After almost 20 years of being married (properly), you'd think a lot would have changed by now. But she and Mika were still as inseparable as they used to. Their love just grew even more as years went by.
They were by the pool, Mika's feet were dangling in the water while she was lying down, her head on Mika's lap. The cool afternoon breeze was perfect and the clouds were covering the sun just right.
"I can't wait to see Ky play for Ateneo," she said with a smile on her face, eyes closed in contentment.
"What are you talking about? Ky's playing for La Salle," Mika replied immediately which made her frown.
This would be the first time they would actually be arguing about which school their daughter should go to.
When Ky was a kid, Ky was so fond of her Tita Bea that Ky wanted to go to "Puhvehduh" as Ky liked to say it back then. So they sent her there. But now, Ky was already in her last year of senior high and when they asked where she wanted to go for college, Ky said she was fine with Ateneo or La Salle so Ky wanted them to decide it for her.
She opened her eyes slowly and saw Mika was already staring at her while her left hand was playing with her hair.
"Come on, Babe, Ateneo is the better school for her. Ateneo excels in both academic and sports program."
Mika's forehead creased.
"So does La Salle."
"Yeah, but academic-wise, we both know it's UP and Ateneo that's competing at the top. And my daughter-"
"Our daughter."
"Is a proud bookworm," she said ignoring her wife's correction. "She probably would choose UP if UP had a better sports program. So Ateneo is what would suit her best. Plus, she's a Valdez. Ateneo will take good care of her."
Mika stopped playing with her hair and crossed her arms.
"She's also a Reyes and La Salle will do even better in taking care of our daughter," Mika argued. "Besides, you should give Ky some room to breathe. Let her get out of your shadow."
She sat up then and puffed her chest out in pride as she will repeat again a news article segment she already knew by heart.
"Ky's no longer in my shadow nor yours, Babe. Remember, 'With power spikes and blocking skills that could rival both of her parents when they were still in college, universities are already lining up to get Mikyla Valdez-Reyes on their team," she recited.
Mika chuckled before giving her a peck on the cheek. She moved closer to Mika and put an arm around Mika's waist while resting her lips on Mika's shoulder.
"She truly is incredible, Babe," Mika said proudly. "Best opposite spiker and second best blocker."
"Of course! She's my daughter!"
"Our daughter!"
"And I'm still a bit put off that they didn't give her the best blocker award just because she wasn't a middle blocker even when stats showed she had the highest blocking accuracy," she ranted.
"Babe, let it go. Ky did not dwell on it. We shouldn't too. And we're getting off topic," Mika said before kissing her on the forehead.
