"Hans, look!"

Hans stopped, turned around and walked back to her. Ngiting-ngiti ni Iya'ng itinuro ang Hello Kitty cake na nakadisplay sa bintana ng isang pastry shop.

"Hello Kitty na naman? Baka maging kamukha na nyan ang baby natin ha," naiiling nitong sabi.

"Okay lang. Cute naman si Hello Kitty!"

He grimaced.

Umangkla siya sa braso ng asawa at hinila ito papasok ng shop. They were greeted by the smell of freshly baked bread. Bumati sa kanila ang may-ari ng store na nasa likuran ng counter. Agad namang itinuro ni Iya ang cake na nakadisplay.

"Magkano po 'yong Hello Kitty cake?"

"Murang-mura lang, ma'am. Three hundred seventy-five."

She nudged at Hans. "O, mura lang pala e. Ibili mo na 'ko."

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "Ang weird mong mag-crave."

"I'm not craving. Gusto ko lang talaga."

Anything Hello Kitty sparks her interest. Noong isang araw lang, nakakita siya ng isang pares ng mamahaling hikaw. Yari sa dyamante ang mga iyon. Gusto man niyang ipabili iyon sa asawa, she knew it was too much.

When Hans asked her if she wanted it, nagkibit-balikat na lamang siya saka hinila ito palayo bago pa niya maisipang magpabili.

The next morning, nang dumaan siya sa store ay wala na ang nasabing hikaw. Nang magtanong siya ay nalaman niyang may nakabili na pala. Hanggang gabi ay malungkot siya dahil doon. But then, she was surprised to find the earrings on the bedside table.

There was a note underneath the box that says, 'I know how much you want it. It's yours now. I love you. -Hans'

He knew it was a silly obsession. She's too old for it. Pero kinukunsinte pa rin siya nito.

"Fine. Pero sa birthday mo, huwag namang Hello Kitty ha."

Sinimangutan niya ang asawa. Matagal na niyang planong gawing Hello Kitty ang theme para sa birthday niya. From the decorations down to the cake, it will reek of pink and cuteness.

"Iya, aren't you too old for that?"

"Iiyak ako kapag di mo 'ko pinagbigyan," banta niya.

Hans groaned. "Alright. Sige, panalo ka na."

They bought the cake and took it home. She was so touched because Hans was willing to put her happiness first. Kaya naman nang makauwi sila sa bahay ay naisipan niyang suklian ang kabaitan nito sa kanya.

Yumakap siya rito pagkatapos nilang kumain ng cake. She smiled sweetly at him.

"You're in for a treat, mister."

His eyes glistened. "I am?"

"Uh-huh. I'll do whatever you want," sabi niya sa malambing na tono.

Hans held her waist. "Anything?"

"Anything."

Nag-isip ito saglit. At saka yumuko para ibulong sa kanya ang gusto nitong mangyari. She was ready for anything... except that. Clearly, he has a different interpretation of her statement.

"I want you to patch things up with your brother," he told her.

Bahagya niya itong itinulak. "What?"

"Gusto kong magkaayos na kayo ng kapatid mo, Iya."

"Hans, I was talking about sex."

He sighed. "I know."

"I thought you'd like it."

"I do. I love it. But it's not the only thing that can make me happy. Kapag masaya ka, masaya na rin ako."

"And what makes you think that that will make me happy? I don't want to do it, Hans."

He tilted her chin upward. "Iya, what you want and what you need are two different, separate things. I know that you don't want to make amends with your brother but I know that you need to. He's a part of your life. Gusto mo bang isilang ang anak natin na galit ka pa rin sa kapatid mo?"

She contemplated on what he said. Of course she doesn't want that. But she's not ready to forgive him yet. Paano nga naman sya magpapatawad sa isang taong hindi naman humihingi ng tawad?

"If you can't forgive him, then at least be kind enough to forgive Ahn," dugtong nito.

"Hans, don't push it."

Hans sighed and brushed her hair with his fingers. Saka nito hinalikan ang noo niya.

"Iya, you're not the type to bear grudges. I wish you'd find it in you to forgive. Kung sila ngang mas matindi ang napagdaanang sakit, nakapagpatawad na, bakit hindi ikaw?"

--

After not being able to go out yesterday, sinamantala naman nila ang pagkakataon para gumala maghapon. Ahn had always loved strawberries. But it's a seasonal luxury. Seasonal meaning kapag may pera lang o kapag nasa Baguio siya nakakakain nito.

She thinks that her fascination with the fruit started when she was very young. Her mom used to wash her hair using a strawberry-scented shampoo and she would always attempt to drink from the container just to taste if it's as good as it smells.

Ken was so eager to please her that when she asked him once, he readily said yes. Few minutes later, they were roaming the strawberry farm with a basket in each hand.

The weather was damp. The sky, gray. Yet the budding strawberries made it look less dreary. Tuwang-tuwa siyang namitas ng mga prutas.

"Kaya mo bang ubusin lahat 'to?" Ken asked, frowning. He wasn't particularly fond of strawberries. Sabi nga nito kanina sa kanya ay yung medyo hilaw ang kunin niya para hindi mabulok agad.

"Kaya ko. Saka plano ko sanang gawing strawberry shortcake yung ilan."

"Marunong kang gumawa ng strawberry shortcake?"

Umiling siya at ngumiti. "That's what you're here for."

Ken took her hand as they continued strolling, with the strawberry lady tailing behind.

"Anything for you."

She tiptoed and gave him a kiss, and then went back on picking.

Nang matapos sila ay inaya naman niya si Ken sa SM Baguio. Just like the other establishments, wala ring aircon sa lugar. Kung mayroon man ay mahina lang. With a bag full of strawberries, they ordered coffee and rested for a while. Ken was holding his coffee on one hand and her hand on the other. In rare moments like this, they got to enjoy the silence with each other.

Sapat na yung ngiti kahit walang nagsasalita. He played with her ring. It was almost too extravagant for her. Maganda ang singsing pero pakiramdam niya ay parang sobra sa kanya. Maybe it was because of the things that she did in the past that made her feel unworthy of such thing.

"When do you want to get married?" he asked out of the blue.

"Kapag okay na siguro ang lahat. I just wish that it won't take a long time to happen."

"Ditto." He intertwined their fingers. "I can't wait to see you in your wedding dress."

"Mag-imagine ka na lang muna. Baka matagalan pa e," biro nya.

Ken suddenly became serious. "I'll do anything to make things okay. I promise."

"Thank you, Ken. Can I also ask for one more thing?"

"Shoot."

"Can Paris be the best man?"

--

Isang malakas na dagok sa likod ang natanggap ni Paris mula sa girlfriend niya. Bigla na lamang kasi siyang nabilaukan.

"Dahan-dahan kasi sa pagkain." He shot Jasmine an annoyed look. Tumawa lang ito. "Ang ganda ng timing ng nakaalala sa'yo."

"Hindi ako naniniwala sa ganyan."

"Sus!" Inabutan siya nito ng tubig. "Baka may nakaalala sa'yong ex mo."

"Selos ka naman?"

"Hindi," mabilis nitong sagot.

Natawa ang mga kasama nila. They were having lunch with some friends when he choked on his food.

"Alam nyo, para talaga kayong hindi mag-boyfriend. Kung ibang tao ako, aakalain kong magkabarkada lang kayo," his friend told him.

"Oo nga," sabat naman ng isa. "Bakit kasi hindi kayo sweet sa isa't isa?"

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa ni Jasmine. It's true, they're not as sweet as the other couples. Ang dahilan kasi nila, baka magsawa sila agad. They rarely hold hands in public but that doesn't mean that they don't ever.

"Sweet naman kami. Hindi lang ma-PDA," paliwanag ni Jasmine.

"Hindi naman kasi kailangang ipamukha sa ibang tao na kami," dagdag niya.

"Pero di ba kayo nami-misinterpret? I mean, kung sa ibang anggulo, parang hindi kayo proud na kayo."

He didn't even think of it that way. And by the look on Jasmine's face, neither did she.

"Ganun ba 'yon?" tanong niya.

Sabay-sabay na nagsitanguan ang mga kasama.

Walang sabi-sabi niyang hinalikan si Jasmine sa harap ng mga kaibigan. The latter was initially surprised, but eventually responded. Hindi pa siya nakuntento. He deepened the kiss. Hindi dahil tinamaan siya sa sinabi ng mga ito. He just found it hard to stop.

"Get a room!" bulyaw ng isa niyang kaibigan. Binato pa siya nito ng chicharon.

He pulled away and sneered at them. "O, ngayon nagrereklamo kayo kasi awkward?"

"Oo na! Gets na namin yung point nyo!"

When he turned at Jasmine, she was blushing red. Nakayuko ito at mukhang hiyang-hiya. Okay, so he lied a bit about their arrangement. Kung siya ang masusunod, ayos lang sa kanya ang PDA. Ito lang ang hindi kumportable sa ganoon.

Inakbayan niya ito.

"Hey, are you alright?"

She punched him lightly on the chest.

"Huwag mo nang uulitin yun ha."

He chuckled. "Oo na. Next time, magsasabi muna ako."