Ako naman ang natawa. "Hindi pa ba? Eh, binigay ko na nga sa 'yo ang lahat."

"But your name is still Alvandra; I want to change it to Mondalla someday." Kinilig naman ako sa sinabi niya. I can't help but remember our first night, the time when I told him to call me by my name, but instead of that, he called me his Mrs. Mondalla. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Sobrang bilis pala ng panahon. Dati, masyado lang akong delusional para banggitin sa nurse na mag-asawa kami ni Ismael, mukhang mangyayari na sa malapit na hinaharap. Baon ko pa rin sa akin ang mga pahiwatig niya noon at maging ang pangako niyang hinding-hindi ko na kalilimutan.

Dahil nga pagmamay-ari niya naman ang hotel na tutuluyan namin mamaya, napagdesisyunan na muna naming kumain sa isang restaurant. Kahit na hindi pa bumababa ang kinain ko kanina sa daan, mayroon sa akin na parang gusto ko pang kumain. Pakiramdam ko, gutom na gutom pa rin ako. At mabuti na lang dahil hindi kami sa mamahaling restaurant pumunta, kung hindi sa isang sikat na kainan dito sa Palma, Baguio City. Masyado ngangn mahaba ang pila ngunit mabilis naman ang usad, kaya hindi ganoon katagal ang hinintay namin ni Ismael.

Nakakatuwang makita siyang namumuhay nang simple. Naghihintay, pumipila, nagtatanong... Pakiramdam ko, kahit kailan naman ay hindi niya pinamukha sa akin na mayaman siya at mahirap lang ako. Napakagaan niyang kasama. Hindi ko inakalang ang dati kong propesor, na siyang kinamumuhian ko ay siyang magiging kasama ko ngayon na gawin ang mga simpleng bagay na ito. Sa totoo lang, mas gusto ko ito kaysa sa enggrandeng bagay, at natutuwa ako dahil nakikita ko ring masaya siya na kasama ako.

"Alam mo, hindi ko alam na ikaw rin pala ang may-ari ng Loeisal Malmdan Company," sambit ko nang makapag-order na kami ng pagkain. Mabuti na lang at may sinigang, dahil gusto ko iyon ngayon lalo't malamig.

"I told you, I have left and right businesses around the country," tugon niya. Nasa harap ko siya nakaupo habang inaayos ang mga pinggan naming dalawa.

"I know, but LMC is my dream company, and I never thought that it was one of yours."

"Well, I never thought that it would be someone's dream company. Have you never searched about the LMC on the internet before?"

"I did, but your name wasn't there. Sabagay, hindi na ako magtataka, kahit nga 'yong mga employees mo sa Island Motel Bar, hindi ka rin kilala, eh."

Tumawa siya. "Right, or maybe they just hide it from the public."

Napahanga naman ako. So, kahit sa mga employees niya, umiiral din ang loyalty at integrity. Kakaiba naman siya mamalakad ng businesses niya.

"How about your dreams, Ismael? Hindi ba't gusto mong maging professor? Tsaka manatili sa Marcus University para mabantayan ang kapatid mong si Isa. Paano na 'yon? Hindi ka na ba talaga babalik?"

Ngumiti siya. "Right, that's the reason I told you," bulong niya.

"Yeah?" pabalang kong sagot. "I was so invested in helping you, so you can stay there. Now that I graduated, why not come back?"

"I have no reason to go there anymore." Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Si Isa? Wala na ba siya roon?"

"Wala ka na roon." Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko. Para bang lalo akong naguguluhan sa mga sagot niya sa tanong ko. Lilinawin ko pa sana ang bagay na iyon nang dumating na ang mga pagkain namin. Dahil sa amoy ng sinigang na baboy, hindi na ako nakapagsalita at lumamon na lamang.

"Cute," komento niya na naging dahilan ng pagtunghay ko. Nakita ko siyang kanina pa pala tapos kumain at pinagmamasdan na lamang ako habang hinihintay na matapos. I almost forgot to be decent and demure in front of him. I shouldn't have eaten a lot. Sakto pang isusubo ko na ang pagkain nang magsalita siya. Nakanganga tuloy ako.

Nagulat ako nang picturan niya ako. "Hey, what was that for?" inis kong tanong.

Umiling siya habang tumatawa. "Nothing; I just can't help but capture that moment." Ipinakita niya sa akin ang phone niya kung saan naroon ang picture.

"Hala! Ang pangit! Burahin mo 'yan! Hindi ako prepared!" asik ko.

"Who told you you're not pretty? I am always amused by your gorgeous face." He zoomed in on the photo and I just couldn't help but roll my eyes. Sigurado ba siyang pinupuri niya ako? Kasi, naiinis na ako.

Muli niya akong kinunan ng litrato. "Look, kahit magkasalubong ang kilay mo, ang ganda pa rin." Sinuri niyang mabuti ang picture ko.

"Saan banda diyan ang maganda?" tanong ko, habang inilalahad ang kamay para ibigay niya sa akin ang phone niya. Buburahin ko 'yong picture ko!

"Your face, especially your eyes. Ang ganda ng mga mata mo, mahal ko."

I was caught off guard. Hindi ko akalaing sasabihin niya iyon nang walang pagpapauna. Ang sunod ko na lamang nakita ay ang muli niyang pag-picture sa mukha ko habang namumula ang mga pisngi. Hindi niya naman kailangang sabihin 'yon! Nahihiya na tuloy ako!

Hinayaan ko na lamang siyang aliwin ang kaniyang sarili habang ako ay kumakain. Naliligayahan naman siyang pagmasdan ako, kaya ipinagpatuloy ko na lang na gawin ang gusto ko. Pagkatapos naming kumain ay sandali kaming nagpahinga bago nagbayad at umalis.

"How about your dreams, Jothea?" tanong niya habang naglalakad kami sa Burnham Park papunta sa Night Market.

"My dreams?"

"Yeah, before you told me, you didn't know what your dreams were. I was amazed by the thought that you were dreaming of being in my company. What makes you dream of it?"

Napangiti ako. Tama, naalala kong wala nga pala akong pangarap noon. Because of him, he left me, leaving me with no choice but to have a dream and pursue it. Sadly, I missed the chance to be employed, but still, it was like God made a move for me to be there. He used Ismael as an instrument to make my dreams come true, even if Ismael didn't really think it was my dream beforehand.

"Because of your scent?" tanong na sagot ko. Napalingon naman siya sa akin na sandaling nagsalubong ang mga kilay na para bang nagtatanong. "Napansin ko kasing malakas ang pang-amoy ko at mabilis kong matandaan ang amoy ng mga bagay-bagay. And it all started with you, bukod sa necktie, palagi mo akong iniiwanan ng amoy mo."

Ngumiti siya. "Because you always grab my necktie. I had no choice but to leave it in your hands." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko.

"That's why; I know you were there," dugtong ko pa. "Kaya ikaw, huwag kang mangbababae, kasi malalaman ko kaagad. Maaamoy ko agad!"

Natawa naman siya. "I'm a man of integrity, so you don't have to worry." He cupped my face and kissed my cheek. "I'm glad that you have your dreams now, and hopefully we can work on them more since our companies are collaborating. I want to witness how good your skills are when it comes to perfume."

"Naku, baka lalo kang ma-in love sa akin!" biro ko.

It's funny how I suddenly remember hating his subject before, and now we can finally talk about my dreams like it was never my problem back in college.

"It looks cute on you!" sambit niya nang ilagay niya sa buhok ko ang cute na yellow duck na clip. Natawa ako nang humalakhak siya. "You look like their mother," dugtong pa niya bago naglagay ng panibagong clip sa buhok ko. Now, I have little ducks on my hair.

"You're making fun of me!" asik ko, bago ko siya mahinang sinuntok.

"No, my love. You just look adorable." Hinipo niya ang gilid ng kaniyang mga mata na para bang naluluha siya sa pagtawa niya. Somehow, hindi ko magawang mainis lalo't nakikita ko siyang tumatawa nang ganito kasaya. Ayos lang na pagtripan niya ako habangbuhay kung makikita ko naman siyang nakangiti.

Binayaran niya na ang mga iyon. I let him be fascinated by the ducks he put on my hair, even if they don't go well with the dress I'm wearing. Magkahawak kami ng kamay habang nagtititingin ng mga kung ano-ano sa night market, at hindi ko alam bakit kahit kakakain palang namin ay hinila ko na siya roon sa may bilihan ng pagkain. There are a lot of food stalls around the market, and I had so much fun eating street food, especially the spicy rice cake, fried mandu, and mini kimbap.

"Ano ka ba? The dirtier, the tastier!" sambit ko, dahil ayaw niyang kumain ng mga binili ko. Eh hindi ko na kasi maubos, at pinakakain ko sa kaniya kaso ayaw niya kasi hindi raw siya sure kung malinis ba ang pagkakagawa at pagkakaluto. "Bakit kanina bumili ka sa kalye, habang nasa biyahe tayo?"

"Because I know they cooked it at home. They are grandmas, so basically, they know how to cook it cleanly."

"Hindi ka sure," sagot ko. "Pero kung ayaw mo, kakainin ko na lang kaysa naman itapon at masayang."

Pinisil niya ang pisngi. "Why did you even buy a lot when you know you can't finish it?" tanong niya bago tumapat sa akin.

"Because I thought you'd eat with me."

I heard him sigh as he opened his mouth. "Ahhh."

Natawa ako. "Are you sure? No one's forcing you here."

"Dali, baka magbago pa ang isip ko," nabubugnot niyang sambit. Nakangiti ko siyang sinubuan ng rice cake na mabigat sa tiyan. Ganoon na rin ng mandu at kimbap. I noticed how his eyes sparked in amazement. Tsk. Papilit pa, magugustuhan din naman pala.

At ayon, inubos niya na ang pagkain ko. Mukhang nakalimutan niya ang prinsipyo niya na huwag kumain ng hindi masusustansiyang pagkain dahil sa impluwensya ko.

"Here," he said, as he handed me a can of juice that he bought from the convenience store near the park. Kinuha ko iyon at tiningnan. "Lemon water?" tanong ko, habang natatawa. "Sobrang conscious mo naman sa health, Ismael."

"I need to," sagot niya, bago umupo sa tabi ko. Kasalukuyan kaming narito sa bench sa may park at pinagmamasdan ang mga punong pinalilibutan ng LED lights. Wala masyadong tao dahil siguro hating-gabi na.

"Why? Because you need to bear twelve children?"

"That's one of the reasons, but I want to be healthy as long as I can because I still want to live long enough to see my children and my grandchildren," mahaba niyang sagot bago uminom ng lemon water. Hindi ko maiwasang mapahanga sa kung paano siya mag-isip. Hindi naman ako madalas kumain ng mga ganito, pero dahil nga naninigarilyo ako at umiinom ng alak, hindi ko naisip na sinisira ko na pala ang katawan ang kalusugan ko. Siguro'y dahil wala sa isip ko noon ang mag-asawa at mag-anak, o dahil hindi ko naman talaga naiisip ang pagdating sa ganitong bagay noong nasa ibang tao pa ako. I was brought into this world without a family to hold on to; no one guided me, so I don't really know this much. At si Ismael lang ang nagpapaisip sa akin ng mga ganitong bagay.

"Paano kung hindi ko kaya ang labing-dalawang anak, Ismael?" I asked, out of the blue, considering my unhealthy habits, how can I go with twelve?

He glanced at me and smiled as he wrapped his arm around me before kissing my head. "What about it?"

"Are you going to find someone else?" seryoso kong tanong.

"No, why would I do that?" sagot niya.

"I mean, it is your family tradition, which I don't really understand. Even your family clan, about being the next president of it."

Halata sa mukha niya ang pagkagulat. "How did you know that far?"

"Isa told me that. She tried to explain everything, but I don't think I can understand it well if it's not you who'll discuss it with me. Care to share?" Ipinatong ko ang kamay ko sa hita niya, habang tinitingnan siya mata sa mata. I want to know him more. I want to know his family and his background. If he really wanted to marry, then I shall know this, right? I have the right to ask, right?

"It is more complicated to explain, but I will try to make you understand everything about it," panimula niya. "This family tradition of Mondalla is what I am trying to break. Every time I get to remember what my mother experienced from my father, I also remember the reason why I moved out of the residence. I was against their divorce, but what could I do? I was young. But when I thought I no longer belonged to them, they told me it was me, the firstborn who still has the duty to get married and continue the legacy—the tradition of becoming a big family across the country. They want to build a dynasty."

Nanatili akong nakikinig sa kaniya, habang inuutay sa memorya ko ang mga impormasyong ibinabahagi niya sa akin.

"Even if my father divorced my mother, I am still his first legal son from his first marriage. It was just that he needed to obey the tradition so he needed to get married again to fulfill his duty and promise to give birth to another ten babies in this world with a different woman. And that's what they told me that I needed to do also, but I am against it. I don't want to get my woman pressured by these things to have an anxiety of not bearing enough. I want to have a normal family that doesn't force me to obey such traditions. I want my future family to be happy and free without any constraints or eyes who judge and follow every single thing we do. I want a peaceful life with the one I love, with you, Jothea."

A tear escaped from my eyes. I was just observing his lips speak those sweet things, but what really amazed me was that he sounded so brave. The way he explained everything to me left me amused by how he perceived things. Napapaniwala niya talaga akong ibang klase siya mag-isip, ibang-iba ang takbo ng utak niya kumpara sa akin. Napakasimple lang ng gusto niya at ang karangyaang mayroon siya ay kaya niyang talikuran para sa pangarap niyang pamilya na hindi siya nagkaroon.

Hinaplos ko ang pisngi niya bago ko siya niyakap. "You don't have to bear twelve children, Jothea. We don't have to follow tradition. You don't have to worry about it. We'll just have what we can."

I nodded as I caressed his back. "I understand. Thank you for telling me."

He removed my hands from hugging him and faced me. He cupped my face as he gave me a warm smooch. "Let's go now."