Instant Mommy

Chapter 7

"Why are you so grumpy?" Nakakunot noong tanong ni Jacob sa anak niya.

Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Jayden na tahimik na kaumain sa tabi ko. Tinutusok niya pa ang pancakes sa plato niya gamit ang hawak niyang tinidor. Magkasalubong pa ang kilay habang nakanguso.

Kumakain na siya nang hindi nagpapasubo dahil kaya niya na raw. Nakagat ko ang pag-ibabang labi ko ng umiling si Jacob ng hindi siya pansinin ni Jayden. Hindi man lang siya tinapunan ng tingin ng anak.

"Your teacher called me. He said you've been so grumpy in class." Tumaas ang kilay ko dahill doon.

Nilingon ko si Jacob na nakatingin din pala sa akin. I just shrugged at him when he gave me a questioning look when Jayden stayed silent.

"He told me you're even ignoring your friends." Dagdag ni Jacob. Nakita ko ang bahagyang pagtaas ng sulok ng labi niya ng mag-angat ng tingin si Jayden.

"I'm not! I played with Margo yesterday." Mas lalong humaba ang nguso ni Jayden ng makita niya ang mukha ni Jacob.

Actually, may idea na ako kung bakit ganyan si Jayden these past days. He has been like that since the Noah incident. Mukhang hindi ata ni-report nila Leo ang ang nangyari kaya walang idea si Jacob.

Halos ilang araw ng nakasimangot si Jayden at mukhang napipikon na ang daddy niya. Inabot ko kaagad ang baso ng gatas sa harap ko ng biglang umubo si Jayden. Hinaplos ko ang likod niya habang umiinom siya.

Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Jacob ng tumunog ang phone niya. Bahagya kumunot ang noo niya ng makita ang caller. Tumayo siya at lumabas sa dining kaya naiwan na lang kaming dalawa ni Jayden na nakanguso pa rin.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly. I ruffled his hair when his eyes met mine.

"Mommy, don't go with that guy, okay?" I bit my inside cheek trying to stifle a smile when I saw his tears starting to welled up on his eyes.

I laughed when he pouted because I didn't answer him. I pinched the tip of his nose lightly and kissed him there.

He has been constantly telling me that everytime he has a chance. Tuwing gabi kapag tinatabihan ko siya para makatulog ay iyan din ang sinasabi niya sa akin. Madalas nga sa akin na siya sumasama tuwing nasa company siya kapag wala siyang pasok!

We both turned to the door when Jacob entered, holding his phone. He ran his hand through his messy hair before sitting down in front of me. He was still wearing his pajamas.

"Jayden, Tito Alfred wants to see you. I'll take you with me to Makati."

"I don't want to see him." Nanlalaki ang mata ko dahil sa sinabi ni Jayden.

Alfred Salcedo is one of the well known businessmen in the country. He's been in the business world for almost a decade and runs a lot of successful casinos. Hindi ko alam na may connection pala ang mga Madrigal sa kaniya.

"Your cousins want to play with you." I pursed my lips when Jayden shook his head aggressively making Jacob frown.

"I don't like them. I would rather play with mommy." Iniwas ko ang tingin ko kay Jacob dahil sa sinabi Jayden.

I bit my lower lip when I heard Jacob sigh in defeat. I looked at him and saw him smile softly at Jayden. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil doon. Akala ko magagalit siya dahil sa sinabi ni Jayden.

Come to think of it. Halos mag-isang buwan ko na silang kasama pero never ko pa nakitang nagalit si Jacob. Naririnig ko siya minsan magtaas ng boses pero hindi ko pa siya nakita sumigaw ng galit. Sobrang haba rin ng pasensya kay Jayden.

"Okay, I won't force you to come." Napangiti naman ako dahil doon.

"But you won't have anyone with you here later, your mom still has work to do."