A Close Second

Forty Second

"Kuya Andrew, punas po."

I look at Andrew na nilapitan ni Sophie with a hand towel. He was supervising the kids who were playing in the living room. Nasa kusina parin kaming mga babae pero mula dito tanaw at rinig naman namin ang mga bata na sinamahan ng magkapatid.

"Pagod ka na ba, Sophie?" Andrew asks her.
She shakes her head. "Not yet po!" She beams. "But I want water!"

Tinignan ako ni Andrew before he looks at the kid again, patting her head and giving her a bottle of water na hawak niya mula pa kanina.

"This is a good idea you know, taking Sophie out to come here. At least Andrew gets to spend time with the kids." Sabi ni Tita Jodi sa akin. "The triplets are starting pre-school this coming school year and they're gonna be based na in Cebu with Aiza."
"For sure mamimiss nila ang Tito Andrew nila." Ate Pam says quietly beside me.
"It's hitting two birds in one stone, really." I shrug, holding my cup of coffee. "You see, Sophie's awfully close to her sister's boyfriend, and to her eyes, she's their 'baby' kaya naman nagtatantrums siya kapag nakikita niyang masyadong malapit yung dalawang yun sa isa't isa. J-A-C-O-B is gonna be back today so I thought na kunin muna si Sophie."

Nangiti naman si Tita Jodi sa akin, amused about all the secrecy that we were going through for Sophie. I had explained this to her prior kaya naman alam kong naiintindihan niya ito.

"Tita Jodi, can I have water please?"

Sophie and Keith enter the kitchen, the latter bending down a little while he holds the little girl's hand habang naglalakad sila. I 'awww'ed at the sight, smiling at my boyfriend. Natawa naman si Tita nang bitawan ni Sophie ang kamay nito, running to her directly.

I raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Kuya Keith give you a bottle na?"
"Do you want a cold one, baby?" Tanong nito as they go to the fridge.
Tinabihan naman ako ni Keith Andrew. "What are you girls talking about here?"
"Tita Jodi was telling us na maba-base na sa Cebu yung mga triplets." Ate Pam says.
"You didn't tell me that." Sabi ko dito.
Keith gives me a sad smile. "We just found out last night." Sabi nito.
"Well, it's a good thing na kasama mo sila ngayon ulit." I say as he sneaks a hand sa bewang ko habang lumapit ulit sa amin sila Tita Jodi at Sophie. "Dual purpose pala itong araw na ito since I got S-O-P-H-I-E para na rin makapagpahinga at masolo ni J-A-K-E si T-H-E-A. Ne, Sophie-chan?" I ask her.
She tilts her head at me as if trying to understand. "Ne?"
Keith chuckles. "Ate Beatrice talaga." He says, shaking his head. "Now, do you want to go back na, Baby?"

Sophie looks at me for a bit before looking at Andrew, who raised an eyebrow. She pouts.

"Kuya, I need a hanky." She says at him. "Sweaty."
Natawa si Andrew. "I have your towel here baby. Lagay natin sa likod mo?"
"No. I want hanky lagay sa likod." She says. "Can you get it for me, please?"
"Tara—"
"—No, you get it for me."

I raised an eyebrow at Andrew na nakipagtitigan kay Sophie sa tapat nito, looking down at the Little girl who looked up at him at the same time. Para silang nagsusukatan ng tingin until Sophie gives him a sweet smile.

"Please get it for me, Kuya? Pretty please?"

I nudged the guy beside me, who sighed and relented. He just patted her head, going out of the kitchen habang nagtawanan naman kaming mga babae.

Sophie stays in front of me though. She looks at me, big hazel eyes curious as she stared up from me and held up her arms. Binuhat ko naman ito though, kissing the side of her head while sitting her at my hip.

"You're bullying your Kuya Andrew, love," I tell her softly.
She smiles. "No. Bullying is bad." She says.
"Yes, baby. Bullying is bad. So good girl ka lang, baby."