After All This Time

Tested Positive.

Patrice's POV

"Kelan ang kasal?"

It's been a week since we went on a vacation at balik na ulit sa personal lives namin. Ricci's busy with his clearances and graduation practices. Ako naman, sa pag-aasikaso ng business ko at pag-aasikaso kay Ryle. Medyo nagiging challenge na kahit papano ang pag-aalaga sa kanya kasi medyoo nagiging mas makulit na siya as the days pass by. Sabi naman ni tita Abi at ni mommy, normal lang naman daw ito kasi lumalaki si Ryle.

Bumisita kami ni Ryle dito sa bahay nila Ricci sa San Juan. Naiwan kasi si tita dito pati si Allen, Ashton, at Riley. Napapadalas na kasi ang pagpunta ni tito Paolo sa Athlete's Den ngayong bakasyon kasi dumadami ang clients niya. Tita and I are both here sa kitchen, preparing dinner.

"Wala pa po kaming exact date, tita. Balak po kasi namin ni Ricci na tapusin muna yung graduation niya. Tapos inaayos ko pa rin po yung stability ng business ko dun sa Singapore. Medyo okay naman na po yung mga napag-iwanan kong board of directors kaya kahit papano po settled na rin."

Ngumiti si tita sakin at hinawakan ang magkabilang braso ko.

"I'm so proud sa inyong dalawa ni Ricci, anak."

"Thank you po tita. Pero alam niyo po, a lot of people are saying na ang bata pa daw namin to get married."

"Don't mind those people na lang. As long as wala kayong tinatapakang tao, it's all good. And the both of you are stable na naman in this point of your lives. So I don't see any problem with marriage."

I nodded. We are still young pa nga to get married siguro. Pero alam ko naman sa sarili ko na I have provided na for my own family in this age. Wala naman sigurong masama kung I would start my own family na di ba? Tama si tita Abi. As long as wala kaming nasasaktan or natatapakang tao sa mga gagawin namin, then I guess wala namang problema dun.

After preparing dinner, saktong dumating si kuya Prince from his training tapos si tito Paolo naman ang kasunod. Kuya Rasheed texted na pauwi na rin daw siya kaya I called Ricci. After a few rings, sinagot niya ito.

"Babe, I'm driving. 20 minutes and I'm home na."

"What the? Babe, why did you answer if you're driving pala?! Mahuhuli ka pa niyan eh! Sige na. I'll wait for you. Take care, I love you."

"Hahaha. Okay okay, hang up na. I love you too babe."

Binaba ko na yung tawag at sinabi kela tita na parating na rin si Ricci.

After a couple of minutes, dumating na rin siya and we ate dinner. Napuno ng kwentuhan at tawanan ang dinner namin. Ganito naman talaga sa family nila Ricci. Same lang din actually sa family ko na maingay at masaya lagi kapag kakain kami. After eating, each one of us went to do our own thing. Tita Abi and Tito Paolo went to their room to rest na. Ricci, kuya Prince, and kuya Rasheed went to their room to play sa PS4. Nagpaalam pa nga si Ricci kung pwede daw ba. Pumayag ako kasi I know he misses playing with his brothers dahil sobrang busy na rin nila at bihirang magkasabay-sabay na umuwi dito sa bahay nila sa San Juan. While me, Ryle, and Ashton went to the guest room. Dito kasi ang kwarto namin kapag dito kami nags-stay.

Habang nililinisan at pinapalitan ko ng diaper si Ryle, nilalaro siya ni Ashton.

"Achi, mahirap ba mag-alaga ng baby?"

"Nung una, oo. Ryle is our first baby kaya nung una nahirapan talaga ako. Pero as the years pass by, parang nasanay na rin ako."

"Really? So it must be so hard for mom ba alagaan kami?"

"Oo naman, baby boy. Kaya dapat lagi mo pinapa-feel kay mom na love and nirerespect mo siya. Okay?"

Tumango lang yung bata.