Elegant Affair

IV.III

"Can you please be honest with me?"

Matteo stopped watching some cartoon show with Ella. Napapaisip ako minsan kung idinadahilan niya lang ba ang anak namin para makapanood siya ng ganyang TV shows because he seems to genuinely enjoy, for instance, Sofia the First.

"Yup?"

Ella was unbothered looking at the TV but just in case she's listening, I whispered, "Are you fired or bankrupt- or worse, jobless?"

He didn't looked shocked which was why I thought I was right for a second pero bigla lang din naman siyang tumawa which made Ella look in our direction pero bumalik din naman sa TV agad ang mata niya.

"I appreciate your concern but I'm still employed. Don't worry."

"I'm not worried. Napansin ko lang kasi na ito na ang pinakamatagal mong stay dito. You'd always fly back for work."

"Took you three days to ask?"

"I really thought you're having money problems, Matteo. I didn't want to be insensitive."

He smiled so widely. Apparently, he finds it amusing, the idea of him being bankrupt. Hindi man lang ba siya natatakot na magkatotoo?

"I'm working. But here, in the Philippines. I've been wanting to do this for a long time and I'm sorry for the weekends that I couldn't go home kamakailan. We were preparing to relocate the main office. I've been thinking about it a lot, actually. Even before, but I just couldn't bring it up yet since kakapalit ko lang din naman sa tatay ko. But now, I'm confident I earned everyone's trust. We can manage this. I know I can."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh." Kaya niya ba nasabi iyong mga binanggit niya? Does that mean he'll stay here? Hindi naman siguro.

But really, he's been here a lot. I really do forgot sometimes that he is not living here... Wala naman siguro siyang planong dito din tumira? And his room is just minutes away. He's planning to visit often? Okay, no problem but sleepovers are different.

"I like it when you stay here, Daddy." Ella hugged Matteo and stayed in that position while watching TV. Halos araw-araw na lang iyang sinasabi ng anak namin. She's already getting used to this.

I'm starting to worry. Definitely the opposite of what he told me.

"Don't do anything that would disappoint her, Matteo."

***

"Hello, my baby sister Ari!"

Napatawa kami sa bungad ni Ella kay Ari. My daughter never ceases to drown me with her cuteness. Ariella smiled at her Ate Ella and the two just went to the sand together, excited to build sandcastles.

"They're growing up too fast." Esme's eyes were on our daughters. Buti na lang at magkasundo din silang dalawa. This way, we can hang out while the kids do- or be vice versa.

"It seems like this is the first time after a long time no? That Matteo celebrated his birthday?"

I nodded at Esme, remembering our previous discussion about this. "He didn't want to celebrate his birthday kasi sa susunod na araw na naman daw ang birthday ni Ella."

"So?"

"Exactly what I told him. He's here in the country, we're here also. We could all celebrate together. Kung hindi nga namin iyan pinuntahan sa Malaysia last year, wala atang planong mag-celebrate. This time, he can't really say no because birthday by the beach is Ella's request."

"Of course, the kids always win. I can relate, though your little girl is more of a little boss."

"What are you talking about?" Napakalaki ng ngiti ni Matteo habang may dalang orange juice. Kumuha ako ng isa doon.

"About how you succumb to your daughter's wishes. It's okay, Matteo. Ganyan din naman si Gio. Let's wait a little while and we'll see Steve act this way too... that might take a little longer nga lang."

"Hala, hala." As if on cue, Steve joined us. "Pinag-uusapan niyo ako ha."

"You go hang-out with the kids, Steve. Practice mo na din 'yan."

"Ella! Ella!" sigaw ko dahil hindi pa ata siya nagsa-sunblock. "Lovella!" she finally faced me. Alam niya kasing nababawasan na ang pasensya ko pag buong pangalan ang tinatawag ko sa kaniya.

"Any wish for your birthday, Ella?" Tanong ni Gio habang nilalagyan ko ng lotion ang katawan ni Ella.

Ella adorably shakes her head. "My Daddy brought me all the toys I wanted."

"Hirap naman bigyan ng regalo anak mo, dude." Bulong pa ni Steve kay Matteo.

"Well, she is her father's daughter." I just commented.

Ella giggled when I placed some sunblocks on her face. Ang cute talaga. I'm just trying to resist pinching those cheeks.

"Mommy, will you and Daddy have a sleepover again later?"

What the- agad na nanlaki ang mata ko. Matteo was coughing- nabulunan ata sa pinagsasabi ng anak niya.

"It's Daddy's birthday. He should stay with us."

"I don't know yet baby. Why don't you play with Ari there. Bring Daddy with you." I signalled Matteo na samahan muna ang bata. Tutal ay maliligo naman siya. "And you know what? Bring Tito Gio and Tito Steve with you. I'm sure they'd love to come."

Parang naguguluhan pero sumunod naman si Gio. Nagpipigil ng tawa si Steve habang sumusunod. Matteo, well, he has to follow me.

"Nice way to keep it Rated G, huh. Sleepover." Esme scoffed then smiled sheepishly at me, totally extracting more than what Ella meant to say.

I've been avoiding the topic at kung tinatanong naman nila, I really try to tell them we are just co-parenting. It's not my fault if they assume sex was off the table. Oh, it never was.

"Masusundan na ba? Huh?" she continued to tease me but I didn't answer hoping she would just stop sooner if I keep my mouth shut. "But on the serious side, Lav, hanggang kailan ba kayo magbabahay-bahayan?"

I drank the orange juice. I wish this was alcohol.

"I honestly don't know," I answered.