Make It Without You

Chapter 12: Love and Pinky Swears

"What time is it? Bakit di pa nagsisimula?" Irritated, Gabo put his sunglasses back on and looked down at his phone. Wala pa ring reply si Billy. Lalo tuloy siyang na-badtrip. He was about to click on his email app nang hinablot ng Tita Jessica niya ang cellphone niya. "What the—"

"Ops, may mga bata!" pigil ni Jessica sa susunod niyang sasabihin. "Di ba sabi ni Jethro walang work today? Wag ka ngang masyadong micromanager! Tatanda ka na ngang walang asawa, tatanda ka pang kalbo!" She put Gabo's phone in her handbag. "Bakit ba bad trip ka na naman? Alas nuwebe pa lang kunot na kunot na yang noo mo!"

Gabo huffed. "Eh di ba dapat nagsisimula na?! Ang init init," sagot niya habang tinatanaw ang pinsan na nakikipaglaro sa playground. "Tignan mo si Jethro wala pa ngang activities, pawis na agad!"

Tinawanan lang siya ni Jessica. "Napaka-OA. Kumalma ka na nga dyan," sabi niya habang nakatingin sa likod ni Gabo. "Ayan na yung mag-iina mo o."

Mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong lumingon si Gabo pero wala pa naman sina Billy. Hindi na magkandarapa sa katatawa ang tita niya. "Tss." Trying to salvage his pride, Gabo cleared his throat and looked at where Jethro was again. "This is a waste of time. And time is money."

Binatukan tuloy siya ni Jessica. "Sige, sabihin mo yan sa harap ni Jethro. Galit na galit ka dati sa Daddy mong di makapunta sa mga school events mo dahil sa trabaho tapos ngayon mas gusto mo ring mag-opisina kaysa makasama si Jethro saka mga anak mo?!"

One point for Tita! "Okay. Fine. Sorry," Gabo said, his lips in a grim line.

"Speaking of. Ayan na nga sila," Jessica said as she saw Billy walking towards them.

"Tita, di mo na ako maloloko sa ganyan—"

"Sa bagay, wag ka nang lumingon at iinit na naman yang dugo mo," Jessica interjected with a smirk. That, of course, made Gabo turn.

Billy was carrying Gavin in her arms. Behind her, though, Brielle was walking with Sputnik and Mikael. Hawak-kamay silang tatlo.

Paswing swing pa talaga ha. It took Gabo a hefty amount of willpower not to roll his eyes dahil palapit na sila sa inuupan nila ng Tita niya.

"Hello." Bumeso si Billy kay Jessica at nginitian si Gabo. "Buti di pa nagsisimula. Wala sa mood eh," Billy said, referring to the little boy in her arms. "Masama yata ang gising."

Si Brielle naman mukhang sobrang good mood. Psh. "Hi Puddings," sabi ni Gabo at hinawakan ang likod ni Gavin, who only gave him a tiny wave before burying his head in his mother's shoulder again. Lumuhod siya para batiin si Brielle na binitawan agad sina Sputnik para yumakap kay Gabo.

"Tatay!" Brielle was just as excited to see him. "You're here! You're here!"

"Yes baby," malambing niyang sagot before he kissed Brielle's cheek.

"Sasama po kayo sa'ming mag-play?" Brielle asked while playing with her father's unruly hair. "Di ba po Family Day! So mommy, daddy and babies!"

Nagkatinginan si Gabo at Billy. Yes, that was the ideal thing to do, pero naka-promise na si Gabo kay Jethro na sa kanila siya sasama. Napag-usapan na rin naman nila ni Billy by phone. "Ahm..." Gabo started and held his little girl by the shoulders. "Kasi princess, kay Jethro muna ako sasama today. But you'll have me all to yourself this weekend, love, I promise."

Brielle immediately pouted. "But you're our Tatay!" she exclaimed and looked at Billy.

To the rescue naman ang mga ninong. Sputnik touched the top of Brielle's head para tignan siya nito. "Brielle, nandito naman kami ni Doctor Daddy! And we're a family, too, right?" he said.