"I'm exhausted." Iyon agad ang bungad ni Kelsey kay Rachel pagpasok nito sa pintuan.

Tiningnan niyang maigi ang kasintahan.

Sa tantiya niya, nabawasan ito ng twenty pounds mula ng magwork sa Mary's Burgers.

Kung dati ay wala itong eyebags, ngayon maitim ang ilalim ng mga mata nito.

May mga peklat din ito sa braso at kamay dahil sa mga paso na nakuha sa pagiging griller.

Nilagyan niya nga ng sebo de macho ang mga paso para hindi magmarka.

Makinis pa naman ang kutis ni Kelsey.

"Babe, isang linggo na lang at makakaalis ka na sa work mo."

"I know and I can't wait to leave." Huminga ng malalim si Kelsey.

"I don't even know why I submitted two-weeks notice."

"Why are you questioning yourself?"

"Kasi yung iba, they just don't show up or they give their letter of resignation tapos di na papasok kinabukasan."

Umupo si Kelsey sa sofa at tinabihan siya ni Rachel.

"You did the right thing. Una, this is your first job. Kahit umalis ka na sa work mo, you don't want to burn your bridges. Malay mo in the future, you crossed paths with your coworkers di ba? At least maganda ang pag-alis mo at hindi yung iniwan mo sila sa ere." Tahimik na nakikinig sa kanya si Kelsey.

"Isa pa, yung two weeks notice gives your managers the chance to find a replacement for you. Hindi yata madaling maghire."

"I know pero ngayon ko lang narealize how tired I am."

"Why don't you take a break?"

"How? You've seen my schedule." Frustrated na katwiran nito.

"Sumama ka sakin sa Cavite. Free naman ang weekends mo di ba?" Hinawi niya ang buhok na tumakip sa mukha nito.

Biglang napangiti si Kelsey.

"Ipapakilala mo na ako sa parents mo?"

"Hindi." Seryosong sagot ni Rachel.

"Then why are you asking me to come over?" Sumimangot si Kelsey.

"Joke lang. Ikaw naman di ka mabiro." Pinisil niya ito sa pisngi.

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"Why won't it be okay?"

"I mean, we only started dating recently tapos ipapakilala mo na ako agad sa kanila?"

"Ayaw mo ba?"

"Hindi naman sa ayaw kaya lang..."

"Kaya lang ano?"

"Do you think they'll be okay with us?"

"Why won't they be okay?"

"Alam ba nila na I was your student?"

"Hindi."

"Won't they be mad if they find out?"

Pinatong ni Rachel ang kamay sa braso nito.

"Alam mo, kung ang sasabihin na lang lagi ng iba ang iisipin ko, we won't be together right now. Hindi ko mapipigil ang reaction ng ibang tao. They have their opinions but it doesn't mean I should live my life according to what they want. This is still my life and I decide what I want to do with it."

"Wow!" Bulalas ni Kelsey. "I've never seen this side of you before."

"Alin?"

"Yung palaban. I kinda like it. It's sexy." Nilapit ni Kelsey ang labi nito sa leeg niya at dahan-dahan siyang hinalikan.

"Akala ko ba, exhausted ka?"

"I am. But it doesn't mean I'm not turned on." Patuloy si Kelsey sa paghalik sa kanya.

Pinagbigyan niya naman ang kasintahan at hinalikan niya ito sa puno ng tenga hanggang sa magsalubong ang mga labi nila.

She loved kissing Kelsey.

Ang bango kasi ng hininga nito bukod sa ang lambot ng labi.

Bago pa kung saan mapunta ang ginagawa nila, humiwalay si Rachel dito.

"Ask your parents for permission tapos alis tayo sa Friday. I can drive us there."

"Sige. I will think of an excuse."

Napailing si Rachel sa narinig.

Kay Sara lang out si Kelsey.

"What was that for?"

"Alin?"

"Yung pag-iling mo."

"It just hit me na hindi ka pa nga pala out sa parents mo that's why you need an excuse to be with me."

"Baby," Inakbayan siya nito.

"Don't be upset. I'm just waiting for the right time to tell them."

"Hindi ako upset. Isa pa, alam ko naman na hindi pwedeng madaliin ang ganitong bagay."

"But?"

"But what?"

"Parang meron kang gustong idugtong."

"Hindi ko lang maiwasan na isipin na it would be easier for you kung alam nila na we're together."

"Alam mo, iniisip ko din iyan. There's nothing I want to do but to tell the world that I'm with the most amazing human being. In my head, I could see us walking hand in hand, proud of who we are. But on the other hand, natatakot din ako kasi what if hindi matanggap ng parents ko?"

"That's always a possibility."

"Yun na nga eh. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko kung opposed sila."

"You need a plan B."

"I don't have a plan B."

"Kaya nga you need to make one."

"What do you think would happen if I come out?"

"One, they accept you."

"That's the dream."

"Two, they get mad at you."

"At palayasin ako ni Daddy."

"Yes. Pwedeng mangyari iyan or they give you the silent treatment."

"That's true. I should get ready sa sermon niya about how big of a disappointment I am."

"Are you really a disappointment just because you're a lesbian?"

"Not to myself. No. Hindi ko naisip yan kasi I'm happy with who I am." Sumeryoso si Kelsey.

"I am a disappointment for them kasi yung idea nila of who I should be was never going to happen."

"Tama ka diyan. Ano pa ang pwedeng mangyari?"

"Ipatapon nila ako sa Taiwan to live with Uncle Ben."

"What if yan ang mangyari?"

"Then you can go to Taiwan with me and we can get married there."

"Oo nga pala. Legal na dun."
"See? That's good di ba?"

"But it's easier said than done. Una, anong gagawin ko sa Taiwan? I have to find a job. Isa pa, paano ka tatakas sa uncle mo?"

"Tama ka. It will be more complicated kung ipadala ako dun ni Daddy."

"Eh paano nga kung gawin niya?"

"Tatakas ako."

"Pwede kang tumuloy dito in case mangyari iyan."

"Oo nga. Di naman nila alam kung saan ka nakatira."

"Sabagay. Bukod kay Sara, hindi naman nila ako kilala."

"No. But speaking of Ate Sara, she asked me to remind you about her birthday."

"Oo nga pala."

"That means, you get to meet my family."

"Can I say no? Sabihin ko na I'm busy that day."

"You don't want to say no to Ate Sara. Siya lang ang kakampi natin. Isa pa, she's looking forward to seeing you again. Gusto ka daw niya makilalang maigi. She wants to pick your brain."

"There's nothing to pick. Naubos na dahil sa kakulitan ng mga estudyante."

Nagtawanan silang dalawa.

"But first things first, come with me to Cavite."