Taped-Up Heart

IX. Our Baby

Chapter Nine

Our Baby

"She's so cute, right?" Duane asked, he was all smiles at me! My god, ano ba ang mayroon sa baboy na 'yon na wala ako?! Paano niya nagagawang pangitiin ang isang Duane Pardo de Tavera?!

"Hey, Asia... ang cute niya, 'di ba?" he asked as he was still smiling cutely at me!

I nodded—medyo napipilitan. "Oo, sobrang cute," I told him.

Siya naman 'yung cute hindi 'yung baboy. The pig looked... okay, I guess? Normal na laruan. Ano ba kasi ang nakikita ni Duane sa baboy na 'yon at parang in love na in love talaga siya? Simula talaga nung pumasok kami sa arcade hanggang sa napanalunan niya na, hindi niya pa rin iniaalis hanggang ngayon 'yung tingin niya sa letseng baboy na 'yun. Ugh, epal ng piggy na 'yon!

Feeling ko nga weirdo na talaga ang tingin nung mga staffs kanina sa arcade kay Duane, kinakausap niya kasi talaga iyong baboy!

He glanced at me. "What should I name her?"

"Her?" I unbelievably asked. "Babae 'yan?!"

He glared at me. What? Parang kasalanan ko pa? "Asia, you're offending my babe."

I unbelievably looked at him. "Babe?!"

He nodded and smiled. "What should I name her?"

I frowned. "Ewan ko sa 'yo," sabi ko at umuna na ako paglakad papunta sa kotse niya. Halos kami na lang dalawa 'yung tao sa mall! Talaga kasing hindi siya tumitigil hangga't hindi niya nakukuha ang baboy na 'yon.

"I know na," he said as he tried to catch up with my pace. I ignored him. "I shall name her Duasia."

I stopped walking. "What?"

"Duane and Asia."

"What?" I asked again.

"Her name's Duasia from our names, Duane and Asia. She's our babe."

"You named that pig after me?" I asked, feeling offended.

"Yeah..." he said. The side of his lips rose. Such a precious smile. "She's our kid."

Natigilan ako. Kung may iniinom siguro ako or kinakain, kanina pa akong nabulunan. The hell? Why would he say something like that? "What the?"

He looked at the stuffed toy pig and held its cute little hands. He moved it to wave at me. "Hey, baby Duasia, say hi to your mommy Asia."

Pakiramdam ko kasingpula na ako ng kamatis ngayon dahil sa mga sinasabi niya! Ano ba ang nakain nitong si Duane at nag-iibang anyo yata siya kapag nakakakain noon? My god, mommy Asia?!

"You wanna hold our baby?" he asked as he was handing me that freaking pig.

I accepted it. I could still feel my cheeks burning. "Hi, baby Duasia," I tried to smile, even when my heart's already palpitating. It was read as du-wey-sya. Mga naiisip talaga nitong si Duane!

He was just smiling as we were walking towards his car. Mahilig ba siya sa baboy? Parang hindi naman. Wala akong naaalala na love niya ang mga pigs. Addict ba siya dito? Bakit ganyan siya ngayong nagka-baboy siya? I've never seen him like this.

It was the first time ever that I saw him that happy! As in. Grabe lang. Ang lala ng effect ng stuffed piggy na 'to sa kanya. Ano ba talaga ang mayroon sa kanya?!

On the way home, I was just quiet. I was still holding the pig. While Duane was humming, I don't even know what the song was. He was that happy. Ang weird niya tuloy ngayon sa paningin ko!