Make It Without You

Chapter 16: Birthday Wishes

A/N: Here's 5,700+ worth of word vomit for all of you. I'm a bit busy with real life so updates might be a little slow. But I'll do my best to still post regularly.

Keep safe, everyone!

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"Hello, I'm on my way up. Ready na kayo?" Gabo said into his mobile phone inside the elevator of the building of Billy's condo. It's March 28. Araw na ng birthday party niya sa wakas at excited na siyang makasama buong weekend ang mag-iina niya. Pumayag kasi si Billy na mag-staycation sila sa hotel hanggang sa mismong birthday ni Gabo. Tamang-tama namang wala na palang pasok ang mga anak nila on March 30, a Monday.

"Yes," Billy answered, smiling as she watched her kids excitedly deciding which toys to bring to the hotel. "Hintayin ka na lang namin ha, medyo marami kaming dala eh. Wala yung mga ninong pero pupunta naman daw sila mamaya sa party. Super excited na nitong mga anak mo! Akala yata outing ang pupuntahan nila!" she said, stifling a laugh.

Gabo chuckled. Anak natin. "I'll be there in a bit," he said, watching the floor numbers changing on the elevator's small screen. A few minutes later, Gabo rang the unit's doorbell.

He heard the faint pattering of little feet towards the door which opened seconds later to reveal the excited twins, who welcomed him with toothy smiles. "TATAY!!!" they shouted in unison. Napangiti na lang si Gabo. Brielle raised her arms, asking him to carry her, while Gavin held his hand. He knelt before them to kiss them both bago niya binuhat si Brielle while Gavin remained latched to his side. Maingat na naglakad si Gabo papasok sa condo kasama ang mga anak.

"Tatay, is there a swimming pool in the howwwtel?" Brielle asked, cutely extending her last word. "Pumunta po kami with Nanay and Tatay Lolo dati sa hotel and nag-swim po kami sa kiddie pool!"

Gabo nodded. "Yes princess," he said. "You guys brought your swimwear?" he asked the kids.

"Opo!" the twins replied, nodding excitedly.

Checking the contents of the duffel bags and small backpacks beside her was Billy who was seated on one sofa. Hi wifey. Lumapit si Gabo sa kanya at sakto namang inangat niya ang tingin.

Natawa si Billy sa itsura ni Gabo. The clingy little monkeys! "Kanina ka pa kasi hinihintay eh. Hindi mapakali!" sabi niya kay Gabo na tumawa lang. When Billy zipped up the two small backpacks, nagpababa si Brielle kay Gabo at bumitiw si Gavin sa kanya.

Akala ni Gabo kung anong meron pero yun pala, sinuot lang ng dalawa yung backpacks nila and looked up at him and Billy expectantly. Kinuha ni Gabo ang duffel bags sa tabi ni Billy, not letting her refuse. "Let's go?" he asked them, smiling at the twins.

"LET'S GO!!!" Gavin and Brielle said at nag-unahang lumabas sa pinto.

When they arrived at their three-bedroom hotel suite, manghang nagtatakbo ang kambal at tinignan isa-isa ang mga kwarto.

"Wow! Our room is soooo big!" sabi ni Brielle pagkabalik niya sa tabi ni Gabo.

Gavin's face was pressed against a floor length glass window. "Look, we can see so many tall buildings everywhere! And the cars! They're so little! They're like our toy cars!" sabi niya kaya lumapit si Brielle at tumabi sa kanya. Pareho silang tumingin sa labas ng bintana.

Billy looked at them with a grin on her face na nagpangiti rin kay Gabo. Spending time with them is the best birthday gift ever. "Puddings, what do you want for lunch? Let's order and then we'll rest a bit so we can go swimming? Or tomorrow na lang ang swimming?" masayang sabi ni Gabo sa mga anak.