Kinabukasan ay maaga silang nagising na dalawa. Halos sabay pa silang nagbukas ng pintuan. She kept the fan inside her room. Kinabitan din iyon ni Ken ng ilaw nang nasa baba siya. He left her a note to let her know.
She slipped a thank you note under his door. Their silly gestures somehow reminded her of their IG and FB days. Yung mga panahong nagpaparinigan sila through social media.
"Good morning," Ken greeted. His sleepy smile looked cute. She almost smiled back.
"Morning," she quipped.
Sumabay ito sa kanya sa pagbaba ng hagdan.
"What do you want for breakfast?"
"They won't be here until lunch. You can drop the pretense, Ken."
Gusto niyang magpumiglas nang hawakan siya nito sa bewang.
"Why don't we practice?"
Pinag-initan siya ng pisngi, but she refused to cooperate.
"I assure you, I can act like a love-struck wife."
Ken sighed. He removed his hand from her waist at umuna ito sa pagpunta sa kusina. He started making coffee habang siya naman ay nagpunta ng banyo para maghilamos. Pagbalik niya ay may dalawa nang tasa ng kape sa mesa.
"Here." He offered her a cup.
"I can make my own. Thanks."
Kumukuha siya ng panibagong tasa sa cupboard nang may mag-doorbell. Nagkatinginan sila ni Ken and they almost groaned in unison. Sobrang aga naman ng dating ng parents ni Ken!
Agad itong lumapit sa kanya saka umakbay and then they headed to the door. They both plastered their huge smiles when Ken opened it. Nakangiting mga magulang ni Ken ang nabungaran nila. His mom's carrying an apple pie habang wine naman ang dala ng daddy nito.
"Hi!" masiglang bati ng ninang slash mother-in-law niya.
"Hello, ma!" Hinalikan ni Ken ang ina sa pisngi. Bineso naman sya nito at saka iniabot nito sa kanya ang pie na hawak.
"Good morning po," bati niya sa mga ito.
Her ninong, who is also her father-in-law, messed with her hair and kissed her temple. The action was very fatherly. Namiss tuloy niya bigla ang daddy niya.
Pinaupo ni Ken sa sala ang mag-asawa habang siya naman ay inilagay ang pie sa dining table.
"Ang bare naman ng bahay ninyo," puna ni Jazz.
"Hindi pa kasi kami nakakapag-ayos, ma," Ken said.
"Busy ba sa honeymoon?" tanong naman ni Kent.
Pinamulahan sya bigla. Si Ken naman ay tumawa, umakbay at humalik sa pisngi niya.
"You can say that."
"Hinay-hinay lang, Ken."
Hinampas ng mommy ni Ken ang braso ng daddy nito. "Kent!"
"What? I'm just saying."
Ken's hand moved from her shoulder to her waist. Then he casually asked his parents, "Why are you guys so early?"
"Excited na kasi ang mommy mo na makita kayo," his dad answered.
"I just want to see how you're adjusting, considering na..." She purposely left the sentence hanging. Yes, considering na biglaan lang ang lahat. She heard that Aubrey's back to Canada. Iya and Hans will be touring Europe starting next week. Siguro ay dahil ayaw din ng dalawang makita sila because of what Ken did to Aubrey because of her.
Everything went so fast. Kakatapos pa lamang niya ng college, ikinasal na siya. Ni hindi man lang niya naranasan ang mag-apply. Well, save for the OJTs, but still, iba pa rin yung real thing.
"We're adjusting just fine, ma," sabi ni Ken sa ina.
"So, what's for breakfast? Hindi pa kami kumakain e," pag-iiba ng topic ng daddy nito.
"Maghahanda pa lang sana ako, pa."
"I'll help," sabi nito.
Nagpunta sa kusina ang mag-ama habang nagpa-tour naman sa kanya ang mother-in-law niya. Marami itong suggestions tungkol sa pwedeng ilagay sa bahay. Tama naman ito. The house looks so bare. Off-white ang pintura ng mga dingding. Boring ang kulay ng kurtina. Tanging living room set lang at TV ang laman ng sala.
Ang kusina: may stove, ref at kitchen utensils and equipments. And since it's the most needed part of the house, ito ang pinakamaraming laman. Nang umakyat sila sa second floor, agad nitong pinasok ang kwarto nila.
Jazz looked surprised when she found out that the bedroom was so... masculine.
"Do you sleep here?" tanong nito sa kanya.
"O-Oo naman po."
"Nasa'n ang mga gamit mo?"
"Hindi ko pa po naaayos e."
"I'll help you unpack. Nasa'n ba?"
Umiling siya ng todo. "Naku huwag na po. Ako na lang po ang mag-aayos. Wala rin naman po kasing masyadong magawa rito e."
"Bakit hindi kayo lumabas? Hindi lang naman sa loob ng bahay pwedeng mag-honeymoon."
She blushed. "Lalabas din naman po kami."
"Ngayon ba dapat?" She gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry ha. Nakakaabala yata kami. I just want to make sure that you're alright."
She was touched by that statement. Kahit noon pa mang tinanggihan niya si Ken, palagi siyang tinatanong ng ninang niya kung kumusta na siya. Akala niya noong una ay ito ang unang-unang magagalit sa kanya because she rejected Ken. But she was her unexpected supporter.
Nakinig ito sa mga paliwanag niya. Inintindi nito ang sitwasyon niya.
"I'm fine, m-ma. Really..."
Niyakap siya nito. "Just tell me if my son's misbehaving. I'll give him an earful," sabi nito.
"Opo. Thank you."
--
Nang ready na ang almusal ay pumwesto na sila sa dining area. Todo asikaso sa kanya si Ken, which on normal days is next to a miracle. But two can play the game. So kapag sinusubuan sya nito, gumaganti siya. Dinadamihan pa niya ang kuha, silently wishing na mabilaukan ito.
Pero masama pa lang ang nag-iisip ng masama habang kumakain. Ang bilis ng karma. Siya tuloy ang nabilaukan. Pero narimedyuhan din naman agad because Ken's quick to action. Ngiting-ngiti naman ang mga in-laws sa kanila. They thought they're just being playful.
Ken even kissed her on the nose for added kilig. Ayaw man niyang aminin sa sarili, pero totoo ang mga nararamdaman niya. Totoo ang kilig, totoo yung tuwa. Totoo lahat. She just wished that this reality wouldn't end after his parents walk out of the door.
Sinamantala niya ang mga yakap at panakaw na halik nito. She cherished them all. Pero pinaalalahanan din niya ang sarili na pagkatapos ng palabas, bibitaw na rin siya kaagad.
They spent all day talking and eating. Doon na rin nananghalian ang in laws niya. Doon na rin nag-merienda ang mga ito. They spent most of their time in the kitchen. Nagpagalingan pa sa pagluluto ang mag-ama.
It was a fun day, all in all. She almost wished na sana ay hindi na lang muna umuwi ang parents ni Ken para ma-extend pa ang pagpapanggap nilang dalawa. Ang saya kasi. It's hard to put a stop to happiness.
But eventually, the in-laws had to say goodbye. They promised to come back though.
Nakaakbay sa kanya si Ken sa may pintuan as they wave goodbye to his parents. Hinintay muna nilang makalayo ang sasakyan bago sila tumigil sa pagngiti.
She sighed as the perfect day ended. Tinanggal niya ang kamay ni Ken mula sa pagkakaakbay sa balikat niya. But as she was about to walk away, kinabig siya nito sa braso at isinandal siya sa kasasaradong pintuan. Her eyes widened as she realized how close they were.
Ken was looking at her intently. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito. He was frowning and looking so serious, but there's no anger in his eyes.
He leaned close to her. But she didn't let his stare or his intoxicating smell intimidate her. She stared back.
"They're already gone. We can stop pretending," she whispered against his lips.
Ken inhaled.
"I know."
--
Back away, man!
But it feels so good to have her this close. She smells so nice, amoy-ulam. She'd been in the kitchen with them earlier. Nasa likod siya nito kanina, hawak ang kamay nito na may hawak na sandok na pinanggigisa ng ulam.
Kung wala lang ang parents niya kanina...
But they're gone now, he told himself.
Lumalaban si Ahn ng titigan. She's not the same shy girl who looks away whenever he stares. Having her this close makes his head spin.
Ahn bloomed over the years. She became curvier, sexier, more womanly... It's hard not to take a second or third or fourth look. There's still the natural blush on her cheeks and the plump lips, which drove him mad during their civil wedding.
His gaze dropped to her lips. His fist balled against the door as he tries to calm himself. Those lips will be the death of him.
"Ken."
Damn, even her voice is sexy.
"Hm?"
She put her hands against his chest and gave him a push.
"Back off," halos pabulong nitong sabi.
"Give me a kiss and I'll think about it."
Ahn frowned at him. He suddenly had the urge to kiss that frown off of her forehead.
"Wala na ang audience mo. We're done pretending," she said coldly.
She gave him another push, with more force this time. Mabilis itong kumawala sa kanya at nagtatakbo papunta sa kwarto nito.
He pounded his fist against the wall, saka niya iniuntog doon ang ulo.
--
Ahn's heart was beating so loud. Hinang-hina ang mga tuhod niya kanina, muntikan pa siyang madapa sa hagdan! It's a good thing that her legs did not give away. Napasalampak siya sa sahig nang makapasok siya ng kwarto.
Dinama niya ang mga pisngi. She's sure she was blushing profusely.
What the hell just happened down there?