Halos mabilaukan sa pagtawa si Arthur nang ik'wento niya 'yon nung gabi. "A pantyliner? Where did she get that? Buti at watercolor lang 'yung mantsa!"
"I know, thank God. I wanted to cry with mortification when I saw the yellow stain. It looked like vaginal discharge!"
Humalakhak ulit ang lalaki. "Artist ang anak mo! Dapat kinuhaan mo ng picture. And look at the bright side, at least pantyliner lang. Isipin mo na lang kung thong o sex toy mo ang idinikit niya dun!"
Masama niyang tinapunan ng tingin ang kaibigan. Nakangisi ito habang nakasalampak sa kama niya at hawak ang phone nito. Nakasuot ang lalaki ng pantulog, silk royal blue PJs na pinatungan nito ng katernong flowing royal blue robe.
Siya rin ay nakapantulog na. Light green satin nighty na napapatungan ng chartreuse green satin robe.
Kagabi dumating ang kaibigan sa Manila galing New York, at nitong hapon ay dumerecho na ang lalaki sa Alaminos. Naiwan si Julian sa Manila at may kailangan itong asikasuhin doon. At ngayon ay narito ang kaibigan sa bahay niya para makipagchikahan.
"That will never happen," mataray niyang sambit habang inaalis ang tuwalyang nakabalot sa buhok.
Humagikhik si Arthur. "Why, because you don't have sex toys?"
"No, because that cabinet is locked."
Humalakhak ulit ang kaibigan.
Isinampay niya sa hanger ang tuwalya at isinabit 'yon sa likod ng pinto ng banyo, tapos ay kinuha ang wide tooth comb at sinimulang suklayin ang buhok.
"Wait here now," aniya sa kaibigan pagkatapos magsuklay ng buhok. "I'll go check on Anaya."
"'Kay, darling!"
"And dear, don't you dare have phone sex on my bed," babala niya.
Humagikhik ulit ito. "'Kay, sa banyo mo na lang!"
Tinirikan niya 'to ng mga mata at lumabas na siya ng silid.
Marahan niyang pinihit pabukas ang seradura ng pinto ng silid ng anak.
"Oh, oh, that's the wolf, Uncle Declan! He has big ears!"
"Yes," narinig niya ang mababang boses ni Declan. "Little Red Riding Hood saw that, too. What big ears you have, grandmother."
Tuluyan na siyang pumasok sa silid.
Nakahiga ang anak sa malaking kama habang nakasandal ang tablet sa unan malapit dito. Ilaw sa isang lampshade ang tanging liwanag sa silid ng anak, at malamyos ang sinag noon sa paligid.
Nasa tabi ni Anaya ang papikit-pikit na na si Nanay Elma, tinatapik-tapik ang binti ng paslit. Hindi niya kita ang screen ng tablet, pero alam niyang naroon si Declan, nagbabasa ng fairytale sa anak.
"A woodsman who was chopping logs nearby heard her cry and ran towards the cottage as fast as he could," Declan narrated in his strong rough voice.
"His gonna save Little Red." Naghikab ang anak at napapikit-pikit.
She felt the familiar tug at her heart as she stared at her sweet baby listening to Declan.
Lumapit siya sa paslit at itinaas nito ang tingin sa kanya. "Momma."
Ngumiti siya sa bata at umupo sa gilid ng kama nito.
"Your Mom's there?" untag ng binata mula sa tablet.
"Yes, Uncle Declan. The Woodsman save Little Red, Uncle Declan?"
"Yes, he did."
"'Kay. Wanna sleep now, Uncle Declan."
She heard Declan's low chuckle. "Okay, princess, good night."
"Night, night, Uncle. Mwah!" Inabot siya ng anak. "Kiss, Momma, kiss."
Bahagya siyang tumungo para halikan ang noo at pisngi ng anak. "Night, baby. Sweet dreams."
"Night, Momma. Sweet dreams, Momma. Sweet dreams, Uncle Declan."
"Sweet dreams, princess."
Pumikit ang anak at hinilig ang isang pisngi sa kamay nito. Nakapikit na rin si Nanay Elma habang patuloy sa pagtapik sa paslit. Hinimas niya ang ulo ng anak bago dinampot ang tablet.
Declan's lids looked heavy with sleepiness as he stared back at her from the screen. Nakaupo ito sa isang itim na couch at sa likod nito ay isang puting pader. Sa kanan nito ay isang malaking platform bed. 'Yon ang hotel room nito sa Massachusetts. He was talking to them on his laptop on a coffee table.
Basa ang buhok ng lalaki, medyo kumukulot sa dulo, mukhang bagong ligo. He had a bit of scruff darkening his strong jaw, and the corners of his lips were slightly turned up. The material of the dark gray thermal he wore stretched snug over the rigid muscles of his shoulders and muscular chest, and the harsh contours of his brawny arms were outlined through the fabric.
Limang araw na itong nasa Massachusetts, at alam niyang sa limang araw na 'yon, halos wala itong pahinga. The day he arrived in Massachusetts, he just dropped off his luggage in his hotel then went straight to the hospital.
Ito ang nagbabantay sa gabi sa pasyente dahil may alta presyon ang asawa ni Felix na si Honey. Hindi makapagbantay sa gabi ang mga anak ng mag-asawa dahil may mga anak na maliliit pa ang mga ito at nahihirapan ding magpuyat. Declan already hired nurses round the clock for his friend, but he also decided to look after Felix at night to put his friend more at ease.
Pero sa kabila noon, every seven thirty in the evening, which was seven thirty in the morning in Massachusetts, he'd be talking to Anaya, chatting with her baby then telling her a bedtime story.
"You look tired, Declan, you should sleep now."
"Yeah, I'll sleep in bit."
Tahimik niyang binuksan ang pinto ng silid ng anak at tahimik din siyang lumabas.
"Anaya told me about her gift to Lola."
Hindi niya napigilang tumawa. "I'm sorry, I don't know where she got it."
"Is it yours?" Nakangisi ang lalaki.
Umiling siya at maikli uling tumawa. "Honestly. I don't know. It could be Nanay Elma's. We use the same brand."
Declan barked a laugh. "Christ, that's foul, Vera. That's it, it's yours."
Nagkibit balikat siya at itinulak pabukas ang glass sliding doors papuntang veranda. By now, she had developed a modicum of immunity against Declan's smile and laughter. It's not much, though. Madalas, nag-iinit pa rin ang kanyang balat sa tuwing tumatawa at ngumingiti ang lalaki.
Sinalubong siya ng malamig at preskong hangin. Dahil nasa tuktok ng maliit na burol ang bahay, tanaw doon ang malawak na beach. Lumabas siya at umupo sa isang mahabang wicker sectional.
Then, she hesitated, before she asked, "How is Felix?"
Agad pumusyaw ang ngiti sa mga labi ng binata.
"They found another infection in his lungs this morning. It's not looking good. The doctors think he won't last 'till the end of next week."
Sumikip ang kanyang sikmura at dibdib. Everyday, Declan's friend got worse and worst. "I'm so sorry, Declan."
"Yeah, I am too." Bumuga ng hangin ang kausap, tapos ay tipid itong ngumiti. "Went to the correctional facility yesterday before I went to the hospital, visited some friends. I try to do that whenever I'm here."
Alam niya 'yon. Kasama 'yon sa report ng private investigator. "Are you going to meet with your family in New York while you're there?"
Agad dumilim ang mukha ni Declan. "I don't have family in New York, Vera, you know that."
"I wasn't implying anything, Declan."
Tiim bagang na tumango ang lalaki. "Not everyone's a f*ck up in that family, but it's better to stay the hell away from them. Especially now that I have Anaya. Dip one toe in that hell hole, and they'll suck you in. I already have too much sh*t piled on you and Anaya, not adding more."
"You don't have too much sh*t piled onto us. You have sh*t, but it's tolerable."
Muli ay tumawa ito, mainit ang titig. "Thanks for the assurance, sunshine."
Her own lips curved, and she nodded.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" tanong ng lalaki.
"It's Sunday tomorrow. Pupunta kami ni Anaya sa bahay nina Mama, go to church, then eat somewhere."
Tumango ang binata. "On Monday?"
"Meeting with Architect Solomon and his team for the villa we want to build here. May mga college students na magpi-field trip din dito sa Monday at Tuesday. Magha-harvest din kami ng watermelons at pineapples. Then I'll check some of the nurseries."
Bumukas ang pinto ng veranda at sumilip si Arthur don. "Vera, dear, ano na?"
"In a bit, Arthur."
"I'll make hot chocolate."
"Okay, thanks."
At lumabas na ang kaibigan.
Ibinalik niya ang titig kay Declan.
Nakakunot noo ito, nakahalukipkip, lalong pinauumbok ang matitigas na mga kalamnan sa maskulado nitong mga braso. "Arthur?" untag ng dating boksingero. "Your friend?"
Nag-angat siya ng kilay sa brusko nitong tono. "Yes, he just came back from New York yesterday."
"That the guy who'll donate his sperm to you?" may timbre ng pang-aakusa ang tono ng lalaki.
It shouldn't make her blush, really, but talking about sperm with Declan made heat crawl up her neck. "We haven't seriously talked about it yet," aniya, "but he's open to the idea."
"Why not have my sperm?"
Her sex clenched in an instant, and the tips of her breasts stiffened against her nighty. Thank God her face remained composed. "Excuse me?"
Nanatiling magkasalubong ang maiitim na mga kilay ng binata, nanatiling mataman ang titig sa kanya. "You said it's to give Anaya a sibling. Then take my sperm. That way, the kid would be Anaya's biological sibling."
She tried hard not to think of Declan's sperm between her legs, deep inside her vagina, inside her womb. Thick, hot, creamy...
Breathing slowly, she crossed her legs and squeezed her thighs tight together.
"Family is not just about blood," pantay niyang saad.
Tipid na tumango si Declan. "I know that, sunshine, but we're already f*cking complicated. At least if you have my kid again, it'll be simpler. It's just you, me, Anaya and our other kid. Or kids, if you want to give Anaya more than one sibling. We don't need anyone else in the f*cking equation."
Mahabaging langit, talaga bang pinag-uusapan nila ang bagay na 'to? You, me and Anaya. Our kids. He was talking about them as if they were already a unit. With more kids!
As if it was simple. As if it was certain.
As if it was nothing but right.
"I think," usal niya, "we'll make it more complicated if we do that."
Hindi nagpatinag ang kausap. Nanatiling nakatiim bagang ito. "I disagree. Just think about it. You already have my kid. So if you want more babies, Vera, have mine. Have more babies with me."
His babies.
Oh, dear Lord.
Once again, she ignored the fast beating of her heart and the sudden throbbing between her legs. "Let's talk again tomorrow, Declan. I need to go, and you need to sleep."
Maikli itong tumango. "Yeah. Night, Vera. But I'm serious. Think about it."
'Yon lang, at tinapos na nito ang tawag.