THAT MEANS she won't conceive, kahit na sa loob niya ito ilabas. Vyrlle kept on thinking about it, hanggang sa hindi na niya mamalayan na tapos na ang one week vacation nilang dalawa at back to reality na sila.

She sighed and tapped her pen against her table.

Parang panandalian lang na nawala ang stress niya.

"Pop, pop, pop, pop! Pop!"

Vyrlle gritted her teeth when she heard her friend singing off beat. Wala siyang naitago rito, hindi pa bumubuka ang bibig niya alam na agad ni Dania na wala na ang iniingatan niyang virginity. Hindi naman siya nahirapan na maglakad, thanks to Light who kept on massaging her legs.

"Ah, hindi talaga trabaho ang nagbibigay ng stress sa akin." She whispered to herself and massaged her nape.

"What? I don't understand you?" Dania popped up in front of her.

Naipikit niya ang mga mata at malalim na huminga. Kung hindi, baka nahampas niya ang kaibigan dahil sa biglang paglapit nito sa kanya. Nang magmulat siya, nahagip ng paningin niya ang crib ni Vystrelle.

She's missing her little one, playing or watching her do her job.

"Kindly inform my twin that I am now back and I want my daughter back. Now." Utos niya kay Dania.

Dumapo ang mga mata niya sa bagong bouquet ng sunflowers na pinadala ni Light. Isang linggo rin siya na walang natatanggap dahil magkasama naman ng mismong nagbibigay.

"Oh, I already did that. You have 10 minutes to rest, after that you have a meeting." Dania informed her and left her office.

She picked up her phone and called Light. Vyrlle wanted to hear his voice. Nagiging needy na siya after that whole week vacation with him.

"Baka mairita siya sa akin," she blurted out.

[Bakit naman ako maiirita sayo? Huwag mong papatayin, sandali na lang 'to.]

Nagulat siya sa kinauupuan niya nang marinig ang boses ni Light. Pinindot niya ang loudspeaker at inilapag ang cellphone sa lamesa niya. Gumuhit ang ngiti sa mga labi niya habang pinapakinggan ito, he was explaining something to his colleagues about this and that, adjustment and what kind of materials they'll going to use, alternatives and such.

There's something in his voice… na makikinig ka talaga rito kahit hindi ikaw ang kinakausap nito.

He can easily persuade people. He can easily make friends. However, he can also easily attract lots of enemies. People who are envious of how good he was.

One of his traits that she adores so much was that Light never stops learning. He always seeks new opportunities and makes sure that he'll learn something. Small things were already a big deal for him.

[Sorry, nainip ka ba? Are you hungry? Not feeling well?] Sunod sunod na tanong nito na ikinatawa niya. [Or you missed me?]

"Yeah, I do miss you, my Luca.] She confessed. What's the point of lying?

[Tapos na ako sa trabaho, are you free? Let's have a date?]

"Luca, we had a one week vacation—"

Light cut her off.

[So? Deserve naman natin 'yon. And vacation is different from date in my vocabulary.] Pagmamatigas nito.

Vyrlle chuckled and clicked her tongue. Hindi niya matatakasan si Dania ngayon, she promised to work her ass off after all.

"You don't consider it as a date?" Pinalungkot niya ang boses.

She heard Light groan.

[Ah-huh, you can't manipulate me, sunshine. Let's have a date after your meeting. See you later. I love you,]

Ilang segundo siya na natulala sa cellphone niya. Light barely says the magic word. And when he does, pakiramdam ni Vyrlle ay malalagutan siya ng hininga.

She rest her head against her table, using her arm as her pillow, habang ang isa naman ay minamasahe ang dibdib niya. Kailangan niyang masanay.

"I love you…" she uttered and seconds passed, Vyrlle found herself pulling her own hair. "Aish!" Inis na sigaw niya.

She calmed herself when Dania showed up, humming like a bird. Nakangiti ito habang panay ang pindot sa IPad na dala.

"What makes you so happy?" Naningkit ang mga mata niya rito.

"I had sex last night. Of course, I'm happy!" Dania exclaimed happily.

"Ah," she answered, uninterested.

"Try to make love once or maybe 3 times a day? I swear, your life will change! Like a miracle!" Dania acted like some sort of fairy godmother.

Vyrlle sighed and raised her hand to make her friend stop. Naririndi ang tenga niya sa pinagsasabi nito.

"Don't get sick, Dania." Aniya.

Dania snickered and tapped her chest. "I'm safe," she answered and wink.

"Dania, is there a possibility to get pregnant… if your partner…"

"What? Vasectomy?" Tuloy ni Dania sa balak niyang sabihin. "Woah, so, Architect Light got a vasectomy? That's… nice? I mean, not all men are willing to do that because of its side effects."

Alam niya 'yon. Karamihan sa mga lalaki mas preferred na gumamit ng pills or magpa shot ang mga partner nila to avoid pregnancy.

"As for your question, if you badly want to conceive, talk to your partner."

"I'm just asking." Agad na sagot niya rito.

Dania shrugged her shoulders, "family planning is a must, always remember that." paalala pa nito sa kanya.

Tumango lang siya at nagayos para sa meeting. Nag retouch lang siya ng lipstick niya at pinusod ang buhok niya, she wore her blazer and left her office with her secretary on her side.

PALABAS NA si Light nang mapansin niya ang babae na nahihirapan sa dalawang anak nito. He clicked his tongue and tossed his keys, upon watching the eldest looks excited.

Ibinulsa ni Light ang susi ng sasakyan niya bago niya nilapitan ang mga ito.

"Hi, can I help you?" Light asked and offered a friendly smile.

The woman raised her head and did not answer him, instead, she just stared at him. Kumunot ang noo niya at awkward na ngumiti rito. Some of her facial features were familiar to him.

"Light…" she uttered.

"Ah, do I know you?" Light politely asked.

The woman smiled at him. It was small and somehow, Light could feel the hidden bitterness.

"It's Vyel," maliit ang boses na sagot nito sa kanya.

Light brows furrowed and nodded his head a little. She looks different. Far different from before… back when they're still dating. He can't explain it without offending his ex.

He was surprised at himself. Ilang taon silang magkasama sa college, nagsama sa iisang bubong, but he didn't even recognize her… Hindi man lang pumasok sa isip niya na si Vyel ang nasa harap niya ngayon.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't recognize you, anak mo?" He asked and squat a little para magpantay sila ng bata na hawak nito. "Hi, what's your name?"

"My name is Star, mister. Friend ka po ni mommy?"

He pursed his lips and nodded his head.

"Saan kayo? Tulungan na kita?" Light offered.

Vyel glance at the baby she's holding, bago ito tumango.

"Star, hawak ka sa kamay niya please?" Vyel asked her daughter.

Imbes na hawakan ni Light ang kamay ng bata, kinarga na niya lang ito, para mabilis silang makalipat ng daan.

"What's her name?" Nakangiti na tanong niya, pertaining to the baby she's holding.

"Gayle, nakasunod sa pangalan ng daddy nila." Vyel answered with a smile.

She looks happy. Good for her.

"May anak din ako, her name is Vystrelle Lucia. Mas matanda sa bunso mo," Light said.

Lumingon sa kanya si Vyel, her eyes widened as if hindi ito naniniwala sa kanya.

"Wala ba sa itsura ko?" Biro niya rito.

Vyel blinked and nodded her head, laughing a little.

"Wait,"

Light used his free hand para makuha ang cellphone niya sa bulsa. Wala na siyang dalang kahit na anong gamit, nandito lang naman siya sa site dahil sa meeting nila. He open it and showed her his phone wallpaper.

"Here,"

"Vyrlle?" She asked.

He proudly smiled at her as he nodded his head. He's so lucky to have her.

"That's our daughter," nginuso niya ang bata sa gitna nila.

It was a picture of them together inside his room. Nakahiga sila sa kama at nasa gitna ang anak nila. Their little sunshine was in a good mood that morning.

"She's beautiful…"

"Right!" he proudly answered.

She must be wondering, bakit iba ang kulay ng mga mata nito plus her hair color, pero hindi na lang din ito nagtanong. And if she ever asked, Light would probably answered her, honestly. But he'll also made sure na hindi masasaktan ang mag ina niya sa salitang gagamitin niya.

"Dito na lang kami," Vyel said when they reach the site. "Oh God, ikaw ang Architect?" Gulat na tanong nito nang mapansin ang pangalan niya sa harap.

He nod his head. Her husband must be one of the Engineers. Yumuko siya para makababa ang bata sa bisig niya, tsaka siya ngumiti kay Vyel. Vyrlle's meeting probably done by now.

"Ingat kayo, better call your husband." Aniya at kumaway lang dito.

He actually don't care if her husband was one of the Engineers, he already moved on, at para magawa 'yon at maibigay ng buo ang sarili niya kay Vyrlle. After a long time of asking himself, kung saan siya nagkulang, he learned to forgive Vyel. Just like that.

And upon meeting her, naalala niya ang claw machine na nasa loob ng Arcade room niya sa Lust community.

"Looks like I need to collect a small amount of money again…" bulong niya sa sarili habang pasakay siya sa sasakyan. "We need a new place for our growing family, after all." he added.

Light contact his secretary and asked him to send some files in his email, especially yung mga lote na balak nilang bilhin. He'll asked Vyrlle kung alin sa mga 'yon ang dapat niyang bilhin.

And he also need to think a suitable gift for Vyrlle's secretary. Thanks to her, nalalaman niya ang oras na libre si Vyrlle. Gusto niya sulitin ang oras na kasama ito, lalo na at kailangan niya na naman na bumalik sa Pilipinas para sa trabaho, hindi rin niya palalampasin ang celebration sa loob ng Lust community.

It'll be a double celebration for sure. Lalo na at buntis din si Jillian. Those two were still planning their wedding, pero walang eksaktong date kung kailan gaganapin. Kaya siguro humina ang signal ni Laur pagdating sa tsismis.

He picked Vyrlle and went to the mall for their date.

"Ano gagawin natin dito?" Vyrlle asked.

Pinagsiklop niya ang mga kamay nila at hinila ito papunta sa escalator, on his way, he already reserved a movie tickets. Just like Laur's fiance, Jillian, his sunshine secretly likes watching animated films.

"We're going to watch a movie," nagtaas baba ang kilay niya rito.

Light bought the popcorn and Vyrlle bought their drinks, before they went inside the cinema.

After the movie, inaya niya si Vyrlle sa Arcade.

"Woah, ang taas ah?" Gulat na sabi niya habang pinapanood si Vyrlle na maglaro. She's playing basketball.

Marami na rin ang ticket na naipon nila sa dami na ng nalaro nila.

"Kiss ko?" Biro nito sa kanya.

Light slid his hand on her waist, tilted his head, and brushed his lips against hers. Sandali lang 'yon dahil may mga bata na nanonood sa kanila. He chuckled when Light heard someone squeal from his back.

"Want to play more?" He asked.

"Hm, sa Time crisis tayo!" Excited na sagot nito sa kanya at basta na lang siya hinila pagkatapos nitong kunin ang ticket na nakuha nito.

They played until their heart's content. Hanggang sa magutom ito at mapadpad sila sa fast food chain, McDonald's. Vyrlle ordered a lot, and Light was just watching her ate.

"Akala ko sayo lang ang inorder mo," natatawa na sabi niya nang abutan siya nito ng burger.

"Ha? Hati tayo, hindi ko mauubos lahat 'yan." Turo niya sa mga pagkain na nasa harapan nila.

"Really?" Nakangisi na tanong niya at itinuro ang tabing lamesa kung saan nito nilagay ang mga food tray na wala ng laman. "Nakalahati mo ang inorder mo, sunshine,"

"So? Kumain ka na lang dyan!" Singhal nito sa kanya.

Ngumisi lang siya rito. He silently ate his part while enjoying the view in front of him. Vyrlle happily eats her sundae and fries.

"Luca, I think I saw her…" tinapik pa ni Vyrlle ang lamesa nila.

"Her? Who?" Wala sa sarili na tanong niya.

"Vyel…"

☕