Emma
First thing we did? Errands.
We had to get groceries for both our homes, then Lily's stuff. By the time we finished, we expected that her time at the play area is up because that usually is only for an hour. But Tita Amelia called, "Hi! Nag-extend ng 30 minutes si Lily. Tapos I want to take her to a shop muna. Mamaya na tayo magkita."
"Saan shop, Ma? Puntahan namin kayo?" Gavin asked.
"Sa... ummm panaderia."
"Meron dito sa mall?" I chimed in.
"Oo. Tago. Sa corner corner lang." Tita Amelia said but a little voice could be heard at the background. "Where's that, Lola Mimi? How's Mommy and Daddy? Are they falling in love like in the cartoons na?"
"Shhh."
"Ma, nasaan kayo?"
"Ano? Anak? Choppy. Anak? I can't hear you. Hello —" the line was cut.
Gavin looked apologetic. "Mukhang gusto pa nila mag-bonding. Okay lang ba? Nagmamadali ka ba umuwi?"
"No. It's okay. Wala namang pasok si Lily tomorrow. Are you in a rush?" I asked.
"No naman. Ummm, you want to wait sa isang restaurant? Or coffee shop?"
We agreed on coffee. As he was in line waiting for our orders, I sat nervously. Counted ba ito na date?! OA ba na kinakabahan ako kahit may anak na kami?
Handing over my coffee, he said, "Here, Sweetheart."
"Napapadalas na yang pag 'sweetheart' mo ha?"
He chuckled. "Sorry. I like calling you that eh, kahit dati pa."
"Why that though?"
"It's the only one that calmed you during labor."
I was confused. Siyempre all I could remember then was the pain and worry for my baby's safety.
Gavin shared, "It was our final two hours and I knew you were tired and in terrible pain. Iyak ka na ng iyak and all I could do was keep talking to you."
"I'm so sorry about this, my Darling - you screamed. Thank you for carrying the baby, Love - you almost slapped me."
I covered my mouth. "Oh shoot. I'm sorry, Gavin."
"Don't be! Anyway, I finally said, you're so brave, Sweetheart. Lily is almost here — and you said, thank you for staying with me. I've loved that endearment since then. Ayoko lang i-overuse kasi baka ayaw mo naman."
I was speechless but extremely touched.
"So," Gavin started. "Pogi pala ako ha?"
"Oh shut it, Gavin."
"What? Lily said eh. Is she lying?"
I shook my head, reluctantly.
"So, pogi nga ako for you."
"Gavin," I warned.
He chuckled. "I'm happy eh! Sue me." When I didn't respond, he asked, "Emma? Do you ever wonder... Why didn't we ever... try to be together?"
"I've been wondering that lately," I admitted. "Maybe because we kinda were togther to some extent? We had to be partners because of Lily. And I guess, we just never consciously put an effort to defining and building something just for us."
"Then, we started dating other people," he said.
"Oo. And there was a part of me that thought you and I will exist lang talaga for Lily. Part of me is also scared."
"Of what?"
"That if we don't work out, we're going to ruin what we have now and break our Lily's heart and I didn't want to risk it."
He was quiet. When he opened his mouth to say something, a voice called out to him, "Daddy, I won a prize!!! Mommy, I won!!! Look!"
Lily ran to where we were and showed us the pink bear she had. "Lola Mimi and Lily played the claw game at the arcade!"
"Ma! Ang bata pa ni Lily!"
"Dun naman siya sa mga games na parang sa mga carnival! Not on those gun games!" Tita Amelia replied, defensively.
"Yes, Daddy. Si Lola Mimi yung nag-play ng baril barilan."
I laughed at Gavin's horrified face.
"I didn't look, Daddy. Naka turn yung back ko and nagsit lang kami ni Beary Pinky on Lola Mimi's lap."
Oh, so Beary Pinky ang name nitong new bear. "Lil, don't you want another name for the bear?"
"No. I want Beary Pinky. And magsleep siya beside Beary Beary, Caty Caty and DoggyDogDog."
We laughed. "Let's go na. Lola Mimi and Daddy must be tired. Ikaw din, you need rest."
"Can we have dinner all kasama first, Mommy? I miss Daddy."
I looked at Gavin, questioningly.
"Of course! Let's go. Daddy will cook."
*
Lily likes Gavin's spaghetti so she patiently waited for him to finish the sauce. To help, I set the table and cooked the pasta noodles.
Then, I watched.
Ang gwapo, gwapo ni Gavin when he's cooking. "Hay so pogi," I whispered.
My thoughts were interrupted by giggling behind me. Tita Amelia and Lily were watching me swoon over Gavin.
"Sweetheart, could you check if the sauce tastes fine?" Gavin asked.
He would call me this endearment and I just melt, especially now that I know why he calls me this.
He took a spoonful, blew it and dipped his pinky to check the temperature. When it was cooled down enough, he took a bigger sample with his finger, offered it to me which I promptly sucked on.
"M- masarap?" He asked, panting.
I nodded, not taking my eyes off his lips.
"Em-"
"LOLA MIMI, WHY ARE YOU COVERING MY EYES!!!! Lola Mimi, it's dark!"
We turned to see Tita Amelia blocking Lily from us and moving her to the direction of the rooms. "Let's go play first! Mommy and Daddy need alone time."
"But I'm hungry!"
"They'll finish soon." When Lily was inside, Tita Amelia turned back. "Anak, you need to loosen the apron. May buma-bakat."
Gavin cussed.
"LOLA, WHAT'S 'BAKAT'?"
