"Hey, buttercup. Good morning..." Ang mukha ni Tate ang unang nakita at ang boses niya ang una niyang narinig nang magising siya. Even with eyes still heavy from sleep, she couldn't stop the soft, lazy smile that broke across her face. 

"Good morning..." Her voice was still held some of sleep's thickness. 

"Did you sleep well?" He gently asked. 

She moaned as she stretched her arms before hugging the soft pillow next to her. "Ang sarap ng tulog ko. How was your day?"

"The team and I went out for a few drinks earlier." Tate said, grabbing an apple from the basket in front of him. He was in one of the houses his parents own in the US  where he'd be staying for the next three months. They had a few in different countries but his favorite was the vineyard estate in St. Tropez.  He had told Yuka of his childhood memories at the vineyard, how he and his siblings would help pick grapes and make wine, and he hope to bring her there someday. 

"Baka naman may kasama ka diyan na babae?" Yuka's small eyes got even smaller as it narrowed to him through the screen.

"I can't even look at other women." Tate shook his head. "I just want to focus on the game right now."

"Good luck, ha? Panonoorin kita kaya galingan mo. Alam kong kayo ang mananalo. You were so good last season." She said.

"My buttercup is a fan, huh?" Tate grinned after taking a bite of the apple and swallowing it. "I bet you were stalking me the night we met. Siguro talagang sinadya mo yun."

"Ang yabang nito." Yuka's face scrunched as she tried to keep herself from laughing. 

"I already miss you..." Sumeryoso ang mukha ni Tate. 

"Miss na din kita." Yuka sighed. It had only been three days since they saw each other. Sumama pa nga siyang maghatid kay Tate when Tanya drove her son to the airport. Susunod na lang ang magulang at mga kapatid niya para manood ng laro at suportahan siya. She was invited to watch the game but she had to turn it down as she knew her Ninang Jodie and Ate wouldn't approve of that. 

His mother had already liked her despite only having met twice. Well, she was the first woman he'd ever introduced to his parents and the couple was probably excited. They have always wanted to see their son be in a serious relation. 

Yuka was just glad when his mother wasn't offended when she couldn't finish the food she made for them the first time they met. She forced a few spoonful down her throat but after the third, she knew better than to force it down as she'd probably vomit all over. That would be even more embarrassing. Sinabi niya na lang kay Tanya that she was watching her weight.

"I promise I'll be home in no time. Uuwi ako para sa matamis mong oo." 

Yuka chuckled. "Ang corny." 

"I'm only corny for you." Natatawang sabi ni Tate. "Don't you have class this morning? What time is it there?"

"Shoot!" Yuka jolted up and looked at the digital clock on the small table next to her bed. She had snoozed the alarm clock earlier and was sure she'd running late again. "Maliligo lang ako, Tate. I promise I'll video call you again later."

"Sure, buttercup. I love you." He said, his voice gentle.

Kahit nagmamadali ay napatigil si Yuka. She bit her bottom lip to try to stop herself from smiling. Kahit ilang beses niya nang narinig sa lalaki iyon ay hindi pa rin nawawala ang kilig. 

"Kinikilig ka, ano?" Tate teased him. 

"Ang feeling mo talaga!" She snorted. "Sige na, I really have to go. I'm running late."

She ended the call and went straight to the bathroom to take a shower. Tatlong araw na silang LDR ni Tate and so far, it was working out fine. Even though she knew Tate had very hectic training schedules, he still manages to make time for her. Pero iba pa rin kung nandito ang lalaki, kung pwede nga lang niyang hatakin ang oras ay ginawa niya na. It had only been three days and it already felt like eternity. She wanted him to be her boyfriend already. She thought of being in magazines and tagged as Tate's first official girlfriend.

Bumaba siya mula sa kwarto para kumain. She hurried to the dining room as she knew she was running late and the moment she entered, it was as if she had hit a wall of smell that instantly made her stop. She swallowed back a gag.

"My, ano ba yan? Ang baho!" She made a face as she walked into the dining room. 

"Ano bang amoy pinagsasabi mo?" Tanong ni Sasha na abala sa pag-aasikaso sa lunch box ng dalawang apo.

"Ang arte mo naman!" Tintin, her niece nemesis. said "Baka nakalimutan mo lang magtoothbrush."

"My, sumasagot, o!" Sumbong niya sa ina bago tumingin kay Tintin. "Gusto mong balik kita sa sinapupunan ng nanay mo?"

"Sige, gawin mo! Ibabalik ka ng Daddy ko sa Tondo." She stuck her tongue out at her. Tintin had heard stories of Tondo and she knew how much Yuka hated the place where she had come from. 

"Tumigil na nga kayong dalawa." Sasha rolled her eyes, already used to the two squabbling. "Ikaw ang hilig mong pumatol sa bata. Kumain ka na nga lang diyan, tanghali na kung magising ka! Parang wala kang pasok ah!" 

"Ano bang pagkain?" She rolled her eyes.

"Nagluto ang Ate mo ng sinangag, tuyo, at langgonisa." Sagot ni Sasha. "Bilisan mo na habang pinapalitan ng Ate mo si Savi ng damit, na mantsahan kasi. Baka makasabay ka pa sa kanila."

She walked up to the table and knew instantly that it was the garlic rice that threw her off. It was the strong garlic smell that made her dizzy. She held her breath and took the plate and put it in the fridge. 

"Yuka, ano bang ginagawa mo?" Tanong ni Sasha habang pinanonood ang ginagawa ng anak.

"Bigay mo nga sa kanya yung pagkain ng goldfish namin, Lola Mammy." Nakangusong sabi ni Tintin.

"Nakikiepal ka pa!" She scolded her niece.

"Tumigil ka na nga, Yuka! Patol ka ng patol sa bata!" Saway ni Jodie na nanggaling mula sa kusina. 

"Kasi naman yang bibig ng apo mo!"

"Nuknukan ka kasi ng arte. Hindi mo na lang kainin kung ano ang nandyan." Her mother sighed.

"Ayoko nga! Ang baho-baho!" 

"Ano na naman pinagtatalunan niyo?" Saskia asked as she walked into the chaos happening in the kitchen, holding Savi's hand. 

"Si Tita Yuka kasi sabi ang baho daw ng luto mo!" Sumbong ni Tintin kay Saskia. 

"Ang dami mo naman kasing nilagay na garlic, Ate. Ang sakit sa ilong." She complained. 

"Are you girls ready?" Migs asked as he followed behind her wife.

"Kakain ka ba o sasabay ka sa amin? Ano'ng oras na, o? Malalate na ang mga bata, hindi ka na namin mahihintay." Saskia impatiently said. 

"Ayoko ng breakfast. Hindi na ako kakain." She folded her arms across her chest.

"Eh di wag ka kumain! Sino ba magugutom? Kami ba?" Sabi naman ni Tintin.

"Tama! Mas may common sense pa sa'yo itong bata." Jodie said. 

"O, Savi ito na ang lunch bag mo. Ubusin niyo yan, ah. Si Lola Mammy ang gumawa niyan." Sasha handed the bag to her granddaughter. 

"Thank you, Lola Mammy!" Savi sweetly said.

The twins both kissed their Lola Mammy and Mamila Jodie goodbye before leaving. Sumunod si Yuka sa pamilya palabas ng bahay kung saan naghihintay ang kotse ni Migs. Although twins and her go to different schools, her university was just a few building away from theirs kaya sinasabay siya ng mag-asawa. Cosme, on the other hand, opted for UP and was now currently living in a dorm as Migs' house was too far from the university. 

"Bestie!" Alexa, her new found bestfriend along with Patrice, waved at her after lining up to get her lunch, the two already seated at their lunch table. They were her new Jen and Bella and she was their Tracy. 

"I'm starving." Yuka groaned as she sat at the table, putting her tray down. She had gone through a three-hour long class without having anything but a water bottle. Ngayon pa lang siya makakain and there wasn't really much she liked. She had mashed potato on her tray, scrambled eggs, and salad.  "Nahihilo na ako sa sobrang gutom. I haven't had breakfast yet."

"Are you on a diet?" Patrice asked. "Ako kasi I'm on a gluten-free diet.

"What is gluten anyway?" Tanong ni Alexa.

Patrice shrugged. "I don't know. All I know is that it's bad for your body. Everything gluten-free, I'm in. Kaya nga di ba, hindi na ako bumibili sa cafeteria. I brought my own lunch with me. My yaya made a gluten-free vegetable curry for me."

Binuksan ni Patrice ang container nang lunch niya. Yuka just had her mouth open, ready to put the spoonful of mashed potato in when the strong smell of curry choked her. It was so strong, it felt like it was burning her nose and throat. She had been really sensitive to spices lately. But this one, she absolutely couldn't take. 

She could feel the bile coming up, the burning sensation from her stomach to the top of her throat. She knew it was impossible to hold in this time. She grabbed her Fendi bag and shoved her head in it. It was a fake Fendi but still, she had saved up for that and nobody could even tell that it was fake. But what was she supposed to do? Embarrass herself and vomit all over? The only thing she was thankful for was that she left all her books in her locker at ang tanging laman lang ng bag niya ay mga makeup niya.

"Ew!" Alexa shrieked.

"I think I'm going to vomit, too!" Sabi naman ni Patrice bago tumayo at nagmamadaling umalis.

"I'm sorry. I just can't!" Alexa said, gagging while she left and followed Patrice. 

Yuka cursed to herself as she continued to belch. This was social suicide. Just when she thought everything was going good for her, her stomach betrayed her. 

Was it much of a coincidence that Yvo was there to see what was happening? Bibili lang sana si Yvo ng sandwich sa cafeteria at babalik na sa office niya. That was the plan until he saw this! Yuka was now alone, throwing her guts out in what looked like a signature bag, while her two so-called friends fled the scene. One part of Yvo told him that he shouldn't intervene but the other part just couldn't leave her there. The former part of him won as he hurried to Yuka's table. 

He held her hair back as she was throwing up. Pagkatapos ay nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya ang babae, wiping her mouth with her arm. 

"Are you okay?" He gently asked.

She didn't answer. Yvo took her bag from her hands and guided her up and walking her out of the cafeteria.

"Itapon mo na yan." Yuka told Yvo in weak voice when they got out of the cafeteria. They passed by a trash bin and Yvo did as she said. 

Another wave of bile spewed from her mouth. She buried her head in the bin and started vomitting again. Muli siyang inalalayan ni Yvo at hinawakan nito ang buhok niya. It wasn't a smooth kind of vomit. It was painful. Her stomach constricting and the acid was burning her throat and nose. 

"It's okay..." Yvo rubbed her back as she threw up.

Nang matapos ito ay parang nanghihinang napasandal siya sa lalaki. Her knees felt like they were giving in. Yvo sat her at the nearest bench, taking out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping her face with it.

"Do you want me to take you to the clinic? You look pale." He asked.

Yuka could only answer with a nod. Hinawakan siya ni Yvo at inalalayan pa tayo. 

"Thank you, doc." She silently said.

She held onto him for dear life as they walked to the clinic. The nurse had her sign her name and her student number before taking her to one of the beds. 

"Ano'ng nangyari sa'yo?" Tanong ng nurse after she had taken her vitals. "Normal naman ang temperature mo baka may nakain ka."

"Wala pa nga akong kinakain simula kanina." She quietly said. 

"Kaya pala. Baka acid reflux lang yan." Tumango ang nurse as if contented with her diagnosis. "Mabuti pa kumain ka muna."

"Here, have this." Yvo ran out to buy something to help settle her stomach. A chicken salad sandwich and a bottle of water.

"Thank you ulit, Yvo..." Sabi niya at hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip na tanggip iyon. After throwing up whatever content left in her stomach, she was sure it was starting to eat itself. Kumukulo na ang sikmura niya. 

"Sure." He nodded his head before looking at the nurse. "Ako na ang bahala dito."

The nurse having know him, respectfully nodded her head and left them. He watched as Yuka started unwrapping the sandwich and taking a huge bite from it. She pushed it down with water.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, concerned in his tone.

"Nahihilo pa rin ako pero medyo okay na ako." She answered. "It was so embarrassing. I'm sure pinagtatawanan na nila ako."

"Hey, stop thinking about that. Ang mahalaga okay ka na."

"Saka tinapon mo ang Fendi bag ko!" She frowned.

"You said to throw it away." 

"I did say that pero nakakahinayang pa din. Pwede ko pang labhan iyon." She groaned, taking another bite from her sandwich. 

"Does this always happen to you?" He asked. "The nurse is probably right. Baka acid reflux yan o hindi kaya ulcer. You should have yourself checked by a doctor."

"Ngayon lang naman nangyari sa akin ito. This was Patrice's fault! Kung hindi dahil sa lecheng curry na dinala niya, hindi mangyayari ito!" 

"Did it really taste that horrible?" Yvo couldn't help the chuckle.

"Ang baho! Grabe!" She shook her head. "Nahilo ako sa amoy. May pa-glutten free pa siyang nalalaman! Ewan ko ba pero lately, ang lakas ng pang-amoy ko. Palagi akong naduduwal kapag may naamoy akong hindi maganda pero ngayon lang naman ako nagsuka."

Yvo paused for awhile as if he'd realized something and then he got up to close the curtains around her bed. 

"Did you take any plan b or were you in any birth control?" He carefully asked her.

"Ano'ng ibig mong..." Natigilan din si Yuka. Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "U-ulcer lang ito."

"Did Tate put you in any pills?" He asked again as he thought his friend would have known better. He should've gotten Yuka an emergency contraceptive.

Yuka swallowed. "H-hindi..."

He massaged his now throbbing temples. "You do know its been over a month since that happened, right?" 

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo?" Yuka tried to laugh it off.

"I know I'm not a medical doctor but it was a part of my field to know about the human body." Yvo tried to stay calm. "Nausea and heightened sense of smell are two of most obvious signs of pregnancy."

"I-imposible. Isang beses lang iyon!" She exclaimed.

"Shh... lower your voice." He calmly said to her and he began pacing back and forth as he computed the date they'd gone to bed. "It doesn't matter if it only happened once. Kung fertile ka ng araw na iyon..."

"I'm not pregnant." Her voice was low yet firm, her jaw clenching with each syllable. She thought if she said it firm enough it would be true. She wanted to believe what the nurse had said earlier even though she knew what Yvo said may be true, too. She had a whole life ahead of her. Never in her wildest dream had she ever dreamt of being a mother at a young age. She was just nineteen, for Christ's sake!

Yvo closed his eyes and exhaled the anxiety out of him. "I... I may just be paranoid. I may be wrong but Yuka, you have to make sure. I have to know."

Yuka's eyes snapped up at him. "At bakit? Kung may higit man na dapat makaalam, si Tate iyon."

"May posibilidad na ako ang ama." Yvo's eyes lowered to his feet. He was not ready to be a father, it was not something he'd be looking forward to, but he was not going to walk out on his responsibility. But God, how fucked up was this? This was Tate's woman! This was something that he never thought would happen. 

"Hindi ako buntis at kung sakali man totoo ang iniisip mo, hindi ikaw ang ama. Si Tate." She said before getting on her feet and marching past him.

Naiwan si Yvo mag-isa. He was struggling to make sense of his thoughts. His head spinning from the thought that he could possibly have a child with Yuka. He hoped that it was indeed just a mistake. That he was just paranoid. That things would turn out okay. He would never want to ruin Tate and Yuka's relationship. Nangako siya sa kanila na hindi niya na guguluhin ang dalawa. But how could he just walk away with the knowledge that Yuka might possibly have conceived after that night. 

Yuka wiped the tears from her face. She was having a horrible day. Her makeup was lipstick got ruined from vomiting earlier and now her mascara and foundation were in terrible shape from crying. The worse part was that she had to throw her makeup away, the one she had vomited on in her fake Fendi purse, and she had no spare makeup in her locker to fix it. She looked at herself in the mirror in the women's toilet where she had locked herself in. 

Hindi siya pumasok sa sunod na klase niya. How could she do so when she looked like the joker? Bumili siya ng pregnancy test. Isang oras na itong nasa bulsa niya pero hindi siya makakuha ng lakas ng loob na gamitin iyon.

She was looking at herself in the mirror, trying to will herself to use the kit. She tried to tell herself that everything would be okay. She knew the result would turn out negative. It only happened once! But for her the sake of her peace of mind, she wanted to prove to herself that she was not pregnant. 

Marami pa siyang plano sa buhay niya. She wanted to party, if given the opportunity she'd want to be a famous model, she wanted to travel the world, do crazy things, experience everything good life could ever offer. Lately, she had began dreaming of doing all those with Tate. And maybe in her late 20s or early 30s they could finally settle down.

She didn't want to be a boring housewife and the idea of her being a mother was just out of this world. She wasn't even good with kids. She lost Tintin at the mall, she almost killed Savi while they were at the beach and Saskia asked her to look after the kids while the twins were taking a swim, muntik ng malunod ito at buti na lang ay may life guard na sumaklolo. She didn't even like kids, with the exception of Savi, who was too lady-like for her age. She could not picture herself as a mother. There was not one bit of maternal instinct in her body. She was too selfish to be a mother. She could not love anyone as much as she loved herself. 

She took a deep breathe in and went back to one of the stalls. She had been in here for too long and the scent was starting to bother her. She took the pregnancy kit from the box and did as the instruction said. She peed on the stick and waited. 

When the three minutes was over, she didn't even want to look at it. It would be negative anyway, she thought. What was the point? It took her a whole lot of pep talk to herself before finally having the guts to pick up the pregnancy test kit that was sitting on top of the tank of the toilet. 

It's negative. 

She tried to tell herself over and over. This was just one huge mistake. Tama ang nurse at mali si Yvo. Yvo may be a scientist but that doesn't mean he'd be right all the time. Who did he think he was? He didn't understand her body the way she did. Katawan niya ito kaya siya ang higit na nakakaalam. 

Holding her breath, she took a peak at the pregnancy test. She almost chocked at her own oxygen when she saw two red lines. There were two! She had to read again and again what it said on the stick to make sure. One line- not pregnant, two lines- pregnant. 

"Shit!" Her knees collapsed and sat on the closed lid of the toilet, raking her fingers through her hair. "No, hindi pwede ito..."

She thought of her family. Ano na lang ang magiging reaksyon ng mga ito? Hindi pa siya nakaka-graduate. She'd promised them she would finish college. At si Tate! Paano niya sasabihin sa lalaki ito? Was he even ready to be a father?

Iniyak niya ang natitirang luhang dapat niyang iiyak. Tate needed to know. He needed to know that when he gets home, hindi lang siya ang naghihintay sa kanya kung hindi ang bata sa sinapupunan niya. 

Balisa pa rin siya nang makauwi. When Sasha and Jodie asked why she was home earlier, she told them that she didn't feel good. Nagtungo siya sa kwarto niya at agad tinawagan si Tate.

"Hey, buttercup..." Tate's voice was raspy with sleep when he picked up. He was in bed, his eyes still half-shut. 

"I-I'm sorry, naistorbo yata kita." She quietly said, trying hard not to let her voice break.

"No, it's okay." Malumanay na sagot ni Tate, seeing her face through the video. He yawned and smiled, lazily. "I understand. Na miss mo lang ako, not your fault. Can't go through the day without seeing this face, huh?"

If it was any other day, she'd laugh and call him a jerk but she didn't even break a smile.

"Tate..." Her voice squeaked a little. 

His brows furrowed when he saw tears film her eyes. "What's wrong? May problema ba? Buttercup, you know you can talk to me about anything."

"Kasi, Tate..." She finally broke into tears. 

"What?" He couldn't hide the anxiety in his voice. "Tell me what's wrong. You know I hate seeing you cry."

She swallowed back a sob and tried to compose herself. "Tate, buntis ako."

It was as if time stood still for Tate. Yuka almost thought her screen froze when Tate didn't make a single movement or even blink. He was looking at the camera but it was as though her stares was just passing through. His eyes were glazed and distant.

Yuka bit her lower lip to keep herself from sobbing.

"H-how did you know?" He finally spoke, shock still evident on his face.

"Nag-pregnancy test ako." 

Nahilamos nito ang sariling palad sa mukha. He started massaging his temples. 

"Ano'ng gagawin natin?" Tanong niya sa lalaki.

Tate shook his head. "I... Yuka, I don't want to think. This isn't what I... I'm not ready for this. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

And then his video turned black. It took a few seconds for Yuka to figure out what had happened. Tate had hang up on him. Her heart dropped to her stomach at the realization. Muli niyang tinawagan ang lalaki, she wanted to believe that connection was just bad. He didn't mean that. But the second time she called, she could no longer reach him.