Final Chapter
"Please? One more for Mama?" I asked Grant. I actually wanted to name him something na nagsisimula sa Ch para in line sa mga Viste, but it was so hard to come up with a name! Chester said that he'd pretty much agree to anything as long as it's not weird name. I didn't know what he meant when he said weird. He said he'd know when it's weird. Instead, we decided to name him Grant because he was granted to us. Because we kinda thought na hindi pwede, but still, he came unexpectedly. I liked the name, so we went with it.
He didn't shake his head. He just stared at me, but even that little stare was enough to make me stop. Gosh. He really is Chester's son! Kuhang-kuha iyong mata pati iyong pagtingin!
"One more?"
He just stared at me. Gosh. Paano na kaya ako kapag nasa mood silang dalawa ni Chester? Wala akong makakausap sa bahay! They're like two peas in a pod.
Grant's eyes automatically lightened up nang dumating si Chester. There's no denying that this one's a daddy's boy. I mean, I couldn't blame him, honestly.
"Papa!" he said.
Mabilis na binuhat siya ni Chester. I shook my head at him and he just shrugged. Kakagaling niya lang kasi from work and as much as possible, ayaw ko na hinahawakan niya si Grant before siya magwash-up. Mahirap na, noh.
"Hey, bud," he said habang buhat niya na si Grant.
I just stood there and watched them habang nagkkwento si Grant sa nangyari sa araw niya. Ang dami niyang kwento kay Chester, to be honest kahit ang ginawa niya lang naman ngayong araw ay manood ng TV at magkalat sa bahay. Pero based sa kwento niya, akala mo may adventure kaming pinuntahan today.
"I'll just talk to Mama, okay?" sabi niya kay Grant na tumango lang tapos ay ibinaba niya. My hands were crossed against my chest nang lumapit siya sa akin. I shook my head. Natawa siya. "You know the rules."
"I know," he said as he wrinkled his nose. "How about flying kiss na lang?"
I rolled my eyes. "Parang bata."
Natawa siya nang kaunti. "Fine. Stay there. Ligo lang ako."
"Okay," I said. "Grant," I called. He groaned. "You know the drill, mister," I continued. Napailing na lang ako as I watched him march towards his room. Alam niya naman na his Papa has to wash-up first since galing sa hospital.
"Hindi ako ganyan," Chester said preemptively.
"Mas lalong hindi ako ganyan," I replied habang pinapanood pa rin namin magwalkout iyong anak namin.
"I think si Charlie iyong ganyan."
"Yeah... I think si Rhys din."
"So, walang namana sa atin?"
"Look at his face—basically you."
Natawa si Chester and didn't even try to refute me kasi as in kamukha niya talaga! Like at this point, ako lang iyong nagbuntis, pero si Chester talaga lahat. Pati paglabas, si Chester pa rin ang favorite.
"Yeah... not really sorry," he said.
I frowned. "Mean," I replied. "Chester..."
"Yeah?"
"Ligo ka muna. I'll tell you later."
Kumunot ang noo niya. "Why? Is it important?"
I nodded. "I think? Kinda?"
"Sabihin mo na ngayon."
"Ligo ka muna."
"Ayoko mag-overthink sa ilalim ng shower."
Natawa ako. "That sounds so dramatic."
He shrugged. "So, what do you want to tell me?"
I drew a deep breath. "So..."
"So?" he asked. "Come on. You can tell me anything."
Tumingin ako sa kanya. He's right. He's very understanding. He asks for little. He just wanted me to be always happy, he said. And he's proven that every single day since the moment that we got together. And even now? Even when we're already married? He just got even better.
It's true when they say never settle for just okay just because you don't want to be lonely... because you might end up missing on having the best.
And I can say with confidence that I'm glad I waited—Chester's the best.
"So, Grant's attending preschool soon," I said.
He nodded. "He keeps on telling me."
Natawa ako. "Such a nerd, that one."
He shrugged. "Tells me he's gonna be a doctor, too."
"Really?"
He nodded. "'Wanna be like Papa,' he said."
I frowned. "Doctor din naman ako!
"Parttime," Chester kidded.
When Grant turned two, bumalik na ako sa work but I asked for a lighter load since gusto ko na mas marami pa rin akong time sa bahay. But I told Chester na once mag-start na sa school si Grant, I'll be back fulltime na.
"Yeah, about that," sabi ko and kumunot ang noo niya. "I'll still get back to work but..."
"But what?" he asked, prodding me to continue like sinasabi niya na whatever I'd say, he'd try to understand.
"Just... I want another baby," I finally said, sighing.
"Okay," he replied. "Do you want us to have a check-up again to see if it's possible?"
Umiling ako. "No," sabi ko. "I was actually thinking about adoption? I mean, you said before that you're fine with it, but it's been years since then. I just wanted to ask you if same pa rin iyong opinion mo about that."
Of course kung ayaw ni Chester, hindi ko siya pipilitin. We're a team. Also, we'd have to ask Grant din. Kung ayaw niya, wala rin kaming magagawa. Kapag ganito na big decisions, I wanted us to decide as a family kasi kami naman lahat ang maaapektuhan nito.
His eyes widened a little. "Oh."
"You can totally say no, okay?" sabi ko sa kanya. "I want a baby girl. Grant's such a daddy's boy."
"He loves you," sabi niya.
"Not as much as he loves you."
Natawa si Chester. "This isn't a contest."
"I know..." I said, pouting. "But kidding aside, I actually want another baby. Malungkot kapag mag-isa lang. I mean, I know may mga pinsan naman siya, but still, having a sibling is different, you know?"
Like kami ni Rhys—that guy annoys me to death but also, I knew that whatever happens, he'd always, always have my back.
Like sa mga siblings ni Chester—they may not show it, but they have a different bond.
Gusto ko lang ng ganon for Grant... kasi not to be morbid or anything, but we wouldn't always be here for him. I wanted him to have a sibling para he'd never, ever be alone, no matter what happens. I wanted him to have someone who'd always have his back.
"Okay," Chester said.
My eyes widened a little. "Okay as in?"
"Let's have another baby."
My eyes widened some more. "For real?!"
He nodded. "We're gonna do this legally, right?"
"What? Of course!"
"Okay. I thought kukuha lang tayo ng baby sa work."
My lips parted. "What! You're crazy!"
Natawa siya. "I mean, if you think about it, naka-display lang sila like they're up for grabs."
"Oh, my god. That's what goes on in your heard kapag dumadaan tayo sa nursery?"
He shrugged. "Pretty much."
"You're insane."
Tumawa siya. "Love you," he said as he stood up. "Ligo lang ako then let's discuss it again."
Nakahinga ako nang maayos after naming magusap. I began to prepare the dinner habang wala iyong dalawa. Pretty sure kasama ni Chester si Grant ngayon para bantayan habang naliligo.
I cooked adobo na kanina pa naka-marinate and of course, rice. Hinanda ko na iyong lamesa. I don't know... when I do this like this, I think about how I should be a housewife instead. But then again kapag nasa hospital ako, I am reminded of how much I actually love my job.
I guess I'd just do my best to be both. Hindi naman siya mutually exclusive.
While waiting (they're taking a little while), tumawag si Mama sa akin to ask about some things. She's the one organizing Grant's birthday party. I said na hindi naman na kailangan since nagparty na kami nung first birthday ni Grant and besides, I really didn't think he'd remember much of anything kasi bata pa siya. But Mama said that she'll organize everything... so, really, who was I to complain?
We just talked and I reminded her sa mga gusto ni Grant sa party niya pati iyong list ng kids na kailangan nandon. I also reminded her about the allergies of the kids. I wanted the day to be fun. Syempre, birthday ni Grant. Pinaka-important na siya iyong mag-e-enjoy.
After a while, natapos na rin iyong tanong ni Mama. Thankfully, bumalik na rin iyong dalawa.
"Adobo," Grant said nang maamoy niya.
"Your favorite," I said.
"What will you say?" Chester asked.
"Thank you, Mama," Grant said, not even looking at me dahil sa adobo na siya nakatingin.
"Another baby," I mouthed.
Chester laughed without a sound. "I already said yes."
We began eating. May bago na namang kwento si Grant. Sa dami ng kwento niya, you'd think na 30 years old na siya sa dami ng nangyari sa buhay niya.
"Grant," Chester called after naming kumain. Tumingin sa akin si Chester. I shook my head and motioned na siya na ang magsabi.
"Yes, Papa?"
"What do you think about having a sibling?"
Kumunot ang noo niya. "A sibling?"
Chester nodded. "Yes. Like... a sister?"
Kumunot iyong noo ni Grant. "A sister?"
Chester nodded again. "Yes. Like Dita. She's my sister."
"I like Dita," Grant said.
Of course... magkaugali sila.
These Vistes, really...
"Do you want your own sister?"
Grant shrugged. "Okay."
Tumingin sa akin si Chester like... iyon na 'yon? I overthink things tapos iyon na 'yon?
We sat down and we explained to Grant some more what it would entail if magkaroon siya ng kapatid, but he was like okay lang sa lahat ng sinabi namin. Hindi ko gets if hindi niya ba gets or like okay lang talaga siya.
Either way, he's totally fine with it.
"So... I guess we're having another baby?" I asked while we were in bed.
Chester nodded. "I guess so."
"We should talk to an agency or a lawyer?"
"The offer still stands na kumuha tayo sa nursery."
I frowned at him. "Kapag talaga 'yan ginawa ko..."
Tumawa si Chester. "Imagine the commotion."
"I know. Tapos surprise na lang paguwi mo may kasama akong baby."
"Surprise?" he asked. "Babe, we'll steal the baby together. We're a team."
I bit my tongue kasi kinilig ako doon kahit basically sinabi niya na we'd commit a felony! Chester talaga!
"Ewan ko sa 'yo."
Chester pulled me close and hugged me. "I love you," he said as he was planting a kiss on my forehead. "I just love you more every day, it's honestly weird."
I wrinkled my nose. "You're obsessed with me."
"I am," he said. "Loved you the day I saw you, if I were being honest," he continued as his voice slowly got lower as he drifted to sleep. "I love you," he said, in gibberish, but I figured that was what he meant... and I whispered 'I love you, too' to his sleeping face.