Forever and Always

Kabanata 17

Kabanata 17

"Oh, shit!" It was ate Ly's reaction when she saw Bela peacefully sleeping.

"A mini Bea?" Ate Den was clueless while she's looking at Bela. "Gosh, Bea?! Is this your kid?!"

I was clueless too. Bela has the same feature as mine. I felt like I was looking at a mirror.

"Kaninong anak 'to, Bea?!" Tanong ni Ate Ella.

"I.. uh, I don't know, okay?" I sighed.

Hinatid kasi ni Maddie yung family niya. And she left Bela with me. She said na kapag may nangyari kay Bela she'll broke up with me! God! Is she serious about that?!

"Seryoso, Bei? You look like her!" Ani Therese.

Bela woke up and she was about to cry but she stopped when she saw Jamie. Jamie went to her kaagad.

"Oh, hello, babu." Jamie said and carried Bela. "Where's your Momma?"

Bela just hugged Jamie. Wait, Jamie knew who's kid is this!

"Jamie?" I called her.

"Wait for Maddie." She said.

"What?"

"I know you'll gonna ask, Bea."

I sighed. Bigla namang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Maddie. All eyes on her.

"What?" She said. And, right there my teammates bomb her with questions.

"Who's kid is this?"

"Is it yours?"

"Why does she looks like Bea?"

"How old is she?"

"What's her name?"

"Wait up!" Maddie said. "Isa isa lang, okay?"

"Okay, okay." Ate Ly said. "Who's kid is this?"

Maddie smiled. "Mine."

Our jaw dropped except Jamie's. "What the hell, babe?!"

"What? It's true. Bela's my baby."

"Fuck shit?!"

She laughs. "Really, this kid is mine."

Hindi ko na alam kung ano iisipin ko sa sinabi ni Maddie. She has a baby na! For christ's sake!

"Sino ama?" Tanong ni Ate Ella.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA." It was Jamie. We looked at her. "Oops. Sorry."

Maddie laughs. "Kilala niyo."

"Maddie ha! Sasabunutan kita! Inunahan mo pa AlyDen!" Ani Ate Ella.

"Ikaw sasabunutan ko sa pinagsasasabi mo, besh!" Banta ni Ate Den.

"But, she really looks like Bea." Ate Amy butted in. "How'd that happened?"

Maddie smiled. "Because... it's Bea's daughter."

Our jaw dropped again. What the actual fuck? Did I heard it right? Bela's my daughter?

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA." It was Jamie again. "You guys should've seen your faces!"

"I-Is it t-true?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yes."

Oh my gosh? I have a daughter! Fuck! I really have!

"Babu, meet your Babba." Maddie said while Bela's looking at me.

I was so scared when she looked at me. Baka kasi she'll cry, but no. She giggles and she said, "Bab.. Bab." and clapped her hands.

"Carry her." Maddie said. "Go to Babba na babu."

My tear fell. Gosh, I have a daughter! As soon as I carried Bela, I kissed her forehead and hugged her. "I love you, babu."

That was the oldest memories I've got. Sa nagdaang taon, marami ng nagbago. Pati sarili naming bahay ay nagbago din ng disensyo.

"Kinuwentuhan mo nanaman si Bela, 'no?" Tanong ni Maddie habang nakatayo sa may pintuan.

Inayos ko na yung kumot ni Bela. Lumabas naman kami ni Mads sa may veranda, malamig na yung simoy ng hangin. Lalo na't papalapit na ang Pasko. Iba pa rin talaga kapag sa probinsya ka nakatira. Sariwa yung hangin mapa-umaga man o gabi. Napayakap naman ako kay Maddie nung biglang umihip ng malakas hangin.

"Time flies so fast talaga." I told her.

"Yeah. Parang kailan lang, bab bab lang tawag sayo ni Bela." She laughs.

"You and Bela are the best thing that ever happened in my life."

"And you're the best choice I've ever made."

I hugged her tighter. Oh, God. I am so inlove with my wife.

"This is the life na gusto ko talaga." I said. "Peaceful and happy life."

She smiled. "Alam ko, Bea."

"But, do you think that I have been a good father to Bela?" I asked her. ".. 'cos you know, I am not that dad who sits on the floor with her playing barbie dolls for hours."

She held my hand. "It's fine, kasi you excel naman when watching cartoons and playing video games. And masaya ako na, makita na naglalaro kayo mg volleyball."

"Volleyball was our life." I said. "Remember when I first saw Bela? I thought she'll gonna cry but she didn't and I knew in the momemnt, she will hold my heart forever."

"I missed her, when she was a baby pa.." She said and went to Bela's bed. "I couldn't sleep for looking at her kasi she's gonna cry asking for milk." She chuckles. ".. but now? When I see her asleep, I still picture her curled up in footie pajamas."

"You know what Bela always says? 'Oh, I got the best mom!'" I imitates our daughter. Maddie chuckles. "But, I do remember din what she told about me, 'My dad? She'll makes stupid jokes and sings off-key and acts sillier than I am. And I wouldn't trade her for the entire world.' Gosh, what did I do in my past life to deserve you both?"

Maddie smiled wholeheartedly. "I love you both so much more than I could ever explain."

I smiled. "I want to slay all the dragons and breathe fire on anyone who dares to hurt you both."

"I know, you'll be the best babba." She said.

"Sana mamana ni Bela ugali mo."

"That's for sure, Bea."

I laughed. "But please, not the part na magiging habulin anak natin."

"Why? She have the genes of De Leon - Madayag."

"Ayokong sumakit ulo ko, babe." I said. "Sapat ng ikaw lang nagpasakit ng ulo ko dahil sa selos."

She chuckles, "Babe, Bela looks like you. Marami maghahabol diyan."

"No. Not until she turns 30."

"What? 30? Bea naman!"

"That's my rule, babe."

"Gosh, uugod ugod na tayo nun!"

"Basta, 30."

"Strict masydo ha?"

"Ganon din naman sayo."

"Beach tayo?"

"Kasama ba lady eagles?

"Yes."

"Okay, we'll go." I said. "But you won't bring two piece."

"What? Why?"

"No two piece, Madeliene Yrenea Madayag-de Leon."

"Beach pupuntahan natin, Beatriz!"

"Momma, Babba, please shut up. I'm sleeping." Bela butted in. Napatingin naman kami ni Maddie sa kanya.

"Gosh, Maddie nga ugali." And I laughed. "Bawal ka magtwo piece, Maddie. Baka magkagulo tayo doon. Let's sleep."