Nasabi na rin ni Ara sa mga kapatid niya pati na rin kay Sayaka ang tungkol sa pagbubuntis niya. Everyone was happy for you. Belle and Aaron already booked a flight to New York. Hindi kasi ito natuloy noong nakaraan dahil hindi makaalis si Aaron. 

Sam and Sayaka also decided to go with Belle and Aaron to visit her. Na-excite si Ara at parang gusto niyang hilahin ang araw para makita ulit ang mga kapatid niya. 

Ara remembered how Belle, Sam, and Sayaka took care of her when she was pregnant with the twins. It was overwhelming and she felt loved even though Kanoa wasn't around. Pero hindi rin niya maitanggit na kahit maraming nag-alaga sa kaniya noon, si Kanoa pa rin ang gusto niya.

Bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto nila. Lumabas si Kanoa na halata pa ang antok. Sinuklay nito ang buhok gamit ang sariling mga daliri. 

"Love, kanina ka pa gising?" Dumeretso ito sa kusina para uminom ng tubig. "Alas tres pa lang." 

"Hindi pa ako nag-sleep," sagot ni Ara. "Hindi ako maka-sleep, eh. But I have good news." 

Naupo si Kano a sa tabi niya kaya naman isinandal niya ang sarili dito na kaagad yumakap ang braso sa kaniya, hinaplos pa ang tiyan niya. "Ano 'yan?" 

"Next month, my siblings and their partners are gonna be here," masayang sabi ni Ara. "Nakausap ko sila earlier and because of that, I've decided to rent the unit in front of our apartment. Okay lang ba sa 'yo? I'll talk to the owner if possible for a month lang." 

"Oo naman! Mabuti makakapunta sila," ngumiti si Kanoa at hinalikan ang noo ni Ara. "Akala ko nga mag-aaya ka nang umuwi muna sa Pilipinas, eh." 

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Ara sa sinabi ni Kanoa. "W-Why'd you think so?" 

"Naisip ko lang. Minsan kasi 'pag pinag-uusapan natin sila, ang lungkot, eh. Naalala ko rin na sila ang kasama mo noong ipinagbubuntis mo ang kambal kaya alam kong mas kumportable ka sa kanila," seryosong sabi ni Kanoa. "Muntik kong i-suggest sa 'yong baka gusto mo munang umuwi sa Pilipinas." 

Ara squinted. "If I decided to go home ba, you'll go with us?" 

Kanoa wasn't able to respond. 

"I knew it. Bago ka lang sa work and that won't work. Also, I like it here in New York. Being away from them naman is normal kasi this time, I'm with you na," ngumiti si Ara. "I'll choose to be with you this time kasi you told me you'll make bawi." 

Natawa si Kanoa sa sinabi ni Ara. 

"I'm serious, Kanoa!" Ara sounded frustrated and didn't like Kanoa's reaction. "I hated how I couldn't even touch you before kaya now, you'll be stuck with me. I remember this one time na we're talking about the thesis and you smell so good, I wanna hug so so so bad!" 

"Bakit hindi mo ginawa?" Kanoa laughed. "Sana ginawa mo." 

"Ayoko nga!" Ara pouted. "I was mad at you, hello? Alangan naman I'll hug you 'tapos you'll be shocked why and then you'll brag about it sa shitty friends mo noon na I came back after what you did." 

Nagulat si Kanoa nang biglang umiyak si Ara. Napatitig siya sa mukha nito habang nagmamaktol tungkol sa ginawa niyang dare. Hindi na nila iyon napag-usapan kahit noong magkabalikan sila. Never nang nabuksan ang topic tungkol doon kaya naman nagulat siya at hindi alam ang magiging reaction. 

"It was so hard for me to ignore you. It was torture seeing you and it was painful talking to you!" Ara sobbed. "I wanted to be with you noon, but I had to remind myself about the pain you've caused. About hurt I was after finding out about the deal, about reading everything you said about me." 

Yumuko si Kanoa dahil sa hiya. Naalala niya ang sinabi ng mama niya na kahit na matagal na, babalik at babalik ang lahat kay Ara. Na darating ang araw na akala niya nakalimutan na nila iyon, pero hindi. He traumatized Ara and he would pay for it every single day of his life. 

"Sorry," Kanoa murmured. "Sorry sa ginawa ko." 

Ara hugged Kanoa. "Just don't do it again. Please, don't hurt me again." 

Kanoa hugged Ara tighter. "Hindi na. Hinding hindi na." 

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T H E X W H Y S
www.thexwhys.com