Nah, Just SeKen

Rough Draft

Ken arrived home after fetching Lemon from school. He found Paulo in the kitchen while eating and he has still in his corporate attire but he's really hungry...

At the car...

Lemon: Should we tell him, Papa?

Ken: No. Better not.

Lemon: But why?

Ken: Because he's stressed. Tumawag ako kanina kung anong gusto niyang ulam for dinner and his voice sounds so exhausted. I don't think it's a good idea.

Lemon: I know, Papa but I wanted to tell him anyway. Ayoko naman po na sa ibang tao niya pa marinig. Papa, help me po kasi siya ang susundo sa akin tomorrow. I'm sure may magsusumbong sa kaniya.

Ken: I gotchu, bub. You know that I will always have your back.

Lemon: You're not competing with me this time. I'm happy.

Ken: *chucks* I don't have to, bub. Ako naman lagi ang nananalo sa ating dalawa.

Lemon: Only when you daya-daya me. Duh! I always win Daddy over you.

Ken: *pouted* Ang taray nito. Kuhang-kuha mo ang Daddy Pau mo.

At home...

Ken: Love, ang savage nitong anak mo.

Paulo: *eating blueberry pie* *trying to mask the tiredness in his eyes*

Paulo: Bakit?

Ken: Pinaghalong ikaw at ako. Walang duda, Lemon is really ours.

Paulo: *suspicious*

Paulo: What did she do this time?

Ken: Okay. Before you get mad... don't.

Paulo: Ken...

Ken: Sige ka, ang hot mo pa namang magalit.

Paulo: What did she do?

Ken: Relax, mahal. Wala namang pisikalang naganap, okay? I'm glad nagtatanda na siya. Pero ito ang lagi mong tatandaan na sobrang mahal na mahal kita.

Paulo: *not buying it* Where's Lemon?

Ken: *bit his lips*

Lemon: *sheepishly peck through Ken's back* I'm here, Daddy. Good afternoon po.

Paulo: *face soften* Heyyyy... come here. Give me a hug.

Lemon: *happily landed on Paulo's arms*

Paulo: My afternoon's good now. Hmmmm... I missed my baby so much.

Ken: Love, ako? 'Di mo want ng yakap ko? Magtatampo na ba ako?

Paulo: *chucks*

Ken: Grabe, kanina pa ako rito nakikipag-usap sa'yo at kanina pa rin ako naghihintay ng halik at yakap, tapos wala? Mahal naman... iiyak na ako o.

Paulo: Drama niya, 'no? *whispers to Lemon*

Lemon: *giggles*

Paulo: *hoisted Lemon up* *walks towards the pouting Ken* *kisses his pout away* Tampo naman ito agad. Love you, mahal.

Ken: Okay na ako. *winks, grabbing his man's slender waist before covering Lemon's eyes to steal another kiss from his husband*

Paulo: Ang harot nito.

Ken: Sssshhh! Don't say bad words. Naririnig ka no'ng bata.

Paulo: *rolled his eyes* *tugging Ken's arms as they both sat on the couch with Lemon on his lap* Okay... tell me what happened? *his head resting on Ken's broad shoulder*

Ken: Uhm... kasi—

Lemon: I'm sorry again, Daddy.

Paulo: What happened?

Lemon: I was just speaking out for myself. You told me to speak if nasa katwiran ako. I don't want po kasi na pinagtatawanan ang family natin. I don't care naman sa sasabihin ng iba but they're too much na po kasi.

Paulo: Ano pala ang sinabi nila sa'yo?

Lemon: Marky says he's better than me while he speaks ill towards our family. He's a boy din daw kaya mas nakakalamang siya kasi mas nauna raw po ang boys mabuo kaysa sa girls.

Paulo: You know it doesn't work that way, right?

Lemon: Yeah. Papa Ken told me kanina na no one is better than me but myself.

Paulo: Of course. You are yourself's competition. Lagi mong tatandaan na kung may gusto ka mang higitan, nak, iyon ay ang mga achievements na nakuha mo through the process. Kasi pwedeng mas higit pa roon ang makukuha mo if only you will do better. Hindi mo kailangan i-compare ang sarili mo sa iba.

Lemon: Thank you, Daddy... *squeezing herself into her Dad's embrace*

Paulo: But what did you do, bub? Iyong totoo. Smacking again his face with a book?

Lemon: I didn't do anything po. I just said something. I remember when you're writing, I asked you why you have so many scratches on the papers then you told me it's a rough draft.

Paulo: *naguguluhan* Lemon, let's get straight to the point. What did you do?

Ken: Love, relax...

Lemon: He said something po kasi like he's better than me because he's a boy and he was made first daw po tapos he has a perfect family pa while ako, I have odd ones.

Paulo: So what exactly did you tell Marky, huh?

Ken: *started chuckling*

Paulo: Stop laughing, mahal.

Ken: Yeah, sorry. *bites back a laugh*

Lemon: *hesitant* I-I told him that that's why he was made first because he was a rough draft and I was made after him because I am the final product. So I'm better than him.

Paulo: *silent for a second before laughing outloud*

Ken: Of course, you are. You are matalino, matured, at mahal na mahal pa namin. Saan ka pa? Our family's odd? Bub, ang saya-saya nga natin, 'di ba?

Lemon: Yeah! That's what I'm telling him.

Paulo: *nearly passed out from laughing* Lemon, how come you come up with those things? You're only 9. My golly! Natatakot na ako if you'll turn to be a lady. Baby... huwag muna ah?

Ken: *laughing too* I told you. She's a combination of you and me.

Paulo: I—I dunno what to say. I just... golly! It just blow me away.

Lemon: Aren't you mad at me?

Paulo: Nope. I'm just amused. It's fine, baby. Just don't go smacking faces again, okay? That's illegal. *biglang naalala ang ginawa niya kay Maldie kaya mas natawa pa tuloy ito*

Lemon: Thank you, Daddy.

Ken: She's anxious on the way here. Baka raw pagalitan mo na naman.

Paulo: Hmmm... I'm too tired to get mad for real. I just wanted to have the both of you around me.

Ken: *heart is clenching at the amount of love for his man* *hugging two of the most important people in his life* Mahal na mahal ko kayo.

Lemon: I love you both so, so much. Thank you for everything and for giving me a family.

Paulo: *smiling* This is a happy family, isn't it?

Lemon: Yup. Sabi rin ni Teacher na we are a family kasi we are full of love.

Ken: *looks at Paulo lovingly*

Paulo: *smiling as he reached for Ken's hands, fingers entwined perfectly like a puzzle piece*