27-Lucas Nicholai
"WHAT IF he doesn't like me? He might cry."
She was just smiling at him. Limang minuto na mula ng tumigil ang kotse sa harap ng bahay nila pero hindi parin sila pumapasok. He asked her things about Nicho pero hindi parin matanggal ang kaba nito.
Ang isang Sebastian Luca na puno ng self-confidence at kilalang businessman ay kinakabahan sa first meeting niya sa kanyang anak. It's cute. He looks adorable as he fiddles between his fingers.
She held his hands tightly. "Let's go." She gave him a reassuring smile. Kahit siya tuloy ay 'di maiwasang kabahan.
"Hey love, akala ko mamaya ka pa uuwi," agad na bati ni Winston pagkapasok nila sa bahay. She gently lifts her hand that is holding Luci's upang ipakita na may kasama siya.
Winston's eyes danced in delight. Kung akala niya ay papagalitan siya nito, but all he did is smile. Kahit hindi niya maintindihan ang ngiti nito ay nagpasalamat nalang siya dahil hindi na muna ito nang-usisa.
"Get in. Nagising si Nicho, I just changed his diaper a while ago. Gotta throw this." Pinakita pa nito ang bitbit na dirty diaper bago umalis.
"You are not in a relationship?"
She looked at Luci and saw confusion in his eyes. Hindi pa niya maayos na naikwento ang naging relasyon at role ni Winston sakanilang mag-ina.
"No. Ikaw lang, Luci." Syempre dapat deretsahan. Papakipot pa ba siya?
She might be taking another risk this time pero hindi na para sa sarili niya. This is for their son Nicho. Ayaw naman niyang lumaki itong walang buong pamilya. She knows how hard it can get having a dysfunctional and incomplete family. She doesn't want to make the same mistake na ngayon ay siya ang nanay.
He pecked a kiss on her forehead and she felt home.
Pumasok sila sa kuwarto niya kung nasaan din ang nursery ng anak. There they found him in his crib na pupungas-pungas pa ang mata dahil sa pag-iyak.
She held him in her arms at bigla itong umiyak ng malakas. She hushed him pero ayaw talaga nitong tumigil ng pag-iyak. Nag-aalalang nakatingin sa kanila si Luci. He's almost panicking.
"Is he all right?"
Marahan siyang tumango dito at ngumiti. "Here, carry him."
Tinanggap naman nito agad ang anak. Nicho stopped crying instantly within their first skin to skin contact.
"Da-da."
Their eyes widen upon hearing his first word. Naluluha siya sa nakikita. Nicho snuggled closer to his dad.
She was just imagining things like this. Ni minsan ay hindi niya inisip na magkakatotoo ang kahilingan niyang iyon. She's more than happy na nagkita na ang mga ito.
"Did I hear it all right?" he gasped in shock.
"Yup, I got it on tape."
Sabay silang napalingon sa hamba ng pintuan kung nasaan si Winston at may hawak na camera. She looked at him and mouthed thank you.
Nagmosyon naman itong wag siyang pansinin at ipagpatuloy lang nila ang ginagawa.
Si Luci na ang nagpatulog sa kanilang anak na halos ayaw ng humiwalay. Maybe Nicho knows the feeling of his father. Nakikilala niya ito by touch kahit na ngayon lang naman sila nagkita.
"Thank you for taking care of my family, Winston," pormal na sabi ni Luci ng makaupo sila sa sofa.
"No need to thank me, I'll do it again and again. What's your plan now." Sakanya ito nakatingin ng banggitin niya ang huling pangungusap.
BINABASA MO ANG
Sold and Reclaimed
Roman d'amourSYNOPSIS Under the sweet image of the Ginobi Legacy hides the family's black sheep. Sebastian Luca Ginobi is a well-known businessman due to his astonishing contribution to Ginobi-Mortiz Refinery Corp. Ltd. But behind all his public successes is hi...
