After Her 18th (Ongoing)

Seventh💎

As the days passed, our little family began to find its own rhythm, like the first hesitant notes of a song slowly building into something harmonious. It wasn't perfect, far from it, but it was ours, and that made it enough.

Arch had moved into a routine, gradually weaving himself into the fabric of our everyday lives. He'd be here, first thing in the morning sitting at the breakfast table, his deep voice blending with Kyro's excited chatter as they discussed the day's plans, or standing beside me in the kitchen, awkwardly but earnestly offering to help with dinner and eating with us before he goes home.

It was a strange cycle, almost surreal, but in the best way possible.

The mornings were the clearest indicator of how much things had changed. Nagigising ako sa ingay ng tawa na nagmumula sa sala. Kyro and Arch would already be up, madalas naglalaro ng chess o board game, Kyro's infectious giggle filling the space that had been silent for too many years.

Isang umaga, nakatayo lang ako sa pintuan at pinagmamasdan sila. Kyro's brow was furrowed in deep concentration, his hand hovering over the chessboard as he contemplated his next move.

"Careful now, champ," Arch said with a grin, leaning back in his chair. "You're only two moves away from checkmate. Think it through."

Kyro looked up at him, eyes wide with excitement. "Really? I almost have you?"

Nanlambot ang mga mata ko. I've never seen Ky be this expressive before. Having Arch here had a big impact to our son. Ang tanging pinagsisisihan ko ay hindi ito nangyari nang mas maaga.

Arch chuckled and nodded. "You've got me on the ropes, bud. Pero tingnan natin kung kaya mo 'tong tapusin."

It amazed me how naturally they were bonding, as if some invisible thread had always been there, waiting for this moment to pull them together. Kyro, who had always been reserved about showing his feelings, had quickly warmed up to Arch, hanging onto every word, every gesture. It was as though he had been waiting his whole life for this.

Kyro made his move, sliding his knight across the board with a triumphant smile. "Checkmate!"

Arch pretended to groan, dramatically slumping in his chair. "Ah, you've done it! I didn't stand a chance."

Kyro had a big grin plastered on his face, "I beat you, Pa!"

Hearing Kyro call him "Pa" for the first time was like a jolt to my heart. Arch's eyes softened, and for a moment, I saw the weight of the years in his expression—the guilt, the longing, and the sheer relief that he was here now, part of Kyro's life.

"You sure did, buddy," Arch said, pulling Kyro into a hug. "I'm proud of you."

As I watched them, I felt my throat tighten. It was a small, tender moment, and yet, somehow, it didn't feel like all those years were wasted anymore. We were building something new, something better. Together.

Then, one evening, after a long day na nanonood lang silang dalawa ng movies, Arch pulled me aside habang mahimbing na natutulog si Kyro sa kwarto niya. We were standing in the kitchen, the hum of the refrigerator the only sound between us.

"I've been thinking," panimula niya na bahagyang kinakabahan habang kinakamot ang likod ng kanyang leeg. He looked down at me, his gaze soft but serious. "We've been focusing a lot on Kyro, which is great, but... what about us?"

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko, "Tayo?"

Tumango siya, "Yeah. I mean, we've been through so much, and I feel like we never really had a chance to reconnect. So I was thinking." He cleared his throat, "Would you want to go on a date with me, little island?"