(As requested!)

Call your husband by his name instead of your endearment.

I tiptoed as I carefully opened the creativity room as we call it. We just decided to call it that way to remind that we are there to focus on our creativity since we both work in a related field. Hindi ako sigurado kung narito siya e, but I have to make sure I won't make noise because Arzehan is sleeping.

Magkatabi lang kasi ang nursery room at ito, and for unexplainable reason babies easily wake-up kahit na kaunting tunog lang. For 10 months of taking care of him, ako na ang napapagalitan ni Zeno kapag nagigising ko siya dahil siya naman ang nagpapatulog.

Because the moment Arzehan got tired of playing or watching, I got sleepy too. It's a mother-son goals, same sleeping time. Kaso ay kapag nagising, matindi rin ang topak.

Kakagising ko lang nang mapansin na wala si Zeno sa kwarto, and Duchess messaged me about what she did to kuya—his husband. Tuwang-tuwa siya kaya gusto ko rin subukan kay Zeno... hehe.

I went down the stairs when I didn't see any hint of him on the floor. Dumeretso ako sa kusina at nakita si Pia na sumasayaw sa tapat ng cellphone niya.

"Pia," I called.

Mabilis itong napakamot sa ulo nang lingunin ako, "Ma'am, naka-ilang ulit na ako." Sumimangot siya.

Sumimangot rin ako, "Sorry." Luminga ako sa kanyang cellphone bago tumingin uli sa kanya. "Si Zeno..."

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata niya at agad kinuha ang cellphone para ibulsa. She quickly get a cloth and starts wiping the table while looking around.

While I confusedly watch her trying to clean the already clean table. "Ano ba ginagawa mo?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

"Naglilinis," tugon niya. Lumapit pa siya palapit sa akin at bumulong, "Saan ba si Sir Zeno, Ma'am?"

Ngumiwi ako, "I was asking you..."

"Kala ko naman, nadyan na ma'am!" Tila inis niyang sabi. "Umalis po, may kukuhanin daw."

Tumango ako sa kanya at naghila ng upuan. I picked a banana above the table, while my eyes are following Pia setting up her phone again.

Nakatatlong ubos na ako ng saging pero paulit-ulit pa rin ang tugtog at steps na ginagawa ni Pia. Nabobored na tuloy akong panoorin siya.

"Pia, hanap ka kaya ng madali." I suggested while she's in the middle of rolling her arms.

"Ma'am baka magising na si topakin boy, akyat ka na."

"I'll tell hubby, you call Arzehan that way." I innocently said and stood-up.

Mabilis naman itong tumigil sa pagsasayaw at nginitian ako. "Joke lang ma'am, may gusto ka pa ba kainin?"

Umiling ako.

"Joke lang din," I giggled.

Tuluyan na akong umakyat pabalik at sinilip ang natutulog. Good thing, he's still asleep soundly.

I opened my phone, unmuting it before I tried to call my husband. Before I can even tap his name, malakas na tumunog ang phone ko dahil tumawag si Duchess. Bakit sakto ang pagiging wrong timing niya? I quickly declined it and glance at the crib.

I held my chest when silence is still the thing.

My breath stop midway when I suddenly heard an impending sob. Napakagat ako ng ibabang labi at dali-daling pinuntahan ang anak ko. Naabutan ko siyang nakanganga at tuluyan nang umiiyak. Masakit siguro ang gumising kapag baby ka pa?

I brought him to my arms and rock him gently as I walk towards our room where I left his bottled milk earlier. Nakita ko iyon sa ibabaw ng vanity table, using my other hand I take off its cap and gave it to him.

He stopped crying and held the bottle. His gray eyes along with his long eyelashes flicker in satisfaction. Yes, he got my husband's eyes! My favorite in the world.

Naglakad ako papunta sa may sofa at binuksan ang tv para manood ng nursery cartoons. My son quietly enjoys watching while he drinks his milk. Tahimik naman talaga anak ko pero mabilis topakin, mahirap patawanin. Basta ang alam ko, hindi naman sa akin namana iyon.

Ilang sandali ay bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa si Zeno, instead of being delighted of what he sees... mabilis na nagsalubong ang kilay niya at napatingin sa kanyang relo.

"Baby oh, your Dad's here." I mumbled to Arzehan and move him to face Zeno. He jumps continuously on my lap and let out soft giggles as soon as he dropped his bottle.

Zeno's serious eyes followed the bottle as he walk closer to us, dinampot niya iyon pagkalapit at nilapag sa center table. He lifted his son, checking its face before look down at me.

Ngumiti ako habang nakatingala sa kanya, "Bakit?"

"He was suppose to be sleeping right now," seryosong aniya, pinapaalala.

Tumango ako, "Nagising na siya..."

He sighed heavily and fix Arzehan's hair. Saglit lang dahil dumerekta ang mata niya sa akin pagkatapos, "He just slept for an hour then?"

Namilog ang mata ko, oo nga no? Ah, kasi nga nagising siya sa tawag ni Duchess. Not entirely my fault, and babawiin niya na lang siguro 'yung kulang na oras mamaya...

Actually, he told me... hindi naman nababawi ang tulog.

"Did your mom wake you up, baby?" He softly asked Arzehan as he make him sit to the bed.

How does he even knew that? He can't check the camera, kakapasok niya nga lang dito sa kwarto kung saan 'yung monitor e.

"It wasn't me,"

"Uhuh," tanging tugon niya.

Napanguso ako, I didn't lie. Si Duchess naman ang tumawag. Lumapit ako sa kama at nahiga sa gilid ni Zehan, I tried to tickle him but it wasn't effective. My son isn't ticklish. His eyes are focus to his dad arranging his toys on the carpeted floor.

Sometimes I want to cover his eyes, he might end up being a strict person too...

I giggled at the thought. That would be alright I guess? My husband is fine so...

He brought Zehan down and let him crawl with his toys around. Pinanood ko magpagapang-gapang ang anak ko, kuhain ang laruan, ipakita sa dad niya and babbles like we understand him as he tried to explain the toy.

Natigilan ako nang maisip 'yung kinuwento ni Duchess, I smiled.

"Zeno," tawag ko.

His left eyebrow raised, facing me. He didn't speak as if waiting for me to continue while directing a judging gaze.

"I want to get back at work physically," I slowly said, unsure because now I'm lying, I want to stay being a work from home for now. I told him pag-one na si Zehan saka ako babalik. Wala lang ako masabi hehe. "Would it be fine, Zeno?"

I supressed a laugh when his brows fully meet, his eyes that are same with his son showed utter disbelief.

"Whatever you want, girl."

My curved lips immediately subside, mabilis akong napasimangot at natahimik. Of course, it would backfire... I still didn't expect it though.

Napaupo ako at napatayo para bumalik sa sofa, I quickly opened the tv and find a channel. I bit my lower lip when I felt my eyes are heating up, this isn't fun at all.

Nakarinig ako ng yapak sa likod, I tried my best not to glance.

"Whose mom is starting a stuff she can't bare to deal with?" I closed my eyes hearing Zeno's voice, probably asking our son.

"Mmah," Arzehan did response.

Zeno chuckled.

I wipe my cheeks, nakakainis naman e. That's suppose to be just a joke.

Naramdaman ko ang paglubog ng sofa, mula sa gilid ay tumabi si Zeno buhat-buhat ang anak namin.

His free hand slip into my waist, "I'm kidding baby, why start me with that?"

Napaharap ako sa kanya na nakasimangot, "It's just a joke." I said and scooted to them, embracing both of my husband and son.

"Uhuh, not a good one."

I pursed my lips. "Weh, or maybe you're just too strict to know about jokes."

Z E N O 'S

My brows lifted at my wife's remark. I can't handle jokes, huh.

"Gosh, really?" I replied sarcastically. "And this makes you what, wife?"

Umawang ang labi niya.

I smirked at my mind, these moments no matter how petty will always make me fall for her more. Has a lot to say why all of her was used to be against my ideal but now has been all I ever wanted.

Napasubsob siya sa katawan ni Zehan, my son's small hands played with her hair. I nod at my son as he looked up at me with a smile on his face. His face resembles characteristics from both of us but his eyes are obviously from me like how my wife hoped for.

"Uh, hubby naman e..." reklamo niya na nagpatawa sa akin. She maybe realized now how she turns out to be the sensitive to even start with those stuffs.

I smiled, "Alright, don't worry. I love you." I placed my hands over our son's eyes as I reached my wife's lips. It deepened until our son say something unclear. "Do you want a daughter?" I whispered to her ears.

She pinched my other arm. Napangisi ako, wala naman akong sinabing ngayon.

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Short lang hehe. Hindi ako maka-isip ng maayos and I'll probably have no other time to do it 'cause school is coming kaya now ko na ginawa!

└｜゜ε゜｜┐