Present time...

"ANO'NG ORAS NA; uuwian pa ba ng mag-asawang iyon ang mga bubwit na 'to?" reklamo ni Dani matapos sulyapan ang oras sa suot na wrist watch. Nakahiga ito sa malapad na couch sa living area, may hawak na wine glass sa kanang kamay at nakataas ang mga paa sa coffee table.

"Hindi mo ba narinig ang sinabi ng kasambahay kanina na talagang gagabihin ang dalawa dahil maraming inaasikaso sa itinayong tutorial center sa bayan?" sabi naman ni Kaki na naka-upo sa kabilang sulok ng couch at nakangiting pinagmamasdan ang dalawang batang naka-salampak sa carpet at nakatingala sa malaking flat screen TV.

They were Vivienne and Lucio, the seven-year-old twin.

"And besides... Aren't you happy na nakasama ulit natin itong mga inaanak natin? We haven't seen them since Christmas last year," dagdag pa ni Kaki sa mga sinabi kanina.

"Siyempre masaya akong makita silang muli, pero pumunta ako rito to chill, not to babysit these cuties."

Kaki giggled and said, "Alam kong wala ka lang sa mood ngayon dahil nagbreak kayo ng manloloko mong syota kaya ka umaasta at nagsasalita nang ganiyan. But come on, maybe the kids will change your mood."

Dani just pouted and said no more. Muli nitong dinala ang hawak na kopita sa bibig at sumimsim ng red wine. Ang tingin nito'y muling natuon sa mga inaanak na halos hindi maabala sa panonood.

Ilang sandali pa'y ibinaba ni Dani ang hawak na kopita at nakangiting muling nagsalita, "Look at them, Kaki. They are so cute. Talagang perfect match ang genes ng mga magulang; nagmukhang anghel ang mga anak."

Nakangiting tumango si Kaki at masuyo ring pinagmasdan ang mga inaanak.

Ilang sandali pa'y muling nagsalita si Dani. "Akalain mong nagkatuluyan talaga ang dalawa?"

"Well, somehow, I felt that they were really meant for each other from the start. Huli nga lang na-realize ng isa ang damdamin niya, and it took some time before they ended up together."

"Yeah. Marami muna silang pinagdaanan bago sila nagkatuluyan. Luna used to push him away, but he was very persistent. Sa huli ay si Luna naman ang naghabol."

Natawa si Kaki at binalingan ang kaibigan. "Marinig ka ni Luna, huy.."

"O, eh bakit? Totoo namang huli na niyang napagtantong may damdamin na rin siya kung kailan inakala niyang sinukuan na siya ni Prince Charming. Naku, 'yang kaibigan mo, oo."

Kaki laughed all the more. At hindi na nito nagawang sumagot pa sa huling sinabi ni Dani nang sa sulok ng mga mata nito ay nakita ang biglang pagtayo ni Vivienne. Patakbo itong lumapit.

"I wanna change the channel and watch Cinderella, but Lucio is trying to altercate."

"Altercate..." manghang ulit ni Dani sa salitang ginamit ng inaanak.

"I made a deal," sagot naman ni Lucio na nanatiling nakasalampak sa sahig pero nakalingon sa kakambal. "I will only agree to change the channel if we're watching Tangled series instead of Cinderella. But you are being stubborn and won't coincide."

"Coincide..." ulit na naman ni Dani na ikinatawa na ni Kaki. Nang makabawi sa pagkamangha ay napa-tapik si Dani sa noo. "Diyos ko, 'yang nanay ninyo. Bakit malalalim na English na kaagad ang itinuturo sa inyo? You're only seven, but you speak like adult!"

Humalukipkip si Vivienne at inismiran ang kakambal; totally ignoring what her Ninang Dani just said. Si Lucio naman ay nagkibit-balikat lang at ibinalik ang pansin sa TV. Sesame Street was on the screen.

Si Kaki ay ngingiti-ngiting inabot ang tall glass na may lamang apple juice mula sa coffee table at dinala sa bibig. Nakuha nito ang pansin ni Vivienne na napatingala at sinuri ng tingin ang Ninang. Si Dani ay napa-iling at muli ring dinala ang kopita sa bibig. Nalipat dito ang tingin ni Vivienne, at doon na nagkomento ang bata,

"Why are you drinking wine, Ninang Dani, when Ninang Kaki here only drinks apple juice?"

Natigil sa pagsimsim si Dani at napatingin sa batang kaharap. Nang rumehistro sa isip nito ang tanong ni Viv ay kinunutan ito ng noo.

"Hey... How did you even know this thing is called wine?"

"Mom told us."

"Why did she tell you? You weren't supposed to learn anything about wine."

"Why not? Mom says we should learn everything from a young age because this is the phase where our brain develops to reason and think."

Umawang ang bibig ni Dani sa muling pagkamangha. "There is a right time to learn something new, and this isn't the right time for you to learn about wine, little girl."

"Oh come on, Dani," suway ni Kaki. "You make it appear like it's a bad thing. Wine lang 'yan, ano ka ba?"

"Right," singit pa ni Vivienne bago makasagot si Dani. "So...why are you drinking wine?"

Ma-dramang bumuntong hininga si Dani saka ini-sandal muli ang sarili sa backrest ng couch. "Because Ninang is sad and heartbroken..."

"Heartbroken? What do you mean?"

"You understand altercate and coincide but not the word heartbroken?"

Viv shrugged her tiny shoulders and said, "Of course, I understand what the word meant, but I'm confused. If your heart is broken, how are you still able to breathe? Why are you still alive?"

Lumakas ang tawa ni Kaki. "That's Luna Isabella's daughter for you."

Hindi pinansin ni Dani ang sinabi ni Kaki. Dumukwang ito at masuyong dinama ang umbok na pisngi ni Viv. "It's not how you described, honey. When a person suffers from a broken heart, it means someone did something that hurt them or made them feel sad and lonely." Muli itong ma-dramang bumuntonghininga. "I wish I could tell you more, but you're not old enough to understand these things, Little Luna..."

"Why are you calling me Little Luna?"

"Well, because you look exactly like your Mom. And... you are little."

Nilingon ni Viv ang kakambal na bahagya ring napalingon nang marinig ang pangalan ng ina. "How about Lucio? Does he look like mom, too?"

"Nah. He's a carbon copy of your dad. You two are fraternal twins, so you don't look alike."

"Carbon copy?" Nalukot ang noo ni Viv. "What's that?"

"Well..." Tuluyan nang ibinaba ni Dani ang kopita sa ibabaw ng coffee table at kinarga sa kandungan si Viv. "It's when something or someone looks identical."

"Oh, mom hasn't taught us that." Tumingala ito at pinanlakihan ng mga mata; tila may naalala. "Mom seemed off these past few days. She's sick in the morning, tired in the afternoon, and grumpy at night."

"What do you mean?" si Kaki na muling dinala ang baso ng juice sa bibig.

"She was sick this morning and was throwing up in the restroom. I came in and found her sitting on the floor and crying. Then she pulled and hugged me, and then she said she wanted to eat pizza again."

"Again?" si Kaki, lalong na-intriga.

Tumango si Viv. "She's been eating pizza secretly these past few days."

Si Dani ay nagtatakang binalingan si Kaki. "Pero hindi mahilig si Luna sa pizza, hindi ba?"

"Exactly," singit pa ni Viv. "She didn't like pizza until last week. She began ordering this specific flavor and it smells so bad. It has... anchovy, I believe."

"Pizza with anchovy?" Lalong nalukot ang noo ni Dani.

"But the weirdest part is this, Ninang Dani. Mom only eats the crust and would only smell the toppings. I mean... isn't that odd?"

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa.

Nagpatuloy si Viv. "I got so worried I told her we should tell dad. But she panicked and asked me to keep it a secret until it's confirmed. But what is there to confirm?"

Kaki pressed her lips to stop herself from grinning, si Dani naman ay ibinalik ang pansin sa inaanak. "So, your dad has no idea this is happening to your mom?"

"That's right. And Mom said she will go see a doctor to confirm something. I hope she's okay."

"Oh, I bet she's fine, honey. No need to worry." Masuyong ningitian ni Dani ang inaanak. "I guess your Mom has a baby in her tummy, that's why she's acting strange these past few days. Pregnant women tend to experience morning sickness and exhaustion throughout the day, and they often wanna eat weird food like pizza crust or... anchovy. And to surprise your daddy, she wanted you to keep this a secret for now."

Si Lucio, nang marinig ang sinabi ng ninang, ay pinanlakihan ng mga mata. Tumayo ito at lumapit; excitement was all over his face. "Did I hear that right? Mom has a baby in her tummy?"

Si Kaki ay ipinatong ang baso sa mesa at dumukwang upang kargahin naman si Lucio. "Are you excited about it?"

"You bet, I am! And I wish it comes out a boy so I could have someone to play basketball with!"

Dani and Kaki both smiled as they looked at the little boy's handsome face.

"When is mom going to tell dad about the baby?" tanong pa ni Vivienne na muling kinunutan ng noo.

"When the doctor confirms."

"Will Dad get mad if he finds out that Mom's having another baby?"

Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Dani. "What made you say that, honey?"

"Because of the way mom panicked when I told her I was gonna tell dad. She was... upset."

"No, honey," si Kaki naman ngayon ang kumausap kay Viv. Inabot nito ang kamay ng batang babae saka masuyong pinisil. "You're still young to understand how your mom truly feels. Kahit kaming matatanda na ay hindi maintindihan ang moodswings ng babaeng buntis. If your mom truly is pregnant, her emotions mix up like fruit shake in a blender. You will never understand why she's acting what she's acting. So, don't overthink, honey. Besides, it is not your job to worry. Just be there for your mommy when she gets sick again. Sooner or later, she would have confirmation and she would tell your father."

"Besides..." Banayad na pinisil ni Dani ang ilong ni Viv. "Your mom must have had plans, so let's not ruin it, okay? If she went to see a doctor, she must have already confirmed her condition by now. Let's wait for them to come home, 'kay?"

Viv just pouted and said no more.

"And as we wait..." Dani adoringly fixed Vivienne's wavy, shoulder-length hair. "Let me tell you a story."

"Ooh, I love stories!" ani Lucio. "Is it about monsters and aliens?"

Dani chuckled. "No. This is about how you two were born."

Si Kaki, na ipinagkamali ang ibig sabihin ng kaibigan, ay pinanlakihan ng mga mata. "Huy, Danilo, umayos ka nga."

"Hoy ka rin, masyadong berde 'yang utak mo!" Dani fired back, laughing. Ibinalik nito ang pansin sa dalawang batang salubong ang mga kilay na naghihintay ng karugtong sa sinabi nito kanina.

Dani's smile widened. "I'll tell you a story about how your Mom met your Dad, and how everything started until the story led to us sitting here. Are you ready?"

Sabay na tumango ang kambal.

Then, Lucio asked, "So, how did it start, Ninang Dani?"

"Yeah," sabi naman ni Vivienne. "How did mom meet our dad?"

Dani's eyes sparkled in excitement. "The story starts one rainy morning... 14 years ago."