Ride Home

thirty-three

"you're really showing!" sabi ni ricci pagpasok ko ng court, ngumiti ako sakanya andnI returned all his jackets and hoodies.

"tapos na kitang paglihian yay!" sabi ko, ricci smiled and kinuha na niya yung paperbag. He crouched so eye to eye level niya yung bump ko,

"this is ninong ricci, you're favorite ninong. Better than juan, or any other Gomez de Liaño" bulong ni ricci, which earned a glare from juan,

"I'll give you anything you want baby." sabi ni juan, nakayuko sila pareho to talk to the baby.

"OA yang si juan, anong give you every thing?" sabi ni ricci, rolling his eyes.

"I'm the funny one." ricci said, juan rolled his eyes, whispering words against ricci.

Javi stopped running when he saw me, I waved and smiled. Si tyler wala kasi kakapanganak lang ni andi, which reminds me na kailangan namin siyang puntahan mamaya after training.

"hi avi" he said, kissing my cheeks and placing his hands on my bump.

"hi baby girl" sabi ni javi kissing my bump. I fixed his hair, humahaba na kasi hair niya eh, so naka man bun na most of the time.

"hi daw daddy" sabi ko when I felt the baby move inside. Javi smiled,

"susunduin pa natin si xavier for later ha?" I reminded him, he nodded and jogged towards the center when coach called him.

Habang naghihintay ay kausap ko si tina sa viber, I asked her how the cafè was and i'll visit bukas siguro or the day after tomorrow.

"let's go?" javi asked, helping me stand up from the bleachers.

"bye ricci." sabi ko, bineso ko siya and he rubbed my bump. Juan did the same and whispered words about ricci like "kuripot yan" or "mean yung ibang fans niyan"

Javi was smiling, papunta kaming UPIS to fetch Xavier and pumuntang ospital for andi and tyler.

"creepy mo" sabi ko kay javi, and I drank water from my bottle.

"I'm just happy" sabi ni javi, nagkibit balikat ako, ayoko nang isipin yung nasa isip ni javi.

"hey love" sabi ko pag pasok ni xavier, he smiled at me.

"ready to go meet your little bro?" tanong ni javi, xavier nodded.

"change ka na" sabi ko, kasi shirt lang naman yung papalitan niya.

"can I hold the baby?" xav asked while he was changing.

"you have to wash your hands and sanitize love." sabi ko, xavier nodded and kinuha yung alcohol sa kit niya na nasa bag to spray some in his hands.

"ty!" I shouted, nakita ko kasi agad si tyler sa may entrance, tyler smiled and hugged me.

"hi dad!" sabi ni xavier, tyler kissed xavier's forehead.

Dala-dala ni javi yung fruit basket and flowers for andi, habang nagkwekwento si tyler kay xavier, we entered the elevator, hinawakan ni xavier yung kamay ko.

"mama, I'm nervous." sabi niya saakin, I ran my fingers through his hair.

"the baby will love you anak." sabi ko, he smiled and nodded, tumingin naman sa akin si tyler, smiling.

Napag-usapan namin before, kung paano kami mag-aadjust, lalo na si tyler, for xavier and the baby. Syempre ayaw naman ni tyler na lumayo ang loob sakanya ni xav, we made a schedule na makikita ni xav sila andi at yung baby.

"hi tita ands" bati ni xav, his voice low para hindi magulat yung baby. Andi smiled at us, ang ganda naman nito kahit kakapanganak lang.

Kinuha ni ty yung flower at fruit basket, inilapag niya ito sa mesa and lumapit kaming lahat.

"Tiger Andrew Tio" sabi ni tyler, I rolled my eyes and looked at andi.

"I lost a bet, but I chose andrew naman" sabi sa akin ni andi, binuhat ni tyler si xavier so he can see the baby better.

"hi, tiger, I'm kuya xav" bulong ni xavier, holding the baby's hand, tiger wrapped his small fist on Xavier finger.

Nagkatinginan kaming apat, sumandal ako kay javi and he kissed my forehead.

"are you happy anak?" I asked xav, on the way home, he nodded.

"mama, I love you" biglang sabi ni xav, ngumiti ako.

"why anak?" I asked him.

"kasi you'll give me a sister and you still love me so much mama." sabi niya, javi looked at me habang naka stop.

"I love you xav, forever."