Gavin
"Daddy, you're home!!!!"
I found my little daughter jumping up and down at the waiting area.
"Friends! That's my daddy!" She declared and the crowd around her cheered.
Puzzled, I turned to my mother who was with her. "Ma? Bakit sinama mo pa si Lily dito? At ano 'to?" Looking at the crowd of well-wishers, who I didn't know.
"Lily wanted to go with me to pick you up, anak. Hindi naman kami masyadong matagal naghintay. But while we were waiting, there was another baby who cried so Lily started singing for her," my Mom explained. "Tapos, hindi na siya tumigil. Nag-concert na and made friends with all these people."
"Yes, Daddy! They're nice! They clapped when I sang my songs," Lily said.
I laughed and hugged her. "I missed you!"
"I missed you, too, Daddy."
"But where's Mommy?"
Lily zipped her lips and threw the key away. "It's a secret. Mommy said Lily cannot tell you about your surprise date because-"
She was cut off when my mom covered her mouth.
"Ma?"
"Ha? Here's your car. Ride na. The driver will take you," she said, shoving me in.
"Kayo ni Lily?"
"We'll be on vacation."
"What? Ma!"
"Emma knows and she agreed. Bye, anak!"
Confused, I sat back and wondered what was going on. Just then, my phone rang. "By the way, anak. Your flat is locked. I lost the key and you can't get in."
"What? Ma? Saan ako matutulog?"
"Oh, I hope you guys don't sleep too much."
Lily's voice cut in. "Lola! Mommy says kailangan mag-sleep."
"Baby, shush. Cover your ears." There was some shuffling, then I heard Lily singing a song. "Anyway, anak..."
"Mama, anong nangyayari?"
"Basta. Condom, anak ha?"
"Ano?"
"Lola Mimi! I don't want to go to Daddy's condo!"
The line went dead.
What was happening?! Bakit magbabakasyon yung nanay ko with Lily kung kailan nakauwi na ako? At nasaan si Emma?
*
I arrived at Emma's house.
True enough, my condo unit was locked and I didn't have the spare key, which was with Emma. Good thing we had a date.
I miss her!
The past few months of being together have been fantastic. There were so many challenges, sure — making sure Emma felt special on her own, balancing time between her, Lily, the three of us, myself, my mom... madami! But, at the end of the day, sobrang saya ko.
Did we fight? Oo naman! Kahit naman nung hindi pa kami, nag-aaway kami. But, napapagusapan naman. And, after all that, we still like each other and respect each other and here we are!
"Emma?" I called out. The place was dimly lit. Two place settings were on the dining table and food was already on the console table. I found her getting something from the refrigerator. "Hi, Sweetheart! I'm home."
"Gavin!"
She rushed and hugged me tightly. "I missed you so much!"
"Namiss rin kita! Kayo. Pero siyempre, ikaw yung pinaka-miss ko."
Cupping her face, I stared into her eyes then kissed her forehead, cheek, nose... before I indulged in her lips.
"Gavin?"
"Yes, Emma?" I haven't let go of her face and kept giving her pecks.
"I - I want to do it."
"Do what?"
It was only then I realized she was just in a robe, which she untied and left to drop on the floor.
"Wait. Uh, Emma naman, ginugulat mo ako eh." I pulled away. Bakit ang init dito bigla. Huu hirap.
"I want you, Gavin."
"Emma-"
"I - I know it's been awhile. But, we were good before and I think naman marunong pa ako... yata... pero di ba you can guide me naman? And I still remember favorite mo when I suck -" she rambled.
"Em, wait." I sat at couch. Huu sakit sa puson.
Forlorn, she took her robe, covered herself then sat at the wing chair farthest from me.
"I'm sorry. I tried to read yung Art of Seduction but it was too long and I keep getting distracted so I just searched wikihow, but some of it I didn't agree with so I just... I just thought I'd ask."
I chuckled, "Wikihow?!"
"Don't laugh. I was desperate."
I pleaded for her to sit beside me and when she gave in, I gave her a big hug. "What didn't you agree with?"
She sighed before answering. "It said kasi don't always be available. Ayoko nun. I want you to know that I'd be available for you. Boyfriend kita and you're Lily's dad and all these years we've been partners it works because we're there for each other. Ayoko yung bigla akong mag-a-arte na hindi ako pwede when you ask me."
I kissed her. "Thank you. Meron pa ba?"
"Wag daw ako maging open book. Medyo huli na yun."
I chuckled again.
"Hay. I'm never going to be a goddess in bed," she lamented.
I laughed. "Ano?! You were from what I recall of the things we did."
She blushed.
I stroked her hair. "Hindi mo naman kasi kailangan ng tips to get me to sleep with you. I didn't want to pressure you into that. I also don't want you thinking that just because may anak na tayo, automatic ko ng hinihingi yun."
She looked grateful. "I know, Gavin, and I'm really thankful. I just... I want to make love to the one who owns my heart."
I was speechless.
"I know, we did it a lot before, but most of it was sex and we weren't really in love then. I just... please?"
"I adore you. Thank you for trying to seduce me, Sweetheart."
"I'm sorry I'm no good at it."
I kissed her and carried her to the bedroom. "Can I show you how effective it was?"
We got to dinner sometime during the night but most of the weekend was spent making love to my Emma.
—
Note: Epilogue next!
