It's a good thing that Kelvin was discreet about it at sila lamang dalawa ang nakarinig, kundi ay nakakahiya sa mga kasama nila. Pagkaalis ng mga ito ay saka nila kinausap ang anak.

"Baby, it's not that simple," she told him.

Ngumuso ito. "How do you make babies ba, mommy? Does it take a while?"

Pinamulahan siya sa tanong.

"Yes, it does," sagot naman ni Vince.

"At saka hindi pwede," dagdag niya.

Kumunot ang noo ng bata. "Why not?"

"Because we're not married," she answered.

"Then why did you have me?"

"It was different back then."

"How so?"

She looked at Vince for help. Mukhang hindi rin nito alam kung paano magpapaliwanag. They can't just tell him that he was the consequence of a juvenile decision. They can't tell him that he started out as a mistake. No, that would break his heart.

"We were young. We didn't plan on having you."

Sumimangot si Kelvin. "Do you regret having me?"

"No. Of course not." Niyakap niya ito. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Then, can having a sister be the second best thing?"

"Baby, huwag makulit please."

Kelvin pouted and turned to Vince. Lumapit ito at hinawakan ang kamay ng ama.

"Daddy, please?"

Vince sighed. Ginulo nito ang buhok ni Kelvin saka ngumiti. "Maybe not anytime soon, anak."

"How much time do you need?"

"A lot," sagot niya. She wasn't even sure kung gusto ulit niyang magkaanak kay Vince. Paano naman kung wala rin palang patutunguhan ang relasyon nilang dalawa? Paano na lamang kung mawalan ito ng amor sa kanya at maghanap ito ng iba? Where will that leave her? She knows that he will take responsibility. Alam niyang hindi nito kalilimutan ang anak nila. But it will be too emotionally scarring for her. After so many years of trying to heal, her heart might not be able to take another painful rejection. It was hard enough because of Kelvin, what more kung madadagdagan pa ng isa?

She told Kelvin to change his clothes and brush his teeth. Siya naman ay umakyat sa kwarto niya para matulog. The lunch had been tiring and draining. She badly needed a nap. Plus, Kelvin's request was making her head ache. Little sister? He just met Kylie earlier and he was already so attached.

Hindi rin naman niya ito masisi. Maybe it's his brotherly instinct that made him want to have a sibling. Masaya nga naman kasing may kapatid, although she could not say the same about her sister.

She sighed and closed her eyes. Sana paggising niya mamaya, limot na ni Kelvin ang hinihiling nito. She knew that she can't grant his request, not when everything's still complicated.

—

Vince knew that Moira was getting tired of Kelvin's questions. Ayaw lamang nitong pagalitan ang bata kaya umakyat na lamang ito sa kwarto nito. Dahil siya na lamang ang kasama ni Kelvin sa sala ay siya naman ang tinanong nito nang tinanong.

"Daddy, how do you make babies?"

Napaubo siya sa tanong nito.

"It's... complicated, anak."

"How so?"

Umiling siya. "I don't think you're ready for that kind of information yet."

Kelvin pouted. "Will I ever get a sister?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Your mom doesn't like the idea."

"Why not?"

"Because we're not married."

"Then get married!"

He sighed. Sana nga ganoon na lang kasimple ang lahat.

"Daddy, do you love mommy?" tanong nito. Hindi siya kaagad nakasagot. "Well?"

"I don't know," naiiling niyang sagot.

"Why not?"

"It's not an easy feeling to recognize, kiddo."

"But if you love her, will you marry her?"

"Only if she loves me back."

"If I asked and she said yes, will you marry her then?"

Tumango na lamang siya para matapos ang pagtatanong nito.

"Then after you're married, you'll make my baby sister?"

He chuckled. "All right."

—

Kelvin did not bring up his previous requests during dinner, which she was very thankful for. Kahit kinabukasan, araw ng Linggo, ay hindi na rin nito iyon binanggit. But Kelvin was significantly dismal. Plano sana nilang pumunta sa mall para kumain at manuod ng sine pagkatapos magsimba, pero tumanggi ito at sinabing mas gusto nitong bumalik na lamang sa bahay.

He was so sullen the whole day. Ganoon naman ito palagi kapag hindi nakukuha ang gusto. Tantsa niyang makalipas ang ilang araw ay babalik na sa dati ang mood nito.

But Vince had another idea. Since ayaw lumabas ni Kelvin, tinanong na lamang nito ang anak kung ano ang gusto nitong gawin. And his answer didn't surprise her at all.

"I want to see Kylie," sabi nito.

"Kylie's with her grandparents right now," sagot ni Vince. "Anything else you want to do?"

Kelvin pouted and shook his head.

"What about a movie?" Moira asked.

Umiling itong muli.

"Isn't there anything you want to do?"

Kung available nga lamang si Kylie ay pinuntahan na nila ito sa bahay nito. Kaso ay nasa grandparents ang bata. And she can't just bring Kelvin there. Hindi niya alam kung paano magri-react ang mga ito, lalo na ang ama ni Vince.

But she doesn't want him to sulk. Nakokonsensya siya. Ang hirap naman kasi ng request nito. Kung sana ay materyal na bagay ang hinihingi nito, kayang-kaya niya itong pagbigyan.

"Okay. I want to play hide and seek."

Nagkatinginan sila ni Vince. Well, it's a start.

"Tayo lang tatlo?" tanong niya.

"Let's make yaya play too."

So they invited the maid to play hide and seek with them. The rule was to not go outside or upstairs. Sa first floor lamang sila pwedeng magtago. Si Vince ang unang taya. Kelvin hid in one of the cupboards. Siya naman ay sa ilalim ng couch. She waited until Vince was finished counting, then she kept still.

It was a tight fit, mabuti na lamang at payat siya. But it's getting harder to breathe by the minute. Mabuti na lamang at nahanap kaagad si Kelvin. She came out in hiding and then Kelvin took the position of the it. Naghanap siyang muli ng mapagtataguan.

She found one next to the laundry area. Isang maliit na silid na pinaglalagyan ng gardening tools at panglinis sa bahay. She slid inside, careful not to knock down anything. Just as she was about to close the door, biglang sumingit si Vince sa loob.

"I got here first!" she hissed.

"29. 30. 31..."

"May space pa naman," sagot nito. "I got nowhere else to hide."

"Magtago ka sa CR."

"Nauna si yaya."

"Sa labahan."

"You know there's no door there."

"Sa ilalim ng couch."

"I won't fit."

"Di ka rin kasya rito," she insisted.

He gave her a bland look. "I did fit."

"42. 43. 44. 45...."

Vince closed the door and locked it. Siya naman ay umurong hanggang sa tumama ang paa niya sa tangkay ng mop. She froze when she heard a soft thud.

"Don't move," he whispered.

"49. 50..."

Hindi siya gumalaw. Hindi na nga rin yata siya humihinga. They fit inside, but there's no space to move a muscle. His hands are on her face and he's slightly crouching because he was too tall for the room. She could feel his breath on the side of her face and it's making her shiver, kahit sobrang init sa loob at pinapawis na sila pareho.

"60. 61..."

She wished that Kelvin would count faster. Pero animo'y bumagal ang oras.

"64. 65. 66..."

Napapikit siya. Sana pala one to ten na lamang ang bilang. Who insisted on counting up to one hundred, anyway?

"67. 68..."

She flinched when she felt his hand on her back. The other went up to her chin, tilting her head upward. She knew he was going to kiss her. Kung bakit, hindi niya alam. Maybe it was the cramped space. Siguro ay dahil sa magkadikit ang katawan nila. Siguro ay dahil walang ilaw at hindi nila makita ang mukha ng isa't isa.

She doesn't know, but her heart hammered against her chest in anticipation, and the want to object. It felt right and wrong at the same time.

"75.76..."

The first touch of his lips on hers sent her nerves into overdrive, as if she was touched by a live current.

"77. 78."

She began panicking when his kiss deepened. Itinulak niya ito.

"Don't—"

"Why not?"

"I-I—"

"82. 83. 84. 85..."

"What's wrong?" he whispered. "Aren't I allowed to kiss you?"

"86. 87..."

"Moira."

Umiling siya. "I don't know," she admitted.

"89. 90. 91..."

"Why not?"

"92. 93. 94..."

"Basta." She tried to pull away as much as she could. "I need to get out of here."

"But the game—"

"I'm tired of playing."

Binuksan niya ang pintuan. Hirap pa siyang nakalabas dahil siksik na siksik silang dalawa. But she did get out. Pinahid niya ang pawis sa mukha saka pinaypayan ang sarili. Then she walked towards the stairs.

"99. 100!"

Kelvin pointed at her while grinning. "Aha! You're it!"

"Sorry, baby, I don't like to play anymore," sabi niya rito saka siya umakyat patungong kwarto niya.

—

Vince was cranky for the rest of the day. Kelvin was sulking. She was confused. Sabay-sabay silang kumain ng dinner that night pero magkakalayo ang utak nila. And it didn't get any better the next day. Vince went early to work kaya hindi sila nakapag-usap. Parang ayaw rin naman nitong pag-usapan nila ang nangyari. Maybe he was upset that she denied him.

Pati si Rose ay alam na kaagad ang nangyari. Lumapit kasi ito sa kanya at sinabing badtrip si Vince, pati raw ito ay nasisinghalan. Mabuti na nga lamang at alam na nito kung paano pakitunguhan ang boss nito. Short-tempered din si Rose pero hindi nito sinasabayan ang galit ni Vince dahil baka parehong hindi makapagtrabaho ang dalawa kapag nagkataon.

Kaya dumayo sa pwesto niya si Rose, may dala-dalang isang slice ng apple pie na plano yata nitong i-share sa kanya.

"Tara sa loob," aya nito. Rose entered Red's office. Sumunod naman siya.

"What's that?" agad na tanong ni Red kay Rose. Nakaturo ito sa pagkaing dala nito.

"Apple pie. You like?"

"Pahingi!"

Inilapag ni Rose ang apple pie saka ito naupo. Red took a plastic fork from her drawer.

"Wow. Ikaw lang ang kakain?" taas-kilay na tanong ni Rose.

Hinati ni Red ang apple pie at saka inilagay sa paper plate iyong kalahati noon at iniabot sa kanila.

"Bakit mas malaki 'yong iyo? Dalawa kaming kakain," reklamo ni Rose.

"Dalawa rin kami," sagot naman ni Red.

"Okay lang, Rose. Di naman ako masyadong gutom," sabi niya.

"You're not hungry?" asked Red. "Can I have your piece?"

"Ang takaw mo!" bulalas ni Rose.

Sinamaan ni Red ng tingin si Rose. Siya naman ay nagpipigil ng tawa. It's good to be surrounded by people like them. Nakawawala ng lungkot o problema. Their banters make her laugh.

"You've been pregnant! You know how it is!"

"Lahat tayo rito, naranasan na'ng magbuntis. Ikaw lang itong napakatakaw."

Ngumuso si Red at itinulak palayo ang pagkain.

"I'm just kidding," Rose added.

"I'm too upset to eat now."

"Gusto mong manggang hilaw?"

Umirap si Red, pero di kalaunan ay tumango na rin ito.

Rose smiled. "All right. Titingnan ko kung meron sa likod ng building."

When Rose left, Red began eating her piece of pie. Kumain din sya ng konti tapos ay ibinigay na niya ang iba kay Red.

"How's Kelvin, by the way?" tanong nito.

"He misses Kylie," sagot niya. She skipped the part where he was requesting for a younger sister.

"Aww... I think she misses him too. She kept on asking for Vin, which I'm guessing is her nickname for him. She calls Vince Unka Vin kasi."

"Pwede bang dumalaw sa inyo next weekend?"

"Sure. Kahit doon muna si Kelvin buong weekend."

She smiled. "Thanks. I'll tell him. I'm sure he'd be ecstatic."