The Second Bride on the List

Chapter 39

She could hear a baby's happy gurgle...

It definitely sounds like a baby chuckling...

It sounds like...

"Zitti!" she woke up shouting the baby's name. She turned to her crib to see her happily reaching for her mobile toys.

It has been 3 days since Zitti was discharged from the hospital, and Alyssa has almost successfully battled and silenced her internal tormentor. She tries hard not to feel anything if she finds Kiefer and Sarah talking to each other. She tries hard to rationalize the situation.

It's not easy, but for her peace of mind...

She was about to stand up when she felt Kiefer's arm around her waist. She tried to remove his arm gently but to no avail. "Don't go," Kiefer murmured in his sleep. She turned and played with his hair, "Zitti needs her milk." Kiefer just hugged her tighter. "I need you," he murmured. Alyssa kissed him, and said, "Gutom na malamang ang anak mo." She tapped him on his chest, and stood up.

"What time daw sabi ni Sarah uwi niya?" Kiefer asked, lazily stretching on bed. "Umaga daw e... I don't have work, so pwede ako ang magbantay," Alyssa said, shaking the bottle and handing it to Zitti. "Bonding tayo, ano, wittle Zitti-boo!" she cooed, and the baby happily sucked on her bottle.

Kiefer stood up and hugged her from behind, "In a way, blessing si Zitti sa atin." Alyssa turned around and faced him, and Kiefer drew her closer, "We get to be a family, and I get to enjoy you." He started nibbling on her neck, and Alyssa gently pushed him away. "May work ka pa, harot na naman sa isip mo," she chided him, and he grabbed her by the waist. "Bakit ang sungit mo umagang-umaga? Magkakaroon ka na ba?" he joked, and Alyssa slapped him by the arm, and pushed herself away from him.

She turned her focus on Zitti, and prepared her stuff for bathing. Kiefer went back to bed, and lazily looked at her, "I want this life... You preparing our baby's bath, then we'll have our breakfast, then maybe make love before I go to work..."

Alyssa shook her head. That seems to be a beautiful dream. "How about you preparing our breakfast while I'm bathing the baby?" she chuckled, "Hindi 'yung puro higa ka, mister ko."

Kiefer laughed. Mister ko. That's the most romantic admission he could have from her. "What if-"

Sarah burst into the door, and face flushed, announced, "I think... I think mapapaaga ang alis ko sa Dubai..."

Kiefer sat up and raised a brow, "So kelan na nga?"

"In four months... I'm ... I'm leaving in four months...," she blurted in disbelief. Alyssa was frozen, then forced herself to talk, "Si ... Si Zitti? Paano na si Zitti...?"

Sarah dropped her head, "Sa... Sa inyo na muna... Until masabi ko kina Mama and Papa about Zitti..."

"Alam na namin 'yan," Alyssa sighed, "Ang tanong is kung paano si Zitti habang wala ka? Kami na lang magde-desisyon sa kanya? Yung formula? Yung check up?"

Sarah shrugged, "Siguro. Hindi naman pwede all the time na itatanong niyo sa akin ang mga bagay na 'yan..."

Alyssa stared at Sarah in disbelief, "Sa?!? Okay ka lang?"

Sarah shook her head, "Ang importante, may tiwala ako sa inyo..."

Zitti started to fuss, and Alyssa hurriedly picked her up, and cooed, "Ay, maliligo na ang prinsesa?" She reached for a towel, and stepped outside the room, leaving Kiefer and Sarah in the room.

"So... Paano ka na dun?" Kiefer asked, and Sarah just shrugged. "I'll manage. Nahanapan ako ng trabaho ni Papa. I'll be a secretary sa isang construction firm. Better that than sa buhay ko ngayon...," she muttered.