Fated to Love You

Ultimatum

September 10, 2019

Aika and Tricia are currently packing their things as they were about to go home in Ilocos to celebrate their Dad's birthday. They were excited, it will be a lot of fun as they will get to spend time with their cousins and other family members but a part of them is sad, Jillian and their Mom is not coming with them. Jillian is currently on her sophomore year at NYU and their Mom, Leni will obviously not going since she's already separated with their Dad, Bongbong.

"Ma, are you sure hindi ka sasama saamin?" Tricia asked her mom while she was helping them out with their things.

"Oo nga naman ma, sayang naman uuwi pa naman sina Tita Irene. Saka 10 years kana yatang di umuuwi dun eh." Aika seconded.

Leni stopped and looked at her daughters, "Aiks, Trish, alam nyo naman na—"

"NA HIWALAY NA KAYO NI PAPA KAYA WALA KANANG RASON PARA UMATTEND NG FAMILY GATHERINGS." Aika and Tricia cut their mom off. They already memorized  their Mom's lines.

"O alam nyo naman pala eh, wag nyo na kasi akong pilitin." Leni told her daughters.

"Eh mama naman kasi, wala na nga si Jill tapos di ka pa rin sasama. Ang lungkot naman kung kami lang ni Ate dun samantalang yung families nina Tita Irene and Tita Imee kumpleto sila." Tricia stated.

"Oo nga naman mama, besides friends naman kayo ni Papa diba? I mean, you can go there as a friend and not a wife." Aika agreed.

"Ex-wife, Anak. It's ex-wife." Leni corrected her daughter's statement.

Aika and Tricia smirked, "Sus, alam naman namin na may feelings pa din kayo sa isa't isa. Mga pabebe lang kayo dyan eh." Aika teased her mom.

"Uy tumigil nga kayo dyan, alam nyo naman na magkaibigan nalang kami ng Papa nyo. Huwag nyong lagyan ng malisya yun." Leni remarked.

"Magkaibigan nga ba?" Tricia asked with a knowing look on her face, "Diba sabi nila, kapag naging friends daw yung mag ex, it's either wala talaga silang feelings sa isa't-isa nung sila pa or may feelings pa din sila until now. So, alin kayo dun ni Papa? Syempre di naman puwede yung wala kayong feelings sa isa't-isa nung kayo pa kasi diba nagkaanak nga kayo ng tatlo. Sooo, Mama, is that a confirmation na may feelings pa din kayo ni Papa sa isa't-isa?"

"Ha? Um," Leni was suddenly taken aback, she didn't know how to respond correctly, "Alam nyo kayong dalawa, dami nyong alam. Tapusin nyo na nga tong pag-iimpake nyo at kakain na tayo." She just changed the topic and walked out of their room immediately to avoid getting on the hot seat.

Aika and Tricia chuckled, "Ang obvious mo ma!" They teased their Mom even more.

It's been 10 years since Bongbong and Leni decided to part ways, their relationship went on the rocks as they were both too focused on their respective careers. It resulted to frequent fights and miscommunications affecting not just themselves but their kids as well. It's been hard for the girls to see their parents arguing and later on decided to be separated but Aika being the eldest, gave her best to be a co-parent to her two younger siblings. 

After a year, Bongbong and Leni decided to be just friends again for the betterment of their daughters. They wanted to make them feel complete even if they're not living under the same roof. They agreed to support their daughters and fulfill their duties as a parent. He always visits his daughters thrice a week, attends to his daughters' events and support them financially. While Leni gets the custody of the three, she still respected Bongbong's rights to their kids. They always talked to each other especially when it comes to their daughters.

——

September 11, 2019 (5:00 am)

Leni woke up earlier than usual and started to cooked some breakfast for her girls, she needed to be this early because Bongbong will pick up Aika and Tricia at 7:00 am. She wanted her girls to get ready before their dad arrives, she knew that he's a busy person so she doesn't want him to wait anymore.

"Aiks, Trish, bangon na kayo dyan. Breakfast na tayo." She woke her daughters up.

"Ang aga pa ma." Tricia said sleepily as she and her Ate Aika walked their way out of their shared room.

Leni frowned, "Anong maaga pa? Susunduon kayo ng Papa nyo ng 7:00 diba so dapat ready na kayo before mag-7. Nakakahiya naman sa Papa nyo kung paghintayin nyo pa sya."

Aika and Tricia looked at their mom, "Sus! Ayaw mo lang mapahiya kay Papa eh." Aika joked.

Leni turned to see her daughters, "Ang aga-aga Jessica Marie—"

There was a sudden knock on the door, they're all curious of who would it be so Aika immediately opened the door.

"Good morning anak!" It was Bongbong who greeted Aika with much enthusiasm.

"Papa!" Aika beamed.

Tricia ran to her dad after hearing his voice, "Papa!"

Bongbong hugged his daughters and gave them kisses on their temples, "I miss you both!"

Aika and Tricia hugged him tighter. "We miss you too, pa!"

"Ang aga mo naman yata." Leni told Bongbong.

"Yan talaga ang bati mo saakin?" He replied, "Wala man lang, good morning mahal?" He joked.

"Yan ang banat!" Aika and Tricia exclaimed.

"Ewan ko sa'yo!" Leni just rolled her eyes. "Umupo na kayo dyan at kakain na tayo." She changed the topic.

They were having some breakfast, Aika and Tricia treasures this kind of memories where they are happily eating at the same table. They've missed the old times.

"Ang sarap talaga ng luto mo, Lens!" Bongbong complimented Leni as he took another spoonful of fried rice and egg. "Siguro nilalagyan mo to ng gayuma noh? Kaya siguro napikot mo ko dati." He joked, Aika and Tricia laughed.

"Wow ha! Ang guwapo mo din eh noh?" Leni replied sarcastically.

"O eh bakit? Kung di ka naguwapuhan saakin edi sana wala tayong tatlong magagandang anak ngayon." He refuted.

Leni snorted, "Ang sabihin mo, gandang-ganda ka saakin kaya tayo nagkaanak ng tatlo!"

He laughed, "Aba! Aba! Gumagaling kana mag-joke ha!"

"Tsee! Ewan ko sa'yo!" Leni just rolled her eyes and continued eating. Bongbong and the girls laughed (pikon na naman ang nanay nila).

They continued consuming their food while sharing some stories concerning them especially preparations made for Bongbong's birthday tomorrow. After breakfast, Leni told Aika and Tricia to take a bath while Bongbong volunteered to help washing the dishes, which Leni objected.

"Bakit nga ang aga mo? Akala ko 7 ka pa pupunta dito?" Leni asked while washing the dishes, he was just standing beside her eating an apple.

"Wala naman." He uttered. "Gusto sanang kitang solohin kaya maaga ako pumunta dito kaya lang ang aga nagising nung dalawa." He followed as he chewed the fruit.

She looked at him waiting for the punchline, "Ang corny ha!"

"Totoo nga!" He chuckled, "Alam ko naman kasing di ka sasama at wala ka namang gift saakin kaya sige, ako nalang mag-eeffort para makasama ka."

Leni faced him completely, "You're guilt tripping me, aren't you? At saka, gift? Ang tanda tanda mo na para dyan. Besides sure ako na madaming magbibigay ng regalo sa'yo bukas."

"Pero iba pa din yung gift galing sa'yo." He uttered and move a step closer to her, "Tumatanggap ako ng kiss."

"Bong—"

He sighed, "Sige ganito nalang, kapag wala ka bukas sa birthday ko, ibig sabihin ayaw mo na talaga. Na wala na talaga tayong pag-asa."

She frowned, it's quite impossible for her to went to Ilocos especially that she's going home in Naga tonight, "Bong, it's not that easy. Wag naman ganito—"

"The decision is yours, mahal ko." He kissed her forehead and waited for Aika and Tricia at the car.

To be continued...