"Gael, baby?" I called.

I instantly heard his light steps coming from his room. I pursed my lips to stop myself from smiling. I know that he will scream because of shock.

When I heard his steps getting near and nearer, I put my finger on the center of my lips to stop Harold from moving. He was hiding from the highchair while we were waiting for Gael to come out.

"Mommy!" His high-pitch voice roamed around our house.

Pinipigilan ko ang sarili ko na huwag matawa dahil sa posisyon ni Harold sa likod ng upuang pinagtataguan niya. He's really determine to surprise my baby.

"Love, stop grinning like that, okay? Your son will find out that I'm here," he hissed at me.

I just rolled my eyes around at him. Inirapan din ako ng mokong. I glanced at my baby who's still on his room.

"Gael, come here, anak! Quickly!" Eagerly, I called my son again.

Nakita ko siyang lumabas mula sa kwarto niya habang hawak-hawak sa kanang kamay niya ang maliit na kulay orange na bola. Beads of sweats was visible on his forehead. Gael was probably playing basketball again.

While staring at my son walking towards us, I couldn't stop myself from feeling that heavy feeling inside my chest. It was just so weighted that all I could do was to release a deep breaths.

Staring at Gael... It warmed my heart.

I've had enough for those months with him on my tummy. Lahat siguro ng hirap ay masasabi kong pinagdaanan ko na simula pa no'ng ipagbuntis ko ang anak ko. I was wrecked then. I was as blank as bond paper that haven't even touched yet to leave a stain. My mind... It was blank.

Nang makita ko nang lumabas si Gael mula sa kwarto niya ay agad akong napangiti. It was a heart-warming smile of a mother while looking at her precious and priceless gem in the world. It was me... Looking and smiling at my son lovingly.

His eyes that mirror his. It was only the comfort I had since the beginning. But staring at that pair of my son, it makes me remember about him. It would always give me that tightness on my heart. But in the end, I still disregard it. Because I know what was the truth. I know it very well.

"There you are, kiddo!"

I came back to my senses when Harold lifted my son that earned a yell from Gael.

"Papa, stop! I'm sweating po. Look, oh!" Gael wipe the sweats on his forehead and showed it to Harold.

Harold laughed out loud. Napatawa na rin ako sa ginawa ng anak ko.

"Oh, come on! Am I not allowed to carry my baby when he's sweating?" Arting tanong ni Harold sa bata. He even dared to pout as if he's a baby! Kapal talaga.

My son immediately waved his tiny hand on the air to disagree about what his Papa Harold said.

"No, Papa! Of course you are allowed po but..." Gael trailed off.

Tinapunan ako ng tingin ni Harold. I lifted my left brow to question him.

Hamunin mo ang anak ko, Harold. Sige lang.

I secretly laughed because of my own thoughts.

Lumakad ako papalapit sa kanila at tumigil din sa harap nilang dalawa. My son smiled at me widely. Showing his white pearly teeth.

"Mommy, Papa's nagtatampo on me," ngusong sumbong sa akin ng anak ko.

Agad kong tinapik ng palihim si Harold sa likod niya. Nilingon naman niya ako habang malokong nakangisi. Nang-iinis na naman ang walanghiya, oo.

"What?" Harold mouthed.

Sinenyasan ko siya ng nakakuyom kong palad.

"Don't you dare, Harold. Gusto kong katabi ang anak ko matulog ngayon!" I whispered. Enough for him to heard it.

Harold just stuck his tongue out at me before staring back at Gael who's now looking at us confusedly. Gael's knotted forehead says it all.

What a baby...

"Kiddo?" It was Harold who called my son.

"Yes, Papa?" si Gael.

Harold winked at me before talking again.

"Mommy Haier don't want you to sleep with Papa..." Kunwaring nagpapaawang sumbong din ni Harold.

Aba't ang—

"Mommy!" Oh, great, Harold!

I stretched my arms to get Gael from Harold. But my son just clung on him tightly.

"No, mommy! Papa's nagtatampo on me so I can't sleep with you po. Sorry..."

"But, baby... Mommy wants you to—"

I stopped talking when I heard Harold stopping himself to laugh. This Adam, really. Nakahanap na naman ng kakampi! Anak ko pa talaga! I haven't even sleep with my son for two consecutive nights already because of his pretentions like he was 'nagtatampo' as Gael calls it!

"Mommy, please... Pretty please..." Blinking his eyes, my son pleaded.

Tinitigan ko si Harold ng mariin. Habang ang walanghiya naman, todo pigil lang ng tawa niya dahil nakuha na naman ang simpatya ng anak ko.

Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang pumayag na sa kwarto ni Harold matulog si Gael. Besides, my son will only keep on asking me about his Papa Harold if I don't let him be with that deceiver.

Pumasok ako sa kwarto ko at kinuha ang coat at gloves ko. I need to meet one of my clients before seven in the evening. My secretary already arranged the venue so all I need to do is to meet her. I just need her to sign the contract as my boss ordered me to do it.

I wore a misty-rose color duster dress and a white clyde pants. I just partnered it with a black lita boots. I let my hair down and put a scarf around my neck for cold. I get my bag and the color white folder that contains the file and the contract before going out from the house. I headed my way to the garage and opened the car. I went inside before driving my way to the restaurant.

Mga ala sais y medya na rin ako nakarating sa lugar na iyon. It was a expensive restaurant here in New York. I didn't see my client yet so I decided to enter. Agad akong iginiya ng waitress doon papaupo sa upuang nakalaan sa amin. Umupo ako roon at naghintay.

"May I take your order, ma'am?" A guy on his twenty approached me.

He handed me the menu. Kinuha ko iyon mula sa waiter at tinignan. I don't know yet if that client of mine wants to dine or what. Kaya tinupi ko muna iyon bago tumingin sa waiter na nasa harap ko.

"I'm sorry. Is it okay if I just call you later when she arrive?" I asked politely. Pointing the chair in front of me.

The waiter instantly smiled at me.

"Sure, ma'am. Just let us know when you want to order," he said.

I smiled back at him.

"Okay, then," I said.

I was probably waiting for my client for about fifteen minutes already when I received a call coming from my secretary.

"Miss Haier, I just received a call from Miss Romualdez secretary that Miss Romualdez had an urgent meeting right now. She's asking for apology in behalf of Miss Romualdez, Miss Haier."

I shrugged my shoulders. Well... I have nothing to do about it then.

"Yeah, sure. No need to worry. I'll just go home now. Thanks, Sandra," I said then ended the call.

Tumayo na ako at nag-iwan na lang ng bill sa lamesa bago lumabas ng restaurant. Dumiretso ako sa kotse ko at dali-daling pumasok doon. I took off my coat and put it on the backrest of my seat before starting the engine of my car and drove away.

It has been five years. Five years since I left the Philippines.

I don't have any idea what happened within those years there. Dahil puro pag-aalaga kay Gael at pag-aaral lang ang inatupag ko rito. I don't even had the chance to contact Pai in those years. Kaya hindi ko tuloy maiwasan ang mapaisip kung ano na kaya ang kalagayan niya roon.

Especially that person. Him. I wonder what had happened to him for the past five years. Because the only thing that I am sure is that... He has already a daughter even before I left. So I guess... I guess he's already married with her. Like what was the plan then.

Napahinga na lamang ako ng malalim nang pumasok na naman sa isip ko ang tungkol sa kanya. It has been five years. Years had already passed yet I am still thinking about him for some times. Lalong-lalo na kapag mag-isa lamang ako.

That even sometimes... Even in the middle of the night, I dreamt of him touching me. That Kier was fucking me. But maybe it was just my hormones talking. It was only Gael. My son.

Or just maybe... Maybe I just missed him in those nights.