Song: Sa'yong Mundo - Janine Berdin

Benjamin and His Collections

I checked the time on my watch as I sip through my last glass of whiskey. Halos mabulunan pa ako nang mapagtanto ko na oras ko na para umuwi.

"Oh! I need to go." I said to Gio and Dominic.

Sabay silang napabaling ng tingin sa akin, naguguluhan. Kinuha ko ang coat ko na nakasabit sa likod ng upuan ko at saka iyon inayos. Pagkatapos ng trabaho ay rito na ako dumiretso sa kanila Dominic dahil bigla rin naman siyang nag-aya ng inuman.

Aiden couldn't come since he's so busy with his company. Iyon na ata ang pangalawang tahanan no'n. Out of all of us, he's the most workaholic. I wonder how he is able to manage his time with his family despite all the work that piled up on him.

"Ang aga naman!" reklamo ni Dominic habang nakatingin din sa relo niya.

I sigh. I know it's so unusual of me to go home early but my wife is pregnant and I promise to be there for her in case she needs me. Well, hindi pa naman niya ako kailangan ngayon dahil kakaalam palang naman namin na buntis siya ulit. But you know...as a paranoid husband, I want to be there.

"May buntis akong kailangang alagaan—"

Agad namang naputol ang sinasabi ko nang magsalita ang dalawa.

"Kelsey's pregnant again?!" sabay nilang sinabi.

Nagugulohan ko silang tiningnan. Didn't we tell them already?

Sandali akong napaisip. Oh, shit! Kelsey told me not to tell anyone yet. We just found out she's pregnant again last week! I slipped accidentally. Siguro dala na rin 'to ng nainom ko. Kahit kailan talaga ang bunganga mo, Benjamin!

"Hindi ba't kakaroon n'yo lang ng kambal?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Dominic.

"Bakit? Bawal ba gumawa ulit?"

He rolled his eyes. Gio chuckled.

"Iba ka rin talaga 'no? Wala ka atang pinalalampas na oras. Give your wife a break, man!" si Gio.

I scoffed. "Well, when the sex is so good—"

I was interrupted when Dominic groaned. Tingnan mo ang isang 'to. Inggit na naman. Tumawa ako habang pinapanood siyang uminom mula sa baso ng kanyang whiskey.

I know why he's being like this. Why he's so bitter about our love lives all of a sudden. Ikaw ba naman kasi ang paulit-ulit iwasan at pagtulakan palayo? Kung ako rin siguro ang nasa pwesto niya, mabi-bitter din ako lalo na't pamilyado na ang halos lahat sa amin habang siya...tumatanda na pero ito at iniiwasan pa rin.

"Hey! Shut up about your sex life and just go! If I only knew you'll go home earlier than planned then I shouldn't have invited you over." Dominic shakes his head disappointingly.

I smirked. Grabe naman ata ang epekto ng pagtutulak palayo sa kanya ni Serena at naging ganito siya. If he could only put daggers behind our backs because of so much jealously, I'm sure he would.

Umiling-iling si Gio at natawa na lang din sa kapatid. I know that him and Zaj are trying again. Baka nga sabay lang kaming sumubok, e. Makasabi sa akin ng give your wife a break, parang siya pinapahinga rin ang asawa.

"Stop being bitter and just start a family as well, Dom." Pang-aasar ko pa sa kanya lalo.

Umangat ang gilid ng labi niya habang masama ang tingin sa akin. Nakisali na rin sa asaran si Gio.

"Paano mag-uumpisa ng pamilya, e, nilalayuan nga siya?"

"Oh, right! I forgot." Pagmamaang-maangan ko. "The woman he wants to marry keeps on pushing him away! Akala ko ba naka-move on ka na, Dom?"

"E, mas lalo ngang hindi naka-move on nang bumalik!"

Nang dahil sa sinabi ni Gio ay bigla siyang binatukan ni Dominic. He's annoyed now. Kung dati siya ang mahilig mang-asar, ngayon siya naman 'tong inaasar. How does it feel to have the tables turned huh?

"You and your damn mouth, Kuya!" Dominic exclaimed in annoyance. "You know what? Just go! Bago ko pa ipagkalat na buntis ulit si Kelsey. I'm sure you don't want that. Ikaw kasi ang malalagot, e."

Oh, and he got me there! I looked at him angrily. Iba rin talaga ang isang 'to, e. Ang bilis makabawi!

Dominic smirked. Sa huli, tuluyan na rin akong nagpaalam sa dalawa. Siniguro ko pang hindi muna nila ipagsasabi sa kahit kanino. I want Kelsey and I to keep it to ourselves first. Saka na namin ipapaalam sa pamilya. Kung na-control ko lang kasi sana ang bibig ko kanina edi sana hindi pa alam nila Gio ngayon.

When I entered the car, I immediately grabbed my phone to send a message to my wife.

Me:

Are you still awake? I'm on my way home now.

Kelsey usually replies quickly but this time she didn't. She must be busy or she must be asleep now. Ganoon pa naman ang buntis.

Kaya naman nang makadating ako sa bahay ay agad kong tinanong sa katulong kung nasaan ang asawa ko.

"Ah, nakita ko po si Ma'am na nagpe-paint kanina. Hindi ko lang po sigurado kung nandoon pa rin siya."

Tumango ako at agad namang dumiretso sa lugar kung saan nakalagay ang mga art materials ni Kelsey. This is where she usually spends her time while our babies are asleep. I'm glad that even though it's been a while since she last painted, she never lost her passion for it.

Pagilid kong isinandal ang sarili sa may pintuan habang tinatanaw siyang nagpipinta. I smiled to myself as I watch her. Ganitong-ganito rin siya noong nag-uumpisa pa lang kami. I remember watching her draw while we were roaming around Barcelona.

I remember those times as something that made me so amazed with her. Ever since that trip, I couldn't get her off of my head. Barcelona immediately became one of my favorite places because of it.

"You're here!"

Nawala lang ang lahat ng naalala ko nang magsalita si Kelsey. A big smile was immediately plastered on my face when she walked towards me. Sinalubong ko siya at agad na yumuko para halikan siya sa labi.

She pouted. "Uminom ka?"

She must've smelled the alcohol on me. Kaya rin hindi ako dumiretso muna sa mga bata dahil alam kong ganito ang amoy ko. I'll visit them once I take a shower. Excited lang talaga ako makita si Kelsey kaya sa kanya ako agad dumiretso.

Ever since we got married for the second time, I just keep on discovering things about her that make me fall more deeply in love. Even if we were already together for how many years, I still get the same excitement whenever I see her.

"Just a little. Inaya kasi ako ni Dominic sa kanila."

She nods her head and smiled. "Did you have fun? You could've stayed longer. I'm sure you missed hanging out with them."

I smiled and pulled her close. "No, it's fine. Gusto ko na rin umuwi. How are you?"

"I'm good! Malapit ko na rin matapos ang painting ng favorite flower ni Celestine."

"Really? Can I see it?"

Kelsey nods her head excitedly. Iginiya niya ako palapit sa tinatapos niyang painting. I gasp in amusement. Wala naman ata siyang ginawa na hindi ko nagustohan. She really has a way in her paintings that makes me so drawn. Kahit na simpleng bulaklak lang 'to, para sa akin pwede na 'tong itapat sa gawa ni Picasso.

"I still need to add more colors to it. I promised Celestine to let her help me with this one tomorrow. Gusto ko rin kasi na involved siya rito."

I smiled even more knowing that it will be my daughter's first painting. Habang sabay naman naming pinagmamasdan ang painting niya ay bigla naman niyang napansin ang dala kong paperbag.

"You went to Starbucks?" natatawa niyang tanong.

Napatingin din ako tuloy ako roon. I chuckled along with her.

"Is it another mug?" she asked. I nodded. "Of course, it is!"

"Well, you do know that I just don't collect Starbucks mugs because I have an obsession with them, right?"

"Uh-huh...then what is it this time, Benj? What country?"

Napangiti ako. My family finds it weird why I always collect or gift them with these mugs. That's because I travel a lot for work. Ayaw ba nila noon at naaalala ko sila sa tuwing nandoon ako at hindi ko nakakalimutan na padalhan sila ng pasalubong? Mabuti na lang at suportado ako ng asawa ko kaya wala akong pakealam kung i-bash nila ako palagi.

"Come, we'll put it beside the other mugs."

Kusa naman siyang sumama sa akin. Nagtungo kami sa may cabinet kung saan nakalagay ang mga mugs na nakolekta ko. Call it favoritism but the mugs that have a special meaning for me are placed on top, making sure they're always seen.

Pinahawak ko muna sandali kay Kelsey ang paper bag habang inilalagay ang bagong mug na binili ko. I placed it beside the Bali mug.

"Manila?" kuryosong tanong ni Kelsey.

Inayos ko ang damit ko at lumapit muli sa kanya. I pulled her closer to me by holding her waist. Sabay naming tiningnan ang mga collection ko.

"I buy mugs that have a very special meaning for me," I explained to her.

"So, you bought a Manila mug because we live here?" hula niya. I shake my head.

"No. I bought Manila because this is where we created our third child."

Her eyes immediately widened because of my revelation. I pointed at the Barcelona mug I bought years ago.

"The Barcelona one was my favorite because that's where we spent time together for the first time. I bought the Norway one because that's where we both saw the Northern Lights and I remember how happy you were. Bali because that's where the twins are created and now...Manila."

Kelsey looked at me in amusement. "You're very sentimental huh?"

I chuckled and then hold her tummy. "Sorry at hindi nakapaghanda si Mommy at Daddy at sa Manila ka nagawa."

Humalaklak si Kelsey at saka tinampal ang kamay ko. I laughed along with her and kissed the top of her head. Pagkatapos naman noon ay umakyat na kami upang maghanda sa pagtulog. Nabisita ko na rin ang kambal pagkatapos kong maligo. Ang sarap lang nilang titigan habang natutulog sila.

Abala ako sa binabasa ko nang bigla akong harapin ni Kelsey. Nakahiga na siya habang nakatitig sa akin. Nilingon ko siya.

"What's the matter, baby?"

"Hmm...nothing. I just realized that we haven't named our child yet."

"But we don't know their gender yet."

"What if they're twins again?"

Umangat ang kilay ko nang dahil doon. Hindi ko naisip 'yon. Having twins was a surprise for the both of us. At kung sakaling ganoon ulit...I don't think that's possible.

I caressed her cheek. "That would be a rare case so I don't think that's possible."

"But what if? Hindi ba't sabi mo sharp shooter ka?" nakangisi niyang pang-aasar.

Binitawan ko ang kanina kong binabasa para mas matabihan na siya sa kama. She scooted closer to me and rest her head on my chest.

"If only my parents were still around...I'm sure they will be so excited knowing that I'm pregnant again," she whispered. "I bet they will be the ones to name our child first."

Napangiti rin ako sa sinabi niya. It's sad that her parents wouldn't be able to witness all these. Pero sigurado naman ako na masaya sila sa amin ni Kelsey. Patuloy ko ring tinutupad ang pangako ko sa kanila na aalagaan ko ng mabuti ang anak nila.

I noticed that she's been undeniably happy these past few months. Masaya na kami noon pa man pero iba ang saya namin nang dumating ang kambal. I even got more excited when they both turned one last month! Akalain mo at ang bilis ng panahon. Kaya nga hindi na rin ako nag-aksaya ng oras at tingnan mo, buntis ulit siya.

I'm just so glad because I know I contributed to that happiness she's feeling. That's all I ever wanted to do, actually. To make her happy and to make her feel loved all the time.

"I'm just really happy, Benj..." I stopped caressing her hair when she looked up to me. "That I get to spend this lifetime with you. I don't think I've thanked you enough for all the things you did for us. For constantly skipping your meetings just to be with the twins even if I told you not to do that."

Napangisi ako. "Sorry. I can't help it."

Kung pupwede nga lang siguro na 'wag na akong magtrabaho at dito na lang ako palagi kasama nila, talagang ginawa ko na. Pero hindi pupwede. Baka mamulubi kami nang wala sa oras dahil lang napagdesisyonan kong tamarin.

Iba pala talaga ang nagagawa kapag pamilyado ka na. Kung dati sanay akong nasa trabaho lang, ngayon palagi akong excited umuwi dahil alam kong sila ang uuwian ko. I'm so used to staying late when hanging out with my cousins or friends but now...I'm always the first one to go home.

I guess marriage really does change me. But for the better. I like this version of me more.

I fooled around a lot of times before and that's something that I want to forget. It was part of my past that I wanted to forget. Kaya nga pinagkamalan agad ako ng asawa ko na playboy noon, e. Pero akalain mo 'yon? Mahuhulog din naman pala siya sa akin.

I mean...of course. Who wouldn't fall for someone like me?

But let's be honest. She may have fallen for me but I fell harder for her. I don't think I can imagine another version of my life without her being in it.

"What now?" tanong ko nang mapansin kong nakatitig lang siya sa labi ko.

Mabilis siyang nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin. Natawa ako. I know her mood when she's pregnant. She has this heightened sex drive all of a sudden. At kung hindi pa naman siya pagod...pupwede ko naman siyang pagbigyan ngayon.

Wow, Benj! Ikaw pa talaga ngayon! Kung ikukumpara nga kayong dalawa, ikaw 'tong mas sabik lag isa kanya.

At dahil alam kong hindi niya kailanman sasabihin ang gusto niyang gawin namin, ako na itong unang gumawa ng kilos. I crouched a bit and sealed her lips with deep and lustful kisses. Mabilis naman siyang bumigay pero agad ding tumigil nang may mapagtanto siya.

"Wait, Benj. I don't think we—"

I cut her off by sealing her lips with mine again. "It's okay. I asked."

Napakurap siya sa sinabi ko. mamaya-maya pa ay biglang kumislap ang mga mata niya, mukhang nasabik.

"Really?!"

"Uh-hmm..." I said and fixed our position. I moved on top of her and started undressing her.

"Are you sure? Kailan mo tinanong?"

"Curious lang ako dahil baka sa akin ka naman maglihi ngayon kaya ko natanong."

Hindi niya naiwasang mapahalakhak sa sinabi ko. She reached for my cheeks to press her mouth against mine.

"You're so silly." She said. "But I love you so much for that, Benjamin."

Pagkatapos noon ay nagulat nalang ako nang pagpalitin niya ang pwesto namin. She took me by surprise that's why I had a hard time comprehending what was happening when she started making her move.

Oh, damn, Kelsey! Walang sisihan kung sa susunod na taon, buntis ka na naman!

Maaga akong nagising kinabukasan. Kelsey was still sleeping peacefully when I woke up. I felt my cheeks blushing when I remember what she did last night. Kaya naman hahayaan ko na muna siyang matulog ng mahimbing dahil alam kong pagod siya mula sa nangyari kagabi.

I move out of the bed and took a quick shower. Bumaba ako upang tingnan kung gising na rin ba ang kambal. I saw them downstairs eating their breakfast.

"Good morning!" I greeted happily.

My children's face immediately brightened up when they saw me. Si Benji agad na gustong magpakarga. Ganoon din si Celestine.

"Finish your meal first before Daddy starts to play with you, okay?"

Ngumuso ang dalawa. Natawa ako at hinalikan sila sa ulo. Tumulong naman ako sa pagpapakain sa kanilang dalawa bago ko lutuan ng umagahan ang asawa kong mahimbing pa ang tulog. After I finished preparing, that's where I started playing with the twins.

Sa tingin ko nang dahil sa ingay namin sa may hardin kaya nagising si Kelsey. Benji was on my back while I was carrying Celestine when I saw Kelsey gazing at us from inside the house.

"Hey...mommy's awake!" I told the twins.

Dahan-dahan ko silang binaba at hinayaan na tumakbo papunta kay Kelsey. I smiled. This is honestly my favorite view. Seeing her together with our children. Siguro pangalawa na 'yong kagabi.

Ngumiti ako at lumapit sa kanila. Agad na tumama ang tingin ni Kelsey sa akin nang pumasok ako.

"I prepared your breakfast," I told her.

I noticed that her cheeks are still flushed from what happened last night. Tumango siya at binaba si Celestine at Benji na nakakandong sa kanya.

"Ikaw? Kumain ka na?" tanong niya.

"Kagabi."

Agad na nawala ang ngiti niya nang dahil sa asar ko. She gave me that warning look kaya agad din naman akong bumawi.

"I mean...sabayan na kita."

Tumango siya at inutos sa katulong ang dalawa. Tumayo siya mula sa sofa at hinarap ako.

"Stop with those silly jokes." Kahit na nambabanta ang tono niya, hindi naman nakatakas sa mga mata ko ang multong ngiti na namumuo sa labi niya.

Bumigay rin naman agad ako at hinalikan ang sentido niya. "Are you...okay?"

Alam na niya agad kung ano ang ibing kong sabihin sa tanong kong iyon kaya siya napairap sa akin.

"Alam mo kumain na lang tayo."

Umiling siya at nilagpasan ako. Ngunit bago naman siya tuluyang makalayo sa akin ay hinila ko siya pabalik.

"Wha—"

Natigilan siya nang bigla ko siyang halikan. It was just a peck though. Ayaw ko namang ma-scandalize ang mga kasama namin dito.

"I love you," I said to her sweetly.

She tried her best again to stop smiling. She tried to fix her composure before she pulled me towards the breakfast table.

Naupo na kami't lahat-lahat pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang ngiti namin.

"Eat now!" ani Kelsey nang mapansin niyang hindi pa rin ako nag-uumpisa dahil abala ako sa katititig sa kanya.

"Okay...okay. I will." I chuckled and picked the spoon and fork up.

Sumulyap akong muli sa kanya bago mag-umpisang kumain kasabay niya. Hindi maalis ang ngiti ko sa labi. Totoo talaga ang sinasabi nila na kapag nahanap mo na ang taong para sa 'yo, ibang klaseng saya ang mararamdaman mo.

If she could only see herself through my eyes, I'm sure she'll find all the thousand things I love about her. I'm sure she'll see what I meant with the word love.

She is my one and only definition of love. She is what my dreams are made of. She's the very reason for everything I am. Without her, I don't think I'd be this excited to look forward to another day.