Alden was immediately hit by the after-effect of drinking too much the moment he opened his eyes. Dahan-dahan umupo siya mula sa maliit na kama at nilibot ang paningin sa kwarto kung saan siya natulog.
He frowned. "Where am I?"
Kinuha niya ang picture frame mula sa study table na nasa gilid ng kama at tinitigan ito ng mabuti. He smiled because the cute little girl on the frame definitely resembled Dei. At mukhang kasama nito ang mama at papa nito.
They truly looked like a happy family.
"Gusto mo na ba talagang maging ama?"
"Can't wait."
Alden groaned when he remembered bits and pieces of when he got drunk. Pakiramdam niya may nasabi o nagawa siya na ka-estupidohan kaya lumabas siya sa kwarto para hanapin ang asawa.
Then he felt something tied around his head. Kinuha niya ito and grumbled at the sight of his necktie.
"I definitely did something stupid," he muttered.
*****
Masayang nag-aagahan ang mag-ina nang mahimigan ni Dei ang asawa na pababa ng hagdan.
"Morning!" she greeted him and motioned at the seat beside her for him to sit on.
"I'm sorry for my look, Margaret," he stated and leaned his head so Dei could kiss his cheek.
Nang makaupo na ito ng maayos, he moved to whisper at his wife, "Did I do something... stupid yesterday?"
"Wala naman." Then she pinched his cheeks. "Pinangalanan mo lang naman ang anak natin nang Tuba Faulkerson."
She chuckled and Margaret joined in as well.
"I...what?"
"Ngayon pa lang dama ko na ang inis na mararamdaman ng panganay mo sa pangalan niya. I can totally relate with him... or her."
"Hold on. Hold on. Hold on." A smile slowly appeared on the corners of Alden's lips. "Are you pregnant?"
Dei grinned and pulled the pregnancy kit from the vacant chair on her left side to show it to Alden. Kinuha ito ni Alden at sinuri ang dalawang guhit na nakikita nito.
"How does this work?" tanong agad nito sa asawa.
"Iyang dalawang guhit... it means that I am positive, that I am carrying a child."
A big smile immediately broke on Alden's face and made a fist pump in the air from the sudden good news.
"I am a father now," tulirong sabi nito sa sarili. "I am a father now..."
"Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagkukuwento kay Dei sa dinanas kong pagbubuntis sa kanya ng bigla kang dumating, hijo."
"I'm sorry, Margaret, but I need to go out for a sec..." He couldn't wait to leave the dining and out of the house to scream his excitement.
"I AM GOING TO BE FATHER NOW!!!"
Napalingon dito ang grupo ng mga kalalakihan na papunta sana tindahan. They immediately cheered the moment they recognized it was Alden.
"Magiging ama ka na? Oh, halika, inuman uli tayo! Lambanog naman!"
*****
Everyone looked confused when Alden stepped inside the Board room with a blinding smile on his face.
"Ano'ng meron?" bulong ni Jhake kay Leo when everyone settled on their seats.
