"Mr. Silvañes, you are facing a serious libel charge here. You cannot combat it by publishing a misleading article!" puna ko sa kliyente ko na kanina ko pa ka-meeting.

This whole conversation was giving me a headache. Paulit-ulit lang kami at wala nang matinong usapan.

Sumimangot siya, tila napipikon na rin. "Why not, attorney? This is obviously against my freedom of expression!"

"No, this is illegal. Bawal kang magrelease ng article na walang katotohanan, especially not one that taints the reputation of someone purposely," mas mahinahon kong pag-explain.

"Libel should be decriminalized then!" gigil niyang sabi at nahampas pa ang lamesa sa pagitan namin. I tried my best to remain calm. "I'm a journalist, attorney, I should not be punished for publishing my articles! Karapatan ko 'yon!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Silvañes, but libel is an unprotected speech and if you can't grasp that simple concept, you may leave. I can refer you to another counsel," pormal kong sabi dahil naubusan na ako ng pasensya sa usapang ito.

He grumbled about his rights and his freedoms some more before leaving my office. Nahilot ko nalang ang sentido ko at sinubukang pakalmahin ang sarili. That was a waste of my three precious hours! Kung hindi lang malaki ang bayad sa consultation, baka naiyak na ako!

I am suddenly reminded of why I sometimes regret focusing on corporate law. Dealing with entitled, rich corporate personalities was sometimes not worth it. Kung hindi lang masyadong delikado para sa pamilya ko, lalo na kay Gabriel, ay siguro naging criminal defense attorney na ako.

Kris came in the moment Mr. Silvañes left. Ngumiwi siya. "Ilalagay ko na po ba siya sa block list, attorney?"

I sighed and nodded, still a bit dizzy from it. "Yes, please. Siguro kailangan na ulit nating mag-screening sa mga kasong tatanggapin ko, Kris."

Tumango siya at napangisi, parang natatawa sa kaawa-awa kong itsura. "Opo, attorney. Idi-direct ko po sila sa ibang associates dito sa firm."

"Good. Na-order mo na ba 'yung sinabi ko sa'yo?"

"Opo. Finorward ko 'yung confirmation email sa'yo at madi-deliver po dito ng five pm bukas," aniya.

I smiled. "Thanks, Kris. That should be all for today."

Lumaki ang ngisi niya. "Early out, attorney?" mapanukso nitong tanong.

I smirked. Napansin na rin siguro niyang mas napapaaga na ang uwi naming dalawa. While we both usually stay until six in the evening, sometimes we leave earlier than five now. Ayos lang naman sa'min because one of the perks of our jobs and higher positions is the fact that we are salaried, not per hour. Kaya kahit undertime, walang problema.

"Umuwi ka na," natatawa kong sabi. "Hinihintay ka na ng boyfriend mo!"

"Sus, si attorney! Gusto lang umuwi kay... hmm!" Ngumisi siya at natawa naman ako sa panunuya niya. "Bye, attorney! Ingat!"

I waved before laughing at her crazy antics. Nag-heart sign pa kasi bago lumabas ng opisina ko. Napailing nalang ako at sinimulan nang magligpit ng mga gamit.

To: Vince :)

What time ka uuwi?

Napangiti na naman ako nang makita ang pangalan niya sa phone ko. I found it so corny that he put a smiley emoji next to his name, pero hindi ko naman magawang burahin ito.

He complained one night that his caller I.D. was too formal and cold. Kahit litong-lito ako sa mga pinagsasabi niya, I let him navigate my phone until he changed it into that.

Instead of a reply, he called me. Agad ko itong sinagot.

"You're off?" medyo gulat nitong bungad sa'kin.

"Yeah. Had a long meeting and called it," sabi ko nalang at tinigil ang pag-aayos ng gamit. I leaned back casually against my chair. "Ikaw, hindi pa ba?"

"No, that's why I called, babe," aniya na dahilan ng munting pagngiti ko.

"Oh? Bakit?"

"Something came up with one of our branches kaya kailangan kong kausapin 'yung manager doon. I might be home really late since it's in Tagaytay."

Napaupo ako ng tuwid doon sa gulat. "Tagaytay? Magd-drive ka ng gabi?" Just the thought of it made me nervous.

"No, they're already preparing the chopper," kaswal nitong sabi.

Napakurap ako sa pagkamangha. Sometimes I forget who he is and when he casually says things that are not really ordinary, doon ko lang naaalala kung sino talaga siya. He comes from a big name family at kahit na naging kilala rin kami kahit papano, we were not in the same calibre as the Serranos. Mas lalo tuloy akong kinabahan para bukas!

"Well... take care then. Text mo nalang ako."

"I will. Don't wait up for me. Tatawag nalang ulit ako mamaya para kausapin ang anak natin," he said a bit sadly. Tucking in Gabriel was their nightly routine now.

"Okay. Just update me, Vince, and please be safe."

He chuckled. "Oo naman. Uuwian ko pa kayo."

I grinned. Buti at wala na si Kris! She cannot see me acting like this!

When I got home, saktong kakatapos lang rin ni Gabriel sa homework niya. He was a bit disappointed when I told him his papa will be late tonight, pero buti nalang at hindi naman siya nag-tantrum. Inabala nalang niya ang sarili sa hindi matapos-tapos na airplane toy.

I took a quick shower and helped Jelai prepare dinner. Naasiwa pa ako nang apat na plato ang inihanda ko pero hinayaan ko na. I'm just so used to Vince's presence that it's weird not to have him here right now.

After dinner, which was not as lively, tumawag si Vince. Gusto ko man siyang kausapin ay hinayaan ko nalang silang mag-ama na mag-usap. Gabriel sounded so impressed that his papa was traveling in a chopper.

"Okay, papa, I need to wake up early tomorrow for school, so you can stay with mama tonight," rinig kong sabi ni Gabriel kaya natigilan ako.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Jelai at ngumisi siya. Pinanlakihan ko naman siya ng mata kaya napatakip siya ng bibig.

Vince still sleeps with Gabriel in his room at ngayon lang ata siya matutulog sa kwarto ko. I can't help but be more excited for him to come home!

"Uh-huh," sabi ni Gabriel at hinaplos ang kilay, gaya ng gawain ng papa niya. "I will, papa. I'm excited for tomorrow! I can't wait to meet them!"

"Naku, ma'am, bukas na po pala," sabi ni Jelai kaya biglang nabuhay ang kaba ko.

Ngumuso ako. "Jelai talaga. Sinusubukan kong huwag isipin, e!"

"Ay, sorry, ma'am," napangiti siya. "Hindi ka ba excited?"

Umiling ako. "Natatakot nga ako, e. Bigatin pa naman mga 'yon."

"Sus, si ma'am! Bigatin rin naman kayong magkakapatid, ah? Laman parin kayo ng balita hanggang ngayon," aniya.

"Iba naman 'yon, Jelai. Mawawala rin 'yan, pero sila..." Napabuntong-hininga ako. I was so nervous again.

Jelai smiled supportively. "Ma'am, magugustuhan ka ng mga 'yon. Mabait si sir Vince kaya sigurado akong mababait rin ang mga magulang niya!"

"Sana nga, Jelai..."

Gabriel and I were meeting Vince's parents tomorrow. Nakarating na galing Switzerland ang ama niya kaya agad sinabi ni Vince na gusto na niya kaming ipakilala. I could feel the pressure of it all kahit na sinusubukan kong kumalma at huwag masyadong isipin.

I just can't get over the fact that Vince is not an ordinary Serrano. He is the only son of the prestigious Serrano family. Sa mundong ginagalawan namin, dugong bughaw na sila kung ituring. They were probably the most influential family in the business world.

"Mama, papa wants to talk to you," sabi ni Gabriel at inabot sa'kin ang phone ko. Humalik siya sa pisngi ko bago bumalik sa laruan. Jelai joined him.

"Hey, saan ka na?" tanong ko at naglakad papunta sa balkonahe.

I sat at the couch there, enjoying the cool breeze and city lights. I suddenly remembered that night we hugged here.

"In Tagaytay still. The general manager here is a mess," aniya at napansin ko agad ang iritasyon sa boses niya. "Hindi ko alam kung paanong nakalusot 'to. I'd fire him right now if only I brought a replacement with me."

"How about the assistant manager?"

"Pareho silang hindi marunong sa trabaho." I heard him sight deeply.

Sana sumama pala ako. Just hearing his tired and frustrated voice is making me wish I was there to help him out. Bihira lang siya magkwento tungkol sa trabaho kaya hindi ko masyadong naiisip kung ano ang mga ginagawa niya.

And with the prestige of Serra Lines, I don't think I can even comprehend the amount of pressure he's in. Maraming empleyado ang nakadepende sakanya at obligasyon niya bilang tagapagmana na siguraduhing maayos ang takbo ng kumpanya. If he fails, thousands of people lose their jobs. The pressure to make sure he does everything right must be weighing him down a lot.

"Well, I'm sure you can handle it, Vince. They entrusted you with the company for a reason, anyway," sabi ko nalang dahil wala na akong ibang masabi. I can't pretend to know what he's feeling with the pressure, but I can empathize and be supportive.

Narinig ko ang buntong-hininga niya. "Thanks, babe. I can't wait to come home to you."

Napangiti ako dahil don. "Don't rush. Andito parin kami pag-uwi mo."

"Of course—Huh? Okay, give me a minute," biglang promal nitong sabi. Narining ko ang pagsara ng pinto sa kabilang linya bago siya muling bumuntong-hininga. "I need to go. Dumating na ang mga reports na pinapakuha ko."

"Okay. Be safe, Vince."

"I will. See you later," aniya at tinapos na ang tawag.

"Mama, should we watch a movie?" tawag ni Gabriel mula sa salas.

I neared them and saw them both looking comfortable in their pajamas. Pati si Jelai ay mukhang handa nang matulog. Nasa sofa silang dalawa at mukhang abala sa paghahanap ng papanoorin.

"It's a school day, Gabriel," malumanay kong paalala at tinabihan siya.

He chuckled. "Mama, tomorrow is half day because of the teacher's conference. Hapon pa po ang pasok ko," aniya.

Ngumiwi ako nang mapagtantong tama nga naman siya. I keep forgetting that he was in first grade kaya naiiba na ang schedules nila. It's still hard to believe how big he is now. Parang kailan lang nang nagtampo siya dahil iniwan sa kindergarten.

"Okay, what should we watch then?"

We ended up watching a Disney movie before going to bed. Alas-nuebe nang matapos ang pinapanood namin at hindi parin dumadating si Vince kaya ako na ang naghatid kay Gabriel sa kwarto niya.

"I'll substitute papa for tonight," I said while tucking him in.

Ngumiti siya. "It's okay, mama, I understand. Papa is a rich businessman like tita Estrella."

I chuckled. Ganon niya talaga i-describe ang trabaho nila dahil nakasanayan niyang marinig 'yun mula kay ate.

"Plus, I missed you, mama..." biglang sabi niya na kinagulat ko.

"Missed me? Lagi mo naman akong kasama, Gab..."

He had a serious and solemn look on his face. Kamukhang-kamukha si Vince. "Yeah, but... Papa's been here. Gusto ko na andito siya, but it was still different when it was just us. We should go on a date, mama."

My heart melted instantly. Hinaplos ko ang buhok niya. "Hindi kasama si papa? Baka magtampo 'yon."

Umiling-iling siya. "No, mama, sabi ni papa, it's normal. Para kapag kayo lang din 'yung magde-date, I won't feel bad."

"S-sinabi niya 'yon?" Loko talaga si Vince! He didn't mention that to me!

"Sabi niya... the both of you will have dates at hindi ako dapat magtampo. It's normal that we take you out on dates for bonding," he said it in such an innocent manner na wala akong ibang magawa kundi ang matawa na lamang. I'll definitely talk to Vince, pero hindi ko naman p'wedeng kontrahin ang sinabi niya kay Gabriel.

It is normal, after all.

"Okay then... When should we go on our date?"

Napahawak siya sa kilay niya at tila nag-isip. He frowned and looked at me. "Magpaalam muna tayo kay papa, mama."

"Ha?"

Tumango-tango siya, looking so serious and stern. "Sabi ni papa, kailangan magpaalam sakanya. Lalo kapag ikaw, mama, or my little sisters."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat. Sisters? Plural?

I laughed a bit awkwardly, not really knowing how to respond to that. I can't say no! Lalo na at... wala naman akong problema... sa ideyang 'yon...

I blushed and remembered that my period is done. And he will be sleeping in my room tonight! Pero pagod na siya sa byahe at trabaho!

Damn! Bakit ito ang iniisip ko?

"Right, mama? Ako magpapaalam kay papa! We can do a date on Friday!"

I smiled and combed his hair. "Okay, Gabriel, we will..."

Biglang nag-iba ang mga mata niya. They turned mischievous before he closed them, pretending to sleep. "At, mama..."

Kinabahan na ako sa tono ng boses niya at sa ngiting pinipigilan niya. "Yes, Gab?"

"I want a sister soon, so..."

"Gab!"

Nagtaklob siya sa kumot niya. I heard his sweet giggles and couldn't help but smile. I kissed him good night before leaving his room.

At habang tahimik na ang gabi, tumitig ako sa kisame ng kwarto ko. It feels weird knowing Vince isn't here, kahit na hindi naman siya dito sa kwarto ko natutulog. But knowing that he wasn't here... It ached a bit.

Gabriel's wish suddenly echoed in my mind again. I became a mom at such a young age, pero ngayon ko palang naisip ang posibilidad na magkaka-anak ako ng galing talaga sa'kin. I imagined myself pregnant and instead of fear and panic, I could feel excitement.

Masyadong mabilis ang mga pangyayari, but I am already looking forward to sharing a life with Vince by my side.