"Sana man lang isinama nyo 'ko," may halong tampong sabi ni Red kay Moira. Ikinwento kasi niya rito kung ano ang ginawa ni Rose during lunch break.

"Wala ka kasi kanina e. Saka biglaan lang 'yon. Napikon lang si Rose."

"At ikaw, hindi?" Red asked, baffled. "Ikaw na itong nilait-lait, kalmado ka pa rin? Bagay nga kayo ni Vince."

Natawa siya sa remark nito. "Sanay na kasi ako sa ganyan. Di ba nga, college pa lang, ang dami nang may ayaw sa 'kin for him? I'm kinda used to it."

"It doesn't mean that you have to put up with it." Bumuntong-hininga ito at saka ngumuso. "Sayang talaga. Sana may napagbuntunan ako ng inis ko kanina."

"Inis ka pa rin ba? Hindi ba't nagkita kayo ni Troy kaninang lunch?"

"He told me that his dad asked him to fetch Santina from the airport tomorrow."

"O? Ayos lang naman, di ba? Sasalubungin lang naman."

"Haynako. Wala akong tiwala kay Santina," sagot nito. "Sabi ko nga kay Troy, sa katulong na lang ipasundo ang bruha, pero ayaw nyang pumayag."

Mukhang alalang-alala ito sa pagsundo ni Troy kay Santina kinabukasan. At kapag may shift sa mood ni Red, alam niyang maaapektuhan siya.

"What if... si Vince na lang ang sumundo sa kanya?" she suggested.

Napamaang si Rose sa kanya. "Seryoso ka?"

Tumango siya at saka bumaling kay Red. "If it will lessen your worry, then it's all right. Naging buntis din naman ako. I know how stressful it is."

Dahil sa pag-volunteer niyang si Vince na lamang ang susundo kay Santina, Red's mood became significantly better. Hindi na kunot ang noo nito at mukhang magaan na rin ang pakiramdam nito. She was also at ease. May tiwala naman kasi siya kay Vince. He's different from Troy.

Plano sana niyang sabihin kay Vince ang ipinangako niya kay Red, but when he got home, he had another topic in mind. Magbubukas pa lamang siya ng topic nang magsalita ito kaagad.

"What happened earlier?" tanong nito pagkalapag na pagkalapag ng gamit.

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

Nilapitan siya nito at hinawakan sa tigkabilang balikat. "I heard about what happened from Rose. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I am." She knew that it's bound to happen. Kapag naman talaga masaya ang isang tao, hindi nawawalan ng ibang naiinggit. Inihanda na niya ang sarili sa posibleng sasabihin ng ibang tao tungkol sa relasyon nila ni Vince. It still hurts, though, but nothing she can't handle. Hindi na nga sana niya sasabihin kay Vince so he won't worry, but Rose already told him. Hindi naman niya masisi ang sekretarya at kaibigan nito. Rose only wants what's best for them.

"Kung may umaaway sa 'yo sa office, kahit nagpaparinig lang, sabihin mo sa 'kin, okay?"

"Para ano? Pagagalitan mo?" Umiling siya. "Huwag na. It will only make things worse."

"But they're bothering you."

"I'll be all right. Normal naman na yung may ganyan sa office."

He sighed. "Okay, if you say so. But if it gets out of hand—"

She nodded, cutting him off. "I'll tell you. Promise."

"Good." Naupo sila. "Now, what is it that you want to tell me?"

"Okay." Tumikhim siya. She doesn't know if he will be okay with her deciding things for him, pero para naman iyon kay Red. She hopes that he will understand. "I told Red na ikaw na lang ang susundo kay Santina bukas, instead of Troy."

He frowned. "Why would you do that?"

"E kasi... naaawa na ako kay Red. Masyado syang napa-paranoid kay Santina. Buntis pa naman sya."

"But it's none of our business."

"Pero kasi—" She sighed. "Kilala mo naman si Red. She blows things out of proportion. Baka mag-away pa 'yong mag-asawa dahil lang sa pagsundo kay Santina sa airport."

Hinawakan niya sa kamay si Vince.

"I told her that I'd have you pick Santina from the airport instead because I trust you. Kampante akong hindi ka magkakamaling pumatol sa kanya."

His brow arched in amusement.

"Kampante kang hindi ka magseselos kung sakali?" tanong nito sa kanya.

"Oo naman. May dapat ba akong ikaselos?"

"Have you seen Santina?" he asked, still amused.

Umiling siya. Red already made it clear that Santina's bad news. Maganda raw ito. Pero siguro naman ay hindi sapat ang ganda lang para mahumaling dito si Vince. And Santina likes Troy. Why would she be worried?

"I think I have her picture somewhere here," he told her while fumbling through his phone.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Why do you have her picture on your phone?"

"Online," he answered nonchalantly.

"Akala ko e..."

Vince smirked. "I only have photos of women I love here."

Pagkasabi'y bigla siya nitong kinuhanan ng picture.

"Now, I have yours too."

"Hindi ka man lang nagbilang."

Tinakpan niya ang mukha when he attempted to take another one. He laughed and kissed her. Naabutan sila ni Kelvin na ganoon ang eksena. He asked what they were doing, with a huge smile on his face.

"Take our picture," utos ni Vince sa anak. Saka siya nito inakbayan. They both smiled at the camera while Kelvin counted.

"Me too!" Kelvin demanded.

Tinawag nila ang katulong at nagkaroon sila ng impromptu pictorial sa sala. Pagkatapos noon ay saka sila naghapunan. They didn't discuss about Santina again until Kelvin was fast asleep in his room. Vince finally agreed to go.   

Kinabukasan ay nagpaalam itong mag-o-overtime. Saka ito didiretso sa airport para sunduin si Santina at ang anak nito. Gabi pa raw kasi ang dating ng mga ito. Siya naman ay kampanteng pumayag. It wasn't until Red showed her Santina's picture that she became alarmed.

Since yesterday, Red seemed to be in a good mood. Nakuha pa nitong manlibre kanina ng tanghalian. Silang tatlo nina Rose ang magkakasama dahil nasa kabilang site si Vince. She was also actually feeling positive about the whole thing, until they showed her that picture.

Sa Facebook account ni Santina iyon galing. She looks so alluring on her display pic. Naka-side view ito pero looking straight to the camera ang drama. She's wearing a teal dress na may thick black straps na naghuhugpong sa batok nito. She's smiling at the camera.

Aakalain mong photoshoot iyon dahil sa ganda ng kuha.

Dirty blond ang buhok ni Santina at pulang-pula ang mga labi.

"It's like she's a totally different person now," puna ni Red.

"Parang hindi nanganak, 'no?" sabi naman ni Rose, manghang-mangha pa rin. "Kaya naman pala sobrang insecure ka sa kanya."

Mukhang nasaktan si Red sa sinabi ng kaibigan. Nawalan na kasi ito ng ganang kumain.

Inuntag niya si Rose. Ito naman ay ngumuso lamang.

"Haynako. Nai-insecure ka talaga sa babaeng 'yon?" tanong nito kay Red. "Troy chose you over everybody else, okay? He loved you inspite everything. Give him some credit naman! And give yourself some credit. You're better than this. You have nothing to be insecure about!" pangaral nito.

Lalong napasimangot si Red.

"But look at me... I'm fat!"

Rose rolled her eyes. "It's pregnancy fat, dear. You can make it go away kapag nakapanganak ka na."

"Oo nga naman, Red. Don't stress yourself. I'm pretty sure na hindi lang naman looks mo 'yong nagustuhan ni Troy sa 'yo. At kahit maganda 'yang si Santina, ikaw naman ang mahal ni Troy. Just take it easy, okay? Vince will take care of everything."

"Nako, bantayan mo rin 'yang si Vince," babala ni Rose. "You'll never know. Baka malingat ka lang saglit, naka-kapit-tuko na 'yang si Santina sa boyfriend mo."

 Kahit anong pilit niyang kumbinsihin ang dalawang hindi mangyayari ang iniisip ng mga ito, in the end ay nahawa na rin siya sa pagka-paranoid ni Red. She found herself staying late at the office. Nagulat pa si Vince nang puntahan niya ito sa opisina nito.

"Akala ko nakauwi ka na?"

She shook her head. "I decided to come with you to the airport."

Pinagdaop nito ang mga palad at saka siya tiningnang mabuti. "Why?"

"Why what? Bawal ba? Can't I come?"

"Hindi naman. I'm just wondering why you changed your mind at the last minute."

"I just want to meet her. That's all," dahilan niya.

They went to the airport after work. Mabuti na rin siguro at gabing-gabi na halos ang dating nina Santina dahil hindi masyadong traffic sa daan. Halos kararating pa lamang nila ng airport when they spotted her. She's wearing an oversized peach blousy shirt and a tight black skirt underneath. Nakapusod ang dirty blond nitong buhok. She's pushing a baby trolley with a sleeping child on tapos ang isang kamay naman nito ay may hila-hilang maleta. Kumaway si Vince kay Santina. Hindi niya mabasa ang ekspresyon nito.

"Vince?"

"Santina. Welcome back."

"Where's Troy? Akala ko sya ang susundo sa 'kin," she asked, disappointed.

"He can't make it so he asked me to pick you up instead." Ipinakuha nito ang maleta sa driver. Saka siya nito binalingan. "Nga pala, I want you to meet Moira, my girlfriend."

"Hi." Inilahad niya ang kamay. "Nice to meet you."

Santina forced a smile and shook her hand. "Likewise."

They all boarded the car. Nasa unahan si Vince habang siya ay kasama ang mag-ina sa backseat. She tried to make small talks pero parang ayaw sa kanya ni Santina. Ramdam niya kaagad.

"How old is he?" she asked, pointing at the sleeping boy on Santina's lap.

"He's two," maikli nitong sagot.

"So, where will you be staying?" tanong naman ni Vince maya-maya.

"I was hoping na kina Troy," sagot ni Santina. "But I'm not sure if that's possible."

She wanted to say that it's never gonna happen, pero baka magalit lamang ito kaya nanatili siyang tahimik.

"Saang hotel mo ba gustong mag-check in?"

Santina wrinkled her nose. "I don't like hotels."

"Well, why don't you stay the night at my house?" Vince suggested.

She wanted to kick his seat. Sinusubok ba nito ang pasensya niya?

"Ipahahatid ko na lang kayo bukas kung saan nyo man gustong tumuloy. Gabing-gabi na rin kasi."

"Is it alright with you?" Nagulat siya ng bahagya. The question was directed to her.

Tumango siya at ngumiti. "Okay  lang."

"Alright," Santina told Vince. "Thanks in advance."

Nagtataka siya kung paano nasabi nina Red at Rose na mahinhin at parang hindi makabasag-pinggan si Santina. With her looks and way of speaking, she'd think that she's more like Red, fiery. It might just need a trigger to unleash that persona.

—

Laking pasalamat niya nang pag-uwi nila ay tulog na si Kelvin. She totally forgot that their son might complicate things a bit. Hindi niya kilala si Santina. She might spill their secret, if they weren't too careful.

"Ipaaayos ko lang ang kwarto sa katulong," paalam ni Vince.

Naiwan silang dalawa sa living room habang si Vince, kasama ang maid, ay nagpunta sa second floor para ayusin ang kwartong tutulugan nina Santina. Hindi niya maisip kung saan ni Vince patutulugin ang mag-ina. Dadalawa lang kasi ang guest rooms sa bahay. Ang isa ay kwarto ni Kelvin at ang isa naman ay kwarto na niya.

Maya-maya ay bumaba ang dalawa at iniakyat ang mga gamit nina Santina. Sumunod sila sa mga ito. They stopped outside her room.

"You'll sleep here."

When Vince opened the door, she saw that bed already has new sheets, pillows and blankets. Wala na rin ang mga picture frames na nasa bedside table. It became the same old, generic spare room. Saan naman kaya siya nito balak patulugin?

The answer came right after Santina settled in her room. Hinila siya ni Vince papasok sa kwarto nito. Nandoon na ang mga gamit niya.

"Dito ka matutulog," he happily announced.

"Did you plan all this?"

"No, but I'm a quick thinker." He wrapped his arms around her. "So, tulog na tayo?"

"Maglilinis muna ako ng katawan."

"Can I help?"

She wrinkled her nose. "No."

He sighed. "Alright."

Pagpasok niya sa bathroom, nandoon na ang mga toiletries niya. Agad siyang naglinis ng katawan at nagbihis sa loob ng banyo. She's still not comfortable to change clothes with him around. Vince did the same right after.

He jumped at the bed next to her pagkalabas na pagkalabas nito ng banyo.

"So that's Santina."

"Yes."

"I see why Red's a bit insecure," she admitted.

"I don't," he told her.

"Really?" hindi niya makapaniwalang tanong. "Pinagagaan mo lang yata ang loob ko e. She's really beautiful. Statuesque pa ang tindig. Parang model."

"So?"

"So... hindi ka nagagandahan sa kanya?"

Vince shrugged.

"I almost can't believe that Troy didn't have a thing for her. Para kasing imposible?"

"Kasi maganda sya?"

She nodded.

"Well, guys don't just go for pretty girls. Yes, gusto namin ng magaganda, pero kapag hindi namin mahal, then it's not for keeps."

"So... am I for keeps or—"

Bigla siyang nitong kinabig at hinalikan.

"You're definitely for keeps."