The sun was shining in the sky and there wasn't a single cloud in sight. Even when the the curtains were drawn close, rays of sunshine seeped through it and poured into her room. Despite the good weather, however, Yuka couldn't help but feel the jitters of a bride hours away from her wedding. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to permeate in her mind the fact that she was going to be Yvo Zamora's wife.

When she opened her eyes, she met her own gaze in the mirror. Deep, deep in her almond-shaped eyes there was a growing absence, a feeling she tried so hard to bury but one she couldn't quite qwell. A human-shaped void that was left by a love that never was. Kahit pilit niyang ibaon sa limot si Tate ay hindi niya maiwasan maisip ang lalaki, ang posibleng ama ng dinadala niya ngayon at ang lalaking tumalikod sa kanya nang kailanganin niya.

She opened the drawer in the vanity and took out a rectangular box. It contained the necklace Tate had given her, a promise that was never fulfilled. Tears fell from her eyes. She had thought of throwing it away but that would be too dramatic. Isa pa, gold ito at may diamond pa. Hindi niya pa alam kung ano ang gagawin sa kuwintas na iyon kaya naisip niyang itabi na lang muna.

Agad niyang pinunasan ang dalawang butil ng luhang tumulo sa mga mata niya. She made a promise to herself that from on hindi niya na iisipin si Tate. This was the last time she'd let her mind wander to him, the last time she'd shed a tear for him. She was to wed a pharmaceutical billionaire, what more could she ask for? Kahit naman marriage for convenience lang ito ay naging mabuti naman si Yvo sa kanya at ito ang umako sa dinadala niya kahit hindi ito sigurado kung siya ba ang ama.

Dito sa Hacienda Zamora gaganapin ang kasal nila ilang oras mula ngayon. It had become a family tradition to them to wed at the hacienda, which was very fitting for their simple, garden wedding. Maganda at malawak ang hardin ng mga Zamora, and even though the wedding was supposed to be simple she had hired the best of the bests to arrange the venue.

A few minutes after, her stylists and makeup artist came into the room and began doing their magic on her. The make up were as simple and natural-looking as possible so as not to appear too excessive with her lavish gown. Just a light makeup and a loose updo. Everybody was just busy getting ready for the wedding and she hadn't even seen her groom since yesterday. She wondered what Yvo would look like later and a small smile somehow made its way across her face. Hindi pa niya nakikita ang lalaki na nakasuot ng gagamitin niya sa pangkasal nila at ganon din naman si Yvo. All he probably knew was that it was worth 1.5 million pesos and she didn't think he would really mind.

"Ang ganda ganda talaga ng anak ko, oo!" Naluluhang sabi ni Sasha habang nakatingin sa kanya nang masuot niya na ang wedding gown. She, too, couldn't help admiring herself in front of the mirror. "Di pa rin ako makapaniwala. Dalawa na kayo ng Ate mong may sarili ng pamilya."

"Nako, Mammy, ang mukap! Walang iyakan, mahal ang bayad sa makeup artist!" She said as she herself was trying hard to stop her tears from falling.

"Oo nga pala!" Her mother tried to wipe her tears away before it could even make its way down her made up cheeks.

"Magpakabait ka, Yuka, wag mo pairalin pagkamaldita mo." Paalala ni Jodie sa inaanak.

"Nandito pa din kami para sa'yo. Kung may kailangan ka, ako ang unang lapitan mo." Hinawakan ni Saskia ang mga kamay ng kapatid. "Huwag kang mahihiya sa amin."

"Kapatid mo pa. Hindi niya alam yung salitang hiya." Jodie chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood.

"Si Ninang talaga, inookray ako. Ceasefire muna. Kasal ko naman ngayon." Inirapan niya ito.

He put his hand on his chest and his face controted into sadness, his eyes filming with tears. "Hindi pa lang din talaga ako makapaniwala na ikakasal ka na. Si Cosme na lang ang natitirang Flores."

"Baka sapawan mo na naman ako katulad nung sa kasal ni Saskia. Kala mo ikaw nanay kung makapalahaw ka." Sabi nito.

"Ikaw na yata magiging best actress ngayon. Syempre kasi si Ninang ang favorite naman talaga niyan si Ate." She feigned a sneer.

"Hoy wala akong favorite sa inyo pantay-pantay ang pagmamahal ko sa inyo ng Ate mo at ni Cosme." He explained.

"Kala mo siya ang nanay, o." Sasha teased her bestfriend.

"Sa pukelya mo man nanggaling yan, pinalaki ko na din mga anak ko yan. Kaya tignan mo lumaking matitino yang anak mo. Yung dalawa nakapang-asawa ng mayaman tapos yung bunso henyo. Saan ka pa?"

"O siya, sige na. Ikaw na ang magaling." Sasha rolled her eyes at her friend.

"Talagang ako. Ako ang tumayong ina diyan sa mga anak mo nung naloloka ka sa mga lalaki mo."

Yuka and Saskia just looked at each other and couldn't help a giggle as the two argued like married couples.

Soon, the coordinator went to them and told them that the wedding was ready to start. They were guided flawlessly to their places in the ceremony. Saskia's twins were, of course, the flower girls and their ring bearer was one of Audrey's son, Monty. The venue looked exquisitely beautiful with white flowers lining the either side of the aisle leading to the arch made of thousands of more different kinds of white flowers. It was a small wedding with no more than 50 guests and it was not as extravagant but it was elegantly done.

All eyes were on Yuka as she started walking down the aisle in her 1.5 million peso gown and relished the attention and admiration everyone was giving her. She was busy perfecting her walk and giving the photographer in front of her her best smiles and poses while walking when the man at the end of the aisle grazed her sight. She had been too full of herself to notice anything else but now she was looking at him. Now he was all she could see.

Naka puting barong tagalog lang ang lalaki at puting pantalon. A rather simple outfit tailored to his fitting and yet it exudes an aura of elegance and class. It looked so perfect on him that Yuka couldn't help a sigh. If Disney were to make a Filipino Prince Charming, he would be the perfect inspiration.

For a fraction of a second, everything just blurred into the background when their eyes met each others and only he was in sharp focus. A soft smile grazed his face and that was all it took for her to feel like this was the best decision she had ever made. His smile gave her hope for them and for the baby inside her.

Slowly, she walked to her groom and stood before him. She had to let out another sigh as she tilted her head to look at her groom. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang biglang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso niya at para bang nanlambot ang mga tuhod niya. He offered his arm to her and she linked her with him as they walked to the arch.

Nagsimula na ang seremonyas ng kasal. All throughout, she felt like she was in a dream-like haze. Even now it still hadn't sunk into her that she was marrying Yvo, she couldn't quite make up her mind if it was the fact that she was marrying Yvo or that she was marrying a billionaire that was failing to pervade her brain.

"You may now kiss the bride." Said the priest.

And she had snapped out of her haze. She looked at Yvo and her heartbeat doubled again. He lowered his face to her and when their lips touched she couldn't help a shiver. A quick kiss just as quick as the first one but she could still feel her face heating. Nagkahiwalay ang mga labi nila at muling nag-angat ng ulo si Yvo. They looked at each other and almost instictively, Yuka had to look away in embarassment. She was no rookie when it comes to kissing, she had kissed a lot of men but why does she feel like a blushing virgin when it was Yvo? Maybe, she thought, it had to do with them being friends first. It was indeed awkward to kiss a friend.

The reception was just as beautiful as the wedding venue, by the time the ceremony had ended it was already sunset which added to the ambience of the garden party. The hacienda was really something, even if it wasn't over-the-top fancy.

Everyone watched them fondly as they had their traditional first dance together as husband and wife. Yvo held her against him, his arms hooked around her waist and hers around his torso.

He could see her eyes glimmering in the light as her eyes smiled along with her lips. "Ang gwapo ng asawa ko ngayon, ah. Minsan lang kita natitigan ng walang salamin."

Yvo's brows raised in surprise at her unexpected compliment and then he chuckled. "I have on my contacts."

"Pero infer, bagay din naman sa'yo naka-glasses mukha kang professional talaga. Pag wala kasi mukha ka naman nagpapaiyak ng babae." She giggled her usual signature Yuka giggle and then she patted his barong. "Bagay din sa'yo suot mo. Di mukhang pangkabaong. Gustong-gusto ko nga sanang makita ka bago ang kasal kaso pinagbawalan ako."

He just chortled and shook his head.

"Nagustuhan mo ba ang suot ng asawa mo?" She asked him. "Bagay ba sakin?"

"You look beautiful." He answered with all honest. They say the bride is the most beautiful woman on her day and Yvo found out today that this was true. When she walked down the aisle to him, she glowed and exuded something more than beauty, something harder to define.

"Dapat lang, no? Alam mo na kung magkano ito?" She pressed her lips together to try to stop her cheeky smile.

"I'm not sure, I still haven't checked my bill. But that doesn't matter, the most important thing is that you enjoyed this day."

Her face turned softer as he looked at him. "Eh ikaw ba? Nag-enjoy ka ba?"

"I think it turned out fine." He answered, matter-of-factly.

"Mag-asawa na talaga tayo." Yuka uttered, unbelieving.

Yvo gave her a nod as an answer. Yuka was now his wife, his other half. And months from now, they were going to have a baby. A child together.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, Yvo. Gagawin ko ang lahat para maging mabuting wife sa'yo." She said, probably feeling the tension he was feeling as the facts assaulted him.

"I trust you will." He finally smiled. He liked Yuka... maybe not romantically but he liked her as a person. He liked her candid personality and her strong will. She was one of the few people in the world who could make her laugh.

The dance ended and he released her, almost reluctantly. They were just warming up to their conversation when the song ended. There were so many things they needed to talk about but he guessed that could wait. Marami pang bisitang kailangan asikasuhin. He just wanted this party to end.

Yuka felt an instant sense of loss when he let her go. They hadn't talk like this for days since they had been busy preparing for the wedding. Gusto niya pang makausap ang asawa niya. Malinawan kung saan siya lulugar sa buhay nito. Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya nang pakawalan na siya nito at pinuntahan niya ang Ninang at Mammy niya.

"Suotin mo mamaya yung regalo ko sa'yo. Kami ng Ninang mo pumili nun para sa'yo." Sasha giggled.

"Hinay-hinay lang sa kangkang baka masobrahan kayo at maagang lumabas ang bata." Paalala ni Jodie.

"Si Ninang naman, ang laswa mo." She made a face.

"Akala mo naman virgin. Kaya ka nga nabuntis dahil sa kakirihan mo, wag ako, Yuka!" Jodie rolled his eyes and then smiled. "Dakota ba?"

"NINANG!" Her eyes widened. It occured to her that she hadn't even seen his penis yet. Or Tate's. It was weird getting pregnant and never seeing an actual penis. Suddenly, her throat felt parched. Tonight was their honeymoon. Were they actually going to have sex? Real sex? Was she supposed to do what wives actually do with their husbands?

"Bahala nga kayo diyan, kukuha lang ako ng maiinom." She stood up from her seat and walked to the bar. She got herself a glass of juice.

"Yuka..." A familiar voice of a woman said.

She instictively turned to face her and there stood Tanya. She was as ethereal and elegant as ever in her long dress.

Nababa niya sa ibabaw ng bar ang baso niya. "T-tita..."

Tanya gave her a soft smile. "Congratulations! I can't believe you're married now."

She blinked, taking a while before she was able to find her voice. "O-opo..."

"I'm so happy for you."

"Thank you, Tita." She could feel the awkwardness between them.

Tanya lowered her gaze to her slightly protruding belly. It was still small, nobody would've guessed she was pregnant if they were never told so. But when she stares at her naked self in front of the mirror she notices the small changes pregnancy had done to her body.

"How far along are you?" Her voice was careful yet hesistant, as if she was taking a risk

"A-almost three months." She answered.

Tanya slowly nodded her head but her eyes seemed like she was seeing through her. "You were dating my son less than three months-"

"Tita, kay Yvo ito." She quickly cut her off even though she could feel her own voice shaking. "Sigurado akong sa asawa ko ito..."

Tanya slowly nodded her head as if taking in what she had just said. "That's... that's all I want to hear. Again, congratulations."

Yuka watched Tate's mother walk away and her body slummped against the countertop bar.

"One mimosa, please." She turned to see her new sister-in-law tapping her fingers on the surface of the bar. Monique gave her a sideway glance as she waited for her drink then stared ahead. "If you're going to lie make sure you cover your own tracks. Make sure hindi mo madudumihan ang pangalan ng kapatid ko."

Napakurap si Yuka sa sinabi nito. She looked at Monique, she had a feral, overpowering look which was in contrast to her soft beauty. It was both beautiful and confusing to look at, like a little graceful lioness that could make anyone shiver not only in fear but in admiration. But in Yuka's case, it made her feel inferior.

"Give it up, sis. Kasal na kami ng kapatid mo." She raised one hand to show her her wedding ring. This was her little way to cover up her own inferiority. "Aren't you going to congratulate your new sister? Mrs. Yvo Zamora."

"Does he know about Tate?" She asked, Yuka almost wanted to take a step back when she looked at her. Monique's gaze bruned through her.

"Huwag mong gawin mangmang ang kapatid mo. Alam niya kung ano ang totoo. Kaya nga pinakasalan niya ako." Mariin na sabi niya.

"Hurt my brother and I swear, ako ang makakalaban mo." She said, a serious warning in her tone.

She quaffed the remaining content of her glass before answering. "Anak ni Yvo ang dinadala ko at pamangkin mo ito. Kaya tigilan mo ko sa kamalditahan mo."

Yvo thanked the lasts of their guests. He grabbed a glass of whiskey and walked up the staircase with the glass in one hand and loosening the top buttons of his barong with his other. He was exhausted and wanted nothing more than a hot bath. Yuka left an hour again as her pregnant bride was already exhausted herself.

He entered his room and automatically felt something different. Perhaps, it was the scent in the air. His brows knitted together. When did his room start to smell like coconut vanilla? He flicked the switch next to the door, turning on the lights.

Yuka slowly sat up from his bed and stretched out her arms, the blanket sliding down her body. It revealed her white deep v silk nightie, showing a generous amount of her swelling breasts and the bare outline of her nipples through the fabric.

"Hey." That was all he could manage to say.

"Nakatulog na pala ko..." Her voice still raspy with sleep.

"Did I wake you up?" He asked.

"Okay lang. Kanina pa kita hinihintay." Sabi ni Yuka. "Dito na ako pinatulog kasi nga mag-asawa na tayo. Ang mag-asawa hindi magkahiwalay ng kwarto."

"Right." Yvo nodded his head. It was their first night together as husband and wife. Their supposed-to-be honeymoon. "I'm just going to take a shower."

Tumango lang si Yuka at pinanood ang asawa niyang ibinaba ang baso sa dressing table at pumasok sa loob ng banyo. She could feel her heartbeat go up a notch as she stared at the bathroom door. If he wanted to touch her, she would let him. Yvo was her husband after all. Wala naman masama kung magsisiping sila. She had readied herself, making sure she scrubbed every inch of her skin properly, brushed her teeth twice, and used lotion. It wasn't all fear she was feeling, there was a weird sense of excitement and anticipation. She had heard of sex from her slutty ex-friends but had never gone beyond making out with the past boyfriends she'd had. She held onto her virginity for the right guy... ang right guy para sa kanya ay ang pinakamayaman na manliligaw niya. Yuka doesn't give without having anything in return.

Yvo was one of the rare breed of men who rarely let himself indulge in lustful thoughts. Unless of course if sex was presented to him, he was still a human being with a functioning genatalia after all. And it had always been presented to him on a silver platter. Sex was just a release or a means to an end for him. He do have his own desires as a man but it was never something he had no control over.

He stood under the shower with a familiar feeling, a tingling in the groin. The kick of lust that burst through him at the thought of Yuka in his bed wearing her white silk nightie with no bra underneath shocked him. It wasn't the response he was expecting from himself. He didn't want to admit to himself that there was even a possibility of him being sexually attracted to Yuka. He turned the shower to cold to calm down the heat in his body, and he shivered as the icy water pounded against his skin causing goosebumps to rise. Nang masiguro niyang wala na ang init sa katawan niya ay agad siyang nagbanlaw at lumabas sa shower.

Nagbihis na siya nang pantulog at lumabas. He hoped Yuka was already asleep but she was still awake when got out.

"Why are you still awake?" He picked up his scotch that he hadn't yet finished.

"H-hinihintay kita." She answered.

"Bawal sa'yo ang magpuyat. It may affect the baby's health." He reminded.

"Ikaw? Hindi ka pa ba matutulog?" She bit her bottom lip, nervously.

"Matutulog na din ako maya-maya. I'll just finish this." He lifted his glass up to show her and went to the balcony. Pinanood ni Yuka ang lalaki sa glass sliding door nito. He was leaning against the railing and looking up at the dark sky, taking small sips from his glass.

It was clear to her now that there would be no honeymoon tonight. It took a couple of seconds of battling with herself before she finally decided to follow him. Bumaba siya mula sa kama at lumabas sa balcony. Yvo turned his head to her direction when she leaned against the railing next to him.

"Now what?" She asked, looking up at the sky. Nasa probinsya sila, malayo sa siyudad. The stars were visible and the moon was shining brighter.

"Huh?"

"What will happen now?"

Yvo shrugged. "What are your plans? Mag-eenroll ka pa ba sa susunod na semester?"

"Hindi na muna." Yuka answered and then she caressed her belly. "Aalagaan ko muna si baby. Pagkatapos ko na sigurong makapanganak."

"I'm sorry this happened to you." He sincerely said, looking her straight in the eyes.

She just smiled and cutely wrinkled her nose. "Nandito na si baby. Wala nang atrasan 'to."

"But you're still so young..." There was guilt in Yvo's voice.

"Hindi mo kasalanan." She said, detecting the guilt. "Nobody wanted this to happen. At leastc magkaka-baby na tayo."

"Just a few more months..." Yvo felt warmth spread from his heart throughout his whole body as he looked at Yuka's belly that was slightly looking rounder. A small human being was growing inside of that.

"Minsan parang nararamdaman ko siyang gumagalaw sa loob ko o baka imagination ko lang yun." She smiled and looked down at her belly. "Alam ko minsan may pagka-selfish ako at narcissistic pero alam mo nung unang beses kong narinig ang tibok ng puso niya dun ko talagang napatunayan na mahal ko ito higit sa sarili ko at gagawin ko ang lahat para magkaron siya ng magandang buhay. Hindi mararanasan ng anak ko lahat ng naranasan ko."

"We'll give our baby a good life. You're not going to do that alone. I'll be with you." Yvo promised.

She hooked her arms around one of Yvo's musculine arms and leaned her head against him, then she looked up at the stars. She was so close to him that he was able to breathe in her scent. A mixture of her own fresh scent and the sweet smell of coconut vanilla.

"Ang swerte ng ex mo sa'yo, pinakawalan ka pa." She said in a giggle. "Siguro nagsisisi ngayon yun kasi kasal ka na sakin. Ako pa tuloy ang sinwerte."

He just chuckled.

"Yvo..." She quietly said.

"Yeah?" He mumbled, just feeling her warmth and the cold night air grazing his skin.

"Kung gusto mo, pwede naman... I mean, mag-asawa naman na tayo." Yuka's voice slightly shook out of nervousness.

His eyes gazed down to look at her, slightly confused.

"Sex. If you want to have sex, we can... Obligasyon ko sa'yo iyon bilang asawa mo. At saka, kabayaran na din sa mga-"

Yvo shook his head profusely. "Wala kang dapat bayaran sa akin, you understand? I don't want to have sex."

Kumawala siya sa pagkakahawak ng babae sa kanya. He drank whatever was left in his glass and went inside. The idea of her having to repay him with sex did not sit well with him. She was his wife now, not a common whore. If they were going to have sex , it should be because they both wanted it.

She followed behind him and slid in bed next to her husband. Doesn't he find her attractive or fuckable enough to bed? What was wrong? She did everything Saskia, Sasha, and Jodie adviced her for her honeymoon as she had no experience when it came to actual sex. Naligo naman siya, nag-lotion, nagpabango.

They both laid in bed, staring at the ceiling in the dark room, waiting for sleep to come.