Saying good night was hard, especially when he doesn't want to yet. Vince knows that if he says good night, the magic will simply end there. And tomorrow morning, it would be like a reset. Back to zero ulit. Balik sa pangangapa at pakiramdaman.

He wished that he could stop the time, but it wasn't his birthday yet. And it's not likely to come true.

Nang makarating na sila sa tapat ng kwarto nito, pilit niyang piniga ang utak para sa kung anong matinong sasabihin, just to prolong the night. But he came up with nothing. He couldn't think straight around Moira.

And knowing that it's going to be their last night in Newark together, probably the last chance he'll ever get, was too much pressure.

"Moira."

"Hmm?"

Moira just opened the door. She turned to him when he said her name. Now, she's looking at him, waiting for what he was about to say next. But his mind just went blank.

Ngumiti ito sa kanya. He could see the disappointment in her eyes, like she was expecting for something good but didn't get it.

"Good night, Vince."

"Wait."

He pulled the door close behind her. Moira looked up to him, her face expectant. He was still struggling to put his feelings into words, but when he did find them, he was also surprised himself.

"I want to kiss you."

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata nito. "R-Really?"

His fist tightened around the door knob. If he would attempt to put into words how much he wants it, then it would just come out as incoherrent blabbers. So instead, he placed his fingers under her chin and tilted her face up.

Halfway to it, she closed her eyes. He followed just before he could taste her lips. They were as soft and sweet as he remembers. He pulled away before completely losing himself in the kiss.

"I want to do more than a kiss," he admitted against her lips.

He felt her shiver. He dipped his head again for another kiss. And she responded just like last time. He took it as a sign. It was a clear signal, to him at least.

Without breaking the kiss, he opened the door and gently pushed her inside. He heard something drop. Her purse, maybe. He took off his coat, which she gave back to him earlier, and let it drop on the floor.

He felt the bare skin on her back. It was driving him crazy all night.

Lumayo siya ng kaunti para tanggalin ang bowtie niya. Moira was in daze. She just stood there, with her mouth partly opened, watching him. He yanked the bowtie off and with a growl, pulled her back in his arms and kissed her hard.

Marahan niya itong itinulak hanggang sa tumama ang likod ng tuhod nito sa gilid ng kama. He laid her to the bed, while continually kissing her. She fumbled at the buttons of his dress shirt, trying her best to undo them.

"T-They're not coming undone."

Tumawa siya ng mahina at saka hinuli ang kamay nito.

"Let me," he said.

He removed them quickly and joined her on the bed. He began tracing her body sensually, as if remembering the first time they made love. Moira's still as responsive. She ignites at every touch and melts with every kiss, and it fueled him to go on until they're both senseless.

Hinila niya pababa ang straps ng damit nito. He began kneading the sides of her breasts and she instinctively arched her back, as if her own body is attuned to his touch. As if he seemed familiar. He lowered his mouth to one and latched onto it while his hand continued kneading the other. Naramdaman niya ang marahan nitong pagsabunot sa kanya, making his scalp tingle.

"V-Vince," she called out, na para bang nagmamakaawa.

He levered up on one elbow and gazed down at her. Her eyes are clouded, her cheeks are flushed and her lips are already swollen from his kisses. It was a very inviting sight and he made himself welcome, kissing her with such desperation and need until she whimpers and squirms beneath him, begging for air.

Tumigil lamang siya nang makiramdam niya ay pareho silang mapuputulan ng hininga.

He hiked up her skirt while staring at her. He knows that she could feel his hand on her bare thighs. It was evident in her face. Iniangat niya ito mula sa kama, to astride him. Saka niya inalis ang dress nito na naipon sa bewang nito.

"Vince, I have to tell you something," she whispered.

"What?" he asked, trying to focus on her voice. It's very hard to do when she's naked like that, with only the lacy underwear on the way.

Kumapit ito sa balikat niya at nahihiyang sinabing, "I-It's been a long time since I've done this."

He caressed her cheek with his knuckles.

"Moira, I don't really want to know about the affairs you had with other men."

Pinamulahan ito.

"Y-You don't understand. I've never done this with anyone else."

"You mean to say—"

Tumango ito. "The last time was that night."

He could not believe it. Was she so tormented by last time that she couldn't let any other man touch her the way he did or was it because she already gave him her heart, a very long time ago, and never really got it back?

"P-Please be gentle with me..."

"Oh, Moira..."

He caught her mouth and kissed her like she's the most fragile thing in the world. He wanted to say so many things to her, but his words just got stuck in his throat. So he conveyed the message with his hands and mouth instead, with his whole being touching her soul as he was touching her body, caressing the memory they both shared ten years ago, while relishing the present time.

He made love to her, not only to be one with her, but to let her know that he loves her, when the words failed and actions took over.

And gave her his heart, in exchange for hers, without the intention of giving it back.

--

Moira woke up at the sound of her phone ringing. Umungot siya habang kinakapa iyon sa ilalim ng unan niya. She winced as the brightness of the screen hurt her eyes. Neri's calling.

"Hello?" she murmured sleepily.

"Moira! Uuwi ka ba ngayong gabi?"

Kinusot niya ang mata. "Baka bukas pa ng umaga. Bakit?"

"Bakit pa ba? Hinahanap ka na ni Kelvin. Nami-miss ka na raw."

She smiled. "Tell him I miss him too."

"Saka may trangkaso siya."

Nagising ang diwa niya dahil sa sinabi nito. "Ha? Kailan pa?"

"Kaninang umaga lang. Mukhang trangkaso yata. But don't worry, napainom ko naman na sya ng gamot. Saka 'di naman ako aalis kaya maaalagaan ko sya."

"Tita? Si mommy ba 'yan?" narinig niyang tanong ni Kelvin. "Can I talk to her?"

--

"Hi, baby," came a hushed voice.

Vince thought that Moira was talking to him. After what happened last night, it was okay to assume that. With a smile playing on his lips, he stretched his arms, but felt an empty space beside him.

Nang magmulat siya ng mata ay nakita niyang nakaupo si Moira sa gilid ng kama, the blanket barely covering her. The sight alone was enough to turn him on and had it not for the phone call, he would have taken her again.

"I know. I miss you too," narinig niyang sabi nito sa kausap.

His jaw clenched. So after all that happened, she would still go back to Joem. Ano ba talaga ang dahilan ng namagitan sa kanilang dalawa the night before? Attraction? Lust?

"Paggising mo bukas, nandyan na ulit ako," she said in a light tone. He was sure that she was smiling when she said that. "All right. Good night. I love you, too."

It was too much for him. It's bad enough that he made someone cheat on their partner. It's worse when he's nothing more than that. He felt so disgusted with himself. Humiliated and stupid.

When Moira turned around, she clearly wasn't expecting to see him already awake. He glared at her and got up. He picked up his discarded clothes and quickly got dressed.

"We need to be at the airport at eight," he said through his gritted teeth and slammed the door on his way out.

--

Moira froze when she saw Vince behind her. Hindi pa man nagsi-sink in na may nangyari talaga sa kanilang dalawa ay may panibago na namang panggulantang sa pagkatao niya. Kanina pa kaya ito gising? Did he hear the whole conversation?

He seemed angry. Pero bago pa man siya makapagtanong ay nakalabas na ito ng kwarto niya.

Dahil hindi na rin naman siya makatulog, bumangon na lamang siya para maligo. She could still smell his scent, could still feel his lips on her skin, but how can she enjoy such pleasures if they're only temporary?

Vince had always been like that, so quick to change his mood. Yesterday, he was very ardent. Today, he is cold. He's such a complicated guy.

At kahit nang magkita sila ng 7:30, mukhang inis pa rin ito sa kanya. She was almost on the brink of telling him about Kelvin, but during the 18-hour flight, nakatalikod ito sa kanya.

He was polite enough to send her home using his car though. Pagkauwi nito, siya naman ang ipinahatid nito sa driver. Nang makarating siya sa bahay ay isinantabi muna niya kung ano man ang nararamdaman niya kay Vince nang mga oras na iyon. She focused all her attention to her son, who's down with flu. Tuwang-tuwa itong nang makita siya and her bag of chocolates.

--

Vince was supposedly on a day-off, but he was so angry with Moira and with himself, that he resulted into going back straight to work just to try to forget about what happened.

Rose was so happy to see him, but two minutes later, her smile turned into a scowl when she realized that he's not in a very jovial mood.

"I thought you'd be happy to see me again," nagtatampo nitong sabi.

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "I made her cheat, Rose," he said in resignation.

Rose rolled her eyes. "Can you not talk about Moira for once?"

"I can't."

Rose sat on the edge of his table. Iniangat nito ang mukha niya.

"Maybe a slap or two will do the trick?"

Pinalis niya ang kamay nito. "Will you stop treating this as a joke?"

She raised her hands in defeat. "Okay. I'm sorry. Tell me what happened."

So he told her, minus the details and the fillers. The essence of the story was that he made her cheat and he made a fool of himself.

"But she gave you her consent. It means that she wants you too."

"It doesn't matter. She's still going back to him."

"Then don't let her!"

Napasapo siya. He looked at her like she just handed him the winning lottery ticket. "Damn you, Rose. You're always saying the right thing."

--

Kahihiga pa lamang ni Moira para makapagpahinga nang sabihin ni Neri na wala nang gamot si Kelvin.

"Nakalimutan ko kasing bumili. Hindi naman ako makaalis kasi walang magbabantay kay Kelvin."

"Ako na lang ang bibili," presinta niya.

"Sure ka ba? Kagagaling mo lang sa flight."

"Nakatulog na rin naman ako sa eroplano." There's nothing to do there anyway. She didn't like the video being played. Vince didn't talk to her throughout the flight. "May iba pa bang bibilhin?"

"Fruits saka vegies. Yakult na rin. Thank you."

She nodded. Nag-ayos lang siya ng kaunti at saka umalis para bilhin ang mga kailangan nina Kelvin at Neri.

--

With flowers on the passenger's seat, Vince drove off to Moira's place to pay her a surprise visit. He assumed that Joem's still at work, considering na wala pang alas kwatro ng hapon. Rose is right. He shouldn't let her go back to him.

Whatever happened to them back in Newark must mean something. He's hoping that it does. After all, decent women just don't give themselves up to any man without giving a piece of their heart along.

Ilang minuto lang ay nasa subdivision na siya.Nagtanong lang siya sa guard at nag-iwan ng ID, saka sya dumiretso sa bahay ni Moira.

He knocked on the door and readied his smile. Pero nang magbukas iyon ay lalong nagulo ang noo'y magulo na niyang utak.

Nakatayo sa harapan niya ang babaeng nakita niyang kasama ni Joem noon.

"Yes?" she inquired.

He frowned. He must be at the wrong house. Ibinaba niya ang kamay na may hawak ng bulaklak. Litung-lito na siya.

"Hi. Is there a Moira Carlene here?"

--

 Pauwi na si Moira nang makatanggap siya ng tawag mula kay Neri.

"O? Pauwi na 'ko," bungad niya sa pinsan.

"Moira..." halos ay pabulong nitong tawag. She sounded... afraid.

"Bakit parang takot na takot ka?"

"S-Si Vince ba, singkitin? Saka matangkad?"

She frowned. Why was she asking these questions all of a sudden? Bigla tuloy siyang kinabahan.

"Oo. Bakit?"

"Moira, h-he's here."

--

When Vince told the woman his name, bigla na lamang itong namutla. Neri ang pakilala nito sa kanya, pinsan daw ni Moira. Parang mas lalo siyang nagalit kay Joem. Of all the women, bakit mismong pinsan pa ni Moira ang kailangan nitong sulutin? And she looks pregnant.

Hindi ba iyon pansin ni Moira? Hindi ba ito nagtataka? Or did she already know but couldn't really do anything about it? Tanggap na lang ba nito ang lahat?

"E-Excuse me," sabi nito sa kanya. She took her phone and walked to the kitchen area. He still doesn't know if Moira's around. Baka tulog ito. Wala namang sinasabi ang pinsan nito sa kanya.

While Neri was busy talking over the phone, siya naman ay iniikot ang paningin sa buong bahay. Maliit lamang iyon. Two-storey na kita mula sa sala ang itaas. Hindi kasi buo ang kisame ng first floor.

Napansin din niyang may mga nagkalat na laruan sa sala. May playing cards na nasa lamesa, action-figures sa boookshelves at toy cars sa sahig.

"Tita Neri?" came a weak voice from upstairs. "I'm thirsty. Can I get some water, please?"

Pagtingala niya, isang batang around 9 years old ang nakita niyang nagkukusot ng mata sa may balustre.

"Hi," he greeted the kid, unsure why he just felt shivers run all over his body.

Kunot-noo itong tumingin sa kanya. Siya naman ay tinungo ang puno ng hagdan. The kid slowly walked towards the other end. May hawak-hawak itong stuffed toy ni Toothless.

"Who are you?" tanong nito sa kanya.

"I'm Vince," he replied, his frown becoming more and more prominent. He swore that he looked just like him when he was about that age. And what's with this uneasy feeling all of a sudden? "What's your name?"

"Kelvin," sagot nito. Tiningnan nito ang mga bulaklak na dala niya, saka ito muling tumingin sa kanya. "Are you here to see mommy?"