After Daylight

4. When Naomi Confessed to Alexander

LOUISE

"Hi tita." I put down the book I was reading here in the porch that Saturday afternoon and looked at the one who came.

"Alexander. How are?" I asked him, standing up. Alexander grew up to be a handsome boy. I think he is looking more like his dad as he grows older. He got his dad's dirty blonde hair and light brown eyes. Mestizo talaga ang datingan niya. Well, no wonder Naomi is crushing on him.

He smiled. "I am doing great tita. Here, I bought you pesto pasta. Papa Kaleb said you're pregnant again." He said, scratching the tip of his nose.

I laughed. "Yes. Three months na. We found out about it after Naomi's fifth birthday," I took the paper bag he was holding. "Thank you Alexander. Sit down, I'll get you something."

He nodded and sat down on the empty chair across mine. I went inside to put the pasta in the refrigerator and boiled water. Alexander is fond of English Breakfast tea. He loves it ever since he tried how Sandro does it with honey and milk. Kumuha din ako ng baked brownies from the glass jar we have in the kitchen. I bake in batches because our kids are fond of eating.

I went back in the porch minutes later with a tray of teapot, teacup and the brownies.

"Thank you tita." He said, smiling.

He put down his phone and I saw a woman on his home screen.

"Girlfriend?" I asked.

Alexander looked at me and saw me looking at his phone before it turned off.

He laughed. "Apparently so."

I chuckled. "Well you're sixteen and a boy so I won't be surprised."

He smiled. "Her name is Anne. She's in the same grade as me tita. We both share the same ideas and hobbies so it was that easy for me to like her." He shared.

"Like not love?" I asked.

"I'm not yet there tita. Maybe. Someday." He replied, shrugging his shoulders.

It made me laugh. "Hay nako ka Alexander. Nagbibinata ka na talaga. I do not know how I would react if Yllak will come home someday and tell me he has a girlfriend."

"Well mama cried when I told her." He told me.

"Really?"

He nodded. "She says pwede na daw ako makabuntis and told me everything about marriage and sex," He rolled his eyes. "Like I am not even thinking about it. I'm more set on focusing on my goals."

"Well that's Dani for you. She's just worried Alexander." I commented.

Alexander shook his head. "Anne and I are just your normal couple tita. We never talked about sex or kissing or marriage. It's too early."

I laughed. "Well, I hope you tell that to Yllak when you find out he has a girlfriend."

"Yllak only tells me about his crushes and most of them are intelligent girls because when I ask him about it, crush niya daw kasi matalino."

I made a face. Bakit parang may kilala akong ganyan.

I saw our family car entering the driveway when Alexander was already eating his second brownies. Sandro honked while I just waved.

"They went to Tagaytay. Yllak got fond of golf when Sandro took him there the first time." I told him.

"Cool. Maybe we can go together with Papa Kaleb." He noted.

I smiled. "Ask his dad's permission. I'm sure he'll agree."

Celestina was the first one to come down and run to me. She embraced me tight.