ANAIS

"Ate, what's Froilan like? Mabait ba siya? What does he think of Cookie? Have you kissed you kissed yet?" Bryce bombarded me with question. She'd been bugging me about Froilan and I kind of already had an idea who was behind this. Una pa lang, nararamdaman ko na na may kinalaman si Dad dito. Because it was so Dad to pry on our personal business.

"Bakit ba ang dami mong tanong?" My brow arched at her. 

"Wala lang. Syempre, gusto kong makilala ang boyfriend ng Ate ko. Masama ba?" She rolled her eyes. It sounded so fake coming from my self-centered sister. 

"Nice try. You're not going to get any information about Froilan from me. Tell that to Dad." I told her while I was looking for something to wear today in my small walk-in closet. I took out a casual dusty pink summer dress since and put it on.

"Oh well, I tried." She said, resignation in her voice. 

I walked out of the closet to find Bryce still in my room, sprawled on my bed. 

"Ano pang ginagawa mo dito?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

"What's it like to have a boyfriend, Ate?" She asked.

"Bakit mo naman na tanong?" 

"I don't know. I'm just curious."

"Hay nako, Bryce! Dyan din ako nagsimula. If it weren't for my curiosity I wouldn't have gotten pregnant at a young age."

"How old were you the first time you did it?" She lifted her head up from the bed to look at me. 

"Bryce..." I said in a low warning tone. "Susumbong kita kay Dad, kung anu-anong tinatanong mo. Ikaw, huwag kang tutulad sa akin. You know how disappointed he was when I got pregnant with Cookie and being a Mom is no joke. I don't regret having Cookie, the only thing I regret was having him too young and disappointing Mom and Dad. Maawa ka naman kay Dad, baka pag nangyari ulit sa'yo yun, mabaliw na yun. Just enjoy your teenage years and don't do anything stupid."

"Don't worry, wala naman akong pangarap maging teenage mom." She rolled her eyes. 

"I was fifteen." I finally answered.

"That really was young." She rolled to her stomach and rested her chin on her palm.

"Eh ikaw? Have you done it?" My eyes narrowed skeptically at her. Bryce and I argue and fight alot but I was still her older sister. I didn't want her to think 

"NO! Of course not! I'm saving myself for my one true love. You know, just like how Mom waited for Dad." She sighed dreamily. "Who was he, Ate?"

"Who was who?"

"Your first." She giggled

"Eh di si Coco! Sino pa ba? Do you think I go around sleeping with different guys?" 

"Pero hindi naging kayo ni Kuya Coco ever?" Her eyes widened.

"No." I shook my head. 

"Bakit?"

"Because that's how it's always been." I shrugged. "Bakit ba tanong ka ng tanong?"

"Wala naman. Kahit kailan hindi ka nagkaron ng feeling for Kuya Coco? Accident lang ba talaga si Cookie or was he made out of love?" She teasingly asked. 

"Bryce, will you just stop asking questions!" My eyes lowered to the ground. "I'm sure Dad's waiting for your report. Go on, sabihin mo sa kanya wala kang nakuhang impormasyon sa akin tungkol kay Froilan."

"Fine." She rolled out of bed and walked out of my room. 

I put on a light makeup before going downstairs. Aalis kasi kami ni Cookie ngayon. Malapit na ang pasukan kaya bibili kami ng mga gamit niya sa school. He wanted a new backpack and a new pair of shoes.

"Dad, ayaw magsalita ni Ate tungkol kay Froilan." I overheard Bryce's voice in the living room.

"Wala siyang sinabi? Kahit ano?" 

"Nada. Zilch. Zero." She replied.

"What am I paying you for?" He let out an annoyed huff.

I wasn't sure if I should be pissed off or laugh at the two. Pumasok ako sa living room at natahimik ang dalawa. 

"Have you seen Cookie?" I casually asked, pretending I didn't hear their conversation.

"Nasa dining room pinakakain ng Mommy ng snack ang dalawa." Answered Dad. "Aalis daw kayo sabi ni Cookie?"

"Yeah, I'm going to buy him a new bag and a pair of shoes for school. Isama na din namin kaya si Toffie para mabilan na din ng pangschool." 

"That's a good idea, sweety. Take Toffie with you.Gustuhin man namin sumama ng Mommy mo, may pupuntahan kaming charity event mamaya." He apologetically said.

"Ako na ang bahala sa kanila."

"Those two boys are a headache. Hindi mo kayang mag-isa yan." 

"Sasama ko si Bryce."

"Ayoko nga. Ronnie and I already made plans. Pupunta kami sa spa today." Sabi ni Bryce.

"Why don't you take your son's father." Dad suggested. 

It was the first time he'd ever told me to take Coco with us. Usually siya yung palaging may ayaw na umaalis akong kasama si Coco kahit na kasama pa namin si Cookie. Probably because he didn't have any choice dahil off din ng Yaya ni Toffie. Ayaw kong makasama si Coco. Sa tuwing nakikita ko siya, ang babae niya at ang magiging anak nila ang naiisip ko. Everytime I see him, I feel like my chest is being squeezed. 

Dad had Coco called and here we were sitting next to each other in his car. Coco was behind the wheels while the two boys sat on their booster seats on the back of the car. The two of us were both quiet. Good thing it wasn't as awkward because the two boys were loudly talking. Their noise filled the awkwardness between us.

"Bakit hindi kasama si Arthur?" Asked Cookie.

"May pinuntahan sila ni Mama Cassie." Sagot ni Coco. 

"Oh okay." Cookie said before going back to playing with Toffie. 

Sana pala sa likod na lang ako umupo. I could feel the heaviness between us and I hated it. I thanked God when the car finally came into a halt. He parked his car in the mall's parking lot and I immediately slipped out of it. I helped Cookie out of his booster seat and Coco unbuckled Toffie.

I held Cookie's hand while Cookie held Toffie's with the other and Toffie held Coco's hand. Pagpasok pa lang namin sa mall nangungulit na ang dalawa na pumunta sa arcade. I told them that we needed to buy them bags and shoes first. 

We went to the department store and looked around. Cookie picked a Lightning Mcqueen bag and Toffie picked a minion designed bag. We bought them a pair of black shoes and some school supplies.

"My Papa Nick owns this mall and this department store but the other stores here are just renting from him." Kwento ni Cookie kay Toffie.

"My Dad owns a big building! It's bigger than this mall and it's sooo tall. You can see all the clouds and airplanes up there." Well Toffie was my Dad's son. Hindi magpapatalo yan.

"I know! He's my Papa Nick!" Sabi naman ni Cookie.

"But he's not your Dad." Toffie retorted.

"Sino'ng gusto mag-arcade?" Coco asked the kids just to break up what they were arguing about.

"OH ME! ME!" Toffie said.

"I want to go to the arcade, Dada!" Sabi naman ni Cookie.

And there, we went. Pumunta kami sa arcade at tuwang-tuwang naglaro ang dalawang bata. Coco sat beside me while I kept my eyes on the two boys.

"Anais, hanggang ngayon hindi pa din tayo nag-uusap." Coco sighed. 

I threw him a sideway glance before averting my attention back to the kids.

"Galit ka pa rin ba sa akin?" He asked.

I didn't answer.

"Anais, please kausapin mo naman ako. You can't keep ignoring me like this." His voice was a bit shaky. "You're right. I've been an asshole to you all throughout but please forgive me. Let me make it up to you."

I didn't think I'd be able to forgive him for getting another woman pregnant. 

"Paano ka pa makakabawi? Eh nangyari na." I quietly said.

"It's not too late..." He took my hand and brought it to his lips. "Bigyan mo lang ako ng chance."

I could feel my icy self slowly softening to him, melting. "Coco..."

"Yes, babe?" He lifted his gaze up to me, his eyes brightened with happiness. 

I swallowed. "May mga bagay ka bang hindi pa nasasabi sa akin?" 

Maybe I'd be able to forgive him if he were just honest and tell me about the woman he got pregnant. Mas madali kong matatanggap kung magpapakatotoo siya, hindi yung niloloko niya kami ni Cookie. He was living a double life!

"Alot." He kissed my fingers one by one. "I never told you how beautiful you are, how you've been such a wonderful mother to our son, how I'm lucky for having you and Cookie in my life."

I pulled my hand away from his hold. I would've been touched if I didn't know about the secret he'd been trying to conceal from everyone. Wala talaga siyang balak ipagtapat sa akin ang totoo. 

"Si Froilan, are you dating him?" He suddenly asked.

"I don't think that's any of your business." I looked away.

"Are you happy with him?"

"I am." 

Hindi na siya kumibo pa.

COCO

"Ano'ng nangyari?" As we jogged around the village together. He invited me to jog with him and who was I to say no to my potential future father-in-law. I wanted to get on his good side.

"Bumili kami ng mga gamit ng mga bata at nag-aya silang mag-arcade and then we ate at a pizza house." I told him.

"That's not what I want to know. Did you make a move on her?" He asked. 

"Tito, I don't know how." I admitted. "I tried to be sweet but she's blocking me off. Siguro dahil may Froilan na siya."

"Ang hina mo." He shook his head dissapointedly. "Ano nang nangyayari sa mga kabataan ngayon? Back in my days, when I want a woman. I just bend her over and do her. But you're not allowed to do that to my Anais because I will fucking cut your dick off."

"I won't do it. I promise." I immediately said.

"Good."

"Why can't you just tell her to stop seeing Froilan?" I asked, slightly frustrated.

"Because that's my daughter, Coco. She's as stubborn as me. The more you try to stop her, the more she'll do it. Baka nga pagpinigil ko siyang makipagkita sa Froilan na yun bigla na lang umalis yan at sumama sa lalaki. Did you know I had a wife before Valerie? I was never really that in love with the woman but my father tried to stop me from seeing her. To show who was boss, I fucking married her." He said.

"Then what are we going to do?" Tanong ko.

"We have to think of something else. We have to up the ante." He said.

We were nearing our house when Dad came out of the gate. We slowed our pace as we got closer to Dad and stopped in front of him.

"Lavigne." Dad put on a stoic face.

"Cordova." Tito Axel did the same.

"Ano an naman ang gagawin mo sa anak ko?" Dad asked him.

"Tinutulungan ko ang torpe mong anak na mabawi ang anak ko." He answered.

Nagpalit-palit ng tingin si Dad sa akin at kay Tito Axel. 

"It's a long story." I simply said.

"I have time. How 'bout we talk it over a few bud lights?" Sabi ni Dad bago tumingin kay Tito Axel. "Do you want a come in?"

"Don't mind if I do." He smiled.

Dad let out a smile too.

ANAIS

We only had one week to finish the magazine for next month. Lahat kami ay nagkukumahog na tapusin iyon. We had some delays and problems with the photoshoots for next month's issue and one of the writers decided to quit so I had to fill in her space. We would've gotten a new one except we were already running out of time. I had to take matters into my own hands. Kailangan kong isulat ang article na naka-assign sa kanya. Iyon din naman ang naging trabaho ko bago ako naging editor in chief kaya familiar na ako dito. Kailangan kong mag-overtime ngayon dahil kung hindi kukulangin kami sa oras.

"Coffee." Froilan offered me a cup.

"Thanks." I took it from him. I needed this to keep me going. I'd been researching and writing about new fashion trends all night. It was already almost twelve o'clock and I'd been fighting the urge to sleep.

"Hindi ka pa ba uuwi?" He asked. 

"Kailangan ko pang tapusin 'to." I took a sip from the cup.

"There's still tomorrow." He said.

"I don't want it to pile up. Marami pa akong trabahong kailangan tapusin bukas." I said, completely absorbed with the article I was writing.

"Girl, I need to go home." Sabi ni Mae, the assistant editor, sa akin. She bent down to give me a cheek to cheek kiss. "See you tomorrow."

"See you." I told her, not taking my eyes off the computer screen in front of me. 

Umalis na si Mae at naiwan kaming dalawa ni Froilan kasama ang ilan pang employee na abala sa trabaho nila.

"Ikaw? Hindi ka pa uuwi?" I asked him, just so we could have something to talk to break the silence and keep me from falling asleep.

"Nah. I'm just taking a little break. Mamaya pa ako uuwi. May mga tatapusin pa rin ako." He answered. "Hindi ka ba hahanapin ni Cookie niyan?"

"Nasa Dada niya yun ngayon."

"Kumusta na kayo ng ama ng anak mo? Okay na ba kayo?"

I shrugged. "We're civil."

"Kinagat naman niya ang palabas natin." Froilan laughed a little. "Have you seen the look on his face? Your baby daddy despise me. Alam mo kung makakamatay lang ang titig, siguro naaagnas na ako sa lupa ngayon."

"Ang alam niya, we're dating."

"Good. Let him know you're no longer available for him."

My phone rang in the middle of our conversation. It was on top of my desk and when I looked down at it, I was shocked to see his name.

"Speaking of the devil." I rolled my eyes.

"Sino yun?" Froilan curiously leaned to look at the screen and then laughed. "Answer it."

"Ayoko nga." My face crumpled with annoyance.

"Come on. I got an idea." He grinned cheekily.

I was forced to pick the phone up and answer it. 

"Anais?" I heard him say on the other line. 

"What do you want?" I asked in a bored tone.

"I heard your still in the office. It's really late. Gusto mong pumunta ako dyan para naman di ka mag-isang umuwi?"

"Anais, babe, what's taking you so long." Froilan leaned over so that he was closer to the phone and then he winked at me.

"Sandali lang, Froi." I played along. I didn't know what he was up to but I played along anyway. 

Froilan cleared his throat and spoke in bedroom voice. "Come back to bed. Mamaya na yan." 

"Si Froilan ba yun? Ano'ng ginagawa niyo? Nasaan kayo?" Coco's voice suddenly shifted into a hard tone. 

"Babe, come on, ride me. Sit on my face." Malambing na sabi ni Froilan. He then pressed his lips together trying his best to keep the laughter in. 

"Coco, may ginagawa pa ako. I need to go." Paalam ko sa kanya. 

"ANAIS!" He screamed and then I ended the call.

We exploded into laughter as soon as I put my phone down.