BILLIONAIRE SERIES1: NO STRING ATTACHED

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

We two work together seamlessly, just like a fair of parents taking care of a newborn.

I take turns the fussing over the kitten until she’s calm, dry, and well-fed. After a while, as I hold my breaths― She opens her big bright eyes, looking at me sweetly and lazily. My heart becomes mush in an instant.

Mrowr...

“Look, Tyler! We saved her! Can we keep her!” masayang sabi ko at tumango ito.

“Of course, if you want to.” Tyler’s look at me, his eyes warm and loving.

We fuss over the kitten together for a while longer until she driffs off into a peaceful sleep. In the span of little over an hour, me and Tyler have gotten attached to the kittens.

“Come here, kitty! Eat up.” malambing kong sabi.

“We can’t just keep calling them ‘cat’ or ‘kitty’. Why don’t we give them some names for now?” sabi nito at sandali naman akong natigilan.

“Hmm.”

Naalala ko naman ang pusa na nanghihina na kanina. “Bakit di natin siya tawagin na Lucky?” sabi ko at napatango naman si Tyler.

“Sure. I like it.” sabi niya at tiningnan ko muli ito.

“Hello, Lucky! You were lucky to meet us, and we’re just as happy to meet you.” napaangat naman ng ulo si Lucky habang umiinom ito ng gatas na parang naiintindihan niya ang sinasabi ko. Agad din itong tumakbo palapit saakin para dilaan ang binti ko.

Meow...

“I think she likes her name!” masayang sabi ko.

“She’s a smart one.” sabi nito saka naman napalingon si Tyler sa isang pusa na pagala-gala na agad sa loob ng bahay na para itong nahihiwagaan sa nakikita nito.

“Aha! And where do you think you’re going? Hey, Coleen, what do you think we should name this one?” tanong nito habang karga ang gulay gray na pusa. Pero habang nakatingin ito saakin ay bigla nalang itong nainis at kinalmot ang kamay ni Tyler.

“Ow! This is a feisty one!”

Meww!

Ngumiti ako saka binuhat ito. “I think Grumpy doesn‘t like you.” natatawang sabi ko saka hinaplos ang ulo nito. Natawa naman siya ng mahina at nilapag ko na nga sila at hinayaan muna namin ito na makapagikot-ikot pero nakatingin naman kami pareho sakanila.

Watching Tyler tease Grumpy with a peace of string, I suddenly feel like this is what it means to be a family.

“Guess that means we’ll have to buy a cat tree, furniture, kitten food, a litter boxes... Maybe I should make a list. Oh, and we can clear out a room for their toys!” nakangiti niyang sabi. It’s almost sounds like he’s setting up a nursery.

My heart thumps painfully in my chest as I come to a stark realization. No, what are we doing? I can’t raise these kittens with him. Once we do that, we’ll be tying our futures together long-term and living like a real family...even though we’re not. I close my eyes. It hurts so much.

So kahit masakit... “Tyler... Let’s surrender them to an animal shelter.” mahina kong sabi. Halata ang gulat sa mata nito.

“But why? I thought you liked them and wanted to keep them? Bakit ngayon gusto mo na silang ibigay sa shelter?” saad nito habang seryoso ang kaniyang mukha, at nasa kandungan pa nito ang dalwang pusa kaya naman mas lalo akong nasaktan.

Napalapit nadin siya.. Agad akong napaiwas ng tingin.

“I mean.. It’s a heavy responsibility, and I don’t have time to raise them. Busy ka din di ba. Hindi tama na kunin natin sila kung hindi naman natin ito maaalagaan ng maayos.” sabi ko at huminga ng malalim si Tyler.