Kaori

"May pupuntahan kami ng mga ka-banda ko. School live band." Ani Kady.

She's dressed like a freaking rockstar. Dumaan muna dito sa bahay saglit para tignan si Shivani. Shivani doesn't have or need a nanny. Binibisita ako ni Nev at Kady for the past weeks. Also, Hussein never left me and Shivani. He's always around. Saka na raw to babalik sa trabaho kapag medyo malaki na si Shivani. Hinayaan ko na, he's persistent though.

"Balik ka na lang bukas."

"Of course! May balak ka bang magtrabaho o stay at home mom lang?"

"I want to work, Kady. Kapag malaki na si Shivani. Also, mag-iipon muna ako. Nagbabalak akong magpatayo ng clinic."

Mahinang natawa si Kady. "Bakit hindi ka diretsong magpatayo ng ospital? You're really good at that field."

"In the far future, may be. Huwag muna ngayon. Hands on muna kay Shivani. Kapag medyo malaki na, saka na ako magsisimula." Iling ko.

"Sus! Sure ka bang hindi ka bubuntisin ulit ng boyfriend mo? Bro, look at him." Turo niya kay Hussein na nagdidilig ng halaman sa labas. "Hindi 'yan mags-settle para sa isang anak lang. 'Tsaka, bakit nagdidilig ng halaman 'yan?"

"Inutusan ko. Those are my favorite flowers."

Topless ito at nakapamewang pa habang nagdidilig. He looked so annoyed under the sun. He can't do anything about it. He follows and does whatever I say. He's pampering me because I am his queen and our daughter is his princess.

"You just made a freaking billionaire water your plants," Kady murmured.

Yes, I just did.

Hindi na rin naman nagtagal si Kady dahil sinundo na siya ng mga kasama. Hinatid ko si Kady hanggang sa gate ng bahay at nakaabang na nga doon ang mga kasama niya. I even saw who the driver was. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay Yvonne ang pangalan no'n. At iyong si Kaicy na nakilala ko dati.

"Love, I'm done watering your plants." Nakabusangot ang mukha na sabi ni Hussein habang naglalakad palapit sa 'kin. "Can I have my cuddles now? I really hate it when you're giving me less attention." His broad chest moved as he sighed heavily in front of me.

"Okay, big boy. Napatulog ko na rin naman si Shivani. My remaining time is all yours," natatawa kong sagot.

Sumilay ang ngisi nito sa labi. Napahiyaw ako sa gulat nang buhatin ako nito. Hindi na naiwasan ang pag-init ng mukha ko dahil sa ginawa nito.

"Public display of affection masyado, huh. Pagt-tsismisan tayo ng mga kasambahay."

"Let them be, love. I don't care anyways."

Umakyat kami sa taas at marahang inilapag ako nito sa kama. He planted soft kisses all over my face down to my neck. Panay pa ang tawa ko dahil sa kiliting dala ng labi niya sa tuwing lumalapat sa balat ko.

"I'll go take a shower. Stay here and wait for me." He planted a kiss on my lips before going inside the bathroom.

Napailing ako habang tinititigan ang pinto na pinasukan nito. He's giving me too much love and attention. Na gustong-gusto ko naman. Hussein is my big boy, he is mine. Kasal na lang ang kulang at akin na talaga siya. I'm not yet ready for marriage. Not totally. Ready ako na hindi. I can't make up my mind. As long as my family is out there hating me, I don't think I can have my peace.

I grabbed my iPad and the first thing I saw on my social media accounts were still our family name. Wow. The news didn't die down that easily. Ilang buwan na rin pero mainit pa rin ang nangyari.

'Why did the royal Princess cancelled the engagement?'

'Did the princess ran away with a beggar?'

'Who did Kaori Norhaya married?'

'Where is Kaori now?'

'Princess Kaori updates'

'Royal family updates'

'Royal family statement?'

Natigil lang ang pagbabasa ko nang may kamay na kumuha sa iPad ko. Hussein is just wearing a damn towel and his hair is dripping wet. Mariin din ang titig nito sa akin. Nagbaba ako ng tingin at marahang napalunok nang dumaan ang tingin ko sa katawan niya. My big boy really is gifted. Malaki... ang katawan. Eight pack abs? This is mine. He's mine.

"Why are you reading these nonsense, baby?"

"Nami-miss ko lang sila."

"I know, baby. Come here."

"Basa ka pa!" Ngumuso ako. "Magbihis ka nga muna!"

He chuckled. "I'll do it later."

Lumapat ang isang tuhod nito sa kama at dumukwang palapit sa 'kin. I reached his handsome face and encircled my arms around his neck. That sent smile to his lips. Hindi na nito nilubayan ng titig ang mukha ko. My big boy is badly whipped. Tuluyan na itong bumagsak sa tabi ko na ikinatawa ko. I didn't protest when Hussein wrapped his arms around me and dipped his head in my neck. Hinayaan ko siyang gawin iyon dahil iyon naman talaga ang gawain niya sa tuwing naglalambing.

"Are you sad? Do you want me to get ice cream and chocolate?" marahang bulong nito.

"I'm okay, big boy."

"Do you want to see them? We could do that. Sasama ako."

"Hm, gusto ko. Gusto kong malaman nila na sa 'yo ako magpapakasal. Hindi sa ibang lalaki. Hindi kahit kanino."

Humigpit ang yakap nito sa 'kin. Narinig ko pa ang iilang mura nito. We stayed in that position for a couple of minutes. Sa likod niya ay ang crib kung saan natutulog ang anak namin. Kuhang-kuha ang mukha ng ama. Lakas nga naman ng dugo. Pero singkit naman, sa akin nagmana.

Tumagilid ako ng higa at hinawakan ang buhok niya. I comb his hair using my fingers. Idinantay ko rin ang hita ko sa baywang niya.

"Let's go out tomorrow." He murmured.

"Hm? What about Shivani?"

"Dad is coming. He wants to see and spend time with our daughter. Tayo lang bukas."

"Ilang araw siya rito? Saan siya matutulog?"

"A couple of weeks. He's not allowed here, I only have one room aside from the maid's quarter downstairs. Magh-hotel siya."

"Bakit kasi isang kwarto lang?"

"Why would I want to have many rooms in my house? I live alone. I don't want to live in a condo too."

"Saan mo dinadala ang mga babae mo, kung gano'n? Sa mga hotel? Huh! Do you get girls in every country you go to?" akusa ko.

"Damn, baby. I never had any girls before. I don't book hotels for them either."

Hinampas ko ang braso niya na agad naman niyang naiwasan. Hinuli nito ang kamay ko at hinalik-halikan.

"And here I am who thought you were a saint," lukot ang mukha na sabi ko.

"I used to hate the thought of settling down but look at me right now, I'm willing to move heaven and earth just to marry you."

Tawa lang ang isinagot ko sa kaniya. Nagbibiro lang naman ako. Alam kong walang babae ang boyfriend ko. Patay na patay kaya 'to sa 'kin. Papatayin ko siya kung mayroon. Just kidding.

"We'll get married here, hm? Para wala ka ng takas sa 'kin. Then we'll get married again in my hometown. And I plan to marry you under the eiffel tower. Church wedding, beach wedding, damn, even forrest wedding."

"What? Is that even legal?" I chuckled.

"Everything is legal under my name."

"Alright. We'll do that."

"Love, that's my line," he groaned.

"And you're mine."

"That too," he accusingly said.

"I'm yours." I chuckled. "I'm pretty sure that's my line."

"Yeah, definitely."

*****