We spent the whole day inside. Kung ano-ano ang mga ginagawa nila. Nang magsawa sa paggawa ng plane, naglaro sila sa PS4. Tawang-tawa pa ako dahil na-frustrate si Gabriel sa tatay niya, who obviously never played any of the games. My son was trying to do in kindly, pero nang huli ay ginawa nalang niyang cheerleader ang ama niya habang siya ang naglaro.

"See, papa? That's how to do it," he said with a kind voice at tinuro pa ang ginawa niya.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Vince. He shrugged helplessly and I just laughed. Naiintindihan ko dahil hindi ko rin naman gets. I am just amazed whenever he shows me what he has done.

"You want to be an engineer, Gab? Or architect?" usisa ni Vince nang makita ang ginawang bahay ni Gab sa paborito niyang laro. Minecraft or something.

Gab shook his head. "No, papa. I want to be a doctor like my tito Sol."

Kunot-noong tumingin sa'kin si Vince, nagtatanong.

"My kuya," sagot ko at napatango siya.

He turned to Gab again, who was sitting in between us. Nasa sofa na naman kami at doon nakatambay habang naglalaro si Gab. Vince didn't seem to mind since he was next to him at wala rin namang kaso sa'kin dahil natutuwa ako sa mga usapan nila.

"A doctor, huh? Your tito is a neurosurgeon," Vince said. Medyo nagulat ako dahil mukhang talagang nagbasa siya tungkol sa'min.

"Uh-huh," proud na sabi ni Gab. "And my tita is a rich businesswoman, papa! Just like you!"

Vince chuckled. "Uh-huh. Just like me."

"Maybe I'll visit you at work, too," kaswal na sabi ni Gab na para bang busy siya. Gusto kong matawa, lalo na nang makitang napangisi rin si Vince sa narinig.

It was a really relaxing day. Umalis din si Vince saglit para kumuha ng damit niya at ginamit ko ang oras na 'yon para magluto. Tinulungan din naman ako ni Gab sa paggawa ng dadalhin namin bukas.

He kept on gushing about his dad and I was smiling the whole time. Nakakataba ng puso na makitang masaya siya. I am even more grateful now that I didn't let my fear get in the way of the two of them meeting. Kakakilala palang nila ay kitang-kita ko na kung gaano nila kamahal ang isa't-isa. They were equally obsessed with each other.

Tulad kagabi, natulog na naman kami sa sala. I offered to leave them be at sa kwarto ko nalang, pero agad sumimangot si Gabriel kaya hindi ko na ulit inisip pa.

We woke up early to attend mass. Dumiretso din kami agad kina mama. Of course, si ate agad ang bumati sa'min at napakalaki ng ngiti niya nang pagbuksan kami.

"My baby Gabriel!" nanggigil nitong sabi at yumuko para yakapin ang anak ko.

"Hi, tita!" Gab cheerfully greeted after hugging ate. "Tita, may papa na ako!"

Ate laughed. "Oo nga, e." She glanced at Vince beside me before turning to Gabriel. "Kamukhang-kamukha mo, baby!"

Gabriel proudly grinned and nodded. "Si mamu?"

"In the kitchen. Go help her," sabi ni ate at agad naman sumunod si Gabriel. Once he was gone, she turned her cheery smile towards us. Nilahad niya ang kamay niya. "Mr. Vince Serrano. We meet again."

"A pleasure, Ms. Madrigal. Please, call me Vince," aniya at nakipag-kamay.

Ate grinned. "Estrella should be fine then."

Vince nodded.

"Hi, ate," sabi ko at humalik sakanya. "Si kuya?"

"Nasa gazebo na. Kagabi pa siyang andito, actually. Pasok kayo."

We went in and headed to the kitchen. Nakaupo na si Gabriel sa isang high stool at masigla silang nag-uusap ni mama. Pero base sa narinig namin, tungkol rin kay Vince ang kwentuhan nila.

"Ma, dito na sila," sabi ni ate para kunin ang atensyon ni mama.

Mama turned and smiled widely. "Hi! Welcome!"

"Hi, ma," bati ko at humalik sa pisngi niya.

"You must be Vince," baling ni mama sakanya. "Walang dudang ama ka nga ni Gabriel. He looks so much like you."

"Thank you, ma'am," sambit ni Vince at nagmano kay mama.

I met ate's surprised look and she winked. Nag-thumbs up pa kaya pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata.

Nag-usap pa si mama at Vince habang si ate ay lumapit sa'kin.

"Bagay kayo," bulong niya sa'kin.

Pasimple ko siyang inirapan. "Huwag naman kung ano-ano ang iniisip mo, ate. He's here for Gabriel."

Nagkibit-balikat siya at ngumisi. "Sinasabi ko lang. Must be fate, 'no?"

Kinurot ko ang tagiliran niya at tumawa lang siya. It got their attention at umiling lang si ate, may ngisi parin sa mga labi.

"Una na kami ni Luna sa labas! Sunod nalang kayo! Gab, baby, come with us? Tito Sol is out there."

Tumango si Gabriel at bumaba na. He did a fist-bump with Vince before going towards us. Nagkatinginan kami ni Vince at ngumiti lang siya kaya panatag akong iniwan siya doon kasama si mama. At the very least, mama knows how to limit herself more than ate. She's more collected.

"Tito Sol!" Gabriel ran towards kuya.

Agad naman siyang niyakap ni kuya. "My little man! How are you?"

"Fine, tito. Papa's here!"

Kuya grinned. "I heard. How is he?"

"He's cool. I think you'll like him, tito," sagot ni Gabriel.

"Talaga?"

Tumango-tango si Gabriel, really excited.

"Hi, kuya," bati ko nang makalapit.

Bumitaw siya kay Gabriel para yumakap sa'kin saglit. He looked deeply into my eyes, trying to psychoanalyze me most likely. "Kumusta?"

Ngumiti ako, trying to assure him everything's fine. "Maayos naman, kuya. Naging abala lang sa trabaho. Plus, it was an emotional week for me, so..."

Tumango siya. "But everything's okay? Maayos naman siya?"

"Yes, he is. You'll see. Nag-uusap pa sila ni mama sa loob."

"Okay." Huminga siya ng malalim. "Basta mabait siya sainyong dalawa. Walang problema."

Umupo na kami at nagkwento agad si Gab. He led the conversation and my siblings listened very actively. Kitang-kita ang excitement sa mga mata ni Gabriel kaya napapangiti rin ang mga kapatid ko.

Mama arrived with the food and Vince was helping her carry them. Agad tumayo si kuya at magalang naman siyang binati ni Vince. That's when I found out he was also a couple of years older than my siblings. Hindi ko man lang naisip na tanungin kung ilang taon na ba siya! Oh well. Not like it matters, anyway.

Vince and kuya immediately hit it off. Napansin rin namin ni ate na pumagitna na si Gabriel sakanilang dalawa. My son looked proud to be in between two men at nakikisunod rin siya sa mga mannerisms nila. Already, within a day or so, he already got Vince's habit of touching his brows.

"So sasamahan mo talaga sila sa California, Vince?" tanong ni ate nang mabanggit ni Gabriel ang Disneyland.

Tumango si Vince. "Yes. I don't think I can part from Gabriel just yet."

"That's good. At least may kasama sila doon," sabi ni kuya Sol na kinagulat ko. Pinagdududahan pa niya kahapon, pero ngayon ay mukhang buo na ang tiwala niya sakanya!

"Wala ka bang trabaho? You're the CEO, right?" mama asked.

"P'wede naman pong dalhin. And my parents know so I won't work too much," sagot ni Vince.

Ate laughed. "Ma, Vince is known to be a workaholic. Kahit sino'ng tanungin mo, hindi 'yan nagbabakasyon kaya tama lang na huwag siyang istorbohin ng isang buwan."

Napangiti si Vince doon. "That's true. At gusto ko ring bumawi kay Gabriel, tita."

Oh! Tita na?

Napainom nalang ako ng tubig. Tahimik ako habang kumakain kami dahil sunod-sunod ang mga tanong nila kay Vince. Mukha namang ayos lang sakanya dahil agad siyang sumasagot. Sometimes, when it becomes a bit too personal, napapatingin siya sa'kin, may munting ngiti sa mga labi. I try my best not to smile too much. Nakatingin kasi lagi si ate.

"Nakakapagtaka kung bakit single ka parin, Vince," sabi ni mama at pasimpleng sumulyap sa'kin. I wanted to groan.

Vince chuckled. "I wanted to find my son first, tita."

"At ngayon?" ate eagerly asked, sounding so interested. "Nahanap mo na si Gabriel. What are your plans now?"

Gusto kong sipain ang pamilya ko pero natatakot akong si Vince ang masipa ko. Ang advance nila mag-isip! Pati si kuya, kunwari kumakain lang pero halatang interesado rin sa sagot ni Vince. Gabriel was just minding his own business and eating.

"Nothing yet. Gusto ko munang ka-bonding si Gabriel," sagot naman niya.

"Hmmm. That's nice," sabi ni ate at tumango-tango pa.

"And, besides..." dagdag ni Vince at biglang sinalubong ang tingin ko. Seryoso ang mga mata niya pero may munting ngiti sa labi. "Hindi ko kailangang maghanap ng girlfriend. Luna's a great mom so I don't need to look for anyone else."

Umiwas ako ng tingin nang maramdaman ang pamumula ng mukha ko. Mas lumaki ang mga ngiti ni ate at mama samantalang napangisi naman si kuya. Gabriel, unsure of what just happened, just curiously looked at everyone.

Damn! Kinikilig ba ako??

The whole week, naging mas abala ako sa trabaho. Pati rin si Vince ay busy rin dahil marami siyang iiwang trabaho. He will be working from California, too, pero konti lang. Doon na rin siya sa condo ko umuuwi. He sleeps with Gabriel in his room dahil hindi naman p'wedeng sa sala nalang kami. Wala namang problema sa'kin dahil tuwang-tuwa si Gabriel dahil doon.

Pati si yaya Jelai ay natutuwa rin na andon si Vince. G'wapo daw kasi kaya mas nae-enganyo daw siyang magtrabaho. I just laughed it off.

We always arrived late. Minsan, mas nauuna pa siyang nakakauwi sa'kin kahit na mas malapit ang opisina ko. I try my best to be home by seven every night, pero nitong mga nakaraang araw ay talagang wala akong choice kundi mag-overtime ng konti.

It feels weird to see him there every day. He was slowly becoming a part of our daily routine. Kinakabahan ako dahil alam kong kailangan naming pag-usapan 'to. Hindi p'wedeng masanay si Gabriel sa ganitong set-up tapos magbabago rin pala.

Just thinking about it stresses me out. Lalo na nang sabihin niyang gustong makilala ng pamilya niya si Gabriel.

"Vince, ba't ngayon mo lang sinabi? Aalis na tayo sa Sabado," angal ko at ngumiwi. Wala namang problema na ipakilala niya si Gabriel. Normal 'yon. I'm just stressed because we really don't have time.

"P'wede namang pagdating na natin, Luna. Besides, my dad is still in Switzerland kaya talagang hindi pa ngayon," paliwanag naman niya.

I sighed. "Okay," sabi ko nalang.

We were outside in my balcony. Tulog na si Gabriel at yaya Jelai. Tomorrow is Friday at simula na ng off ko dahil bukas ko pa balak mag-impake para sa California. Vince has been packed for days pero off na rin siya bukas para makapagpahinga naman bago kami magflight kinabukasan.

We were sitting closely dahil maliit lang naman ang sofa dito sa balcony. Kahit malamig ang simoy ng hangin, hindi ako masyadong giniginaw dahil sa init ng katawan niya. He was so close to me that I could even smell his after-shave.

"Do you want more?" tanong niya nang mapansing paubos na ang laman ng wine glass ko.

"Yes, please..."

He reached for the bottle beside him and filled mine up. 'Yung natira naman ay nilagay niya sa baso niya. We've been here for a while at naubos na rin namin 'yung isang bote. I was a bit dizzy now pero hindi naman ako lasing. It was dangerous territory, though, with him being so near me. My silk pajamas were thin enough that I can really feel his warmth.

"You're a heavy drinker, attorney," mapang-asar nitong sabi.

I chuckled and sipped my wine. "Not really. I rarely drink."

"Hmm." His amused eyes rested on me. "Really? No parties?"

"I was a mom at 21, Vince. Kailan naman ako magp-party?"

He remained serious. "Oh? No dates, whatsoever?"

Umiling ako at muling napainom. "Busy ako kay Gabriel. At kung hindi sakanya, I'm flooded with work. When would I have the time?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "You're gorgeous, Luna. Successful, kind, and sexy. Walang nanligaw?"

Parang may kung anong sumabog sa'kin nang sabihin niya 'yon. You find me sexy, huh?

I shifted a bit. Napansin kong bumaba ang mga mata niya sa dibdib ko. I wasn't too blessed with that area, but I was confident enough with my body. Mas lalo akong nag-init sa tingin niyang 'yon.

"No. Like I said, too busy."

"Hmm... Even before Gabriel?"

Napalunok ako at napaiwas ng tingin. His eyes were even darker than usual. I may be a virgin, but I'm not really innocent. May mga kaibigan ako noong college na nagk-kwento tungkol sa ganon. And in the years I've spent dealing with all types of people, alam ko na silang basahin. And with Vince, I am not blind by his obvious desire at the moment. I can even see it... if I lower my eyes more.

"Too busy with school," sabi ko nalang. 'Yun rin naman ang totoo.

Binalot kami ng katahimikan. I continued sipping my wine while he finished his quickly.

I'll admit that he was really attractive. Unang beses ko atang mahumaling sa isang lalaki. Magaan rin ang loob ko sakanya na kahit tahimik kami pareho, komportable parin ako. I am also more attracted to him because of his relationship with my son. Isang linggo palang ang lumipas pero kitang-kita ko na kung gaano siya kabuti bilang isang ama. He was generous, caring, and extremely loving towards Gabriel. Any sane woman would be normally attracted.

But... there was more. Hindi ko alam kung ano, pero may humihila talaga sa'kin. He was magnetic in so many ways.

I glanced at him. Hinahaplos na naman niya ang kilay niya habang nakapikit. He bit his lower lip and I followed suit. Mapupula ang mga labi niya at kumikinang, dala na rin siguro ng iniinom namin na red wine. Sipping mine until the last drop, I forcibly closed my eyes and tried to breathe deeply.

Kailangan kong kalmahin ang sarili ko. If it were any other man, with this level of attraction, siguro ay may ginawa na ako. But this is Vince, Gabriel's dad. Hindi p'wede padalos-dalos ako sa mga gagawin o sasabihin ko.

Yes, I am attracted to him. More so than any other man I've ever met in my life. Pero kailangan kong maging matalino. My son was in between and I have to think of him. Besides... I can see he wants me, too. But we are not teenagers anymore. We need to be responsible adults.

And acting on our attraction without clear intentions... makakagulo lang 'yon. And the last thing I want is to complicate things further.

"Nilalamig ka ba?" malumanay niyang tanong.

I hugged my shawl tighter. "Hindi naman. Sakto lang."

"Sabihin mo lang kung oo. Gabriel said I give warm hugs."

Napadilat ako sa sinabi niya. He had a serious look in his eyes pero nang maglaon ay unti-unti rin siyang napangiti. His teasing and boyish smile got me.

"Talaga ba?" I grinned.

He chuckled and reached out his arm. "Try me, attorney."

Despite all the warning bells, I shifted closer to him. Sumandal ako ng tuluyan sakanya at niyakap naman niya ako ng mahigpit. I instantly felt warmer.

"Gabriel's right," I mumbled, a bit sleepy now.

Tumawa siya at tumaas-baba ako dahil doon. Napangiti rin ako. Oh, fuck it. Overthinking complicates things. Living in the moment... well, that's less complicated.