commute. Guys will ogle at you," Rob said with a wink.

Umuwi na ito nang mag-text si Ken na nasa parking lot na ito. Kabadong-kabado siya habang naglalakad papunta roon. Lalo pa't naka-heels siya (Rob insisted).

She saw Ken leaning on his car. Nakatingin ito sa phone nito, naghihintay yata ng message niya. It was impossible to sneak up to him because of the clunking of her heels. Nakakailang metro pa lang siya mula sa pintuan nang mapalingon ito.

He didn't recognize her at first. Agad na bumalik ang atensyon nito sa phone na hawak. Nailing na lamang siya.

"Ken!" she called out.

Muling itong lumingon. His jaw dropped when she smiled. Lumapit ito sa kanya, still gaping.

"I thought you were someone else!" he blurted.

Natawa siya. "OA naman. Parang nag-dress lang ako e."

Kinuha nito ang mga dala niya at saka nito hinawakan ang kamay niya.

"What's the occasion?" he asked while they were walking towards the car.

"Wala naman. Naisipan ko lang na bumili. E yung friend ko, pinilit akong pagsuotin ng isa," paliwanag niya.

"It's nice," he commented.

"Thanks."

He kissed her cheek. "It's really nice."

Her cheeks flushed. "S-San tayo magdi-dinner?"

"Where do you want to eat?"

"Bistro," she answered with a sheepish smile. "It's been a while since we've eaten in that place."

"Okay. Let's just put your things in the car."

--

"The doctor said I'm fine," Hans told her.

It made her more anxious. Parang mas lalong bumibigat ang mga hakbang niya habang papalapit na siya sa opisina ng OB-GYN niya. Nagpa-check up na si Hans the other day bago ito pumunta ng Hong Kong. Hindi siya sumabay dahil natatakot siya. She's afraid that they might find something wrong with him. Worse if it's with her.

But Hans will be back tomorrow and he expects to hear from her by then.

She went in the clinic and asked for her doctor. Matapos ang ilang tests, the dreaded result came. Hindi niya akam kung positive or negative ba. Blangko ang ekspresyon ng doktor.

"Doc, what is it?" she asked.

Kunot-noo itong tumingin sa kanya. Lalo tuloy siyang natakot. She will be crushed kung sasabihin nitong hindi siya pwedeng magkaanak. Hans wants to have kids, lots of them. Dahil solong anak ito, gusto nito ng maraming anak. It's been his long-time dream to have a big family. He will be devastated kung hindi niya matutupad ang pangarap nito.

"Hindi ka ba nakakaranas ng morning sickness?" tanong nito.

She shook her head.

"When's the last time that you had your period?"

"One and a half month ago?" nag-aalangan niyang sagot. "I've been irregular for the past few months."

Hindi na siya nag-assume na buntis siya nang hindi siya kaagad dinatnan ng dalaw. It happened a few months ago. Akala niya ay buntis na siya kasi isang linggo na syang delayed. She told Hans that she might be pregnant. Then she took the test.

She was so embarrassed. Kinabukasan, nagkaroon na siya.

"Nag-pregnancy test ka ba?"

"I did. A few months ago."

"No recent tests?"

She shook her head.

Bumuntong-hininga ang doktor.

"Doc, just say it. Hindi na ba ako magkakaanak?"

"Ilia, you're already pregnant. Almost two weeks na."

Napanganga siya. "A-Are you sure?"

The doctor nodded and showed her the results.

"Siguro hindi mo lang napansin kaagad because it's not kicking in yet. Karamihan sa mga nagbubuntis ay nakaka-experience ng morning sickness. They also have random cravings. You're not craving for anything at the moment?"

She shook her head.

"Normal naman ba ang pagbubuntis ko, doc?"

"Yes, it's normal. Just eat healthy and don't stress yourself too much, okay?"

"Yes, doc. Thank you!"

--

"So, Ahn, about our honeymoon..."

Ahn rolled her eyes. On their way home, Ken opened that topic yet again. He's been relentless since this morning.

"I told you, I'll think about it."

"Hanggang kelan?"

"Ken—"

"Come on. Just give me a date. Para makapag-prepare ako."

She sighed. "End of next month."

"Ang tagal naman!" reklamo nito.

"Kasi..."

Sinimangutan siya nito. "Hindi ba pwedeng next week? Holiday next Monday tapos sa Thursday, we can make the most of it."

"Wala pa akong leave e. Probi pa lang ako."

"So? You don't even need to work, Ahn. You know that."

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. "Ayoko namang sa bahay lang. Mabo-bore ako kapag walang ginagawa."

"Kapag may baby na tayo, marami ka ng gagawin," he said with a laugh.

Medyo natigilan siya sa sinabi nito. Kaya siguro gusto nito ng honeymoon, dahil gusto nito ng baby. Now that it's out in the open, mas lalo siyang nag-alangan na pumayag sa hiling nito.

"Gusto mo na ba ng baby?" she asked.

Ngumiti ito sa kanya at saka kinuha ang kamay niya, while keeping his other hand on the wheel. "Oo naman. But it's up to you. Kung ayaw mo pa, then I'll wait until you're ready."

He parked the car outside the house. Pagkapasok nila sa bahay ay inilapag nito ang mga pinamili niya sa sala habang siya naman ay nagtanggal ng sapatos.

Ken sat next to her.

"Will you be wearing a dress again tomorrow?"

"Gusto mo bang mag-dress ako?"

He nodded in earnest.

"Just wear a cardigan or blazer when you're at work."

Ken kissed her cheek before he got up and went to their room to change. Sumunod naman siya. Bukas, aayain ulit niya si Robelyn para bumili ng marami pang dress.

Kinailangan pa niyang pumunta ng banyo para magbihis dahil nahihiya pa rin siyang maghubad sa harap nito. Naintindihan naman nito, but he kept on teasing her about it.

Nang patulog na sila, yumakap ito sa kanya at hinalikan siya sa noo.

"Good night, Ahn."

"Ken..."

"Hmm?"

"Baguio."

Lumayo ito ng kaunti. He looked confused.

"What about Baguio?"

"Gusto kong mag-honeymoon sa Baguio. Next week."

"Talaga?" Ngiting-ngiti ito nang tumango siya. "But why Baguio? Ayaw mo sa Hongkong or Singapore?"

Umiling siya. "Gusto ko kasing bumalik sa Baguio. Saka maraming lugar dun for hiking."

"For sure naman meron din sa ibang bansang hiking grounds. And you can also shop in Hongkong."

She wrinkled her nose. "Ayaw mo yata e."

"Gusto ko! Naninigurado lang."

"Kapag hindi Baguio, then saka na lang tayo mag-honeymoon."

"Sabi ko nga Baguio na e."

She smiled and kissed him on the lips. "Thank you."