"Keizel's your wife? Hindi ba naghiwalay na kayo five years ago, Javion?" Javion's cousin named Sylphy asked.Javion grimaced. "Finally, someone asked. Everyone claimed and believed that she's my wife ng dahil lang naka-upo siya sa tabi ko at kasama namin siya sa lamesa, nonetheless, our relatives already jumped into conclusions and dad can't stop them anymore and decided to tell them to believe what they want to believe."Humalukipkip si Sylphy at saka inilibot ang tingin sa kabuuan ng kuwarto. "If she's not your wife, then where is she?"Javion pointed at the door with his thumb. "Outside, uubusin lang daw niya 'yong kape and then papasok na siya.""I can't wait to see her. She must be pretty since she's a Zabawa," nakangiting sambit ni Sylphy."She's indeed pretty—where's Shyloah?" Javion asked.Naglibot ng tingin si Sylphy sa kabuuan ng venue at saka siya nagkibit-balikat. "I don't know. Kanina kasama ko siya, that guy loves to explore remember? Maganda kasi ang interior ng restaur

"Finally!" masayang sambit ni Serene ng makalabas siya ng building at nag-inat ng braso. "Tapos na ang paghihirap ko!""You done?"Napatingin si Serene sa lalaking nakatayo hindi kalayuan sa kaniya. Excitement filled her when she saw her Kazimir leaning against the tree with his hands in his pockets. Tumakbo si Serene papalapit kay Kazimir at saka ginawaran ito ng yakap."Ang aga mo ah, miss mo ako 'no?" pagbibiro ni Serene.Kazimir chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, though ilang linggo lang ang nakalipas since we last saw each other.""Right, saan mo naman ako ililibre ngayon?" naglalambing na tanong ni Serene."Where do you want—""She'll be coming with me."Serene gasped in surprise while Kazimir grimaced. Namulsa si Javion at saka tinaasan ng kilay ang nakasimangot na si Kazimir."Can't you stop meeting my wife, Mr. Zanders?" tanong ni Javion. "You're starting to get on my nerves and that's not a good sign at all."Kazimir scoffed. "And you're starting to get on my nerves too, Mr. Axfor,

"Serene, are you okay? Panglimang comforter na 'to," nag-aalalang sambit ni Izaiah at saka ipinatong pa ulit sa nakatalukbong na si Serene."I'm freezing," Serene whispered. "N-nakapatay naman 'yong aircon 'di ba?"Izaiah nodded at saka inilapit ang thermometer sa tainga ni Serene. "Let me check your temperature for a moment."Tumunog na ang thermometer kaya naman chineck na ito ni Izaiah. He gasped as he looked at Serene. "You're burning up, Serene. Forty degrees celsius na ang temperature mo.""H-huh?" naguguluhang tanong ni Serene at saka siya bumangon pero nang maka-upo siya ay biglang tumulo ang dugo mula sa ilong niya kaya naman dali-daling kumuha ng tissue si Izaiah at inilagay sa ilong ni Serene. "Your nose is bleeding, Serene," natatarantang sambit nito. "May masakit ba sa'yo?"Umiling si Serene. "W-wala naman—oh, 'yong tiyan ko medyo masakit.""May gusto ka ba kainin? I can cook, though it wasn't delicious like Javion's and Jethro's, nonetheless, it's edible," aniya Izaiah.

"Ojciec, calm down," natatawang sambit ni Serene. "Na-dehydrate lang ako kaya ako nandito."Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawala ni Serjio at saka pabagsak itong umupo sa stool. Malambing niyang hinawakan ang kamay ni Serene at minasahe ito. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I wasn't able to visit you these past few days. Our company holds a lot of business trips to Europe, Asia, and America, kaya wala ako lagi sa Pilipinas," pagpapaliwanag ni Serjio. "When I heard the news, I eventually booked the earliest flight to come back home, buti na lang at na sa Hongkong lang ako."Mahinang natawa si Serene dahil sa reaksyon ng ama. "Naalagaan naman po ako ni Javion kaya okay lang ako, Ojciec at saka uso naman po ang video call ngayon. Si Mama nga na sa New Jersey eh, tumawag na siya kanina sa'kin."Serjio grimaced. "I believe it's inappropriate. Na sa ospital ang prinsesa ko, it's natural for me to cancel everything para maka-uwi. You're my first priority after all."Napangiti si Serene

Javion went home tipsy. Nanatiling nakahiga si Serene sa sofa at pinanood ang deretsong naglalakad na si Javion patungong kusina. Javion knows his limits and brandy lang naman ang ininom niya kaya hindi siya nakakaramdam ng kalasingan kahit pa na mag-isa niyang naubos ang dalawang bote na binili niya.Naglagay siya ng tubig sa baso at saka ininom iyon at lumabas ng kusina. Bumagsak ang mga mata niya kay Serene at saka siya sumandal sa hamba ng pintuan."How are you feeling?" Javion worriedly asked."Great, nakapagpahinga naman ako," she answered nonchalantly."Be ready for tomorrow," aniya Javion at lumapit sa hagdanan.Kunot-noong bumaling ng tingin si Serene sa kaniya. "Bakit anong meron bukas?"Javion gave her a deadpan look. "I have an interview on the national channel. I want you to come with me."Serene sit up and retorted. "Ha? Bakit? Hindi mo naman ako assistant ah.""You're my wife and I would love it if the world knew that," Javion answered nonchalantly as he proceeded on go