"Theo!" Gretel gasped upon seeing him. Ngumiti si Theo sa kanya at bahagyang tumawa.
"Dito na naman tayo nagkita." He chuckled. "Looking for baby stuffs?" He asked her. Gretel smiled at him and slightly nodded.
"Yup, stress reliever." She said at bahagyang hinawakan ang puson.
"I see, you're really pregnant." Theo hid his disappointment behind his smile. "Do you already know the gender?"
"Both girls."
"Wow! That's sweet. Sa ngayon kasi sa pamangkin ko muna ako nagfi-feeling tatay." He chuckled. "Anyway, where's your husband? Baka masuntok ulit ako kapag nakita niya ko." He laughed. Naiiling na lang na tumawa si Gretel sa kanya.
"Medyo cool off muna kami ngayon..." She sighed.
"Why? Buntis ka pa naman." Kunot-noong tanong nito.
"It's complicated and I don't wanna talk about it if you don't mind." She forced a smile. Theo just nodded at her.
"Samahan muna kita. Atleast, there should be someone right besides you all of the time."
"Thank you Theo, plano ko sanang bumili ng wallpapers and other stuffs for their room. I'm thinking about pastel yellow and pink."
"I can help you with that. Baka nakakalimutan mo, besides the Student Council, I was also a member of the Art Club." He winked at her.
Gretel held his arm in joy, muntikan na nga niya itong yakapin sa tuwa. "You are such a great help. Yung mga kapatid ko kasi may mga sariling lakad naman. Si Kelly nasa bakasyon. Thank you!"
"Ikaw pa ba? Malakas ka sakin eh." He winked at her. Gretel smiled widely at him. Lumabas na sila ng baby's store at pumunta sa malapit na stationary shop para bumili ng kakailanganin.
"Mukhang mabigat atah yang mga binili natin?" Gretel asked him. Ilang roll din ng wallpaper ang binili nila may mga other supplies pa for some designs.
"It's okay, pwede naman tayong humirap ng push cart." He said.
"Thank Theo! Sagot ko na yung lunch natin."
"Well, as long as you'll cook for me." He chuckled.
Sumabay na rin si Theo sa sasakyan ni Gretel papunta sa mansyon nila. Siya na rin ang nagdrive para dito. Gretel kinda feel delighted, she felt so alone after her sisters left. Kahit naman nasa tabi-tabi lang ang asawa nito ay hindi naman niya nakakausap.
"So, this is where you live." Theo asked her amazed. Inilibot nito ang mata sa paligid bago pumunta sa likod ng kotse to get the stuffs they bought.
"Diretso lang ako sa kusina para ihanda yung lulutuin, yung kwarto sa second floor, white door." She told her.
"Yeah sure!" He smiled at her. Pumasok na sa loob ng bahay si Gretel at naiwan naman sa garahe si Theo na nagbababa ng mga gamit.
"YOU REALLY HAVE THE AUDACITY TO GET NEAR MY WIFE!" Napaatras si Theo ng biglang may nagsalita sa gilid niya. Andrius is standing in front of their garage still wearing his cap. Theo heaved a sigh before standing straightly.
"And you?" He asked him sarcastically.
Andrius balled his fist as he glares at Theo.
"What? Are you gonna punch me again? Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng asawa mo---"
"DON'T YOU DARE ENTER MY HOUSE!!" He hissed.
"Sorry, but your wife is waiting for me." He smirked before carrying a box full of supplies at pumasok na sa mansyon.
Umuusok na ang ilong ni Andrius sa galit. Hindi niya ito pwedeng pigilan o saktan kahit gustung-gusto na niyang gawin. He didn't want to anger more his wife. He just want to give her space, but it's killing him.
Miss na miss na niya ang asawa at mababaliw na siya habang hinahayaang makalapit si Theo dito at walang siyang pwedeng gawin!
GRETEL looked for food inside the fridge ng makita niya ang isang supot ng kulay violet na mangga. Agad siyang naglaway ng makita ito but she stopped her cravings dahil kailangan na niyang magluto ng pananghalian.
Bahagya niyang sinilip si Theo na umakyat na ng kwarto bitbit ang isang karton. She followed him inside the room.
"You like adobo Theo? Chicken or Pork?" She asked him.
"Kahit ano, I'm not picky though." He smiled at her. "Ako na bahala dito? Do you have any specific idea in mind?"
"I think, samahan mo muna akong magluto then I'll guide you later on what to do."
"Sure! You're the boss!"
Ngumiti siya kay Theo at inaya na itong bumaba sa kusina. Habang pababa sila ng hagdan may ibang naramdaman si Gretel parang kakaiba, naamoy niya ang paboritong pabango ni Andrius na wari'y kadadaan lang niya. Agad siyang napabaling sa Guest Room dahil pakiramdam niya'y kapapasok lang dun ng asawa.
"Are you okay?" Napkurap-kurap si Gretel ng maramdaman ang kamay ni Theo sa siko niya.
"H-Huh? I'm fine, may iniisip lang ako."
"Don't think too much, makakasama yan sa mga babies mo."
Napangiti si Gretel sa sinabi nito and slightly smiled at him. Nagtuloy na sila sa kusina at nakaalalay lang sa kanya si Theo.
Besides Kelly, Theo is one of her most trusted friends. Ito ang madalas niyang kasama noong college sila kaya magaan ang loob niya dito.
"Pupunta ka ba dito bukas?" She asked him.
"If you still need more help, I can come." He smiled.
"Pagtapos na yung room, pupunta ka pa rin ba?"
"Pinaglilihian mo ba ko?" Theo laughed. Bahagyang namula si Gretel sa tanong nito. She doesn't know why but she likes Theo being here, smiling at her and talking to her. Gumagaan ang pakiramdam niya at nakakawala ng lungkot.
