Chapter 33

Muling nagkausap sina Vince at Moira nang sabihin nito sa kanya ang planong dalhin si Kelvin kina Red the following weekend. Pumayag naman siya. May aasikasuhin din kasi siya ng weekend and although he wants to be with Kelvin, okay na rin iyon para makapagtrabaho siya ng maayos.

He felt guilty for being so cranky pagkatapos siya nitong hindi mapagbigyan. But he wanted her and it's frustrating that he can't have her because its's complicated. Damn the situation for being so.

But he wants to make it up to her, kaya naman simula Lunes ay mabait siya rito. He still gives her flowers and asks her out and things seemed to be going well. He couldn't wait for the weekend, where they would be alone in the house. Plano sana niyang bigyan ng weekend off ang katulong, since wala naman si Kelvin. And maybe they could talk and sort things out for good.

Napatigil siya sa ginagawa nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan. In came Rose.

"Bakit?" tanong niya.

"Did you send her flowers?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Moira? No, not yet. Mamaya pang hapon darating yung order ko."

"Oh..."

"Why?"

"I thought those flowers were from you," sagot nito. "I should have known. May specific flowers ka nga palang ipinalalagay sa bouquet nya."

"What flowers?" Why would anyone else give Moira flowers? Umagang-umaga ay nabibwisit na naman siya.

"Kadadaan ko lang sa cubicle nya. I saw her holding a bouquet. Akala ko galing sa 'yo e. Nagtaka tuloy ako kasi ang aga mong magbigay."

He thanked Rose and motioned her to go out of his office. Saka niya tinawagan si Moira to confirm. It turns out that the flower was from Frey, the same Frey who used to pursue Red. May project proposal daw kasi itong gustong ilakad kay Troy and used his connection with Red to get to him. Red agreed to talk to the guy pero ang kundisyon nito ay kasama si Moira dahil alam nitong magseselos si Troy kapag nalaman nitong nakipag-usap ito kay Frey nang mag-isa.

Frey, who's still single, apparently liked Moira's company and wants to get to know her more. As if he'll let that happen.

"He asked you out?"

"Yes. Dinner."

"No! You can't go out with him!"

"Why the hell not?" she asked hotly. Mukhang nainis ito sa sinabi niya. "Sa pagkakaalam ko, wala naman akong boyfriend."

"But I'm courting you," giit niya.

"So? It doesn't mean na babakuran mo na ako. And besides, it's just dinner. He said he just wants to thank me."

"It was more than that. I thought we had an understanding."

"Akala ko rin, e. Apparently, you don't trust me enough."

He sighed. "It's not like that."

"And it's not like that either. I'm not going out on a date with him. It's just dinner. And we'll be with Red and Troy. So kumalma ka, pwede? Di pa kita boyfriend, possessive ka na."

The last sentence hit home. Medyo nasaktan siya sa sinabi nito. Totoo naman iyon. Wala naman silang relasyon, pero may pagkakaintindihan naman sila. Didn't she even consider that?

"Okay. I'm sorry," sabi na lamang niya saka niya ibinaba ang telepono.

Rose came in right after. He grunted. She was listening again.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't help it."

Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin, but he didn't scold her. Sanay na rin naman siya.

—

Later that night, Moira went out with Frey, Troy and Red. Siya naman ay umuwi kaagad ng bahay. And as expected, nakasalubong agad ang anak niyang napakarami na naman ng tanong.

"Where's mommy?" Kelvin asked.

"She's having dinner outside."

"Why didn't you go with her?"

"I wasn't invited," was his bitter response.

"What time will she be home?"

"I don't know. Have you eaten? Did yaya cook dinner?"

Umiling ito. "Not yet. I was waiting for you."

Mabuti na lamang at kapag wala pa si Moira ng alas sais sa bahay ay nagluluto na ang katulong. So the two of them ate their dinner. Wala siyang gana pero alam niyang mawawalan din ng ganang kumain si Kelvin kapag wala itong kasabay kaya hindi niya iyon ipinahalata. Kelvin waits for them to come home every day, at kahit gutom na ito ay hindi ito kakain nang hindi sila kasabay.

Bandang alas nwebe nang dumating si Moira. Dala-dala nito ang bulaklak na bigay ni Frey. Hindi na lamang siya nagkumento dahil baka magkasagutan na naman sila.

But Kelvin stepped up and did what he couldn't do, which is confront Moira.

"Was that from dad?" tanong nito sa ina.

"No. It's from a friend."

"Guy or girl?"

Moira smiled and ruffled Kelvin's hair. "He's a guy, but don't worry. He's just a friend."

Pinaningkitan ito ni Kelvin. "Really? Did you have dinner with him?"

"Yes. But I'm also with your Tita Red and Tito Troy."

"Why didn't dad come with you?"

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa ni Moira.

"Baby, ang dami mo na namang tanong."

"Where will you put those flowers?" Kelvin asked, pointing at the bouquet.

"In my room," sagot ni Moira.

Bago pa siya magreklamo ay naunahan na siya ni Kelvin.

"No! You can't do that! Only flowers from daddy are allowed to be in your room."

"Kelvin..."

"Just put them in the kitchen or they can go to yaya's room," he added.

Gusto niyang matawa. His son's way more possessive and protective of Moira. Siguro kung nagkataong hindi siya ang ama nito ay mahihirapan din siyang manligaw.

Para matigil na si Kelvin ay sinunod na lamang ito ni Moira. She arranged the flowers in a vase and put it on the dining table. Kung siya ang masusunod ay sa basurahan na lamang niya iyon ilalagay, but he didn't make that suggestion.

—

Kelvin was the most excited with Friday came. Maaga silang umuwi ni Vince mula sa trabaho para maihatid ang anak kina Red. They tried to convince him na Sabado na lamang ng umaga ito pumunta, but he insisted on Friday night, para raw mas matagal ang pag-stay nito. He also reminded them that they will pick him up on Sunday night.

Tuwang-tuwa si Kylie nang dumating sila. Hinila kaagad nito si Kelvin sa sala, kung nasaan ang mga laruan nito. Hindi na sila pinansin ng mga ito.

"If he misbehaves, pagsabihan nyo na lang," paalala niya kay Red.

"Oh, sure. Kami na'ng bahala."

Nilapitan niya ang anak at hinalikan sa noo. "We'll be going now. Behave, okay?"

Ngumiti lamang si Kelvin.

"Vin-vin!" tawag ni Kylie sa pinsan. May hawak-hawak itong lego pieces.

"Do you want me to build something?" tanong ng anak niya.

Kylie nodded and smiled.

"Don't keep her up late, okay?"

"I won't," Kelvin promised.

Umuwi na sila pagkatapos ng ilang minuto. When they came back to their house, she was surprised to find the house empty.

"Tulog na ba si yaya? It's still early."

Wala pa yatang alas syete ng gabi. Kapag ganoong oras, karaniwang makikitang nanunuod ng TV ang matanda kapag wala na itong ginagawa.

"Pinauwi ko sa kanila," sagot ni Vince.

"Bakit?"

"I gave her a weekend off. I guess she's just excited to go home kaya umalis na rin sya pagkaalis natin."

Pinandilatan niya ito. "You gave her a weekend off and you didn't even mention it to me?"

"I forgot, sorry," dahilan nito.

Well, now she's terrified. Dadalawa lamang sila sa bahay. What was he planning on doing?

—

Kylie is a messy eater. Parang walang pagkaing pumapasok sa bibig nito. Palaging sa pisngi tumatama. Maya't mayang pinupunasan ni Kelvin ang mukha ng anak niya. Red can't help but smile. Kelvin would surely be a great brother someday.

"You're spoiling Kylie," kumento niya.

Kelvin smiled. "I don't have anyone else to spoil."

"Do you want a sister?"

He eagerly nodded. "I do. I even asked mommy and daddy for one, but they told me that they can't because they're not married. I told them to get married then, but they said they also can't do that. Why are adults so complicated, Tita?"

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa ni Troy. He was amused too. Moira had already warned her about this. Wala raw habas sa pagtatanong ang anak nito.

"Well, adults aren't really complicated. Things are. They don't only think about themselves. They also have to consider other people, especially if they're their responsibility. So maybe your mommy and daddy want to have another baby, but they can't, because circumstances make it complicated."

"Is baby-making that hard to do?"

Troy laughed at the question. "It's quite fun actually," sagot nito.

"If it's fun, then why don't they want to do it?" lito nitong tanong.

"Your parents are too uptight kasi," sagot niya sa pamangkin. "Anyway, why a sister? Don't you want to have a brother?"

Kelvin shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I want both, as long as they're this cute."

Pinisil nito ang pisngi ni Kylie na puno na naman ng amos. The little girl burped then smiled.

—

Friday night went by all right. The two of them had dinner and then Vince locked himself inside his study to take an important call. He didn't come out until the next morning. Habang nagpapakaabala ito sa trabaho, siya naman ay naglinis ng bahay, naglaba at nagluto.

Sa tanghalian na niya ito muling nakita. He told her last night that they will talk. Hindi lang niya alam kung kailan. At nang mawala iyon ng saglit sa isip niya ay saka naman nito iyon ini-open up.

It was right after dinner. Patapos na siyang maghugas ng pinagkainan habang ito naman ay katatapos lamang mag-toothbrush nang lapitan siya nito para kausapin.

"What are we going to talk about?" she asked.

"Us."

"Ano naman ang gusto mong pag-usapan tungkol sa 'tin?"

"May balak ka bang sagutin ako?"

She frowned. "Bakit? Naiinip ka na?"

"Inip na inip na."

Her cheeks turned scarlet. "Wala pang isang buwan ang panliligaw mo, naiinip ka na?"

"Uh, I'm pretty sure I already hit the one month mark. At kung hindi pa man, then so what? You already know me. Alam mo naman sigurong matino akong tao. And besides, we already have a kid. Ano pa ba ang hinihintay mo para sagutin ako?"

She sighed. Ano nga ba?

"B-Bakit ka ba nagmamadali?"

"Because I don't want to be restricted anymore," katwiran nito. He moved closer and tucked her hair behind her ear. "I want to do things with you that only couples are allowed to do and I can't do that because you still won't say yes to me."

Lalo siyang pinamulahan.

"Technically, we've already done those things, but ever since we got back from Newark, parang ipinaramdam mo sa 'kin na may restrictions ulit. And I can't even kiss you without worrying that I might be overstepping my boundaries already."

"Vince..."

"Ano ba'ng gusto mo, ha? What do you want from me so you could finally say yes to me? Do you want me to say 'I love you'?"

Napatunghay siya sa tanong nito. It was just a hypothetical question, she knows that, but she can't keep her heart from yearning.

"Do you love me?" tanong niya.

He looked deep into her eyes like he was searching for the answer there. If he loves her, then does that make everything okay?

"I do," sagot nito. "I love you."

"Do you mean it or are you just saying that to get into my pants?"

Vince smirked. "Well... both, I guess."

Bahagya niya itong itinulak. "Vince, please, be serious."

"I am."

Umiling siya. "You don't mean that."

"Tatanong-tanong ka tapos hindi ka maniniwala sa sagot? I love you, okay? I've thought about it and I'm committing to it." Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya. "So if you still love me, then be my girlfriend. Let's try and see what happens."

"Gano'n na lang 'yon?"

He frowned. "Ano pa bang kailangan kong gawin? Just tell me and I'll do it."

She shook her head again. "I'm sorry. Maybe it's just me. But after so many times of running after you, I find it hard to believe that you could finally love me back. It feels like you were finally able to do it because of Kelvin. Maybe if he's not here—"

Hindi na niya naituloy ang sasabihin nang halikan siya nito. And the next thing she knew, she's already sitting on top of the kitchen island, kissing him back.

"W-Wait... Vince—"

He stopped and looked into her eyes. "What? Don't you want to?"

Umiling siya. "Hindi naman sa ayaw—"

"Then what? Are you afraid? If you want me to stop, then I'll stop. Just say no to me now. Kasi hindi lang ikaw ang nagsasawa sa magulong usapan."

"I don't want you to stop. I'm just afraid," she admitted. "I'm afraid that this won't last."

He cupped her face. "Huwag mo kasing pangunahan ang lahat. Just focus on what's right here, right now. Moira, if you don't believe that I love you, then at least give me the chance to prove it to you. Because I won't stop proving it until you finally believe in me."