"Happy third month of love, my love!"

I licked my lower lip and give out a chuckle. Amelie handed me the bento cake she bought from a café nearby.

"Happy three months of amazing love to you as well, darling."

"Sabay natin i-blow ha? One... two... three!"

The living room was eventually filled with giggles and laughter. We are both on our rest days after graduation that took place in our schools almost two months ago.

"My friends want to meet you na. I told them you're still resting but they keep on bugging me!"

Hinaplos ko ang kaniyang pisngi.

"We can meet them anytime you want."

"Okay." Her voice lowered a little. "Kainin na natin 'to. Dito ulit ako matutulog ha? Weekends naman at alam nina Mommy na magkasama tayong pupunta sa simbahan sa sunday."

I nodded. Hinayaan ko siyang galawin ang mga gamit sa kusina. She's here almost all weekends. Kapag weekdays ay nasa kanila at inaalalayan ang mommy niya sa gawaing bahay.

I know for sure, if Amelie's gonna be my wife, she's not gonna do all things by her own. Sa bahay. Hindi ko naman aasawahin para gawing katulong. As long as I can, I will help in the house. Especially our kids.

"Love, magbo-board na ako sa susunod na dalawang buwan. Nagdadalawang-isip ako e. Paano kung hindi ko kaya?"

Inihilig ni Amelie ang kaniyang ulo sa balikat ko.

"Papasa ka."

She lifted her sparkling eyes in me. My eyes went from hers down to her lips. It's parted and I just want to lick every corner of it.

"Paano kung hindi? What if I'll end up disappointing everyone? My family? You, Kithian?"

"Magiging nurse ka, Amelie." I kissed the tip of her nose. "Believe in God's plan. Believe in God's timing. Put all your trust to God."

Kinabukasan ay maaga kami sa simbahan. Amelie is serving and I'm sitting in front, enough to see her clearly. I saw my family on the side. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa kilala ni Mommy si Amelie. Or she's familiar with her face, but do not know that she's Amelie. I guess this is the perfect timing.

Matapos ang misa ay lumabas ako upang magsindi ng kandila at magdasal. I prayed for mine and Amelie's success on taking licensure examinations. Na sana, makapasa.

"Kithian, anak, kasama mo ba si Amelie?"

It was Mom.

"Yes, Mommy. Nasa loob pa. If you could stay a little longer, I'll introduce her to you."

Her face brightened and she nodded. Ang dalawang kapatid ay nauna na. Dad looked for our car somewhere in the parking while mom and I walked inside.

"Mommy, this is Amelie, my girlfriend. Amelie, this is my mom."

Mom's face was in shock. Maya-maya ay malawak na ngumiti ito at nakipagbeso.

"Hello, Amelie dear. Kithian told me a lot about you."

"Hello po, Ma'am."

"Naku, isa ka pala sa mga lector dito sa simbahan, kaya pala pamilyar ang mukha mo. I see you a lot here but I did not recognize that you're Amelie, the one my eldest always talks about," sunod-sunod na sabi nito. "Ang ganda ganda mo talaga, Amelie."

Amelie's eyes is smiling too. Ang cute. Ang sarap na naman halikan.

"Opo. I see you a lot here too, ma'am, but I'm too shy to approach."

"From now on, my dear, don't be shy na. And call me Tita Ayana or Tita. Your Tito Donrich is outside. Do you want to meet him too? Come on."

Hindi pa nakakagawa ng ingay ang girlfriend ko pero hinila na ito ni Mommy palabas. I was left with Amelie's bag and phone.

"Hon, this is Amelie, your son's girlfriend. Isn't she so pretty?"

Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Amelie. Her hands were cold.

"Hello, hija. How are you? I hope my son treats you well." Si dad.

"Oo naman po, tito."

"Do you have anything to do? If there's none, we could go for an afternoon tea at home."

Agad akong umiling. I'm taking Amelie for an outside date today. We spent our time watching netflix and chilling in our condo yesterday, today's an outside date.

"No, Mommy. We're having a date today."

"When can we spend time together then? You know how much I want to have a talk with Amelie. Simula palang noong nanliligaw ka pa," angal ni mommy.

Amelie's about to say something but I quickly butt in. I know she'll go with mom and dad. And I will not let that happen.

"I'm sorry, mom, but I can't give her to you today. Sa akin muna, mommy, bago sa inyo. We have a lot of time to spare in the future."

Humaba ang nguso ng mommy. Dad gave out some comforting words to cheer her up. Eventually, she smiled and nodded.

"Alright, alright. You take care then. Mauuna na kami sa inyo. Amelie, let's catch up on things when Kithian is not around."

Amelie actively nodded. We watch as they went inside the car and dad maneuvered the wheels.

"Ikaw talaga, hindi mo man lang pinagbigyan si tita."

I chuckled and held her closer to me.

"We celebrated an inside date yesterday and we initially planned to have an outside date today. Ibibigay naman kita kay mommy pero hindi muna ngayon."

"Ano namang pakulo mo today? Hm?"

Lumingon siya sa akin at doon ko napagtanto kung gaano kami kalapit sa isa't isa. My eyes wandered around her small pretty face. Ang ganda naman.

"Picnic date. Perfect for the weather."

"I love picnic dates! Thank you, baby."

Amelie and I have a lot to talk about when we're together. We talk about nonsense things at time to keep ourselves entertained. Kahit walang kwentang mga bagay nagiging entertaining para sa 'kin. Love sick fool.

"I'll be the one to prepare for our date next time. It's unfair that you're always the one paying for our dates. Or whenever we're together."

"I believe in gender equality but it is my responsibility to provide for us. Paano nalang kung magpapakasal na tayo 'di ba? This is me getting ready for our future."

I turned on the left headlights. When the surroundingswas clear, I manuevered the car and entered the park successfully.

"I want to spend for our family too. Hindi lang dapat ikaw."

"Nagt-trabaho ako ng maayos para may maipakain ako sa 'yo tapos sasabihin mo 'yan? You have to respect my work, Amelie. You have to respect me."

I work as a barista in a small café by the morning. Morning shift dahil nagsimula ako sa trabaho noong estudyante pa. Now we can't change the schedule because someone does my work during the afternoon.

"This doesn't have to do with respect!"

Amelie's laughter filled the car.

"It does. I work hard to provide for our dates and all I want is for you to show up and enjoy our date. I don't want you spending anything while you're with me. So you have to respect me and my work."

"I just feel like it's unfair..."

"It is not, my love. I will be the provider of our family."

I went out first and opened the door for her.

"Ganito nalang. Ikaw sa needs, ako sa wants. In that way, balanced ang magiging gastusin sa bahay."

We walked with our intertwined hands. I'm thinking of ways on how to make Amelie agree that I should be the provider for our future family.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Ikaw sa mga bagay na kailangan sa bahay. Ako sa mga kagustuhan ng mga bata. Since you don't want me to help with the finances in our home, I came out with this initiative. You pay for everything in house, I will pay for the kids' wants. Like foods and stuff. Pero may limitations din as discipline is also a must."

Hindi mo naman sinabing kasali pala ang family planning sa date namin ngayon, Lord. Boto ka na talaga sa 'kin? Thank you.

Lord ha, chapter twelve palang 'to. Parang may binabalak ka e.