JENNIE
Dad craddled Niccolo in his arm, feeding him with a warm bottle of milk. Breast milk. Mom, for some reason, was totally against giving my son formula milk. She said as long as I could produce breastmilk that's all he'd be having. The breast pump had been my bestfriend ever since. I'd been storing breastmilk for him so whenever he gets hungry, I could just grab a bottle for him and heat it up. And he was always hungry. Always. During his first week, he'd cry for milk like every two hours that I got worried he'd suck me dry. Nakisama naman ang katawan ko. Now I'd been producing milk for him like a cow. I easily shed those pregnancy weight just from feeding him. He was insatiable like his Daddy. Speaking of which, I turned my head to look at the clock hanging on the dining room wall.
"Dad, we need to go." I stood up from my seat after finishing my breakfast.
"Do you have to?" Dad clutched on to my son posessively like a little boy would when you threaten to take his favorite toy from him.
"It's Saturday, Dad. Alam mo naman pag weekend oras ni Lisa iyon."
"Pero may appointment siya sa pediatrician ngayon. He's going to get his vaccines and I want to be there for the little guy." Said Dad.
"Lisa will drive us to the doctor. We've already talked about this, Dad." I said.
"Axel, let Lisa take them to the doctor. Weekends na nga lang ang hinihingi ng mga Cordova, ipinagdadamot mo pa." Mom sighed.
"Mas gusto ni baby Xavier kay Papa Axel, isn't that right, little man?" He said in a pathetic baby voice. Mom and I just exchanged looks and we both just shook our head. They'd been nothing but a doting grandparents to Niccolo. But Dad, oh man, he was obsessed with my son. He'd carry him in his arms every chance he gets. Mom said it was because Dad had always wanted a son but he got two daughters instead.
My two month old son laughed in response when he made faces. I couldn't blame Dad though, he was a real charmer. And I wasn't just saying that because he was my son. We'd get compliments left and right everytime we take him out. He was like a baby celebrity.
"Come on. We're going to see your Daddy. Say bye bye to Papa Axel." I carefully took him from Dad.
He groaned disapprovingly as he handed Niccolo to me. "I want you home by seven, you understand? Hindi pwedeng nasa kapitbahay ang bata buong araw."
"Dad naman. The Cordovas are his family too. Kahit anong gawin mo, anak pa din namin ito ni Lisa." I reminded him. Kahit naman wala kaming relasyon ni Lisa bukod sa pagiging magkaibigan gusto ko pa din na maramdaman ni Niccolo na buo ang pamilya niya. Ayaw kong maging malayo ang loob niya kay Lisa at sa pamilya niya. I wanted him to grow up with love from my family and Lisa's. Tita Cassie, Tito Phoenix and Lisa's siblings adored him. Sa tuwing dadalhin ko si Niccolo sa bahay nila Lisa, nagkakagulo na sila. They would all kill to hold him. He was the Lavigne and the Cordova's little prince.
"You go ahead. Kanina pa nag-aabang si Lisa sa labas ng gate." Mom said and lowered her head to kiss Niccolo on his plump cheek. Poor Lisa. Hanggang ngayon, nagmamatigas pa din si Dad. Mahigpit niyang pinagbilin na huwag magpapasok ng kahit sino sa mga Cordova dito. "See you later, baby Niccolo. Be a good boy. I love you."
"Maybe we should try for a son. Get off the pill." He silently whispered in Mom's ear as he held her by the waist.
"Atticus, ano ka ba? Lola na nga ako eh..." Mom chuckled.
"Then you're one hot grandma. What a GILF you are, hon." He nuzzled his nose against the crook of Mom's neck.
"GILF?" Mom cocked a brow.
"Grandma I'd like to f-"
"Dad, I can hear you! I'm still here." I rolled my eyes.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, embarassment written all over their faces. "Right... I'm sorry, darling."
