Maria playfully nudged him with her hip.

"Daddy, magluto ka na. Baka mamaya magising pa si Tala." She laughed.

"'Di ah... 'Di ba nga dami nating kapitbahay na nagkakacrush sa'yo." She grinned and leaned in once more for a chaste kiss.

"Sana all daw."

Her lips pucker to meet Dante's. And for a moment, they shared a silent moment of sweet stillness.

Her lips return to its natural state, but her face maintained the closeness with his. Her golden gaze traversed his angelic face, stitching together an exact copy of him in her mind's eye for ---

She giggled and placed a few more kisses on his face.

"Joke lang, Mahal. Halika nga rito. Bigyan kita ng kiss."

The matriarch glanced with lopsided smile.

"Basta luto mo, sapat na." She chuckled.

The look on her face shifted to a more playful facade.

"Himala ah... 'Di ka nagtanong kung Jollibee."

"Mm? Ano lulutuin mo?"

The mother lovingly brushed away the raven tresses from Tala's forehead.

"...Sana laging payapa ang buhay natin..."

"Hindi pa. Kumain ka na ba?"

Maria leaned her head against his, creating a tender closeness between them as she gazed down at Tala. The little baby's eyes fluttered close.

"Maaga nagising ang mga anak natin eh." She planted a kiss on her beloved's cheek.

"Bakit?"

Maria answers quietly.

"Dito."

The babe in her arms is the answer to the low volume of her call.