"Pa'no ba 'yan? Nagtatanong na ang anak mo."

Vince glanced at Rose. Nakangisi pa rin ito. Simula nang makilala nito si Kelvin ay hindi na nawala ang ngiti nito.

"Stop smiling. You're creeping me out."

Tumawa ito. "Sorry. Your son's just so adorable."

That made him smile, his heart swelling with pride. He didn't know how that felt like, having his dad being proud of him. They don't really have that kind of relationship. Parang naging proud lamang ito sa kanya noong naging CEO na siya ng kumpanya.

Troy didn't think so. Kasi kahit ito, hindi maramdaman ang paghanga ng daddy nila. Para kay Troy, siya ang paborito ng ama. Pero hindi rin naman niya ramdam iyon. And now, he has a son of his own. And everything about him makes him proud.

"So, ano na ngayon? Will you marry her?" tanong ulit ni Rose.

Umiling siya. "I don't know yet. It's too soon to say."

"Jusko naman, Vince! Ilang taon pa ba ang kailangan mo to be sure? Ipaaalala ko na naman ba sa 'yong hindi ka na bumabata?"

"Ayaw ko namang magmadali. I might make a mistake and hurt them both."

"One way or another, masasaktan mo sila. Mas mabuting piliin mo 'yong option na may saya, kahit gaano kaunti o kaikli ang panahon na 'yon."

--

Moira wished that Kelvin could be more subtle, pero ganoon nga talaga kapag bata. Masyadong matanong, especially when it comes to things that don't make sense to them. They never really did answer his question. Hindi rin naman nila alam kung ano ang isasagot. Ayaw naman niyang pangunahan si Vince.

Masaya na siyang kinikilala nito ang anak nila at nagbibigay pa ito ng suporta. Asking him to marry her for Kelvin would be too much. Hindi na siya umaasa sa kasal.

They didn't speak about it for days. Tuwing ipapasok ni Kelvin iyon sa usapan, Vince would immediately divert the topic to anime. Recently kasi ay naging interesado ito sa mga hilig ni Kelvin. He said that he's turning one of the guest rooms into his room.

That made Kelvin excited.

So, every dinner, iyon agad ang pinag-uusapan nila para hindi na mapag-usapan ang kasal. Wala namang reklamo sina Neri dahil pareho lamang sila ng kalagayan. In a few months ay manganganak na ito. Hindi niya sigurado kung magpapakasal ang mga ito bago iyon mangyari. Joem's been asking for years already.

Maayos na rin ang naging trabaho niya. Vico already taught her how to make the coffee, but since Red's pregnant, si Vico ang umiinom noon hanggang sa maitama niya ang timpla.

"You should drink this from time to time para hindi mo makalimutan ang lasa at procedure. It will be a while bago sya uli makainom ng kape. If she wants caffeine, bilhan mo ng kendi na X.O. And don't let her drink even a sip of alcohol. Troy will get mad."

Troy, who she met again that day, looks a bit like Vince. Mas mababa lamang ito ng kaunti at palaging nakangiti.  Vince was more reserved and serious. No wonder Troy was married first.

"Sumasakit na ba ang ulo mo sa asawa ko, Carlene?" nakangiti nitong tanong.

"Hindi pa naman," pabiro niyang sagot.

"Why are you here?" asked Vico. "Hindi ka busy?"

"I have some papers to sign," Troy answered. Then he held up his hand, "I know what you're thinking. Ipinadala ko na lang sana. But you know how much Red misses me. Basta may rason para pumunta ako rito, papupuntahin nya ako."

Troy later excused himself and headed off to Vince's office. Sila namang dalawa ni Vico ay nagpatuloy sa pagtatrabaho. Biyernes na kaya wala na halos access si Vico sa computer nito. Nagha-hands on na siya sa trabaho. Nasa tabi na lamang niya ito at nagtuturo kapag may hindi siya maintindihan.

Kapag wala siyang tanong ay madalas ito sa office ni Red, nakikipagkwentuhan. Siguro ay pinagsasawa na ng dalawa ang mga sarili sa mga kwento at tsismis dahil ilang araw na lamang ay aalis na si Vico papuntang Milan.

After Troy's quick trip to Vince's office, bumalik naman ito para bisitahin ang asawa. Later, the three of them came out of the office. Red and Vico's eyes were puffy. Troy looked solemn. But they all smiled when they saw her.

"Tara, lunch tayo?" aya sa kanya ng mga ito.

They also invited Vince and Rose. Gamit ang kotse ng magkapatid, nagpunta sila sa isang restaurant na pinili ni Red. Nang makarating sila roon ay bahagya siyang nanlumo. She knows the place. Sa pangalan nga lang. At alam niyang mahal doon.

Wala pa naman siyang sweldo. Tinitipid lamang niya iyong nakuha niya sa pagtatrabaho bilang secretary ni Vince for two months.

Napansin yata ni Vince iyon dahil bago sila pumasok sa restaurant ay nilingon siya nito at sinabing, "Don't worry about it."

She roughly translated it to 'Libre na kita', which put her at ease.

During lunch, they talked about Vico's departure and Red's pregnancy. Sa daldal nina Rose, Vico at Red ay hindi na niya kinailangang magkwento. Vince was also just listening. Tatango lamang ito o iiling kapag tinanong. Troy made a few comments, pero hinayaan na rin nitong iyong tatlo na lamang ang magsalita nang magsalita.

"Nga pala, Vince, may mini reunion kayo nina Toni later, di ba?" Red asked Vince.

Tumango ito. "Yep."

"Kayo lang magbabarkada?"

"Yes."

"Pupunta ka?"

Vince shrugged.

"Pa'no 'yong date nyo ni Cassy mamaya?" tanong naman ni Vico. "Or would you cancel again?"

She looked at Vince and waited for his answer. Hindi pa rin pala tapos ang pagsi-set up dito ng daddy nito for blind dates.

"Maybe you should bring Cassy to that reunion," Troy suggested.

"Yeah! Great idea!" sabat naman ni Rose.

"I'll think about it," was all he said.

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagkain, feeling disregarded again. He already said that he likes her pero heto ito ngayon, may date na naman. Nahihirapan tuloy siyang maniwala sa mga sinabi nito.

--

When they got back to the office, Moira decided to just shrug it off and concentrate on her work. If Vince wants to date other women to keep his options open, then she can't do anything about it. They're not in a relationship and he certainly didn't announce that they'd be exclusive to each other.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit mas pipiliin niyang walang love life kesa sa may ka-M.U.

Nang dumating ang alas sais ay nakita niya si Rose na may dalang bulaklak. Galing iyon sa lobby, so she's guessing na delivery iyon para kay Vince, to give to his date. So he didn't cancel. Nadismaya siya.

She was almost ready to leave when she saw Vince coming her way, dala-dala ang bouquet. Pero hindi siya nito nilapitan. Dumaan lang ito. Nasa way kasi yung cubicle niya palabas ng workplace. Muli siyang naupo pagkalampas nito. She decided to wait for a while before going. Ayaw niya itong makasabay sa elevator.

Dalawang minuto pa lamang yata ang nakalilipas nang biglang tumunog ang phone nya. Vince was calling.

"Yes?" she asked curtly.

"Are you done with work?"

"Oo, pero magku-commute na lang ako pauwi."

"Huwag ka munang umuwi," sabi nito. "I'm in the parking lot. I'll wait for you here."

"Why?"

"Kasi a-attend ako ng reunion. And they told me to bring a date. So I'm bringing you."

Kumunot ang noo niya.

"What about Cassy?"

"I already cancelled this morning."

Natahimik siya. Why does he do that? He has this habit of making her think that he doesn't care and then come around to show her that he does. Is he confusing her on purpose?

"Why me?" she asked.

"Kasi ayaw ko namang ipakilala sa mga kaibigan ko 'yong taong hindi ko rin kilala. Ayaw mo ba?"

She sighed. Of course, she wants to.

"Moira?"

"Pababa na 'ko," sagot niya.

--

She went to his usual parking spot. Nakita niya itong naghihintay sa tabi ng kotse nito, hawak-hawak ang bouquet. He smiled when he saw her. Agad nitong iniabot ang bulaklak sa kanya. Saka nito binuksan ang passenger's seat at pinasakay siya.

"Sa'n ang reunion nyo?" tanong niya rito.

"Sa condo ni Macky sa Ortigas," sagot nito.

Hindi niya matandaan kung sino si Macky. Wala naman kasi siyang ka-close sa mga kabarkada nito noong college. Kilala niya ang mga ito sa mukha, but it's been ten years since she last saw them, maliban sa kaibigan ni Vince na si Ida, isang celebrity.

Matatandaan pa kaya siya ng mga ito? And if they do remember her, maganda naman kayang alaala ang maiisip ng mga ito o puro kahihiyan niya lamang?

"Baka naman ma-out of place ako dun."

"You won't. They're all bringing dates so it's fine."

Pinanghawakan na lamang niya anag sinabi nito. At kung mao-OP man siya, she prays that there's alcohol. At least there's an excuse for the silence.

Halos alas syete na nang makarating sila sa condo ni Macky. Halatang pang-mayaman iyon. Kahit saan siya tumingin ay puro eleganteng tao ang nakikita niya. And Macky lives on the floor just below the penthouse. Vince told her that Macky's sister owns it.

The lights were dim inside Macky's unit. Medyo maingay na rin dahil nagsisimula nang mag-inom ang mga ito. Agad silang sinalubong ng mga kabarkada ni Vince. Siya naman ay tahimik lang sa likuran nito. She could still recognize their faces pero medyo marami na ring pagkakaiba.

Sampu sina Vince sa barkada. There's Macky, Toni and Ida, a couple of women na hindi na niya matandaan ang mga pangalan, at tatlo pang lalaking hindi na rin niya kilala. Narinig niya na si Franco, another friend, ay hindi makararating. Nasa Belgium daw kasi ito para sa second honeymoon with his wife.

Hinila ng mga ito si Vince papunta sa malaking lamesa sa may kusina. One man's manning the bar beside it. May mga babae't lalaking nakaupo sa mga upuan, na hula niya ay dates o mga asawa ng mga kaibigan ni Vince.

Ipinakilala ng mga kaibigan si Vince sa kasama ng mga ito. Nang matapos ang pakikipag-beso at pakikipagkamay ay saka siya nito nilingon.

"Who's this? Your wife?" tanong ni Ida.

Vince pulled her by the hand. "Don't you remember her?" tanong nito sa mga kaibigan.

Napalunok siya. She almost wished that he'd forgotten about her. Tinitigan siyang mabuti ng mga kaibigan nito. Nobody seemed to recognize her.

"Doesn't she look familiar?"

"Well, kinda. Naipakilala mo na ba sya sa 'min?"

Vince shook his head. "I can't believe you guys. It's Moira. Remember her?"

Their faces lit up like lightbulbs upon comprehending the statement.

"Wait, Moira... as in THE Moira?" tanong ni Toni.

She didn't like the sound of that, pero pinilit pa rin niyang ngumiti.

"Oh my god! Is this the same Moira from way back? 'Yong palaging nagbibigay sa 'yo ng donuts?"

Pinagdasal niyang sana ay tumigil na ang mga ito sa pag-alala sa kanya. She clearly didn't leave them any positive impression.

"Akalain mo nga naman!"

The next thing she knew, bumi-beso, nakikipagkamay at yumayakap na ang mga ito sa kanya. She was then introduced to the rest of the party. Karamihan sa mga kasama nila ay mga asawa ng mga kaibigan ni Vince. Ang ilan sa mga ito ay may mga anak na. They still couldn't believe that Vince ended up with her. Alam naman niyang hindi intensyon ng mga ito na ipahiya siya, but those memories were really embarrassing.

She drank some alcohol hoping to loosen herself up. Maybe it won't sound as bad to her kapag nakainom siya ng alak. But the effect was still the same. They would jump from one topic to another, but they will somehow always find their way back to Vince and her, na para bang may homing device ang paksa na iyon at palagi na lamang binabalik-balikan.

When she couldn't take it anymore, she excused herself and went to the balcony. Kumapit siya ng mahigpit sa balustre dahil nahihilo na siya. Nakailang inom na rin siya ng alak. Mababa pa naman ang tolerance niya sa alcohol.

"Hey."

She smiled when she saw Vince. "Hi."

"Are you okay? Bakit bigla ka na lang umalis?"

"Gusto ko lang magpahangin," dahilan niya.

"Bakit? Hindi ba malamig sa loob?"

She shook her head. He probably wouldn't understand. It was cold, all right, but it was suffocating.

"What's wrong?" tanong nitong muli.

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. "Nothing," pilit niya, pero kahit sarili niya ay hindi niya nakumbinsi.

"Meron, e. Ano nga? Tell me. Maybe I can make it go away."

She sighed. "Imposible ba talagang magustuhan mo rin ako?"

He tilted her chin upward and looked at her intently.

"Is it?" pag-uulit niya.

"No, it's not."

He then dipped his head and planted a soft kiss on the corner of her lips. She felt a shiver run down her back. Tapos ay parang biglang gumaan ang pakiramdam niya.

He did the same to the other. Napapikit siya. Then she felt his lips on hers, gentle at first...

Feeling like she was about to melt, she quickly put her hands on his nape. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss and it felt like everything was going to be all right.

They were both panting when he finally stopped. She could see her reflection in his eyes, dazed and lovestuck.

"It's not impossible for me to like you, Moira," he whispered, still holding her close. "I told you already, didn't I? I like you. I really, really like you. And no matter what they say about you, I still won't stop liking you because I don't think I can."