Anything Goes

I'm Not The Only One

"Good morning, love! Or should I say, good evening?" I chirped exuberantly, taking a sip from my bitter espresso as I wait for her to come to her senses. I saw her rub her pretty doe eyes as she adjusted her vision to the bright light that I casted upon her, smiling in content as I caught a glimpse of her perfect features.

My Althea, I sighed dreamily.

"Is it too bright?" I asked her.

"Yes, baby," she answered almost too groggily. I giggled in response for I couldn't stop myself from feeling all this tingly little butterflies at the pit of my stomach whenever I hear her call me baby. I pulled my heavy drapes to draw the light out, taking a bite from my breakfast of bagel with cream cheese.

"I'm sorry, it's been raining for days and this is the first time in days that we've seen the sun," I explained. "All better?" I asked.

"Yes," she smiled lazily. I saw her pull her blanket up as she said, "good morning, baby."

My heart melted at the sight of her— her tousled hair, half smile with a dimple to match, and her sweet husky voice. I know I'm fucked up the moment I laid my eyes on her.

"What took you so long to call?" she pouted as she fixed her headphones on her ear.

"I'm sorry, I just finished a bunch of paperwork before calling you," I apologized.

"I fell asleep waiting for you," she continued to whine like a little baby— my baby. "I know, love. I just have a lot work to finish. Anyway, how's your day?", I asked while adjusting the migraine inducing glare that is coming from my laptop.

We've had this routine for one year, five months, and 12 days to be exact— I call her when I wake up just in time before she goes to bed or vice versa. Having a long distance relationship was never easy, but we had no choice. Life back home is already hard as it is, a couple of years apart is really not a big price to pay if means securing our future.

"Same old, same old. Business is starting to pick up and I hope it stays that way, how about you?" she asked sincerely.

"Work's pretty stressful, my boss has been all up my ass the entire week, I've been working long hours and still it's not enough, I even bring home some of my work sometimes. But it's all good, at least he pays me double for my overtime."

"Don't tire yourself out too much, have you been taking good care of yourself? Do you remember taking your vitamins? Do you even eat your breakfast?" she asked like a worried mother, making my heart warm as I saw utmost concern in her eyes.

"I'm eating right now, mom," I rolled my eyes at her. "Don't worry about me, I'm perfectly fine," I added.

"Let's hope that business will continuously do good so you don't have to leave again next time," she said sadly.

"Don't worry, love, six more months and I'll come back home to you," I promised her.

She sighed heavily as she lift her hands and touched the screen— pretending that she can feel me beneath her fingertips. "I miss you so much," she whispered.

"I miss you, too," I breathed.

I puckered my lips and blew her a kiss, wishing that even if we're hundreds and thousands of miles apart, I can make her feel my love. She pretended to catch almost too excitedly, her big anime eyes almost disappeared as she giggled at our silliness.

"Give Miggy a good night kiss for me, okay?" I reminded her.

"Of course," she smiled as she tried to suppress a yawn.

"Sleepy?" I asked and she nodded her sleepy head.

"Okay, have a good night's sleep, I love you,"