Ken was expecting Ahn at the airport when the plane landed, but he saw Iya instead.

"Where's Ahn?" tanong niya sa kakambal.

Her face contorted. "Ken, we have a problem."

Nang sabihin nito sa kanya ang nangyari, kusang nalaglag sa sahig ang mga gamit niya. Kaya naman pala hindi sumasagot ng tawag si Ahn. She's been avoiding him because of that stupid post on Facebook!

"I'm sorry," mangiyak-ngiyak na sabi ni Iya.

Hindi niya ito pinansin. He picked up his bags instead and hailed a taxi. Ayaw niyang singhalan si Iya. Buntis ito. Baka makasama sa dinadala nito. Which is why he needs to be away from her as soon as possible.

Hindi na siya umasang madadatnan niya si Ahn sa bahay nila so he went straight to her parents' house. And he was right. Nandoon nga ito.

"Ahn, can we talk please?"

She simply nodded. Naupo ito sa wicker chair na nasa front porch. He stood next to her.

"Galit ka ba? I missed you at the airport."

She looked up to him, her eyes glistening.

"Ken, why did you go to Canada?"

"Pinag-usapan na natin 'to, di ba? I have to go there every quarter. Usapan namin yun ng kumpanya."

"Is meeting Aubrey part of your job description?" There's a tinge of accusation in her voice. Hindi naman niya ito masisi.

"Listen," he knelt beside her. "Nakipagkita lang ako kay Aubrey to apologize to her. You don't need to worry. We're just friends."

"Kung ganoon naman pala, bakit hindi mo sa 'kin sinabi? Don't you trust me, Ken? Did you think that I won't trust you?"

He sighed. "I just don't want you to be upset."

"I'm upset right now. I don't know if I could trust you again. Baka sa tuwing aalis ka, iisipin kong makikipagkita ka na naman kay Aubrey."

Ikinulong niya ang kamay nito sa mga kamay niya. "I wouldn't cheat on you, Ahn. Never."

"I don't know, Ken." Nag-iwas ito ng tingin. "Nagsasawa na rin ako sa ganito. Being with you is a struggle. Ayoko nang ganito kadramang buhay."

His shoulders slumped. "What are you trying to say?"

She handed him the ring. "I'll take the three-year deal."

"Ahn..."

"Ayokong palaging may alalahanin, Ken. I can't afford to be stressed these days."

"Last na talaga 'to. Pangako. I told you I'll straighten things out, didn't I? Okay na, Ahn. Aubrey already forgave me. Okay na kayo ni Iya. Ngayon ka pa ba aatras? Please, Ahn, don't do this to me."

She caressed his face. Umiiyak na naman ito. Bakit ba palagi na lang itong umiiyak? Is he that bad as a husband?

"Please give me some space. I need to think things through."

"Okay. I'll give you all the space you need. Just consider what we have. We're meant to be together, Ahn."

She forced a smile. "I hope so."

--

"Ayaw mo na ba talagang magpakasal?" tanong ni Jasmine kay Ahn isang araw.

Umiling siya. "Hindi ko alam."

Kasalukuyan siyang nakatira sa bahay ng parents niya. Tuwing dadalaw si Ken, magpapaalam muna ito sa kanya. Kapag ayaw niyang makipagkita ay hindi ito nagpupumilit.

"Sinabi mo na ba sa kanyang buntis ka?"

Umiling siyang muli. "Hindi ako makahanap ng magandang timing e."

Nasa isang boutique sila, kasama si Paris. She's trying on wedding dresses again. Gusto niyang maging handa kung sakaling masigurado niyang gusto na niyang makasal. Pinagsuot nya rin si Jasmine dahil mukhang gusto rin nitong magsukat.

"Ready?" she asked with a smile.

Nag-thumbs up ito.

Sabay silang lumabas ng dressing room. Nang makita sila ni Paris, agad itong lumapit sa kanila at lumuhod sa harap ni Jasmine.

"Will you marry me?" tanong nito.

Sinapak ito ni Jasmine. "Sira! Tumayo ka nga! Baka isipin nilang nagpu-propose ka talaga."

Paris laughed and stood up. "Inihahanda lang kita para alam mo na ang isasagot mo kung sakali."

Jasmine wrinkled her nose. "Bata pa 'ko, 'no. Ipagpapagawa ko pa ng bahay sina mama."

"Willing naman akong maghintay basta yes ang sagot mo."

"Ows? Kahit ten years?"

"Huwag naman. Mga three lang!"

"What's with your clan and the number three?" she joked. Saka ito bumaling sa kanya. "Uy no offense!"

Tumawa siya. "Wala 'yon."

She felt comfortable telling the couple almost everything. Alam ng mga ito ang tungkol sa three-year deal na napag-usapan nila ni Ken dati. Pero hindi nya na sinabi yung tungkol sa alternative choice. It might be too ghastly for them. Baka magalit pa si Paris.

Umaasta kasi itong kuya niya kapag kailangan.

They tried on a couple more dresses bago sila nakuntento sa pagsusukat. Wala rin naman siyang balak bumili. Wala kasi siyang napili. Gumala muna sila sa mall pagkatapos. Hinatak siya ng dalawa sa department store. Naningin sila ng maternity dresses at damit pangbata.

They had dinner after saka siya inihatid ng mga ito sa bahay.

Nasa kwarto na siya nang mabasa niya ang message ni Ken.

From: Ken

Pwedeng tumawag?

Kanina pang alas singko ang text na 'yon.

To: Ken

Sorry late ko nabasa. Sige, tawag ka na.

Kaka-hit pa lamang niya ng send nang tumawag ito.

"Hi," he greeted.

"Hello."

"Tumawag ako dyan kanina. Nasa labas ka raw."

"Gumala lang kami nina Jasmine kanina."

"Sa'n kayo nagpunta?"

"Kung saan-saan lang." Kumuha siya ng unan saka iyon niyakap. "Bakit ka nga pala tumawag?"

"Wala naman. Nami-miss lang kita."

She smiled. "I miss you too."

"Then come home to me." May pangungulila sa boses nito.

"Ken, pansin mo ba?" pag-iiba niya ng topic. "Kapag magkalayo tayo, ang tahimik ng mga buhay natin," she said suggestively.

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "Mas gusto mo ba ng tahimik na buhay kesa sa buhay na kasama ako?"

"Hindi ko alam."

"Ahn, I can stand a chaotic life, as long as I live it with you. I hope you'd feel the same."

--

"Umuwi ka na."

Itinulak si Paris ni Jasmine palabas ng kwarto nito. Before going home, tumambay muna siya sa bahay ng girlfriend niya. As usual, nakabukas ang pintuan ng kwarto nito tuwing nandoon siya. Tapos maya't mayang padaan-daan ang kuya nito sa tapat.

"Bakit ba pinapaalis mo 'ko agad?"

"Magsisimba pa kami bukas. Bawal akong mapuyat," dahilan nito.

"Kasama naman ako sa pagsimba a," reklamo naman niya.

"Kaya nga pinauuwi na kita, di ba? Para namang hindi na tayo magkikita bukas nyan."

He smiled and pulled at her nose. "Hindi mo 'ko mami-miss?"

Jasmine rolled her eyes. "Araw-araw na tayong magkasama. Tingin mo mami-miss kita?"

"Ouch."

She punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Uwi na."

"So I'm deduced to goodnight punches now?"

Tumingki ito at hinalikan siya sa pisngi.

"Pisngi lang?"

"Uwi na sabi."

He touched her cheek and sighed. "Fine. Thank you nga pala."

"For what?"

"For being there for Ahn."

"Sus. Wala 'yon. She's my friend too, you know."

"And soon-to-be cousin-in-law," dugtong niya.

Tumawa ito. "Matagal pa."

"Three years."

"Hm. We'll see."

--

Maybe Ken was right. Maybe they were meant to be together, kahit gaano pa kagulo ng relasyon nila. But it's also possible that it wasn't the right time yet. Pakiramdam ni Ahn ay nagmadali sila pareho. Kahit pa sabihing ilang buwan pa bago maganap iyong totoong kasal, parang masyado pa ring mabilis.

Maybe they need to slow things down. I-enjoy muna ang isa't isa. Savor the little things together.

She finds herself enjoying their time apart. She likes the idea of not seeing him but knowing that he's there. He may not be physically there, but she could always reach out to him whenever she wants to.

Okay, so it's not always two way. Ken doesn't like the setup. Mas gusto nitong magkasama sila. He sounded very lonely earlier. Mag-isa lang kasi ito sa bahay nila. While she have her family, he has no one.

With that thought in mind, she decided to call him. He sounded pleasantly surprised. Kanina nga ay ayaw na nitong ibaba ang phone noong magkausap sila.

"Hey..."

"Hi again."

"Napatawag ka?"

"Uhm, gusto mong magsimba bukas?"

"Sure. What time will I pick you up?"

"Around 7:30 siguro. Then maybe we could have some brunch after the mass."

"I'd love that."

"Tutulog ka na ba?"

"Ikaw?" pabalik nitong tanong.

"Maya-maya pa siguro."

"Mamaya na lang din ako."

Napangiti siya.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo?"

"Nothing. Just talking to you. Imagining you're here..." He chuckled. "Ikaw?"

"I just tucked myself in."

"Baka naman inaantok ka na?" tanong nito.

"Konti. But it's okay." Niyakap niya ang katabing unan. "Nga pala, may sasabihin sana ako sa'yo bukas."

"Bakit hindi pa ngayon?"

"Kung ngayon ko sasabihin, e di huwag na lang tayong magkita bukas."

"Sabi ko nga bukas na lang."

She laughed.

"Ken."

"Hmm?"

"Can I stay at the house tomorrow?"

"Oo naman! Kung gusto mo, doon na rin tayo kumain. I'll cook anything you like."

"Thank you. And Ken? Sana huwag kang magsawa. Please bear with me."

"I'll bear anything for you. Just not a child, that's your job," he joked.

She let out a nervous laugh.

"Uhm, Ken, matutulog na pala ako."

"What? Sabi mo maya-maya pa?"

"Bigla akong inantok e. I'll see you tomorrow?"

Ken sighed. "Fine. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."