Rule #3: Changing The Rules

[41]

Chapter 41

"Ardie, you need to sleep..."

"No, Mommy! I don't want to. I still want to talk with Daddy." pakiusap niya sa akin at ngumuso.

I sighed. "Ardie—"

Ngumiti si Prince, napatingin si Ardie sa kanya. Kumislap muli ang mga mata nito at manghang tumingin kay Prince. He really adores him now. Ayaw niya na atang pakawalan ang Daddy niya at gusto laging nakadikit dito.

"Listen to Mommy, Ardie..." he told him.

Ngumuso si Ardie at bumuntong-hininga.

"Okay... you'll be beside me when I wake up right, Daddy?"

Pinanood ko ang reaksyon ni Prince bago napangiti na rin dito. Our eyes met suddenly, inalis ko ang ngiti at umiwas ng tingin.

"Yes, Pierce. I won't leave your side anymore." he kissed the side of our son's head.

Nagliwanag ang mukha ni Ardie at tumayo sa kama. He pulled me closer with Prince. Niyakap niya kami parehas at bumungisngis.

"I love you, Mommy! Daddy!" he said, kissing both of our cheeks.

Maya-maya ay nakatulog na rin siya sa gitna namin. I decided to sleep with them in Prince's condo as per Ardie's request. Talagang ayaw niya ng mawala sa paningin niya ang kanyang Daddy at gusto niyang magkakasama kaming tatlo.

Tahimik na nakamasid si Prince sa anak namin. His eyes are still full of emotions and longingness for him. Hindi ako makatulog sa kakaisip ng nangyari kanina. It made my heart full to see Arden this happy.

"Are you still awake?" I called out to him.

"Yes..." ani Prince at umupo sa pagkakahiga.

Tulog na tulog si Ardie sa gitna namin. Halos kamukha niya na lalo si Prince dahil sa postura at itsura nito. It made me smile again. Now that he is beside him, mas kita mo na ang pagkakahawig nila.

"Can't sleep?" I asked.

Saglit siyang tumingin sa akin, iniwas din ito agad na parang may malalim na iniisip.

I smiled. Umalis ako sa kama at kinuha ang phone ko.

"Do you want to get to know him well? We can chat for awhile. That is... if you want to talk to me. I won't force you if you don't want to-"

He sighed heavily and left the room. Napakagat ako sa labi at tiningnan si Ardie bago sumunod sa kanya.

Pumunta siya sa may sala at umupo roon. In the two years that were together, I've gotten used to the way he acts. Hindi niya na kailangan sabihin o i-explain sa akin. Kaya alam kong gusto niyang pag-usapan iyon.

"Here's my ultrasound scans from back then..." I handed him my phone.

Tinanggap niya ang phone ko at tinitigan iyon. He scrolled through some pictures. Napapangiti siya sa iba at tumigil sa isang picture ko nung buntis ako. I drew a face on my tummy because I was so bored. I was even pouting in the picture.

"Uh, don't mind that. I was just bored..." I awkwardly said.

The side of his lips rose up, looking at the picture with interest. Agad ring nawala ang ngiti niya hindi malamang dahilan.

"Who are you with, when you were pregnant? Si Troy ba?" tanong niya.

Umiling ako. Troy didn't even know until Pierce was a year old. Hindi ko naman din alam na sinabi pala ni Mommy sa kanya. Mommy has always been close to Troy. I am also sure that she wanted him for me, but it turns out that he's just like my father. Mali ako ng pagkakakilala sa kanya.