All or nothing

Chapter Six

Family Day

Saina's

NAULIT pa ng ilang beses ang pagkakaroon ng playdate ni Haniel at Joshua. Hindi na ako nagdadalawang isip ngayon kasi kitang – kita naman sa mga bata nag-e-enjoy talaga silang kasama ang isa't isa. Isa pa, natutuwa ako kay Joshua, he maybe the same age as my boy but he treats Haniel like a little brother, gina-guide niya si Haniel sa mga bagay na hindi nito alam at sa mga bagay na hindi gaanong naiintindihan ng anak ko. He teaches him Tagalog words, hindi lang iyon, minsan ay nadatnan ko si Joshua na tinutulungan si Haniel na magbasa ng Filipino.

Joshua is a great boy, isa lang rin ang ibig sabihin noon, mabuting ama si Birada. He's sweet – Joshua – okay, I am thinking about Joshua when I say that sweet description. Paanong magiging sweet si Birada? Hindi ko makakalimutan when he implied that I am only here because I slept with the boss' son and carried his grandchild. Whatever happened after Uriel and I, walang kinalaman iyon sa kung anong mayroon ako ngayon. Makapal ng ang mukha ni Birada, hindi man lang siya nag-sorry sa akin dahil sa nangyaring iyon.

But then, I realized that maybe because of the friendship out sons have, we automatically had this silent agreement to be civil to each other in and outside of work. Nagkikita naman kasi talaga kami outside of work dahil sa mga bata, pero kung tutuusin, mas madalas silang magkita ni Uriel kasi napag-alaman kong araw – araw palang sinusundo ni Birada si Joshua sa school, just like Uriel to our son.

I was brought back to reality when I heard my intercom beeped. I clicked the button and waited for my EA to speak. Abala ako sa pagpirma ng mga contracts at sa pagcheck ng mga ito.

"Miss Avery is here to see you, Miss."

"Let her in." I sighed. Tiningnan ko ang oras, it's only ten am and I feel so tired already. Bukas ay may quarterly meeting kasama ang buong board which include my father and Uriel's dad, sure akong hindi palalagpasin ni Papa ang pagpunta bukas ngayong alam niyang darating si Gabriel Consunji, alam kong ipapakita ni Papa sa tatay ni Uriel na hindi siya matitbag and I feel sorry for my old man, hindi niya lang alam but everything in his life is bound to fall apart.

"Girl!" Avery greeted me when she entered the room. I smiled widely when I saw the twins in their double troller. They're three years old now and they're so lovely.

"Awww!" I cooed. The twins looked so good in their matching Gucci shirt and shorts. I stood up and leveled with them. Nakakalakad naman na sila but Avery told me that she puts them in this stroller when they go out of the house for an easier walk. Ang hirap daw kasi kapag takbo nang takbo iyong dalawa – and I feel her, sa ganitong edad ni Haniel, sobrang active niya, we used to go to the park in Italy and he chases the birds, I had to chase him to make sure he wouldn't fall, I end up so tired after.

"Hi babies!" Sabay silang nag-hello sa akin na may kasamang tiny wave. My heart burst with so much happiness. "I wanna bite their cheeks, Avery, can I? Can I?"

"NO!" She hissed at me. "As their mom, I'm the only one allowed to bite them."

"Damot." I pouted but I pinched Elle's cheeks lightly, she giggled at me. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"Uriel's here with Papa Gab and Migs." I recalled being told that Uncle Gab will come today, hindi lang malinaw sa akin kung para saan. Hindi naman ako nangingialam sa kanya sa mga bagay na iyon. I know he has his reasons for being here. Sa totoo lang ayokong makialam sa kung anong plano niya. I am just here doing my job. "Are you okay?"