Gavin
"But Daddy! I want to hear Lola Mimi's story!"
"The clay will mix, the end," I said.
Lily pouted and looked at her play-doh spread at her makeshift play area. "Daddy! I want to hear Lola Mimi's story!"
I rolled my eyes.
While I was battling my daughter and trying to get her to shift to another topic, I looked at Emma, who was chatting with my mother by the window. Emma held a box from my mother, who was explaining, "Hija! Almost four na si Lily, all this time behaved kayo ng Anak ko. Aba, mahirap yan. Nakaka-stress. There. Use that. My inaanak Melissa says it's big and long and hits the right spot."
Emma's face was red.
"Ma, ano yan."
My mother pulled out... well, it was a pleasure toy that look exactly like a male's certain body part.
My eyes widened, blocked their way and made sure Lily didn't see. Thankfully, Lily was still busy figuring out if she could make a baby with her neon green and orange play-doh, and asking Beary-Beary's help.
"O why?"
My mom has always been like this, buti nalang Emma was cool with it. I'm not ashamed of my Mom ha? Shhe just says what she wants to say without much of a filter and not everyone will appreciate that.
For the past few years, she's been like that with Emma, giving her books like "Sex after Baby" and now this toy.
When I was younger, after she discovered that I had those adult magazines, I was so scared about her punishment. The following day, she called me and said, "Women in those magazines are unrealistic. Not all women look like that. There are different shapes and sizes and they are all beautiful. If you will look at those types of magazines, get ones with women of various body types."
I was dismissed after that. Well, actually, she promised we'd have talk about the birds and bees after and she made certain I understood the pains women went through during childbirth. "So, you don't go around being a jerk or, I swear on your father's grave, I will be the one to exact punishment and you will not like it."
"I promise, Mama."
"And if you do it, dapat you take care of your partner."
When news of Lily arrived, yes she was cool about it, but don't get me wrong, she constantly reminded me of my responsibilities now. Also, there was that one moment when she whacked me over the head, "Sinabi ko na sa'yo na parating mag-condom eh."
"Mama naman!"
"Pasalamat ka, swerte ka kay Emma." Tapos, pinagkukurot ako. "Kapag ikaw umulit, babalutin ko yang buong pagkatao mo ng condom. Tingnan ko lang."
Back to today, I look at Emma and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, ang kulit ni Mama."
"Don't worry. You know I love your mom!" Emma assured.
My mom beamed. "Now, Emma. I got you batteries for this also so you can try it out tonight."
"Mama!"
"Shoo. You're not involved in this. If you were, I wouldn't need to buy her this toy. But since you're no kwenta --"
"Mama naman..."
"I'm kidding, my Love. But, please leave me and Emma alone. This is girl talk. Now, Emma. It works just like the real thing okay? You put it in -"
"Mama!!!!"
*
When I brought them home that night, Lily was already asleep, so we put her straight to her bed and Emma walked me out.
I awkwardly handed Emma the box from my mom. "Ah, sorry ulit. Alam mo naman si Mama makulit."
"Ano ka ba. But, umm, Gavin... tama yung mom mo. Four years na din since... don't you look for it?"
"I do. Pero ano... kaya naman. I-Ikaw?"
"Namimiss din. Don't you ever think about going for another fling?"
I chuckled. "Gusto mo bang katayin ako ng Nanay ko? No. Okay lang ako. I'll wait."
"Me too. I hope my next time is as great as all those times with you."
What she said took us back to the past, and as I inched closer to her, I realized I missed kissing her.
RIIIIIIIINNNNNGGGGGGGG!
"Ma! Ummm napatawag ka?" I answered on speaker as I was used to sharing her phone calls with Emma anyway.
Emma pulled away blushing.
"Anak, you think Emma will try the toy?"
