Anthology

Guess Who? (Andreau x Zade)

He immediately dialled his wife’s number, not bothering the time. He hated it when he’s nervous, mas nagiging impulsive siya.

"What the hell, Andreau?" Zade’s sleepy voice whispered from the other line. "Kakatulog ko lang! Akala ko ba va—"

"Zades.. we have a problem."

He heard Zade shift in her bed. “What? Anong nangyari? Pinakain mo ba sila ng eraser?”

"Eraser? Ba’t ko naman sila papakainin ng eraser?"

"Nung bata kasi ako kumain ako ng pambura—- okay enough of that! What happened? What’s wrong?"

"Uhh.. ano kasi…" hindi niya alam kung paano sasabihin sa asawa ang problema niya na hindi siya aasarin nito. "Uhh.. hindi ko alam kung saan nakalagay yung baby formula?"

"Nasa counter lang ‘yon. Hoy, sinabi ko yan sa’yo ha! I’ve been away for three days tapos ngayon mo lang itatanong sa’kin yan? Anong pinapainom mo sa mga anak natin, am?"

"Zades."

"Andreau. What’s going on?"

Taking a deep breath, he whispered swiftly. “HindikoalamkungsinosinaJaneatSofiahelp.”

Saglit na natahimik ang kabilang linya. Kung anu-ano tuloy ang iniisip ni Andreau na pwedeng gawin ni Zade. Baka makipaghiwalay na siya dito on the grounds of being an incompetent father and husband. Nakakahiya, dahil lang sa hindi niya ala—

"Seryoso ka dyan?" Zade’s amused voice cut through his voice. "Really, Andreau?"

Alam niyang pinipigilan lang ni Zade ang tumawa. “Hoy, laugh at me all you want. At least inamin ko!”

Zade laughed loudly for a moment, making Andreau groan in shame. “My God. Why in the hell I married you in the first place?”

"Why did you accept my proposal in the first place?"

"Touche."

"Zades.. sino nga dito sina Sofia at Jane? Holy shit. This is really ridiculous. I think I’m no—"

"Andreau," her sharp serious voice stilled him. Ayaw ni Zade na dina-down niya ang sarili niya. "It’s understandable. Hindi mo talaga madidistinguish kung sino sina Sofia at Jane sa isang tingin lang. That doesn’t, and will never, make you an incompetent father."

He sighed. “God, I miss you already. 11 more days without you here.”

"I miss you, too. And please, stop saying things like that. Baka mamaya paggising niyo nandyan na ako sa tabi niyo."

"Oh? E ‘di dapat pala bola—"

"Andreau. Vacation…"

"We can have our own vacation in our own bed, Mrs. Cortez.”

"Shut up. Gusto mo ba malaman kung sino dyan sina Sofia or Jane or what?"

Sinilip niya ang twins na mahimbing na natutulog sa crib. “Yeah. How will I know?”

"May nunal si Jane sa talampakan, Andreau. Yun lang."

Agad niyang tinignan ang talampakan ng twins. Nakita niya ang mole sa right foot ng baby na nasa kanan. “Shit, I found Jane!” he exclaimed. “God, sana lumaki na sila para mas makita ko na ang difference. Ang hirap na lagi ko pang titignan ang talampakan nila, Zades.”

His wife laughed softly on the other line. “Wow, be careful what you wish for, Andreau. Pag may nanligaw agad sa twins ikaw naman ‘tong sobrang protective.”

Nag-usap pa sila ni Zade for awhile, about sa New York and sa movie. Zade begged off after twenty minutes, sobrang inaantok na kasi siya.

Before she hung up, his wife asked him something.

"Andreau.. ba’t pala hindi mo napansin kung sino si Jane at Sofia?"

Akala niya makakalusot na siya. Shit. “Uhhh… parehas kasi sila ng suot na onesie, Zades.”

"Uhh… shit. Saang drawer ka kumuha?"

"Dun sa malaking brown?"

Tawang-tawa si Zade. Ngayon gets na niya kung bakit halos mabaliw na ang asawa niya. “Oh God, Andreau. Regalo ni Mars yan! Pang-asar lang niya sa’kin yan pero nacute-an ako. Sorry for the mix up!”

He quietly said goodbye to his wife before hanging up.

The next time na magso-shopping si Zade sisiguraduhin niyang kasama siya.
And the next time na magreregalo si Mars, pera na lang ang hihingin niya.

At next time.. hinding-hindi na niya papayagan na magsuot ng parehas na damit ang kambal niya.