Dahan-dahang napalingon si Alina sa kanya. She looked straight in his eyes with her piercing glances. “Bakit?” Seryoso itong nakatitig sa kanya, inaarok ang kanyang kalooban. That look said she didn’t believe him.
“It is my responsibility to give my name to my kids.”
“Pwede nilang dalhin ang apelyido mo kahit hindi tayo kasal.”
“Gusto kong mabuo tayo bilang pamilya.”
“We were once a family…almost. Nagpakasal tayo. But where did that marriage lead us?”
Tumalikod ito at akmang hahakbang pabalik sa kwarto ngunit mas maagap siya. Pinigil niya ito sa braso.
“Ali.”
Dahan-dahan itong nagpatianod sa marahan niyang paghila. Muli silang nagkaharap. Alina looked away. His dad gave his warning pero hindi niya mapigilan ang sarili.
“Ali, look at me.”
Hinawakan niya ang pisngi nito at maingat
