That feeling you get when the person you've been missing so bad and thinking about every single minute suddenly opens your office door? Surreal.

"Mira." I swallowed nervously. "Are you here to break up with me?"

My girlfriend sighed. "Wag kang OA, Vren Andrei. Break up agad?"

"Sorry. It's just that... you look like someone who's about to deliver bad news."

The corners of Mira's mouth twitched. "Wow. Ganoon na ba talaga ako ka-haggard?"

"That's not what I meant," I amended quickly. "I only —"

"Vren," Mira began, cutting me off. "Walang mangyayaring break-up, okay? Nandito lang ako para kausapin ka."

"No break-up... yet?"

"No break-up. Period."

I couldn't help but give her a grin, which only became wider when she did the same. I rose from my seat, walked up to her spot, and finally said, "Thank God. Let's get out of here, then."

****

"Hey," I began cautiously once Mira and I were out of Medialink. "I'm sorry about... you know."

I never knew that talking to someone you hold the closest to your heart could be this difficult. Ang hirap pala ng pakiramdam na bawat salitang bibitiwan mo ay ingat na ingat ka. My relationship with Mira still hung precariously — just one wrong word I utter could make the situation go from bad to worse.

"Bakit ka naman nagso-sorry?" Mira raised her brows. "Sorry dahil may anak kayo ni Ate Bella?"

I gave her an almost imperceptible nod. "I'm sorry that I would never be your ideal man again. Most people will think that me having a son makes me less deserving of you. Ganoon naman lagi, 'di ba? One imperfection comes to light, and all the good in a person become forgotten."

Mira sighed. "Ako ang dapat humingi ng pasensya sa'yo, Vren. I'm sorry that you had to think of you being a father as an imperfection. Hindi totoo 'yan. Oo, aaminin kong nahirapan akong tanggapin na may anak ka na. Pero hindi naman nabawasan ang pagmamahal ko sa'yo dahil doon. Naguluhan lang talaga ako... May anak ka sa ibang babae na nagkataong kapatid ko pala. Kahit sino naman siguro, ganoon din ang magiging reaksyon kung nasa sitwasyon ko sila."

"I understand, of course. And if I could undo that night, I would. But that's impossible, and that leaves me with no choice but to deal with its consequence. I have a son, and now more than ever, he needs me." I paused and allowed myself a sad smile. "You're the one who's free to decide here, Mira. Are you still willing to be with me now that Zac is in the picture? It pains me to say this, but I won't stop you if you choose to walk away. I love you so much that I don't want you to feel shackled in a relationship you no longer believe would work."

Minutes of agonizing silence followed. My girlfriend and I just stared into each others' eyes, trying to wordlessly convey the myriad of feelings I knew we both felt.

Until finally, she said, "I'm willing to stay, Vren."

"You are?" I asked, not daring to believe what I just heard until Mira affirms it. And affirm it with a nod she did.

I chuckled, out of relief more than anything else. Then, in a playful tone, I added, "Think of it again, Mira, 'cause once you decide to stay, I'm warning you — there will be no more escape from me."

Siya naman ngayon ang tumawa. "Grabe. Babakuran mo na talaga ako, ha?"

"Of course. I'd be a fool not to. So...?"

"So, I'm staying." My girlfriend beamed, and just like that, all my worries faded into nothing. "Hindi lang para sa'yo, kundi para na rin sa pamangkin ko. I never had the chance to be a sister to Ate Bella, kaya babawi na lang ako sa ganitong paraan. Magiging pangalawang ina ako ng naiwan niyang anak."

"You're an amazing woman, Mira. Zac and I are very lucky to have you."

"Ginagawa ko lang ang tama. Wala kang kasalanan, at mas lalong walang kasalanan ang bata. Nangyari ang lahat bago pa tayo nagkakilala. I guess this is life's way of teaching me about acceptance... May mga bagay na hindi natin hawak, may mga nangyayari kahit hindi natin ginusto. Nasa atin na lang kung paano natin sila tatanggapin."

I took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. I was about to speak, but Mira beat me to it.

"Vren, nahihiya ako sa sarili ko. Aaminin kong sumagi rin sa isip ko ang mga sinabi mo kanina. A part of me thought I deserved someone better — a man that carries no excess baggage. But then I realized how selfish that line of thinking was. Who am I to demand someone to be perfect? Kahit naman ako, maraming flaws at imperfections."

"And I adore you despite those flaws and imperfections," I told her earnestly.

"I know. And right back at you," she replied. "Kung ang iba ay iniisip na dapat ay iwanan kita dahil totoo namang napakarami pang ibang lalaki riyan... Ako naman, naisip ko kung gaano ako kaswerte dahil nakakita ako ng isang lalaking marunong panindigan ang responsibilidad niya. You could have easily denied being Zac's father, pero pinili mo pa ring pangatawanan ang pagiging ama sa kanya. That's bravery. And it's not everyday I get to meet a man as brave and responsible as you."

"And it's not everyday I come across a woman as understanding and kindhearted as you. Thank you for choosing to stay, Mira. You're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me."

When she gave me a tender smile, I couldn't hold back anymore — I kissed her like I'd never done before, trying to tell her how much her choice to stay meant to me.

"I love you, Mira. Always remember that."

"I love you too, Vren."

****

It was Mira's idea to pick Zac up after class.

On our drive to the school, she started to ask questions about me and Bella, which I tried to answer as best as I could, despite my discomfiture. It was one thing to get quizzed by your girlfriend about an ex. Getting quizzed by your girlfriend about an ex who was her sister was on another level altogether.

"Vren, curious lang ako. Hindi mo ba talaga nahalata na buntis na si Ate Bella noon?"

I cleared my throat. "Mira, first of all, we only did it once, after we got wasted at a friend's party. That was on a late October night. It didn't occur to me that she could get pregnant as an aftermath. So, forgive me if watching out for a baby bump wasn't on my to-do list at the time."

"Bwisit ka!" Mira swatted my arm. "Wala naman akong sinabi na dapat inabangan mong magka-baby bump si Ate Bella."

"Hey, I'm driving!" I protested, chuckling nevertheless.

"At saka, FYI, Mr. Montevilla, kahit isang beses lang may nangyari sa inyo, may chance pa rin na magbunga kung walang proteksyon."

"I know that." I smirked. "I just didn't expect it to happen to us. Besides, after that night, we rarely saw each other anymore. If my memory serves me right, the next time we saw each other was on Christmas, then a brief moment during New Year... and the last time was when she broke up with me. That was on February."

"At hindi mo pa rin nahalata na preggy na si Ate Bella?" she asked incredulously. "Kung October may nangyari sa inyo, I'm guessing that by February, dapat ay medyo halata na ang tiyan niya."

"Maybe she's wearing baggy clothes at the time?"

Mira rolled her eyes. "Kakaiba ka talaga, Vren. You were totally clueless. Parang wala kang pakialam sa kanya."

"Hence, Bella left me." I shrugged. "Apparently, I was too busy at work to notice anything. Hey, you know what? A part of me still can't believe that you two are sisters."

"Paano pa ako?" Mira let out a disbelieving laugh. "Minsan nga, naiisip ko na baka nananaginip lang ako. Masyado kasing weird isipin na isa akong dela Merced."

"Have you talked to Tito Arkin yet?"

"Hindi pa. Nahihiya ako."

"He's your dad, Mira," I said in a gentle tone. "Not to be pushy or anything, but I think it's best for you to start getting to know him."

"Alam ko naman 'yon. At gagawin ko 'yon kapag nalagpasan ko na ang awkward stage na ito."

"I'm just here if you need someone to talk to."

"Salamat." Mira smiled. "Teka, malapit na ba tayo?"

"Yup," I confirmed, slowing the car down as we approached the school. "Are you ready to see your nephew?"

****

Since it's already dismissal time, the school's front ground was already teeming with kids and parents alike. It took us some moments to locate Zac.

"Ayon siya, Vren!" I followed Mira's gaze to see my son, quietly observing the crowd.

"Zac!" I called, approaching him while holding my girfriend by the hand. "C'mere, kiddo."

"Daddy!" The moment Zac realized it was I calling him, he wasted no time to run towards us. I knelt on one knee, allowing us to embrace.

"How's your day, buddy?" I ruffled his hair. "Did you enjoy your lessons?"

"Yes, Daddy!" He smiled. "We had a test, and I got a perfect score."

"How smart of you." I grinned. "Hey, I want you to meet someone. Zac, meet Tita Mira —  she's your mommy's sister."

"Mommy has a sister? She never told me that!" my son exclaimed in surprise.

I cleared my throat. "Yeah, well... It's a long story, buddy. We will tell you about it once you're old enough to understand. Now, Tita Mira here, aside from being your mommy's sister... is also my girlfriend."

Zac's gaze shifted between me and Mira. I waited, rather nervously, for him to process my words.

"Does that make Tita Mira my aunt, or my new mommy?" he finally asked.

"Well, want do you want, kiddo?"

"Both." He shrugged.

I chuckled. "Have it your way, then."

"Hello, Tita Mommy Mira!" Zac greeted his aunt with a wave.

"Hi, Zac!" Mira, crouching, hugged her nephew. "You look just like your Mommy Bella."

Zac giggled. "I know, Tita Mommy. Everybody says I'm Mommy's boy version."

I smiled at the sight of my girlfriend and my son instantly getting along. "So... does Zac want to visit the ice cream shop across the street with Daddy and Tita Mommy?"

"Yes!" Zac clapped his hands, and Mira and I shared a laugh.

"I knew it." I high-fived with my son. "We should go before the ice cream shop gets filled with people." I picked him up, while Mira carried his backpack.

"Daddy, I want to walk with Tita Mommy."

"Aren't we already walking with Tita Mommy?"

"No, I want to walk with her. I want Tita Mommy to hold my hand, like what Mommy used to do before she had to leave."

"Alright."

"Tita Mommy, you look just like Mommy," Zac said, now looking up at Mira as the two of them walked hand-in-hand.

"Really?" my girlfriend asked with a smile.

"Yes." Zac nodded fervently. "You're both beautiful."

"Sus. Naglalambing ang bata." Mira pinched his cheek, chuckling. "Do you miss Mommy?"

My son nodded once more. "I miss her a lot, Tita Mommy. But she made me promise to be a brave boy. And Grandma told me that even though Mommy isn't here anymore, she's always watching over me, like an angel."

"That's right." I ruffled his hair again. "While Mommy watches over you from heaven, Daddy and Tita Mommy here will take good care of you, along with Grandma and Grandpa. How does that sound?"

Zac grinned, and in that moment, I could see myself in him. He might be Bella's carbon copy, but that grin was no doubt a Montevilla trademark. "Sounds good, Daddy."

Watching my girlfriend and my son like this, I finally felt peace. Just when I thought everything between me and Mira would be ruined by Zac's arrival, it actually turned out to be the beginning of something wonderful.

I think Mira and I... We're now ready to start our own family.