"Come on, Addie. Eat this na." For the nth time, Nadine tried to feed his stubborn 3 year old daughter.
"No! I want daddy!" Her daughter huffed and crossed her arms.
"Daddy's working, my love. Just eat this already so that daddy will be happy, okay? He'll come home naman tomorrow."
"No! I don't like to eat if daddy's not here! I want daddy, not you. I hate you!"
Nadine froze.
"Nadine Alessandra, that's not good. Hating on people is not good. Daddy will be mad when he finds out about this." Nadine tried to keep her voice calm.
Her daughter started crying.
"I just want to see my dad."
Nadine rubbed her daughter's back and wiped her tears. Nadine reassured her. "I know, love. Stop crying na. I'm sorry. Daddy will be home tomorrow."
After Nadine comforted Addie, she finally calmed down.
"Do you want milk?
"Yes please."
After Nadine gave her daughter milk, she laid her down on the bed and after a few minutes, she finally dozed off to sleep.
Nadine went on with her nightly routine then she watched a few episodes of a new tv series.
She was about to sleep when her phone rang.
*Bumbum calling*
Nadine smiled.
"Hi, love." James greeted her.
"Hi, love." Nadine said and yawned.
"Oh, you look really tired. You should sleep now. I'm sorry for calling."
"No, no. It's okay. It's early pa naman."
"But you look tired."
Nadine sighed. "Hay, oo I'm tired dahil sa anak mo."
Nadine tilted her phone so that Jamed could see their daughter who was now sleeping tightly.
"Anak ko? Anak ko lang?"
"Oo anak mo lang pag may tantrums." Nadine grinned.
"Aw, come on we made that child! And love, don't forget that you also have tantrums especially when you're hungry and... It happens like almost all the time." James grinned.
"Che! Sige na nga, anak na natin to."
James chuckled. "Anyways, why was she having tantrums?"
Nadine shrugged. "Ewan, papakainin ko sana ng dinner eh bigla na lang sumigaw ng "I want daddy!" This morning din, she didn't want to take a bath, she was too engrossed with this cartoon show. And guess what, she said she hates me."
Nadine sighed.
"Oh? I'm sorry. I'm going to talk to her tomorrow." James frowned.
"Sige."
"Anyway love, last question na lang since you really look tired and sleepy already. What do you want for pasalubong?"
"Naku! Wala! Just you... just come home safe okay na ako."
James grinned. "You really miss me huh?"
"Obvious ba?" Nadine chuckled.
"Sige na, you should sleep na. I miss you. I can't wait so see you and Addie. And oh I almost forgot... You still owe me 3 rounds of---"
"James! Addie's here!" Nadine cut him off.
"But she's sleeping."
"Ewan ko sa'yo! Sige na I'm gonna sleep na. Good night, James. I love you."
"Good night. I love you."
-
Nadine opened her eyes and found James quietly laying down on his side of the bed. "Love?"
"Ssshhh, go back to sleep. It's still early."
Nadine checked the time. 4:30 am.
Nadine smiled contentedly and went back to sleep.
-
When Nadine woke up again, she found James staring at her and their daughter still sleeping peacefully.
"Hi, love."
Nadine wasn't able to reply because she suddenly felt nauseous. She covered her mouth while rushing to the bathroom. She crouched down to the toilet and vomited.
James followed her shortly. He held her hair and rubbed her back.
"Love, are you okay?" James asked as soon as Nadine finished puking.
Nadine walked to the sink and washed her face before she replied to James. "Yes, love. This is normal."
"What? Normal? Love, are you sick?"
Nadine faced James who was looking so nervous.
"Ah, it's because... James... I... "
"Nadine? You're making me nervous."
"I'm pregnant!" That made James' jaw drop.
"Really?"
Nadine nodded.
"Oh my god! You're pregnant!" James said cheerfully and pulled Nadine into a hug.
Jamed lifted Nadine and spun her around. Nadine giggled.
"James, nahihilo na ako."
"Oh, sorry sorry."
They walked to the living room and sat down on the couch. James automatically put his arm on Nadine's shoulders.
"When did you find out?"
"The day after you left for Japan."
"Did you go to the doctor already?"
"Not yet. This weekend pa schedule ko."
"Alright. Does Addie know already?"
Nadine shook her head. "Ikaw pa lang ang nakakaalam."
"I hope it's a boy this time."
"Really? Gusto mo ng boy?"
"Yep!"
"What if it's still a girl?"
"It's okay. I don't mind as long as our baby's healthy."
"I love you, James. Thank you."
"No. Thank you, Nadine. Thank you for carrying our children. It's definitely one of the toughest jobs out there but I know you're strong and you can manage everything unbelievably well. If only I could carry it for you, I would. But you know that even if I couldn't, you can share with me your pain. I'll always be here for you, okay? I love you."
"Stop it, James! You're making me cry."
Nadine started sobbing.
"I'm sorry." James hushed Nadine.
"So, 2 down, 4 more to go?"
"What?"
"2 babies achieved, 4 more to go!" James grinned.
"Che! Di ko pa nga nailalabas to. Ikaw kaya magdala at maglabas ng baby, kala mo siguro madali lang ha."
Nadine stuck her tongue out.
"I can wait though."
James waggled his brows.
"Oo na, sige na."
"Yes! Finally!" Jamed cheered and raised his arms.
Nadine snuggled closer to James. She found James' smell really comforting.
"I love you, James."
"I love you, Nadine. And I love you, baby #2." James crouched down and kissed Nadine's tummy.
---
