#HHFM Chapter 06:

Lucky Star

* * *

"What is wrong with you?"

I ignored Cali. Madrama siyang suminghap na parang hindi makapaniwala sa gusto kong mangyari. I shook my head no matter how angry she looked at me. If I weren't pregnant, she would have pulled my hair and dragged me out of this car, for sure.

"Sa mall na lang po ako," I told the driver who looked conflicted. I couldn't blame him because Cali would really look scary whenever she's mad.

"No!" kontra niya agad. I sighed. Ryo should not have contacted her. May excuse nga ako kanina para hindi sumabay sa kaniya papunta sa court, pero kinukulit naman ako nitong isa at mukhang magagalit pa sa akin.

She grabbed my arm and forced me to look at her. Hindi naman mariin ang pagkakakapit niya sa akin pero bumabaon ang tingin niya. "You're just going to sit there and watch. Katabi mo naman ako!"

"I don't want that," I said, gently removing her hand from my arm. Her face contorted in frustration.

November came by like a blur, and before I knew it, I was pretending to have a migraine and to feel sick, so I would have an excuse to stay in bed yesterday. Alas-sais pa lang yata, gising na ako. Alas-nuwebe nang pumunta si Ryo sa kuwarto dahil unang araw ng draft combine. I pretended to be sleeping, pretending to be relieving my supposed headache away, so he would not bother me. Muntik-muntikan pa siyang hindi pumunta sa draft dahil gusto niyang magpa-check up ako. Fortunately, I was able to push him away. Tito Finn helped me because he basically held Ryo by the neckline of his white jersey just to drag him out of my room. I even had to deal with Tita's panic and overreaction after that.

I didn't want to go to the draft, but I did watch him online. Mahirap manood dahil hindi naman sa kaniya naka-focus ang buong livestream, but my eyes tried to search for the number 25 printed on the back of his white jersey and the side of his midnight blue shorts.

Today's the second day. Hindi ko alam kung nahalata ba ni Ryo na pineke ko lang ang sakit ko kahapon kaya siniguro niyang pupunta si Cali sa bahay para sabay kami nitong pupunta. I didn't have a choice but to join her just so she would shut up. Akala ko kasi, kaya ko. But as we got closer to the venue, umatras ang lahat ng lakas ng loob na naipon ko. I didn't want to go. I changed my mind. Maybe I would just wait for Ryo outside. That would be like . . . after five hours or so. Just thinking about the back pain and the numbness on my legs made me frown. I could just stay inside the car.

"Frankie, draft combine 'to, ha? Hindi 'to rookie draft day. This isn't open to the public. Pinagpaalam ka pa ni Ryo kaya puwede kang pumasok. Ako naman, ninakaw ko pa 'tong role na 'to kahit hindi naman ako pang-sports. Bakit ba ayaw mo? Ayaw mong makita si Talie? E di, haharangan ko!" dere-deretsong sabi ni Cali.

Talie's there, of course. Aside from the highlight players and the public's favorites, mayroong isa pang pag-uusapan dahil naroon siya. I'm pretty sure she's there as a journalist, but people treat her like a supermodel or something. Hindi naman na ako nabibigla. She even took a photo with Ryo yesterday and posted it on her Instagram with a blank caption, stirring shit on the Internet and gossip websites. Kung bakit ko pa iyon tiningnan, ewan ko na rin. Gumagawa na lang yata ako ng sarili kong kaiinisan.

"Ayaw ko, Cali," halos magmakaawa kong sabi.

Dahil male-late siya at naghihintay na ang kasama niyang media crew sa court ay nagpatuloy na ulit ang driver sa pagmamaneho. Cali still looked pissed at me when she got out of the car. Tinanaw ko ang court. There were vans outside, probably carrying equipment for the coverage.

"Sure kang ayaw mo? Final answer?" she asked.

Nag-alangan pa ako. I wanted to watch him but . . . the draft days reminded me of something I didn't want to remember. Hindi ko alam kung nalimutan na iyon ni Ryo at sadyang wala nang ibig sabihin ang pag-imbita niya sa akin o talagang pinagti-trip-an niya ako.

"Dito na lang ako," I sighed. "Pasok ka na."

Lumalim ang kaniyang simangot. "Fine. But you're going on the rookie draft day."

I smiled, "Okay."

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ire-react ni Ryo kapag na-realize niyang wala ako sa loob. Hinayaan niya ako kanina sa bahay dahil alam niyang kay Cali ako sasabay. Kahapon, hindi naman siya mukhang nagtampo. I did tell him that I watched the livestream. Iyon ay dahil nga akala niya e masakit ang ulo at likod ko. Ngayon, he caught me doing well at sabi pa ni Cali ay pupunta kami, kaya feeling ko, magtatampo iyon na parang bata.

I couldn't stay in the car for hours without doing anything. Their driver didn't want to go home dahil daw baka ma-late siya kapag susunduin pa ako ulit, so I had him with me at the mall because I couldn't make him wait in the parking lot for several hours. Naubos ang oras ko sa paglalakad at pagtitingin-tingin ng kung ano-ano. When I got tired, we went to a coffee shop. Mabuti na lang at may dala akong pera. I heard it was okay for me to drink coffee as long as hindi sosobra, pero naririnig ko na agad ang OA na boses ni Ryo sa utak ko kaya hindi na kape ang binili ko. Saglit akong nakapanood ng game dahil sa free Wi-Fi.

"'Yon lang po ba?" the driver asked me after I handed him a 200-peso bill. I nodded. Ginusto ko nang mauna sa sasakyan dahil nananakit na naman ang likod ko. Naguguluhan man ay sumunod din naman siya, probably thinking that I'm craving for what I asked him to buy.

I got inside the car and waited for him. I asked him to go to the Hypermarket and buy something that would calm Ryo down if ever he would throw tantrums. Pagbalik niya ay iniabot niya sa akin ang sukli at isang box ng juice na pinabili ko. Hindi masyadong malamig, but this is Ryo's favorite so I hope he wouldn't be so mad at me for not watching him live.

I checked the time and texted Cali if they're almost done for today. I spent another twenty minutes waiting in the car, before I asked their driver to go home. Cali would be riding with the company van. At ako? I just hope Ryo will take me home with him.

"Mabigat po yata 'yan," sabi ng driver nila habang bitbit ko ang isang box palabas ng sasakyan.

"Kaya ko naman po," I said. Hindi naman talaga masyadong mabigat. Hesitantly, he took off. I searched for Ryo's car at inilapag ko ang box sa sahig. Kumuha ako ng isa at nilagyan na ng straw. I sat on my heel as I waited for him.

Not long after, nakita ko na siyang may kausap na mga teammate niya dati. Naka-jersey pa sila habang si Ryo ay naka-puting T-shirt na. They parted ways before they could even get closer to me, and thank God for that. I'm not sure if it's because of the sponsor's guards pero wala akong nakikitang media sa paligid.

I stood up. Agad na nagsalubong ang kilay ni Ryo nang makita ako. Mukhang gusto niya ngang tumigil sa paglalakad at sa ibang direksyon magpunta pero na-realize niya yatang kotse niya itong nasa likuran ko. I saw him sigh and shake his head.

"'Ginagawa mo riyan? Init-init e," suplado niyang sabi. I offered him the juice I was holding at lalo lang nagsalubong ang kilay niya. He sneered, at lihim naman akong napasimangot.

What? Don't tell me he's into energy drinks now. He loathed those.

"'Di pa tayo bati," aniya, at kinuha iyon sa akin. I hid my smile when I noticed that he finished it quickly. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa sahig at nakita ang isang box. I saw him roll his eyes before picking it up.

"Sakay na," nagsusungit pa rin niyang sabi. At least, I didn't have to commute. Gumagana pa rin naman pala sa kaniya ang panunuhol ko noon. "Gutom ka?" he asked, pushing a button to roll down his car windows. He placed his gym bag in the backseat, pagkatapos ay binuksan niya ang box at kumuha ulit ng juice at straw.

"Kumain ako ng sandwich kanina kasama ang driver n'yo."

"Cravings? Wala?" he asked again as he revved the engine. Pisat na pisat ang tetrapack na ang bilis niyang naubos ang laman.

My hand unconsciously wandered on my lower belly. Medyo nahahalata na siya at wala namang nagtatanong sa office, except for Crista who asked me when I would be taking my maternal leave. Nate didn't ask, or maybe he was too busy because he was always pressured whenever the December issue date gets closer.

"Meron," I said, glancing at him. "Lugaw."

He scrunched his nose. "Lugaw sa ganitong init? At sa ganitong oras?"

"You shouldn't have asked if kokontrahin mo lang," I said, frowning. Bigla ko na lang nalasahan sa isip ang lugaw sa may kanto ng inuupahan namin ni Cali dati. We used to buy breakfast there everyday when we were still in college. I checked the time at sakto lang naman sa oras ng meryenda. Sigurado akong mayroon doon.

He sighed. "Sige. Lugaw. Ano pa?"

"Can we go to Manang Loi?" I asked, hoping he would say yes. Maiintindihan ko naman kung hihindi siya dahil sigurado akong pagod na pagod siya. Yesterday, Raianne told me that after checking up on me, plakda na raw si Ryo sa kama. Ginising lang siya noong magdi-dinner na tapos ay tulog na tulog na ulit.

"Okay." It didn't even take him three seconds to answer.

By the time we got there, nakaubos na ulit siya ng dalawa pang juice. I should have bought two boxes.

The carinderia wasn't fully-occupied, thank goodness. Kahit na wala akong maipipintas sa kinakain ko sa bahay nina Ryo, hindi ko maiwasang hanap-hanapin ang luto rito. Maybe it's because Manang Loi's cooking reminded me so much of Nanay's. She's in her mid-60s already, and with her youngest son and her grandchildren's assistance, she runs her eatery business near our apartment. Sa apat na taong pagtitipid ko habang nag-aaral, dito talaga ang takbuhan namin ni Cali.

"Frankie!" Manang Loi's eyelids wrinkled. She wiped her hands on her pink floral apron, and the coins inside the pockets she herself sewed clinked as she ran towards me and hugged me. Inagaw ni Ryo ang atensiyon niya kaya hindi niya agad napansing buntis ako.

She hugged Ryo as if he were her son she had not seen for a decade. Natawa si Ryo at yumakap naman pabalik. When I first brought him here, Manang Loi gave us a bottle of soft drinks for free. Tuwang-tuwa siyang makita si Ryo dahil sabi niya, para siyang bumabalik sa pagkadalaga. I don't even know what that means at ayaw ko nang alamin.

The place looked so small for Ryo. Ang laki-laki niyang tingnan habang sinisilip ang estante at mga kaserola. Binilhan niya ako ng lugaw at sandamakmak na kanin ang kaniya. Pumuwesto kami malapit kina Manang dahil mukhang gustong-gusto niyang tingnan si Ryo. I can't blame her, though.

"Napanood yata kita kahapon, a," Kuya Eseng told Ryo. He is Manang Loi's youngest son who's around five years older than us.

Napatigil si Ryo sa pagkain at tumango. "Draft na, Kuya, e," aniya. He glanced at me. Napasimangot ako. Hindi ba siya maka-get over na hindi ako nanood? Akala ko, okay na?

"E ano? Okay naman?" Kuya Eseng asked.

Ryo chuckled. "Sakto lang," aniya na nagpasimangot lalo sa akin. Hindi iyon sakto lang. Hindi ako naniniwala. Even though he's cocky most of the time, pagdating sa basketball e tumitiklop siya.

"Pasok ka riyan!" Kuya Eseng vibrantly laughed. "E ang laki ng bayad do'n, 'di ba? E di ikakasal na kayo nitong si Frankie?"

My eyes widened after hearing what he said. Nabulunan pa si Ryo sa kinakain niya. Nagmamadali akong nagsalin ng tubig sa baso at iniabot sa kaniya.

"Ay, bakit?" takang tanong ni Kuya Eseng. "Wala ka bang kumpiyansa? Papasa ka ro'n!"

Nahilot ko na lang ang sentido ko. Ryo looked like he wanted to run and never come back.

"Sana nga po," awkward niyang sagot.

"Basta, imbitado kami sa kasal!" excited na sabi ni Manang Loi. Ryo cupped his forehead as his ears burned.

"O hihintayin n'yo ba munang makapanganak ka, ineng?" dagdag ni Manang.

Instead of answering, I just forced a laugh and a smile. How the hell did they know? Halata na bang buntis ako? I kicked Ryo's foot under the table and gave him a signal to finish his food quickly, para makaalis na agad kami rito dahil baka kung ano pa ang maitanong nina Manang!

They didn't know that we broke up. Whenever they would ask about Ryo after a week of not seeing him dahil lagi na akong mag-isang kumakain kapag wala si Cali, I would always remain silent. I would just tell them that he was busy because of the draft. They knew about our relationship dahil apat na taon din kaming laging narito ni Ryo. Tuwing mag-aaway nga kami e binibigyan ako ni Manang ng puto alsa o kaya ay kutsinta, or whatever Ryo bought for me that he was too nervous to give me in person.

Fortunately, we survived that late lunch. Hindi ako mapakali sa sasakyan buong biyahe dahil sa likod ko. Lately, my morning sickness have toned down, pero pumalit naman ang pagsalida ng sakit ng likod ko.

"Ano? Gusto mo ng unan? Meron sa likod," Ryo said, glancing at the pillows through the rear view mirror while driving. Hindi kami nag-imikan mula nang umalis kami sa karinderya. Hindi na yata niya napigilang hindi magsalita dahil nababahala na siya sa likot ko.

"Really? My back hurts."

He nodded. "Abot mo ba? Nadadaganan yata ng bag ko."

I looked in the backseat. I reached for the strap of his gym bag until it fell on the floor. Hinagip ko ang maliit na unan at inilagay sa upuan ko bago sumandal.

Bumalik kami sa katahimikan. Maling-mali talaga na binanggit iyon nina Kuya Eseng. Ni hindi ko iyon binanggit kay Cali kanina sa biyahe kahit sobrang naiinis na siya sa akin. Ayaw ko lang talagang ungkatin. Ayaw ko lang maalala.

Ryo told me before that he would marry me after the draft. He was so sure of it. He used to joke around that he would propose in the basketball court, and that I should always be ready. Kaya kahit ano'ng gawin ko, hindi ko magawang manood nang live kahit na sinadya niyang ipagpaalam pa ako sa coach niya.

I couldn't exactly pinpoint what I felt. Kung matatakot ba ako na bigla siyang mag-propose . . . o mas natatakot akong hindi niya iyon gawin. So, I just did my best to avoid it.

Bitbit niya ang box ng juice at kinuha ng kasambahay nila ang gym bag niya habang papasok kami sa bahay. I caught a glimpse of Tita and Tito having snacks at the garden.

Tahimik kami kahit sabay na umakyat. He would probably take a shower and sleep. I was already done with the writings assigned to me, so maybe I would also just sleep to kill time and to rest my back.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang may maramdaman. I blinked, trying to make sure that I felt something on my lower belly and that it wasn't just my imagination.

Ryo stopped walking and looked over his shoulders. "Ano'ng nangyayari sa 'yo?" tanong niya habang nakataas ang isang kilay.

I felt the fluttering . . . again. It was so vague, as if it weren't there, but I was clearly sure that I felt it. My hands carefully tried to find the spot where I would feel it the most, pero sa tingin ko ay mula sa loob ko lang iyon nararamdaman at hindi pa nararamdaman ng palad ko.

"Frankie," Ryo's voice grew tight, "ano'ng nangyayari sa 'yo?"

My lips parted when I felt it again. This time, it felt like something's slowly tumbling inside my womb. I was focused on trying to absorb the feeling but the loud thump on the floor made me snap my gaze at Ryo.

"May masakit ba? Ano?" tanong niya habang nakahawak na sa braso ko. He looked so worried like he was going to cry.

"Ha? Wala. Naramdaman ko lang na gumalaw," I answered which made his shoulders relax. Napatingin ako sa box ng juice na nasa sahig, naibagsak niya yata.

Hindi nagtagal ang moment of relaxation niya. Umangat ulit ang dalawa niyang balikat kasabay ng pamimilog ng mata niya.

"Gumalaw?!" Hindi naman siya naka-megaphone, pero sa lakas ng boses niya, parang ganoon na rin.

"Oo," sagot ko. Umawang ang labi niya roon at lalo lang nanlaki ang mata. Parang manghang-mangha siyang gumagalaw si baby.

"Talaga?" Parang ayaw niya pang maniwala sa akin.

"Yes, Ryo. And I'm okay, nagulat lang ako."

He let out a gasp. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa baby bump ko at matagal 'yong tinitigan. Tatanungin ko pa lang siya kung gusto niyang ilapat doon ang kamay niya nang iniwasan na niya ng tingin iyon. I heard him sigh before he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Ayaw mo kasing sumagot agad e," naiinis niyang sinabi at napakamot sa batok. Padabog niyang dinampot ang box ng juice. Lumabi ako.

"Sorry," bulong ko. Nakasimangot siya nang lumingon sa akin bago pulutin ang huling tetrapack na nahulog at ibalik sa loob ng box.

"Frankie."

Bago ko isara ang pinto ay sinilip ko siyang hindi pa umaalis sa puwesto niya.

"What?"

"Bili tayong damit mo after ng checkup mo?"

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata. Was that his subtle way of telling me that he's finally noticing my weight gain?

"Bakit? Ayaw mo ba?" tanong niya nang hindi ako sumasagot.

"Basta ikaw ang magbabayad," I answered.

He rolled his eyes. "Maliit na bagay," mayabang niyang sinabi bago ako talikuran.

* * *

We went to the mall after my checkup. He told me not to tell Tita na sa simpleng mall kami pumunta dahil pagagalitan daw siya n'on. I got worried that people would see us together at baka kinabukasan ay madamay na ang pangalan ko sa mga gossip website. But, miraculously, no one approached him but that one guy who asked for a photo at the doughnut shop. Sabi niya ay kapraningan ko lang naman daw ang nagsasabi na para siyang artistang dudumugin.

Bitbit niya ang basket habang naglalakad-lakad kami. I got some house clothes along the way. Nahirapan akong mag-isip ng bibilhing damit pamasok dahil hindi naman ako madalas na magbestida. I prefer slacks, but I keep on worrying that the waistband would squish my belly.

"Ito, ayaw mo nito?" he asked, showing me the maroon dress he got. Halatang-halata ko ang pagkagulat ng sales lady na may hawak na panungkit. Ryo's a giant, so he didn't need it.

I stared at the dress he was holding. Habang patagal nang patagal ang tingin ko roon, palinaw rin nang palinaw ang imahen nila ni Talie sa isip ko. Tiningnan ko siya nang masama at tinalikuran. I heard him calling my name, then I heard his rushing footsteps following me.

"Bakit? Ayaw mo ng pula? Red looks best on you," aniya kaya napatingala ako sa kaniya. Agad siyang umiwas ng tingin at napakamot sa batok. "Bagay sa 'yo ang pula, sabi ni Cali, 'di ba?"

Nairita lang ako lalo nang makitang inilagay niya pala sa basket ang bestidang kinuha niya. Agad ko iyong kinuha at ibabalik na sana pero hinarangan niya ako.

"Ayaw mo ba? Bakit galit na galit ka riyan?" tanong niya.

I gritted my teeth hard. Inagaw niya sa akin ang bestidang hawak ko. I crossed my arms and took a deep breath, mentally counting from fifty down to one.

"Bakit ba? Okay naman 'to, a," bubulong-bulong niyang sinabi habang naglalakad kami para ibalik iyon.

"That looks like a knockoff of Talie's dress no'ng draft mo," hindi ko napigilang sabihin.

Tumatak na yata sa isip ko ang picture nilang iyon. Ryo wasn't smiling in the photo, but neither did he look like he didn't want to be in it. Talie was wearing a fiery red dress with a similar cut and neckline, probably costing five times more than what Ryo's holding right now. Maliwanag na maliwanag at agaw-atensiyon si Talie dahil sa maputing kutis at pulang-pulang suot niya na kumontra sa backdrop nila na kakulay ng jersey ni Ryo at may print ng sponsor.

He asked the saleslady to put it back. Tinanaw ko iyon habang ibinabalik. Nangangapa ang tingin sa akin ni Ryo nang ibalik niya iyon sa akin.

"'Pangit pala n'on. Tara, hanap pa tayo," bigla niyang kabig kaya napairap na lang ako.

"I hate you," I mumbled.

"No, you hate the dress," aniya habang nilalandas ng palad niya ang ibabang parte ng likod ko. It felt soothing, so I let him do it even if he's annoying. Kanina pa kami lakad nang lakad.

"I hate you and the dress," I said through gritted teeth. Gusto ko sanang idagdag si Talie pero wala naman yatang rason kung bakit kaya hindi ko na ginawa.

He frowned. Tiningnan ko siya nang masama nang dumampot ulit siya ng kulay pulang bestida. Hindi ko alam kung nananadya ba siya o ano e. It looked different from the dress he picked up earlier, so I gave it a shot. The material and the fit felt comfortable kaya inilagay ko iyon sa basket kahit na may parte sa akin na ayaw.

Bakit ba puro pula ang dinadampot niya? I'm starting to think that red reminds him of Talie.

He paid for everything. Nagtalo pa kami pero hinayaan niya akong bumitbit ng kahit isang paper bag. I was still in a foul mood because of the red dress he bought. Dapat yata, hindi ko iyon kinuha. I didn't want to look like I'm trying to be Talie or something.

"Bakit nakasimangot ka na naman?" he asked while we were heading to the furniture section. Hindi ko alam kung bakit doon kami pupunta.

"Because you're annoying."

He sighed. "Gawa ba 'to n'ong damit mo? Ano? Ibabalik ba natin?"

Lalo lang akong napasimangot. Ako lang ba o parang pinagmumukha niya akong nag-iinarte dahil sa simpleng bagay?

"Mukha kang iiyak diyan e. Ano? Ibabalik ba natin?" tanong niya ulit. I wish he would learn when to shut up.

"I don't want to look like Talie," I mumbled. He just sighed, sounding like he was trying to be patient with me. My teeth pierced my lower lip as I fought the urge to cry and to quiver.

"Hindi mo 'yon magiging kamukha." Hinablot niya ang nag-iisang paper bag na hawak ko. He grabbed my hand without warning.

"Of course not . . . because she's pretty." My voice broke. I felt his hand on mine tightening.

"Frankie naman, Diyos ko, ano ba'ng gagawin ko?" he said in frustration. My other hand searched for my handkerchief so I could wipe my tears away.

"Akin na 'yung kamay ko," I said, trying to free my hand from his grip.

He clicked his tongue. Instead of letting me go, I felt his fingers trying to slide through the spaces in between mine. Nang magawa iyon ay lalo lang niyang hinigpitan ang kapit. He ignored my whining as I tried to pull my hand away.

"Pumirmi ka nga," iritable niyang sinabi. Siya pa ang may ganang mainis!

"Stop holding my hand!" Exes don't do this!

"Ayoko," agad niyang sabi.

"What?!"

"Ayaw ko nga." His lips twisted. "Nilalamig ang kamay mo."

"Shut the fuck up, Ryo," naiinis ko nang sinabi.

"I'll shut up if you would let me hold this longer," he said with finality as we stopped in front of a crib.

* * *

"Frankie."

"Hm?" I asked. I know it's Ryo. Nanatili akong nakapikit dahil sa antok.

First round pa lang ng pick ay nabanggit na agad ang pangalan niya. The venue was packed, so the moment he was called on stage, I left. Hindi ko kayang magtagal at para akong nahihilo sa dami ng halo-halong amoy at sa siksikan.

I waited for them at home. Ang mahalaga ay alam ni Ryo na naroon ako. His parents were over the moon at pakiramdam ko nga ay biglang magpapa-hold si Tita ng kung anong enggrandeng event para mag-celebrate. Raianne skipped her last subject just to see her brother get drafted, too.

Nagpuntahan dito ang mga kaibigan nila kanina. Ang daming handa kaninang dinner. I heard from Raianne that Ryo declined his team's invitation for a drink dahil sobrang saya raw ni Tita kaya mas pinili niyang umuwi. Kahit ano'ng mangyari, mommy's boy talaga siya.

Of course, mabilis iyong gumawa ng ingay, partly because of Ryo being labeled as the team's lucky charm and their key to achieve a grand slam win after years of continuous losses and almost-wins. Bumagay pa iyon sa bansag nila kay Ryo noong college na Lucky Star dahil sa mga buzzer beater shot niya sa UAAP.

And the other reason is that Ryo's photo with his future teammates and his new coach made rounds even outside sports outlets. Kanina ko pa nakikita ang pagmumukha niya sa Twitter at kung saan-saan. A lot of girls, mostly teenagers, were salivating over his million-dollar, charming smile. I wouldn't be surprised if he would have an interview tomorrow or the next day. Hahabulin siya ng media panigurado.

"Medyo na-brief na ako sa kontrata kanina. They're offering two years, pero pumayag din naman silang per cup. I'm thinking of signing for the Philippine Cup, tapos I'd take a break during the Governor's para mabantayan kita habang buntis ka. Then I'd take the 'two-year' starting this season's Commissioner's Cup."

I shook my head and pressed my face more on my pillows. "Okay lang ako, Ryo. You should grab the two-year contract now."

"Ayaw," parang bata niyang pagtanggi. Napatawa ako roon. Ang tumatakbo sa isip ko ay magkano ang kikitain niya—imagine being the child of his parents—tapos ang taas pa ng kinikita niya. Masuwerte talaga ang anak namin dahil walang poproblemahin sa gastusin.

"I made it," halos pabulong niyang sabi na nagpamulat sa akin. I saw him crouching on the side of my bed.

"Congrats, Ryo. I'm proud of you," I sincerely said. I really meant it with all of my heart.

He stood up. Hindi nakatakas sa inaantok kong paningin ang malawak niyang ngisi. He sighed.

"Makatutulog na rin ako nang mahimbing. Akala ko, hindi mo 'ko babatiin e."