CJ Undergo a Cognitive behavioral therapy with their assigned therapist, hindi na bago sa kanila ang makabaril ng tao. It's part of their job, but that doesn't mean na hindi rin sila naaapektuhan. Ryker was waiting patiently outside the clinic, playing with his necklace pendant, their engagement ring.

Isang linggo na rin ang nakalipas nang mawala sa landas nila ang matanda. His uncle covered them up, isa rin kasi ito na nakahinga ng maluwag nang ibalita nila na patay na talaga ang matanda. That old man caused a lot of troubles.

"You're good, Cj. I also need to go back to L.A, I'll just call you or you can visit me abroad to continue our session." Narinig niyang sabi ng Doctor.

Umayos siya ng upo. He's been waiting for Cj for an hour now.

"If online consultation won't do me any good then we'll fly to L.A." Nakangiting sagot nito.

Tumango lang ang Doctor at nang mapansin siya, tumango lang ito sa kanya at ganoon din ang ginawa niya. His heart almost leaped when Cj wrapped her arms around his stomach and tightly hugged him. Sinasanay na niya ang sarili na huwag magulat sa mga kilos ni Cj, but he just can't help it. He softly caresses his back and patted it gently after.

"How are you?" He asked, still patting her back gently.

Cj pulled back and pouted her lips cutely, he suddenly have the urge to kiss her lips kahit na maraming tao ang tutok ang mga mata sa kanila ngayon. Judgemental people who doesn't care and understand the importance of consulting a psychologist. They simply know that if a person visited one, then, they will conclude na may sira agad ito sa utak.

"Much better. He's really the best! Or maybe, nasanay nalang talaga tayo sa kanya? O siya ang sanay sa atin?" She chuckled at her own question.

"Sanay sa atin." He answered and chuckled too.

Marahan niyang hinila ang palapulsuhan ni Cj papunta sa parking lot ng hospital ni Caleb. Nyker, his brother, already informed him na ngayong araw ang uwi ng mga ito at sa kanya nagpapasundo.

"Nagmamadali ka bang umuwi?" Cj asked and giggled. Prente lang itong naglalakad habang hawak niya ang kamay nito.

Umiling si Ryker. Her parents wanted to surprise her. Ang sabi kasi ng mga ito ay hindi sila matutuloy sa pag-uwi, but thanks to his brother, na walang kasing daldal, sinabi nito sa kanya na tuloy ang mga ito at gusto lang surpresahin si Cj. He has a feeling that those oldies were planning to join forces, so they can get married.

After all, matagal na rin simula nang i-announce nila ang engagement nilang dalawa ni Cj. Pinapatagal lang nilang dalawa ni Cj — pinatagal niya, rather. He was a scum and in denial stage. He can accept that he's starting to have feelings for Clijay's half sister. Umiwas siya because he thinks that he's starting to fall because Cj have Clijay's heart, ayon ang pinakaunang dahilan kung bakit siya palaging nag-aalala rito. It would be unfair to Cj, that's what he thinks before. He only snapped after years of controlling himself back when Kade's wedding.

"Nope. May pupuntahan tayo." Tipid na sagot niya.

Nang makarating sila harap ng Van ni Levi, agad niya itong pinagbuksan at nang makasakay na ito, siya na rin ang nagkabit sa seat belt ni Cj. The simplest thing he can do to serve her.

"Saan?" Nangungulit na tanong ni Cj.

"Secret." He simply answered.

Isinara niya ang pintuan at umikot para makasakay sa driver seat. Sana pala ay isinama na niya si Levi para may kapalitan siyang mag drive. Sigurado siyang pagod ang nakakabata niyang kapatid at matutulog ito sa buong biyahe.

A comfortable silence enveloped them, Ryker was ready to talk and ask her once again if they can visit the Lust community together. Only to find out that Cj was sleeping soundly. Masuyong ngiti ang gumuhit sa. labi niya at hinayaan nalang niya itong makapag pahinga.

Nawala lang ang katahimikan sa loob ng sasakyan nang makita niya ang mukha ni Yves sa tablet na naka konekta sa sasakyan. Must be Levi's doing.

"Yow!" He greeted.

[Hi! Where's Cj?] It was Rion who answered. Her only female cousin really adored his fiance.

"How about me? Bakit hindi ako ang hinahanap mo?" Kunwariy nagtatampo na tanong niya rito.

Rion chuckled before she answered him. [Next time, ikaw ang hahanapin ko. Sumingit lang talaga ako, usap na kayo ng asawa ko. Bye! Ingat!] Paalam nito bago nawala sa screen.

"What? Sunog na ba ang bahay ko sa loob?" He asked.

[Gusto na gibain ni Light.] Yves answered while preparing their lunch boxes.

Ryker suddenly miss his cooking.

"We're still busy. Iuuwi ko naman si Cj dyan." Inunahan na niya ito.

Sigurado na kay Yves siya pina contact ng mga kaibigan nila. They can't contact him because he turned his phone off, he can only contact his brother because of Levi's spare phone.

"How's Rion by the way?" He worriedly asked. They're in hiding galore when she gave birth.

[She's fine. No worries, kasama namin si Mommy ngayon sa bahay.] Yves answered, glancing at him.

"How about Kade's wife?" He asked again.

Hindi niya alam kung anong klaseng sumpa ang tumama sa kanilang magkakaibigan. Tatlong sunod ang nagsisipag asawa at nabubuntis. Buwan lang ang pagitan kapag manganganak na ang asawa ng mga ito.

[Malapit na rin. I'll contact you kapag nasa hospital na siya, isama mo si Castiel kung nasaang lupalop ka man. Kami ang nahihilo kakalakad niya pabalik balik, daig pa ang asawa ng manganganak.]

"He's at it again?" Hindi makapinawalang tanong niya.

[Hmm, kulang pa raw siya sa practice. He said he needs to train more, para hindi na ulit siya kabahan kapag manganganak ulit si Devi.] Yves flatly answered.

"Obviously, hindi naman effective ang ginagawa niya." He sighed. There's no hope for Castiel.

[By the way, Light will leave the country again soon. Wala siyang sinabi kung kailan ang balik.]

Tumango lang siya at pinatay na ni Yves ang tawag. Wala siyang problema kung aalis ang mokong na 'yon, Xyria, Light's sister will be the one handling the construction of their new building. Pero bilang pakunswelo nalang, a-attend siya sa despedida nito. They'll probably drink alcohol, hanggang sa wala na ni isa sa kanila ang makatayo.

He doesn't have any idea what's going on with their life unlike before, kahit nasa malayo siya at busy sa trabaho.

UNBEKNOWNST to Ryker, Cj was awake and listening to their conversation. Naisip na niya na ayain si Ryker ngayon sa tagong lugar nilang magkakaibigan. She promised at wala siyang balak na sirain 'yon. Sa isip niya, oras na makapasok siya roon, pa-planuhin na niya ang kasal nilang dalawa ni Ryker kahit hindi pa ito lumuluhod sa harapan niya habang inaaya siyang magpakasal.

Her eyes were still closed, pretending that she's really asleep, when in fact, ang utak niya nalipad na kung saan.

But her thoughts fled away when the Van stopped. Ganoon ba kalayo ang nalipad ng utak niya at nakarating na agad sila sa destinasyon nila? She badly wanted to open her eyes, pero hinintay muna niya na gisingin siya ni Ryker. Pero wala. Nada. Narinig lang niyang bumukas ang pintuan at ang pagsara ulit nito. A sign that he left without her.

Agad na binuksan ni Cj ang mga mata at tumingin sa bintana. Kumunot ang noo niya at nag-isang linya ang mga kilay nang makita na nasa airport sila! Unti unting nag sink sa utak niya na uuwi nga pala ang mga magulang nito!

Pabagsak na sumandal si Cj sa upuan at lumabi. Sigurado siya na magtatanong na naman ang mommy ni Ryker kung may laman na ba ang matres niya, she breathed softly and placed her hand above her stomach, tinapik tapik niya pa 'yon.

"Kabag lang naman ang laman," she uttered under her breath.

Napapadyak siya at nanggigigil na sinabunutan ang sarili. Kung hindi sana epal ang matandang 'yon, tuloy tuloy sana ang plano niya! Ano ngayon kung na re-realize pa lang ni Ryker ang feelings nito for her? Ano ngayon kung may tendency na maghiwalay silang dalawa? She should be pregnant by now! Kasal na rin siguro!

"Hays! Tanda, nasa kabilang buhay ka na pero gusto ko pa rin umisa! Double dead ka sa akin!" She uttered and balled her hands into fist, as she brings it close to her face.

Hindi lang 'yon, because of that, kinailangan din niya na mag undergo for therapy so she won't have nightmares about him. Kung sana pwedeng magka nightmares ang patay, araw araw niyang dadalawin sa panaginip ang matanda! Cancel na naman tuloy ang plano niyang sexy time without any condoms and her, drinking that damn pills!

She already stop drinking the pills days ago.

"Lord? Sige na nga, kung ano ang gusto mo 'yon na 'yon. Kasal muna ba bago anak?" Cj asked while looking at the sky, behind the tinted window of Levi's van.

Kasal bago anak. Madali lang naman siyang kausap. Masunurin siyang anak. Kaya pagsasabayin niya.

Deep in her thoughts, hindi niya namalayan na bumukas ang pintuan ng sasakyan. Her hand balled into fist and was ready to throw a punch for self defense.

"Kuya oh! Si Ate!" Nyker exclaimed, crossing his arms against his face.

Cj looked at him from his head to toe, parang hindi lalaki. She rolled her eyes, binaba agad ang kamao.

"Katok muna kasi bago bukas." Pangaral niya rito.

"You know, I'm scared of your punches." Nyker flatly said.

"Sa pellet gun ko?" She teasingly asked.

Nyker dramatically sighed and placed his hand over his chest, "mas takot ako sa suntok mo kaysa sa pellet gun. Hindi ko naman ikakamatay 'yon." Sagot nito sa kanya.

Cj laughed a little and shake his head. Nauna pala ang isang 'to sa sasakyan para ibaba ang mga gamit nila, while their parents were still inside the airport, may mga nakasalubong daw ang mga ito na kakilala at kakauwi lang din galing kung saang lupalop ng bansa. Typical Filipino mother.

"Tagal. Parang sa palengke lang ah?" Reklamo ni Nyker.

"How's your vacation?" Kapagkuwan ay tanong niya.

Nyker sneered. "Vacation my ass."

Pinigil niya ang sarili na humagalpak sa tawa. Vacation with oldies — their parents — does not count as a vacation. Stress lang ang mapapala nila. They can't go to a place without them knowing and of course, kailangan pa nila ng approval. Ginawang bata pa nga. At kung aalis naman kasama ang mga ito, get ready because it's going to be a all day walk, they would say that they're appreciating the view and the serenity of the place, pero ang totoo naliligaw na sila.

"Was it hard convincing them?"

"Nah, madali ko lang naman silang napapayag. May kapalit nga lang. Actually, hindi kami sa LA galing."

Kunot noong lumingon siya kay Nyker. "Saan?"

He sighed. May kinuha ito sa bulsa at ibinigay sa kanya. Her lips parted when he gave her a personalized keychain, may pangalan niya 'yon at magic wand.

"Japan. Disney." Halata ang pagod na dinanas nito sa sagot. "I was babysitting our mother while father enjoyed the whole trip."

Nyker looks so done.

"Tingin ka sa harap mo." Nyker said.

Agad naman siyang nag-angat ng tingin. Kumunot ang noo niya nang makita ang mga magulang niya, Ryker was behind them, pushing a trolley cart that contains their luggages.

"What the..." she uttered.

"Calista!" Sabay na tawag sa kanya ng mga magulang niya at kumaway pa ang mga ito.

Nakakausap naman niya ang mga ito kahit papaano, pero iba pa rin talaga kapag kasama na niya ang mga ito. Her heart was immediately filled with happiness. Tears started to stream down from her eyes as she ran towards her parents.

"We missed you, darling!" Her mother emotionally said and hugged her. Nakisali rin ang Daddy niya.

"How are you? How's your heart?" Nag-aalalang tanong naman ng Daddy niya.

She wiped her tears and flex her one arm. "Strong 'to, Dad!"

"That's my Jordan right there!" Her father proudly said and offered a fist bump. She laughed and bump her fist unto his.

Lumapit sa kanya ang mommy niya at bumulong. "Darling, I can see some sparks," she whispered to her. "Say... Were you and Zion..." her mother trailed off.

She bit her lower lip and glance at her mother, tsaka siya ngumiti ng malapad sa mga ito.

"Oh God! Thanks goodness!" Her mother squealed. Agad naman tinakpan ng Daddy niya ang bibig ng mommy niya para patahimikin ito.

"Are you happy?" His father seriously asked, earning a playful punch from her mother.

Cj nod her head and throw a quick glance at Ryker. "Yes, Dad."

"As long as you're happy and he's not hurting you, emotionally. I won't interfere." Seryosong sabi nito sa kanya. "Matanda ka na anak, but if ever he do something in the future, sabihan mo agad ako. Kahit matanda na ako, ilalayo kita sa kanya. Sobrang alaga namin sayo, hindi ako papayag na masaktan ka."

"You're so dramatic!" Her mother exclaimed that Cj can't help but to laugh. Ang sweet sana ng Daddy niya. "Let's get inside the Van! I want to rest as soon as possible." Bossy na sabi nito.

Naiiling na sumunod ang Daddy niya, habang siya naman ay hinintay si Ryker na tumabi sa kanya habang tulak tulak pa rin ang trolly.

"Happy?" Ryker asked, smiling sweetly at her.

"Yes!"

"I'm glad," he answered and gently placed his hand on her head and leaned in to kiss her forehead. Butterflies. She felt it inside her stomach as her whole face heated up.

☕