I was alone thinking I was just fine
I wasn't looking for anyone to be mine
I thought love was just a fabrication
A train that wouldn't stop at my station
Home, alone, that was my consignment
Solitary confinement
So when we met I was skirting around...
"I miss you", he begun upon seeing her blooming face popped up on screen.
"We miss you too, daddy", Lea plasters on a sweet grin. A day far from each other's warmth is longer enough to feel the missing piece. She got used to sleeping next to him and is having a hard time to slumber far from him. Whether or not it's her pregnancy hormones acting up, she feels needy of his attention nowadays. And he enjoys so well her clingy manner.
"Where's Eli? And how are the babies?", he asked.
"Eto, kakatapos lang sumipa. And yung ate naman, she is in her room, babe. Nakatulog na kakahintay sa tawag mo. They miss you for sure", she replied.
"Send my apology, babe. I had a long day eh. I went to see our branches kase. It's operating far from when I was still managing it all. Dad is having a hard time running it but he doesn't want to bother me about it. And, another thing that worried me is mom's gambling behavior. Kaya napasarado yung isang branch namin eh. Mom is spending a huge sum of money at the casino since I left according to dad. Nagkasagutan pa kami kanina", his crestfallen countenance is apparent enough to affect her. A part of it is hers to blame somehow.
"Sorry to hear it. I'm sure Doña Carol is having a difficult time accepting the fact that you chose someone like me over them. I can't blame her. She ..."
He cut her off, "Here we go again. Do not take the blame for it. Hindi mo kasalanan. It's not a mistake to choose you. You're looking down on yourself too much, babe. You and our children are my life now. I'd come running back home to you. It may not be the kind of life that I'm used to but with you is home. And you should be thankful I'm not there 'coz that robe you're wearing might've fell off the floor by now"
She snorts out laughing at her man's remark, "That was quick, babe. Kahit ang layo mo po, Sir, malandi parin eh"
She winked and that tickles him, "You better stop it. I might spend the night all by myself. And you'd pay for it once I'm home"
They exchanged laugh with meaningful gaze. And that says it all. The mutual feelings linger into their hearts are all it took to ebb worries and doubts.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
○ ○ ○
His usual morning begun with a blabbing Eli and wiggling little ones. Distance is not a hindrance for him as he woke up early to have his meal with them through screen before Eli goes to school. Lea mans the kitchen all by herself despite Aga's persistence to hire a helper. She is being practical as always and he can't do anything to change her mind. Her daughter did all the talking about school and Lea could just snort out laughing at his defeated countenance whenever he's asked by Eli. Her daughter loves to read a lot — the only thing Eli got from her but she's proud of it.
"How many planets are there in the universe?", Eli asked.
"Eight?"
"Nope. There are billions of it, dad, beyond our solar system. According to the astronomers, those eight planets that we knew are only those ones near the sun"
"Babe, send some help here. Walo lang yung alam ko", he tells the laughing Lea.
"Another one, dad. What are the four happy hormones?", she added.
Aga pretends thinking and a wise answer popped up, "Well, as far as I know they are Eli, Lea and two yet to be named ones"
Lea snorts out laughing at her man's clever answer but it didn't work on their Eli, "Daddy, that's not it"
His helpless expression got Lea to mouth the answer and, with a proud self, he replied to his daughter, "Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin and Endorphins. Oh ha! Daddy got the right answer this time"
"Mommy helped you, eh!", Eli pouted.
"Napapahiya ako dito, babes", he jested. Their morning is filled with laughter and new learnings to Aga. And she can't help but chuckle at his expression. Hearing her giggles and seeing them happy brought so much joy in his heart. It's all he needed to kick off his day amidst the worries he felt for his parents and their business.
After a heartfelt breakfast and morning routine, Aga planned to see his father but before taking a step out of his unit, he got a call from his lawyer. With an anxious self, he jabs the answer button. Whilst he hearkens to the court result, his smile went from ear to ear. It was all he waited for so long. He paced back and forth with galvanized stance and enthusiastic self to come running home.
It was finally over.
○ ○ ○
"Eli, clean up your mess. Paulit ulit tayo, eh", Lea with hands on both sides told her Eli.
"Mommy, can I do it later?"
"Can I have your gadget?", she lifted a brow of which compelled her to oblige.
"Mommy naman eh", Eli stamps a foot, scratching her nape.
She could only shook a head in times like this. Eli has a stubborn side but her man is a considerate dad. They both have differences in parenting and sometimes it kicks off their petty fights. As she reprimands her offspring, Eli plasters on a smile upon seeing someone at her mom's back.
"Daddy!", she runs to her dad, jumps at him with a big hug.
"I miss you, baby", he kisses her forehead. Upon pulling away from his daughter's warm embrace, his gaze falls to the most beautiful woman his eyes ever laid on. And, Lea walks towards him.
"You're home, babe. I thought you'll arrive next week pa", she said.
With a playful smile, Aga shows off the court result, "We have a lot to prepare pa eh"
Lea gaped upon seeing it. With tears drift down her face and heart full of joy, she pulls him for a hug. "Is this real, babe?"
He chuckles at her priceless expression, "Of course. Babe, we're getting married"
"Really, daddy?", Eli joins in the moment.
"Yes, baby", he replied to his grinning daughter. Aga kneeled down to level on her baby bump.
She strokes his head with a sweet smile while Eli hugs her. Their little ones kick and wiggle, "They must've heard you, babe"
"Hey, buddies. Daddy's home", he kissed her baby bump and their offsprings kicking grew more.
"Aba ha. Di pa nga lumalabas, maka-daddy na ah", she jested and Aga rose to his feet.
"Selos naman agad si mommy eh", he gently pulls his soon-to-be wife. They exchanged a knowing smile and Lea feels like bursting anytime. It feels like living her longtime dream — be a wife and mom. And, she couldn't ask for more.
