Three days and they are already discharged from the hospital. They are home.
"Are you sure, you still don't want to hire any house helper?" Spring asked her because he can see her struggles.
Well, this is hard for them but mostly to her.
This is a major shift in their lives. From being a single and free human now they are here, having two babies who are mostly awake during night time till dawn.
"Hmm no? I think kaya pa naman." She answered him. "Ikaw? What are your plans?" She asked that made Spring stop from cuddling Layon.
"W-well, Hindi naman sa nangingielam ako but Spring. GP has been a talk on social media now. There are a lot of speculations... You declined offers and clients—why?"
He smirked. "Now you are sounding like a cordial wife." He giggled.
She sighed. "I am being serious... What? Dahil ba sa mga bata??" She eyed him pero nag-iwas lamang ito ng tingin. "I told you, kaya ko naman. You can still continue with life—with your life. Huwag mong ituon lahat ng oras mo para sa mga bata—"
"Ganiyan ka talaga kamanhid?" She was taken aback with his sudden question.
"I thought we are on the same page already..." Dugtong pa niya. He sighed. "Nevermind. Hayaan mo, pag hindi na sila masyadong alagain, I'll get back to work...Maybe pag naka one month na sila." He said and afterwards stood up and walk out of the room.
The babies are sleeping softly.
"Yung tatay niyo, minsan hindi ko na rin maintindihan. Akala mo siya yung nanganak eh." She casually talk to her babies.
-
SPRING's
Autumn has a point. I was too busy on them na nakalimutan kong may ibang buhay pa ako bago sila dumating. Totoo, I declined offers and clients, tinanggihan ko lang naman dahil malalayo ang venue ng mga shoots na inooffer nila, papayag sana ako but they requested me to be the photographer.
Well, no one knew about me and Autumn having babies. Baka kaya sobrang big deal ng pagtanggi ko dahil wala naman akong ibinibigay na dahila sa mga client. I just simply declined.
Ayoko lang naman silang maiwan dito kaya I declined those offers.
The noise of the doorbell interrupted me from what I am doing.
I did not bother to look at the peephole kasi alam ko naman na it's either mga kaibigan ko ito o si Regina.
"Ang aga niyo naman—Mom?! Dad?!" Napalunok naman ako nang makita kung sino ang tao sa labas.
"Oh! gulat na gulat ka naman." Dad jested and mom chuckled.
"A-anong ginagawa niyo dito?! You should have told me na pupunta kayo—"
"Anak dahan dahan nga sa pananalita, para kang hinahabol. Anyway, would you like us to come inside first?" Oh shoot, Autumn we're doomed.
No choice, I let them enter. I am just thankful na walang mga gamit na pang baby dito sa sala...Huwag na lang sana talagang iiyak ang kambal.
I joined them in the sala and secretly texted Autumn but unluckily, Autumn's phone was left at the kitchen counter.
"Anak, pinanindigan mo naman ang hindi pagbalik sa bahay." Mom started.
Natawa naman ako sa nanay ko. I thought they wanted me to have my own life..Now, here she is doing her dramas. "Ma, you're the one who pushed me ah. Parang miss na miss mo naman ako." I jested.
"She do!" Dad teased mom. "Muntik na ngang isipin ng nanay mo na tinotoo mo na yung sinabi niyang mag-anak ka na." I froze on my seat. Why do they have great instincts when it comes to things like this.
Mom and Dad kept on laughing habang ako, heto hindi na mapakali.
At talagang marunong sumabay ang mga anak ko. Umiyak sila kung kailan nandito ang mga magulang. No, I don't want to hide them it's just that, I never saw this coming this early.
Sabay na natigil sa pagtawa ang mga magulang ko at sabay silang tumingin sa akin. "Please, don't give me that look." I said.
"W-what what was—"
I stand up and quickly ran upstairs. "Ma, Pa. Wait lang, magpapaliwanag po ako."
"Tum?!" Pagtawag ko kay Autumn nang makapasok ako sa kwarto ng mga bata. I saw her close to crying already.
She looked at me. "Si Damara, ayaw tumigil sa pag-iyak." She helplessly said. Lumapit naman ako kay Damara na buhat buhat niya sa bisig niya.
I softly poked Damara's soft cheeks. "Hmm baby, akin na nga ang baby namin na yan." I baby talked and as if she could recognize my voice already, she stops crying and smiled.
Dahan dahan ko namang kinuha si Damara kay Autumn. "Ay ang baby namin..."
"Daddy's girl." Sabay na aniya namin ni Autumn.
Napalitan na ng mga ngiti ang kaninang halos umiyak nang mukha ni Autumn. "Akala ko sasabayan mo na ng iyak si Damara eh." Biro ko kay Autumn.
Automatically she rolled her eyes on me. "Yung anak mo kasi ang OA umiyak. Akala ko kung ano na ang nangyari, gusto lang pala sayo." Ani ni Autumn habang nakatayo sa harapan ko at sinisilip silip si Damara na ngayon ay inaantok na uli.
"Oh look! Marunong na siya mamili." She became soft upon saying it.
Hinehele ko pa rin si Damara nang maalala ko na nasa baba nga pala ang mga magulang ko.
"Ah, Tum..." She looked at me.
"Hmmm"
I sighed deeply. "We have a, a tiny tiny problem—" Awtomatikong tumaas ang kilay niya sa akin.
"Nako Spring sinasabi ko sayo ha! Ayusin mo ha! Baka mamaya iuwi mo yang babae mo dito, nako sinasabi ko sayo kahit bahay mo to, palalayasin kita dito." She exaggerated.
"HA?! Anong babae?? Teka patapusin mo kasi muna ako. Okay?" Ibinaba ko muna si Damara sa crib niya.
Magsasalita na sana ako nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto. "Sinabi na kasing let's just wait for your son to go down!" Nakita kong pinipigilan ni papa si mama na huwag pumasok sa kwarto.
Pare pareho kaming nagkagulatan.
-
"Ma, tubig po." I offered her nang kumalma na ito. We are all settled inside the twin's room.
"I don't need to hear any explanations." Mama said and eyed Autumn. "As long as mahal niyo ang isa't isa, hindi ako hahadlang—" Ma, we're just friends.
"Mahal na mahal ko po ang anak niyo, Maam." Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko sa narinig ko mula kay Autumn.
Mama held Autumn's hand. "Call me, Mama." Mama then smiled at her. Nakita ko naman si papa na simpleng nagtthumbs-up sa akin at ngumiti nang nakakaloko.
Lumapit naman ako kay Autumn at inakbayan ito. Si mama at papa naman ay ibinaling ang tuon sa kambal.
"Mahal na mahal mo pala ako ah?" Pabulong na pang-aasar ko kay Autumn ngunit nanatili lamang na nakatuon ang pansin niya sa mga magulang ko na ngayon ay buhat na ang kambal.
Naramdaman ko ang pagbuntong hininga niya. "Manhid ka talaga." She said bago tanggalin ang kamay ko na nakaakbay sa kaniya. At tuluyang lumakad papunta sa mga magulang ko.
"Mahal niya ako?" I questioned myself. "Mahal niya ako." I convinced myself.
We really fall in love with the most unexpected person at the most unexpected time. What a plot twist. I thought.
I smiled with what I thought.
Pinagmamasdan ko lang sila. Si Mama buhat si Layon, si Papa naman na akala mo ay first time nakahawak ng baby. He is even teary-eyed as he talked to Layon. Si Autumn naman, bumaba saglit para maghanda ng merienda.
"Ma, baba lang ako." Pagpapaalam ko sa kanila.
Ni hindi manlang akp nilingon pero sumagot naman ito. "Mabuti pa nga, tulungan mo si Autumn sa baba."
I go downstairs.
Naabutan ko naman si Autumn na nakaupo at nakatulala lamang sa microwave. Siguro nag-init na lang to ng pagkain.
Nakalapit na ako sa kaniya pero mukhang hindi niya pa rin napapansin ang presensiya ko. Pinagmasdan ko lang siya. She's perfect.
"I love you." I sincerely uttered kahit nanatili itong tulala.
"I love you." Wala sa sariling ani ni Autumn. Napangiti naman ako.
"I love you nga." Ulit ko.
"I love you t—" Gulat naman itong napaharap sa akin. "Bakit ka nandito?!" Natatarantang ani ni Tum.
Inilapit ko ang mukha ko sa mukha niya. "Kasi nga..." Tinignan ko naman siya sa mga mata niya. "I..." I kissed her forehead. "Love..." Then her nose. I saw how she closes her eyes. I touched her face "You..." And in that very moment, for the first time we shared a kiss. A kiss that speaks what our mouths could not tell.
It was just a smack but it is a kiss full of love.
"I love you."
"And I, too."
She initiated a hug which I gladly welcome. Comfort.
I moved a bit and kissed her temple. "I love you and I am serious with you..." Kinapa ko ang bulsa ko. "...Let's get married." I said and offered her the ring.
Nakita ko naman ang pinaghalong saya at kaba sa reaksyon ni Autumn.
Tears started to flow in her eyes kaya napayuko na lamang ako. "Yes...yes, I will marry you." Awtomatiko akong napaangat ng tingin at napaluha.
Agad ko rin na isinuot sa daliri niya ang singsing.
"I love you, since that one night na ginulo mo ang mundo ko." She said and initiated a kiss.
I smiled. "You have my heart, miss na may susi pero ibang sasakyan ang binubuksan." We laughed with it.
Oh falling in love when you least expected it. Mas genuine talaga ang pagmamahal lalo na kung hindi mo ito inaasahan. Hindi mo inakalang dadating ito nang bigla at sa biglaang pagdating niya, kakaibang pagbabago pala sa buhay mo ang magiging dulot niya.
That one night, wherein two strangers met, both not looking for love but love has found them, it even came with a bonus—two little angels, Damara and Layon, who gave them new purposes in life. Damara and Layon are their shelter and their purpose.
END.
-
Sorry if I needed to end it here already.
Student mode-on na kasi ulit si gabbie and yeah ftf na and I also have clinical duties na din kaya yeah--for now, author gabbie is saying goodbye. Perhaps, wala na munang "Till my next story?" :))
goodluck din to everyone na nagstart na din ang classes, pagbutihan niyo! ♡♡♡