Under His Hoodie

Epilogue

Epilogue

I awoke with small giggles and muffled whispers. Parang may humahalik sa kaliwa't kanan ng pisngi ko. Tapos ay hagikgikan at mga mahihinang bulong. I pretended to sleep more so I could hear their conversations.

"Daddy, isa pa." I heard Kye's voice.

"Yes, sir," a sarcastic, husky voice answered.

I felt a lip touched my left cheeks. It was just fast. After that, I heard the little kid's giggles from my right. Pinigilan ko ang sariling mapangiti sa nangyayari.

"Ako po! Ako po!"

Then a loud kiss from Kye.

"Is she still asleep po?"

Malutong na humalakhak si, Nazareth. I could imagine his face from laughing that loud: a sonorous, low, and stern voice. Naramdaman kong gumalaw ang kanang bahagi ng kama. Umuga ito na parang may lumapit pa. I tried my best to act normal like I was just sleeping.

I felt warm skin, touching the tip of my nose. Ramdam ko ang mababa nitong pag hinga sa aking mukha. It was hot and comforting. Pinigilan ko ang sarili na bumuga ng hangin kahit galing pa sa ilong ko. I wasn't cleaning my teeth yet! My breath might smell bad!

"I don't think so. You want me to check, baby?" Nazareth chortled, taunting. Then I felt Naz coming closer to my ear as I feel his deep breath. My feet crumpled because of the intensifying heat that his breath is giving me. Parang kaunting pigtas na lang ay tuluyan na akong bibigay dahil sa kiliti.

Bumulong siya sa tainga ko.

"You're bad with acting, love. Stop pretending. It's just making me hard this morning..."

Halos tumirik ang mata ko sa ibinulong ni Nazareth. And just on cue, I slowly opened my eyes. Umayos ng upo si Nazareth na kasalukuyang walang pang-itaas. The side of his lips twisted. He raised a brow to me.

"Good morning, mahal."

Nilunok ko ang bara sa lalamunan ko ngunit hindi ako nagsalita. I just nodded my head. I turned to Kye, who was watching us innocently. Hinalikan ko ito sa noo.

"Good morning, anak."

"Good morning, mommy!" Kye yammered.

Dahil do'n ay napangiti ako. It's just so fulfilling to hear my son, addressing me as his mother. After a whirled time of suffering from my own decision, I finally have this. And true enough, there's hope at the end of a rainbow. You just have to keep yourself intact, away from further bruises. There's a right time for everything.

"Where's my good morning?" Nazareth groaned.

His lips pursed while looking at me.

Hindi ulit ako nagsalita. Sinenyasan ko na lang siya ng thumbs up. I was afraid that he would smell my morning breath. Kay Kye ay ayos lang naman dahil bata pa siya. Hindi niya pupunahin iyon. But for Nazareth, it's better not to embarrass me.

Dahil sa ginawa ko ay mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya. His face crumpled, like the face of someone thinking so hard. Then a teasing smile painted on his lips. He chuckled and shook his head like he understood why I was like that.

Tinaas niya ang dalawang kamay.

"Okay, love. Okay." Tumayo siya, tumatawa pa rin. "We'll wait for you downstairs."

Kumuha siya ng white shirt sa closet niya bago buhatin si Kye. Bago sila mawala sa paningin ko, narinig kong tinanong ng anak namin kung bakit siya tumatawa. He pinched our son's cheeks.

"Mom's shy, baby," he answered. "Do you like to have a baby brother, son?"

His last question was loud before they disappear from my sight. Nag-init ang pisngi ko dahil doon. Halatang pinaparinig. I just shook my head and did my morning rituals. Naligo ako sa banyo niya. I used his shower gel and other bath pieces of stuff. Mabuti't may extra toothbrush doon na hindi gamit kaya ayon ang ginamit ko. Pagkalabas ko ng banyo, roon ko lang naalala na wala akong dalang pampalit.