Baby Daddy

Kabanata 2

“Psyche . . ”

Sa taranta ko nang makita si Psyche natulak ko ang babae palayo sa akin.

Papalapit si Psyche sa amin at hindi ko alam ang gagawin. Should I greet her good evening? Pero parang tanga naman kung ganun. We're not in good terms— I guess.

I was rehearsing some words in my mind nang tumigil si Psyche sa harap namin.

Babatiin ko sana s'ya pero inunahan n'ya ako.

“Seriously? You're here while your kids are waiting for you to come home?” She clang her arms around mine. That caught me off guard.

What is she doing? And kids? Anong ibig n'yang sabihin?

“What do you mean-

She shut me up. “Let's go home, Nial,” aniya.

Damn.. Did she just mistakenly identify me as my brother?

“I knew it! You're Nial!” Rinig ko ang sinabi ng babaeng nagpakilalang Reina kanina, pero hindi ko s'ya malingon dahil hinila na ako ni Psyche.

What the heck is happening?
Is the world healing?
Bakit ako hinihila ng ex ko ngayon? Gusto n'ya na bang makipag balikan?

‘She called you Nial. Stop kidding yourself,’ bara ng isang bahagi ng isip ko sa aking mga tanong.

“Psyche, what are you doing?” kalmado at pabulong kong tanong pero ang totoo gusto ko nang magwala sa hindi ko maipaliwanag na dahilan.

For everyone's knowledge, the reason why I came back here in the Philippines is right beside me with her arms wrapped around mine. Kahapon lang kasama n'ya ang kapatid ko at may mga bata pa silang kasama.

Ano ba itong mga nangyayari? Pakiramdam ko malapit na akong siraan ng bait.

“Stop acting like you don't know what's happening, Nial. Saan ka ba galing?”

I came back to my senses nang marinig ko si Psyche. My forehead creased upon realizing she's still calling my Nial.

“Nial . . ” banggit ko sa pangalan ng kapatid. “I'm not Nial.”

“Of course you are. Stop acting as if you are Nova-

“I am Nova.”

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad nang tumigil s'ya at hinarap ako. Tiningnan n'ya ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

“You are Nova?”

Tumango ako.

Kumunot ang noo niya at inasahan kong napagtanto na n'yang mali ang taong nahila n'ya.

Ngunit bigla s'yang tumawa. “Of course you are Nial. I know Nova isn't a fan of clubbing, especially in this place full of girls. Kaya tara na't umuwi dahil hinahanap ka na ng mga anak mo . . ”

Everything she had said left me totally flabbergasted. Kaya hindi na ako nakapagsalita nang hilahin n'ya akong muli. I was left speechless.

She didn't recognize me as Nova but she still remembers the fact that I am not into clubbing— which is not anymore. Matagal nang nawala ang Nova na hindi mahilig mag club.

And their kids are waiting for Nial to come home. So where the f-ck is that man? Was he clubbing at this hour even tho he's a dad of two? F-cking Nial!

“Saan naka-park ang sasakyan mo?” si Psyche pagkarating namin sa parking lot nitong kilalang club kung saan kami galing.

She obviously won't believe me na ako si Nova. So I'd stop telling her.

“Teka.” Kinuha ko ang susi ko sa aking bulsa at sunod na kinuha ay ang kamay n'ya at hinila s'ya papunta sa kung saan naka-park ang kotse ko.

“Dito.” Pinagbuksan ko s'ya ng pinto. “Hop in.”

She blinked, looking amazed after seeing my car. “You bought a new car? Nice! ..and pretty!”

I smirked. ‘I knew you would like my car.’ sagot ng isip ko.

I wish I could tell her I'm really Nova and I bought her dream car.

Pero ngayon na may mga gusto akong malaman, hahayaan ko nalang munang i-assume n'ya na ako ang kakambal ko. I'm grabbing this chance to act as my brother. Hangga't hindi n'ya alam na ako si Nova, ako muna si Nial.

Yesterday I told the star that I hate my brother, but if being him means being with Psyche— I would act as him forever.

Kung nasaan ka man ngayon Nial, huwag ka na munang umuwi.