Alpha Dale (COMPLETED)

PROLOGUE

***Third Person POV***

"ARE you sure, you wanted to leave her to us?" Cameron asked the young woman while holding the baby girl in his arms.

The young woman who is the mother of the baby girl nodded her head. "Oo. Mas maalagaan niyo siya kaysa sa akin."

Cameron looked at his partner who is sitting at the sofa.

Niel nodded his head. "I'm okay with it. We can take care of the baby."

"But we are not..."

Umiling si Niel. "It's okay."

Cameron sighed and looked at the young woman. "Okay. We'll take care of her."

The young woman smiled. "Maraming salamat." She said full of gratitude.

When the young woman left, Cameron and Niel looked at each other.

"Maaalagaan ba natin siya ng maayos?" tanong ni Cameron kay Niel.

Ngumiti si Niel. "Oo naman. I have job and you have your own business. Money is not a problem for us, Cam. Though we are both men but we could also take care of a baby, right?"

Umupo si Cameron sa tabi ni Niel at pinagkatitigan ang sanggol sa bisig nito. Cameron took a deep breath. "The mother didn't tell us her baby's name."

Tumayo si Niel saka tumingin sa labas ng bintana. Nakikita niya ang ina ng sanggol na nag-aabang ng sasakyan. The young woman is a college student and according to her, she got pregnant by her boyfriend and her boyfriend left her after knowing that she's pregnant.

Assholes. Niel couldn't help but to said it in his mind. Marami na talaga sa panahon ngayon ang hindi kayang panindigan ang consequence ng mga ginagawa nila.

The young woman's parents are strict and they don't want to keep the baby so, she doesn't have any choice but to leave her daughter so that she could continue her studies.

Niel sighed as she looked at the woman who took a glanced back at Niel and Cameron's house before entering the taxi.

"I don't know if I will pity the mother or the baby." Niel said, sighing. He looked at Cameron and he couldn't help but to smiled seeing his partner cooing the baby girl.

"Niel, what should we name her?" Cameron asked.

Niel walked towards his partner. Kinuha niya ang sanggol sa bisig nito at siya naman ngayon ang kumarga. "How about Candy?"

Cameron grimaced. "Isn't it too sweet? Baka naman asarin pa ang bata paglaki niya."

"Then what?" Niel asked. Napaisip siya. "How about Candace?"

"Candace?" Kumunot ang nuo ni Cameron. "Saan mo naman nakuha 'yan?"

Ngumiti si Niel. "It's a Greek work that means 'glowing'."

Napatango si Cameron. "I agree. Then it's Candace Romano."

They both looked at the baby in Niel's arms. Parang nagustuhan naman ng sanggol ang pangalan na binigay nila dahil ngumiti ito at nagmulat ng mata.

"Baby, from now on we will be your parents."

Parang mas lalong natuwa ang sanggol dahil itinaas nito ang kamay.

Cameron caressed the baby's head. He looked at Niel. "Who will take care of her? I have my restaurant to manage. You have your job."

Ngumiti si Niel. "I can resign from my job. Kapag malaki na si Candace saka na lang ulit ako magtrabaho."

"Maganda na ang trabaho mo sa University na pinagtuturuan mo. It will be a loss if you resign. Isa pa, alam kong gustong-gusto mong magturo sa mga estudyante." Sabi ni Cameron.

"It's okay. I can talk to the Dean."

Cameron sighed. "Sorry. It's just that I couldn't abandoned this child." Sabay tingin kay Candace na ngayon ay natutulog na habang buhat ni Niel.

"Cam, nang magsama tayo, napag-usapan na natin na kahit kailan ay hindi tayo magkakaroon ng anak dahil pareho tayong lalaki. Kaya naman si Candace ang solusyon ng problema natin. Ituring natin siyang anak natin at papalakihin natin siya ng maayos."

Cameron was touched by Niel's word and he couldn't help but to hug Niel from behind. "Thank you. So, shall we go out and buy necessities for Baby Candace?"

Tumango si Niel. "Let's go."

Six years later...

"Candace Romano, don't run! Baka madulas ka!"

Umagang-umaga pa lang, 'yan na ang bumungad kay Cameron pagpasok niya ng kusina. Nakita niya si Niel na hinahabol si Candace. Nagpapaikot-ikot lang naman ang dalawa sa mesa. Tumatakbo si Candace palayo sa Papa Niel nito dahil ayaw nitong uminom ng gatas.

Napailing na lang si Cameron. Hahayaan na niya sana ang dalawa at hindi na sana papansinin ang mga ito nang lumapit sa kaniya si Niel, yumakap ito sa beywang niya at nagsumbong. "Cam, ang anak mo. Hindi na nakikinig sa akin. Ang tigas-tigas na ng ulo niya." Parang naiiyak na sabi ni Niel.

Sinuklay ni Cameron ang buhok ni Niel saka tinignan si Candace. "Baby, don't make your Papa cry. Do you want him to cry?"

Umiling si Candace. "No, Daddy."

"Then drink your milk."

Nakangusong kinuha ni Candace ang isang baso ng gatas na nasa lamesa saka pilit itong ininom. Nakangiti naman si Cameron habang tinitignan ang anak na pilit na iniinom ang gatas. "It's okay. She's drinking the milk you made for her."

Niel immediately looked at Candace and smiled. Napahinga siya ng malalim. "Habang lumalaki ang anak natin, tumitigas naman ang ulo."

Nagkibit ng balikat si Cameron. "Bata 'yan, eh. Normal lang na matigas ang ulo niyan."

Isinubsob lang ni Niel ang mukha sa balikat ng kapareha.

"Papa, I finished the milk." Nakangusong sabi ni Candace. "It's not sweet, Papa." Reklamo nito kapagkuwan. "Daddy's milk that he's making for me if sweeter."

Niel looked at Cameron. "Tignan mo. Ang galing pang mangumpara."

Cameron chuckled and shook his head. "What do you want for breakfast?"

"You." Bulong ni Niel.

Tumikhim si Cameron. "Niel, kasama natin ang anak natin. Though I also wanted you for breakfast. Our daughter needs a real breakfast so let me cook first, okay?" mahinang sabi ni Cameron. Sapat lang na silang dalawa ni Niel ang nakarinig.

Niel nodded. "Okay." Pilyo siyang ngumiti saka mabilis na hinalikan si Cameron sa labi nang hindi nakatingin sa kanila ang anak nila.

Ngumiti lang si Cameron saka pinisil ang ilong ni Niel.

Niel smiled. It's been six years since Candace is with them. Hindi nagkamali si Niel at Cameron sa pag-aalaga kay Candace. Kahit matigas ang ulo at napakulit ni Candace, mahal na mahal pa rin nila ito. Pero mula ng iwan ito ng ina nito sa kanila, hindi na bumalik ang ina ni Candace upang bisitahin ang bata.

Ngunit para kay Cameron at Niel, okay na din 'yon. Itinuring na nilang anak nila si Candace at wala na silang balak na ibalik ito sa ina nito.

Pinuntahan ni Niel si Candace na sinusubukang umupo sa mataas na stool ng island counter. Binuhat niya ang bata at pinaupo sa mismong counter. "There."

"Thank you, Papa." Nakangiting sabi ni Candace.

Hinalikan ni Niel ang nuo ni Candace.

Candace isn't his blood and flesh. Ganun din si Cameron pero kahit hindi nila kadugo ang bata, itinuring na nila itong anak nila at hindi na mababago 'yon. Candace will always be their daughter.