"Good morning, baby! Did you sleep well?" Masigla at nakangiti kong bati kay Jj. Kinusot niya ng mata at tila iginala ang mata sa buong silid nito. He requested it to be repainted with navy blue. That's his favorite color.
"Where's Daddy?"
"Well, Daddy might get busy to work-"
"Huh? He said he has no work for now."
Alright! As much as possible ayokong ipakita sa anak na naiinis ako sa tuwing binabanggit niya ang Daddy niya. "Okay. Then, why don't you fix yourself first then we'll eat breakfast. Tapos, ipapasyal ka ni Mommy."
Tinulungan ko siyang bumangon. I asked Stella to take the day off. Magpapaka-full time Mommy muna ako kay Jj.
"Do you have any place in mind that you want to visit?" I was expecting him to bring the topic about the Caribbean cruise ship but he didn't."
"I'll think about it, Mommy."
Sinundan ko siya sa bathroom at tinulungang magtanggal ng pajamas niya. "No. No. I can do it alone, Mommy-"
"But I want to help. I used to do this when you're still small."
"I'm a big boy, now. I can take a bath alone." Rason niya.
"Just tell Daddy to come here. He can help me, though." Hirit niya.
I kneel down to face him at hinanap ang mga mata niya. "Are you still mad at me?"
He diverted his eyes. I caught his face using both hands. Ipinirmi ko iyon para matignan niya ako sa mata. "I'm sorry, baby. You know I love you, right? Bati na tayo, please?" Pagsusumamo ko.
"Okay."
"So, am I forgiven?"
Tumango siya. I was about to hug him when he spoke again. "Only if..."
Oh... When did Jj just learn to bargain or ask something in return for a favor?! Hindi an lang siya mukhang Narvaez ngayon. He sounds like Narvaez too!
Malamang! He is his father's son! Rason ng utak ko. I waited for his condition. Fine! Kahit ano naman, ibibigay ko kay Jj. Kakayanin ko! Basta para kay Jj.
"Only if you give me a baby girl sibling..."
"What?!" Gulantang kong tanong. Literal akong napanganga habang nakatingin kay Jj. A baby girl sibling? He sounds like he just ask for a candy!
I can give him the world. Kakayanin ko 'yon. Pero- he's asking something next to impossible! Posible naman. But...
"You want us to adopt a baby girl. I can contact some people-"
"No, Mommy. I wan't the one like Silver's baby sister- the one his Mommy carried like a big ball in her tummy!" Tila engrossed an pagkukuwento ni Jj tungkol sa kapapanganak na kapatid ng pinsang nitong si Silver na madalas nitong kalaro kapag dumadalaw sila.
My gosh! "It's not that simple to bear one, baby. That's hard."
"Ahuh. But you and Daddy can make one, right?" Tanong niya na parang napakadaling gumawa.
Madali naman talaga. Isang gabi lang with Altair, tapos. The problem is- I don't want to get physical with him. I will never do it with him. Or kahit kanino.
"But baby, I don't think I can-"
"Okay. I get it." Tumalikod siya at tinungo ang shower room. "Call Daddy, please." pakiusap niya. Naghubad siya ng pantulog. Kitang-kita ko ang pagsimangot niya habang nakatapat na sa ilalim ng shower.
BINABASA MO ANG
Reigning Battle Beyond Greed
RomanceON GOING I am Jem Mendez. A mother at eighteen. Married to Altair Jairus Narvaez, a billionaire and a business tycoon. Will my greed satisfy my desire to be more powerful or will it destroy my heart and the simple life I used to have? DATE STARTED:...
