"You go fetch Sachiko in school, Kavius," utos ko. "Maghahanda kami ni Zane."

"Kakauwi ko lang e. Can't I have time to cuddle you?" he frowned. "Wife, I miss you. You've been ignoring me since this morning. Why? Did I do something? You mad at me?"

"Ang tanda mo na gusto mo ng cuddle."

"It's not about the age!"

"Stop, Kavius. It's our daughter's birthday. Hindi mo araw ngayon. Sa ibang araw ka na humingi ng cuddle."

Nagdadabog ito nang lumabas ng bahay. He's always like that whenever I'm distant or he feels like I am. I haven't told him about my flight next week for a convention. Isa ako sa mga naimbitahan and it's such an honor.

"Mommy, why is daddy acting like that?" Zane, our eldest, asked.

"Don't mind your dad, honey. Magpa-help ka kay yaya sa mga dadalhin mo. Are you excited for your little sister's birthday?"

"Yes, Mommy. I prepared a song and a bouquet of flowers for her."

"Alright. Do you have a speech too?"

"No, Mommy. I'll just tell her I love her, it'll be enough. Maybe Hyacinth does."

Hyacinth is our neighbor's daughter. Kaibigan at kalaro ito ni Sachiko dahil kaedaran lang din.

"Hm, you go to yaya na, anak. Mommy will prepare the foods."

Humalik pa ito sa pisngi ko bago tumalima. We are going to celebrate our daughter's seventh birthday today. It has been more than a decade of staying and choosing each other everyday. Couldn't ask for more because this is more than enough. Zane is twelve now and our youngest is entering another chapter of her life.

"Mommyyyyyyyyy!"

Habang inaayos ang mesa sa bakuran kung saan gaganapin ang kids party ay natigil ako dahil sa matinis na boses na iyon. And I saw Sachiko running towards me with a wide smile.

"Hello, baby. How are you?"

Sinalubong ko ito ng yakap at agad na kinarga. Wala ang bag nito ngunit naka-uniform pa. Saka ko lang nakita si Kavius na bitbit ang bag ng anak ngunit masama pa rin ang timpla ng mukha.

"I got perfect in our spelling quiz today! It was pretty hard but I managed."

"Wow. My baby is so smart, ah. I'm proud of you, baby. Give mommy a kiss, dali."

She giggled but then leaned in to give my cheeks few kisses.

"There were words such as obsequious and rendezvous. It was easy for me to spell them kasi po nag-aral tayo last night. I so love you, Mommy ko."

"How sweet, honey. Let's get you changed? It's your special day today!"

"My classmates is coming over. Thank you, Mommy. Thank you, Daddy. I love you po."

Kavius, who reached our spot, encircled his arms around me and gave his daughter a kiss in the forehead. Gawain niya iyon na nakasanayan na ng anak. Even Zane. Mahal na mahal at spoiled na spoiled ang dalawa naming anak sa kaniya.

"Mommy is mine later tonight, princess, okay? Sa 'yo nag-sleep si mommy kagabi," ani Kavius. "Mom is all yours in the daylight but mom belongs to dad at night, how's that?"

"Okay, Daddy."

"Thank you, princess."

"Now, let's get you changed. Kuya Zane prepared something special for you. And Hya is coming over, too," aniko.

Habang binabaybay ang hallway ng bahay ay nakasunod sa amin si Kavius na bitbit pa rin ang bag ng anak. He's not talking but I can feel him sulking. Busy lang talaga ako sa preparations ng birthday ni Sachiko kaya hindi ko ito nabibigyan ng atensyon. Attention seeker kasi ang lalaking ito. I was busy first thing in the morning because I had all the party planned out.

"My classmates saw your pictures in the internet, Mommy. And they asked me if you are really my mom or not."

"Really? What did you say then?"

"I said yes, because I am my mommy's baby. You're very pretty, mommy. A lot of my classmates tells me you don't look like your age," she frowned. "They want you to be their mommy, too. And I said they can't, I don't like it. I want to be your only baby. And their dad can't have you because I have a daddy and he is very handsome too. You're not going to grant their wishes, Mommy, right? Right?"

"Of course, baby. No one's going to share mommy. They can try taking mommy away from us," Kavius stepped in. "Dad's always ready to rescue the day."

I rolled my eyes. Kavius is still Kavius. Nothing changed over the past years. Namana yata ng mga bata ang pagiging mapang-angkin nito.

"You probably should, daddy. May kaklase po ako at gwapo po ang daddy niya."

"Honey, mommy's not going to do such ridiculous thing," sabi ko. "It's a bad thing, hm? Huwag mo munang isipin ang mga ganiyang bagay, it's not suitable for your age. Sa school at paglalaro ka muna mag-focus at hindi sa anumang bagay. Do you agree with mommy?"

"Why, Mommy? Seven na po ako."

"Still, hindi pa rin pwede. Adult stuff ang mga ganiyan, anak. It's not normal for you to think like that."

Hindi ko mawari kung saan nanggagaling ang mga ganitong bagay na lumalabas sa bibig ng anak ko. Siguro ay sa mga pinapanood niya ito o mga naririnig? I'm not sure. Pero hindi ko naman siya pinapanood ng mga pangmatanda na pelikula. Hindi normal para sa isang bata na mag-isip ng ganoong bagay. It involves cheating with pity reasons and differentiating of physical appearances. Na parang lamang ang kung sino mang mas angat ang kaanyuan.

"I'm worried for her, Kavius. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing iyong mga pinagsasabi niya."

Sachiko is inside her closet choosing a dress to wear. Kami naman ay nakaupo sa kaniyang kama at hinihintay siyang lumabas.

"Wife, she's innocent. She's a baby. Nandito naman tayo para gabayan ang anak natin. You don't have to be worried."

"But it's not normal. Nag-aalala ako."

Hinawakan nito ang kamay ko at hinila ako palapit sa kaniya. I rested my head over his shoulder.

"Wife, relax. Hindi natin pababayaan ang mga anak natin."

"Hindi ko pa rin maiwasan."

"I'll be more wary with Sachiko's way of thinking now, love. Ako na ang bahala sa kaniya."

The moment our daughter stepped out of her closet, I stood up and went to her. Inayos ko ang zipper ng pink dress niya sa likod.

"Let's blower your hair, baby, para ma-wear mo na 'yong crown mo," I whispered.

"You too, mommy. Dapat pair tayo!" she raised her arms pursuing me to carry her.

Pumasok si Zane sa kwarto ng kapatid at dumiretso sa tatay nito. Inayos naman ni Kavius ang butones ng anak.

"Handsome, Kuya!" Sachiko shrieked. "Do I look pretty?"

"Of course, princess," sagot ng kapatid.

Naglumikot ang paa nito at hinigpitan ang yakap sa 'kin. I let out a soft chuckle. Gustong-gusto talaga nito na may handaan sa birthday niya at maraming tao. We went inside her bathroom and Kavius followed with a blower in hand. Si Zane naman ay sumama rin pagpasok para ipaayos sa tatay ang buhok.

"Kukunin ko pa sana e. Thank you, love." I tiptoed and gave him a peck.

"Cuddle, please."

"Dad, you can cuddle mom later. Can you help me fix my hair?" Zane asked, annoyed by his dad's actions.

"You heard your son, go," utos ko.

Bagsak ang balikat na naglakad ito palapit sa anak. I proceeded to fix Sachiko's hair.

"I wish to be pretty like you, Mommy, when I reach your age. Were you a model before?"

"No, sweetie. Why? Do you want to be a model?"

"I can?" Her face lit up.

I nodded. "Of course. But we can do it during vacation, kasi need mo po mag-focus sa school."

"Okay! Am I allowed, Daddy?" she then turned to her dad. "We can use my money to go to Disneyland! I want to go there."

"Whatever you like, sweetheart."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Akala ko sasabihin nito na pupunta kami kahit kailan gustuhin ng bata. Kavius loves doing that, spoiling his children and me. Kaya minsan nakukurot ko sa singit e. Kung anong request ng anak, siya namang bigay niya.

"Lumalaki na naman ang anak natin." Kavius spoke.

Nakatingin kami sa anak namin na kumakain kasama ang mga kaibigan at kaklase nito. Zane is nowhere to be found, he's probably with his friends, too. Invited rin kasi ang mga ito, as per request of his sister.

"Time flies so fast."

"Dagdagan na natin. I want another one, wife."

"Sige, pero huwag kang magreklamo na wala akong oras sa 'yo, ha? Grabe ka pa naman kung magreklamo."

"On the second thought, we can have our third child after Sachiko's tenth birthday."

Lumingon ako sa kaniya. "Planado mo, ha. Ikaw ba magdadala ng siyam na buwan?"

"No, that's why you are amazing, wife."

Gaslight pa nga.

"Mommy!" Sachiko wave her hand.

Nag-iba agad ang hibla ng mukha ni Kavius. Mga anak niya lang naman ang kalaban niya sa atensyon ko. And whenever our children wants me, he can do nothing. Of course, that's his child. Maghihintay na lang siya hanggang sa mapagod o makatulog ang dalawa.

"Kailan ba kita masosolo?" he whispered.

"You made a deal with your daughter, alright? Mamayang gabi ang sa 'yo."

"And if Zane needs you?"

Ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng awa para sa asawa. Kawawa naman.

"I'll go talk to your daughter for a second, you wait here."

He was reluctant to let me go but he still did. Dinaluhan ko ang anak na tinawag ako.

"Mommy, subuan mo po ako, please?"

"Anak, look at daddy, malungkot siya."

"Oh, hindi mo po kasi siya pinapansin," humagikhik ito. "I get it, Mommy. You want to be with Daddy, too. Sa kaniya ka muna, Mommy. I can manage."

"Are you sure? You made a deal with your dad, pwede namang mamayang gabi siya."

"Paiyak na po ang Daddy, Mommy. He's always busy with work, too, so he deserves your time and attention. Always naman akong nandito sa house kaya dapat equal ang quality time niyo ni Daddy po, same sa amin ni Kuya."

"Thank you, honey. Kiss mommy."

Tumayo ako at nag-thumbs up sa asawa. Naglakad ako pabalik sa kaniya ngunit malalaki rin ang hakbang na lumapit ito sa akin.

"Paiyak ka na sabi ng anak mo. Kawawa naman," biro ko.

He frowned. "Hindi ako sanay na hindi mo ako napapansin."

"Kulang ka talaga sa pansin noon pa man." I encircled my arms around his nape. "Also, I have something to confess."

"Hm? Are you pregnant again?" ramdam ko ang excitement sa boses niya.

"Sira, hindi. I am invited to a convention, only the selected ones were invited. Next week. Sa Thailand. Am I allowed to go?"

"Of course. You're going there with me. I can't stand not being with you for so long so I'm coming with you."

"At sinong mag-aalaga sa mga anak natin?"

"Mama and Papa. Just for a week or so. Gustong-gusto nila na makasama ang apo."

"I'll talk to them about it. Cuddles?"

Muntik na akong mapahiyaw nang sakupin niya ako. He carried me in a bridal style. We entered the house with a wide grin in his lips. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang tuwang-tuwa ngayong araw.

Dahan-dahan niya akong inilapag sa kama namin. He didn't waste any time though. Agad siyang tumabi ng higa at yumapos sa 'kin.

"You're a real big baby."

"I was your first baby."

"You were. Then we made one. And another one."

"I can still remember the horrible emotion I felt when Zane came out of you. I was really scared. I didn't even know what to do. Kung tatawagan ba sina Mama, kung iiyak, o kung dadaluhan ka. I was confused and scared. It's scary. We have to be wary of your pregnancy because we never know."

"I remembered when you called me ugly before. Ang lakad ng loob mong laitin ako, ha."

Humigpit ang pagkakapulupot ng braso niya sa 'kin. Nagtaas siya ng tingin sa 'kin at nakikita ko ang kakaibang kislap sa kaniyang mga mata.

"It was an act. I was lying. I was also testing if you could remember me. You didn't."

"Hindi ko talaga maalala na nagkita tayo noon sa bahay namin. How old was I when you first saw me?"

"I'm not sure. Kolehiyala ka. You were tall and very very pretty. We were in the garden and it was Papa's birthday."

I closed my eyes and hummed. Napadilat ako nang may umusling ala-ala sa utak ko. It's kinda blurry to look back.

"Oh, my God! Naalala ko na!" I distanced myself a little and he immediately made a face of disagreement. "You were that kid with rude stares! Hindi siya klaro sa utak ko pero sure ako na ikaw talaga 'yon. Hindi ka ngumingiti sa 'kin at never mo rin akong pinansin."

He pulled me again and let out a soft chuckle.

"I wasn't rude. I'm just nervous around you. I'm not sure if it's love at first sight but maybe. When you became my wife, I threatened dozens of boys just to leave you alone. Marami talaga akong kaagaw sa 'yo. Kahit ngayon nga na may mga anak na tayo ay mayroon pa rin."

"You don't have to feel threatened with boys, Kavius. You're my husband. I intend to only love one man and that's you. Well, except of course, our son."

"I feel lucky."

"Ang sama natin, iniwan natin ang party ni Sachiko."

"We won't take long. Just a cuddle."

Napangisi ako. Hinaplos kong muli ang kaniyang buhok.

"Kung sumama siguro ako kay Mama at Papa noon, hindi mo malalaman na may anak tayo."

"And you think I'd stop looking for you? Wife, I'll spend all of what I have just to find you."

"You don't have to do that."

"I will if I have to. I love you, my adorable wife."

*****