Gabriel is now officially a Lakers fan. After the game we went to last night, wala na silang ginawa buong umaga kundi manood ng past Lakers games. Vince was passionately teaching him about the game at buong atensyon naman ni Gabriel ang binibigay niya.

I listened to their conversations for a while bago ko naisipang magluto ng lunch namin. The past couple of days, wala kaming ibang ginawa kundi gumala at maglibot, kaya ngayong araw ay wala kaming plano. Aside from the event I have to attend tonight, dito lang sa hotel ang mag-ama. I'm assuming they'll be focusing on basketball.

"Mama, ano'ng oras ka uuwi?" Gabriel asked curiously while we ate lunch.

"Hmm. A bit late, Gab. You can sleep early," sabi ko nalang. Hindi rin ako sigurado kung gaano katagal 'yon.

Umiling si Gabriel. "No, papa and I will wait for you. Right, papa?"

Tumango si Vince. "P'wede ka rin naming sunduin."

"No, it's fine. May service naman kaya ayos lang."

Magkasalubong ang mga kilay niya. "Sigurado ka ba? Is that safe?"

I chuckled, "Yes it is. It's a chauffeur service."

Mukhang may sasabihin pa sana pero may tinanong si Gabriel tungkol kay Magic Johnson kaya na-distract na rin siya.

While they returned to watching reruns and highlights, pumasok na ako sa kwarto namin ni Vince para mag-ayos. I still blush every time I think about sharing a bed with him, pero nitong mga nakaraang gabi ay masyado rin kaming pagod para isipin pa 'yon.

Since we spend the whole day walking around, pagod kami lagi sa gabi. Ni wala akong energy para maconscious tuwing nagtatabi kami, lalo na't tulog na ako bago pa siya matapos maligo.

That's not to say we don't touch throughout the night. Tuwing nagigising ako sa umaga ay lagi akong nakayapos sakanya. I am always tempted to sleep in and enjoy his warmth, pero maagang nagigising si Gabriel kaya agad rin akong bumabangon.

In my 28 years, I have never felt so safe and secure in another man's arms. Siguro dahil first time ko rin ma-experience na may katabing ibang tao. And with Vince's warm and toned body, mas nae-enganyo akong matulog. Kung wala lang siguro akong mommy duties, hindi na ako babangon ng maaga.

I quickly showered and began straightening my hair. Siniguro kong walang kahit isang buhok ko ang kulot man lang. Dahil rin doon, mas mukhang humaba ang buhok ko dahil bagsak na itong hanggang sa ilalim ng dibdib ko. It also looked shiny because of the oil I used before ironing it.

Wearing my lingerie and a white robe over it, I comfortably moved around while trying to get ready. Inaayos ko rin ang susuotin ko nang biglang pumasok si Vince.

Sinulyapan ko siya. "Si Gabriel?"

"Tulog," simple nitong sagot at umupo sa kama. Seryoso ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa'kin. "Sino'ng kasama mo doon?"

"Oh, my ex-colleagues. Balita ko may mga dati rin akong classmates na dadalo and some old clients of mine," kaswal kong sagot habang naglalagay ng concealer sa mukha ko. "I already pre-ordered dinner for you and Gabriel. Mga 7pm siguro mad-deliver 'yon."

"Any ex-boyfriends attending?" tanong nito, hindi pinansin ang sinabi ko.

Natigilan ako saglit sa tanong niya. I chuckled and shook my head. "Wala. I told you, hindi ako nag-boyfriend noon. Masyado akong busy."

I saw him shrug through my mirror. Gusto kong matawa sa itsura niya pero pakiramdam ko ay maiinis lang siya. The last thing I want is to piss him off tapos aalis ako. Baka mamaya, maging awkward pa.

"Just making sure," mahina nitong sambit bago tumayo. Nilapitan niya ang susuotin ko. Nakasimangot na naman. "What's your bottoms?"

Natawa ako. "Bottoms?"

Tumango siya, genuinely curious. "Are you wearing pants? Or a skirt, maybe?"

"Vince," natatawa kong sabi dahil talagang seryoso siya. "That's a dress. Hindi ko kailangan ng bottoms kasama niyan."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at muling sinuri ang dress. He even checked the skirt of it. "Ang iksi naman ata? Akala ko blouse siya."

"It's a dress. Pakita ko sa'yo mamaya," sabi ko at binalik ang atensyon sa pagtapos ng make-up ko. Konting oras nalang at masusundo na ako. Cocktails began at 5pm and the event will start at 7pm.

"Sigurado ka bang 'di ako p'wedeng sumama?" Kunot-noo nitong tanong habang nakatingin parin sa dress ko.

"No. Sino naman ang mag-aalaga kay Gabriel?" Tumayo ako at nilapitan siya. He glanced down my body quickly. "Besides, mukhang marami siyang tanong tungkol sa basketball. Maybe we can go to another game before we go back."

Tahimik lang si Vince. He glanced at my dress one more time before going to our bed. Umupo siya roon at inabala ang sarili sa phone niya. Since he was quiet, I focused more on my make-up. I tried to make it as minimal as possible dahil alam kong tatamarin akong magtanggal mamaya.

When I was done, I grabbed my dress and fixed it. Feeling a bit confident, at dahil nakatalikod naman ako sakanya, I just took off my robe. I let it slide down my body. I heard him groan.

"Luna..." He sounded frustrated.

"What? Magpapalit lang ako," sabi ko at sinuot ang dress. It had a tight bodice kaya mas malaki tignan ang dibdib ko. It really was short, stopping a few inches above my knees.

Bumalik ako sa vanity table at kinuha ang alahas ko. My dress was pitch black with no other designs on it. So I chose my emerald tear-drop earrings and its matching necklace to accessorize appropriately. Kinuha ko ang handbag ko at nilagay doon ang lipstick na gamit ko. I put some cash in there and enough room for my phone.

"How do I look?" I asked and twirled in front of Vince.

Umupo siya ng maayos at tinignan ang kabuuan ko. Seryoso lang ang mga mata niya at napansin kong nagtagal ito sa hita ko, where my dress ended. His lips twisted disappointedly pero wala naman siyang sinabi.

"You look beautiful, Luna..." mahina nitong sambit. His eyes turned a bit hopeful. "Are you sure I can't come?"

Napangisi ako at lumapit sakanya. "Gab needs someone here, Vince. Besides, mabo-bored ka lang rin doon."

His lips pursed pero tumango rin siya. I went inside our closet and chose decent-height heels. Maglalakad-lakad ako doon kaya ayokong sumakit masyado ang mga paa ko. Saktong pagkasuot ko ay nagtext na rin ang service na malapit na raw ito.

"I should get going," sabi ko at nagreply sa text ng chauffeur.

"Gabriel is in his room," aniya.

I nodded then went outside. Dahan-dahan akong pumasok sa kwarto ni Gabriel at natagpuan itong mahimbing nang natutulog. I tried to quietly approach him. Hinalikan ko siya sa noo at ngumiwi siya. I smiled at his cute expression and pulled away. Na-guilty tuloy ako na naistorbo ko pa yata ang tulog niya.

"Love you, baby," I whispered so softly before leaving his room. Vince was waiting by the door. "Don't wait up for me. Baka late ako uuwi."

"I think 10pm should be fine," seryoso nitong sabi.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. It sounded like a command, but it wasn't said that way. Now I can see why he's such a successful CEO.

"Okay, 10pm," I said dahil wala rin namang problema sa'kin. I prefer quiet nights at home rather than attending such events, anyway. "I should go. Nasa baba na 'yung service."

Tumango siya at hinatid ako hanggang sa elevator. Akala hanggang doon lang, but he surprised me when he entered the elevator, too. Magtatanong na sana ako but then chose not to. Mukhang ihahatid ako hanggang sa sasakyan.

We only descended two floors when the doors opened again. A group of men were waiting and the looked at us. Nagulat ako nang maramdaman ang kamay ni Vince sa bewang ko. Hinapit niya ako palapit sakanya at nagpatianod naman ako. The men entered and I smiled at one of them that gave me a friendly look. Vince pulled me closer kaya dikit na dikit ako sakanya.

I could feel my heart beating faster. Ramdam ko rin ang init ng dibdib niya sa mismong likod ko. Sa sobrang higpit ng hawak niya sa'kin ay halos nasa harapan na niya ako. When more people entered the elevator, both his arms wrapped around my waist securely.

I bit my lip when he pulled me back, even closer to him.

His lips touched the shell of my ear. "You okay, babe?" he asked a bit louder than I expected. Napabaling tuloy ang iba sa'min.

I blushed and looked away from them. Tumango lang ako sa tanong ni Vince dahil pakiramdam ko ay basag ang boses ko.

Since Vince was only wearing sweatpants, I could somehow feel the outline of his boner against my back. Pati ang mainit niyang hininga ay ramdam ko sa leeg ko, dahil halos nakasubsob na doon ang mukha niya. That must've been the most tensed I've ever been in an elevator. Tsaka lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag nang unti-unti nang lumabas ang mga kasama namin.

We were the last ones to get out. Akala ko bibitawan na niya ako pero nanatili ang isang kamay niya sa bewang ko, dahan-dahan akong inaalalayan palabas ng hotel. Once outside, I immediately saw my usual chauffeur. Nasa gilid rin 'yung mga lalaki na nakasabayan namin kanina sa elevator at napansin ko na may ibang sumusulyap sa gawi namin. Vince noticed it, too.

"Hi, Carlisle," bati ko sa madalas na ina-assign na chauffeur sa'kin tuwing dumadalo ako dito.

Ngumiti siya. "Good evening, miss Madrigal. And to you, sir," bati niya rin kay Vince.

"Vince Serrano," sabi ni Vince at naglahad ng kamay kay Carlisle. "Nice to meet you."

"Pleasure's all mine, Mr. Serrano," sambit ni Carlisle matapos makipag-kamay.

"I was hoping Luna would be back here around ten this evening, Carlisle," pormal na sabi ni Vince, once again masking his command. Huh. He's really good at that.

Tumingin na muna sa'kin si Carlisle. Nang ngumiti ako ay tumango rin siya. "Of course, Mr. Serrano."

"Perfect. Thank you, Carlisle. I'll help her in," sabi ni Vince.

Isang beses na tumango si Carlisle bago umikot para pumunta na sa driver's seat. Vince opened the door for me, pero bago ako pumasok ay pinigilan niya ako. My eyes widened when he placed a soft kiss on my lips. Napaawang ang mga labi ko habang nakatingin sakanya. Pero bago ako makapagtanong, isang halik na naman ang iginawad niya sa'kin.

"Our son and I will be waiting for you," he whispered.

Still speechless, I nodded.

Inalalayan niya akong pumasok sa kotse. I was just dazedly looking at him the whole time. Puno ng intensidad ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa'kin.

"Thank you, Carlisle. Have a safe trip," bilin niy muna bago bumaling sa'kin. "Have fun, Luna. Okay?"

Isang beses akong napatango bago napalunok. I closed my eyes when he leaned in again. His lips were soft against mine, but it was only a short kiss. Lumayo rin siya agad at dahan-dahan na sinara ang pinto ng sasakyan. I bit my lip and touched it a bit.

"Ready, miss?" nakangiting tanong ni Carlisle.

I smiled widely. "Yes, Carlisle. Thank you."

The kiss kept replaying in my mind. I even catch myself smiling stupidly during the ride. Napapanguso ako para pigilan ang pagngiti, pero madalas ay hindi ko talaga ito napipigilan. It was far from being my first kiss... pero 'yun ata ang unang beses na kinilig talaga ako.

At the event, I was distracted from the kiss because of socializing. Marami akong mga nakausap na dati kong nakakatrabaho at aaminin kong na-miss ko talaga sila. Most of them I worked with on humanitarian cases in other third world countries. Ang iba sakanila, sa Pilipinas rin minsan tumutulong. There were some times we also went to other countries.

"I heard you're the Lawyer of the Year," sabi ni Luca, isa sa mga nakasama ko noon ng madalas sa Pakistan. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," sambit ko at napangiti. "I read about your current case. And that it will be reaching the federal courts."

Tumango siya. "High probability that the Supreme Court will hear it. We'll see."

Ngumisi ako. "Think it will be an incorporation case?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya at napangisi na rin. "Not sure. But if it happens... well, that will surely make my career."

"I'm sure you'll do well, Luca. You always have."

Ngumiti siya, labas pa nga ang dimples. "And you? What's new with you, besides your award?"

"Nothing much. Been doing more corporate cases lately, so I haven't been too busy."

Tumango siya. He sipped his wine. "And your son? How is he?"

I smiled at the mention of Gabriel. "He's doing well. Actually, he recently met his dad so he's been really excited about that."

"Dad, huh?" Ngumisi siya. "Lucky man."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Oh! No, no... Nothing like that..." I suddenly remembered the kiss and I blushed. "Well, sort of..."

Humalakhak si Luca at tinapik ang balikat ko. "Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you. Just sucks that you're basically off the market now. You know how many guys have been trying to catch your attention?"

Mas namula ako sa sinabi niya dahil sa hiya. Pero natawa rin ako nang kumindat siya.

"He's a lucky man, that's for sure. But tell him that if he fucks up his chance, there's a line of men waiting for their turn," he teased in a casual manner.

Itinawa ko nalang 'yon. "Luca, you are the ultimate flirt."

"Hey," sabi nito at itinaas pa ang dalawang kamay. "I just want to make sure you know your worth, Luna. Any guy would be hella lucky to have you. Your man needs to know that."

I smiled genuinely. "Thanks, Luca. I'll keep that in mind."

"You better. I didn't get rejected multiple times for you to end up with the wrong man."