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," Aga begins the moment her blooming face pops up on his screen.
"We miss you too, daddy," Lea replies, a sweet grin spreading across her lips. Even a single day apart feels long enough to notice the missing piece of her heart. She has grown so used to the warmth of his side that sleep feels elusive without him. Whether it is the pregnancy hormones or simply the depth of her love, she finds herself craving his attention more than ever—and he clearly relishes her newfound clinginess.
"Where’s Eli? And how are the babies?" he asks, his eyes searching hers through the pixels.
"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 says softly.
"Send my apologies, babe. I had a long day. I went to see our branches earlier... it’s not the same as when I was managing them. Dad is having a hard time, but he didn't want to bother me with the details." He pauses, his expression darkening. "What worries me more is Mom’s gambling. According to Dad, she’s been spending huge sums at the casino since I left. That’s why the other branch had to close. We... we got into it earlier."
His crestfallen look is heavy enough to reach her through the phone. A familiar pang of guilt pricks at her; she can't help but feel she is partly to blame.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I’m sure Doña Carol is having a difficult time accepting that you chose someone like me over them. I can’t really blame her. She—"
"Here we go again," he cuts her off gently but firmly. "Do not take the blame for this. It isn't your fault, and it was never 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 every single time. It might not be the life I was raised in, but being with you is home." He pauses, a mischievous glint suddenly replacing the sadness in his eyes. "And honestly, you should be thankful I’m not there right now, because that robe you’re wearing would’ve hit the floor by now."
Lea snorts, a genuine laugh breaking through her worry. "That was quick, babe. Kahit ang layo mo po, Sir, malandi pa rin eh."
She tips a wink at the camera, and he lets out a helpless chuckle.
"You better stop it. I might have to spend the night alone and frustrated," he teases, "and you’re going to have to pay for that the second I get home."
They share a laugh, their gazes lingering on each other. In that silence, the mutual devotion they share is enough to wash away the doubts and the shadows of the past.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
○ ○ ○
His morning usually begins with Eli’s non-stop blabbing and the restless wiggling of the "little ones." Distance is no hindrance; he wakes up early just to share a meal with them through a screen before Eli heads to school. Lea mans the kitchen alone, despite Aga’s persistent pleas to hire a helper. She remains practical as ever, and he finds himself powerless to change her mind.
Their daughter does most of the talking, and Lea can’t help but snort with laughter at Aga’s defeated expression whenever Eli puts him on the spot. Eli loves to read—the one trait she clearly inherited from her mother—and she is incredibly proud of it.
"How many planets are there in the universe, Daddy?" Eli asks, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Eight?" Aga ventures a guess.
"Nope! There are billions of them beyond our solar system. According to astronomers, the eight planets we know are just the ones near the sun."
"Babe, send some help here. Walo lang yung alam ko," he tells a laughing Lea.
"One more, Dad. What are the four happy hormones?" Eli adds, relentless.
Aga pretends to think deeply before a "wise" answer pops into his head. "Well, as far as I know, they are Eli, Lea, and the two yet-to-be-named ones."
Lea bursts out laughing at his cleverness, but it doesn't work on Eli. "Daddy, that’s not it!"
Seeing his helpless face, Lea silently mouths the answer. With a sudden surge of "knowledge," he replies proudly, "Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, and Endorphins. Oh ha! Daddy got the right answer this time!"
"Mommy helped you, eh!" Eli pouts.
"Napapahiya ako dito, babe," he jests. Their morning is filled with laughter and new "lessons" for Aga. Lea watches him, her heart swelling at the joy in his voice. Seeing them happy is all he needs to kick off his day, a much-needed distraction from the worries regarding his parents and the business.
After their virtual breakfast, Aga plans to see his father, but before he can step out of his unit, his phone rings. It’s his lawyer. With an anxious heart, he jabs the answer button. As he listens to the court results, his smile stretches from ear to ear. It is the news he has waited for so long. He paces back and forth, galvanized and desperate to come running home.
It is finally over.
---
"Eli, clean up your mess. Paulit-ulit tayo, eh," Lea says, hands on her hips as she looks at the toys scattered across the floor.
"Mommy, can I do it later?"
"Can I have your gadget?" Lea lifts a brow, a move that immediately compels Eli to oblige.
"Mommy naman eh," Eli stamps a foot, scratching her nape in frustration.
Lea can only shake her head. Eli has a stubborn streak, but she knows Aga is the "considerate" dad who usually lets things slide. Their differences in parenting sometimes spark petty fights, but they always find a middle ground. As she continues to reprimand her daughter, she notices Eli’s face suddenly light up. A huge smile plasters on the girl's face as she looks past Lea’s shoulder.
"Daddy!" Eli screams. she runs past her mother and jumps into his arms for a big hug.
"I miss you, baby," Aga whispers, kissing her forehead. As he pulls away from his daughter’s embrace, his gaze falls on the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Lea walks toward him, stunned.
"You're home, babe. I thought you weren't arriving until next week," she says, her voice trailing off.
With a playful, triumphant smile, Aga holds up the court papers. "We have a lot to prepare for, babe."
Lea gapes as she reads the results. Tears drift down her face, and with a heart full of joy, she pulls him into a tight hug. "Is this real, babe?"
He chuckles at her priceless expression. "Of course. Babe... we’re getting married."
"Really, Daddy?" Eli joins in, bouncing on her heels.
"Yes, baby," he replies to his grinning daughter. Aga then kneels to level himself with Lea’s baby bump.
Lea strokes his hair with a sweet smile while Eli hugs her side. Suddenly, the little ones begin to kick and wiggle aggressively. "They must’ve heard you, babe."
"Hey, buddies. Daddy's home," he whispers, kissing her bump. The kicking only grows more frequently.
"Aba ha. ’Di pa nga lumalabas, maka-daddy na ah," she jests.
Aga rises to his feet. "Selos naman agad si mommy eh," he teases, gently pulling his soon-to-be wife closer. They exchange a knowing, deep smile. Lea feels like she might burst with happiness. She is finally living her longest dream—to be a wife and a mom. At this moment, she couldn't ask for anything more.
