Make It Without You

Chapter 19: I'm Home

"Mabigat yata 'tong usapan natin ha!" Sputnik said when Billy placed the steaming mug of hot chocolate in front of where he sat in the living area.

Umupo na rin si Billy sa katapat na sofa. "Medyo. Si Gabo kasi..." She sighed. "Wala kasi akong alam dito. Kaya nga tinawagan kita. Buti nga nasaktuhan na ulit kita dito!"

"Kayo kaya nung kambal ang laging may lakwatsa! Puro bonding sa Tatay," Sputnik commented. "O, anong meron? Anong sabi ni Gabo?"

"He asked me if he can change the surname of the twins to Villarica," paliwanag ni Billy. "Tungkol yata sa mana. Ewan ko, 'di ko naman issue sa buhay yung ganun at 'di naman ako mayaman. So... what do you think?"

Sputnik studied her for a moment. "Hmm. Sa batas kasi natin, kids out of marriage automatically use the mother's surname. They can use the father's surname kung irerecognize sila ni Gabo legally. May mga documents na kailangang i-file na you'll also need to approve. Pero if he's talking about inheritance, I assume he wants to legitimize the kids? Unfair kasi ang batas. Kapag illegitimate, certain percentage lang ng mana ng legitimate kids ang makukuha niya," he explained. "I'm going to assume he wants to legally recognize the twins para walang magtanong kung siya ba talaga ang ama and that he isn't planning to marry or have another child with anyone else. Insurance, kumbaga. He wants to insure the kids' futures kahit na hindi kayo magkabalikan. A smart move, but there will be lots of paperwork involved. Well, I'm sure his legal team will take care of it."

"So matatagalan?" Billy asked.

"He's a Villarica so he can pull some strings, I'm sure," Sputnik answered. "Pero kailangan mo munang pumayag."

Billy nodded, digesting what Sputnik just said. It sounded harmless. She was already leaning towards letting Gabo do it, but she'd wanted to hear about the legal side of it. Buti na lang talaga may best friend akong lawyer!

"He should know that illegitimate children can only be legally legitimized via a single route, and that's marriage to you," Sputnik added. "So... wala ba siyang nasabi sa'yo?"

"Anong ibig sabihin nun?"

"Well, our law only allows legitimation via the marriage of the parents. At kailangan, pareho kayong walang legal impediments to marry nung ginawa niyo yung kambal. So meaning, dapat walang underage, may ibang asawa, mga ganun. Ibig sabihin dapat at the time of conception, you could have married already," Sputnik said.

"Kahit ibahin niya ang apelyido ng kambal, if he marries someone else and has kids with someone else, 'di pa rin magkapareho ng mana yung mga anak niya with who he marries and his kids with you. 'Wag kang mag-alala, malakas naman ang kutob ko na walang balak magpakasal o magkaanak yan sa ibang tao," he added with a grin.

Billy rolled her eyes at his teasing. "Hindi naman namin habol yung pera niya," she said with a huff.

Sputnik nodded. "Duh, alam ko. Alam din niya. Pero siguro nga gusto lang niyang siguraduhin na may maiiwan siya sa kambal. Which is a good thing, kaya 'wag ka nang umarte diyan!"

Billy only sipped on her chamomile tea.

"Magpakasal na lang kasi kayo para mas madali. Three birds, one stone!" Sputnik teased again. "Gusto naman ni Gabo na ganun. I'm sure."

"Che." Billy glared at him.

Tumawa si Sputnik. "I'm just saying," he said with a shrug, still grinning.

*****

Gabo:
Good morning! How are you?

Billy:
Good morning. Okay naman. Kararating ko lang sa bakeshop.