Instant Mommy

Chapter 22

I looked at the scattered things on my bed before letting out a long sigh. Nagkalat sa kwarto at higaan ko ang mga gamit ko mula sa drawer dahil hinahanap ko ang regalo ni Tita Jada sa akin.

Some of the clothes were half-folded, others were just tossed aside, and a few papers had already slipped to the floor.

I ran my hand through my hair in frustration before crouching down to pick up the ones that had fallen.

Tahimik ang buong bahay ngayon dahil wala si Jayden. Nasa bahay siya ng lola niya dahil sinundo siya kaninang umaga ni Tita.

It was quite surprising how fast Jayden agreed to go to his grandma's house, especially how we used to take a whole day of convincing him to go.

Si Jacob ang kumausap sa anak niya. I wasn't there when it happened, but when I came back, Jayden was already packing his small bag like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Iniisip ko tuloy kung anong klaseng usapan ang nangyari sa pagitan nilang dalawa at pumayag siya kaagad.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako habang pinupulot ang huling gamit mula sa drawer ko, my brows slightly furrowed when I still couldn't find the box Tita Jada gave me earlier that morning.

Tita Jada already knew about me and Jacob. That was why she gave me a gift earlier when she picked Jayden up.

I was actually nervous about letting her know about our relationship, but Jacob assured me she would be delighted. In fact, she had been unusually happy about it—too happy. Like she had been waiting for it long before we even said anything out loud.

Simula nang malaman niya ang tungkol sa amin ni Jacob, mas naging malapit siya sa akin. Mas madalas ang pagbisita at ang pang-aasar niya kay Jacob.

Napailing ako nang bahagya, a small smile forming on my lips as the memory replayed in my mind.

When she picked Jayden up earlier, she clung to me the whole morning while waiting for him to get ready.

"Thea! Mi hija! How are you? Have you been well?" she exclaimed, her voice instantly filling the space as she walked straight toward me and pulled me into a tight hug.

Napatawa ako nang mahina sa biglaang pagyakap niya sa akin, my arms instinctively wrapping around her as I tried to steady myself.

"Good morning din po, Tita," I greeted softly.

From the side, I saw Jacob narrow his eyes at his mother.

"Ma, you literally saw her last week," he said, rolling his eyes.

"And?" she shot back immediately, not even letting go of me as she glanced at him. "Is there a rule now? May limit na ba kung ilang beses ko pwedeng makita si Alethea?"

Napailing si Jacob, crossing his arms as he looks at her. "You're being dramatic.

"Sabi ng anak kong hindi man lang ako binibisita," she replied, placing a hand over her chest as if deeply offended.

"Ma, you show up unannounced," Jacob deadpanned.

"Exactly. Initiative," she said proudly, lifting her chin slightly.

I had to bite back a smile as I listened to their banter. It reminded me so much of Jayden and Jacob—pareho silang makulit, parehong hindi magpapatalo.

Mabilis niyang ipinulupot ang braso niya sa braso ko bago niya ako hinila papunta sa sala, as if she had already claimed me for the day. Napasunod na lang ako, glancing back at Jacob who was now walking behind us, hands in his pockets.

She made me sit beside her on the sofa while she kept a firm hold on my arm, habang si Jacob ay nakatayo lang sa harap namin, watching us with a look that said he already knew how this would go.