As expected, si Kelvin na naman ang pinakang natutuwa sa sitwasyon nila. He was the most excited, kaya nang sumunod na linggo ay nagyaya na itong maglipat. Recognition day nito ng Biyernes. Si Vince ang kasama nitong umakyat sa stage. Siya naman ang naging taga-picture. Pareho silang nag-half day kaya naging suspicious si Red. Mabuti na lamang at nandoon si Rose para pagtakpan sila.

Halos lahat ng kakilala niyang magulang ay nagulat dahil kay Vince. Kahit ang homeroom teacher ni Kelvin ay hindi rin makapaniwala. Kelvin looked the proudest. Mukhang mas natuwa pa itong nandoon si Vince kaysa sa honor na natanggap nito.

Kinabukasan, araw ng Sabado, ay niyaya naman nito ang dalawa nitong kaklase sa bahay para ipakita ang kwarto nito. Maghapon ang mga bata doon, naglalaro ng computer games, kumakain at naglangoy pa sa pool.

"I've never heard him talk in Tagalog, this much, before," Vince told her.

She was baking cookies for Kelvin's friends to take home when Vince went in. Nakikilangoy rin kasi ito kanina sa tatlong bata.

"Well, he tries. Pero usually, tahimik lang sya sa school. He rarely talks because he finds it hard to talk in Tagalog. Narinig mo naman siguro syang makipag-usap sa friends nya. Conyo pa rin. Kaya sa bahay lang sya madalas dumaldal."

"Ano kaya kung ilipat na lang natin sya sa private school?"

"Mahal."

"Moira, you know money's not the issue."

"Sa 'yo, pero iba sa 'kin."

"Then let me handle all the expenses."

She shook her head. "I can't let you do that."

"Why not?" kunot-noo nitong tanong. "It's my right as a parent to provide for my child."

"And I'm not taking it away from you. I just don't think that what you're suggesting is necessary. Okay naman na si Kelvin sa school nya."

"But you said he was being bullied," he pointed out.

"Hindi naman ganoon kalala."

"You told me that he was pushed down the stairs."

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "I already talked to the parents of the kid. Hindi naman pala sinasadya."

"Why are you making excuses?"

"I'm not. It's just-"

"Mommy, daddy, are you fighting?"

Natigilan silang dalawa nang marinig ang tanong. Nasa kusina na pala si Kelvin, balot ng tuwalya ang katawan.

"No, baby, we're just talking," sagot niya sa anak. "Do you need anything?"

"I want to check on the cookies. Can we eat them yet?"

"Hindi pa e. Those will be for later. Would you like some cupcakes instead?"

Kelvin shrugged. Siya naman ay kinuha ang isang kahon ng cupcakes mula sa refrigerator saka iyon ibinigay sa anak.

"Can we have some juice, too?"

She nodded and took out a pitcher of orange juice from the fridge.

"Ako na ang magdadala," presinta ni Vince, saka ito sumunod kay Kelvin palabas ng bahay.

And that ended their conversation. Hindi naman sa ayaw niyang ilipat ng school si Kelvin. Kaya lamang ay baka mahirapan itong mag-adjust. She knew that Vince only wants what's best for him, but so does she. Sana lamang ay magkasundo man lang sila. If not, then they could let Kelvin decide.

--

Isang libro para sa isang buwang renta ni Moira sa bahay ni Vince. Limangdaang piso para sa isang buwang pagkain at limangdaan para sa kuryente at tubig. Sa 2000 pesos na kabuuan noon ay pakiramdam niya'y luging-lugi ito sa kanya, kaya naisipan niyang tumulong sa gawaing bahay.

Pero nagalit naman ito sa kanya nang makita siya nitong nagba-brush ng sahig ng CR.

"Kaya nga ako kumuha ng katulong, para may gagawa ng gawaing-bahay," sabi nito sa kanya. "I did not ask you to live here to clean."

Wala namang kaso sa kanya ang paglilinis. Sanay na kasi siya, pero mas gusto ni Vince na maging nanay na lamang siya kay Kelvin. He'd rather have her take care of their son. At dahil nakikitira lamang naman siya, hindi na siya nagreklamo.

She still helps though. Siya ang nagluluto. Walang problema doon si Vince dahil gusto nito ang luto niya.

When they're not arguing about Kelvin's future, it's actually fun to be around Vince. He's not as serious as she thought. And he's very sweet. Tinamaan yata ito sa sinabi niyang masyado pang mabilis kung magiging sila kaagad, so he spends his free time courting her.

They do it discreetly in the office though. They don't go to work together. Ipinahahatid siya nito sa driver. Mas maaga itong pumasok. Siya ay kasabay naman ni Kelvin. She takes him to school whenever she can.

Tuwing darating siya sa office ay may bulaklak na siyang madaratnan sa lamesa niya. Even Red's crazy preggy cravings could not mar her day.

Pero syempre, kahit anong tago nila sa ibang tao ay mayroon pa ring makahahalata. And it was none other than Red. Kung siguro ay nandoon pa si Vico, baka mas maaga nitong nalaman ang tungkol sa kanila ni Vince.

It's a good thing that Red still doesn't know about Kelvin, but she knows that it's only a matter of time before she does.

"Nililigawan ka ni Vince, 'no?" tanong nito isang araw. "And don't try to deny it. Halatang-halata ko."

"Bawal ba?" nag-aalangan niyang tanong.

"Ano ka ba. Hindi, 'no. I just don't get why you're both trying to hide it. Pareho naman kayong single. Wala namang masama doon."

"Ayaw lang naming maka-apekto sa trabaho," paliwanag niya.

She requested for this setup. Ayaw kasi niyang pagmulan ng tsismis. He's the CEO for crying out loud. It would seem that the only reason why he would go out with her is her looks. Ayaw naman niyang ipagkalat na may anak na silang dalawa. What good will that do?

"Sus. Ano ba naman ang magiging epekto nyan sa trabaho? Unless you're planning to slack off..."

Umiling siya. "No. Of course not."

"Then walang problema."

Wala pa sa ngayon, gusto niyang sabihin dito.  

Red seemed to like the idea that she's going out with Vince. She told her that she broke up with Joem because of Vince. That was before she left the company as Vince's secretary. And since then, parang ipinagpipilitan nitong bagay sila ni Vince. Minsan ay ito pa ang tumutukso sa kanilang dalawa. Matanda na raw si Vince at kailangan na nitong mag-asawa, which puts the pressure on her. Paano naman kung wala itong balak na pakasalan sya? For all she know, she might just be a passing fancy who just happened to have his kid.

"Hey."

Napatunghay siya. Rose was standing in front of her, may hawak itong dalawang cup ng kape.

"Coffee raw, for you," nakangiti nitong sabi.

"Thanks." Kinuha niya iyon. "Nakakahiya naman sa 'yo. Palaging ikaw ang tagaabot."

"Okay lang. Nakakalibre rin kasi ako."

"Busy ba?"

Rose nodded. "Tatlong meetings."

"Bakit hindi ka kasama?"

"Ayoko. Mabu-bore lang ako dun. Saka sabi naman nya okay lang na huwag akong sumama," sagot nito. "May date kayo mamaya?"

"Wala. Hindi naman kami nagdi-date e."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Rose. "Really? You don't?"

"Diretso lang kami sa bahay pagkagaling sa trabaho."

"Ay, oo nga pala, how was living with him so far?"

"Okay naman."

Actually, it was more than okay. Parang hindi rin naman siya nagbabayad dahil napupunta rin sa kanila ni Kelvin iyon. She felt like Vince only said what he said to trick her into saying yes to living with him. Pero dahil masaya naman silang pare-pareho sa setup, hindi na siya nagreklamo.

Kagaya nga ng sabi ni Rose, busy buong maghapon si Vince kaya hindi na ito nakasabay sa kanya pag-uwi. Maaga kasing umuuwi si Red kaya maaga rin siyang nakakauwi. Kapag alas sais na, usually she's already free to go.

Kapag maaga siyang uuwi, inihahatid na lamang siya ng driver. Pagkarating niya, naabutan niyang nanunuod si Kelvin sa sala. Palagi itong nagtataka kapag mag-isa siyang umuuwi. He'd often look outside hoping na kasunod lamang niya si Vince.

And that night's no different.

"Where's daddy?" he asked.

"Nasa office pa. He's still in a meeting."

"Will he come home for dinner?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask."

Halos maghapon nga niyang hindi nakausap si Vince. At kung tama ang hula niya, pag-uwi nito ng bahay ay magtatrabaho pa rin ito. Pagkatapos makatulog ni Kelvin, syempre. Vince would be too distracted to work if Kelvin's around.

She made dinner for the three of them (kasabay nila pagkain ang katulong, na noon ay nakapagsaing na) and waited for Vince until seven. Pero nang wala pa rin ito ay umuna na sila sa pagkain. He came home an hour later, my dalang isang kahon ng donuts.

"I already ate," he told her when she offered to heat up some food.

So they just ate the donuts he brought instead, habang nanunuod ng TV at nagkikwento si Kelvin tungkol sa mga nangyari sa school. When Adventure Time aired, natahimik na ito at nag-focus sa TV. Sila naman ay nakaupo lang sa bandang likod, kumakain ng donuts.

"I thought you don't like donuts anymore."

Nagkibit-balikat sya. "I tried not to like it, but the truth is I only said that because donuts remind me of painful memories from college."

"I'm sorry."

She smiled at him. "Don't worry. Wala na 'yon sa 'kin."

"It's obviously still affecting you."

"Mahirap lang makalimot. How's the meeting?" pag-iiba niya ng topic.

"It was draining," he said with a sigh.

"Parang isang beses lang yata kitang nakita kanina, a."

"Oo nga, e. Namiss mo ba 'ko?"

He grinned. Nailing naman siya. Kelvin was now looking at them, nakapanuod ito sa kanila.

"Baby, nandoon ang TV," turo niya sa likuran nito.

Ngumiti naman ito at saka bumalik sa panunuod.

"I want to tell my family about him," Vince whispered. "I know it's too soon, but I feel like I'd burst if I just keep it a secret."

"Pa'no ang daddy mo? Baka magalit 'yon."

"Hindi ko pa naman sasabihin sa kanya. Kina Red at Troy lang. And also with Ela and Ariesa. They'd be thrilled to meet him."

"Sigurado ka na ba dyan?"

Tumango ito. "I just want to ask for your permission."

She frowned. "Kailan mo naman plano?"

"I was thinking of inviting them this weekend. Too soon?"

She glanced warily at Kelvin. Knowing her son, she knows that he will be thrilled with the idea. Ilang taon na rin namang sa kanila lamang nina Neri at Jo umiikot ang mundo nito. He'd be happy to meet new people. He'd be happy to know that he has a huge family and he'd be more happy if they will like him back. Kelvin's a great kid. Siguradong hindi mahihirapan ang mga itong tanggapin si Kelvin. And Kylie, Kelvin would surely love her.

She sighed. "Okay. This weekend's fine."

Vince's smile widened. "Thanks!"

Tumango lamang siya at kumagat sa kinakaing donut.

"Here, let me repay your kindness."

He traced her lips with his thumb, brushing away the icing powder. Then he leaned down to kiss her. And again. And again, until she forgot to chew the donut in her mouth. It was a closed-mouth kiss, but nevertheless, it still made her breathless.

"W-What was that for?"

"New memory," he answered. "Now, every time na kakain ka ng donuts, you won't remember what happened in the past. What you'll remember is the feel of my lips on yours and how the kiss tasted sweeter than any donut you've ever tasted. How's that?"

She stared at his lips and smiled.