THE LAWYER & I (Completed) #Wattys2018

21. I LOVE YOU

JOAQUIN

"Happy birthday Daddy. Come on wake up."

I woke up to a smiling Nathalie and her Mom smiling too and holding a cake. I was thinking, how could someone get so lucky to have these two in his life. Nathalie has been my source of happiness. The sunshine of my life. She always makes my gloomy day bright. Ewan ko ba pero pag nakikita ko siya nawawala agad ang pagod ko. When she comes to visit sa opisina parang high na high ako, parating on the go. Yung nanay naman niya....sige na nga ray of sunshine din siya. Hindi ko lang inaamin pa sa kanya what I am feeling. For the almost 1 year of being together, and we have tried to live peacefully  for Nathalie. Alam ko hirap na hirap din sa adjustment si Anna pero I know para sa anak niya gagawin niya talaga.

Yung feelings ko for her, I guess it shows na rin naman. Hindi ko lang sinasabi. Ayoko kasing pilitin siya na dapat may maramdaman siya para sa akin. Alam ko naman na may feelings pa siya para kay Carlos. Sabi ko nga sa sarili ko, I married her so I am lucky. Pero parang luckier naman si CJ kasi kahit wala na siya, siya pa rin ang laman ng puso ni Anna. I'll wait. I have forever to wait for it. Hahahaha huwag lang niya akong hiwalayan, kawawa naman ako pag yun ang nangyari. Sige self pity ka pa Joquin Carlos Escudero. Pero Carlos, Happy birthday din, salamat sa regalo mo.

"Daddy, blow your candles. Ang dami na oh."

"How many candles ba yan? Baka sobra ang inilagay niyong dalawa."

"Mama said 30. you're 30 years old, right Daddy?"

"Yes sweetheart."

"And Mommy is 28, ay hindi 29 na pala si Mommy."

"Sige Nathalie isigaw mo pa ang age ko. Hmp!"

"Hahahahha. Daddy, make a wish."

And I blew the candles on my cake.

"What did you wish for Daddy?"

"That you will grow up to be a very fine young woman."

"And...?"

"And that we be richer?"

"Hahaha Daddy did you wish that you and Mama will live happily every after?"

"Yes. I did."

"That is also my wish Dad. Now for the juicier part, do you love me Daddy?"

"Of course I love you anak."

"Hmmmmm...how about Mommy? Do you love her?"

"Nathalie!"

"I'm just asking Mommy. Now Dad, do you love Mommy?"

I looked at Anna. Bakit ako kinabahan bigla? She looked at me shocked din siya sa sinabi ng anak niya. I looked at her intently. Aamin ba ako or magpapalusot ako? I looked at Anna...

"Yes Anak, I love Mommy too."

"Yaaaaay! You love her. I knew it. I knew it. I always see you look at her that gooey look when she's not looking."

Ako naman ngayon ang nagbluch at nahiya. Walanghiyang bata ito. Nakikita niya ang mga yun? Kailan ko tinitignan si Anna ng gooey looks? Natawa na lang ako bigla.

"Kailangan ko na bang magtago? Nakakahiya naman yata tong sinasabi mo Nathalie eh. HAhahah Nakakahiya sa Mommy mo."

"Hindi ah. Nice nga eh kaya alam na niya na love mo siya. Mommy, your turn, say I love you kay Dad na. I know you also feel the same way."

"Nathalie, sobra ka na huh!"

"Hahaha Mommy aamin ka lang naman eh. Sige na."

Siguro kung hindi niya hawak ang cake nag mega walk out na naman ang Mommy nitong batang to. Asar kasi eh.

"Don't tease Mommy, Nathalie. Baka umalis siya wala na tayong taga gawa ng masarap na pancake."

"Mommy, sige na kasi aminin mo na kay Dad na you love him too."

"Nope!"

"Hay you are so kill joy talaga Mommy."

"Where did you get that word?"

"Mom I am 11 years old and not 5, Of course alam ko na ang mga ganyang bagay. And you may not want toadmit it yet, I know you love Dad. Hahahaha"

"Stop teasing Mommy Nathalie. So what do you two are giving me for my birthday?"

"This is my gift Daddy. Just a book."

"Hahaha you should have waited for me to open the present."

"Hahaha ayoko ng surprises eh. Mom, what's your gift?"

"Hmmm this."

She gave me a cufflink with Nathalie's initials and the paper of approval changing Nathalie's name from Walker to Nathalie Marie Bueno Escudero. Daughter to Joaquin Carlos Escudero and Anna Marie Bueno-Escudero. I looked at Nathalie and hugged her. I kissed her forehead and she wanted out of my embrace kasi she is talking pictures of what is happening. I looked at Anna who was just beside me smiling. Hindi ko talaga mapigilan eh. I pulled her to me and hugged her. When we pulled away, she looked at me and whispered, Thank you JC to me. Yun na bumigay na talaga ako, I reached out and kissed her on the lips. In front of our daughter who was screaming and jumping and has forgotten that she was taking pictures or video. Anna did not push me. Instead I felt she kissed me back. Gusto ko pa sanang tagalan yung kiss kaso si Nathalie

"Get a room will you?"

"You are in our room kid."

"Hahaha sorry naman."

I looked at Nathalie again and say

"Thank you. I love you. I love you so much."

And I hugged her.

"Thank you for loving us JC, we both love you too."

Ano daw? They both love me? I looked at her. Ang ingay kasi ni Nathalie.

"She loves you daw Daddy. She loves you. Mommy loves you too. Baby na to!"

And Anna and I tried to catch her before she ran out of the room.

She loves.

"You love me? Talaga?"

"Oo nga I love you too Ca....Joaquin Escudero."

I looked at her and smiled. Slip of the tongue. I just pretended I did not hear that. I hugged her. I'll give her time to forget you Carlos. It hurts! It hurts too much, putangina ka Carlos. Pero, maghihintay ako na mahalin ako ng babaeng hindi ko alam kung minahal mo din. Mahal ko siya. Mahal ko siya ng higit pa sa pagmamahal mo sa kanya...yang eh kung talagang minahal mo siya.

I know right? Masakit! Naawa ba kayo kay Joaquin? Ako din kaso kailangan sa story ang may masaktan hahaha. Sit tight at mas may mas masakit pang pangyayari sa buhay ni Atty Escudero. Please vote and comment. thank you.