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Gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa lahat ng nagbabasa, nagco-comment at nagvo-vote dito. Thank you for making Lianna, baby and Vaughn achuchuchu #4 in Romance.

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"You are not supposed to repeat the same mistake. It's called intelligence." -jazlykdat

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Published by PSICOM. Available in all leading bookstores nationwide.

***

The vacation was refreshing especially for Lianna. She's happy that everything seems to be quite okay between her and Vaughn.

She never felt like she was ignored the entire vacation. Nakakapag-usap na sila ng maayos. Pero sa kabila ng saya ay inihanda rin niya ang sarili na pagdating ng Pilipinas ay babalik na ulit sa dati ang lahat. Babalik na ang seryosong Vaughn na malimit kung siya'y pansinin.

Maybe everything that happened in Ireland was just for a show. Or it could also be the start of something better.

Lalo na at sobrang possessive nito especially during the twin's birthday party. Nagsalubong agad ang mga kilay nito nang lumabas siya ng washroom na hindi nagpalit ng gown. Galit pa nitong tinanggal ang suot na coat at ibinigay sa kanya. He even threatened to stop the party kapag hindi niya ito isinuot all throughout. Sa halip na mainis ay parang natuwa pa siya sa ginawa nito.

***

Nagising siya na wala na si Vaughn sa tabi niya. Madaling araw na silang nakauwi mula sa airport kaya't nakatulog agad sila.

She inhaled deeply as she got up. Seems like she was right. Vaughn is back to ignoring her presence.

With a heavy feeling, she fixed the bed.

Nagulat pa siya nang bigla na lang may yumakap sa baywang niya at humalik sa pisngi niya.

"Good morning," Vaughn greeted. Bagong ligo ito. She could smell the cool manly scent of his aftershave.

She was caught off guard. Hindi niya alam kung yayakap din siya o babati ng magandang umaga.

"H-hindi ka ba pupunta ng opisina mo?" nauutal niyang tanong nang makabawi sa pagkabigla. Vaughn let go of her waist.

"I can work from home," seryoso nitong saad. Parang nawala ang sigla nito kanina nang batiin siya ng good morning.

"Let's have brunch. Hintayin ka na namin sa baba." Dagdag nito bago tinungo ang pintuan. Sinundan na lamang niya ito ng tingin.

Bakit biglang nag-iba ang timpla nito? Is there something wrong with what she said?

Nagkibit-balikat na lamang siya at nagtungo sa bathroom para maligo.

Akala niya ay tapos na ang tatlo na kumain pagbaba niya pero nasa hapag pa pala ang mga ito.

"Mommy, ang tagal mo. Gutom na ako." Reklamo ni Vanna na nakapangalumbaba na sa lamesa.

"Bakit hindi pa kayo kumain?" kunot-noo niyang tanong rito.

"Dad said we'll wait for you," tugon agad ni Liam.

"Sabay-sabay daw tayo," segunda naman ni Vanna. She wanted to smile but when she looked at Vaughn busy naman ito sa cellphone nito at parang walang pakialam sa nangyayari.

She immediately sat on her usual spot.

"Okay, andito na ako. So, puwede nang kumain?" natatawa niyang saad. She wants to get Vaughn's attention which she succeeded because he put his phone beside his plate.

"Vanna, lead the prayer please?" saad niya sa anak. Agad naman itong tumalima. They muttered the grace before meals.

Akmang kukuha na siya ng pagkain nang magsalita si Vaughn.

"Lianna, can I have my coffee?"

Natigilan siya sa sinabi nito. Hindi ba may taga-timpla ito? Hindi nga nitopinansin noon ang tinimpla niyang kape.

Nakita niyang nakatitig sa kanya ang asawa kaya't tumayo na lamang siya.

"Black. No Sugar." Saad nito bago siya tuluyang nakalayo ng lamesa. Napangiti na lamang siya. This must be a good sign.

Matagal silang nasa hapag. The kids are telling them how excited they are to see their new school. Pasukan na kasi ng mga ito sa lunes.

"Mom, can we visit the school before the class starts?" Vanna Lei asked.

"Sure, we can go tomorrow," natatawa niyang tugon rito.

"Can you make it Thursday para makasama ako?" Vaughn asked that made her turn to him.

Seryoso ba ito?

"Yes! Sasama si daddy!" agad namang hiyaw ni Vanna. Napangiti na lamang siya. Pati siya ay na-excite. They will go as a family. That's nice!

"Dad, please don't forget you'll teach me how to fly a helicopter." Liam butted in.

"I thought you already forgot," Vaughn chuckled.

Nagpatingin siya kay Vaughn. Ito-tolerate ba talaga nito ang kapritso ng bata?

"Don't you think he's too young for that?" tanong niya sa asawa.

"Don't worry, ako ang bahala sa anak natin," he said with a wink. Lianna almost blushed. Her heart suddenly beats faster.

Anak natin...

Ang sarap lang pakinggan.

"Kung gusto mo sumama ka sa amin," he added smiling. She wasn't able to react. Her heartbeats are still racing.

"How about me dad?" singit naman ni Vanna.

"Nope, maiwan ka para kung sakaling bumagsak yung chopper. May magma-manage sa mga negosyo natin," natatawa nitong biro sa anak.

"Vaughn!" Lianna muttered diapprovingly. She didn't know but it sounded like a bad omen.

"Relax, I was just kidding," natatawa nitong sagot sa kanya. But for her, it wasn't a good joke.

"Hey!" untag nito sa kanya nang hindi siya nagsalita.

"Don't worry, as long as I'm around, nothing bad will happen to you," saad nito. She felt his lips on her temple. Dumukwang pala ito para halikan siya. Her heart just suddenly wants to go out from her ribcage.

"Aww, daddy. You're really the sweetest!" Vanna squealed. Nahihiya siyang sumulyap sa asawa. She saw him smiling before sipping his coffee.

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang dapat maramdaman sa sinabi nito. All she fathom is that he cares for them. Maybe he can't just tell it straight but she knows that somehow they are already okay. Ganyan naman kasi si Vaughn dati pa. He won't tell everything. It's up to you to figure it out.

"I'll just go to the study room. Tawagin niyo ako kapag lunch time na," paalam nito matapos silang magbreakfast. Lianna just nodded. The kids went to the living room. Nandoon na sa center table ang mga puzzles na ina-assemble ng mga ito.

***

Lianna is on her way down the stairs nang makasalubong niya si Vanna.

"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong niya rito.

"Hinahanap ka po ni Daddy," sagot naman nito. Humawak ito sa kamay niya at sumabay na ulit pababa.

She wonders why would Vaughn look for her. Sinabi lang nito kanina na tawagin na lang siya pag lunch time. It's only 10:30AM. Umakyat kasi siya kanina para ayusin yung mga luggage na inuwi nila from Ireland.

"Where is he?" tanong na lamang niya sa anak.

"He's at the kitchen, mom." Sagot naman ng bata. Maybe he is hungry. Pero kailangan ba hanapin pa siya? Andami namang maids na maghahanda para sa rito. He is giving her the impression that he's being clingy. Napangiti siya sa naisip.

Vanna went back to the center table of the living kung nasaan ang kambal nito.

"Hinahanap mo raw ako?" Lianna asked. Pinigilan niya ang panginginig sa boses niya. Why does she had to feel like a teenager who had seen her crush?

Vaughn puts down the glass that he is holding bago humarap sa kanya. She felt her stomach churned nang ngumiti ito.

"I just figured if you want to go to the OB-Gyne today. I can drive for you," he asked that left her dumbfounded.

Ob-Gyne?

Why does she need to go to there?

Dear Lord! Ni hindi niya naisip na maraming beses na palang may nangyari sa kanila and they were unprotected.

Kailan ba nung huli siyang dinatnan ng buwanang dalaw?

"So, are we going after lunch?" tanong ulit ni Vaughn. Saka lamang siya natauhan.

"Ahm, nope. Huwag na." Nahihiya niyang sagot.

"Are you sure?" Vaughn's forehead creased.

Napatango siya. Vaughn inhaled deeply before looking straight at her. Parang bigla siyang ninerbiyos.

"Baka naman pupunta ka na namang mag-isa at ako na naman ang huling makakaalam kung buntis ka," malumanay nitong saad. However, she could feel the tension in his voice.

She remembers six...seven years ago. Ikinatampo pala nito noon na hindi niya sinabi agad na nagpunta siya sa doctor. Ito pa ang tumawag sa ospital para lang malaman kung ano ang ginawa niya doon.

"Uhm, sige after lunch," nahihiya niyang saad sa asawa. She wants whatever they have today to work out. Kaya kung ano man ang alam niyang ayaw nito noon ay pipilitin niyang huwag nang maulit.

"Okay then, after lunch," saad nito bago lumabas ng kusina. Sinundan na lamang niya ito ng tingin.