Habang pauwi sina Jay at Marla sa bahay nila, ramdam niya ang pagod mula sa mahabang araw ng trabaho. Ngunit sa kabila nito, nakangiti siyang pinagmamasdan si Marla sa rear-view mirror dahil kailangan nitong umidlip. Her presence was enough to ease the tension caused by Emmy's unexpected comeback. Pagkarating nila sa bahay, agad na nagluto si Jay ng paboritong ulam ni Marla at hinayaan lamang siya nito, tila naninibago rin sa kanyang kilos.

Habang naghahanda, inisip niya kung paano sasabihin kay Marla ang tungkol kay Emmy at ang komplikasyon sa kanyang pamilya. Determinado siyang linawin ang lahat bago pa man ito maging sanhi ng mas malaking problema sa pagitan nila. Pero sa pagkakataong ito, mas nauuna ang kanyang kaba.

"Marla," bungad ni Jay habang nakaupo si Marla sa kusina, pinagmamasdan pala siya nito habang nagluluto. "Alam kong busy ka rin sa trabaho, pero gusto ko sanang malaman mo na magpaplano akong sabihin sa mga magulang ko ang tungkol sa kasal natin. Dapat noon pa nila nalaman."

Nakangiti lang si Marla, pero halata sa mga mata nito ang pagod. "Hindi naman ako nagmamadali. Pero salamat sa iniisip mong 'yan. Alam kong mahirap din ito para sa'yo."

"Always, I'm grateful for your understanding." Ngumiti si Jay. Nilapitan niya ang asawa niya at ginawaran ng mabilis na yakap habang nakaupo ito.

"Medyo nakakapanibago ang sweetness mo, Jay." Umiiling si Marla at napakapit na lang din sa bisig nito na nakapulupot sa kanya. "Baka maisip ko, may ginawa kang mali. Umamin ka na, huh?"

Huminga nang malalim si Jay. "Kung may magagawa man akong mali, siguro mga reckless decisions lang at may mga kinalaman sa pagiging immature ko, pero 'yong ipagpalit ka, iyan ang hindi ko gagawin. When I married you, I knew that I didn't have any reason to look for someone else. Kahit anong mangyari, please don't leave."

Naantig naman si Marla sa sinabi ni Jay. Kahit sincere ito, alam niyang may bumabagabag sa isip nito, but she shrugged it off. Ayaw niyang masira ang moment. Kaya naman, tumayo siya at hinarap si Jay nang may pagsuyo.

"Alam ko na maswerte ako sa'yo," aniya. She intently leaned herself closer to kiss his cheek.

"Thank you," maikling tugon ni Jay at napasulyap sa kaldero. "Wait lang, maluluto na yata ang ulam."

Bumalik si Jay sa kusina, at napansin ni Marla ang cellphone nitong nakapatong sa table. May pumasok na notification sa social media account ni Jay. Dahan-dahan niyang binuksan ito habang busy pa ito sa kusina.

Tumambad kay Marla ang litrato ni Jay kasama si Emmy na magkausap sa meeting rooom. Kahit disente namang tingnan ang litrato, may nakakabit pa ring malisyosong captions na galing sa ilang mutuals nito.

"Boss Jay and Ma'am Emmy look so good together! Ang ganda ng bagong partnership!" Sunod-sunod din ang mga komento mula sa mga katrabaho nila, at hindi nakaligtas kay Marla ang ilang malisyosong tsismis.

"Ex daw yan ni Sir Jay! Mas bagay sila."

Napatigil si Marla, at ang ngiti sa kanyang mukha ay napalitan ng tahimik na hinanakit. Hindi niya ito pinansin agad, ngunit nang makita niya ang pangalang "Emmy" sa caption, bumalik ang kirot ng insecurities na matagal na niyang inilihim kay Jay. Mas tumindi pa iyon nang mapagtanto na tama nga sila, bagay na bagay ang Emmy na 'yon sa asawa niya. Now, she finally figured out why Jay acted too caring. Maaaring tinatakpan na nito si Emmy para hindi siya makahalata. Nang pabalik na si Jay, inilapag niya sa dating pwesto ang phone nito.

"Okay ka lang?" tanong ni Jay nang mapansin ang pagkakabagsak ng balikat ni Marla.

Ngumiti si Marla, pilit na nililihim ang nararamdaman. "Oo, napagod lang siguro sa trabaho."

Nang matapos ang hapunan, nagpaalam si Marla na magpapahinga na sa kwarto. Pero, hindi pa rin siya mapakali. Habang tinitingnan ang litrato sa cellphone, bumalot sa kanya ang takot na baka hindi siya kayang ipaglaban ni Jay sa harap ng kanyang pamilya, lalo na ngayong may Emmy na bumabalik sa eksena. Na baka mas matimbang pala ang babaeng 'yon sa puso nito. Naramdaman niya ang paglapit ni Jay sa kanilang higaan at ang dahan-dahang paghawak nito sa kanyang balikat.

"Marla, don't turn your back. Face me instead," masuyong sambit sa kanya ni Jay.

Mabigat sa loob niya na harapin ang kanyang asawa, pero hindi siya makatiis na hindi ito tingnan. Nang harapin niya si Jay, alam niya ang gusto nitong mangyari sa gabing iyon. She's already familiar with his gestures, sa simpleng pahiwatig lang ng mga mata nito, alam niyang gusto nito ng moment na silang dalawa lang ang nagsasalo. She reached for his face. Tinitigan niya ang expressive na mga mata nito.

"I love you," masuyong bulong ni Jay. "Marla, I want to make you feel that you're the only one. And I won't even dare to break our marriage."

'Gago. Bakit hindi mo masabi ang tungkol kay Emmy? Bakit minamaskara mo ang paglalambing mo?'

"Okay." Tumango lamang si Marla, kahit na gusto niyang komprontahin si Jay dahil hindi pa nito sinasabi ang tungkol kay Emmy. She detests her heart that dictates her to surrender her doubts everytime they're close to each other and when she wasn't forced or had the right to say no. Naramdaman niyang mas lumapit si Jay at marahang hinaplos siya nito sa pisngi. He gazed at her with a sense of admiration, like he always did.

"Are you in for tonight?"

Gustong tumanggi ni Marla, pero iba naman ang sinisigaw ng kanyang puso. Iiling sana siya, pero pagtango ang nagawa niya.

A delicate tension seemed to linger in the space they shared, and the air seemed to be filled with an unspoken promise. Before he made the next step, Jay's thumb briefly touched her lips, almost shyly at first.

He leaned in, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that both thrilled and gave her calmness she had long for. "Hindi mo alam kung gaano ako kasaya na ako ang pinili mo."

"Sa'kin mo lang ba sinabi ito?" May pagdududa pa rin kay Marla, pero sa tensyon na namamagitan sa kanila, parang gusto niyang maniwala sa iba pang mga ipapangako nito. That's what she feared the most, being in love with him—so deep that she would believe in his lies despite the underlying truth she just found out.

Tumango si Jay. "You still have doubts?"

Without saying a word, her lips parted. As his fingers touched her cheek and his other hand delicately tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, a gentle breath was escaping. Then his mouth gave her an initial kiss. Marla discovered that she was answering him.

After the intense kiss, she whispered his name, "Jay..." but her words were lost in his intense gaze.

"What?"

"W-wala. Huwag kang hihinto."

With a flirty smirk, he gave her another kiss and began unbuttoning her sleeping garment. His lips hesitated just a breath away before he progressed carefully, looking into her eyes to get her consent before taking the initiative. His lips slid down her shoulders with a tenderness that made her tremble.

"I will never take you for granted, Marla." His voice was soft and kind, full of praise, as though the thought of her was a sacred thing. His breath blended with hers. While they were kissing, he noticed a tiny smile on her lips.

"Promise me," he whispered as his thumb now touched her cheek. "Promise me you'll always let me in, no matter what."

She gave a nod of approval. And as they stood there, devouring each other with their newly discovered intimacy, their bond grew stronger than words could possibly express. Their worries don't matter anymore.

Despite her misgivings, Marla saw that there was no hurry and that a man like him didn't deserve to be questioned. She also sensed an implicit promise and an obvious respect.

"Jay..." She was also unable to contain herself. She got the impression from his actions that he won't leave her.

"Marla..." With deference and caution, he allowed her to close her eyes as he held her in his arms until they both achieved the need they had been longing for.

After their warm embrace, as they remained close, Jay noticed Marla was crying. "Marla? Did I hurt you earlier? Please, may nagawa ba ako? Hindi ba ako naging maingat?"

Umiling si Marla nang tahimik at tinalikuran si Jay bago kumutan ang sarili. Though she felt satisfied, a deep sense of betrayal lingered.

"Marla, talk to me. What's wrong?"

"Wala nga lang ito, Jay," she replied through her tears. "Masaya lang ako na pinaramdam mo sa'kin kung paano mahalin at alagaan."

But the words she couldn't bring herself to say lingered in her heart, 'Ikaw lang ang nagparamdam ng ganitong pagmamahal kahit sobrang sakit ang kapalit.'

Jay sighed, sensing she wasn't ready to talk. Without saying anything, he slid under the blanket and wrapped his arms around her. Hindi gumalaw si Marla at sinasalo ng unan ang kanyang mga luha sa sandaling iyon.

"I love you, Marla," Jay whispered softly. His steady embrace was enough to quiet her turmoil, even if the pain lingered in her heart.

"I love you too," she murmured back, but it's barely audible.

Wala nang mga salitang namutawi sa kanila. Slowly, they drifted off to sleep; their love was unspoken but deeply felt as long as they were that close to each other.