EVER SO gently, Nowi looked over at Karson, who was fast asleep in the passenger seat. Paminsan-minsan itong sumisinghap at humihinga nang malalim. Malambot siyang napangiti.

        Parang hindi pa rin kasi totoong kasama niya si Karson ngayon sa La Union.

        But that's not because he assumed her feelings weren't as intense as his to actually meet his parents. Masyado lang masaya si Nowi nitong mga nakaraang buwan. For a while, he hadn't encountered that kind of happiness; it became an unfamiliar feeling.

        Para tuloy siyang bagong tao.

        Nag-alangan siyang gisingin si Karson. Ilang gabi rin itong walang tulog dahil sa kaba. He was torn about that, too. He liked that she was nervous. That meant the trip was just as important to her. Sa kabilang banda naman, hindi niya mapigilang makonsensya dahil napuyat ito.

        Nowi bit his lip. He already messaged his dads. The gate could open any minute now. Kailangan na niya talagang gisingin ang girlfriend.

        "Babe?" When Karson didn't stir, he exhaled on his palms, warming them. Nang masigurong hindi ito mapangingiwi sa lamig ng kamay niya, saka lang niya hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi nito. Karson mumbled incoherently, making him chuckle. "Baby, please wake up na."

        "Hmm?" nakapikit nitong tanong.

        In-unlock niya ang seat belt nito pagkatapos ng kanya. "Let's go na, yeah?"

        Slowly, Karson blinked. Her brows furrowed in confusion. Nang tuluyang magmulat, doon lang nito napagtantong nakahinto na ang sasakyan. "Shit, sorry. Nandito na ba tayo?"

        "Yeah, but I'm waiting for Dad pa to open the gate. Are you good na ba?"

        Instead of answering, Karson rummaged through her purse. She reached for the rear-view mirror. Nagmamadali itong naglagay ng lip balm. "Bakit 'di mo 'ko ginising? Ginising mo dapat ako ng mga 10 minutes before," ungot nito.

        Nowi couldn't help but chuckle. Medyo tumaas kasi ang boses ni Karson. Lalong humaba ang nguso nito nang mapansing nakangiti siya. "Sorry, I just heard kasi that all girls have a baby voice that only their significant others hear so. . ."

        "Ew," she said, grimacing. "Kay Warren mo na naman ba nalaman 'yan?"

        "No, I saw lang online."

        She made a face while combing her hair with her fingers. "Halika nga." Napalabi ito habang nakatitig sa kanya. "Lapit ka nga sa 'kin."

        Wrinkling his nose, Nowi immediately leaned towards her. "Why?"

        "Ang gulo kasi ng buhok mo." Karson hastily ran her fingers through his hair. Lumabi si Nowi sa pag-aakalang matatago niyon ang ngiti niya. "Wala na tayong time mag-retouch so okay na siguro 'yan," tumatangong sabi ng babae.

        Walang-imik niyang inalis ang mga kamay ni Karson sa buhok niya. He heard her inhale sharply at the contact. "I just want to thank you again," he whispered, bringing her clasped hands to his lips. "It means so much to me that you're here. Thank you for taking this risk with me. Yeah, ha-ha. I guess that's what I wanted to tell you since kanina pa."

        "You're welcome ulit," she replied, laughing softly. "Pero ayon. . . 'di lang naman ako nandito dahil birthday ni Nat ngayon, tapos birthday mo sa Linggo. Alam ko kasing gusto mo na 'ko ipakilala sa kanila kahit lagi mong sinasabi sa 'kin na no pressure naman. I know that's really important to you."

        "Well. . . yeah, I'm happy kasi, e." Nowi squeezed her hands. "And you're the reason why I'm happy so of course, I want them to know you."

        A small smile stretched across Karson's lips. "Bola naman."

        "Oh, give me my birthday kiss na pala," Nowi requested, batting his long lashes. "My dads are pretty conservative kasi. I don't think we'll get to do anything once we're inside na."

        "'Anything' meaning what exactly?"

        Nowi squinted at her teasing. "Hmm, 'anything' meaning anything. I don't think they'll even let us sleep in the same room."

        Karson gasped in disbelief. "Hala, totoo ba?" Nagkunwari pa itong nag-iisip ng pupuwedeng solusyon na ikinatawa niya nang mahina. She pulled him close afterward. "If that's the case, ganito na lang gawin natin." With a soft sigh, she pinched his chin and planted a kiss on his lips. "Ayan," she said, smiling proudly.

        Nalukot ang noo ni Nowi. The kiss was barely a kiss. Ni wala pang tatlong segundo ang itinagal niyon.

        "O, bakit gan'yan mukha mo?" tumatawang tanong ng girlfriend niya, nang-aasar.

        "Oh, come on. Don't be madaya naman," nakanguso niyang sabi.

        "Ako?" Pumalahaw ng tawa si Karson. "Saan naman kita dinaya?"

        "Come here," Nowi mumbled. He reached for her hands again. Kaagad na huminto ang babae sa pagtawa nang pagapangin niya ang kamay sa batok nito. "As if that was enough." He beckoned her closer and slowly, he responded to her peck with a much deeper and more proper kiss.

        Sinadyang patagalin ni Nowi ang pangalawang halik na iyon. In his head, he counted up to seven seconds. He just needed to make sure she was real. Napangiti siya nang maramdaman ang paglandas ng mga daliri ni Karson sa buhok niya.

        After that kiss, Nowi breathed a sigh of relief just like he did the night she said "yes".

        Karson was real. Totoo ngang mayro'n nang sila.

        Just as Karson was about to pull him for another kiss, Nowi's phone rang. Saglit silang nagtinginan at sabay na nag-alangan sa sunod na gagawin. Mahinang natawa ang babae bago iabot sa kanya ang phone.

        Ang Dad na pala niya iyon. Agad silang umayos ng upo.

        With their slightly flushed cheeks, both Nowi and Karson looked in the gate's direction. It was already open.

        Tumikhim si Karson. "Tara na, 'no?"

        Nowi hummed in response before gripping the wheel again.

        Ang Daddy Japs niya ang unang lumabas. Ilang segundo pa at sumunod na ang Papa Clark niya. Sa isang kamay, hawak nito si Natnat na may suot pang pink party hat.

        "Is it okay ba if you go on ahead? I'll get our bags lang from the trunk," bulong ni Nowi. Malambot siyang napangiti nang may mapansin. Paulit-ulit kasing pinapalo ni Karson ang mga hita. It was one of her nervous tics. Another would be typing on any surface she could find. "Babe."

        Ngumiti ito. "Sorry, narinig naman kita. Sina-psych ko lang sarili ko."

        "Do you need my help pa ba or you got it na?" Nowi decided not to wait for her answer. Nangingiti niya itong ginawaran ng halik. "There. Do you need more pa ba?"

        "'Wag mo nga 'kong tanungin nang gan'yan," umiiling na sabi ni Karson. "Sige ka, baka hanggang bukas tayo dito sa kotse mo." Chuckling, she pushed the car door open. "Sunod ka agad pero magpakalma ka muna. Your ears are still pink, tapos 'yong—"

        "—yeah, I know," he cut her off, grinning. "You're responsible for this kaya."

        "Ako na naman." Karson rolled her eyes before getting off the vehicle. Pagkatapos niyon ay dumungaw ito sa nakabukas pa ring pinto. "Sunod ka, 'ha? Akin na pala 'yong phone mo para ma-charge ko na sa loob."

        Binigay niya rito ang phone at charger niya. "Here you go, love." He waved goodbye with a small smile.

        From inside the car, Nowi watched as Papa Clark pulled Karson into a hug. Nakipagbeso pa ito. Pagdating naman kay Natnat, bahagyang yumuko ang girlfriend niya para makipagkamay. Natnat wasn't weirded out at all. Despite looking surprised, Nowi knew his sister got flattered by Karson's formality.

        He finally switched the engine off after a few minutes. Lumapit na kasi ang Daddy Japs niya. Kinatok na rin nito ang bintana. He popped the trunk open.

        Nowi took Karson's suitcase. Sinabit naman niya sa isang balikat ang backpack niya.

        "How was the drive?" his dad asked. Pormal na polo at slacks ang suot nito kahit kanina pa tapos ang birthday party ni Natnat. Kinuha nito mula sa kanya ang maleta. "Traffic?"

        Side by side, they walked toward the well-lit house. "It was okay naman po. The traffic was extra heavy today because it's Friday but it was fine naman. By the way, how was the party po?"

        "It was okay. It was just a bit chaotic. At some point, Nat and her friends were screaming. Tili sila nang tili for no reason. How I wish I was just being dramatic but no." Daddy Japs heaved an exasperated sigh. "I had to tap out and swap with your Papa. Sumasakit na ulo ko, e."

        Laughing, Nowi helped him carry the suitcase past the marbled steps of the porch.

        Inside the living room, they found Karson watching TV with Natnat on her lap. Nasa kusina naman ang Papa Clark niya.

        Thankfully, the night went smoothly. Nakinig naman ang mga magulang niya sa request niyang topics ng small talk. They didn't ask about their plan to marry. They didn't mention any embarrassing childhood story either. Alam naman kasi ng mga tatay niya na pagod sila ni Karson sa biyahe.

        Nowi was in the middle of drinking water when Papa Clark faked a cough. "For sure, gusto niyo nang magpahinga, 'no? Karson. . ."

        Maliit siyang napangiti nang agad tumayo ang girlfriend niya. "Yes po? Bakit po?"

        "Anak naman," tumatawang panimula ng papa ni Nowi. He swore he saw Karson's eyes sparkle at the word "anak". "'Di naman tayo nagro-roll call para tumayo ka. Hay. Mukhang antok ka na nga, he-he. Bale ano, may guest room kami dito. S'yempre, prepared na 'yon for you so kung gusto mo nang magpahinga, samahan na kita."

        "A. . ." Napakurap si Karson. "Sa guest room po ako?"

        Nowi and Karson exchanged glances. Tahimik silang nagtalo at nagturuan kung paano sasabihing gusto nilang matulog sa iisang kuwarto. They wanted the same thing anyway.

        Daddy Japs clicked his tongue. "I know that look. We've been there, done that." Bahagya namang namula ang pisngi ng dalawa. "Sorry but no hanky-panky in this house, okay? May bata tayo dito sa bahay, and you're both adults. I trust that you'll behave?"

        Nowi wasn't really sure if he could "behave". Gayunpaman ay sabay silang ngumiti at tumango ni Karson.

        Sabay din silang natawa noong kumatok siya sa kuwarto nito mag-aalas-kuwatro ng umaga.

        After three soft knocks, Karson opened the door for him. Hindi nito napigilan ang tawa. "Behave pala, 'ha?" she teased, leaning against the doorway.

        "I'm not even going to try and defend myself," naiiling niyang sabi na lalo nitong ikinatawa. He followed her into the room. "You know naman that I can't really behave with you around."

        With a bowl of strawberries and two slices of cake, Karson and Nowi secretly spent the night together on the same bed — exchanging stories, hushed laughter, and lots of kisses.

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