"MINSAN, tinitingnan ko siya at iniisip kong, ''Yan 'yong nanalo na sperm?'"

Ate Kaf blinks. "Kumain ka na lang, Mikee. Kumain ka."

"It's a valid question," the youngest Gueco says around a mouth full of food, jutting her chin towards Jett. Ito naman ay pinupuno ang plato ng pagkain from the buffet table.

Anderdal Manor is bustling with life in the morning. Tumutugtog na naman ang Christmas playlist ng nanay nila while everyone helps themselves. There's French toast, Eggs Benedict, hash browns, waffles, blueberry pancakes, sausages, and spam. Maagang nagising sina Kuya Aze at Kuya Patrick para magluto.

Malakas kumain ang mga Gueco at Tanjangco.

Lovi is sipping her sweet morning coffee before she eats. She steals another glance towards the stairs and looks away almost immediately, her heart racing.

Then she realizes what she's doing and she wants to clock herself in the face.

This is so fucking stupid. This is so stupid, what is this motherfucker doing in her head at eight in the morning?

Ano ba?! Kagabi pa siya hindi makatulog, hindi rin nakatulong 'yong inumin niya na ang silbi ay tumulong dapat!

Kinginang—

"God fucking fuck ass shit damn cockwaffles," Mikee mutters, dropping her pancake on her plate. She has maple syrup all over her fingers.

Yes, 'yon, exactly, kung ano man 'yong string of words na sinabi ng kapatid niya, gano'n din nararamdaman ni Lovi.

Mikee shuts her eyes, tightens her jaw, and releases a heavy breath. "I will not break down, I will not break down, I will not break down..."

If it were under any other circumstance, Lovi would snort. Moody si Mikee—her angry outbursts act up at the slightest inconvenience.

Pero ngayon, gusto na rin ni Lovi mag-break down.

She grabs a waffle and bites it.

"Bibig mo, Mikee," Kuya Aze says with a smile, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "You want coffee?"

"May kamay siya, Kuya, 'wag kang ano. Ano 'yan, prinsesa?" Jett scoffs, finally sitting down and taking a big bite of his toast.

Mikee smiles sweetly at Jett and says, "Sure, Kuya Aze. I would want one."

Natawa na lang si Kuya Aze saka tumayo.

Jett rolls his eyes.

Ate Kaf finishes the last of her orange juice and kisses Kuya Patrick on the cheek. "I'm gonna go check on Bailey outside, thank you for breakfast," she whispers to him, and Lovi watches her brother-in-law smile at her with the same love and warmth as all those years ago when they first started dating.

And their parents, their parents are outside having coffee and enjoying the morning breeze by the balcony. They're all laughing, her dad's arm around her mom's, Tito Rich and Tita Pam adoring and doting on the only baby in the family and wishing for their own grandchild.

This. This is a normal morning. None of these people know that last night, one crazy Tanjangco pro—

"Morning."

Lovi stiffens at that voice. Stiffens even more when a cloth falls onto her lap to cover her shivering legs.

Gabriel leans down beside her, one hand on the table and face dangerously close to hers, to take a big bite of the waffle she's holding with their eyes locked. Then he straightens and rounds the table to sit at the last, empty chair.

"O, Tan. Sabi mo kagabi kapalan ko 'yong cut ng spam," sabi ni Kuya Aze, bringing a plate from the buffet spread and Mikee's mug. "Ito."

"Thanks, Kuya. Akin na."

"Uy, pahingi," sabi ni Jett, reaching for it.

Pinalo ni Gabriel 'yong kamay nito. "Para sa Ate Lov mo 'to, ito lang kinakain niya na spam," sita niya rito. "Kunin mo 'yong manipis sa kabilang plato. Tumayo ka diyan, may paa ka, 'di ba?"

Lovi's eyes widen. "Hindi, Jett, okay lang—"

"Bitawan mo tapos tumayo ka," matigas na sabi ni Gabriel sa kapatid.

Ginawa ng bunso. Tumayo ito at kumuha ng manipis na spam.

Tapos binigay ni Gabriel kay Lovi 'yong plato. "O," he says, then he fills his own plate like nothing happened.

"Lagi 'yon ginagawa ni Kuya Tan, 'no?" Mikee comments, shoving a spoonful of rice in her mouth. "Close talaga kayo."

Yeah. Close. Lovi takes another bite of her waffle.

"Tan, Aze, nakatulog ba kayo nang maayos? Medyo nag-ingay si Bailey kagabi, sorry," Kuya Patrick asks.

"No because of Dad's snoring, not Bailey," Kuya Aze says.

"Ako? Maganda tulog ko," Gabriel answers with a smile, throwing one arm over the chair next to him. Staring at Lovi, he takes a bite of his toast. "Sobrang ganda."

Lovi wants to strangle him.

Buti pa siya. Haha.

"Sa kabilang room ka muna, Kuya, habang wala pa si George," she suggests to Kuya Aze instead, kahit na hindi naman talaga sila nag-iiba ng room arrangements ever.

The eldest Tanjangco shakes his head and smiles at her. "Magalit pa sa 'kin 'yon pagdating niya. Thanks, Lovi."

"What's the agenda today?" Jett interjects, curious.

"'Di ka nagbabasa ng schedule? Ano ka, grade 2?" Mikee mutters under her breath.

Tiningnan siya ng isa. "Anong sabi mo?"

Kinuha ni Lovi 'yong kutsilyo sa kamay ng kapatid niya bago pa ito maging murder weapon.

Mikee sighs impatiently. "Sabi ko—"

"Op, op," sumbat ni Kuya Patrick. "Umagang-umaga, mga bata. Kain na lang tayo, opo."

Si Lovi, halatang nag-e-enjoy sa kinakaing makapal na spam. Pero ayaw niya ipakita na nag-e-enjoy siya. Pero kasi ang sarap, e. Pero sinabi ni Gabriel in advance kay Kuya Aze na maghiwalay ng plato para kay Lovi. Pero kasi hindi rin kakainin ni Lovi kung wala 'yong makapal na spam. Pero ayaw niya ipakita na thankful siya kay Gabriel. Pero ang sarap talaga.

Through all these important thoughts, Lovi's face looks like the food personally wronged her.

Natatawa si Gabriel sa kanya.

"Okay!" sigaw ni Holder, entering the dining area with his hand in Marge's. Sumunod sa likuran niya si Tito Rich at Tita Pam at si Ate Kaf na hawak si Baby Bailey. "Who knows kung ano gagawin natin today?"

Tumahimik ang lahat.

"Huy," Jett says, very clearly addressing Mikee. He tosses a piece of bread in her plate. "Huy, nag-grade 2. Sagutin mo."

"Ha?" Mikee pretends to look around. "May nagsasalita ba?"

"Wala bang nagbabasa ng schedule?" inis na sabi ng tatay ni Lovi. "Gumawa ako ng PDF, mga hayop talaga kayo."

"Tito," kalmadong sabi ni Kuya Aze, looking at his phone, "Secret Santa shopping po and dinner tayo today sa main city."

"Thank you, Azriel!" he exclaims, grinning. "Pagkatapos n'yong kumain, bunot kayo ng pangalan kay Nutty. We gather back in the living room in an hour. Washing dishes duty goes to sa mga hindi tumulong magluto."

Nag-high-five sina Kuya Patrick at Kuya Aze.

"No vulgar gifts!" paalala ni Tito Rich. "Jett, bawal na 'yong jingle balls decoration na literal na ballsack, may bulbol pa. Mikee, bawal na wine condoms. Kaf, urinal shot glass, talaga? 'Tsaka Tan, ayaw ko nang umulit 'yong t-in-a-ttoo mo 'yong pangalan ni Lovi sa loob ng bibig mo."

Oh my God.

Yes, that happened. Last year.

Hinahanap ni Lovi 'yong gift ni Gabriel.

Then he smiled and pulled down his bottom lip.

Nasa bibig nito.

LOV.

Everyone laughs at the memory and Jett whistles loudly, but Lovi is mortified.

"Pa'no kung singsing naman, gano'n?" Gabriel asks his father with a shrug, grinning, but he doesn't look at her.

She grits her teeth. "Unforeseen trip to the ER, gano'n."

"Dress. White."

"Raisins. Castration."

Natawa nang malakas si Gabriel.

"No tattoos!" Rich shouts again. "Tan, clear?"

"Yes, sir," Gabriel answers, resting his chin on his fist, eyes locked with hers. His are twinkling with joy and a boyish playfulness he only ever brings out with her. "Crystal."

Gabriel raises his coffee in her direction before he drinks.

He doesn't stop smiling.