WHEN they arrived in the New York City, they were staying in a fancy penthouse. Ilang beses pa silang nagtalo ni Tonyo nang dahil sa bagay na iyon. But after a weeks ago, Louisse was suprised when Tonyo told her that they will moved out into Midtown East, in M&H Tower to be specific. They are in the Unit 08MH.

When they entered the apartment, the closet in the right side welcome them. Louisse can't help herself but to look around. The apartment is quite spacious. There's a living room, then when you take a step, the dining area will welcome you. The first door that she opened is going to the kitchen. There's already an appliances like fridge, stove, and there's a drawer for the condiments and other kitchen stuffs that can put into.

The apartment has also a balcony that Louisse knew will become her favorite spot. It's an aircondition and good for sightseeing. The apartment has two bedrooms and two bath. There's also two closet and one walk-in-closet.

Dahil tanging mga damit lamang ang dala nila ni Tonyo kaya mabilis lamang nila iyong maayos na nailipat sa kani-kanilang mga closet. Nang sumapit ang tanghali ay sabay silang dumulog sa dining area at pinagsaluhan ang pagkain na si Tonyo mismo ang nagluto.

"If you're bored being here in apartment, you can go outside, L.A. Or you can go down for pool, gym and you can even walk in central park, you know," pagbubukas nito ng usapin.

Gamit ang cloth napkin ay pinunasan niya ang gilid ng kan'yang bibig bago ito sagutin. "I'm fine being here. At isa pa, nag-a-adjust pa rin ako sa klima ng New York. Alam mo naman ang klima natin sa Pinas, mainit," pagbibiro niya.

Tumango-tango naman ito. "I think we need to hire a maid. Kailangan natin ng tagaluto, tagalinis at tagalaba. You know, that's not really my thing."

"But you can cook well."

"Yeah. Just when I'm in mood."

Pareho silang natawa sa sagot nito.

"Kaya ko namang maglaba, Tonyo."

Mabilis itong umiling at itinaas pa ang isang kamay. "No, you can't do that, Louisse. I'm afraid that something will happen to you that can affect the baby. Kaya nga kita dinala sa New York for you to have a better rest and of course, a better life with your baby."

Bigla ay nahimas ni Louisse ang tiyan niyang nagsisimula nang lumaki. "Tonyo you still haven't answered any of my question. Hindi mo naman ako kailangang samahan dito sa New York. So, why are you still here with me? It's not like I'm pushing you away. I'm just really concern about your work in Philippines."

"Louisse, I already told you that someone is taking care of my company. I just really want to help you. I want to take care of you when you give birth."

"To-" Before she even called his name, he cut her off.

"I once like you."

Nabigla siya sa rebelasyon nito. Ngunit bago pa siya makasagot ay naunahan na siya nito. "But that's not the reason."

Dumaan ang ilang segundong katahimikan bago ito muling nagsalita. "There's something that I haven't told you yet."

Nangunot ang kan'yang noo. "What is it?"

Narinig niya ang marahas na paghugot nito ng malalim na hininga. Hindi nakatakas sa kan'yang paningin ang lungkot na nakita niya sa mga mata nito.

"Louisse, ang totoo niyan ay dapat ikakasal na ako this month."

A big 'O' formed in her mouth. But she couldn't find her voice to speak up.

Mapait itong napangiti saka nagpatuloy. "But an accident happened that caused me to lose my fiancèe and our baby. That day, she was supposedly happy to tell me a good news about being pregnant. God knows how I regret that I didn't pick her up because I was too busy building my career."

She reached out his hand and gently caressed it. Ngumiti ito at tila pinipigilang maiyak. "You see, I don't want you to end up losing your baby. I badly want to help you. Hindi dahil gusto kong pagbayaran ang nangyari sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong ko sa'yo. I really want to genuinely helped you. After all, we still friends even years had passed, right?"

She nodded. "And I'm thankful because of that. Thank you so much, Tonyo. But I really can manage. Gusto kong ipagpatuloy ang buhay naming mag-ina nang hindi dumi-depende sa ibang tao."

"I understand. But you can still do what you want, Louisse. I'm not stopping you. If you want a job, I can give it to you. Kailangan lang nating makasiguro na hindi maaapektuhan no'n ang pagbubuntis mo. And if you're awkward being in one apartment with me, I can move out. But I'll make sure I'll move to the next door or nearby to you. Because I promise Zaneya that I'll take care of the both of you."

"Huwag mong babalaking umalis dito, Tonyo," pagbabanta niya sa lalaki, nagawa niya pang iduro ang daliri rito. "Hindi naman kita pinapaalis noh! Saka isa pa, hindi ako ang nagbayad ng apartment na 'to and I'm not heartless. But aleast, let me have a job so I can pay for my share."

Balak pa sanang umangal ni Tonyo pero binigyan niya ito ng masamang tingin. Kaya wala itong ibang nagawa kung hindi ang itikom na lang ang bibig. Dahil sa nagawa niya ay napagtanto ni Louisse na mabilis siyang mairita at mainis, dala marahil ng pagbubuntis niya.

"So, we're settled, okay?" she asked.

Napipilitan itong napatango. "But find a job after you give birth, okay? Para mas panatag ako."

She just agreed. Saka na nila pinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

"Oh. By the way, may naiisip ka na bang ipangalan kay baby?"

Napangiti siya sa tanong nito. "Melina Blaire."

"So, you're confident that the baby is a girl? How about a name for a boy?"

Napaisip siya at napangiti nang magkaroon ng ideya. "Then, I'll name him Alexandros."

THE last months of her pregnancy was difficult for Louisse. But it was paid off after she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. Louisse cried so hard when she embraced her baby Alexandros. Mas lalo pa siyang naging emosyonal nang maalala ang panganay niyang anak. How it feels if she have given a chance to embrace her first child?

Dumaan pa ang ilang linggo na naging matiwasay ang buhay nilang mag-ina sa New York. Matapos niyang mapatulog si Alexandros ay natagpuan ni Louisse ang sarili sa balcony, habang tinatanaw ang nagtataasang building sa harapan ng M&H Tower.

Ilang linggo ang lumipas bago niya nasanay ang sarili sa klima ng New York. Mabuti na nga lang ay may fireplace sa loob ng apartment kaya kahit papaano kapag tinatamaan pa rin siya ng lamig ay sa sofa sa harapan ng fireplace siya nauupo habang tangan ang hot coffee.

Nasa ganoon siyang lagay nang bumukas ang sliding door at tumabi sa kan'ya si Tonyo. Nagsisimula nang tumubo ang balbas nito na bumagay sa lalaki dahil mas nagmukha itong matured.

"Baka ma-fall ka niyan sa akin. Hindi kita masasalo," pagbibiro nito.

Iniwas naman niya ang tingin at natawa na lang.

"Makapal ba iyang jacket mo? Baka sipunin ka."

"I'm fine, Tonyo. Stop being a dad," she joked.

Mula sa peripheral vision niya ay nakita niyang sinapo nito ang dibdib. "You just hurt my feelings, Louisse."

Naiiling na lang siya. Maya-maya rin ay inaya na siya nitong pumasok sa loob. Tatlong araw na rin ang nagdaan na hindi umuwi si Tonyo sa apartment. Ayon kay Mara, the maid that Tonyo hired ay busy ito sa trabaho at hinabilin silang mag-ina sa babae. Tuloy ay naisip ni Louisse na baka may business din na pinamamahalan doon si Tonyo.

Everytime she opened up about the AlZero, he immediately shift the topic. Kaya walang ibang magawa si Louisse kung hindi ang i-divert ang topic patungkol doon.

Saktong nakaupo na siya sa sofa nang magsalita ito. "Zairus is still investigating about your whereabouts."

Na-tense ang kan'yang katawan. Ilang beses na iyong ipinaalam sa kan'ya ni Tonyo.

"Hindi mo naman balak na itago si Alexandros sa kan'ya to make a revenge, right?"

Mabilis siyang napailing. "Of course not. It's just that, I can't still face him." Umiwas siya ng tingin sa lalaki at nakagat ang pang-ibabang labi.

"But why you need to tag team with Ezekhiel for him to tell lies to his cousin?"

"I-I'm just protecting my son, Tonyo. And one more thing, I just don't want Zairus to drag into this mess."

"You think your child is a mess?"

Nanlalaki ang mga matang muli niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa lalaki. "Alexandros is not a mess, Tonyo. He's a blessing to me. He's my savor," paliwanag niya. "When I look at my baby everytime I overthink at night, my worries immediately vanish like a dust. I just don't want him to look at our baby as a responsibility. Hindi ko siya gustong itali sa aming dalawa ng anak ko. Ayokong mapilitan siyang tanggapin kami gayong alam ko kung gaano siya kagalit sa akin."

"I understand you, Louisse. But the decision is still up to him. I think you misjudged him too much."

Nasabunutan na lang niya ang sariling buhok, saka niya naramdaman ang unti-unting pagtulo ng kan'yang luha. "I think you're right. I was just being selfish. I'm running away because of too much pain. Pero masisisi mo ba ako kung ayokong ang sakit na nararanasan ko ay maranasan ng anak ko, Tonyo? As a mother, all I want is to give him happiness."

Inabot nito ang kan'yang kamay. "But his father is also part of that happiness, Louisse. And you took it from him. Naisip mo na ba ang posibilidad na may chance na isang araw, magkukrus din ang landas niyong tatlo?"

Tumango siya. "Hinahanda ko na ang sarili sa posibilidad na iyon, Tonyo. Alam ko namang hindi panghambuhay kong maitatago si Alexandros sa ama niya. Alam kong isang araw ay babalik din kami sa Pilipinas at may chance na makita siya. I'm open with that possibility."

Sinapo nito ang kan'yang mukha saka tinuyo ang kan'yang luha. "Sorry if I ask too much."

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "That's fine. After all, you're the one who take care for us."

"Nah. Thanks to Mara."

Nangiting napailing na lang siya. Nang ayain siya nito na dumulog sa dining table ay sumunod na siya sa lalaki. Pinagmasdan lamang niya ito habang pinagbabalat siya ng mangga.

"I can't still forget how you crave for a mangga then dip it into a ketchup. That's gross for me, Louisse," anito habang ikinukumpas ang isang kamay.

"Pero masarap na partner 'yon para sa akin."

Nang matapos nitong mabalatan ang isang mangga ay ibinigay nito iyon sa kan'ya. "Pero syempre, hindi na ako nasasarapan sa mangga na isinasawsaw sa ketchup."

Nang dahil sa sinabi niya ay napangiti niya ito.

"By the way, you're now looking for a job, right? Why don't you apply as my secretary?"

"You have a business here?" tanong niya matapos kumagat sa hawak na mangga.

"Yeah. Another branch of AlZero."

Hindi naman niya maiwasang ipakita ang paghanga sa lalaki. "Iba ka na talaga, Tonyo. Nakarating na pati rito ang AlZero. I remember when we're still young, you dream to be a businessman, right? You also told me that you want that business of yours to have a branch to different countries. And New York is your dream country."

He nodded. "I'm glad you still remember that. And yes, that's my dream. And I'm reaching that dreams of mine."

"And I'm happy for you."

Muli nitong ibinigay sa kan'ya ang nabalatang mangga. "Thank you, Louisse. I know you will also achieve your dreams."

"The only thing I want right now is to be a good mother to Alexandros."

"You're already the best, Louisse."

Nang ngumiti ito ay nahawa siya at natagpuan niya ang sariling nakangiti na rin habang nagpatuloy ang k'wentuhan nilang dalawa.