Lipstick Lullaby

Chapter Forty

MIGS

I hardly had any sleep last night. I couldn't find a comfortable position, my whole body was aching and the flies were swarming around me like I was a tasty treat to them. I took a quick shower early in the morning and thought of making breakfast for the whole family while everyone was still asleep. I ran to the wet market nearby and bought us food to eat and went back to cook it.

"Migs..." Narinig ko ang boses ni Saskia mula sa likod ko. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo d'yan?"

"I'm just trying to cook breakfast for you and your family." I said.

"Ako na d'yan." She offered.

"No, I want to cook for everyone. You'll love what I'm going to make."

"Nagluluto ka na ngayon?" She leaned against the table.

"Yes, ma'am. I learned a lot when Savina came into my life. I had to learn how to make food for my daughter, how to fix her hair, how to dress her up, how to fit PTA meetings into my schedule." I chuckled.

"Alam mo, Migs, siguro nga marami akong pwedeng masabi sa'yo bilang lalaki pero wala akong masasabing masama sa'yo bilang ama ng anak natin. Hindi mo talaga pinabayaan si Savina. Nakikita kong maganda ang pagpapalaki mo sa kanya." Sabi niya.

"Thank you." I couldn't help but smile. "I just want nothing but the best for our daughter."

"Anim na buwan lang siya noong ibinigay ko siya sa'yo. Ngayon anim na taon na siya." I could sense the sadness in her voice even though she tried to mask it. "Hindi ko siya nakitang lumaki. Wala ako sa tabi niya para gabayan siya. Masama ba akong ina, Migs?"

"No..." I shook my head. I paused and looked at her. "You did what you had to do, Saskia. I understand you now more than I did before. Nakikita ko sa'yo si Mama. She had to leave Coco and Audrey behind for me when I was a child. Naaalala ko tuwing pasko at tuwing birthday ng kambal, tinatago man niya sa akin iyon pero alam kong palagi niyang iniiyakan si Coco at Audrey. I... I was really convinced you were just after the money and that you were using our child. And that you wanted nothing to do with Savina that's why you left her."

I felt ashamed at my own confession, at myself for thinking so lowly of Saskia. 

"Hindi namin kita masisisi. Eh bago mo ako ibinahay, dancer lang naman ako sa pipistuging club. Ganyan naman tingin ng mga tao sa akin noon. Mababaw. Mababa ang lipad. Anak ng pokpok at future pokpok." She let out a deep sigh.

"Don't say that." I shook my head, my eyes softening as I looked at her. "You are the mother of my twins, you understand? You're a wonderful woman and you raised Tintin to be the smart girl she is now."

She swallowed and then looked away from me. "O s'ya, pagtuunan mo na lang ng pansin yang niluluto mo. Baka masunog pa yan. Maliligo lang muna ako para paggising ng kambal pakakainin ko na lang sila."

I nodded my head and went back to cooking. I cooked omelette, bacon, and pancake for the kids. As I was putting the plate on the table, Saskia got out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around her. My eyes couldn't help but graze over her body. Her curves had only blossomed with time and childbirth. Realizing what I was doing, I lifted my eyes back up to her face.

"Biglang nawalan ng tubig sa banyo." She said with a frown.

"Bakit?" I asked.

"Ganito talaga dito. Bigla-biglang nawawalan ng tubig. Sandali nga lang, mag-iigib ako." She said.

"Saan ka mag-iigib?" I curiously asked.

"Doon pa sa poso sa labas."

"Lalabas kang naka-ganyan?" My eyes lowered to her body.