Another voice was heard inside the apartment.
"Ken, where do you want me to put this?"
It was the girl.
"Sinasabi ko na nga ba. Shet. T*ngina!!!"
...
Alam niyang namumula na siya. Paano ba namang hindi. Nararamdaman niyang nag-iinit ang dugo niya. She can't help it, she can't keep her composure. She'd always been transparent with her emotions. Damang-dama niya ang pagtitig ni Ken sa kaniya. Nakakatunaw. It's like he's watching every breath she's taking.
Halo-halong emosyon ang kaniyang nadarama. Ang sigurado lang niya, walang tuwa na kasama dun.
"Oh, hello there!" The girl said when she noticed Rita at the door. She placed a small pot with a lone sunflower on Ken's coffee table.
"Sunflower pa talaga? Should I laugh at the irony?" She thought.
"You're Rita, right? You're as beautiful as Ken described you, but he probably understated it."
The girl complimented her.
Ken cleared his throat. "Umm. Rita, this is girl."
Yes, the girl. Rita refused to recognize her name. As far as she's concerned, there's no need to know. This girl won't be in their lives for much longer. She's claiming it - she's confident like that. Siya yung mahal ni Ken, diba? She's just a mere roadblock to their story. Hindi siya papayag. She didn't come all this way just to lose him once more...
"Hello." She forced an awkward smile.
The girl turned to Ken. "So that's it then, I just dropped this off. See you at work tomorrow. Welcome to Switzerland, Rita!" The girl kissed Ken on the cheek.
"Tama na." Hirap na hirap na si Rita. "Ganito pala ang pakiramdam? Harap-harapang basagan. Ang sakit."
"Thanks."
"Thanks for leaving." Rita breathed out a sigh of relief - for now.
...
"So, hello ulit, Ta." Ken broke the ice.
She took this moment to look at him carefully. Sobrang na-overwhelm siya kanina na hindi nagsink-in sa kanya agad na eto na ang sandaling pinakahihintay niya - ang makita ulit si Ken. Kasama niya ulit ang taong mahal niya.
Walang pinagbago - gwapo pa din. And he kept the beard - her ultimate weakness. "Grabe, he's irresistable." Lalo siyang naiinis sa sarili niya sa pagiging bulag-bulagan niya noon. Totoong nasa lahat na kay Ken, wala na siyang hahanapin pa. Sabi pa nga niya noon diba- ito'y maalaga, mapagmahal, responsable at mapagmahal sa pamilya. Lahat ng iyon, katangian ng taong karapat-dapat makasama habambuhay.
Siya nalang ang kulang dito. Sana. Hoping. Kasi si Ken nalang ang kulang sa kanya.
Seven long months - she waited that long to see his beautiful face.
...
Nilapag ni Rita ang bag niya sa sahig. She reached for him and they hugged.
