"Kanino galing 'yan?" tanong ng isang officemate ni Jae when a bouquet of flowers arrived at the office by mid-morning. When they heard the question, nagkumpulan sila sa paligid niya, admiring the flowers in her hands.

"May nanliligaw na naman ba sa 'yo?"

"But you're married already, right?"

"It's from him," nakangiti niyang sagot. She showed them the card.

"Ang sweet! Married na kayo pero nagpapadala pa rin sya ng flowers?"

She nodded, grinning from ear to ear. Kasal na silang dalawa. Ilang buwan na rin ang anak nilang si Ahn. But occasionally, Toby would send her flowers or chocolates or ice cream cake at the office. Marami tuloy ang naiinggit sa kanya, lalo na iyong mga officemate niyang kasal na pero nag-wear off na yung sweetness ng marriage.

"Sa first few years lang yan. Kapag nagtagal, hindi na nya maaalala kahit birthday mo," kumento ng isa, bitterness is evident on her voice. Her name's Sandy, married for fifteen years. And it looked like the magic already wore off.

Hindi na lang niya ito pinansin. Every time na may ikakasal sa mga officemates niya o mag-a-anniversary ay palagi itong sisingit sa usapan and would ruin the mood for everyone.

Pero hindi sya nito makukumbinsing maniwala sa mga sinasabi nito. Toby's different, she's different. They're different. Hindi naman porket nangyari rito ay mangyayari na rin 'yon with everyone else. Just like what happened with her mom and dad didn't happen with Toby and her.

"Depende rin naman siguro sa mag-asawa 'yon," she told Sandy.

"Oo nga," somebody agreed.

Sandy shrugged. "I guess so."

When Toby came to the office, they all eyed him with curiosity. Or was it envy? He can't really tell. Mukhang natuwa si Jae sa sorpresa niya. Ayaw na nitong bitawan ang bulaklak na bigay niya.

"Ako na sabi ang magdadala. Hindi ka ba nabibigatan?" concerned niyang tanong. They were walking to the bus station.

Umiling ito.

"Jae, kanina mo pa bitbit 'yan. Let me help you carry it."

But she refused. Niyakap nito ang bouquet.

"You gave this to me so I'll carry it," sagot nito sa kanya.

"Hindi ko naman babawiin e," natatawa niyang sabi.

"Kahit na. You've been giving me these gifts kahit wala namang okasyon tapos ako, walang binibigay sa 'yong kahit ano."

"Don't worry about it. I'm not asking for anything."

"But you should."

"Why?"

"Para hindi ako ma-guilty." She wrinkled her nose. "Do you want me to cook for you?"

He hesitated. Will he say yes? Jae's not that great a cook. Pero alam niyang magtatampo ito kapag tumanggi sya.

"Sure," he answered with a smile. "Fried chicken or adobo ulit."

"No. I'll cook you something else. How about tinola?"

"Okay. Tinola."

Toby knew Jae's tinola wouldn't be delicious. And he was right. Matigas pa ang gulay. Maraming masyado ang sabaw. The chicken was okay but it was tasteless. But he ate with gusto, because he wanted to make her happy.

"Did you like it?"

"Yeah." He showed her his empty bowl.

"Kumusta ang lasa, manang?" tanong ni Jae kay manang Soling, na kasabay nila sa hapunan.

Tumingin muna sa kanya ang matanda bago ito pilit na ngumiti. "Masarap," sagot nito.

He should have known that he couldn't fool her. When it was time for bed, she hugged him tighty.

"It was disgusting, wasn't it?" she asked.

"What is?"

"Yung tinola."

"Masarap kaya."

Sumimangot ito sa kanya. "Toby, I tasted it. It sucks. I can't even cook for you."

She buried her face in his chest.

"Ang hirap gayahin ng tinola ng nanay mo," reklamo nito.

Natawa siya bigla.

"Bakit kasi gagayahin mo yung tinola ng nanay ko? Pwede namang sarili mong version ng tinola yung lutuin mo, di ba?"

"Paborito mo kasi 'yon, di ba? Reminds you of home," dahilan nito.

"Jae..." He cupped her face. "Anywhere with you and Ahn is my home."

"Ayan ka na naman."

He frowned. "What?"

Umiling ito. "Can you stop being so nice?"

"Why? Is it bad?"

"I feel like a lesser human being when I'm around you. Masyado kang mabait. I feel so rotten," she admitted.

"Mabait ka rin naman a," sabi niya.

"Kapag tulog?"

He smiled. "Kapag tulog. Kapag busog. Saka kapag may kailangan," biro niya.

"Ang sama!"

"See? I'm not always nice."

Finally, ngumiti na rin ito.

The next day, hindi nagpasundo sa kanya si Jae. Nang umuwi siya ng bahay, wala pa rin ito. He got worried in an instant. Ni hindi ito tumawag o nag-text man lang. She usually informs him naman kapag may lakad pa ito bago umuwi.

"Nasa'n ka?" agad niyang tanong nang sagutin nito ang tawag.

"Sorry, I lost track of time kasi. Nasa bahay ako nina nanay."

"Na kina nanay na?"

"Oo."

"Bakit?"

"Nagpapaturo akong magluto."

He sighed. She's really relentless. Kapag may gusto, gustong nakukuha.

"Jae, I was worried sick!"

"Sorry na. Hinahanap na ba ako ni Ahn?"

"She's asleep. Binabantayan ni manang."

"Matatapos na naman kami. Mag-uuwi ako ng ulam."

"Susunduin na kita."

"Sige. Bring the car."

"Okay."

When he got to the house, naglilinis na sa kusina sina Jae at ang nanay niya. Nagmano siya sa mga magulang at niyakap ang mga kapatid.

"Tikman mo." Iniumang sa kanya ni Jae ang kutsara na may piraso ng manok at sabaw ng tinola.

He tasted the food she's offering. It was many times better than the previous one. Nag-thumbs up siya.

"Masarap ba talaga?"

"Oo nga."

Ngumiti ito. "Good."

Napansin niyang may bilog-bilog sa palad nito.

"Napaano ka?"

Itinaas niya ang kamay nito. Mukhang mga paso ang nakita niya.

"Nung iniangat ko kasi yung takip, nakalimutan kong gumamit ng pot holder," sagot nito. "But it's okay. Nilagyan na ng gamot ni nanay."

"Next time, be more careful," naiiling niyang sabi.

Tumango ito at saka nilingon ang nanay niya. "Salamat sa tulong, 'nay."

"Wala 'yon, anak. Uuwi na ba kayo?"

"Opo. Baka po magising si Ahn e."

"Dito kayo maglagi sa weekend ha?"

"Opo," sagot niya. He then turned to Jae. "Let's go?"

"Wait. May pabaon si nanay."

Kinuha ng nanay niya, mula sa kusina, ang tatlong tupperwares na magkakapatong.

"Minatamis na kamoteng bagin itong nasa ibabaw, tinola yung pangalawa saka adobo yung pangatlo. Lutong lahat ni Jae," nakangiti nitong sabi.

Jae smiled proudly. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa ito dahil naipagluto siya ng hindi lang isa, kundi tatlong putahe. He couldn't help but return her smile.

Ngayon niya napatunayan na may rason talaga kung bakit nangyayari ang mga nangyayari sa mga tao. Sobra-sobra na ang pasasalamat niya kay Jazz for saying 'no' to him, for rejecting him and choosing Kent instead. Dahil kundi dahil doon, baka hindi sya nabigyan ng pagkakataon na hanapin ang taong magpapasaya talaga sa kanya.