They couldn't hide their smiles the next morning. Ang ganda-ganda ng gising nilang dalawa. They woke up with their bodies intertwined and their hearts sharing the same peaceful rhythm. Being kissed to sleep was euphoric, but making love was beyond that.

It wasn't planned. It's just one of those one-thing-led-to-another things. His kisses started soft, cautious and careful. But when she responded, he took it as green light and dared to do more. And she didn't want to deprive herself of the pleasures his mouth would ensue.

He's right. It's been a long time since Newark.

"I could kiss you all night," she remembered him say.

"Kiss lang? You don't want more?" was her answer.

She felt shivers run down her back as his eyes darkened with desire. She remembered him telling her about the things that he wanted to do and thanked the dim light for hiding her blushing face.

Naabutan nila sina Santina na nag-aagahan sa kusina. Kelvin's already awake. Kausap nito ang mag-ina. He looks like he was having fun while talking to her kid, na hindi niya naitanong kung ano'ng pangalan kagabi.

Hinawakan siya ni Vince sa bewang and he stood behind her on the other side of the breakfast nook while the maid prepares their breakfast. Yumakap ito sa kanya. Naiilang siya sa tingin na ibinibigay ni Santina sa kanila, but at the same time, she feels  elated. It's like he's telling the woman that they're exclusively for each other at walang pwedeng makapagbago noon.

"Good morning," bati ni Santina sa kanila. "Had a fun night?"

Pinamulahan siya sa tanong. Si Vince naman ay humalik sa pisngi niya.

"Very much," he answered throatily.

"Did you make a baby?" Kelvin blurted out.

Napatawa si Santina. "Your kid's so funny!" she exclaimed.

Kelvin looked so pleased with himself.

"So you've met him already."

Santina nodded. "Yes. I didn't know that you have a child. Does your father know?"

Naalarma siya sa tono ng pagtatanong nito. It was sickeningly sweet.

"He doesn't know yet," sagot ni Vince. "But I'll tell him one day. Humahanap lang ako ng tiempo."

"What's the name of your kid?" she asked, diverting the topic.

"Troy," sagot ni Santina. She wasn't surprised at all. "His name is Troy Alexander."

"Is that so?" Vince asked, amused.

"She named him after Uncle Troy," Kelvin said. "Because he's Troy's dad. Why wasn't I named after you, daddy?"

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa. Santina didn't look fazed at all. She will have to explain to Kelvin that Troy isn't his Uncle Troy's child. Red will be furious if she finds out na ipinagkakalat ni Santina na anak ni Troy ang anak nito.

Baka madamay pa ang bata. Kawawa naman.

"Do you want to be named after me?" tanong naman ni Vince sa anak.

Kelvin shrugged. "Won't that be confusing? You'll be Vince and I'll be Vince."

"Then we'll call you Kyle."

Ngumuso si Kelvin. "But I wanna be called Vince just like daddy."

Ginulo ni Santina ang buhok ng anak niya. She could tell that she's amused.

"He's a talker," kumento nito.

"Tita, don't!" reklamo ni Kelvin. He grunted and covered his head with his hands. "You'll ruin my hair."

"I wish Troy's as talkative. But my baby's always quiet."

Hinalikan ni Santina ang tuktok ng anak. Although she doesn't like Santina, she can't deny the fact na mukhang mahal na mahal nito ang anak nito. Her eyes sparkle whenever she looks at him. Parang dito na umiikot ang mundo nito.

She was like that with Kelvin. In a way, nakaka-empathize siya kay Santina.

"Santina, can I talk to you for a minute?" Vince asked. Bumitaw ito sa kanya at saka naglakad palayo. Ibinaba ni Santina ang anak at saka ito sumunod. She began eating her breakfast while watching Kelvin talk to Troy.  

Kung gaano kadaldal si Kelvin ay ganoon naman katahimik si Troy. Tatango lamang ito, ngingiti o iiling kapag kinakausap o tinatanong. He needs to be around Kylie or Kelvin for a few days bago ito dumaldal nang kahit kaunti.

Wala siguro itong makalaro sa ibang bansa kaya nasanay itong tahimik. Maswerte siya't kahit mature na sina Joem at Neri ay kaya ng mga itong magpakaisip-bata around Kelvin. And speaking of the couple, hindi pa rin sila tinatawagan ng mga ito tungkol sa kasal.

She excused herself and fetched her phone from the bedroom. Tinawagan niya ang pinsan at tinanong ito tungkol sa kasal. Ang alam kasi niya ay sa parating na weekend naka-schedule ang kasal. Kahit sa huwes lang iyon, alam niyang dapat ay halos araw-araw siyang kinukulit ni Neri dahil sa excitement nito.

"We cancelled the wedding," sagot nito sa kanya.

"Ha? Bakit?"

"Kasi ayaw ni mama. Ang gusto, church wedding na agad. So imu-move na lang namin after kung makapanganak. Sina mama na raw ang mag-aasikaso."

"Bakit hindi mo man lang ako sinabihan?" may halong tampo niyang tanong.

"E kasi parang nakakahiya kang abalahin. Parang ang saya-saya mo na. Masaya ka naman, di ba?"

She sighed. "Neri, hindi ka na iba sa 'kin, okay? Para na tayong magkapatid, alam mo 'yan. Huwag mo naman akong i-exclude sa mga nangyayari sa buhay mo."

"Sorry na. Ngayon ka lang kasi naging okay e."

"Kahit na. Basta ha? Keep me posted."

She heard Neri sniff. "Pwede bang pumunta kayo rito? Nami-miss ko na kayo ni Kel."

"Sige. Pupunta kami dyan mamaya."

"Aasahan ko 'yan a. O, sige na."

"Sige. Bye!"

When she went back to the kitchen, nandoon na ulit sina Vince at Santina. She had no idea what they talked about but she'll just ask Vince later. Ang importante, pagkakain nina Santina ay aalis na ang mga ito. Sa kaibigan daw nito ito makikituloy for the meantime. Hindi niya alam kung ipu-push pa ba nito ang pagtuloy kina Troy. For sure, hindi papayag si Red.

Baka mag-away lang ang mag-asawa. Mabuti na rin na hindi ni Vince ini-offer ang bahay nito para tirhan ng mag-ina during their vacation. She won't feel at ease with Santina around.

Pagkatapos nilang kumain ay kinausap niya si Santina. Paalis na sana ito but she stopped her. Gusto niyang masigurado na wala itong pagsasabihan. They're still not ready to tell the rest of Vince's family about Kelvin. Ayaw niyang dahil sa kanilang dalawa ng anak ay masira ang relasyon nito sa pamilya nito.

Habang naliligo si Vince ay sinamantala niya ang pagkakataon para kausapin si Santina. Si Kelvin naman ay kinalaro muna si Troy.

"Ano ba'ng gusto mong pag-usapan natin? Do you want to know what Vince and I talked about?"

Tumango siya. "I know he'll tell me later, pero gusto ko ring malaman mula sa 'yo."

Santina crossed her arms against her chest and smirked. "Why? Worried ka ba?"

"Should I be worried about something?"

Lumapad ang ngiti nito. She fought the uneasy feeling and smiled back. Ayaw niyang ipakita ritong kaya-kayanan lamang siya.

"No," pakli nito. "He just asked me to keep mum about your kid. Kilala ko kasi si Tito Vic. Ayaw niyang nadi-disgrace ang pamilya. I don't know what he'll do with Vince once he found out na may naanakan siyang babae."

Her expression turned sour. Iyon na nga ang ayaw niyang mangyari. Ang malaman ng ama ni Vince ang tungkol sa kanila at kay Kelvin. Pakiramdam niya ay doon matatapos ang lahat.

"But don't worry, I'm not gonna tell," she assured her. "Nakakatakot kasing magalit si Tito Vic. When I told him that something happened between me and Troy, he almost disowned him."

"Please... huwag mo namang sabihin," she begged. "Ang totoo kasi nyan... Kelvin's—well, he's not Vince's kid."

Napanganga ito sa sinabi nya. "What? Are you messing with me?"

"No."

"Then bakit parang aminado naman syang anak nya si Kelvin? And why does your son call Vince 'daddy'?"

"Because it's what we told Kelvin. He's been bugging me about it for years. So, since okay naman kami ni Vince, sinabi ko na lang sa anak ko na si Vince ang daddy nya, so he'll stop asking."

Hinilot nito ang sintido. "I can't believe you lied to your kid."

"Why? Don't you?"

Umiling ito. "Troy's too young to understand."

"But if he's not? Kung nasa sitwasyon ba kita, won't you do the same?"

There was a hint of empathy in Santina's eyes, pero bigla rin iyong nawala nang nag-iwas ito ng tingin.

"We're not the same. Troy would never accept me or my child."

"It's because Troy's in love with someone else. Vince just happen to be in love with me," sagot niya rito. "And I love him. So please, just leave him out of this. Inako lang naman niya ang responsibilidad bilang ama ni Kelvin."

Santina's expression softened. She was right. Facade lang nito ang pagiging bitchy. Siguro ay ganoon lamang ito dahil malungkot ito at nag-iisa. Ayaw sana niyang samantalahin iyon but she has no choice. Ayaw naman niyang masira ang buhay ni Vince dahil sa kanilang dalawa ni Kelvin. In the first place naman, kasalanan niya ang nangyari.

She was the one who offered herself to him. She was the one who made him take her. She doesn't want Vince to be disowned or disinherited because of that.

"But the uncanny resemblance—"

"Baka napaglihihan ko lang," dahilan niya. "Patay na patay kasi ako sa kanya dati."

Mukhang hindi pa rin ito kumbinsido. Nilingon nito ang dalawang batang naglalaro sa di-kalayuan. And something about it made her smile. Huminga ito nang malalim at saka muling bumaling sa kanya.

"I guess I understand. Alright, I won't tell Tito."

"Thank you."

Ngumiti ito sa kanya at saka tinawag ang anak. Hinintay muna ng mga ito si Vince na makatapos ng paliligo bago nagpaalam ang mga ito.  

"Bye, Moira. It was nice meeting you." Hinalikan siya ni Santina sa pisngi bago ito sumakay ng kotse.

"Mukhang nagkasundo kayo a," puna ni Vince nang makaalis ang mag-ina.

"Slight," she admitted. "Anyway, ano 'yong napag-usapan nyo kanina?"

"Wala naman. Pinakiusapan ko lang syang huwag munang sabihin kay dad 'yong tungkol kay Kelvin. I want the old man to hear it from me, not from someone else."

Yumakap siya rito. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For everything."

Vince chuckled. He tilted her chin up and smiled. "Honey, I haven't given you everything yet."