TRADING INNOCENCE ✔️

Epilogue

    Sa lahat ng pangyayari sa buhay ko, eto na ata ang pinaka-magandang nangyari sa'kin. Ang maging isang asawa't ama. When I was young, the thoughts of me having a family makes me cringe. I mean, love isn't my goal when I was younger. Gusto ko lang noon maging successful at mas maging proud pa sila dad sakin.

But now, family is the best gift that God gave me. They make me strong, happy and contented. My kids never fail on making me proud and of course, my wife never fails at being the best and perfect wife and mom for me and our children.

Sa labing limang taon naming pagsasama ni Riley ay biniyayaan kami ng tatlong anak. We have two sons and a daughter. Masakit sa ulo ang dalawang anak naming lalaki lalo na ang panganay namin. Kung bakit ba naman kasi kay Jupiter at Regan pa siya pinaglihi.

"Sinabi ko naman sayo 'di ba? Hindi na kita mahal. Just go and find some other guy to be your boyfriend! Bye!" Napalingon ako sa hagdan nang marinig si Jacques na pababa. Hawak niya ang cellphone niya, "Sweetie, I don't even love you."

"Son?" I called him. Ngumiti naman siya at agad akong nilapitan, "Sino ang kausap mo?"

"Oh, just a random girl in my contact, dad."

"Jacques?" I gave him a warning look, "I told you to not play with girl's feelings, right?"

"Dad," he whined, "Alam mo namang guwapo ako. Everyone is into me because I'm hot and handsome and lovable."

"Baka nakakalimutan mong fifteen ka lang." Sagot ko na kinatawa niya.

"Geez, parang hindi ka dumaan sa pagiging teenager, dad. You know, peer pressure and adolescent shits."

"No cussing." I said and sighed, "Jacques naman."

"I'm sorry." He answered but I know it wasn't sincere. Kitang-kita ko ang pagpipigil niya sa malokong ngiti niya eh.

"Hayaan mo na muna ang anak mo, Mico. Syempre teenager yan. Dumadaan sa mga ganyan." Sabat ng misis ko. Napahilot naman ako sa sentido ko dahil si Riley ang mahilig mangunsinti sa'ming dalawa, "Galingan mo sa paghahanap ng girlfriend, JaCole. Support ka ni mommy."

"Thanks, mom! And please stop with that nickname."

"Riley, we are not teaching our kids to be a jerk." I sternly said and turned my head to my wife, "And wife, can you please don't call him JaCole?" I added and grimaced. Tawang-tawa naman si Riley at nilapitan ako.

"Kesa naman maging pabebe si Jacques tulad mo." Sagot nito at humalik sa labi ko, "I just want to teach my son the proper way to get into a girl's heart."

"Riley, iba na ang natututunan ni Jacques eh. I don't want him to turn into a fuck boy. God." I said and shook my head.

"I know, hunny. Sinasabihan ko naman ang anak mo tungkol sa sex eh. Ayaw ko din naman siya maging fuck boy, no. I still want him to be like you, gentle and sweet."

"Dad?" We both turn our head when our daughter walked towards us. She's twelve years old at habang tumatagal ay mas nagiging kamukha niya ang mommy niya.

"Yes, Mishael?"

"Dad, hindi ko po magets ang equation na to sa math assignment ko. Teach me please?" She asked and showed me her math book. Tumango naman ako at ngumiti. Just like me, my daughter loves to study. Gusto daw niyang maging doctor katulad ko balang araw at masaya ko dahil sumusunod siya sa mga hakbang ko.

"Anak, baka naman maging nerd ka na niyan ha. Puro ka aral." Ani Riley at mahinang natawa, "Basta wag ka muna magbo-boyfriend okay? After twenty years pa pwede."