49. Surrendered.

"What are you doing?" tanong ni Lara na hindi naman masupil ang ngiti habang nakatingin sa asawang de-apron sa kusina.

"I'm cooking, can't you see?" Tinaas-babaan pa siya nito ng kilay nang lingunin siya.

Pangatlong araw pa lang nila roon. Pero pakiramdam ni Lara, nasasanay na siya sa side nito na hindi seryoso. He was sweet and caring.

Sometimes, she was thinking if he was beginning to be like the man he used to be before he lost Lena. Lara could still remember how she adored him back then.

But it was the unadulterated kind. She loved him because Lena loved him. Because she thought he was going to be her brother-in-law.

"You can cook?" Lumapit siya at inusisa ang niluluto nitong pang-lunch nila. "Sinigang?"

"Uh-huh," he answered, switching the temperature to low. "This will be done in a minute. Are you already hungry?"

She shook her head. "Hindi naman. I didn't know that you can cook—"

"Don't be fooled," singit ni Mabel na may dalang hinugasang siling haba. "Pinabantayan ko lang