When Felix took Mona home that night, he didn't speak to her throughout the whole ride. She knew he was mad. Who wouldn't? Although hindi naman nito sinabi na exclusive silang dalawa para sa isa't isa, syempre understood na 'yon. And she knew that he's trying to be there for her. Kaso nga, bata ang kalaban niya sa atensyon nito. Ayaw sa kanya ng pamilya nito. Boto ang mga ito kay Andrea. The truth's always there and it's never going to go away.

She reached for his arm. "I'm sorry."

Bumuntong-hininga ito. He stopped the car because they're already in front of her house. Pagkapatay nito ng makina, binalingan siya nito. He took her hand and asked seriously, "Are you not happy with me, Mona?"

"Ano ba namang klaseng tanong 'yan?"

"Palagi kitang tinatanong, hindi ba? I was always asking if you're okay with things. You always tell me that you are, and then, earlier, 'yong mga sinabi ni Brandi—"

She shook her head. "Don't mind, Brandi. She's just overly protective of me."

"Still... gusto kong malaman kung masaya ka pa ba sa 'kin."

Ngumiti siya rito. "I am."

Felix smiled back. "I'm glad to know that. But promise me, Mona, if you're not happy with me anymore, you'll tell me, all right?"

Tumango na lamang siya para matapos ang usapan. She knew that she would not let him know that she's unhappy if he's still happy with her.

Felix followed her inside the house and asked if she wants him to stay. Of course, she said yes. But while they were lying on the bed, ready to sleep, saka niya naisip na baka hanapin ito ni Angela. The kid might wake up from her sleep and wonder why her dad wasn't beside her.

"Hindi ka ba hahanapin ni Angela?" tanong niya rito.

"I'll see her on Monday."

"Pero baka magtampo 'yong bata sa 'yo. Weekend nyo with your family pero nandito ka."

"I know," he said with a sigh. "But you might meet with other guys if I'm not around."

"One time lang naman 'yon. Brandi just wanted me to try it."

"Because she thinks that you're not happy with me."

"She's just concerned."

"She doesn't need to concern herself with our relationship."

She pressed her cheek on his chest. "Friend ko kasi 'yon. Syempre, concerned sya sa 'kin."

He tilted her chin up with his fingers. "Bakit mo kasi ikinwento sa kanya 'yong nangyari no'ng new year tapos hindi mo sinasabi sa 'kin 'yong feelings mo? If you just told me, then we could have done something with it sooner."

"Ano naman ang gagawin mo? You can't be separated from Angela. If she wants you there, you should be there," she told him. "I can't take you away from her. I can't take you away from your family. I don't want them to hate you. So... wala naman talaga tayong magagawa."

He brushed her hair and sighed. "Meron. I'll find a way."

--

After that weekend, Felix tried his best to balance his work, Angela, and her. Whenever there's a chance to be with her, he'd be with her. The first few days were okay. Mukhang gumawa pa ng schedule si Felix para lamang mapagbigyan ang lahat ng may kailangan dito. But after two weeks, napansin niyang unti-unti na itong napapagod.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked him one night. They were out having dinner. Date night nila. Nangingitim na ang ilalim ng mga mata nito. Mukhang wala itong masyadong tulog.

"Yeah, yeah," he answered dismissively. "Nagta-tantrums lang kasi si Angela so hindi ako makatulog nang maayos sa gabi."

She reached out for his hand and squeezed it. Halos hindi pa nito nababawasan ang pagkain. He was so preoccupied, napapatulala na lang ito.

Felix sleeps at her house thrice a week. Tuesday and Thursday, sa bahay nito ito natutulog, kasama si Angela. Tapos, silang dalawa, they always have dinner every night. That's the only thing that they could do. Tuwing weekend, kasama ito ng pamilya nito. Nag-a-out of town trip.

Everybody happy nga naman, pero pagod na pagod si Felix palagi.

"Her tooth's aching," paliwanag nito sa kanya. "Sinabihan ko na si Andrea na dalhin si Angela sa dentist pero ayaw daw ni Angela kapag hindi ako kasama."

"Bakit hindi mo samahan?"

"I was busy with work. May deadlines kasi kaming hinahabol. Nagkasabay-sabay."

"Can't you spare her a few hours? Kawawa naman 'yong bata. Saka mas makakatulog ka nang maayos kung okay na si Angela."

Felix sighed.

"Go with them tomorrow, okay?"

"All right."

--

Felix made good on his word. He left his work early to make time for Angela. Pero makalipas lang ang ilang araw, dinala nito ang bata sa bakeshop niya. Everyone at the workplace felt the awkward tension as soon as Felix walked in with Andrea and Angela.

"Baby, I'll be going now, okay?" paalam ni Andrea sa anak.

Kumapit si Angela sa hem ng dress ng ina. "But mommy..."

Andrea smiled affectionately. Lumuhod ito sa harap ng anak at saka sinapo ang mga pisngi nito. "Mommy still has work so dito ka muna, okay? Tita Mona will take care of you."

Todo iling ang bata, mangiyak-ngiyak na. Kinalong ni Felix ang anak saka ito inalo-alo.

"Don't cry, baby. Sasakit ulit ang ngipin mo, sige," pananakot nito.

Andrea kissed Angela's cheek. "Daddy's right. Stop crying na."

Ang kanina'y hikbi lang ng bata ay natuloy na sa iyak nang umalis si Andrea. Felix consoled his kid and promised to buy more ice cream for her.

"Beh, mas okay pa yatang iuwi mo na muna sya," she told Felix.

"She'll stop crying eventually," pangako nito habang tinatapik-tapik ang likod ni Angela. "I want you two to bond."

"I want us to bond too, but don't you think it's too early for that?"

"Mabuti na nga 'yong habang maaga, maging close na kayo. Para mapalagay ang loob nya sa 'yo. If you too became close, then things will be better. I'm sure of it."

She bit her lip and frowned in worry. "What about Andrea? Is this okay with her?"

Felix nodded. "Actually, this was her idea."

Lalong nangunot ang noo niya. How can Andrea be okay with it? Siguro gusto rin nitong magkaayos-ayos sila? But what about that Christmas card scheme? Naguguluhan siya. It seems that Andrea is messing with her head.

"Okay. If it's okay with her, then I guess there's no problem," she finally said.

--

Angela spent the first 20 minutes just sitting on one corner and staring at what everyone's doing. Sina Ralph at Tess, pilit na nilalaro ang bata pero mukhang asiwa pa rin ito sa mga tao sa bakeshop niya. Felix tried to engage them both in conversations but Angela only talks to him, not to her. It was very evident na ayaw sa kanya ng bata.

It's not until Ralph started making his sculptures for a cake and Tess worked on her gum paste flowers that the child finally showed some interest. Kinuha niyang oportunidad iyon para makipag-close sa bata.

"Gusto mong gumawa ng flowers?" nakangiti niyang tanong.

Angela stared at her with her big, brown eyes and finally nodded.

Nakisali rin si Felix para masiguradong tutok si Angela sa gagawin nila. Binigyan siya ni Tess ng isang rolyo ng fondant. Kinuha niya ang isang silicone petal mold at saka pumisang ng fondant. She pressed the fondant unto the mold and left it for a while. 'Yong ilan sa mga nahulma na ni Tess, ibinigay nito sa kanya.

She gave one to Angela and took one of the mold cutters, 'yong bilog ang dulo. She showed Angela how to thin out the edge of the petal, para magmukhang makatotohanan iyon. Gumawa siya ng limang petals saka iyon pinagkabit-kabit para maging bulaklak. Ibinigay niya iyon kay Angela.

"You can eat it, if you like."

"But it's a fwower," kunot-noo nitong sabi.

"It's a flower made of fondant."

"What's a fwondant?"

"A fondant is something you cover a cake with," she answered. "Para mukhang pretty at structured ang cake."

Tumuro siya sa isang naka-display na puting cake. The three tiers of cake were covered with white fondant and decorated with white sugar flowers.

"Like that one. Isn't it pretty?"

Angela looked to where she was pointing. Saka ito tumango. Iniumang niya ang fondant flower sa bibig ng bata. "Taste it."

Tumingin muna si Angela kay Felix. Felix took a petal and ate it. "Mmm!!" He gave his kid a thumb up. "Try it, baby. It's delicious."

Sa wakas ay naniwala na rin ang bata. She tasted the flower.

"How was it?"

"Parang cway," sabi ng bata. "Pewo masalap."

--

Hindi doon natapos ang pakikipag-close niya sa bata. When Felix took her home, isinama nito si Angela. He promised his kid that she will cook something amazing that night. Since Angela likes spaghetti, iyon ang naisipan niyang lutuin. Okay na sana, kaso ay may isang request si Angela. She wanted her mom to be there.

Nakailang tanggi si Feli pero ayaw magpatalo ni Angela. And the kid seemed to know her weakness. Sa kanya ito nakiusap. Since she wanted to be on Angela's good side, pumayag na siya. And so, they called Andrea and told her that they wanted to have dinner with her.

Luto na ang mga pagkain nang dumating si Andrea sa bahay niya. She should have at least cleaned, pero abala siya kanina sa pagluluto. Hindi naman marumi ang bahay niya, pero pakiramdam niya, minus points sa kanya kahit tabingi lang nang slight 'yong pagkakasabit ng isa sa mga paintings sa pader.

"I like your place," kumento nito nang makapasok sa bahay niya.

"Thanks."

"How long have you lived here?"

"Uhm... mga 5 years na rin siguro."

"It's a little spaceous for a single woman."

Ngumiti siya. "Dito kasi tumutuloy ang parents ko kapag napapadpad sila sa Manila. I want to make their stay as comfortable as I can."

Doon din tumutuloy si Fresia kapag nakakaaway nito si Richard or in general, kapag may problema ito at ayaw nitong mapag-isa. Brandi also comes over sometimes. People just like to be in her space. Masarap kasi siyang magluto at homey ang bahay niya.

"Let's eat?" aya niya sa mga ito.

She made spaghetti, for Angela, and grilled pork cutlet, for Felix. She also made desserts because Andrea's coming over.

Fortunately, mukhang nagustuhan naman ni Angela ang niluto niyang spaghetti. Andrea seemed to love it as well.

"You make good spaghetti," kumento nito na ikinatuwa niya.

"Thanks."

Until Andrea asked her child, "Who cooked it better: Tita Mona or me?"

"Mommy!" Angela answered bubbly.

She smiled awkwardly. She wanted to earn the approval of the child, but of course, wala siyang panama sa ina. Alam naman niya iyon.

"Do you want desert? I made chocolate ice cream."

"Ice cweam!" Angela squealed.

"Baby, kakapagpabunot mo lang. Baka sumakit uli 'yong ngipin mo."

"Baby teeth naman ang natatanggal," Felix reasoned. "She's bound to lose them anyway."

Angela gave her mom a pleading look. Siya naman ay naghintay ng desisyon ni Andrea. Hindi siya makakilos nang wala nitong approval. Hindi naman kasi siya ang nanay.

Andrea, feeling outnumbered, sighed. "Okay," she answered, finally giving in. "But finish your spaghetti first."

Angela happily obliged. While the child was eating, the talk about Valentine's day came up. After all, it's just a few weeks away. If there's one thing that she learned about Andrea and Felix that she admires but is also jealous of, it's that they have strong family ties. That's why it's hard for Felix to just let go of Andrea. Maybe in doing so, he'll disappoint his family. Maybe in doing so, they'll also be forced to let him go.

Nang gabing iyon, she was reminded na hindi lang para sa lovers ang Valentine's day. Para rin iyon sa pamilya at sa mga kaibigan. When Felix was asked if he's going to spend his Valentine's Day with his family, he looked her way first, unsure how to answer.

So, she answered for him. "Of course."

"Mona..."

She waved her hand, gesturing that it was nothing. "I feel like my friends will need me that day, anyway. Don't worry about me."

Andrea reached for her hand. She squeezed it. "Don't worry, Mona. Once you're part of the family, you can spend your Valentine's with us."

"Andrea," tawag ni Felix sa tonong nananaway.

"What?" painosenteng tanong ng babae sa tapat niya. "I'm just being nice."

The three of them knows otherwise, pero hindi na lamang siya nagsalita pa. Andrea's obviously pretending to be civil. Kaya naman niyang makipagplastikan. She ate in silence habang si Andrea ang kumakausap kay Felix. Nang maubos ni Angela ang spaghetti, humingi na ito kaagad ng ice cream. Too bad the fridge was just a few steps away. Gusto sana niyang makalayo kahit ilang minuto lang.

Matapos ang dinner, nag-aya nang umuwi si Angela. The kid is already ready to sleep. Plano sana ni Felix na doon matulog sa bahay niya, but Angela has other plans. Umiyak ito nang sabihin ni Felix na hindi ito sasamang umuwi. She had no choice but to console the child and tell her that her dad will be coming home with them.

"Why do I feel like you're always pushing me away?" bulong ni Felix sa kanya.

"Wala naman akong choice, di ba, beh? Alangan namang agawan ko pa 'yong bata."

Sumimangot ito. She pushed him gently.

"Uwi na. Hinihintay ka na nila."

"Sigurado ka ba sa Valentine's? It's our first."

"We'll have plenty in the years to come. I can let this year slide." She gave him a kiss. "Good night."