Chapter 10

Why Can't You Love Me Back?

My lower body was ducked into the covers while Yael’s shirt was lifted up just enough to expose my one breast for my son to latch on it. Halos kakagising lang niya at kami na lamang ang dalawa dito dahil si Linda ay nasa baba na.

Yael and Linda are down stairs. Inaasikaso nila ang mga gamit namin ni Mikel na kakadating lamang. I should be the one arranging and checking our things kung kumpleto ba o may kulang.

But Yael is being his dominant self, ayaw akong palabasin! And his reason is he doesn’t what his men to see me in this kind of state! Sana man lang kasi iuna niyang i-akyat ang mga damit ko dito nang makapag bihis ako at makababa ‘di ba?

Nagbaba ako nang tingin kay Mikel na kasalukuyang nilalaro ang kwintas ko. Hindi na talaga niya naalis ang habit niyang ganito sa tuwing bine-breastfeed ko siya.

“Your daddy is really pissing me off…” nasabi ko na lamang sa kanya sabay buntong hininga. Kumurap lang siya at pinagpatuloy lang ang paglalaro niya sa kwintas ko.

“But you shouldn’t hate nor be scared by your daddy. He’s really nice, you should give him a chance to prove himself to you, alright, Mikey?” kaagad kong bawi at hinalikan ang noo niya.

Pinaupo ko si Mikel sa kama after breastfeeding him at inayos ko na rin ang sarili ko. He was smiling and cooing words that I pretend to understand. Well, I kind of understand some of his words.

Maybe it's a mother and son thing? Anyway, my son is happy and being giddy again. Na re-charge nanaman kasi siya.

“Plane! Plane!”

I smiled widely at him. “Yes, we will get your airplane toys later… We'll just wait for your daddy, alright? Alright!” I said in a tiny voice as I lean my head down to his giving him a nose to nose.

He giggled loudly. Maging ako ay natawa dahil sa tawa niya. God, he is sooo adorable!

Sa kalagitnaan ng pagkukulitan naming mag-ina ay biglang bumukas ang pintuan at nang tumingin ako doon ay si Yael ang nakita ko. He was carrying out of my suitcases. Inilagay niya iyon sa gilid at pagkatapos ay tiningnan si Mikel.

He was looking at Mikel who's currently playing with my hair while giggling loudly. Nase-sense ko kay Yael na parang may nagtatalo sa loob niya habang nakatingin sa anak kong masayang-masayang nilalaro ang buhok ko.

He was kind of hesitating if he'll walk towards us and try to get along with Mikel or he'll just stay right there from where he is to avoid scaring Mikel off.

What I'm feeling towards Yael was kind of hot and cold? Yeah, I guess you can call it like that. There are times that I really, really want to wrap my hands around his neck but there are also some times that I feel bad for him.

Kasi nagu-guilty ako. Alam ko naman kasi na sabik din siya kay Mikel at gustong-gusto na niya itong mayakap at makalaro. He wants to be a father to Mikel but my son won't let him… He's still adjusting.

Ayaw niya pa rin talaga sa daddy niya dahil natakot siya noong unang pagkikita nila. Mikel actually doesn't really like that. Je doesn't like it when some random stranger was trying to touch him… But in this case, Yael was far from being a random stranger.

He's Mikel's father. Meaning, hindi mabubuo si Mikel kung walang Yael.
Palihim kong pinagmamasdan si Yael habang pinagmamasdan kami ni Mikel na nagkukulitan. Looks like he chose the option number two. He was just standing there on the corner being contented in watching his son smile and laugh.

I let out a deep sigh before I caught Mikel's attention.

“Mikey… There goes your daddy.” I said in an excited tone. Bahagyang nagulat si Yael sa sinabi ko. Hindi ko na lang pinansin iyon at itinuro pa siya para tingnan siya ni Mikel.

“There… Your daddy’s there…” I said urging my son to look towards Yael’s direction. He didn’t listen to me. Ipinagpatuloy lang niya ang paglalaro niya sa buhok ko.

Si Yael na ang lumapit at umupo siya sa tabi namin.

“Hey, buddy…” Yael said.

Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Mikel at tinanggal iyon mula sa pagkakahawak niya sa buhok ko. He looked at me and I smiled sweetly at him.

“Mikel ayan si daddy oh… try to call him again, Yael.” Sabi ko kay Yael para tuluyan na niyang makuha ang atensyon ni Mikel.

“Mikel, hey…” marahan niyang sabi. Lumawak ang mga ngiti ko at tumalon ang puso ko nang balingan na ni Mikel nang tingin ang kanyang daddy.

Maging si Yael ay napangiti nang tingnan siya ni Mikel.

“Sweetheart, that’s your daddy Yael.”

“El… El…” Mikel tried pronouncing his father’s name.

“Mikel, no—“

“Yes, I’m Yael… Captain Yael Theodore Salcedo. How about you little guy, what’s your name?” Hindi pinansin ni Yael ang pag-protesta ko kay Mikel nang tawagin siya nito sa pangalan niya.

Mukha ngang masaya na siya dahil kahit na mismong pangalan pa niya ang sinubukang banggitin ni Mikel.

“What’s your name daw? Say ‘my name is Mikel Theodore Ponce de Leon’… ikaw nga anak.”

Nang banggitin ko ang buong pangalan ni Mikel ay bigla akong binalingan ng tingin ni Yael. I couldn’t read his expression but I’m not feeling good about this.

“Ponce de Leon?” kunot noo niyang sabi sa akin. Shit! Oo nga pala at apelyido ko pa rin ang gamit ni Mikel.

I bit my bottom lip before nodding. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at sinubukang alalayan si Mikel na kasalakuyang nilalaro ang comforter. He’s trying to trace the designs using his index finger.

“I’m changing Mikel’s surname, Beatrix. Hindi pwede ‘to… I want my son to use my last name; I want him to use Salcedo.” His voice was firm.

I let out a deep sigh. “Okay… I’m not going to argue with you about that.” Sagot ko. Bakit pa? Siya naman talaga ang ama ng anak ko.
And oh my God, who are we kidding anyway? Hitsura pa lamang ni Mikel ay Salcedong-Salcedo na.

Muli kong itinuon ang atensyon ko kay Mikel na kasalukuyang nage-enjoy sa pag te-trace ng designs sa comforter. I’m planning to feed him steamed vegetables a little later tapos ay paliliguan ko na siya.

“Theodore…” Muli nanamang nagsalita si Yael.

Kaagad akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya at pinaningkitan siya ng mga mata.

“What, you want to change his second name too?” I couldn’t hide the bitterness and sarcasm in my voice.

He shook his head. “No… Theodore… I like it.” He said playing his second name or his son’s second name on his tongue.

I was stunned for a moment and before I could even respond to that he looked away and fixed his attention to Mikel.

I inspected him as he stares at Mikel. Maya-maya pa ay mukhang hindi na siya nakapag pigil at binuhat niya si Mikel mula sa kinauupuan niya.

When Mikel saw his father holding him that’s when the chaos begin. Mikel was throwing tantrums while trying to get away from Yael. He was quite surprised about Mikel’s behavior and I wasn’t.

Siguro iniisip ni Yael na porket pinansin na siya ni Mikel kanina ay ibig sabihin ay gusto na niya ito.

But the stupid truth is he still doesn’t. I know my son too well and I think Yael needs to give him a little time. I get it that he’s excited and all about Mikel but he has to take things slowly.

Frustrating, I know. Parang gusto ko na nga ring ma-frustrate sa tuwing ganito ang eksena. Aminin ko man sa hindi ay nahihirapan din ako para kay Yael pero hindi ko naman mapipilit si Mikel na gustuhin kaagad ang ama niya. Isang taon namin itong hindi nakasama at kasalanan ko iyon.

It was my fault. Everything’s my fault. Kaya hindi na ako nagulat nang masama akong binalingan nang tingin ni Yael matapos niyang ibalik si Mikel kung saan siya nakapwesto kanina.

Mikel immediately crawled towards me as Yael turns his back on me.

“He likes airplane!” I said, not too low for Yael to hear. Alam kong narinig niya iyon dahil saglit siyang tumigil ngunit nagpatuloy rin naman siya sa paglalakad paalis ng kwarto.

“Plane! Plane!” ani Mikel nang marinig ako. Nagbaba ako ng tingin sa kanya. He was happy again like he his father didn’t piss him a while ago.

I smiled at him although I can feel my chest clenching. “Yes, baby. Airplane.”

--
Ilang minuto ang lumipas ay lumabas ako ng kwarto ni Yael karga-karga si Mikel. Nadatnan ko si Linda sa baba kung saan maraming mga kahon at bags ang nakatambak sa marmol na sahig. Bahagya akong nagulat nang makita ko na may kasama siyang babaeng mga nasa 30s na.

“Oh ayan na pala si ma’am, ate Charla! Tingnan mo, ang ganda ‘di ba? Sabi ko naman sa’yo magaganda mga tipo ng sir natin!” bida ni Linda. Napatingin naman sa akin si Charla at nginitian ko na lamang siya.

“O, pati iyan ang anak nila ni sir. Gwapo rin! Nakakaloka ‘no, ate Charla? Para tayong alipin ng mga diyos!” tili niya.

I blushed and shook my head at Linda’s statement. Itong si Linda talaga ay palaging hyper, akala mo ay palaging naka-enervon e.

“Mahiya ka nga Linda… Itago mo na lang ang paghanga mo dahil mukhang naiilang si ma’am sa mga pinagsasasabi mo.” Saway ni Charla ka Linda. Linda just pouted.

“Hindi kaya! Mabait ‘yang si ma’am!” depensa ni Linda.

Napangiwi na lang si Charla sa kulit ni Linda. “Naku ma’am pagpasensyahan niyo na po. Ako nga po pala si Charla. Kakabalik ko lang kani-kanina.” Pakilala niya.

I smiled. “Sanay na ako diyan kay Linda… Anyway, nice to meet you, Charla. This is my son, Mikel.”

“Say ‘hi’ to them.”

“Hi!” Mikel said frantically at kaagad na ibinaon ang mukha niya sa balikat ko. Linda and Charla both laughed.

“Ang cute naman, nahihiya pa.” Linda giggled.

“Ang gwapo nga po ma’am. Kamukhang-kamukha po si sir Yael.”
Kung may pera akong nakukuha sa tuwing ganyan ang komento ng mga tao ay malamang ay mayaman na ako.

“Nasaan nga pala si Yael?” tanong ko dahil pansin kong wala siya. Nang lumabas siya ng kwarto kanina ay hindi na siya bumalik.

“Nasa taas ma’am. Inaayos po yung magiging kwarto ni Mikel.”

Ine-expect ko na sasabihin ni Linda na umalis siya pero mas nagulat pa ako nang hindi ganoon ang sagot na nakuha ko.

“R-really?” hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong. Akala ko ay nagpunta na siya kay Vien. But it was touching to know what he’s doing upstairs.

Ramdam na ramdam ko talaga ang pagmamahal niya kay Mikel. Siya pa mismo ang nag-ayos ng magiging kwarto niya.

“Opo ma'am! Nakita ko nga kanina na patapos na si sir!” Ani Linda.

Tumango-tango ako. “Sige, mamaya ko na lang sisilipin. Ipag s-steam ko muna si Mikel ng gulay… Did you happen to see his high chair, by the way?”

“Iyong upuan mo na mataas na parang nakikita ko sa Jollibee?”

Natawa ako ng bahagya. “Parang ganon siguro.”

Siniko ni Charla si Linda. “Ano ka ba naman, Linda! Ikaw na nga ang mag steam ng gulay! Ah, ma'am… Ako na lang po ang kukuha nung high chair ni Mikel.”

Umiling ako. “Naku h'wag na, kaya ko naman. Gawin niyo na lang kung ano ang inuutos ng sir niyo.” Tanggi ko.

Sanay naman kasi ako na ako lahat ang gumagawa at nag-aalalaga kay Mikel. I became an expert through multitasking because of my son.

Although us humans can't really do multitasking kasi sa isa lang kaya mag focus ng utak natin, so maybe what U've been doing for months wasn't multitasking at all. I just don't know to call it.

My professor way back in college also told us that when humans try to multi task, nababawasan tayo ng neurons dahil nas-stress ang utak natin.

No wonder why cheaters are morons. They were trying to multi task two relationships at a time! Kidding aside.

“Ang utos nga ni sir ma'am ay gawin kung mayroon ka mang ipagu-utos kaya sige na ma’am. Kami na ni ate Charla dito! Sit box and relax!” Sagot ni Linda.

“Sit ‘back’ kasi iyon, Linda!” Ani Charla.

“Hindi na ba pwede ang ‘sorry’ ate Charla?”

Napailing na lang ako. Wow. Sa tingin ko ay hindi ako mabo-bored dito sa pag stay ko dito ng isang taon. The people here are so warm and funny… Yael's an exception of course. That guy has turned into a cold blooded beast.

Napagdesisyonan kong umukyat na lang muna para hanapin ang magiging kwarto ni Mikel.

May narinig akong pagpupukpok mula sa katabing kwarto ng kwarto ni Yael— or namin. Geez. Hindi pa rin talaga ma process ng utak ko na parehas kami ng kwartong tutuluyan!

“My-my! quash!”

I kissed the top of his head. “Yes, I'll feed you squash later… We'll just gonna go check your new room.”

Hindi na ako nag atubili. I opened the door and I gasped when I saw Yael topless while hammering something on the wall. Sweatpants na lamang ang suot niya, sweat was dripping from his hair down to his abs and to… to his v-line. Dammit!

Palagi ba niyang ibinabalandra ang katawan niya ng ganito knowing that he's surrounded by women? I mean, what if sina Charla at Linda ang nakakita?

Tumigil siya sa pagmamartilyo nang mapansin niyang nakatayo kami ni Mikel sa may pintuan.

Tiningnan niya kami. “I'm almost done.” he informs. Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa paligid.

Mikel's room was huge. Sobrang-sobra pa ito para sa kanya. Nandoon na rin ang lahat ng gamit niya at naka-ayos na ngunit may mga kaunti pang nakakalat pa sa sahig. Nevertheless, the room's perfect. I love it and I know Mikey do too.

“What are you still doing here, Beatrix? Get Mikel out of here. Baka maka-apak pa siya ng pako.”

I frowned. I was still enjoying the view… the view of Mikel's room at hindi iyong kung anong view ha! The curtains are blue and even the walls. Lalaking-lalaki.

“Hindi ko naman siya ibababa.” Sabi ko. I just want to stay a little longer and watch him do things for Mikel.

“Quit being stubborn, Beatrix. Hindi nga si Mikel ang makaka-apak ng pako, ikaw naman!”

I bit my bottom lip. Was he concern? To me? Shit! My cheeks flushed instantly and I hate it!

I cleared my throat. “It's okay, I used to be a nurse. I know how to do first aid.” I joked.

His jaw clenched. “Talaga bang matigas pa ang ulo mo kaysa sa anak natin, Beatrix?” Madilim niyang sabi.

I was stunned for a bit. My eyes widened, my heart raced, and my palms began sweating.

Natin. Natin. Natin.

It keeps on echoing inside my brain. All this time he was just claiming Mikel as his and I was claiming Mikel as mine. It was always ‘my son’ and ‘anak ko’ but never the ‘natin’.

It was just a simple common word that came out from Yael's mouth but it has managed to make my knees weak and the butterflies on my tummy gone wild.

Damn he was now claiming Mikel as ours. Mine and his!

“Prevention is better than cure. Now, out.” nang muli siyang nagsalita ay doon lamang ako muling nahimasmasan.

“Out…” Mikel copied and Yael was quite surprised for a bit but he managed to give OUR son a half smile while nodding like he's agreeing to what Mikel had said.

“Yes, you and mommy should go out for now.” Yael replied.

“Out.” Mikel repeated again and I heard Yael chuckled. Biglang naging light ang aura niya.

“O-okay. Were out.” I said to Mikel. My throat went dry. Dammit!

--

Two weeks had already passed and we're still living here together with Yael.

Mikel is now sleeping in his room. May isang queen sized bed doon katabi ng kama ni Mikel. Yael placed that bed there para doon humiga sa tuwing binabantayan niya si Mikel sa pagtulog.

Actually, parang kwarto na nga ni Mikel at Yael iyon. He was always staying there. Sa tuwing napapatulog ko na si Mikel ay naka-abang na si Yael doon. Hindi pa nga ako nakatulog nang katabi ko siya.

Oo, kung minsan ay nagigising na lang ako na katabi ko na siya pero sa tuwing matutulog ay mag-isa lang ako at madalas naman ay matutulog ako na hindi ko siya katabi at magigising din ako na hindi ko siya katabi.

There are nights that I want to sleep in Mikel's room too kasi namimiss ko rin namang makatabi sa pagtulog ang anak ko but he was always there… Ayaw na nga niya akong katabi at alam kong isa rin yon sa mga rason kung bakit doon siya madalas tapos ay tatabi pa ako doon?

I'm not dense. I know what he's been doing. Baka nga naman kasi pag-awayan pa nila ni Vien… Kung ako si Vien ay magseselos din naman ako kung alam kong may katabing ibang babae ang boyfriend ko.

Pero regardless that, nakikita ko naman kung gaano mag effort si Yael para magustuhan lang siya ni Mikel. It's been two weeks and Yael was still pursuading our son like a great suitor.

Kahit doon lang ay masaya na ‘ko. He really, really loves our son.

May mga times na pinapansin ni Mikel si Yael pero kapag hawak talaga ay ayaw ni Mikel.

“Mikel, h'wag malikot! Baka mabangga ka diyan sa pader!” Saway ko sa kanya.

He's been running and running around his room for almost half an hour! Ako ang napapagod sa kanya at kanina ko pa gustong uminom ng tubig.

Ayoko namang mag-utos kina Linda para doon lang. It was just a glass of water, I can go downstairs and get myself one.

“Hey, buddy.”

Wow, thank God Yael's here! Kanina pa siyang umaga wala at ngayon ay dumating na siya at may dalang paperbag.

“Yael, I'll leave you two here for awhile. Kanina pa ako nauuhaw.” Sabi ko.

Tumango siya habang kay Mikel pa rin nakatingin. Well, the “dahil kay Mikel kaya lang kita pinakikisamahan” vibe is always present here. He never failed to make me feel that way every single day.

I wanted to ask him kung ano ba ang laman ng paper bag pero h'wag na lang. Lumabas na lang ako mula sa kwarto ni Mikel.

I was currently closing the door pero tumigil din ako nang mapanuod kong lapitan ni Yael si Mikel.

“My-my!” kaagad akong hinanap ni Mikel.

“Mommy's out to get herself a glass of water. She'll be back soon.”

“My-my!” Nagsisimula nang mag tantrums si Mikel ngunit nakasilip pa rin ako kung ano ang susunod na gagawin ni Yael.

“I have something for you…” Kaagad na inibalas ni Yael kung ano man ang laman ng paperbag and it was airplane. Lumuhod si Yael para makapantay si Mikel.

“Plane! Plane!” Biglang lumiwanag ang mukha niya. Napangiti si Yael at kaagad na iniabot iyon kay Mikel at tinanggap naman iyon ni Mikel kaagad. Our stubborn kid didn't even say thank you.

Pero napangisi pa rin ako. I think kids are really smart. That's what I observed about them everytime that they were with those adults that they hate.

Syempre those adults will do everything just to please the kid so they will end up giving them food or something that the kid loves in return for the kid to like them.

Tapos matatawa ang mga nakakapanood, they would say ‘ang galing, nauto mo ang bata.’ But in reality, you are the gullible one. Ikaw ang nauto ng bata dahil matapos niyang maubos ang pagkaing ibinigay mo ay ayaw nanaman niya sa'yo and I find that funny.

Seems like this moment's perfect. Mikel was being giddy while playing with his toy and Yael's smiling from ear to ear while watching our son.

It was so perfect and heart melting. Mukhang nadala si Yael sa moment at muli niyang sinubukang buhatin si Mikel.

Remember what I said that I find these kinds of situations funny? Well, not anymore.

Not when Mikel began crying and throwing his toy. Sinubukan niyang makawala mula sa pagkakahawak ni Yael ngunit ayaw siyang bitawan nito.

“Ayaw! Ayaw! My-my!”

“No, please… Just let me hold you.” Yael was practically begging.

Mikel started throwing punches on Yael's face and shoulders. This was like the scene when the two first met.

“No! Ayaw!” mas lalong lumakas ang sigaw at pag-iyak niya.

“Why can't you love me back?” I heard Yael's voice cracked… and my heart too.

I started to feel panic when I saw Mikel turning blue again. Mukhang hindi lang ako ang nakapansin non at maging si Yael din. Kaagad niyang binitawan si Mikel.

“I'm sorry. I'm sorry… Beatrix! Beatrix!”

Kaagad akong pumasok at nang makita ako ni Mikel ay tumakbo siya papalapit sa akin at niyakap ako. I apologetically looked at Yael. His eyes are full of pain.

“He's crying… I didn't mean to… tsk. I'll leave you two here.” Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin niya but I can the moist in his eyes. My chest clenched.

Sinundan ko siya nang tingin habang palabas siya. Nang kami na lang ang naiwan ni Mikel dito ay marahan kong hinagod ang likod niya.

“Anak naman… Yael is your daddy. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya ay wala ka dito. Your daddy loves you so much so could you please be nice to him? Hindi ka naman sasaktan ng daddy mo anak… He just wants to play with you and hold you.” maging ako ay naiyak na rin habang kinakausap ko si Mikel as if naman ay maiintindihan niya ako.

But I know somehow that he would. Our son is smart.

“I’m sorry… It was all my fault. Kasalanan ko kung bakit ayaw mo kay daddy, kasalanan ko rin kung bakit nasasaktan siya kasi ayaw mo sa kanya… I'm so sorry.” I sobbed while hugging my son tight.

I'm so sorry, Yael.

--

Nang makatulog na si Mikel ay inihiga ko na siya sa bed niya. Tapos ay lumabas ako para sana kausapin si Yael pero nagulat ako nang makita kong suot niya ang uniporme niyang pam-piloto at may suitcase na siyang dala-dala.

“Saan ka pupunta?” Hindi ko mapigilang tanong.

“Tulog na ba siya?” He didn't answer my question.

I nodded. “Saan ka pupunta? Bakit ka naka-uniporme?” I pressed.

He sighed. “I'm going back to work and I’ll be gone for three weeks…”

“Bakit?” I was still stunned! Akala ko ba he'd spend a year straight with Mikel?

“Anong bakit? This is my job, Beatrix.” He said nonchalantly.

“Yael, I told you to give him time. May progress naman na nangyayari.” I said getting straight to the point.

He looked at me mockingly. “He's just noticing me when I’m giving him things that he like…”

“Akala ko ba you'd spend a year straight with Mikel?”

“Ano bang gusto mong gawin ko? Ipilit ang sarili ko sa anak ko na ayaw naman sakin? I don't want to see him turn blue again just because he doesn't want me holding him!”

Sandali akong natahimik.

“Just give him some more time, Yael. He's just a kid.”

“Yeah, he's just a kid and he is my kid. Pero ayaw niya sa akin! Can you imagine that, Beatrix? Ako ang ama niya pero ayaw niya sa akin!”

Natahimik ako.

“I'm sorry…”

Madilim niya akong tiningnan. “Damn! You should be!” Iyon ang huli niyang sinabi bago ako tuluyang tinalikuran.

I was left dumbfounded there for a few minutes before I heard the engine of his car started. Wala akong nagawa. I couldn't defend myself either.

There's no use. There was nothing to defend.

I stayed there for some more minutes contemplating things. Nahimasmasan lang ako nang marinig ko nanaman ang iyak ni Mikel.

Patakbo akong umakyat at bumalik sa kwarto niya. He was now sitting alone on his bed.

“Hey, honey, what's wrong?” I looked down on him and he looks up to me while sobbing painfully.

“My-my… Dada…”

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig.

“W-what is it again, baby?”

“Dada… Dada… El…” He's still sobbing like he's longing for him. Damn! My heart beats fast.

“What about your daddy, baby?”

“Dada… Monster.” The ‘monster’ part wasn't clear but I get it eventually.

“Oh, you dreamed about your daddy being taken away by some monsters?”

“Dada… Dada…” Ang sakit-sakit ng iyak niya. Kaagad kong pinunasan ang mga luha niya.

“But your daddy just left… Shh… tahan na. We’re going to call him later, okay?”

I don't know how to feel about this but I'm sure that I'm quite happy because God! Finally!

Umiling-iling siya. “Nooo… Dada! Dada…”

I looked at him sadly. “Your—” Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan.

“Dada! Dada!”

Mabilis na nakarating si Yael sa may bed ni Mikel at kaagad na kinuha ito. I don’t know what made him come back here but I’m glad that he did.

He’s no doubt a pilot. His timing is so calculated ans perfect.

“I'm here, baby… Daddy's here.”

“Dada…” Mikel sobbed and this time he wrapped his tiny arms around Yael's nape and buried his face on his shoulder, wetting his daddy’s pilot suit with his tears. Yael seems not to mind at all.

Yael held him tightly and gently. I felt hot tears streaming down my face while looking at this beautiful scenery.

“Shh… Don't cry, baby. Daddy's going to stay.”

Mikel's been uttering ‘Dada’ like a mantra while he was crying. Yael looked at me and I saw tears rolling down from his eyes.

“He called me ‘dada’.” Nakangiti niyang sabi sa akin.

I nodded my head while happy tears are continue streaming down my face.

“He did.” I smiled back.