It's been a month since Moira and Kelvin left. She was already losing hope. Ilang beses na ba siyang natuksong i-charge ang phone sa pag-asang magmi-message o tatawag ito sa kanya? Hinahanap kaya siya nito? She has no way of knowing.

Kasal na kayo ito? The thought made her cringe in pain. Halos gabi-gabi na rin siyang umiiyak. Napakadali lang bumalik ng Maynila at puntahan si Vince. Natatakot lang siyang baka wala na siyang babalikan. Natatakot siyang ipagtabuyan nito palayo. At ang pinakakinatatakutan niya ay ang sabihin nitong hindi na siya nito kailangan. And that he will take Kelvin away...

Bumuntong-hininga siya. Natapos na naman ang isang araw ng trabaho. Maya-maya lamang ay darating na si Kelvin para sunduin siya. Tumingin siya sa salamin at inayos ang sarili. Akmang magbibihis na siya nang may kumatok sa pintuan ng staff room.

"Moira? Nandyan ka pa ba?"

Binuksan niya ang pintuan. "Magbibihis na sana ako e. Bakit?"

Her friend gave out a sigh of relief. "Buti naabutan kita! May last minute customer kasi tayo."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Akala ko ba, closed na tayo?"

"Kaya nga. But we can't ignore this one. Big time e." Pinagdaop nito ang mga palad. "Pwede bang mag-over time ka ulit ng konting-konti lang? Please?"

"Chin, you don't have to beg. Okay lang sa 'kin."

Wala rin naman siyang gagawin pagdating sa cottage niya kundi ang magpahinga. Tapos maghahapunan lang sila ni Kelvin.

"Thank you! Nasa table 7 sya."

"Okay. Ako na ang bahala."

Lumabas siya ng kwarto at tinungo ang restaurant. Wala nang katao-tao dahil sarado na sila. Nasa kusina lamang sina Chin, ang cook at yung isang staff na naghuhugas ng mga pinggan.

Tinungo niya ang table 7 na nasa kabilang dulo. Nasa sulok iyon, sa mismong ilalim ng LED TV. The man sitting on one chair has his back turned on her, pero kahit bulto yata nito ay kilala niya. Her heart instantly hammered against her chest. Halos mabali ang pen sa higpit ng hawak niya rito.

"V-Vince?"

Nang lapitan niya ito ay saka niya nakumpirmang si Vince nga iyon.

"Do you always address your customers using their first names?"

She was shocked by how cold his voice sounded, but she knew she deserved it. Siya itong tumanggap ng bribe para lumayo. Siya itong nagsinungaling. Siya itong inilayo ang anak nila nang walang paalam.

"I'm sorry, sir," mahina niyang sagot. "May I take your order?"

"Parang gusto ko ng sisig."

"May tatlo kaming klase ng sisig, sir."

"I wasn't asking."

She flushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry."

She readied the pen and paper to take his orders. Pero parang sinasadya nitong tagalan ang pag-order. Sampung minuto na yata siyang nakatayo nang bigla itong bumuntong-hininga.

"I'm not really good at this."

She yelped in surprise when he suddenly pulled her. Napaupo siya sa kandungan nito. Bago pa sya makareklamo ay nahalikan na siya nito. She could feel the urgency and longing in his lips. Na para bang sabik na sabik ito sa kanya. And she found herself responding earnestly, because she misses him too.

"I missed you," he whispered.

"I missed you, too," naiiyak niyang sabi. "Akala ko kanina, galit ka."

"I was. But your dress distracted me," he said with a low chuckle.

Pinamulahan siya. To go with the beachy feel kasi, the staff is required to wear a floral halter dress na hanggang tuhod ang haba (for women) at Hawaiian shirt at khaki shorts naman for men. Tapos ay may bulaklak sila palagi sa tenga (for women). She didn't think that it was sexy, pero sabi ni Chin, kahit daw yata basahan ay magmumukhang maganda kapag siya ang nagsuot. And seeing how Vince looked so turned on, it might be true after all.

"Daddy!"

Napalingon sila sa tumatakbong si Kelvin. Yumakap ito nang mahigpit kay Vince.

"I knew you'd come!" tuwang-tuwa nitong sabi. "I missed you!"

Vince kissed he top of Kelvin's head. "I missed you, too. "

"Are we going home now? I missed going to school!"

"Not tonight, kiddo. Your mom and I need to talk first. Why don't you go with yaya Esther? I'll catch up with you later."

Ngumuso ito. "But I just got here!" reklamo nito.

Binulungan ito ni Vince. Kelvin's eyes shone and he vigorously nodded.

"Okay! I'll see you tomorrow! I love you both," sabi nito sabay takbo paalis.

Pinatayo naman siya ni Vince at saka nito hinawakan ang kamay niya. Nagpaalam ito sa kaibigan niya bago sila umalis ng restaurant.

"Kilala mo si Chin?"

"I met her earlier."

Naglakad sila sa tabing-dagat. Hindi niya alam kung saan sila pupunta dahil sa opposite direction ang papunta sa cottage nila ni Kelvin. Mahigpit ang hawak ni Vince sa kamay niya, para bang ayaw nang pakawalan.

"Kumusta ka na? Kumusta na kayo ni... Marion?"

"We're okay."

"Then why are you here?"

"Kasi nandito kayo," seryoso nitong sagot. "I don't want to be anywhere far from the both of you."

"But you and Marion--"

"We're friends. Nothing more. I went to Paris to cancel the engagement. I want to blame you for leaving, pero hindi kita masisi dahil alam kong may kasalanan din ako. I should have told you. I just didn't want you to worry."

"I feel so horrible for taking the money."

"And I feel horrible for letting my father talk you into taking it. Sana sinabi ko kaagad sa kanya ang tungkol sa inyo para hindi na umabot pa sa ganito."

They stopped near the light house. Naupo sila sa buhanginan saka siya inakbayan ni Vince.

"I'm sorry it took a while before I got here."

"Akala ko nga hindi ka na darating e. I was almost ready to give up, but Kelvin never stopped hoping."

"Ang dami ko kasing inasikaso. When I came back, I confronted my father. He had a heart attack because of that. Okay naman na sya ngayon. In fact, gusto nya nang makita si Kelvin."

"Really? That's good to hear."

"He also wants to see you again. He wants to apologize for what he did."

"Hindi na kailangan. I've already forgiven him. As long as tanggap nya si Kelvin bilang apo nya, okay na 'ko roon."

Umiling ito. "No. He has to accept you too. Kasi sabi ko sa kanya, package deal tayo. If he wants me or Kelvin to be part of his family, he has to take you in too."

She was overwhelmed with emotion. When she fell in love with Vince, she just wanted him to reciprocate the love. She ended up getting pregnant. Nang lumaki si Kelvin, hinangad naman niyang tanggapin ito ni Vince. Ayos na iyon sa kanya. But life gave her more. And now, this...

"I also went to the states to meet your parents."

Nanlaki ang nga mata niya sa sinabi nito. "You did? Why?"

"I talked to my lawyer and he agreed to help me change Kelvin's name to Kelvin Nikola Aragonza. Of course, hindi naman ako papayag na kay Kelvin ko lang ibibigay ang apelyido ko."

Inalis nito ang kamay sa balikat niya at saka dumukot sa bulsa. Inilabas nito ang isangnecklace with a diamond ring for pendant. He removed the ring from the chain and lookes at her intently.

"I told you that I haven't given you everything yet. I already gave you my heart, and now, I'm giving you my name."

She sniffed. Hindi niya napigilang maiyak. "V-Vince--"

"Moira, I don't want to be with anyone else. Kuntento na ako sa 'yo. It would be stupid of me to even try to look for someone better, when there is clearly no one else." Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya. "Will you marry me?"

"Of course!" she blurted out. "Matatanggihan ba kita?"

Vince smiled and slid the ring on her finger. Saka siya nito pinugpog ng halik.

"I love you. I can't wait to tell Kelvin..."

"Should we tell him now?" she asked.

When he nodded, they got up and walked hand in hand. She still doesn't know where they were going.

"Ano nga pala 'yong sinabi mo sa kanya kanina? One moment, he doesn't want to leave but when you whispered something, he readily agreed."

"I told him that we're going to make a baby so we can't be disturbed."

"What?!" Hinampas niya ito nang humalakhak ito.

"It's the only way para masolo kita. And besides, this is such a nice place. Malay mo, dito tayo makabuo."

Pinamulahan siya. "Tumigil ka nga!"

"Why? Hindi ba pwedeng honeymoon muna bago kasal?"

"Hindi ka ba makapaghihintay?"

"I've waited long enough," he said solemnly. Hinapit siya nito sa bewang at saka hinalikan nang mariin at matagal. Then he whispered against her lips, "I've rented a nicer room, just ahead. It has a spectacular view of the sea. Perfect for honeymooners."

--

They stayed at the resort for a few more days bago nila maisipang bumalik. Ilang linggo na lamang at Pasko na. Vince told her that they will be celebrating Christmas with his family. Pero uuwi rin daw ang parents niya at ang pamilya ni Monica para sa Pilipinas mag-Pasko.

"And then, we'll go to Disneyland for Kelvin's birthday."

Namilog ang mga mata ni Kelvin. "Really, daddy? Wow! We're finally going to Disneyland!"

Vince smiled. "At sa New Year, pupunta naman tayo sa New York."

"Mom, you're finally going to see the ball drop!" he exclaimed, while jumping up and down.

Tumango siya. "Yes, finally."

Kabado pa rin siya nang makatapak sa engrandeng bahay ng mga magulang ni Vince. They went there during the weekend. Doon muna sila hanggang Linggo. Gusto kasi ni Vince na magkakilala ng lubusan ang mag-lolo.

She was surprised to find Santina there. Mukhang congested ang mukha nito, parang inuusig ng konsensya. Sumalubong ito sa kanila, kasama ang anak, at paulit-ulit na humingi ng tawad para sa ginawa nito sa kanya. Mukha namang sinsero ito kaya pinatawad na niya. After all, to start anew, kailangan nang i-let go ang mga past grudges. But of course, it will be hard for her to trust Santina again.

Ela and Ariesa were glad to see Kelvin. Nag-uunahan ang dalawa sa pag-kiss sa bata. Vico was there too. Umuwi raw ito ng Pilipinas a few days ago, pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng kontrata nito. He'll be flying home to Cannes on Wednesday for another job.

"Gusto ko sanang umuwi kaagad when I heard the news. Pero first work ko kasi 'yon as makeup artist. I didn't want to ruin it kasi baka kay Red na naman ako bumagsak," paliwanag nito. "Please don't tell her that. Alam mo naman 'yon, masyadong matampuhin."

"I won't," she assured him. "Where is she, anyway?"

"Bukas na lang daw sila pupunta kapag wala na si Santina," sagot nito. "That's why I'm here. To make sure that the coast is clear before she gets here."

Pagkatapos makipag-usap kay Vico ay inaya silang dalawa ng katulong sa study room kung saan naroon si Don Victorino. Vince went with them pero hanggang sa may pintuan lamang ito.

Humigpit ang kapit niya sa balikat ng anak nang makitang tumunghay ang ama ni Vince.

"Good evening, sir."

He nodded in acknowledgment, pero ang mga mata nito ay nakatuon kay Kelvin.

"Baby, greet your lolo," bulong niya sa anak.

"Hello, lolo," Kelvin greeted. "Good evening po."

The cold facade slowly melted to give way to a smile that she thought she would never live to see. The old man removed his glasses to wipe his tears. Kelvin ran towards him and asked, "Why are you crying? Are you not happy to see me?"

The old man shook his head. "No. I am very happy to see you, a-apo. It's just that... you remind me so much of your father when he was young."

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Kelvin said with a shrug. "You kinda look like dad too. I guess I'll look like you when I get old."

Tumawa ang matanda at saka niyakap si Kelvin.

"Welcome home, apo," nakangiti nitong sambit.