ZAYDEN'S POV
"Zayden!" Mom called me. "Answer your phone! Kanina pa yan tunog ng tunog!" She was in the kitchen.
She might have heard my phone ringing from there.
"Okay, Mom!" Inaantok kong sagot.
It was a video call coming my Dad.
"Zayden I've been calling you many times already.." agad na bungad sa akin ni Daddy. "What are you doing?"
"I just woke up Dad..." I yawned after saying. I was still sleepy because I slept late last night.
Tinulungan ko si Mommy to prepare for the party.
"Zayden, is that your Dad?" Pumasok si Mommy sa kwarto. She was wearing an apron, she must be cooking already for the party.
"It's me!" Humalakhak si Daddy from the phone. "I'm on my way there.. Mom and Dad picked me up."
"Good! I need help in the kitchen." Mataray na sagot ni Mommy at tumalikod na.
"Cranky, ey?" tumawa si Daddy. "Bumangon ka na diyan and help your Mom.." Pagtutukoy sa akin Daddy.
Gusto ko na sana mag protesta dahil sa antok but I had to. I promised to take care of Mom and not give her a hard time while Dad is away. And I have always kept that promise.
"You plan on staying, Dad?" A thought instantly popped up in my mind.
I heard how we cleared his throat. "Let's talk about that after the party, Z.."
Then a complete silence filled the air.
"I'll put the call down now, okay? Get up and help your Mom." he said softly.
"Okay, Dad." I said and can't help but let him feel the disappointment in my tone. I was trying hard to cover it but it just went out of me.
Bumuntong hininga ako as I put my phone down on the side table. I composed myself before I went out and help Mommy.
ALARA'S POV
Narinig ko na ang busina mula sa labas, it must be them already.
Dali dali akong nag hugas ng kamay at tinanggal ang apron.
"Z.. salubungin mo Daddy mo.. I'll follow you punta lang ako ng kwarto." Utos ko sa anak. He's all grown up now.
I can't believe kung gaano kabilis lumaki ni Zayden sa paningin ko. Parang kailan lang ay panay ang iyak neto dahil gusto magpakarga sa akin. Now... I can't help but sigh deeply.
Lumabas ako ng kwarto at dali daling nagtungo sa front door.
Nakitang kong nagaasaran na ang magama habang si Daddy ang naguunload ng bagahe ni Huey. Mom was laughing while watching Huey and Zayden.
"Hey!" Sigaw ko. "Don't forget about this little one here!" pinanlakihan ko sila ng mata.
I was carrying Zaydie, Zayden's younger sister. She was already wearing her fairly costume and holding a magic wand on her hand with her long hair finely braided.
"Zaydie!" Malambing na boses ni Huey. He pouted and I watched how his eyes sparkled as he saw Zaydie. Patakbo niya kaming nilapitan and immediately snatched her from me.
"Mu birthday girl!" Pinaulanan niya ng halik ang mukha ng Zaydie. My daughter giggled.
"Zaydie's turn!" she excitedly said and showered her Dad with kisses too.
Tumawa ng tumawa si Huey. "I can't believe you're talking now!" With amusement in his eyes.
"Come on Hue, she's already three." Umiling ako.
"Not to me!" Singhal niya and his nose crinkled. "For me she's just a year old."
"Maybe it's because you didn't come on her second birthday, Dad." Pangaasar ni Zayden na ngayo'y nasa tabi ko na. I reached out my hand to hug him.
"Because I was sick, you know that right?" he pouted like a baby.
Dahil sa kakaovertime ni Huey, di siya nakadalo sa birthday ni Zaydie last year. He was confined due to dehydration dahil ultimo pag inom ng tubig ay di magawa dahil sa ka busyhan. He planned on doing all the work for the rest of the week in 3 days para maka alis siya without piling everything up. And ending, nagkasakit siya at hindi tuloy naka alis.
"That's what you get for being stubborn." Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"Whatever." His eyes widened.
"Pumasok na nga kayo." Suway ni Daddy dahil nagaasaran nanaman kaming tatlo.
Kahit sa video call ay ganun kami. Umiling nalang ako at tumawa. Inakay ko si Zayden papasok at nasa likod naman namin si Huey at Zaydie na patuloy parin na nag hahagikhikan.
Ang akala ko ay tutulungan ako ni Huey sa kitchen, he ended up playing with Zayden and Zaydie. Aalma na sana ako at akmang aasarin siya but I stopped myself. Nakangiting tinitignan ko sila while they were playing ang laughing. Their noises filled the house and it made my heart pound like there's no tomorrow. A sudden warmth filled my heart and I didn't want it to stop.
Finally, this house suddenly felt like home. I can already imagine going home to this scenery. Yung ganitong ingay ang sasalubong sa akin every time I go home tired at work. Feeling ko sa ingay na to, makakatulog ako ng mahimbing ng may ngiti sa labi.
"Lalim naman ng iniisip mo?" halos mapatalon ako sa gulat at naputol ang pagiisip ko. Huey was already standing in front of me.
"W-wala.." umiling ako and laughed it out.
"You know it's better to just make it real than to daydream it right?" He smirked. Di ko alam kung pano niya nahulaan kung ano nag iniisip ko.
"You wish." Umirap ako na parang teenager. Why am I even denying it when he's already married to me. Tumawa ako sa isip ko.
"Will make my wish come true?" mahina niyang sabi.
Nakatalikod na ako ng sabihin niya iyon dahilan para matigilan nanaman ako sa paglalakad pabalik sa stove.
My heart was pounding so fast again. It's like the world stopped as I heard him say that.
I felt him behind me. His warm body so close to me and heard his heavy breathing on my ear.
"Everything is okay now.. I feel like we're okay now.." pabulong niyang sabi at halos manindig ang balahibo ko as I fet his warm breathe on the back of my ear.
Nanigas ang katawan ko at kinabahan bigla sa di malamang dahilan. Why am I fucking nervous! It's not his first time to do this but to me it feels so foreign to be this close to me. It was an unexplained feeling.
Panibagong kaba ang bumalot nanaman sa akin as i left his hands glide on my shoulder and went down on my arms. Napapikit ako ng mariin at napa singhap.
Kinulong niya ako sa braso niya as he hugged me from behind. He rested his chin and my shoulder at pinangkiskis ang pisngi namin. It was a heartwarming feeling I almost didn't want to let this moment end. I could stay in this moment forever.
"I miss you.." madamdaming bulong niya. "I miss you so.. damn.. much.. love.. and I don't know how I'll leave you again after this. Di ko alam kung paano kukumbinsihin ang sarili kong bumalik sa lugar na wala kayo.."
Bumuntong hininga ako, naramdaman ang paglaylay ng balikat ko.
Who am I kidding, right?
Ano pa ba ang iniintay ko?
Andito na kami and I don't see any reason not to give in.
I have everything already in the palm of my hands and all I have to do is hold on to it now.
This is what I have been waiting for. This is the reason why we did this.
So we'd end up like this..
