Isang beses lang yatang nag-email si Vince kay Moira nang nasa Texas ito. There was no mention of the kiss or anything that transpired that night. But still, her stomach was in tight knots when Monday came. Para siyang bibitayin sa sobrang kaba.

What will he say when he gets back? Will they talk about it? Will they just ignore it and act like it never happened? The latter would be the best choice, but she knows that it will eat her up. She wanted closure, pero parang mas dumarami pa yung opening kaysa closing, bridges made than bridges burned.

Still, naghintay siya buong maghapon sa pagdating nito. But Vince didn't go to work that day. Nalaman na lamang niya, bandang hapon, na kinabukasan pa pala ang balik nito. He emailed her saying that she needs to reschedule his meetings for Tuesday kasi may pressing matter daw itong dapat bigyan ng atensyon.

As to what that matter was, he didn't say.

When Tuesday came, ayos na ang sked ni Vince. She cleared his day. Hindi niya alam kung bakit o ano iyong mas urgent pa kesa sa trabaho nito, but when he arrived that day at the office, everything became clear to her.

She went downstairs to buy herself a cup of coffee. Nakasalubong niya si Vince sa lobby. Kalalabas niya ng elevator, pasakay naman ito. And he wasn't alone.

Nakakapit sa braso nito ang isang blond na babae. The woman was wearing a tailored dress and a pair of very high and pointy heels. Naputol ang pag-uusap ng dalawa nang makita nila siyang papalabas ng elevator. She was almost tempted to close the door and go back to the office. But she had to step out of the car.

"Moira."

"G-Good morning, s-sir."

The elevator door closed. People got in the elevator car, but they didn't move.

"Honey, who is she?" asked the blond.

Tipid na ngumiti si Vince. "I'm sorry. Jenny, this is my assistant, Moira Aguilar. Moira, this is Jenny. She'll be the head of the new Texas department."

Nakipagkamay ito sa kanya.

"Hi, Moira."

"It's Carlene, actually," pagtatama niya. "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Bumaling si Jenny kay Vince. "Shall we get on?"

Tumabi siya nang magbukas na muli ang elevator. "I'll go ahead," paalam niya sa mga ito.

Gusto niyang umiyak. Para siyang tanga. Why would she expect that something will be different after that freaking kiss? Masyado na ba syang assumera? Of course, it meant nothing to him. Just like how what happened to them ten years ago meant nothing to him.

Just stop daydreaming, paalala niya sa sarili. Kung noon ngang habol siya nang habol dito at wala itong girlfriend, wala na siyang pag-asa. Ngayon pa kayang mukhang may nakakamabutihan na ito? Hindi siya naniniwalang department head lang ang Jenny na 'yon. Kung makakapit kasi ito at maka-honey, aakalain na may relasyon na ang dalawa.

Siguro ay nagkita ang dalawa sa Texas over the weekend. He even delayed his flight so he could come back with Jenny. There's no denying it.

Gustuhin man niyang sa labas na lamang siya maghapon, hindi pwede. Kaya nang makabili siya ng kape ay agad siyang bumalik sa office. She's jealous of Jenny. Aminado naman siya. Naiinis siya sa sarili dahil kahit sampung taon na ang lumipas, nandoon pa rin ang feelings nya for Vince.

That damn kiss brought it all back. It never should have happened. Lalo na't pagbalik naman ni Vince, may ibang babae na itong kasama. Parang pinaasa lang sya. At sya namang si tanga, umasa.

Pagbalik niya sa office, nakita niyang nag-uusap ang dalawa sa loob ng opisina ni Vince. Nakaawang ang pintuan, parang sinasadyang ipamukha sa kanya ang totoong nangyayari. Vince is sitting on his chair. Si Jenny naman ay nakaupo sa lamesa.

Napahigpit ang kapit niya sa venti cup. Nag-init ang mga daliri niya. The heat brought her back to her senses. She sat on her chair and put the coffee on the table. Saka niya binuksan ang computer para mag-check ng emails.

Maya-maya ay narinig niyang nagpaalam si Jenny kay Vince.

"I'll see you at dinner."

She gritted her teeth.

"Bye, Moira!"

Bigla siyang napalingon nang magpaalam din ito sa kanya. Jenny waved. She forced a smile and waved back.

--

"O, ano'ng meron?" tanong sa kanya ni Neri kinabukasan.

"Wala," sagot niya habang naglalagay ng drop earrings.

"Wow, so walang okasyon? Naisipan mo lang mag-dress up?" taas-kilay nitong tanong. Napatingin siya sa sarili. She's wearing a Paveau structured plum dress with a black belt. She paired it up with a pair of two-assymetric strap black heels at silver and black pouch.

Inayos din niya ang buhok at naka-makeup siya ngayon, the kind that will surely make heads turn for another look.

"Sinasabi ko na nga ba. Nagpapaganda ka kay Vince, ano?"

"Hindi, a," nakanguso niyang tanggi. "Masama na ba ang mag-dress up? People at work dress like this, so I should too. Sabi nung assistant nya sa 'kin, my outfits reflect Vince as a boss, so I figured that should dress sharply."

"You sound so defensive."

"Ikaw kasi, kung anu-ano ang napupuna mo," dahilan niya.

Neri smiled knowingly. "Nako, if I know, nagpapaganda ka lang talaga. Huwag mo nang i-deny."

She rolled her eyes.

"Pahatid ka ulit kay Jo," paalala nito sa kanya. "Baka mahirapan kang mag-commute nyan."

Sinunod niya ang payo ni Neri. Nagpahatid siya kay Jo. Mahirap din kasing mag-akyat-baba ng sasakyan kapag naka-tight dress.

"Jo, sorry ha, naabala ka pa tuloy."

"Okay lang," sagot nito. "Sunduin din ba kita mamaya?"

Tumango siya. "Kung okay lang."

"Sus, ikaw pa ba?" He smiled. "Ingat."

She uncbuckled her seatbealt and gave him a kiss. "Thank you!"

Dali-dali syang naglakad patungo sa building nila dahil mag-a-alas nwebe na. They will be having a meeting at ten and she needs to prepare the materials for it. Pagkatapos ay sama-sama raw silang magla-lunch. She'd rather eat alone, but what good will it do kung tatanggi siya? Wala naman siyang pwedeng idahilan.

--

Fortunately for her, kasama sa lunch sina Red, Vico at Troy. Habang busy si Vince with Jenny, doon siya sumama sa tatlo.

"Pang-ilang plato mo na 'yan?" puna ni Vico kay Red. "Couz, watch your calorie intake kung ayaw mong tumaba."

"Grabe ka naman. Pangalawa ko pa lang 'to."

"Ikaw, Carlene, wala ka bang ganang kumain? Nakakarami na kami rito, ikaw hindi pa rin ubos yung unang kuha mo," puna ni Troy.

She looked down on her plate. It was Vico who dumped the food there. Wala naman talaga siyang ganang kumain, lalo na't sa harapan mismo niya nagpapaka-sweet sina Jenny at Vince.

"Busog pa 'ko e," pagdadahilan niya, kahit buong umaga naman siyang walang kinakain.

"Haynako, no wonder ganyan ang figure mo," naiiling na sabi ni Vico. "O, Red, ikaw din. Huwag ka nang kumain para kasing sexy ka ni Carlene."

"Shut up. I'm hungry," reklamo ni Red.

"Pagbigyan mo na sya, Vico. Madalas kasi syang hindi makakain because of Kylie," singit naman ni Troy. "Just keep eating, hon. Don't worry, mahal pa rin kita kahit tumaba ka."

Natawa sila nang bigla nitong ibaba ang kinakain.

"I hate you, guys," Red muttered. Simangot itong lumayo sa table nila. Si Troy naman ay tumigil sa pagkain at sinundan ang asawa. Lumipat si Vico sa tabi niya at saka inginuso sina Jenny at Vince.

"Now I understand kung bakit wala kang ganang kumain," he said. Tumingin ito sa kanya ng may kahulugan.

"What?"

"Nakakawalang-gana kasi kapag may nagpi-PDA sa harapan mo, di ba?"

"Oh." She simply smiled. "Hayaan mo na."

"Haynako, kung pwede lang lumipat ng table."

"Shh. Marinig ka nila," saway niya kay Vico.

Tumahimik naman ito. "Nga pala, Carlene, may lakad ka ba this Friday? Mag-KTV sana kami ni Red. Gusto mong sumama?"

"Okay lang naman. Wala naman akong gagawin."

"Great! We'll see you then!"

--

Friday ang balik ni Jenny sa Texas. Kaya pagdating ng Friday, masaya na si Moira because Jenny will finally go back to the states. Mabait naman ito sa kanya. Professional din ito kung kailangan. Hindi nga lang talaga niya maatim ang pagiging clingy nito kay Vince. Since Tuesday, palaging magkasama ang dalawa. Sabay ang mga itong mag-lunch at mag-dinner. Sa loob pa ng office ni Vince nagtatrabaho si Jenny.

She had prepared a separate cubicle for her, pero ni-request nito to let her work alongside Vince, which annoyed her. Naiinis siya lalo sa sarili dahil nagseselos siya, na hindi naman dapat.

Pagdating ng alas sais ng gabi ay pinuntahan siya nina Red sa cubicle niya. Ready to go na ang dalawa.

"Sige, magpapaalam lang ako kay boss," sabi niya sa mga ito.

She knocked on Vince's door. Pinapasok naman siya nito. Nakadikit ang isang upuan sa upuan ni Vince. Nakaupo roon si Jenny. She's too close to him. It's a wonder na hindi binibigyan ni Vince ng malisya ang pag-i-invade nito ng personal space.

"May ipagagawa ka pa ba?" tanong niya kay Vince. She's been told to speak in English whenever Jenny's around, but she decided to not give a heck that night. Aalis na rin naman ito.

"Wala na. Bakit?"

"In-invite kasi ako nina Red. Naghihintay na sila. Okay lang ba kung mag-out na 'ko?"

Tumango ito. "Sure, go ahead."

She forced a smile. "Thanks. Bye, Jenny."

Kumaway lang ito sa kanya. She walked out of the office and closed the door behind her, as gently as she could.

Lumabas sila ng building at pinuntahan ang kotseng naghihintay sa kanila. Nagpahatid sila sa isang KTV bar sa Taguig. They rented a room, bought food and drinks, saka sila nag-punch in ng mga kantang gusto nilang kantahin.

Vico sang most of the songs. Siya naman ay nagpapakalango sa alcohol habang si Red ay kumakain ng pulutan. Silang tatlo lamang ang nasa loob ng kwarto pero ang ingay-ingay nila. Masayang kasama ang dalawa so panandalian niyang nakalimutan ang mga hinanakit niya sa buhay.

Nagulat na lamang siya maya-maya nang dumating si Vince. She didn't know that he was invited.

"Buti naman nakasunod ka agad."

"Jenny said I could go, so..."

Naupo ito sa tabi niya. Vico handed him a beer, saka ito nag-punch in ng numbers. Nag-duet ang magpinsan sa kanta ng Aegis. Those two could really make the atmosphere lighter with their crazy antics. She actually didn't mind that Vince is sitting beside her. Naaagaw ng dalawa ang atensyon niya.

Pagkatapos ng kanta, naupo ang dalawa para ipahinga ang boses.

"Kayo naman ang kumanta."

She shook her head. "No, I don't sing."

Umiling din si Vince.

"Nako, pareho pang KJ," reklamo ni Vico.

"Okay, rest muna tayo sa kantahan. Hey, how about we play a game instead?"

"What game?"

"I'll say a word, and then we'll say something about it. Kailangang from experience, and it has to be juicy," Red explained. "I'll start."

Iniikot nito ang paningin sa buong room.

"Karaoke."

Vico raised his hand. "I have one. It was back in college. Yung mga gay friends ko, nag-ayang mag-karaoke. I didn't know that Mitch was going to be there. Late syang dumating. E lasing na lasing na ako noon. I remember singing this really sexy song and I was doing my sexy dance and they're all hooting for me, tapos biglang bumukas yung pinto and in he came. I was so embarrassed. I finished the song, of course, pero hindi na ulit ako kumanta that night. Nasa isang sulok na lang ako habang sila, nag-iingay ng sobra. They later learned na may crush ako kay Mitch, so they urged him to sing for me. It was the first time that he serenaded me."

Hinawakan ni Vico ang tigkabilang pisngi. Mukhang kilig na kilig ito sa pagkikwento.

Red rolled her eyes. "You've already told that story a hundred times!" reklamo nito. She then turned to them. "Kayo? Baka may gusto kayong i-share?"

They both shook their heads.

"Hindi ako masyadong nagka-karaoke, e," dahilan niya.

"I got nothing."

Red pouted. "Ako rin, wala e. Bukod sa ilang beses akong napaaway kasi sinabihan ko yung mga kasama ko na pangit silang kumanta. Okay, next word: alcohol."

Pare-pareho silang napaisip.

"My college friends bathed me with beer as initiation to the soccer group," Vince told them. "Yun lang."

"Ang iksi naman. Ikaw, Carlene?"

"It's embarrassing," sabi niya.

"Oh, come on. Okay lang yan. Tayo-tayo lang naman."

"Well, this happened when I was in first year. College din. Nag-iinom kami ng friends ko and then they dared me to call Vince. I was so drunk that night that I didn't know what I was saying. But they taped me. I was crying the whole time. At ang malala, hindi pala si Vince ang pinatawagan nila sa 'kin, kundi yung prof ko. Pinalitan lang nila yung pangalan bago ko i-contact. Hiyang-hiya ako nang nalaman ko."

"Oh my god, then what happened?"

"That professor talked to me and told me that I was still young and that I'll find someone else. He wasn't even attractive!"

Nagtawanan sila.

"Ikaw, Vico?"

"Well, yung sa karaoke, pwede na rin dun sa alcohol experience e."

"Okay, ako na lang," Red announced. "Alam nyo ba kung bakit juice lang ang iniinom ko ngayon?"

Nagkatinginan sila.

"Oo nga, 'no. Bakit nga ba? Inuubos mo yung chaser at pulutan, hindi ka naman umiinom."

Red smiled at them. "That's because I'm not allowed to drink. I'm pregnant."

They were ecstatic with the news. Vico even ordered more juice for Red.

"Kelan pa?!"

"The doctor said na two weeks na raw. I just had a check-up earlier."

"Alam na ba ni Troy?" tanong ni Vince.

Umiling si Red. "You're the first to know. Pero sasabihin ko rin sa kanya mamaya pag-uwi ko."

"Congratulations, Red," bati niya.

"Thanks! Okay, next. Uhm... kiss?"

"Ohh, I have one!" Vico exclaimed. Nagsalita na ito bago pa man may tumutol. "I kissed a girl and I liked it."

Red gave him a stern look. "You're just quoting Katy Perry."

"No, seryoso nga. There's this one girl na friend of a friend, who told me that she'll make me straight. I just laughed at her because I knew that it was impossible. But then, she kissed me and I was like 'Oh dear God, magiging lesbian pa yata ako!' She was so hot, I honestly thought na babalik ang pagkakalalaki ko sa 'kin. Kaso wala talaga, e. It was just lust for her. I'm in love with Mitch."

"Aww... that's sweet," Red commented. "Ako, I puked on this one guy who attempted to kiss me. I never saw him since then."

Vico made a disgusted face.

"O, kayo naman?"

"I kissed someone and I can't get it out of my head," Vince said. "I want to kiss her again but I don't know if she will let me."

Napatingin siya rito. Surely, he wasn't talking about their kiss?

"That's it? Kami mindblowing yung sinabi tapos ikaw, yun lang? What's the big deal about kissing somebody?"

"There's more to the story, but that's all that I can say for now."

"No fair," reklamo ni Red. Saka ito tumayo. "CR muna ako. I think I've had too much juice."

"Ayan kasi."

"Vico, come with me."

Agad namang sumunod si Vico. Nang lumabas ang dalawa, doon medyo naging awkward. She drank the rest of her beer, saka siya kumuha ng isa pang bote. Vince opened it for her.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Tumikhim siya. "Were you talking about the... uhm—"

"Yes," he admitted.

Kinilabutan siya sa sagot nito, but she kept her cool. She still doesn't know where she stands. Mahirap ang mag-assume.

"So, ikaw, any memorable experience with that word?" pag-iiba nito bigla ng topic.

"Actually..." Tumingin siya rito. He looked so relaxed and relieved, na para bang may natanggal itong mabigat na dalahin. Was that secret too huge for him to bear?

Vince did not shy away from her stare. He was waiting for her to finish her sentence.

Huminga siya nang malalim at saka lumagok ng beer.

"I kissed someone and I also can't get it out of my head." She looked at him intently, then she continued in a hush, "I wanted him to kiss me again, but I don't know how to tell him."