IT was already April—three months later after Renante gave the engagement ring to Stacey which she can wear if she has already made up her mind about marrying him. Everything went well after that. Tila ba hindi nangyari ang pag-uusap na iyon dahil hindi na napag-usapan pa iyon uli. They both became busy with VVatch, since Stacey decided to stay in his company.

On a normal day, Renante would usually choose the most practical option. He would not agree to dropping his work at VVatch just to go all the way from Philippines to Ireland. But guess what? He just did.

They occupied two Business class seats, made of deep blue upholstery and convertible to full flat beds.

Tinatanaw ni Renante ang katabing bintana nang maramdaman ang pagpatong ng kamay ni Stacey sa kamay niyang nasa ibabaw ng arm rest ng upuan. He leaned forward, so that he could peek at her.

"Don't worry. They will be alright," matamis nitong ngiti sa kanya habang pinatutungkulan ang mga naiwan sa Vvatch. "After all, season break ng wristwatch production natin, remember? It is also impractical for us to ship and stock up our inventory during these months of extreme heat and extreme wet seasons. We already have enough wristwatches in stock for up for sale from April to August." Stacey chuckled nervously. Siguro ay natatakot itong magbago pa ang kanyang isip.

He smiled and placed his other hand on top of her hand. "I know. And I am not worried about them. I am just looking around and checking out this plane. My concern is your safety."

Tiningnan ng dalaga ang magkapatong nilang mga kamay. "I—no—We . . . We will be alright, Renante."

He took in a deep breath and looked at their hands. "Kung bakit ba naman kasi hindi na lang kayo mag-video call ng tatay mo. O 'di kaya, siya na lang ang papuntahin mo rito."

When their eyes met once more, Stacey slightly shook her head. "I prefer to meet him on Ireland, Renante. I prefer to talk to him in person."

"Alam kong gusto mo na ayusin ang lahat sa buhay mo bago tayo ikasal. But your parents' issues are not yours to fix."

"I know." Her eyes met his'. "You see, it's between me and my father, Renante. I believe that his issue with my mother is not a valid reason for him to do distance from me. So, maybe, there is just a misunderstanding between us. Maybe, I did something wrong . . . These things need tobe clarified. Kaya pupuntahan ko siya roon. Kapag nakipag-video call lang ako o international calls, makaisip siya ng excuse para iwasan ang mga taong ko." I don't want to waste any more time." Stacey smiled shyly and lowered her eyes again. "Excited na akong magsuot ng singsing."

He could not help a small chuckle that accompanied his grin. His grin was so wide it reached from ear to ear. Natatawang napailing na lang si Renante.

"O, ano'ng reaksiyon iyan? You look relieved. Parang hindi ka makapaniwala. Naiisip mo pala na posibleng hindi ko isuot iyong singsing?" natatawang silip ni Stacey sa kanyang mukha.

He returned his eyes at her. "Not really. I am just surprised that you'll bring this up. I mean, we haven't mentioned anything about marriage for months."

Ipinatong ni Stacey ang isa pa nitong kamay sa ibabaw ng kanyang kamay. Sa pagkakataong ito, parehong magkaka-sandwich na ang kanilang mga kamay sa kamay ng isa't isa.

"You know how much I wanted to marry you. Since day one, alam kong ikaw na talaga, Renante. Ikaw na ang nai-imagine ko na pakakasalan ko. Pagkatapos, ngayong matutupad na iyon, palalagpasin ko pa? Siyempre, never!"

Kapwa sila natawa. Inalis ni Renante ang isang kamay mula sa pagkakaipit sa ilalim ng palad ni Stacey. He used that hand to reach for the side of her face. Fuck their seat's divider. They simply leaned forward with all their might so that their faces could close in their distance. So that their lips will meet for a short, yet tight kiss.

Nang maghiwalay ang kanilang mga labi, kapwa sila natawa.

"I already made my research about Ireland," aniya rito nang umayos na sila ng pagkakaupo. "Since we will be staying there for a week, saktong naroon tayo sa araw ng birthday mo."

Namilog ang mga mata ni Stacey. "My goodness. I almost forgot my birthday!"

Hindi makapaniwala si Renante. Hindi niya tuloy mapigilan ang matawa nang mahina. "You? Of all the people, ikaw pa talaga mismo ang nakalimot sa birthday mo?"

Pabiro siya nitong pinaikutan ng mga mata. "E, sa nakalimutan ko, e. Sorry naman."

When she returned her eyes on him, she also smiled. He gripped her hand tightly atop the arm rest.

"I am glad you forgot. It means you don't have any plans on that day. Which means . . ." Sinadya niyang bitinin ang sasabihin para magpa-suspense.

"Which means?" taas nito ng isang kilay habang nakangiti pa rin.

"Which means, available ka, para sa aking surprise para sa 'yo."

"Ooh. Surprise, huh? Sige nga, tingnan natin kung masosorpresa mo talaga ako, Mr. Villaluz, the king of Ramens. Kasi, baka mas ma-surprise ka pa sa pa-sorpresa ko."

Mahina siyang natawa. "You will be more surprised with my surprise, boo. I'll make sure you'll never forget your 33rd birthday."

"Let's see," she said in a playful challenging tone.

Is she kidding? May ideya na siya kung ano ang ipangso-sorpresa sa kanya ni Stacey, e! She already mentioned earlier that she wants to wear their engagement ring already! Kaya sigurado siyang iyon ang balak gawin ng babae sa birthday ito! That must be why she wanted them to go to Ireland! Maybe, she was pretending that she forgot her own birthday for the sake of surprising him by accepting his marriage proposal!

He's going to win this. Mas masosorpresa ang dalaga sa kanyang inihanda para sa birthday nito. It will be four days from now. On the twenty-third of April.

"So, which comes first?" he asked lightly. "Ang pakikipagkita sa tatay mo o ang birthday celebration mo?"

"Siyempre, uunahin natin ang agenda ng pagpunta natin doon, no!" ngisi nito, may kaunting stating-the-obvious sa tono ng pananalita nito.

"You'll talk to your father first? Ayaw mo bang gawin na lang iyon kapag last days na natin sa Ireland? O bago tayo umuwi ng Pilipinas? O pagkatapos na lang ng birthday mo. After your birthday, we will stay for three more days in Ireland."

"Bakit naman ganoong schedule ang naiisip mo?" salubong ng mga kilay nito. Sumeryoso na ang dalaga. "Priority nga natin dito na maging maayos ang relationship namin bilang mag-tatay."

He sighed and became serious as well. Serious, but sympathetic with the way he speaks. "Baka lang kasi kapag hindi maganda ang kinalabasan ng pag-uusap ninyo,mawala ka na mood para magsaya."

Nagdahilan naman ang dalaga. "Mas maganda nga kung uunahin ko ang pakikipagkita sa kanya. Para kung hindi man maganda ang kalabasan, at least, I can still look forward to my birthday celebration. If things didn't work out in my favor, then I will badly need a celebration to lift my mood."

She has a point. "Well, we'll talk to your father first then."

"I," she emphasized. "Ako lang muna ang makikipag-usap. Pagkatapos namin, oo, puwede mo nang kausapin ang dad ko."

He nodded and grinned playfully. "Yes, ma'am."

Nang magsalita na ang flight captain sa speakers ng eroplano, itinuon nila ang atensiyon sa mga instruksiyon nito. May nag-ikot din na mga flight stewardess para i-assist sila at sipatin nang mabuti ang mga pasahero at bagahe. In a while, the plane lifted in the air smoothly.

***

THE plane lifted smoothly. It was expected because it was supposed to be a seamless flight, their stop-overs and the countries that will be passed by their route were already on their spring season. Ibig sabihin, maganda ang panahon, lalo na sa Ireland na kahit spring season ay malamig-lamig pa rin ang simoy ng hangin.

Stacey fell asleep during the flight. They left at eight in the morning in the Philippines, so Renante assumed that it was already one in the afternoon there. Dapat ay kasabay niyang mag-lunch ang babae, pero ayaw naman niyang istorbohin ang tulog nito kaya mag-isa siyang kumain. Kung bakit ba naman kasi nagpumilit itong magtrabaho sa VVatch. Nitong nakaraang mga linggo tuloy, tila pagod na pagod ito. Stacey would skip lunch sometimes just to get a quick nap. After he had his lunch, Renante got busy with the tour guide book he bought. The book is,of course, about Ireland. He already marked the places where he plans to bring Stacey, specifically a special place where they will celebrate her 33rd birthday. Just the very thought of surprising her made him smile.

Upon closing the book, he became serious. Naalala kasi niya ang ama ng dalaga. He haven't met Mr. Vauergard in person,but he already saw the photos. He was how foreign and serious he looked. In most of his photos, his head was shaved clean, his eyebrows were straight and sharp, his eyes were crinkled on each corners that always looked like they are squinting at you, judging you with just one look. His lips were tight and thin. The only photo where he was seen smiling was from a stolen photo of him carrying the newborn Stacey. The rest? Resting serious face.

Renante didn't plan to meddle with Stacey and her father's talk regarding their issue, if there is any. Malaki naman ang tiwala niya sa dalaga, na kaya nitong harapin at ayusin anoman ang isyu nilang mag-ama. But he could not help feeling tensed. He was hoping that nothing will break Stacey's heart ever again. Not because it will hurt him too, but because she's too precious to be hurt, especially by people that she did not even do anything wrong to.

Something caught his attention, interrupting his thoughts—a sensation that he was bouncing up and down. Kapareho nito ang pakiramdam kapag may nadadaanang malubak na kalsada. Also, overhead, the Please, wear your seat belts sign's red lighting kept flashing.

Napalingon siya sa mga kapwa pasahero at napansin na ang mga nakakita sa signal ay isinuot agad ang kanilang mga seat belt. Renante swallowed and peeked at Stacey. He gently tapped her shoulder.

"Sorry, boo. Time to wake up," he thought as he kept tapping her shoulder and arm.

***

DERRICK let out a groan. Nitong nakaraang tatlong araw, halos limang beses kada araw ito kung tawagan ni Artemia sa cell phone. He wasn't used to this, because since they got annulled, they rarely talked. If he has any concerns about Stacey's condition and whereabouts, he directly talks to her or to her maid. Mula nang magdalaga si Stacey at hindi na inaalagaan ng katulong, ang dalaga na mismo ang kinokonsulta ng lalaki. They would have an exchange of emails, not video calls, every few months. At times, Stacey doesn't reply, but he is fine with it. He didn't want to force his daughter to reply anyway, no matter how much he wanted to.

He was sitting inside his slick, minimalistic office. Instead of the usual white or black or wood interior, his interior has a touch of futuristic aesthetic because of the silver hues and metallic pieces like his smooth desk.

He reluctantly answered Artemia's call. "If this is about Stacey—"

She quickly interrupted him. "Pupuntahan ka riyan ng anak mo. That's why I am hoping that you'll give her a warm welcome. Kahit bilang tatay man lang, Derrick. Pakiusap."

He shook his head. Artemia didn't really have to tell him what to do. Sa kanilang dalawa, ito iyong ni minsan ay hindi naisip na saktan ang kanilang nag-iisang anak.

"I know. I know. Stacey also informed me she's coming here before their flight, okay? Kaya kung puwede lang, huwag mo na akong istorbohin. Marami akong kailangang tapusin para wala akong maiwan na trabaho sa loob ng one-week leave ko. Because once I took my one-week leave, ayoko nang may tawag nang tawag sa akin mula sa office."

"Ikaw? Owner ng sarili mong company? Kailangan mo pa ng approval at mag-file ng leave?" singhap ni Artemia na parang hindi pa makapaniwala sa sinabi nito.

"Obviously, Artemia. If you just finished your business course, then you'll understand why me—the owner—still has to file my leaves and inform my secretary about my absences."

Bumuntonghininga lang ang babae.

"Go and enjoy your travel-around-the-world agenda. I have work to do," malamig na paalam ni Derrick bago ito pinatayan ng cell phone.

Dumeretso ang lalaki ng pagkakaupo at ipinagpatuloy ang pagtitipa sa laptop nito. It was already five in the afternoon, the view from the glass wall were all purple and pink painted on the sky. The setting sun was out of sight, blocked by the buildings that surrounded his company's main branch office situated on the fifth floor of a shared-commercial building in Dublin. Next month will be Derrick's fourth year of stay in Ireland, and hopefully, the construction of his company's eight drop-off station in the country will be finished. Kapag naging operational na ito, sabay-sabay nang magsisimula ang operations ng lahat ng drop-off points o stations ng Vauership sa bansang ito. This is his most ambitious project yet for Vauership. The opportunity to earn here through logistics is as vast as the lands of Ireland. Dahil sa layo ng distansiya ng pinakasiyudad nito mula sa maliliit na mga bayan, nakakita si Derrick ng potensiyal na kumita ang logistics o courier company nito rito. What's challenging is mapping out the best locations for their drop-off stations, also the expenses for the maintainance of their vehicles and gas.

He still have a lot of work to do when Stacey e-mailed him last week and attached photos of her plane tickets. Bibisita raw ito rito sa Dublin. Of course, Derrick was excited, but that excitement made him frantic in the end. He had to move back all his schedules for the coming week and talk out several people to reschedule on his favor. He had to leave strict instructions to his employees about on what instances or when they can call him and when not to.

Idagdag pa si Artemia sa gumugulo rito.

Minutes later, soft warm lighting filled Derrick's office room. The sky was already a dark blue when he sighed and turned off his laptop . . .