Trigger

69

Vincent Alexander

"Tito Vincent, do you love me?"

It was little Jade who pulled me back to reality. Hindi pa rin kasi ako makapaniwalang tinanggap ulit ako ng mga Sandoval at ngayon nga ay lahat kami ay nasa hapag at kumakain ng walang nagbabarilan. Then again, Third was away so I had to chalk up the barilan thing for later when he comes back.

"Ofcourse baby, Tio loves you big time." Hindi ko napigilang mapangiti sa bata at pisilin ng marahan ang pisngi niya.

She was the one who welcomed me first when we arrived and clung on to me and told me that she missed me so who was I to refuse such sweet kid?

I looked over everyone then at my wife who was seated beside me. Kahit hindi ko man tignan sa harapan ko ay alam kong binibigyan ako ni Marj ng eyerolls every now and then. I think that if she could, she would hit me with her baseball bat for real. She was the most disappointed at Julianne and I, when she said and I quoted 'Nagpauto ka nanaman ate sa lalakeng iyan'. I get that I would have more of that in the coming days, pero ano naman, I was at my happiest with her sister at wala siyang magagawa doon.

Though the commotion when we arrived was pacified, I knew that I had to talk to Senator Sandoval still. Hindi pa rin niya ako kinikibo at isang malamig na titig lang ang ibinigay niya sa akin kanina lalo pa at nangunahan na si Lola Maggie na wala pwedeng magsisimula ng gulo kundi ay magtatampo siya at nagbanta pang hindi magpapakita habang buhay.

Raven seemed to also divert all of their attention towards her after that kaya nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Tuwang-tuwa ang lahat sa kanya lalo na ang mga magulang ni Julianne. They cried when they first held her and I was pretty sure that they were won by our niña's beautiful doe eyes.

"Tito why hindi ka pumupunta dito noon?" Jade held both my cheeks at may hinanakit ang kanyang boses. "Mommy Victoria was super sad. I also thought you were mad at me because I lost all my upper teeth teeth kaya hindi ka na rin pumupunta. How come you only came here once? You should have seen mommy Victoria, she was always crying!"

I was lost for words as I looked at her innocent eyes then at my wife who was busy feeding Raven then back at her. Ano ba ang dapat kong sabihin? I think I also broke Jade's heart...fuck. I was such a fuck up.

"Jade....I'm sorry I made you sad. That will never happen again, and no it was not because you lost all your upper teeth. I happen to think that you look lovely with or without the teeth. I'm also sorry for making your mommy Victoria sad. I promise that she will never and you will never have to feel that way again because of me."

Unti-unti na siyang ngumiti, showing me her gums and if anything, my heart melted when she kissed my cheek.

"I know you won't. I love you, daddy Alex."

Fuckkk. I think I just blushed, this niña just took a piece of my heart at sigurado akong hindi lang si Raven ang babantayan ko like a hawk kapag naging teenagers na sila. I kissed Jade's forehead as she clung onto my neck. Napansin kong nakatitig sa amin si Julianne kaya nginitian ko siya.

"Never had I imagined you to become this...paternal. Hindi halata. There must be hope for you, after all." It was Marj who commented.

"Well, thanks, for noticing, Margaery. I guess...people evolve." I grinned at her in which she reciprocated with another eye roll that I think if she did again,her eye sockets would get stuck at the insides of her face.

"Bueno. We shall see. Just take good care of my sister and niece and we're good."

Tinanguan ko siya.