Yuka was beginning to enjoy her new home. She had decided to enjoy a morning swim while the helps set up her breakfast by the poolside. Good thing pregnancy hadn't ruined her body yet as she was still able to wear her favorite two-piece bikini. She had gained some flesh here and there, especially on her chest and buttocks which made her body more womanly, but she thought she still looked good in bikinis.

"Ma'am Yuka, ready na ang breakfast mo." Said the smiling help as Yuka swam to the edge.

"Good. Kanina pa ako nagugutom." She smiled back at her, swallowing a titter of excitement. She really felt like a true rich girl with the helps attending to her every whim. Hindi siya makaarte ng ganito sa bahay ng Ate niya dahil alam niyang pagagalitan siya nito at ng Mammy at Ninang niya.

She climbed up the pool ladder and the help automatically handed her a towel. She dried herself with it and sat at the poolside table. Every food she had requested was there. A bowl mixed berries, some toasts, and ginataang mais with langka.

"Payungan mo naman ako, Yaya." She said before digging into her food as the ray of sun hit the spot where the table was at. "Naaarawan ako, o. Baka masira ang beautiful skin ko."

Madali naman sumunod ang kasambahay at tumayo ito sa likod niya para payungan siya.

"Ikaw, paypayan mo naman ako, please. Ang init-init dito." Sabi niya sa isa pang kasambahay na nakatayo sa tabi ng mesa. The help did as she was told to do and began to fan her.


"Yan. Ganyan. Palakas naman ng konti." A satisfied smile broke across her face and she happily took a bite from the toast. She could not believe that this was her life now. Siya na ang nasusunod sa bahay. Hindi na ang Ate niya, ang Mammy niya, o ang Ninang niya. Pwede na siyang mag-feeling prinsesa. Here, she could live the life she had always fantasized.

"Teka, tinawag niyo na ba ang hubby ko?" She asked before taking her second bite. She wanted to convice even the helps that they were a normal couple in a normal relationship.

"Mamaya na daw siya. Si sir naman kape lang iyon sa umaga, pag walang pasok nakakulong lang iyon sa lab niya at aakyat lang sa tanghali na para kumain. Ayaw niya kasing naiistorbo sa trabaho." Sagot nang nagpapaypay sa kanya.

She had suddenly lost appetite knowing that Yvo wouldn't be able to join her for breakfast. Sana kasi siyang palaging may kasamang kumain, lalo na sa agahan.

"Pa-ready na lang ng bathtub ko, mamaya na nga lang ako kakain. Sasabayan ko na lang si doc." She told the helps.

She went back into the pool and swam a little. When the help told her that her tub was ready, she went to her bathroom and took a bath. Pagkatapos niyang maligo ay nagpahanda siya ng pagkain na dadalhin niya sa office ni Yvo.

Yuka carried a tray of food down his laboratory basement. From Yvo's study room, there was a curved stairway heading down which leads to a contemporary-styled room that blended with the whole house. Everything was black, white, and grey. The room had a couch, a big flat screen TV, and even a mini-bar. On one side of the room was a dark brown wooden double door which she assumed where his lab was. Dumiretso doon si Yuka at excited na binuksan ang pinto. She was expecting a Dexter's Lab kind of laboratory or the ones she sees in sci-fi movies. But it was just a boring white room like of a hospital with computers and fancy machines and shelves full of bottles and containers, nothing weird like fetuses and body parts in bottles, just liquids. Everything looked sterile and clean.

Yvo was sitting on a swivel chair with earphones stuck into his ears, his head bent over the microscope. Lumapit si Yuka at hinatak ang isang earphone na nakasuksok sa tainga niya. He immediately turned his head to her direction.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, surprised.

"Hindi ka pa daw kumakain kaya naisip ko na sabayan ka." Yuka put down the tray of food on the table. "Ano ba yang ginagawa mo?"

"I'm working." He answered.

"Para yan sa bagong project mo?" She asked, setting up the food in front of Yvo.

"Yes." He answered.

"Ano ba yang project na yan?" She pulled up a chair so that she could sit next to him.

"Personalized medicine." He answered. 

"Ano yun?"

"With all the advanced technologies we have now, I think it's time we move away from one-size-fits-all medicines. A lot of medicines tend to focus more on the target rather than the patient. The new concept is basically taking into account the patient's genome, epigenome, environmental and behavioral factors through genome analysis. A good example is cancer. It's always DNA damage in genes that control the cell cycle. In the case of genomic approach to medicine, we're trying to make it possible to sequence the genes of these cells, identify the mutation, and specifically target the mutated cell with the patient's immune system or remove it altogether from the tumor genomes to restore its normal function."

"Sandali, nag-overload yata ang utak ko." Yuka joked.

Yvo chuckled a little. "It's really not that easy to understand. The human body is more complex than we could ever realize."

"Isang linggo na lang ikakasal na tayo. Akalain mo yun, ikakasal tayong dalawa?" She laughed a little. They had planned everything in a hurry. The date had already been set and it was decided that it was just going to be a simple small wedding. After awhile, her face turned serious as she looked at him. "Hindi ka ba nagdadalawang isip?"

"Why would I?"

"Paano kung makahanap ka ng babaeng mamahalin mo balang-araw? Hindi mo ba naisip iyon? You'll be tied to me. Habang buhay, Yvo." Yuka chewed on her bottom lip. She wanted to know what would happen to her and her baby when that happens one day.

"You know a French author once said that some people would have never fallen in love if they hadn't heard there was such a thing." Yvo chuckled with dry humor. "We're convenient companion to each other and that's good enough."

"Good enough? Pwede ba yun? Kasal itong pinag-uusapan natin, hindi naman ito parang kanin na isusubo mo at pag napaso ka ay iluluwa mo." She said.

Yvo held the hinge of his glasses and took it off. "We know exactly what we want from each other."

Dahan-dahan naman tumango si Yuka bago niya nahagilap ang sasabihin. "Ganyan nga siguro pag matalino no? Puro isip ginagamit, hindi puso. Sabagay mahirap nga yun. Sabi nga ni Francis Bacon, it is impossible to love and be wise. Nakikinig din naman ako sa klase." She chuckled, light-heartedly.

"I don't believe in love the way other people do. You want to know what ended my last relationship? Unrealistic expectations that love is expected all the time. I say that's romanticism, an ideology created in the mid-18th century. Everything we know about romantic love now was just created a few centuries ago."

"OA naman nito. So sinasabi mong imbento lang ang love?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "When people fall in love, they take cues from movies and books but really, take away all those and would we even know what raw romantic love is? To me it all comes down to two simple things, mutual trust for each other and respect. You're one of the most practical people I know, you'll understand what I'm trying to say."

She let out a half-hearted smile as an answer.

"Are you having second thoughts?" Umarko ang kilay ng lalaki.

"No!" Agad na sagot ni Yuka. "No, it's not that. Gusto ko itong pinasok ko. Alam kong hindi mo kami pababayaan ni baby."

"That I can promise you."

"Pero ibig sabihin ba nun... pwede ka pa rin makipagrelasyon sa ibang babae habang kasal na tayo?" She asked, her voice squeaking a little.

Yvo straightened his spine as he had not expected her question nor had he thought about it. "I haven't really had a chance to think about those things. Pero makakaasa ka na wala akong gagawin na bagay that would potentially humiliate you or our marriage. I hope you'd do the same, too." 

Dahan-dahan na napatango si Yuka. His answer was still pretty vague, she wanted to hear more from him, a reassurance of some sort. She didn't even know what kind of reassurance she was looking for but decided to not push it any further. Wala naman na siyang talo sa set up nilang ito. She would benefit from this marriage as much as he would.

"Nanay!" She ran up to Andi as soon as she entered the boutique. Ilang araw niya na niyang inaanticipate ang araw na ito. Today was her gown fitting at ang designer lang naman ay isa sa pinaka-sikat na international fashion designer. Mga A-lister na hollywood stars at models lang naman ang karamihang kliyente nito. She could not believe her luck when she heard it was also her future mother-in-law's good friend. Dati sa mga Vogue magazine niya lang nakikita ang pangalan nito.

"Yuka, darling." Andi hugged her soon to be daughter-in-law back. Magaan na agad ang loob niya sa batang ito unang kita niya pa lang. Yuka had a very open personality, she was a what-you-see-is-what-you-get type of person, much to Andi's delight. Ibang-iba kasi ito sa anak niyang si Monique na simple lang at mailap sa tao, very her before she met her husband. To her, having Yuka in their family was like having another child with a far more different personality than her other two. She was excited to have a daughter that enjoys fashion and the glitz and glamour of her modelling life. 

"Nanay, I can't believe work ni Alex Montes ang isusuot ko sa wedding day ko. This is a dream come true!" Yuka blurted out as soon as they pulled away from each other. "Buti na lang friendship kayo, Nanay. Thank you!"

"You don't need to thank me. Hindi pa kayo kasal ng anak ko but I already consider you as my daughter. I want nothing but the best for my children." She said, fixing the loose strands of Yuka's hair and tucking it behind her ear. 

She put her hand over her chest. "Ang swerte swerte ko talaga kasi ang bait ng mother-in-law ko."

"I'm just as lucky to have you as my daughter-in-law." She smiled at the young woman. "Halika na, let's go in. Your dresses are waiting for you." 

Yuka hooked her arm around her mother-in-law's as if they had been bestfriends all their lives. Her Ate, Mammy, and Ninang were already inside when they walked in, they were having a chat with her sister-in-law, Monique who didn't so much as nod and give polite smiles. Nag-usap kasi sila na dito na sila magkikita para makapamili na din ng susuotin. Her flower girls, the twins, unfortunately couldn't come as they were having their classes. The four were being served finger food and champagne while they chatted with each other. It was decided that the bride and groom were to have different fitting schedules, hindi daw kasi pwedeng makita ng groom ang bride sa pangkasal bago ang kasal nila. 

"Nandito na ang bride." Andi announced with excitement in her voice. 

"Buti naman, kala ko pagseserve na din kami ng dinner dito." Jodie joked, taking a sip of champagne he had in his hand while he sat with his legs poshly crossed.

"Ganito pala sa mga sosyal na tindahan, may pa sandwich at inumin pa." Sabi ng Mammy niya. "Tinanong ko nga kanina kung idadagdag nila to sa babayaran namin pero di naman daw kaya humingi pa kami. Libre naman, eh."

"Kala ko nga mali tayo ng pinasukan kanina. Kala ko funeraria kasi inalok agad tayo ng sandwich at drinks. Di ba ganon sa lamay?" Humalakhak ang Ninang niya.

"Ninang, yung bibig mo talaga. Marinig ka ng may-ari." Pigil ang tawang siniko ni Saskia ito dahil nakita niya ang designer na papalapit na sa kanila. 

"Kain ka na." Her mother offered her a sandwich.

"Mamaya na, My. Excited na akong magsukat ng mga dress." She couldn't hide the enthusiasm she was feeling. 

"Is everyone ready now? The bride is here?" A middle-aged woman who looked as though she had done every possible surgery you could do to a person to look younger than her age. She sure did not age gracefully. But even so, that same face had graced countless fashion magazines and had exchanged cheek-to-cheek kisses with the brightest stars in hollywood.

"Yes, this is Yuka, my son's bride." Pakilala ni Andi.

"What a beautiful bride you'd make." She commented while looking at her. "So nice to finally meet you."

Yuka was speechless for a moment before she was able to shake herself out of her admiring trance. It was only then she had realized that the lady has had her hand held out for a few seconds now. Yuka immediately took the lady's hand in both hers and shook it with such eagerness. "Oh my God, Miss Alex Montes."

Natawa naman ang babae sa tinuran niya. "Pleased to meet you, too."

"Gustong-gusto ko po yung mga design niyo, I swear. Palagi ko kayong nakikita sa Vogue, sa Elle, sa L'Officiel. Nag-iipon pa ako ng allowance ko makabili lang ng magazines." She was just as stunned as the first time she had seen Andi. 

"Oh darling, I'm so flattered." Alex looked at her warmly bago binaling ang tingin kay Andi. "Marunong pumili ang anak mo, Andi. I already like your daughter-in-law."

Andi giggled. "I told you you'd love her."

"Come on, girls, let's go see the bridal collection." She gestured for them to follow her. 

They were taken to a room where it had racks and racks of long, white dresses. There must've been about 50 dresses in the room. She felt like real royalty the moment she walked in, it was designed to look like a palace. In the middle of the room was a huge elegant platform with a grand staircase, right in front of it was a three-way mirror where one could admire herself from all angles.

"It's a shame we don't have enough time para magawan kita ng wedding dress. Ayaw ko naman madaliin ang work ko." Alex said. "But I promise you, these are just as good. Feel free to look around, if there's any particular design you're looking for please let me know."

She felt like a child in a candy store as her eyes roamed around the room. She did not know where to begin. The dresses were all exceptionally beautiful and she knew she was going to have a hard time choosing. She looked at a few dresses before she was able to figure out what she truly wanted. So she walked back to Alex, not feeling the need to try on any of those beautiful dresses dahil alam niya na kung ano ang eksaktong gusto niya.

"Where's your most expensive dress?" Yuka asked with a sure smile on her face.

The most expensive wedding dress Alex had designed was in a special room just for it. They had to take it off from the mannequin so that Yuka could try it on. She was in awe when she saw the dress and instantly knew that it was meant to be hers. Hindi siya nag-aksaya nang oras at agad itong sinuot. It fitted perfectly on her, with only minor adjustments here and there.

"Oh my god!" Hindi siya makapaniwala habang nagpapaikot-ikot siya sa harap ng three-way mirror. Thousands of delicate Swarovski crystals cascade over the sheer bodice of the princess cut gown and the lower part of the gown was just as beautifully designed with intricate yet subtle beadings, crystals, and lace. She had never worn such grand gown in her whole life and had never looked this perfect in a clothing before. "This is it! This is my wedding gown!"

"Di ba sabi mo simple lang ang wedding mo?" Tanong ni Saskia.

"Basta ito na talaga ang gusto ko." She pouted like a little girl begging for candy. 

"Kailangan may naka-ready nang shades para sa mga guest para di sila masilaw pagpasok mo." Her Ninang commented.

"Ang ganda-ganda mo diyan, anak. Mana ka talaga sa akin." Sasha proudly said and then she turned to the designer. "Magkano nga ba yan?" 

"1.5 Million pesos." Alex answered.

"Hala! Hubarin mo nga yan!" Agad na nasambit ng Mammy niya. "Ingatan mo ang paghubad baka may mahulog na kristal."

"Ang mahal naman niyan. Doon na lang tayo maghanap sa divisoria. Pagaya na lang natin yan." Her Ninang suggested. 

"It's fine. She looks perfect in that gown." Andi smiled. 

"Di ba, Nay? Ang ganda, bagay na bagay sa akin." She spun around the mirror again.

"Iba na lang, Yuka, yung mas mura naman diyan." Sabi ni Saskia.

"Ito talaga ang gusto ko, eh!" She stumped her feet on the ground like a child about to throw a fit.

"Alex, we'll have that gown." Said Andi without batting an eye. "My son told me to buy you whatever gown you want for the wedding. Sa kanya naman naka-charge ito saka ang ganda-ganda naman talaga sa'yo. I can't imagine seeing you walk down the aisle in another wedding gown." 

"Talaga, Nanay?" Her eyes widened before she let out a squeal. "Thank you! Thank you so much! The best ka talaga!" 

She had to thank Yvo for that, too. Hindi siya tinipid o binigyan ng budget nito. She could already imagine the look on people's face as she walks down the aisle in that gown. Everyone would envy her and wish they were her just as she had envied and wished to be in somebody's place in the past. This was often her motivation for doing things. 

After her fitting, it was time to pick a dress for her mothers, sister, ninang, and her maid of honor, Monique. Hindi na pwedeng mag maid of honor si Saskia dahil kasal na ito kaya ang kapatid ng magiging asawa niya ang napagdesisyunan niyang kunin. Sage green was the wedding's motif kaya iyon din ang kulay ng suot ng kanyang maid of honor. 

She walked up to Monique who was busy picking a dress for herself and stood beside her. She needed to build a relationship with her new sister. Ito na lang ang tanging tao na hindi niya nakukuha ang loob sa pamilya ni Yvo. She wanted them to like her. 

"Alam mo kahit ano'ng suotin mo babagay sa'yo. Pareho kasi kayo ng body type ni Nanay, pang model talaga. Buti hindi mo naisipan mag-model, no? Ang ganda mo pa naman." She tried to open up a conversation.

"It's just not my kind of thing." She answered in a monotone, barely throwing a glance at her. 

"Sabagay. Para ka din si Yvo, may sariling mundo." She giggled to make the conversation a little light-hearted in hopes that she'd grow comfortable with her.

She took a dress from the rack and without saying anything made her way to the dressing room. Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Yuka at napairap habang pinanonood ito. It looked like her new sister was determined to give her a hard time but it was not like Yuka to give up that easily. Her new sister would have to deal with her whether she likes it or not. She was going to be a part of their lives now. 

Not a minute had gone by when Monique peaked her head out from the dressing room. "Nay..."

Andi was busy chatting with her family and the fashion designer at the other end of the room.

"Kailangan mo ng tulong?" She eagerly asked the new sister.

Monique didn't answer but she welcomed herself in anyway. This might be the start of their bond. 

"I just... I can't reach the zipper on the back." Sabi nito habang nakaharap sa salamin.

"Tulungan na kita, sis." She said and stood behind Monique. She was amused by how tall her new sister was even without her heels. Siya ang nanghihinayang dito kung bakit hindi naging modelo. She had tried signing up for beauty pageants and modelling gigs before but they always had the same issue with her, her height. 

"Don't call me sis." Monique's voice was small yet clear enough. "Hindi kita kapatid."

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa babae sa salamin to see that she was looking back at her. She could see the cold indifferenc in the gaze the woman was giving to her. 

"Teka, may problema ba tayo? Magka-diretsahan nga tayo. Ang alam ko kasi wala naman akong ginagawa sa'yo." She had snapped, her bitchy side of her begging to be let out. If Monique wasn't Yvo's sister baka kung ano na ang na sabi niya sa babae. May respeto pa din siya sa lalaki at sa pamilya nito lalo na't ito ang tumutulong sa kanya ngayon sa sitwasyon niya.

"Sa akin wala pero sa kapatid ko, I don't know." She shrugged her shoulders. 

"Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?" Her brows furrowed.

"Who's the father of the child you're carrying? Is that really my brother's?" Umarko ang kilay ng babae.

Suddenly, Yuka's throat felt dry that she had to swallow her own saliva to put moisture to it. 

"You were dating Tate, weren't you? It was all over the news." 

"T-tapos na kami ni Tate." She answered.

"You were already pregnant while you were seen dating Tate. I calculated." She said, her tone remain without emotion. "My brother's a smart man. I don't think he'd miss that. Sabihin mo sa akin, sino ba talaga ang ama niyan?"

"Si Yvo! Siya lang ang ama nito." Napahawak siya sa tiyan niya. It was he who took on the responsibility that another man couldn't handle. Siya ang umako sa batang dinadala niya at siya ang amang kikilalanin ng anak niya. 

Monique turned to face her and looked her directly in the eyes. 

"But there's a possibility that it's Tate's, am I right?" She asked never leaving her eyes off hers. 

Nagbaba ng tingin si Yuka sa sahig. She couldn't handle Monique looking at her like that. "Kagaya nga ng sabi ko, si Yvo lang ang ama nito."

"You're lying and you know it." Monique said, her eyes scanned her from head to toe. "I'm going to be honest with you, Yuka, I don't like you for my brother. I don't know what's going on but I know something's off."

Yuka took in a deep breath and held her chin high. She gave her a bitchy smirk. "Well, you'd just have to deal with it. I'm marrying your brother and there's nothing you can do about it... sis."

___

Sorry again for taking too long to update. Just went on a hiatus. Please don't get mad at me, I have not abandoned you or my stories haha. Love you all!