When Will You Realize? (Reese Aaron Uy & Aaliyah Scarlett Lim)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

"You're not forgetting something, aren't you?" tanong ni Madison, obviously trying to point out about his arrival. 

Hilong-hilo na ako sa gutom and the fact that I had been chasing Juan the moment he woke up today. 

Gian Oliver Laude calling... 

He turned on the video call feature. 

"Iyah, our litol baby wants Mcdonald's. What should I do?" bungad ni Gian. He kept looking back and forth on the screen and then to Juan, contemplating whether he's going to give Juan what he wants or not. 

"Where you guys at?" tanong ko. I heard Juan saying Mcdo in the background. Tiningnan ko si Madi and she side-eyed me, looking guilty. My cousins and siblings agreed not to give Juan junk foods until he's 7, if not, 5. Madi forgot about it all and gave Juan a taste of Mcdo chicken. 

Oliver seemed to notice I was glaring at Madi and so he started laughing and teasing Madi, "It's Tita Madi's fault for introducing unhealthy fast food to a three-year old kid," 

"Sorry, okay? I didn't know we're not supposed to introduce fast food to him!" sabi niya at nag-sad face sa gilid. 

"We all agreed not to feed him unhealthy foods. You were there, Mads," sabi ko, "I'm so sorry. I forgot about it!" 

"We're around the corner, though. I pulled over because I saw a Mcdonald's signage," sabi ni Gian. Juan started throwing tantrums over Mcdonald's. Tinanggal ni Gian yung seatbelt niya para kuhanin si Juan at yakapin, "Baby, it's bedtime na. You can't eat Mcdo before you sleep. Promise, we'll get Mcdo tomorrow morning, okay?" 

Juan rested his head on Gian's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. I bit my lip and started tearing up. Ang bilis kong maiyak kapag nakakakita ako ng umiiyak. I seriously just wanted to give in and get that kiddie meal for him. 

"Baby, promise we'll be getting Mcdo kiddie meal for you first thing in the morning, okay? We'll go for Mcdo run. For now, go home and sleep because it's pretty late na," sabi ko. He faced the phone screen, looking at me with his twinkling puppy eyes, "Pwomise?" 

"Yes, promise. For now, uwi na kayo ni Daddy mo ha? I'll see you at home," sabi ko at tumango si Juan, "Love you, Mommy,"

 

"Mahirap pala maging batang ama. I'm starting to think if this is what my parents felt whenever I threw a tantrum as a kid," seryosong sabi ni Gian at tumawa kami ni Madi, "Come on, Oli. You're not bata, you're 30!"

"I'm just 26, Leila Madison de Valle. I'm literally just a year older than you," depensa ni Gian, "Iyah's only 24! You're old, Gian Oliver Laude!" 

Natigil na sila dahil nakatulog na 'daw si Juan sa pag-iyak. He sent a message before he took off. 

Gian Oliver Laude:

Btw, you need to see this cute Juan  

I played the clip. Gian was holding the phone “Mommy said no Mcdo". Juan crossed his arms, looking in front. He turned his gaze to Gian, “Did Mommy really say that? Please call her,” 

He attached a photo of Juan pouting with his arms crossed. I laughed so hard, sending it to the family's group chat. 

"I can't get used to having a baby Juan in our lives. Doesn't he look like Gian a lot?" tanong ni Miggy, smiling. Tumawa si Kuya Mike, “I know right. Si Gian yata pinaglihian,”