CHAPTER EIGHT
KUNG PAANONG napapayag si Jessielyn ni Dwaye na matulog sa bahay nila nang gabing 'yon, ay hindi niya na rin alam. Dahil ba sa masama ang panahon? O dahil sa magpahanggang ngayon ay nahihirapan parin siyang tanggihan ang lalaki?
"Are you going to sleep here tonight, my boy-fend?" Atasha asked with the hint of excitement on her voice. Ang mga mata ng anak ay kumukislap.
Dwaye crouched his head on the side, looking down at Atasha.
"Yes, since the weather is still bad."
"Yes! Yes! We will sleep together!" Tumalon-talon ang anak.
Napanguso si Jess, naiisip niyang mali ang naging desisyon na patulugin sa bahay nila si Dwaye, pero ang larawan ng kasiyahan sa mukha ni Atasha ay nagsasabi sa kanya na hindi mali ang desisyon niyang 'yon...dahil hanggat nakikita niyang masaya ang anak, kahit anong desisyon pa ang gawin niya sa buhay ay magiging tama para sa kanya.
Her daughter's happiness is her happiness, too. Na minsan naisip niyang umamin nalang, sabihin nalang ang totoo, kahit na masakit iyon para sa kanya, but her mind was stopping her to reveal the truth.
Ano nga ba talaga ang nangingibabaw sa kanya? Ang kasiyahan ng anak o ang itinatagong lihim na sakit nang nakaraan? Na siyang pumipigil sa kanya na itago ang katotohanan.
"Let's go to our room, my boy-fend."
Napakurap si Jess mula sa malalim na pag-iisip. Nadatnan niyang hatak-hatak na ni Atasha si Dwaye papunta sa hagdan.
Napahilot siya sa sintido at bigo na napabuntong hininga. Hindi na nga mapipigilan pa ang unang gabi na magkakasama silang tatlong matulog sa iisang kama.
SA LOOB ng shower room ay hindi na mapakali si Jess. Dwaye and Atasha are waiting for her in bed, kung ang anak niya lang ay ayos lang, pero ibang usapan na kapag si Dwaye!
"Kung pwede lang pauwiin...pwede naman talaga..." She murmured to herself while combing her wet hair. "...kung titila ang ulan."
Bakit nga ba siya hindi mapakali? Ano nga ba ang iniisip niya? Her dirty thoughts about her and Dwaye in one room making her feel disgusted to herself!
"Uh," gigil na sinuklay niya ang buhok na para bang iminumulat siya sa kasalukuyan. Ang mahalay na pag-iisip ay isinantabi na.
"Mama, Mama..." Katok sa pinto ang nagpahinto sa kanya sa pag-iisip.
"Y-Yes, anak?"
"We are waiting for you before going to sleep. Are you done, Mama?"
"Almost."
"Nagpapaganda ka pa?"
Napangiwi siya at tinignan ang sariling repleksyon sa salamin. She's wearing a lose shirt and short cotton shorts, her hair is a bit wet. She can smell the fragrance of her hair and the lotion she put in her body.
"H-Hindi, ha. Hindi ako nagpapaganda."
"Ba't ang tagal mo, Mama?"
"Tapos na ako. Lalabas na ako."
Mabilis na inilapag niya ang suklay at muling pinasadahan ang sarili sa salamin, bago binuksan ang pinto.
"You smell good." Ani ng anak tapos ay yumakap sa binti niya.
"Ikaw din naman." Inamoy niya ang ibabaw ng ulo nito. "Ang bango bango ng baby ko."
"My boy-fend said that to me."
The moment Atasha mentioned her boy-fend, Jess eyes automatically darted to a man who's sitting in the couch, watching them with his serious eyes. At nang tumayo ito ay tila nag panic siya, hindi na maintindihan ang nararamdaman.
Atasha turned around to see Dwaye who's walking towards them. Jess heart was booming inside her chest. Marahas na napalunok siya sa bawat hakbang nito na palapit sa kanila.
"Can I use the shower room?" Dwaye asked in a flat tone, his gaze went down to her neck.
Bumigat ang kapit niya sa magkabilang balikat ng anak na hindi niya napapansin, kung hindi pa ito nagreklamo.
"Mama, your hands." Then Atasha removed her hands on her shoulder gently.
Umalis ang anak sa harap niya at lumipat sa likod ni Dwaye sabay tulak ng bahagya, dahilan kung bakit napahakbang ng isa ang binata, sinakop ang distansya nila ng gano'n lang.
"Y-Yes,"
Napangiwi siya sa pagkautal lalo at nakita niya ang pag-angat ng sulok ng labi ni Dwaye, sa nanunuyang paraan.
"Feel free to use our shower room my boy-fend."
Atasha pushed Dwaye once again, making the man chuckled when he almost bump in to her body. Jess step backward, avoiding a body contact with him.
"Relax, baby." Dwaye glance at Atasha, there's a ghost smile on his lips.
Nang ibalik ni Dwaye ang tingin sa kanya ay bahagya niyang itinaas ang noo, hindi nagpapahalatang apektado sa malapit na distansya nila. Ang mga mata nito ay muling tumuon sa kanyang leeg, at bumaba pa sa dibdib. Jess saw how his Adam's apple moves when he swallowed hard.
Tumikhim siya at tinaasan ito ng kilay nang ibalik ang tingin sa mukha niya. While Atasha went back to the bed, making herself busy holding a cellphone...of Dwaye?
"I'm going to take a shower." Dwaye said huskily, looking intently at her.
Humakbang si Jess pagilid para makadaan ang binata. He took a step then stopped beside her, then he crouched his face on her ear a bit.
"I suggest you to wear a bra when we sleep." Dwaye muttered with raspiness on his voice before he went inside the shower room.
Nag-iinit ang pisngi na nayakap niya ang sarili at dali-dali na lumapit sa cabinet para magsuot ng bra! Nakakahiya na hindi niya man lang naalala ang pagsusuot ng bra ngayong gabi!
"Look Mama, oh." Atasha showed her the screen of Dwaye's phone when she lay beside her.
It's a picture of Dwaye together with Alexza, Drake and Blake in their wedding day in the beach.
"That's his sister's wedding." Inunahan niya na ang anak bago pa magtanong. "I was there as her maid of honor and Dwaye was the best man."
"You didn't bring me here, Mama."
"It's far." Aniya, kahit hindi naman talaga 'yon ang dahilan.
"Who's this?" Itinuro nito si Blake.
"His name is Blake, Alexza and Drake's son."
"He's cute, Mama."
Jess chuckle softly and caress Atasha's hair with her fingers.
"Yes, very cute and adorable, like you, anak."
Hinayaan niya ang anak na pakialaman ang gallery ni Dwaye, siya ang kinakabahan sa mga larawan na makikita pa nila. Paano kung may hindi kaaya-aya sa mata? Like, he's with his girls?
And it seems like Dwaye already deleted all the photos of his with his women. Pawang mga larawan 'yon ni Blake, ng mga kaibigan nito at ng D' Club. Isama pa ang iilang kuha sa beach resort.
"Wala na?" Tanong ni Atasha nang hindi na ma-scroll pababa ang mga litrato.
"Wala na, anak."
Ang maliit na daliri nito ay mabilis na nag scroll pataas hanggang sa makita niya ang mga bagong kuhang larawan. Tumaas ang mga kilay ni Jess nang makita na puro picture 'yon ni Atasha, stolen shot at hindi. May mga selfie pa ang anak niya, natawa siya.
"I thought it's Dwaye's cellphone."
"Yes, Mama. But I took selfies."
"I see." Tumango-tango siya.
"My boy-fend don't mind seeing my face in his phone, Mama, look."
Atasha pressed the home button and she was surprised when she saw Atasha's cute wacky face set as his wallpaper, even his screensaver was her daughter's face.
Napanguso si Jess, di na alam kung ano pa ang ibang nararamdaman sa ginawang 'yon ni Dwaye. Why she felt like he's treating her daughter as his? Without confirming that Atasha is really his daughter.
Bumukas ang pinto ng shower room, isang sulyap lang ang ginawa niya. Dwaye is wearing a cotton white v-neck shirt and a dark grey stripes boxer shorts. Where did he get that clothes by the way?
"Hi my boy-fend! Here!"
Tinapik-tapik ni Atasha ang kaunting espasyo sa gilid nito. Jess silently smirk, para naman magkakasya si Dwaye sa space na 'yon.
"Hindi, anak. He will sleep in the couch." Pagtingin niya sa hindi kahabaan na couch ay binawi niya kaagad ang suhestiyon. "Sa floor nalang pala. I have extra mattress for him."
"Sa floor, Mama?" Tumango siya bilang sagot. "No, no, my boy-fend will sleep beside me, Mama."
"Hindi siya kasya."
"It's fine." Dwaye interrupted and sit at the edge of the bed.
Sumiksik ng husto sa kanya ang anak para lang mabigyan pa ng sapat na espasyo ang ama. Mahal na mahal talaga, e?
"Sige, ikaw naman ang mahihirapan." Bulung-bulong niya at tinakpan ang sarili ng makapal na kumot hanggang sa ibabaw ng dibdib niya.
"My boy-fend, come." Tinapik ulit ni Atasha ang gilid ng kama.
"Alright." Dwaye crawl into the bed until it reached Atasha's side. He lay down as if finally he can have a good rest. "This feels so good." He whispered to himself enough for them to hear him. She ignored it, but her daughter did not.
"I told you, it's nice to sleep here in our bed, my boy-fend."
Dumapa si Atasha, ang buong atensyon ay nasa ama na. While Dwaye is just looking at her daughter, amuse. He use his one arm as his pillow while the other one was in Atasha's hair, playing the tip of it.
"Yeah, it's nice here...it feels good."
"You can always sleep here, okay?"
Jess lips parted, aalma sana ngunit hindi na nagawa nang marinig ang marahan na tawa ni Dwaye. That was a short hearty laugh.
"I'd love that, baby." He sighed, then give Atasha a warm small smile as he caress her hair.
"Can we take a selfie?" Her daughter asked Dwaye using her puppy dog eye.
"Sure."
Umayos si Dwaye ng higa pati ang anak niya. Napapaangat nalang siya ng kilay habang pinapanood ang dalawa. Atasha made Dwaye's arm as her pillow while holding his cellphone.
"Smile, my boy-fend."
Nangingiti siya nang nag smile nga si Dwaye habang ang anak niya naman ay ang lapad lapad ng ngiti sa camera.
"Wacky naman tayo my boy-fend. Please po?" At nag request pa talaga.
Tinaasan niya ng kilay si Dwaye nang sumulyap sa kanya, sinasabi bahala ito sa buhay nito at sa pagsunod sa gusto ng anak nila.
"I don't know how."
"Like this oh." And Atasha made a cute wacky face to show Dwaye how to do a wacky face.
"Oh, okay. Let's try."
And the two made a cute wacky face. Jess bit the side of her cheek to suppress a smile. Parehong nakanguso ang dalawa at ang anak niya ay panay ang hagikhik.
"Mama, come here, sali ka, Mama."
Malikot na itinabi ng anak ang mukha sa kanya para maisama siya sa camera. Napipilitan na tumingin siya sa screen. Seeing her with Dwaye and Atasha in one frame making her heart ache for some reason.
She will lie if she say that she never dream about having Dwaye in their lives. Having a completed family, pero alam niya rin na imposible 'yon lalo at si Dwaye pa ang lalaking 'yon. Hindi niya ito hinusgahan, sadyang nasaksihan niya lang kung paano nito hindi nakikita ang sarili na mag settle down kasama ang isang babae lang.
She was wondering if he ever felt falling in love? If he hurt because of love? Malamang ay hindi, hindi pa.
"Smile!" Atasha said happily before she clicked the button. But when they looked at the photo, it was blurred.
"Let me take the photo of us." Dwaye offered.
Kaagad na ibinigay 'yon ng anak. Dwaye positioned the camera in front of them. Si Atasha ay nakaunan sa kaliwang braso ng ama, na halos dumikit na rin sa ulo niya ang dulong mga daliri ni Dwaye, pasimple niya lang iniiwasan.
"Smile! One, two...three." Bilang ni Atasha at siyang pindot naman ni Dwaye.
Umayos siya ng higa ng matapos. Ang anak niya naman ay nagpaka-busy na sa cellphone ni Dwaye.
"Do you have Facebook, my boy-fend?"
"No, baby."
"How about Twi-tey?"
Marahan at sabay silang natawa ni Dwaye sa pagkabulol ng anak sa letter R. That's so cute.
"I don't have Twitter."
"You don't have social media?"
"Well, I have Instagram, but I don't always use it."
"Can I upload our pic in your Instagaym?"
"That's too much to ask, Atasha." Saway niya sa anak.
"Bakit po, Mama?" Nagtataka na tanong ni Atasha.
"His Instagram is for business." Dahilan niya kahit hindi niya naman sigurado.
Uploading their photo in Dwaye's social media account will only catch attention. He's quite known as businessman, aside from it, he's also one of the most sought bachelor in the country. Isa sa mga hinihintay kung kailan ba magpapatali sa isang babae.
A night man, his friends and the people who knows him will surely ask him questions about the photo. Especially, his women. Baka mag sanhi pa ng away ang litrato ng anak niya kasama ang ama.
"It's okay. We can upload our photos in my Instagram, baby." Pinutol ni Dwaye ng gano'n nalang ang mga agam-agam sa isip niya kanina lang.
"Dwaye," saway niya.
"Yes?"
"You don't need to do that just because Atasha asked you. Pwedeng tumanggi."
"Hindi ko kayang tumanggi, Jess."
"What's tumanggi po?" Maang na tanong ng maganda niyang anak. Palipat lipat ang tingin sa kanya at kay Dwaye.
"Yes, of course, you can post your photos in my Instagram. I don't mind. I like seeing your cute face everywhere." Dwaye pinched the tip of Atasha's nose lightly, making her daughter giggled.
"Sigurado ka dyan?" Aniya. "Your, you know, they are many." Nagkibit siya ng balikat, hindi masabi ang mga babae nito. Pero na-gets nito 'yon.
"I don't care about them and what will say about it. Come on, Jess. Stop thinking about that, I don't have one." Iritadong sabi nito sa kanya, tinutukoy na wala itong babae! Talaga lang ha?
Habang nagtatalo sila ni Dwaye ay busy naman ang anak niya sa Instagram. Nakiusyoso siya at nakitang iilan lang ang post ni Dwaye do'n at ang huli ay ang kasal pa ni Alexza. Even though he's not very active in Instagram, but his followers is quite impressive. He has almost 100k followers. Malamang ay puro babae ang mga 'yon! Inirapan niya ang sariling ideya.
"Anak, don't post my photos there."
"Bakit po, Mama?"
Napapikit siya. Lahat ba kailangan may tanong ang anak niya? Hindi ba pwedeng sundin nalang siya kahit ngayon lang?
"Just don't put my photos there. Ikaw lang o kay Dwaye. Wag na ako, anak."
"Okay po."
"Here." Turo ni Dwaye sa anak kung paano mag upload ng photos.
"Can I also upload my photos?"
"Do whatever you like my Atasha."
Sinulyapan niya si Dwaye para lang irapan. Hindi nga talaga makatanggi sa anak! Paano pa kaya kapag nalaman nitong anak talaga nito si Atasha?
Ang anak niya mismo ang pumili ng i-a-upload. First, she uploaded a photo of her with Dwaye in a cute wacky face. Next was her smiling photo, while laying in bed using Dwaye's arm as her pillow.
"Okay na?" Tanong niya, nakaramdam na ng antok.
"Opo, Mama." Ibinalik ni Atasha ang cellphone kay Dwaye. "Thank you, my boy-fend."
"It's my pleasure." He kissed the top of Atasha's head, then put his phone on the side table.
Dwaye glanced at her. "Thank you."
"For what?" She mouthed, she saw that Atasha's closing his eyes to sleep.
"For letting me sleep here."
"Ah. M-Matulog na tayo."
Tumagilid siya at niyakap ang anak, kaya lang hindi sinasadya na mayakap niya rin ang matigas na tiyan ni Dwaye. Mabilis niyang iniwas ang kamay, at pinadausdos 'yon sa gilid ni Atasha.
"Good night, Jess." Napapaos na sambit nito.
"Night..." She whispered and closed her eyes, without knowing that Dwaye was watching her and her daughter while sleeping.
IT WAS EARLY and rainy morning, it made her feel lazy to get up. Sleepily, Jess force herself to open her eyes to check on her daughter, she saw that Atasha is still sleeping, she's facing her back because her daughter is hugging Dwaye.
Balot na balot silang tatlo ng makapal na kumot at naririnig niya rin mula sa labas ang malalaking patak ng ulan, na sinasamahan pa ng ihip ng hangin. Kahit na inaantok ay napangiti siya sa itsura ng dalawa, they're really close. Close like a father and daughter.
Now that she let him slept with them, alam niya na na mas lalong pagdidiinan ni Dwaye na anak nga nito si Atasha sa pagpayag niya, lalo at tabi pa ang dalawa. Kung sa ibang lalaki, ay hinding-hindi niya hahayaan tumabi ang anak, kahit na si Garry pa 'yon na lubos niyang pinagkakatiwalaan.
Dwaye is different, maybe because she knew that he's the father. She felt like Atasha's safe with him.
Her cellphone vibrated. Napilitan na inabot ni Jess 'yon at tinignan kung sino ang nag text nang gano'n kaaga.
Alexza:
Morning, Jess. Have you seen Kuya Dwaye's Instagram post last night? I can't believe! Is that his daughter? May pamangkin na ako? Message me back when you read this.
And another message was from Mylene. It was sent last night.
Myle:
Alam niya na? I saw his post on his Instagram! He's with baby Atasha. Gosh! Mas lalong hot pala kapag daddy na.
Inirapan niya ang text message na 'yon ng kaibigan at binura. Mahirap na at baka mabasa pa ni Dwaye. She will reply to all the messages later.
Right now, she wanted to go back to sleep and feel this moment having Atasha and Dwaye in one bed.
AS DWAYE expected before he go to sleep last night, his friends and the women on his list will ask about the photos that Atasha uploaded in his Instagram.
He took a glance to the girls he's with in bed. They're still sleeping, Atasha's hugging him, while Jess is hugging her daughter. What a beautiful view in the morning. Umagang-umaga ay napangiti siya. Nababaliw na nga talaga.
Ibabalik niya sana ang cellphone sa gilid na lamesa kung hindi lang nag vibrate ulit iyon. A new text message from Zyron at marami pang mensahe, missed calls galing sa iba't-ibang numero.
Zyron:
May anak ka na! Bakit hindi mo man lang sinabi sa'min? Introduce your friends to your daughter. Damn, she's so pretty. Sino ang nanay? Are you with them? For sure!
Dwaye eyebrows shot up. Anak? He felt proud to himself.
Drake:
Brute, you look so much of your daughter. Congrats. See you soon.
Sa message na 'yon ay napatingin siya kay Atasha, sinigurado kung kamukha niya ba talaga. Walang labis, walang kulang, she looks like him.
Alexza:
Kuya! I want to meet that pretty little girl. Bring her here. Why do you need to hide her from us? Kainis ka. Kamukha mo, Kuya. Ang cute cute niya.
Lorraine:
I don't mind if you already have a daughter. I could be her mommy.
Dwaye groaned at that message. Lorraine was his flavor of the week before, nakalimutan niya palang burahin ang numero. Marami pang text messages ang hindi niya na binasa, instead, he turned off his cellphone and let himself sleep again, together with Atasha and of course, Jess.
Damn, he don't mind being in bed all day, as long as he's with these two! Having Atasha and Jess with him made him feel contented.
Contented to the point that he don't want to ask for more, just be with them is enough for him.