The Bet (Just The Way You Are)

The Bet *Skip A Beat

He yelps in surprise, jumping with one foot. "Why did you do that?!"

"Get away from me!"

Rain squirms at my hold on him which makes it hard to move away from Draky.

"You smell," I blurt out.

He pauses and straightens himself. He smells his body self consciously and mutters, "I do not."

"Yes you do."

"I do not," he grumbles, "it's Rain you smell."

"It's you."

He shrugs. "I'm going to shower now," he says. "Let's see who smells then." He walks out of the room with a mischievous smile plastered on his face.

"Good job Rain," I say quietly.

He smiles at me like he knows what I'm talking about.

"It's time to change your diaper."

Unfortunately, I don't know how to do that. Getting the little blanket from his bag, I put it on the floor. I lay Rain on the middle and start to take off his shorts. I wrinkle my nose. The smell is well, disgusting.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I take off Rain's diaper, and that's when I see it's full. No wonder it leaked on Draky. A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth because of the memory. I'm sure I won't forget it for the rest of my life. Its image is clearly plastered in my mind.

Rummaging in the bag, I find baby wipes so I decide to clean him first. He's restless, kicking his feet and moving his body side by side.

The rain's not stopping yet. I hope the electricity won't die because of it. One time, due to a heavy rain, the electricity went off for a day. Of course, the classes were suspended.

When I find Rain's diaper, I read the instructions first. The packaging has three pictures on how to put it on the baby. Unfortunately, it doesn't make sense to me. I can't just put shorts on Rain without a diaper so I might as well try.

On the first attempt, the diaper is loose so it falls off him. On the second, it's too tight, and Rain gasps for breaths. I take it off quickly before he cries. On the third try, I finally get it right. I breathe a sigh of relief and wipe the sweat from my forehead. Only Rain can make me sweat in this cold day.

While I search for his shorts, he crawls away quickly to the couch.

"Rain," I call.

He turns his head and smiles at me.

"Come here baby," I say, raising his shorts in my hands.

He continues to crawl away from me. I think he wants to play. Standing up, I go after him and scoop him in my arms. He laughs, showing his three upper front teeth and two lower teeth.

To my amazement, he squirms away from me, wanting to crawl on the ground. Heaving a sigh, I kneel down and lay him on the blanket again.

Where's Draky when you need him? It's hard to wear Rain's shorts to him all by myself. Finally, I get hold of his feet and put it on.

It's not even an hour yet but I'm already tired. Leaning at the back of the couch, I stretch my feet in front of me.

Rain crawls next to me and starts to sit up. Suddenly he stands slowly, gaining his balance, holding the couch for support.

My jaw drops to the ground as I stare at him walk with his hands on the couch. Why am I surprised? Being one year and five months old, he knows how to walk already.

Rain slides on the floor, falling on his knees. I walk quickly to where he is; making my self ready for his cry, but nothing comes out. He looks confused as he scratches his knees,