Kaori

The issue never went down after all the claims that happened. We flew back to the Philippines and lived here for quite sometime now. Inayawan ko nga na mag-live in kami ni Hussein dahil ayaw ko ng gano'n hanggat hindi kami kasal. I don't know, I don't like that. May pera pa naman ako sa bank account ko. Kaya kong mabuhay for the rest of my life. But Hussein wouldn't let me go. Gusto niyang magkasama kami sa iisang bahay. And that happened.

"Hussein?"

Nakahiga ito sa sun lounger malapit sa pool, ako naman ay nagdidilig ng mga halaman. My tummy is bigger than before. Kaunting hintay nalang at lalabas na si baby.

"Can you please sit down, love? You're scaring me!"

"I'm okay, okay? Hayaan mo na ako."

"Aren't you tired yet? You've been watering the plants for two hours," naiinis na tanong nito.

"I did?"

"Yes, love. Bitawan mo na 'yan. Umupo ka na dito."

Binitawan ko ang hose at lumapit sa kaniya. He sat down and made me sit in between his thighs. Agad na humaplos ang kamay nito sa tiyan ko at hinalik-halikan ako sa batok pababa sa balikat.

"Bakit mo pinakialaman ang bank account ko?" taas kilay kong tanong.

"Hm?" he hummed.

"Big boy, monitored ko ang bank account ko. And my money is increasing. Ikaw ang may kagagawan no'n."

"Hm, yes. So?"

"Kulang nalang mag-blackcard ako!"

"I have mine, you can use my card."

"Blackcard?"

"Yes, baby. Do you want to use it?"

"No! May pera ako. Huwag mo kasing dagdagan. After kong manganak, babalik ako sa trabaho. I'll earn my own money."

"But you don't have to, sweetheart," he frowned. "I'll provide for us."

"Gusto ko nga."

"Okay, okay. If that's what my baby wants."

Hindi nito inaalis ang kamay sa tiyan ko. He's caressing it softly. Tuluyan ng pumaikot ang isang braso nito sa baywang ko at mas diniin ako sa katawan niya.

Huminga ito ng malalim. "Bango mo."

"Adik ka?"

"Hm."

Ganoon lang ang eksena namin buong araw. Mabilis na dumaan ang mga araw at mas nalalapit ang paglabas ni baby dito sa mundo.

"Hussein?"

"Yes, love?"

"Gusto ko ng mag-alaga ng aso."

"Hm. What breed?"

"Pomeranian. Oh, and a Chow Chow. Dalawa. Gusto namin ni baby ng dalawa."

"Okay, we'll have that. Do you want us to go or we'll let Arthur do that?" marahang tanong niya.

"Let's go."

Tumayo ako.

"Okay, baby."

Siya ang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan habang ako naman ay pumapapak ng ice cream sa passenger seat. He has no say about it. Anak niya ang dinadala ko at wala siyang karapatang magreklamo.

Pagdating namin doon ay mas nauna pa akong pumasok. Nang sumunod si Hussein sa 'kin ay hindi na maipinta ang mukha nito.

"What? Galit ka?" taas kilay kong tanong.

"No."

"Oh? Galit ka yata eh. Sige, huwag na tayo tumuloy," naiiyak kong sabi.

"Love, I'm not mad, okay? Ayokong nauuna ka sa 'kin. Dapat kasama mo ako palagi sa tabi mo. I'm the one who should open doors for you, always!"

"Arte mo. Tara na nga," nakangiti kong sabi at hinigit siya.

"We would like to have two puppies please. A Pomeranian and a Chow Chow."

Pet Paws ang tawag sa shop nila. Maraming aso sa loob at talagang ang cute nilang lahat. Their cuteness were irresistible. Gusto ko silang iuwi lahat.

"Sure, Ma'am. Dito po tayo."

Sumunod kami sa kaniya. Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Hussein sa kamay ko at wala yatang balak na pakawalan iyon.

Napaawang ang labi ko nang makakita ng isang puti na Pomeranian puppy. Katabi niyon ay isa ring itim na Chow Chow puppy. This is literally destiny!

"Love, gusto ko itong dalawa. Tignan mo sila oh," I pulled him.

"Okay, we'll have that."

Excited na sinabi ko iyon sa staff ng shop. She happily accompanied us back to the front desk. Sakto namang may dumaang isang lalaking staff ng shop at may hila-hilang itim na aso. Agad akong napakapit sa damit ni Hussein at nang mapansin niya iyon ay idinikit niya ako lalo sa katawan niya.

"We also have this Belgian Malinois, Ma'am. Military dog po ito at ready for adoption na." She explained.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Hussein.

"Pwedeng i-adopt ang mga military dog?" tanong ko.

"Oo naman, Ma'am. Kung retired na sa duty ang military working dog ay pwede na itong i-adopt ng mga civilian."

"We'll get the dog," Hussein uttered, staring at the black dog.

Habang naglalakbay kami sa kalsada pauwi ay tinanong ko ito kung bakit kinuha niya iyong military dog. Hindi naman problema sa 'kin 'yon. Gusto ko lang malaman ang rason. I'd take good care of that dog too.

"For protection and security, babe. Also, I want to keep that dog. Can we? You mad?"

"Palagi mo talagang tinatanong kung galit ako. Hindi ako galit. 'Tsaka, gusto ko rin alagaan eh. Anong ipapangalan natin?" tanong ko.

"I suck at giving names, baby. What's on your mind?"

"Sergeant. I want to name him Sergeant," I bit my lower lip.

"Sergeant it is, honey."

"What about the two?"

"Go on, name them."

"Ayaw. Ikaw magpangalan sa Chow Chow, ako sa Pomeranian." Iling ko.

"Hm, okay. Let's name him Memphis," he said.

Memphis... hm. I like that.

"I'll name her Cid, the Pomeranian one."

"Sergeant, Memphis, and Cid." He smiled.

"I love you," naglalambing kong sabi.

"Damn. My heart," he breathes hard.

"Hm?"

"Cuddle later? In our bed?" he huskily asked.

"I want that. Netflix. Ice cream. Chocolate."

"Yes, baby. We'll have that."

"Hindi kaya awayin ni Sergeant sina Memphis at Cid?" tanong ko.

"Relax, he won't."

Pagdating sa garahe ay hinayaan ko munang mauna si Hussein sa pagbaba. Kinda learned my lesson. Nang buksan nito ang pintuan sa tabi ko ay bumaba na ako. Huminto ako saglit na ikinahinto niya rin.

"Ayoko na maglakad," reklamo ko.

Napangisi lang ito at pinangko ako. Si Arthur ang sumalubong sa 'min sa nakabukas na pintuan.

"Three dogs in the car, you know what to do," Hussein said.

Hussein headed upstairs. Ako na ang nagbukas habang karga niya ako. Nang ibaba ako nito ay lumapat ang likod ko sa malambot na kama.

"Cuddle," he smirked.

Nagsumiksik ito sa 'kin na ikinatawa ko. This man really is a big baby.

"I love you. No matter what happens, I will always love you." He murmured. "I love everything about you."

"I love you too, big boy. Ikaw lang."

"That's so fucking good to hear. No other man. Just me."

"Hm, just you."

Soft-spoken man is my top tier. And Hussein definitely passed that standard. He never raised his voice when he's mad at me or frustrated. He's just calm and would tell me what I did wrong or what he's going through as of the moment. I'm dating someone who stays kind even during fights. This is a relationship where we both grow together. If we both want it, it will work. I hope he knows I'll always care.

"Big boy, don't leave me, okay? You're all I have. And our baby."

"I should be the one asking you that, sweetheart. No leaving again, okay? My heart probably wouldn't be the same if you ever leave me."

A million feelings all for one person.

"I promise. No leaving."

*****