Claire's POV
"I'm home!"
"Kitchen!" Mom shouted as a reply. Wow. I can smell cupcakes. I took Gab with me.
"Hey, sweetie. Oh, Gab! How are you? We missed you this whole summer for the first time in years." She hugs her. Yeah. There was never a summer without Gab, not until this year.
"I missed you too, Tita. I'm good. Summer was fun, but not complete without my bestfriend." I cling my arm on Gab's shoulder.
"Awww... So sweet of you. Anyway, Mom, I haven't got a kiss from you. You just hugged Gab then you forget about me." They just both laugh at me.
"Haha. My baby naman. Of course, here is your hug and kiss. Mwaah!" I hug her back.
"Mom, just hug and kiss. No baby, okay? I'm fifteen." I let go of her and grab two cupcakes for me and Gab. Mom suddenly hugs me from the back.
"Even when you have a boyfriend, a husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren... You will always be my baby. I love you, baby." At times like this, she treats me like a baby and I hate it. But ofcourse, I can't protest because this is the perfect timing.
"I love you too, mom." Then I kiss her cheek.
"Um, Mommy..."
"Yes?"
"Can I sleepover in Ninang Dawn's house tonight?"
"And why young lady?" Now, she is back to being serious.
"Tita, may I butt in?" She simply nods.
"Since it's second day of class po, almost po lahat ng subjects namen have an assignment. I was absent po kasi yesterday. So I need Claire's help to explain the lessons I've missed. And we cannot just surf in the internet po because our professors want us to refer only from books. E wala pa din po akong books because wala nga po ako yesterday. Kaya po tita, please, payagan niyo na po si Claire." Mom smiles at her. Thankfully.
"All right. That sounds reasonable." "Is that a yes???" I and Gab asked in unison excitedly.
"Yes. But, girls, be responsible. When you--"
"get inside of the house you will not go out until it's time for school. Don't sleep late and never ever give Dawn and Richard a headache nor a heart attack." I continue her line. For so many times I slept over in Gab's place, I have memorized her line. Haha.
"That's right. I'll be texting Dawn to check on you."
"No problem, mom. I'll be good."
"Tita, where's Tito Aga?"
"He'll be home at seven. Don't worry, I'll be the one to tell him. Grab your snacks before you go. I will just go upstairs to prepare the things of this young lady."
"Thank you po." Gab tells her.
"Thank you very much, mommy."
Lea's POV
"The two girls are probably having a great time. It's been two months since they have been together." My husband tells me before lying on our bed.
"Yeah. They surely missed each other. But it was a blessing in disguise." I tell him while brushing my hair, sitting at the edge of the bed.
"Blessing in disguise?"
"You see, when Gab is around, she's always excited to go out and leave. But last summer, since wala si Gab, na-solo natin siya."
"Haha. Are you jealous of Gab?"
"No. I'm happy that Gab is always there for her. I guess, I just... want some more attention from our daughter. I mean, just like Gab, I can also be her bestfriend. Right?" Am I just jealous?
"Babes, you know, no matter how many friends our daughter will have, she will never forget that you are her first bestfriend. She trusts and loves you more than any one else." I don't know why, but I feel like my heart just skipped a beat. It's a great feeling.
"Thank you, babes." He kisses my forehead.
"Don't worry, tomorrow, we will fetch her from school." I love his idea.
"Then we will eat in her favorite restaurant. She would love it." I lay beside him and hug him.
"We would love it as well." I look at him while my head is leaned on his arm. I give him a peck on the lips.
"Goodnight, babes. I love you."
"Goodnight. I love you too." I reply as I close my eyes.
