"SHE'S awake and thank God! There's no any complications." Masayang sabi Ni Justin.

She's happy too. Hindi niya inaasahan na magtatagal ang recovery ng pasyente nilang dalawa, kung sabagay pati ang operasyon ay matagal. Avis was looking straight to the baby, thankfully, the baby was healthy too.

"That's good to hear. By the way, I'll take my leave soon and I think Marga will finally go home too?" Aniya.

Halata ang gulat sa mukha ni Justin. Who wouldn't be surprised? Her bestfriend promised her that she'll stop playing and messing with their marriage. Kahit naman hiwalay silang dalawa, kasal pa rin ang mga ito. She tapped his shoulder and smile. Kailangan pa niyang umuwi.

"I'm heading home!" Paalam niya.

She misses him so much. Ayaw naman niyang tawagan o i chat dahil baka bigla nalang siyang lumipad pauwing pilipinas at makalimutan ang responsibilidad niya dito. What surprised her the most was that Caleb's mother stayed here for long and waited for her.

Sabay daw silang uuwi sa Pilipinas. Napailing siya nang maisip na naninigurado ito.

Hindi naman niya masisisi ang mga ito. History may repeat.

She stopped walking when her vision blurred again, her hand automatically seek for something to hold. Ilang beses nang nangyayari sa kanya ito, starting last week. Parang idinuduyan ang katawan niya at palaging inaantok. If she's not an Ob-Gyne, at kung dinalaw siya this month, iisipin niya na dahil sa pagod lang ito.

"Am I?" Avis asked herself.

She smiled and licked her lower lips. Naalala niya ang stay nila sa Cebu ni Caleb, yeah, they did it over and over, again and again. They're like wild animals. And they're not using any protection at all. Of course, she'll get pregnant.

To make sure of her safety, she called Caleb's mother. Wala naman kasi itong ginagawa sa Paris kung hindi ang inisin at suyuin ang mama niya, she's been like that for almost one and half months? Nauna ito sa kanya rito. Ang akala nga niya ay uuwi na ito agad dahil walang nag-aalaga sa mag-aama nito.

Caleb was hard-headed. That man will not rest if she's not beside him. Caliber may be sometimes dependable at kung minsan naman ay sumusunod, or maybe his woman was making him submissive. And then there's Tito Kaleb, he's like Caliber and sometimes act like Caleb, kailangan muna ng lambing.

[Yes darling?] Sagot agad nito na siyang nagpangiti kay Avis.

"Hi Tita, I'm sorry to disturb you. Are you busy? Are you with Mama?" Sunod na tanong niya. She doesn't want her mother to know about her pregnancy first. Avis promised to herself that if she'll get pregnant one day, ang papa niya ang unang makakaalam.

Her mother was a pain in the ass. Veronica will surely broke her eardrums. She needed her father to calm her down and to prevent her mother from talking.

[No, your mother says she'll have a meeting so I leave her alone for the mean time. Hindi ako titigil hanggat hindi siya naririndi sa akin. Anyways, why?]

"Ahmm... bibili lang po ako ng pasalubong?"

[Oh, you're done? I mean, nagising na ang patient niyo?] She asked and sounded relief. Of course, Tita Rayleigh also invested her feelings for this operation.

"Yes, Tita. We're going back to Philippines next week? Or maybe within this week. Justin needs to run some test and as for me, I'll just make sure na maayos ang lagay ni Baby." Though, they have a pediatrician for that.

[Okay! Caleb will be surprised for sure!] Umawang ang labi ni Avis sa narinig.

"You didn't tell him? I mean, Tita hindi ba siya nangungulit sayo?"

Caliber was always bombering her with his messages. That man will surely have her fist once they landed in the Philippines. Masyado siya nitong ginugulo, hindi pa sapat ang mga pangongonsensya nito, nagsesend din ito ng mga picture ni Caleb na may kausap na babae when in fact pamilyado na ang mga nakakausap nito!

[No. Hindi ko sila kausap. We'll talk later! Let's go to my favorite coffee shop! Pauwi ka na ba? Susunduin na kita.]

"I'll wait for you then, Tita." She answered and bid goodbye.

Naglakad siya pabalik sa entrance ng hospital at doon nalang naghintay. Mabuti nalang at bumalik na sa dati ang paningin niya at hindi na gaanong nahihilo. She's now excited to go back. Gusto niyang mag take ng pregnancy test kapag kasama na niya si Caleb.

CALEB looked up when he saw Dylan entering his office. Nakapamulsa pa ito at halatang puyat. Must be because of his son.

"You look like shit." He commented.

Dylan rolled his eyes. "Coming from you? Ilang araw at gabi ka na bang gising?" Sarkastikong tanong nito sa kanya.

"I have a lot of works to do." Caleb defended himself at iminuwestra ang mga papeles na kailangan niyang i review at mga paycheck ng mga empleyado nila.

This week was hellish for him, he let Caliber handled the medical supplies and it turns out bad. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang ginawa ng magaling niyang kapatid, imbes na makatulong nakadagdag pa ang ginawa nito sa mga trabaho niya.

"Sana alam mo na Jewerly ang business ng nanay ko." Dylan sarcastically said. And pushed a piece of paper towards him. It was a receipt. "Be thankful my mother knows a lot of people." Naiiritang dagdag nito.

"Thank you. How's Deilan by the way?" Tanong niya.

"You mean me?" Salubong ang kilay na tanong nito pabalik.

Caleb smirked and tapped his pen against the table. Bakit ba niya na pareho ang pronouncation ng pangalan ng magkapatid?

"Your sister, Dylan. Bakit naman kita kakamustahin?"

"She's fine. Her soon to be husband is with her." Prenteng sagot nito sa kanya. "Alis na ako. Your order will be here within a week."

"Thanks bud!" Habol niya rito dahil nagmamadali na itong lumabas sa opisina niya.

Caleb looked at the piece of paper he's holding. This better be worth it.

AS THEY roamed around the Mall, unti unting nagsisisi si Avis bakit ang nanay ni Caleb ang niyaya niya. Now she knows kung kanino nag mana ang isang 'yon. Like mother like son! Caleb's mother was pulling her! At sa bawat store na pinapasukan nilang dalawa, hindi pwedeng hindi sila lumabas na walang dalang paper bag!

Sa dami ng dala nila, pinahiram na sila ng push cart!

Biglang sumakit ang ulo ni Avis. They're now inside the VIP room of a famous brand here in Paris. Her family were rich but seeing the actual price of a small bag made her lose her mind.

When Caleb bought her bags and things she doesn't need back in Cebu. Pili lang ito ng pili at hindi pinapakita sa kanya ang presyo at resibo, that's because he knew she won't spend thousands even a million for a bag or things.

"May napili ka na ba, Avis?" Bumaling sa kanya ang mama ni Caleb. Nakangiwi siyang humarap rito at umiling.

"Caleb bought me a lot of branded bags and shoes, I don't think I need a new one." Nakangiti na sagot niya rito. She's doesn't like collecting bags and such, isa pa, masyado itong takaw space.

"Sa mga Friends mo?" She asked again.

Avis shrugged and smile. Si Marga at ang mga asawa lang ng mga kaibigan ni Caleb ang binilhan niya. Marga likes food and sweets kaya puro chocolates ang ibinili niya rito. Isabella loves clothes, si Angelyn at Krizzia masaya na kapag binigyan ng mga gamit na magagamit nila sa pagtuturo so she bought them a personalized pen with their name on it. Angel was a simple woman so she decided to bought her a necklace and earrings set, Shawn was a lawyer so she brought her a new attire that she can wear when she's having a hearing, Frances looks like a kid so when she saw a very elegant dress that she thinks it'll suit her without thinking twice she bought It. Tsaka lang siya nakahinga nang maluwag nang mabayaran niya 'yon at hindi ganon kamahal.

Si Sakki at Ezecquiel nalang ang hindi niya nabibilhan. Sakki loves anything that related to anime and Ezecquiel loves anything related to motorcycle. Wala siyang makita na gusto ng mga ito, kaya pabango nalang ang binili niya sa mga ito.

"I don't think..." Hindi na niya naituloy ang sasabihin nang maalala ang mga ito. Hindi nga sila gagastos ng malaki para sa isang maliit na bag, pero willing ang mga ito na maglabas ng pera pagdating sa mga sasakyan, motor at sa ibang bisyo ng mga ito.

Si Angelyn, Angel, Frances, Krizzia at siya lang siguro ang magda-dalawang isip.

Rayleigh chuckled and pinch her cheek. Kapagkuwan ay bumaling sa babae na kasama nila sa loob ng VIP room, inabot nito dito ang isang simpleng leather bag at naglabas ng tatlong black card.

Her eyes widened when Caleb's mother made the woman picked a black card. What the heck?!

"Lucky! It was Kaleb's, my husband black card." Rayleigh chirped.

"How about the two, Tita?" Nagtatakang tanong niya.

Humarap sa kanya si Rayleigh at ipinakita ang dalawang card. One on his left hand and one on his right.

"Itong sa kanan, kay Caliber 'to. Itong sa kaliwa, kay Caleb. At 'yong nabunot ko, sa asawa ko 'yon. I confiscated their black cards bago ako magbakasyon dito, they need to spoil their Queen through this." Nakangising sagot nito sa kanya.

"Speaking of Tito, Tita. Hindi ka ba niya hinahanap?" Parang bata siyang tumingin kay Rayleigh.

She sighed and smile sweetly. "Of course, he's looking for me. I'm his wife and love of his life after all. But, he need to understand me that I needed to breathe some fresh air and have a vacation alone. I know I am a wife and a mother for two, but I am a human being too, napapagod. Not that I'm saying I am tired of my Family, I am not. Hell, I will never get tired of taking care of them."

Napangiti si Avis. It's like she's hearing her own mother, lagi din itong sinasabi sa kanya ng Mama niya. Na hindi ito mapapagod sa pag-aalaga sa kanilang dalawa ng Papa niya.

"It's just that... Shit happens all the time. Ang pagsasama naming mag-asawa hindi naman laging masaya, there's a time that we'll fight because of misunderstanding, especially when it comes to Caleb and Caliber. I love my sons just like how I love their father. Masasaktan ako kapag may narinig ako na may sinasabing hindi maganda sa kanila."

"I hope you don't mind me asking, Tita. Nagka problema po ba kayo sa bahay? Kaya... Nagbakasyon ka?" Alanganin na tanong niya.

Rayleigh smiled. Pero hindi 'yon umabot sa mga mata nito. "You're Caleb's girlfriend for God knows how long. You probably know how irritating their Father's family. And you probably know that they liked your mother than me to be Kaleb's wife. I heard them talking about you and me, na parang tayong dalawa ang mag-ina sa sobrang gastos natin and that Veronica was the most suitable wife for my husband. I didn't sit and listen to their shits. I am the wife. Kung ano ang sa asawa ko, akin na din 'yon. Nasa pamamahay namin sila. They don't have the rights to talk shit behind my back."

Napatango si Avis. She already experienced it before and until her last visit.

"Hindi 'yon nagustuhan ni Kaleb kaya lumayas muna ako. Hindi ko na kasi kayang magpasensya and your mother was my only escape, because she knew how toxic Kaleb's family." Bumuntong hininga ito. "Mabuti nalang talaga at hindi nagmana ang dalawang anak ko sa kanya. Caleb looks a spoiled brat and my first born was rebel. Of course, they won't just listen to them and will fight back on my behalf. They may be a rascals, they explored a lot, kahit minsan hindi na namin nakokontrol ang mga katarantaduhan na ginagawa nila, but at the end of the day those two will always be my son. And trust me with their past being an asshole and fuckboy, they knew how to treat their woman right. They love them with all of their heart." Nakangiting sabi ni Rayleigh sa kanya.

With the small talk with Caleb's mother inside the VIP room full of expensive bags. Avis learned a lot. Na hindi porket kasal na kayo e happy ending na. Her parent's must be fighting a lot too behind her back. Ang mahalaga, bago matapos ang araw maalala niyo na mahal na mahal niyo ang isa't isa.

And now that she'll be a mother too, she realized that she needed to prepare herself physically, mentally and emotionally.