January 24, 2016
"Juan Miguel Andrei.
I uttered those names while I was passing the little man in my arms to Latrice's arms. However, she didn't pay much attention to what I said. I had observed that she was mesmerized with the creature in her arms. Well, I couldn't blame her. I have felt the same the moment I held my little man. I could hardly believe that I had partly created this wonderful and handsome human being.
My little man is a big boy - 8.2lbs at that! He has gotten most of his features from me - the shape of his face, the tip of his nose, his fair skin, slender limbs, and thick eyebrows and eyelashes. While he got Latrice's lips, jaw, and cheeks. And when he opened his eyes, a pair of almond eyes similar to Latrice's eyes was seen! His eyes were tantalizing.
"He's beautiful!" She cried in awe. Latrice drew him closer to her cheeks and hugged him gently. She fascinatingly got a whiff of our baby. Moreover, she didn't get content with just sniffing; she even planted a soft kiss on his forehead, cheeks, jaw and shoulders. I couldn't stop myself from being mesmerized to Latrice's gesture.
"Look! He smiles like you do." I commented and she abruptly paid attention to what I was saying. Andrei has dimples on each corner of his upper lips like his Mama.
"Juan Miguel Andrei." Latrice repeated the name I said a while back. "You gave the name Miguel? I like it. It goes with the other two names."
"Yes, it rhymes with my name - Manuel and Miguel. But I've learned that you've been fond of calling him Andrei? We may call him Andrei instead of Miguel."
"Either way." She smiled at me and glanced back at our now-thirsty baby.
She nursed Andrei until he fell back to sleep.
"Thank you for everything, Manuel."
I held her hand and cupped her face with my other hand.
"No. Let me be the one to thank you, my Latrice Faith. I am so lucky to have you as my best friend and the mother of my son. In point of fact, I have never visualized myself being a family man until I met you. Eventually, I realized that you are my destined other half. From then, I have allowed myself to love and be loved. I didn't care about any best friends rules because I knew that falling in love with you, my best friend, is the most perfect thing to do."
Tears rolled down her face, and I swept them up.
"Latrice, you were right - I am your life as you are mine. And I don't want to walk out this room without hearing a reassurance from you that you're mine forever."
I got the ring box from my pocket, opened it, and took the ring out of it. She gasped in surprise.
"In witness of Juan Miguel Andrei Molina Selegña, our son who is now sleeping, I want to ask you this one... Latrice Faith Molina, will you marry me?"
Xx
