"I thought that it would cheer him up."

Mabuti na lamang at kumain kanina si Kelvin during their dinner. Kung hindi ay pamihadong mahihirapan na naman si Moira na kumbinsihin itong lumabas man lang ng kwarto. She thought that her son would love the news. Official na sila ni Vince. And she didn't say that just because she wants her son to cheer up. She loves Vince. She knew that her decision would make them both happy.

Halata naman sa mukha nito. Kanina pa hindi matanggal ang ngiti nito sa labi.

"I know," he agreed. "But it cheered me up."

She wrinkled her nose. Nasa kusina sila, just hanging out. Ang katulong naman ay nanunuod sa sala. Mukhang nakatulog na si Kelvin dahil hindi na ito lumabas ng kwarto nito mula kanina.

Simula nang sagutin niya si Vince ay hindi na ito lumayo sa kanya.

"What are you doing?" she asked nang unti-unti nitong inilapit ang mukha sa kanya.

"I'm going to kiss you. You can't say no. Girlfriend na kita."

Pinagtaasan niya ito ng kilay. "Kaya ba hindi ka makapag-hintay na sagutin kita? Just so you could kiss me?"

Vince shrugged. "Yes. And then some..."

Hinapit sya nito sa bewang at akmang hahalikan nang harangin niya ng kamay ang bibig nito.

"Nakapanuod si yaya," sabi niya.

Tumingin ito sa katulong na abala sa panunuod sa kanila. Mukhang kilig na kilig ito sa eksena.

"Yaya, matulog ka na," sabi nito sa katulong.

"Ay, ser, hindi pa tapos yung pinanunuod ko."

"Hindi ka naman nakatingin sa TV e."

Ngumuso ang katulong. "Heto na nga po. Sa TV na titingin."

Nang bumalik ito sa panunuod ng TV ay muli syang binalingan ni Vince.

"So..."

"So, let's sleep early. Maaga ka pa bukas, di ba?" sabi niya.

Vince would be in three sites tomorrow for three separate meetings, and he won't be home before 9pm. Kaya naman sinulit na talaga nito ang weekend na magkasama sila sa pangungulit na sagutin na niya ito.

"Why don't I sleep next to you? Hindi ba hindi ka sanay nang walang katabing matulog?"

Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. "Kasasagot ko pa lang sa 'yo tapos ganyan agad?"

He gave her a grin that reminded her so much of Kelvin.

"Relax. I'm not saying that we sleep together—although that could be arranged—but I noticed that you find it hard to sleep at night. Madalas kitang makitang umiinom ng gatas kapag bandang alas dose na."

"Sanay kasi akong katabi si Neri or Kelvin pagtulog. E simula noong tumira kami rito, ayaw nya nang magpatabi sa pagtulog. He said that he's a big boy already."

"O, tamang-tama. I don't mind na may katabi."

She made a face. "I don't trust you."

"Trust my word," seryoso nitong sabi. "I just want you to get a good night's sleep kasi parang araw-araw kang puyat."

It's true. Madalas siyang makatulog ng madaling-araw na. It takes a while for sleep to come by. May mga araw na pagod na pagod siya kaya siya nakakatulog ng maaga. Kaya minsan ay sinasadya niyang pagurin ang sarili para makatulog siya agad.

"All right," pagpayag niya.

Ngiting-ngiti ang katulong nang makita silang magkahawak ang kamay na paakyat sa second floor. Akala yata nito ay may kung anong mangyayari ng gabing iyon. She really hopes that nothing will happen except for sleep. Kahit pa sabihing nagawa na nila iyon ng ilang beses and it won't seem hasty because it would just be like they're making up for the lost time, iba pa rin ang dating sa kanya.

She still wants something more from their relationship. She wants her life to become stable, constant. Gusto niyang lumaki si Kelvin na buo ang pamilya nito. And so she really wishes that whatever they have isn't just temporary. Sana permanente na.

"Your bed's a bit small," puna ni Vince nang nasa kwarto na sila.

"Pang-isang tao lang kasi yan."

"We'll make do."

It was awkward at first, having him near her and not doing anything... sensual. But Vince tried his best to make her comfortable, kahit na mukhang hindi naman ito kumportableng mahiga sa maliit na kama.

"Hindi ka yata sanay na may katabing matulog e," sabi niya rito.

"Hindi nga. Sanay akong matulog ng nakayuko sa desk."

"Ang workaholic mo masyado. Mayaman ka na, di ba? Dapat petiks na lang."

Ngumiti ito.

"I can't slack off. Malaki ang responsibilidad ko sa kumpanya."

"But you've already done so much for the company. Pwede naman sigurong magpahinga ka paminsan-minsan?"

He sighed. "Ang dami kasing trabaho e."

"E di mag-delegate ka. You're not the company, Vince. You're a part of it. Huwag mong solohin ang trabaho."

"Okay." He kissed her forehead. "Matulog ka na."

Nakadantay ang ulo niya sa braso nito. Nakaikot naman sa bewang niya ang isa. She could almost kiss his neck. That's how close they are.

"Vince, can you sing for me?"

"What?" Natawa ito. "No. I'm sorry. Baka bangungutin ka lang."

She smiled. "I'm kidding. Good night."

"Good night."

—

Hindi alam ni Moira kung ano'ng eksaktong oras na nakatulog siya. Basta pagkapatay ni Vince ng ilaw, pumikit na lamang siya at saka pinilit ang sarili na makatulog. Pagmulat niya ng mata, umaga na. The sun's just beginning to rise when she woke up. Wala na si Vince sa tabi niya.

Apparently, he woke up way earlier to get ready for work. Gising na rin si Kelvin at naghahanda na pagpasok. Alas otso pa naman siya kailangan sa office kaya kahit matulog pa siya ng konti ay hindi pa siya mahuhuli. But since she slept early last night, maaga na rin siyang bumangon.

At yung saya niya simula kahapon, dala niya hanggang sa trabaho later that day. Unang kita pa lang sa kanya ni Rose, alam na kaagad nito ang nangyari. Well, it's probably because Vince told her earlier.

"Uy, congrats!" sabi nito sa kanya.

She smiled and said thanks.

"Kaya naman pala ang taas-taas ng energy nya kanina. What about Kelvin? How did he react? For sure tuwang-tuwa 'yon."

"Quite the opposite, actually. Akala nya walang nabago sa relationship namin ni Vince. He thought that we're already in a relationship since day 1."

"Well, maybe he's one of those kids who don't recognize labels. Labels lang naman kasi 'yan."

Tumango siya. "Hindi ka ba busy?"

Rose shrugged. "Wala pa akong gagawin ngayon e. Ikaw ba?"

"Well, Red's still not here so hindi pa."

But at that exact moment, Red arrived. Kunot na kunot ang noo nito at mukhang iritado.

"O, ano'ng nangyari sa 'yo?" tanong ni Rose sa boss niya.

Ngumuso ito. "I received a horrible news. Santina's coming back tomorrow."

"Who?" tanong niya.

Sinenyasan sila nitong sumunod sa office nito. Then Red filled her in with the details about this Santina woman that's making her blood boil so early in the morning. Almost two years ago raw, Santina was sent to Canada para mailayo raw ito kay Troy. Patay na patay raw kasi ito sa lalaki.

"She even begged me to let him come with her. Asa naman syang ipahihiram ko sa kanya si Troy!"

"Easy!" saway ni Rose dito.

"E kasi naman! Bumalik-balik pa sya rito. Sana nag-stay na lang sya doon para okay na lahat!" paghuhuramentado nito.

"Why are you so worried?" she asked. "It's not like papatulan sya ni Troy, di ba?"

"Kahit pa. Just the thought of having her around makes me worried. Lalo na ngayon na she's sexy and I look like a damn whale."

"You're not that fat," Rose pointed out.

"But I am fat!" Red insisted.

"I'm not saying that you aren't," Rose replied. "But you're not that fat. And it's not like Troy will leave you just because of that."

"You're not helping."

"I'm not here to help. I'm here to tell you the truth. You don't have to worry. Isipin mo nga, pinakasalan ka nya kahit ganyan ang ugali mo. He loves you that much. Suklian mo man lang 'yon ng tiwala."

"She's right, Red," pagsang-ayon niya. "Saka malay mo naman, walang gagawing masama si Santina. Baka magbabakasyon lang dito yung tao tapos aalis na rin."

They managed to convince Red for a time-being, pero mukhang aligaga pa rin ito. She's been asked to get Troy's schedule that week from his secretary. Huwag daw ipaalam dito na si Red ang humihingi dahil pamihadong magkakasagutan ang dalawa.

Rose and Vince went to their first meeting. Tapos bago mag-lunch break ay umalis si Vince for a lunch with the executives. Hindi na raw sumama si Rose dahil puro matatanda ang nandoon at pamihadong hindi naman sya makakausap ni Vince dahil busy ito sa pag-i-entertain sa iba.

So silang dalawa ang nagsabay sa pagla-lunch. Dapat sana ay kasama si Red, but she chose to spend it with Troy.

"Praning kasi talaga ang babaeng 'yon. Buntis pa naman," paliwanag ni Rose.

"Maganda ba si Santina?"

"Maganda. Mukhang santa. Pero desperada masyado."

Tumango-tango siya.

"You seem interested," puna ni Rose. "Why?"

"Wala naman," sagot niya. "I'm just thankful somehow that she liked Troy instead of Vince. I don't know how I would have handled it kung nagkataong pinakiusapan nya ako."

"Are you saying that there's a chance that you might have given Vince up?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "I don't know. Alam ko kasi 'yong feeling ng gano'n e. It could have been my weakness."

"Mabuti na lang talaga, hindi si Vince. Kawawa naman 'yong tao kung ipamimigay mo lang ng basta-basta."

Ngumiti siya. "Kung ganito na siguro ang sitwasyon at papasok sa eksena si Santina, syempre hindi na. It would break Kelvin's heart."

"And yours?"

"It's already broken."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Drama mo!"

She laughed at her reaction. They headed to the pantry to eat. Kaunti pa lamang ang tao doon kasi medyo maaga pa.

"I don't know if it's true ha. Pero halata rin naman, di ba?" she heard one woman say. "But I just don't get why. I mean, she's just an employee. Sige, let's say na pretty sya, pero 'yong bagay sa isang CEO? No way. Di sapat ang ganda lang, 'no."

"Pero totoo na ba? Sila na nga? Akala ko rumor lang," tanong ng kasama nito.

"Ewan ko. Halata naman kasi sa kilos e. Sayang, 'no? He deserves someone better."

"Let's just go, Rose," sabi niya sa kasama na animo'y handa nang manugod.

"After hearing that? No way." Nilapitan nito ang tatlong babaeng kumakain sa isang tabi. Siya naman ay tahimik na sumunod. The three were shocked to see them there. Bihira naman kasi silang kumain sa pantry. Palaging lunch out.

"Miss Rose! Kayo po pala..."

"Ako nga." Ibinaba ni Rose ang dalang pagkain sa lamesa at saka namay-awang. "I just can't help but overhear what you're talking about. It's about Vince, isn't it?"

Nakita niyang napalunok 'yong isang babae.

"Ay, hindi po," tanggi ng kasama nito.

"Hindi? Really? Is there another CEO in this company?"

Hindi nakasagot ang tatlo.

"You know, girls, Vince would be very disappointed if he hears about this. Hindi nyo naman sya pakain at lalong hindi nyo pasweldo. His choices don't need your approval, okay? He's old enough to know what he's doing. And so what kung empleyado lang  ang girlfriend nya? Empleyado rin lang naman kayo, di ba? What will you get from degrading her? Tingin nyo papatulan kayo ni Vince kapag nagkataon?"

"Sorry po," nahihiyang sabi ng isa.

"Don't say sorry to me." Hinila siya ni Rose. "Say sorry to this woman right here."

"Rose... isn't this too much?"

"No. They need to know that they ought to respect their colleagues, especially if she's the girlfriend of their boss," sabi nito sa kanya saka nito binalingan ang tatlo. "And yes, you heard it right. Starting today, official na sila. So get over your bitterness and start finding guys who could actually like you."

Kinuha nito ang dalang baon at saka nagsimulang maglakad palayo.

"Let's go, Moira."

She wanted to applaud Rose. Now she fully understood why Vince values her so much.  

—

Wow. It's been 5 days already? Akala ko three days lang lol. Puyat ako so spare the typos and grammatical errors. Huwag atat sa update ha. Lalo kong tatagalan. Mga months ang pagitan siguro. Peace! Walang emojis dito e. Haha