Mona rolled over to her left and opened her eyes slowly. She caught her breath at the sight of Felix sleeping peacefully beside her. Maliwanag na sa labas. She didn't know if it's still early in the morning, but somehow, her alarm didn't go off.

Marahan siyang kumilos para hindi ito magising. She sat up and leaned against the headboard of her bed, carefully pulling up the blanket to her chest. Felix stirred, making her catch her breath. But he was still fast asleep.

She reached out her hand and touched his hair. What a way to wake up in the morning. She never had mornings like that one before. It was actually kind of nice. At sa tinagal-tagal na niyang single, isa iyon sa mga pinapangarap niya. Especially at her age, when things like that should be the norm.

Bumaba ang kamay niya sa pisngi ni Felix. His stubbles are getting longer. Nakalimutan ba nitong mag-shave?

She almost jumped out of the bed when Felix's hand caught hers. Pinisil nito ang kamay niya saka ito nagmulat ng mga mata.

"Morning," he murmured.

"Good morning!" Ngumiti siya at binawi ang kamay.

She didn't think that he'd wake up early. Hindi pa siya nakakapagbihis. And he's well aware of that, judging by his smile.

"Do you want to get some breakfast?"

Felix sat up next to her and nuzzled her neck. "I thought you'd never ask."

Tumawa siya. "Grabe ka! I meant breakfast as in pagkain!"

Felix grinned. "Sure! I could use some food."

She averted her gaze when he got out of bed. Hinayaan niya itong makapagbihis at umuna sa kusina bago siya nagbihis. Pagkabihis, saka niya ito sinundan.

She found him standing in front of the kitchen stove. Hawak nito ang skillet sa isang kamay. May bowl at isang plastic ng sliced bread sa tabi nito. Nilapitan niya si Felix at niyakap mula sa likod.

"What are you making?"

"French toast."

"Hmm... are you sure you're ready for that or is it a good time to call the fire department?"

"Ha-ha. I'm good at this. Mahilig kasi sa toast si Angela so I had a lot of practice."

Bahagyang lumuwag ang pagkakayakap niya rito, which he noticed right away. Bumuntong-hininga si Felix at saka humarap sa kanya.

"Sorry."

"Why are you saying sorry?" she asked with a frown.

"Ayoko lang na hindi ka kumportable. I'll be mindful next time."

"Okay lang naman sa 'kin, e. You don't need to hide the fact that you have a kid. And besides, Angela's adorable."

"Does this mean that you'd be okay to hang out with Angela?"

"Uhm... sure?"

Felix cupped her face and smiled. "I want you two to bond, but if you're not ready, then I won't push it."

"Hindi naman ako nag-aalalang baka hindi ako ready, e. I'm worried that she won't be ready for me, that she won't even want to try to bond. She might not like me."

"She'll like you."

"You don't know that."

"Everyone likes you. You're very likable."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow. "And what about Andrea?"

Felix averted his gaze. "Well... she's a different case."

Yeah. A nutcase, she mentally replied, rolling her eyes. Bigla siyang naalarma nang maamoy ang nasusunog na toast. She pushed Felix aside to examine the damage. Yep. The toast got toast, pun intended. Ito ang dahilan kaya ayaw niyang nakikipaglandian sa kusina.

But Felix handled it coolly. He replaced the bread and made another toast, the right toast this time. Saka ito nagtimpla ng kape. It was a little light that what she's used to eating in the morning, pero hindi naman maaasahan si Felix sa ibang putahe maliban sa tinapay. And she had no time to cook them both a proper breakfast because he keeps flirting with her and she keeps on flirting back.

Hindi naman na siya nagreklamo dahil masaya ang buong gabi at ang umaga niya.

"I'll swing by the bakeshop. Uuwi lang ako sandali," sabi nito nang makapag-ayos siya. He insisted on waiting for her so he could take her to work. Ipinilit din nitong kotse nito ang gamitin nila para nga naman mamaya, hindi siya makatanggi kapag sinabi nitong ihahatid siya nito pauwi.

"Wala kang trabaho?"

He scratched his nape again. He couldn't look her in the eye too.

"Don't tell me you don't have work?"

"So I cancelled on a few clients. What's the big deal?" mahina nitong sagot.

Napanganga siya. "What?! Why would you cancel on your clients?!"

"Because I want to be with you." Sumulyap ito sa kanya at nang makitang nakatulala siya, nagbawi itong muli ng tingin. "I don't get to be with you often. Kapag gabi akong pumupunta sa shop mo, nauunahan ako ni Baste. And then, there's Angela. I need to be with her too. Where does that leave us?"

"I didn't ask you to give things up for me."

"I know. I just... I want to make time for you."

"No." She sighed. "I'll make time for you. So... ipangako mo sa 'kin na hindi ka magpapabaya sa trabaho at kay Angela at mangangako ako sa 'yo na aayusin ko ang sked ko para makalabas tayo minsan. Okay?"

He seemed to like the idea. "Okay," he said with a smile. Lumapit ito at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. Hindi pa nakuntento, nangyakap pa. "And you wonder why people love you? This is why."

"Sanay kaya ako. Sa romantic love lang hindi."

Felix loosened his embrace and cupped her face. "There's plenty of time to get used to it."

Nakipagtitigan siya rito.

"I love you, Mona."

--

Two fresh batches of cupcakes later, Mona was still in daze. When Felix said last night that he was in love with someone else so he broke up with Andrea, she kinda knew that he was referring to her. But hearing the actual words from the actual person were different. She almost had a heart attack when he said those words.

Hindi nito iyon binanggit kagabi. They let their bodies talk, but their mouths remained silent. It wasn't until this morning... bago sila umalis ng bahay... He shouldn't have said that. Or at least, sana man lang, sa gabi nito sinabi para naitulog pa niya. Hindi ganitong umagang-umaga. Hindi siya makapag-isip!

Finger snaps dragged her back to reality.

"Boss? Okay ka lang?"

"H-Ha?"

"Okay ka lang?" pag-uulit ni Tess. "Kanina ka pa tulala, e."

"Oo naman! Why won't I be okay?" Kumuha siya ng cupcake at piping bag. Saka nag-decorate.

"Boss, pang-red velvet 'yan. Ito dapat." Iniabot nito sa kanya ang piping bag na may lamang chocolate frosting. Saka ito naglakad palayo habang umiiling sa sarili.

She looked at the cupcakes, slightly cringing at her sloppy handwork. Uneven ang frosting niya sa ilan. Ang ibang cupcakes, hindi natakpan nang maayos so may sumisilip pang red velvet o chocolate cupcake sa ilalim ng frosting.

She prides herself for being meticulous. May pagka-perfectionist din siya. Especially when it comes to her cakes. Lalong-lalo na kung traditional wedding cakes! Susme! Doon talaga kailangan nang masinsinang pagtatrabaho. And she has two of that to do that day!

Paano na niya iyon gagawin nang maayos kung wala siya sa sarili?

While contemplating on how to save her career from its impending doom, her phone rang. Literal siyang napatalon sa gulat, na nagpatigil sa pagtatrabaho sa mga taong nandoon. Kita ang pagtataka sa mga mukha ng mga ito nang tumingin sa kanya.

Embarrassed, she ran to her office and turned her phone off. Saka siya bumalik sa trabaho at pinilit ang sariling mag-concentrate.

--

Mona was already doing the pipe work on her first cake when Annie came upstairs.

"Boss, may tawag ka!"

"Busy ako!"

"'Yong boyfriend mo!"

They weren't exactly whispering. Hindi rin niya masisi ang mga empleyado dahil naeeskandalo na rin ang mga ito sa lakas ng boses nila ni Annie.

She mouthed, Boses mo!

May tawag ka! Annie mouthed back.

Bumuntong-hininga siya at saka ito sinundan pababa. Doon na niya sinagot ang tawag dahil ayaw niyang pinagtitinginan habang nakikipag-usap sa telepono, lalo na't ipinangalandakan ni Annie kung sino ang tumatawag sa kanya.

"Hello?"

"Did you turn off your phone?"

It was Felix.

"Hi! Oo, sorry. Busy kasi ako, e."

"Are you okay? Your voice sounds shaky."

Ikaw ba naman ang sabihan ng I love you kung hindi ka rin manginig!

"Really? Hindi naman, e." She cleared her throat so her voice would sound normal. "Ayan, okay na?"

"Medyo... Anyway, what time will you be free tonight? Do you want to go out or sa bahay mo na lang tayo mag-dinner?"

"Uhm... I'm kinda busy today. Mahihintay mo ba 'ko?"

"Of course. I can always wait for you, Mona."

"Oh. Okay."

"Okay then. I'll see you tonight."

"Okay."

"Love you."

She cleared her throat again.

"Mona? Did you hear me?"

"Huh? Uhm... m-may sinabi kasi si Annie. Ano ulit? Ay, wait! Kailangan na pala ako sa taas. I'll see you later! Bye!"

Sa bilis niyang naibaba ang phone, nawirduhan tuloy si Annie sa kanya. Kunot na kunot ang noo nito nang magkatinginan silang dalawa.

"Okay ka lang?"

"Bakit ba ang daming nagtatanong sa 'kin nyan ngayon? Okay ako!"

"Okay, chill! Pinapawis ka kasi."

"Mainit!" dahilan niya. Saka siya bumalik sa itaas para ayusin ang ginagawang cake.

--

At around 5:30, she was almost finished with her second cake and was ready to move on to the third one, which was for a sweet sixteen celebration. Nabalutan na ng fondant ang cake at lalagyan na lamang ng mga dekorasyon. She lets her staff handle the decorations, but she always puts the finishing touches, especially for big clients.

It was around that time that Aika called. Gusto sana niyang tapusin na ang tawag dahil marami pa siyang gagawin nang biglang sabihin ni Aika kung bakit ito tumawag. She didn't know why it made her feel so giddy, but it did! Mickey and Aika kissed!

Alam naman niyang gusto ng dalawa ang isa't isa. Mickey's just not that brave to tell Aika and Aika's too naïve to really know what's going on, but she hopes that they're getting there. At dahil good news iyon para sa kanya, tinawagan na rin niya sina Brandi at Fresia.

The downside? The simple sharing of story turned out to be a lecture, na naiintindihan naman niya. Si Aika kasi ang pinakangwalang experience sa ganoon and Mickey's not a saint. Bad shot pa ito kina Brandi dahil alam ng mga itong hindi nagsiseryoso ng babae si Mickey.

So, after the call, she called Aika again to apologize.

"Sorry, ha. Sinira ko 'yong mood. Dapat kilig-kilig lang, e, nasermonan ka pa no'ng dalawa."

"Okay lang. Nadamay ka naman. Sorry din."

Her phone beeped. She held it away from her face and saw that there's another call on the line.

"Beh, wait lang. Tumatawag si Fresia. I'll call you back!"

She accepted Fresia's call.

"Hey, Mona. Busy ka this weekend?"

"Hmm..." Nag-isip siya. Did she do the Christmas shopping already? Ah. Of course, she did. July pa lang, nag-iipon na siya ng regalo. Sa dami niyang inaanak, kaibigan, at kamag-anak, hindi sapat ang mga araw bago magpasko para makapaghanda siya. Mauubos lang din agad ang pera niya. Mapapagod pa siya. And then, there's work! Busy pa naman sila kapag magpa-Pasko. "No. Usual work lang. Bakit?"

"Gusto mong mag-hiking?"

Natawa siya sa tanong. "Sure, Beh, sure! Gustong-gusto ko talaga 'yang aakyat ng bundok nang ilang oras! 'Yong tipong feeling ko malalagutan na ako ng hininga kahit wala pa ako sa kalahati."

Fresia laughed as well. "Oo na! Sorry, sobrang random. It's just that... nag-aya si Bullet. And he invited the guys. Ayaw ko namang ako lang mag-isa ang babaeng sasama."

"Kasama si Felix?"

"Yes. So go ka ba?"

Gusto niyang tumanggi. But it would be weird for her not to come when he's there. And he'd probably ask her anyway, so...

"Sure!" sagot niya. "Tayo lang? Ayaw mong isama sina Aika?"

"Sige. Tatawagan ko."

"Ako na kay Aika. Ikaw na kay Brandi."

"Okay!"

Pagkatapos ng tawag kay Fresia, binalikan niya si Aika.

"Beh, sama ka sa hiking? Nagyaya si Fresia."

"Hiking? Ayaw nyo ng movie? Or kain na lang tayo sa food park. Nakakapagod mag-hiking!"

Ngumisi siya. "Alam ko, pero si Bullet kasi 'yong nag-aya. Kasama sina Mickey."

"Kasama si Mickey? Sure, go ako."

"Haynako, Beh!"

Aika laughed. "Pagbigyan mo na 'ko. Minsan lang, e."

"Hmp. Fine. But don't hover at him too much, okay? Baka makalimutan mo 'ko."

"Nando'n naman si Felix."

"E, kahit na. We girls should stick together, except kay Fresia kasi may pinagdadaanan si Bullet."

"Okay, okay."

"Okay! I'll see you this weekend!"