IMBES na magpahinga maghapon, paglilinis ng buong unit ang inatupag ni Avis. Umalis din kaagad si Caleb pagkahatid sa kanya, ni wala man lang good bye kiss!

"Hmm, I need to buy groceries, new set of curtains, pillowcase and bed sheets. Ano pa ba?" Tanong niya sa sarili habang naglilista ng mga dapat bilhin sa cellphone niya.

She was also thinking of renovating the whole unit, pero kailangan muna niyang tanungin si Caleb about sa balak niya. It's true that they both pay for this unit, pero kalahati ng binayad niya noon, naibalik ni Caleb sa kanya. That brute was giving her a money before even if it's not necessary! Telling her to buy this and that, kesyo deserve daw niya 'yon!

"Looks like I also need to get a new rice cooker and..." Iginala niya ang mata sa buong kusina at inilista na ang mga kailangan pa niyang bilhin.

After listing all the things she need to buy, naligo lang siya sandali at pumunta sa pinakamalapit na mall. Nag taxi lang siya dahil nasa parking lot parin sa Hospital ang sasakyan niya, her old car that needed to be replaced.

Thanks to Caleb, kahit ginawa siyang fbuddy ni gago, may naitulong pa rin ito sa kanya kahit papaano.

Now, she can save all her money to buy her dream car. When in fact, she can just call her mother and father and asked for money. Pero mas masarap pa rin talaga sa pakiramdam kung bibilhin niya ang gustong sasakyan sa sariling dugo at pawis niya.

Simpleng denim short at hanging blouse na pinaresan ng sandals ang suot ni Avis. Nang makarating siya sa mall agad siyang dumeretso sa mga appliances bago mag grocery. She was looking for a electric kettle when her phone rang, agad niyang sinagot ang tawag nang makita ang pangalan ni Caleb.

"Yes?"

[Where are you?] Tanong nito agad. She smiled at the sales lady and handed the electric kettle she choose. [Wala ka sa unit.] He added.

"Nasa mall ako, namimili ng mga gamit sa bahay. I need a new appliances and groceries, tapos uuwi na ako. Bakit mo natanong? Nasa unit ka ba?" She asked while looking for a good quality rice cooker this time.

[Tell me your exact location, pupunta ako.] He said and ended the call.

Kumunot ang noo niya sa lalaki. What's up with him? He clearly said before leaving this morning that he'll only go to the unit if he's up to sex. Does that mean he wants to do it?

Avis sighed before texting Caleb her exact location, habang hinihintay si Caleb namili na siya ng iba pang appliances na kaya niyang buhatin at ibang gamit sa kusina like plates, mugs, spoon and fork, knife and such. Saktong tapos na siyang mamili nang dumating si Caleb, he's wearing a simple pambahay na damit.

Nakapamulsa itong naglakas papunta sa kanya. "Why didn't you ask for help?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong nito sa kanya at kinuha ang cart sa kanya at ito na mismo ang nagtulak palabas.

"Wait! Bibili pa ako ng groceries!" Pigil niya kay Caleb.

"Tomorrow. Pinapasundo ka ni Mama, sa bahay ka na daw mag dinner. And Papa wants to see you." Anito sa malamig na boses at walang emosyon ang mukha.

Avis gulped. Nag-iisip na ng madadahilan para hindi siya makasama, ang tagal niyang nawala, for sure present lahat ng mga kamag anak nito. Negative thoughts were running inside his head, what if hindi pa rin siya welcome doon?

Handa na siyang magpalusot kay Caleb pero nang makita mismo ang mama nito na naghihintay sa kanila sa labas ng mall, nawalan na siya ng pag-asa. It's now or never. Avis calmed herself and talk to Caleb's mother. Lahat ng tanong nito, sinasagot niya.

Hanggang sa makarating sila sa mismong bahay nina Caleb. Wala pa rin naman pinagbago, maliban sa mga tanim na bulaklak ng mama ni Caleb.

"Mas lalo po na gumanda ang garden mo, Tita." She commented while roaming her eyes around, appreciating the view. May maliit na coffee table na din sa may gilid at minimalist design na upuan.

"I'm planning to change the layout, what do you think?" Tanong nito sa kanya.

Avis smiled and shake her head. "The ambiance is good, no need for a change, Tita."

Rayleigh shrugged her shoulders and pulled Avis inside the house, to the dining area. Avis smiled when he saw Caleb's father, agad siyang naglakad papunta sa lugar nito at nagmano, ganoon din ang ginawa niya sa mga tita ni Caleb. Kahit alangin pa ang pag-abot ng mga kamay nito sa kanya.

She felt uncomfortable with the kind of stares they're throwing at her. Hinayaan nalang niya at umupo sa pagitan ni Caliber at Caleb.

"How are you, Avis? How's Carson Hospital so far?" Tanong ng papa ni Caleb habang kumakain sila. Hirap siya sa pagnguya at paglunok sa pagkain niya dahil sa mga titig na ibinibigay sa kanya ng mga kamag anak nila na kasamang kumakain.

Avis sipped on her juice and smile a little, "ayos naman po, tito." Tipid na sagot niya. Wala siya sa mood magdaldal ngayon. 

"Hindi ka naman ba pinapahirapan nitong mga anak ko?" Pabirong tanong ni Tito.

Caliber sneered and teasingly looked at her, na para bang sinasabi nito na siya ang nagbibigay ng 'hirap' sa kanilang dalawang magkapatid, when in fact halos hindi na sila magkita ngayon sa hospital. Maliban nalang kung tatawagan siya ng mga ito.

"Hindi po, Tito. We're not seeing each other often." She answered and continue eating. Avis didn't eat that much, kahit masarap ang nakahain sa kanya kung marami naman pares ng mga mata ang nagbabantay sa bawat kilos niya, hindi niya malalasahan ang kinakain.

Caliber and Caleb's father kept on asking her a questions about her life abroad and her work and she kept answering. Halos silang dalawa lang ang mag-usap, paminsan minsan naman ay nakikisali ang mama ni Caleb. Nagkakasundo sila ng papa ni Caleb dahil pareho sila na walang preno ang bibig.

After eating, nagpaalam na si Caliber na babalik sa hospital, habang ang mag-asawang Carson naman ay nagpaalam na may aasikasuhin sandali sa loob ng office nilang dalawa. Caleb, her and his other relatives stayed in the dining area.

"May kukunin lang ako sa kwarto ko tapos ihahatid na kita." Caleb said and leave her alone with his relatives.

She cleared her throat and stood up. She smiled awkwardly at them before walking towards the comfort room, hindi naman siya naiihi, kailangan niya lang talagang matakasan ang tingin ng mga ito. Para kasing kakainin na siya ng buhay!

Nagpalipas lang siya ng ilang minuto sa loob ng comfort room bago lumabas. But when she heard them talking about her... Avis wanted to go back inside and wished that the floor will eat her.

"She looks expensive as usual, maybe pera na naman ni Caleb ang gamit niya. If I were, Rayleigh, hahanap ako ng mas matinong babae. Yung hindi magastos!"

"True, tignan mo nga ang sling bag niya. Gucci ba 'yan? Siguradong si Caleb ang may gastos niyan." Naiiling na komento ng isa.

"May nakita akong mga bagong appliances at gamit sa bahay sa sasakyan ni Caleb kanina. Nag aya muna yatang mag shopping bago pumarito!"

"Pak na pak pa ang Ootd," the other one said while shaking her head.

Avis smiled bitterly. That's her money, wala ni singkong ginastos ang pamangkit at pinsan nila. Her sling bag was a gift for herself, binili niya 'yon noong dumami na ang pasyente niya sa dating hospital na pinagtra-trabauhan. Then she looked at her self, napakagat labi siya nang mapansin na branded ang mga damit na naisuot niya.

She hates it when someone talk about her behind her back. Pero wala naman siyang magagawa kundi ang hayaan ang mga ito para hindi na lumaki ang gulo, hindi niya kailangan sabihin sa kanila na sa bulsa niya nanggaling ang mga ipinangga-gastos niya sa mga luho niya, she doesn't need to explain herself.

"I don't like her for Caleb." Ani ng isa.

Avis smiled bitterly. She can't force someone to like her, basta maayos ang pakikitungo niya sa mga ito, bahala na ang mga ito na makonsensya sa pinaggagawa nila sa likuran niya.

When she saw Caleb walking down the stairs, tumikhim muna siya bago naglakad papalapit sa dining area, they all smiled at her like they're not talking behind her back. Avis smiled back, genuinely.

"Mauuna na po ako, salamat sa dinner." Avis said sincerely and bow her head a little before turning her back.

Hindi na siya dumaan sa office ng magulang ni Caleb. Her energy was drained because of their relatives. She sighed heavily as she waited for Caleb.

KUMUHA LANG siya ng ilang pirasong damit sa kwarto niya, naging tahimik na si Avis. Which is unusual for Caleb. Kahit hindi siya nagsasalita, panay pa rin ang daldal nito.

Something happened while I'm not around?

Caleb cleared his throat. "So silent." He said and glance at her.

Avis sighed and smile. He can tell if it's genuine or not, he knew Avis since they were in college.

"Pagod lang." Tipid na sagot nito sa kanya.

Now, he's convinced that something really happened while he's not around. Could it be his relatives again? Palagi naman 'yon ang problema ni Avis noon pa man. Ayon ang rason kung bakit hindi sumasama si Avis kapag may family gathering silang nagaganap. He sighed and force himself not to care.

They've changed. The Avis he knew before would probably lashing her anger for his relatives towards him, hindi ito tatahimik at magpapanggap na pagod. He can see the changes in her, but looking at himself? Nothing change at all, except for his cold attitude. He's still toxic as fuck.

He let Avis rest. His eyes were glued outside, naging dahan dahan din ang pagmamaneho niya. It's for their safety anyways.

Nang makarating sila sa unit, ibinaba lang ni Avis ang mga gamit na pinamili nito at dumeretso sa kama. Caleb shake his head, she must be really tired. Roaming his eyes around the unit, it's spotless clean.

"Calm yourself and your dick, Caleb." He hissed under his breath.

He should be inside his office and working his ass off, signing papers and such. Hindi na maayos ang body clock niya, nasanay na na madaling araw ay nagta-trabaho pa rin siya. And because the woman who supposed to be entertaining him right now was sleeping, naghanap siya ng ibang pagkakaabalahan. Hindi naman niya pwedeng tawagan ang secretary niya para ipadala dito sa unit ang mga papeles na hindi niya natapos.

He sighed heavily and started to wash the plates and other utensils and placed the appliances to its designated area, pati ang mga ibang gamit na napamili nito. She doesn't have any groceries because he picked her up to have a dinner with them.

THE NEXT MORNING, Avis force herself to stand. Pero isang malakas na pwersa ang pumipigil sa kanya, at 'yon ay ang braso at binti ni Caleb na nakapalupot sa kanya.

"Mag g-grocery dapat ako..." She whispered while staring at his handsome face. "Pero pwede naman mamaya, susulitin ko muna yakap mo." Avis giggled.

"If you want a hug just say it straight to my face. Malay mo pagbigyan kita, hindi lang yakap ang ibibigay ko."

Her smile slowly faded when she heard his cold voice. Humaba ang nguso niya at inirapan ang lalaki, mas lalo pa siyang napasimangot nang tanggalin nito ang pagkakapalupot ng braso at binti nito sa kanya. Damn this man! Sana pala hindi na siya nagsalita kanina!

Avis grabbed his pillow and hug it. "What else can you give? Maliban sa sex. Sex is good, but my baby girl is still sore." Reklamo niya sa binata.

Avis was taken a back when she saw his side lips rosed up, or was it just her imagination? Mabilis din kasi 'yon na nawala. It's like Caleb was good at hiding his emotions very well now.

"I'm sure you can do something about your baby girl. All I can offer is my body and of course, mind blowing sex."

"Wala ba talagang ibang bagay ang nasa utak mo kundi sex?" Naasar na tanong niya sa lalaki. Caleb shrugged and messed his already messy hair. Sarap putek!

He glanced at her sideways, "yeah? i mean that's the only way to plant my seeds inside you."

"Ay magaling! Balak pa nga akong buntisin! Caleb, may I remind you, you only asked me to be your fuck buddy? I don't know if that's the right term for us, since sa bibig mo na mismo nanggaling. "We can fuck without a fucking label", ngayon gusto mo ako gawing palahian mo?" She asked, hissing.

Sa ganda niyang 'to? Ha! She deserves a ring on her finger before getting pregnant. O sige, huwag nalang singsing. Kahit label nalang sana para may panghahawakan siya. This guy! Mas malala pa ito ngayon kaysa noon!

"I'm not getting younger, Avis. I want a child, a heir. Kung hindi mo kaya na ibigay sa akin 'yon, then forget our deal. I'll find another woman." He said and leave the bed.

Avis blinked and a image of her being pregnant with his child popped up on her head.

"Hala! Hoy Caleb! Sino ba may sabing ayaw ko? Ilang anak ba ang gusto mo ha? Ay shit!" She covered her mouth when Caleb immediately looked back at her. Sa utak niya lang dapat 'yon! Bakit ba niya nasabi ng malakas?!

"You know how much I love kids, Avis. 4 will do, kung pwede natin dagdagan why not?" Nakangising sagot nito sa kanya.

Oh damn hell! Am I really going to be his baby maker?