Ken woke up early para masundo niya kaagad si Ahn. He really misses her. Hindi na siya sanay nang hindi ito ang unang nakikita sa umaga. He wasn't used to eating alone and sleeping alone. Kaya ang lagay, palagi siyang may yakap na unan.

When he arrived at her house, he was pleasantly surprised to see her wearing a flowery dress. Simple lang ang ayos nito, but she looks so beautiful on a Sunday morning. She smiled and greeted him with a kiss on one cheek.

Magsisimba ang buong pamilya ni Ahn, pero sa kanya ito sasabay. May iba rin kasi silang pupuntahan pagkatapos magsimba. He took a small bag from her hand. May dala itong ilang damit. Usapan kasi nila kagabi, sa bahay nila siya matutulog.

They headed off to the church, with her family's car tailing behind them. All throughout the mass ay nakahawak siya sa kamay nito. He was making the most of their time together, knowing that tomorrow, they will have to spend their days apart again. Who knows kung hanggang kailan iyon?

After the mass, nagpaalam na sila sa mga in-laws niya. Dumaan sila ng supermarket para bumili ng lulutuin. Wala kasi siyang masyadong stocks sa bahay. Malungkot kumaing mag-isa kaya madalas siyang sa labas kumakain. Kapag nasa bahay naman, nagbubukas na lang sya ng de-lata.

Pagkatapos nilang mag-grocery, they went home. She settled in habang siya naman ay nagluto. He made her favorite dish. Ahn's a huge pasta-eater. Kahit yata isang linggo na puro pasta lang ang kinakain nito ay makatatagal ito.

"So, what do you want to tell me?" he asked over a plate of spaghetti.

"Let's finish the meal first."

He readily obliged. Binilisan niya ang kain. She sounded so excited last night. Mukhang magandang balita ang sasabihin nito. Will she reconsider their current setup? Papayag na kaya itong magpakasal?

Nang matapos sa pagkain si Ahn ay agad niyang niligpit ang mga pinagkainan. He sat across her on the table and waited.

"Ken, I'm pregnant."

"What?"

It didn't register at first. He heard it but somehow forgot what it meant. Kulang na lang ay magtatalon siya sa tuwa nang mag-sink in ang sinabi nito. Ahn laughed at his reaction. He knew he looks silly but he didn't care.

Magkaka-baby na sila.

He hugged her and rained kisses all over her face.

"So, what does this mean? Will you live with me again?"

Napasimangot siya nang umiling ito.

"I don't want you to spend all your time on me. Kapag nandito ako, ikaw lang ang iintindi sa'kin at ako lang ang iintindihin mo."

"That's how it's supposed to be, Ahn."

"Pa'no kapag kailangan mong pumunta ng Canada ulit? Pa'no kung kailangan mong mag-overtime?"

"Hindi ako mag-o-overtime. And I'll talk to my boss about Canada. I'm sure he'll understand."

"Ken, you can't keep giving things up for me."

"I can and I will," he said. Cupping her face, he continued, "Don't you think that it's just proper that we live together again? And all the more reason to get married. Gusto kong kapag lumaki ang anak natin, may maipakikita tayong pictures ng dream wedding mo."

Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya. "I'm still not sure about the wedding. Ayokong magmadali. I think we should wait until the baby comes out."

"Sure. Of course. Pero sana dito ka na lang tumira para maalagaan kita."

She shook her head. "Marami namang mag-aalaga sa'kin sa bahay."

"Why do you insist that we live apart? Ayaw mo na ba akong kasama?"

"I do want to be with you. I just think we need some time alone, with our selves. The more I am apart with you, the more I miss you. And the more I miss you, the more I want to be with you. I don't want to lose that feeling, Ken."

"Okay." Wala naman siyang magagawa. "But can I come visit?"

"You can come during weekends."

"How about you come here during weekends?"

Tumango ito. "That's fine too."

--

Rica showed Iya the design. Mabuti na lamang at naging designer ang pinsan niya. It was so much better than what Ahn tried on at the boutique. Hindi pa lang niya sinasabi rito. Bukod sa nahihiya siyang lumapit dito, gusto rin niyang tapos na ang gown kapag ipinakita niya ito roon.

"Sabihin mo lang kung ano ang kailangan mo to make the dress. I'll handle the expenses," sabi niya sa pinsan.

"I hope she likes it."

"I hope so too."

"Pa'no kung hindi? Pa'no kung ayaw nyang tanggapin, ate?" nag-aalala nitong tanong.

"I don't know, Rica."

The dress is the major peace offering that they will give to Ahn. If she rejects it, then that means na hindi pa rin sila nito napapatawad. But knowing Ahn, she will accept it with gratitude. Sana nga.

Sweldo niya ang gagamitin sa pagbili ng mga materyales para sa gown. Ayaw naman niyang humingi nang humingi kay Hans, though he insisted on pitching in kahit kalahati ng cost.

"Did she ask you to be her maid-of-honor yet?"

She shook her head. "Hindi pa kami nakapag-uusap since that Facebook incident e."

Ilang beses na niya itong tinawagan noon para magpaliwanag pero hindi nito sinasagot ang mga tawag niya.

When she saw the post, agad niyang tinawagan si Aubrey. The latter sounded happy habang nagkikwento ito tungkol sa mga nangyari. Ilang beses na rin daw itong kinontak ni Ken para makipagkita, but she declined the first five times. Nang malapit na itong umuwi ay saka niya ito pinagbigyan.

Noong una ay may ilangan at sumbatan pang naganap, but once it's over, naging okay na sila. They were friends, after all. And maybe he didn't see her as more than that. When Ken said that they need to take a picture as evidence for Iya, she readily agreed.

Hindi naman nito alam na nagkaayos na sila ni Ahn noong mga panahong iyon.

When she ask her to take the post down, ginawa naman nito agad. Iyon nga lang, it was too late then.

She learned from her mom about Ken and Ahn's current setup. She was thankful for Ahn for not jumping into conclusions. Medyo nalungkot lang siya nang malaman na mukhang hindi na matutuloy ang kasal. She was hoping that the two could still work things out.

--

The setup was hard at first. There were times that she will miss him so bad. There were times that he will insist on seeing her during weekdays, kahit isang oras lang sa isang araw.

Long distance relationships must be so hard.

"Ken, busy ka?"

She called him Tuesday afternoon. Her dad was supposed to pick her up from work (pinagbawalan siyang mag-commute mag-isa) but she told him that she will ask Ken to do it. Naiiling na lamang ang daddy niya sa mga desisyon niya.

"No," mabilis nitong sagot. "Why?"

"Gusto mong mag-dinner?"

"Oo naman. What time?"

Hindi siya agad nakasagot. Narinig kasi niya on the other line na kinausap ito ng katrabaho, asking for something na deadline nila that day. Hinayaan muna niya itong makipag-usap.

"Sorry about that. So, anong oras na nga?"

"Busy ka e."

"Hindi. May nakalimutan lang akong ipasa."

"Ken..."

"It's okay. Really."

"Sa ibang araw na lang tayo mag-dinner. Finish your work first."

"But I want to see you."

She sighed. "Kung hindi ka na busy bukas, we'll have dinner by then."

He grunted. "Okay."

"Kumain ka ng hapunan ha. Baka mamaya makalimutan mo na naman."

"Alright."

"I'll call you later."

--

Napatingin si Ken sa orasan. Pasado alas nwebe na ay hindi pa rin siya tapos. Ahn's last call was about ten minutes ago. Tinanong nito kung kumain na sya. He totally forgot to eat. Nawalan na rin kasi siya ng gana. Noong isang araw pa sila huling nagkita. And Monday was grueling. Kahapon sana ang deadline niya sa isang project but he forgot.

He was totally preoccupied.

Pakiramdam niya'y lugaw na ang utak niya. His eyes have been glued to the screen for the last 10 hours.

"P're, uwi na 'ko," paalam ng isa niyang katrabaho na nag-volunteer na tumulong sa kanya kanina. "Hinahanap na 'ko ng bunso ko e."

Tinanguan niya ito. "Sige."

"Ikaw, hindi ka pa uuwi?"

"Marami pa 'kong gagawin e."

Tinapik siya nito sa balikat. "Sige."

Iilan na lamang silang natitira sa office. Mabuti na lamang nga at may mga mid-shifters and night-shifters siyang kasabay. Madalas siyang gabihin (at minsa'y inuumaga pa nga) before Ahn came. He guessed he was that lonely, that he'd rather spend his time working than be with people.

When she came into his life, his work descended the ladder of his priorities. And now that they're having a baby, it became the least of his concerns.

"Hi, Ken."

Kunot-noo niyang nilingon ang tumawag. Nabuhay bigla ang diwa niya nang makita itong nakatayo sa likuran niya.

"Ahn!"

He stood up and gave her a hug.

"What are you doing here?"

She lifted the paper bag she's holding. "I brought you some food."

Kinuha niya iyon. "Thanks."

"Ano'ng oras ka pa makakauwi?"

"Hindi ko alam e. Baka around 12."

"Huwag kang masyadong magpuyat ha?"

He nodded. "Can you stay for a while?"

Umiling ito. "No, sorry. Hinihintay ako ni dad sa baba."

Niyakap siya nitong muli.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Kumain ka ng marami, ha?"

"Okay."

She kissed him.

"Good night."

He almost didin't want to let go, but he needs to. Kailangan niyang tapusin ang trabaho niya. It was a good thing na pinapasok si Ahn ng guard. Bawal kasing bumisita ang family members sa office. Buti na lang wala nang masyadong tao.

Inihatid niya si Ahn hanggang sa lobby tapos ay bumalik siya sa office to finish his work.