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Chapter 9

Husband and Wife

What's the difference now that I and Valerie are already husband and wife? I think not much... Parang ganoon pa rin naman. Since she's lived with us and the three boys even before we got married.

We still sleep in separate bedrooms. I go to work in the day. And at evening I go home to Valerie and the kids.

After our honeymoon trip, we went back home and go on with life.

"Dinner's ready." Sinalubong din ako ni Valerie.

I just arrived home from work again and as usual the kids would greet me at the door. I have become used to it that it became normal to me. Galing sa mga bata ay tumayo ako nang tuwid at ngumiti kay Valerie. "Thank you." I thanked her.

It's nice to go home knowing that there's already warm dinner waiting for you and you can have the meal to enjoy with your family. Masarap din pala sa pakiramdam na may pamilyang naghihintay sa 'yo sa bahay at sa pag-uwi mo.

Nakalipat na rin kami ni Valerie at ng mga bata sa bago naming bahay. The construction was fast. It only took a few months. Mabilis din talagang magtrabaho ang kinuha ni Kuya Austin na sila rin ang gumawa ng bahay niya. And Valerie was also helpful as we chose what's needed for our house like the flooring and paints, et cetera. And I can say we did a good job, mostly her efforts. So we now live in a beautiful home as well.

Over dinner we also talked with the kids. Kinumusta ko ang school nila at napatawa na lang kami kay Shin dahil mukhang gusto na rin pumasok sa school.

"Malapit na rin pala ang birthday ni Shin." Valerie reminded me.

Tumango naman ako. Oo nga pala, Shin is turning 3 years old. "Okay. Just tell me if you need help with the preparations. We'll also hire people." I said.

"Hire?" Umiling sa akin si Valerie. "Hindi na. Kahit simpleng pambatang birthday party lang naman. We can invite kids for Shin para may makalaro rin siya sa birthday niya." she said.

Tumango ako. "All right. But if you need help you tell me. I can only ask people to help you. I can't do it myself because of work..." I said.

Valerie nodded. "Ayos lang. May mga kasambahay naman na tutulong sa akin sa paghahanda at pagluluto."

I nodded again. "All right."

Pagkatapos ay bumaling kami kay Shin at ngumiti. And then Valerie asked him about his birthday. "Excited ka na ba Shin sa birthday mo?" She cheerfully asked the kid.

Ngumiti lang naman ako habang pinagmamasdan ko sila.

When the kids were already in their bedrooms, galing sa mga kwarto nila to check on them I knocked on Valerie's room. Pinagbuksan naman niya ako agad and I'm glad na hindi pa siya natutulog. "Here, I thought I should give you this." I said as I handed her my bank card.

Tumingin siya sa akin. "Para saan..."

"Since you will be the one to control our budget... I guess you should have this. D'yan deretsong pumapasok ang sahod ko." I said.

I just realized that Valerie became in charge of the house. Dati ay palagi ko naman siyang binibigyan ng pera dahil sa groceries at iba pang mga kailangan dito sa bahay. She also reminds me of the bills. So I decided now that I should just give her my salary instead. Para siya na ang mag-manage. Since I only go to work at siya naman talaga ang tumitingin ng mga kailangan dito sa bahay at sa mga bata.

Isa pa ay baka may gusto rin siyang bilhin na personal at baka nagkukulang ang nabibigay ko sa kaniya na allowance. Kaya mas mabuting siya na lang ang humawak sa pera namin.

I just want her and the kids to live a comfortable life. Maayos at malaki naman ang sinasahod sa akin sa trabaho nina Daddy at Kuya Austin. And Daddy said na bibigyan na rin daw niya ako ng shares ko sa company. Nabigay na rin sa akin nina Lolo at Lola ang inheritance ko kaya baka gamitin ko rin sa investments. To make sure na hindi maghihirap ang pamilya ko.

Mas malaki na ang bahay namin ngayon and I made sure na kompleto rin kami rito sa mga gamit sa bahay na mga kakailanganin namin. I also hired more maids to help Valerie out here in our house.

Valerie's lips parted.

"Just take it. Para rin naman sa bahay at sa mga bata, and para sa 'yo na rin. Buy all your necessities. Just tell me if kulang pa." I said.

"Ano?" Umiling-iling si Valerie.

And I added, "It's okay. You manage the house, anyway. It's only right." I told her with a smile on my face.

Nagkatinginan kami. At sa huli ay unti-unti naman siyang tumango sa akin. Ngumiti lang ako at nagpaalam na rin sa kaniyang babalik na sa kwarto ko para makapagpahinga, because tomorrow is another day at work.

"Goodnight..." She told me.

Bumaling pa akong muli sa kaniya at ngumiti. "Goodnight."

And then I went back to my room.

Shin's birthday came. And we invited my family and some kids from family friends as well. And Shin was so happy. Maayos at maganda rin ang hinanda ni Valerie para sa birthday ni Shinya. Pambatang party lang that Shin can enjoy. Nag-hire na rin ako ng clown and magician to entertain the kids. And my family brought lots of gifts for Shin. And he's more happy.

We put the same efforts with the other two boys' birthdays as well. Ganoon din na tuwang-tuwa ang mga bata sa hinanda ng Mommy Valerie nila para sa kanila. And I think Valerie's just really good with things like this and a lot more.

"You really looked like a family man to me now, dude." Brayden said when I went to visit his and Ben's place.

"He's a family man now, idiot." Ben told his brother.

Bumaling naman si Bray sa kapatid niya. "Yeah..." Pagkatapos ay ngumisi siya nang mukhang may naisip na naman. "He's a father now to his children, and a good husband to his beautiful wife." Bray smirked at me teasingly.

Umiling lang ako sa pinsan ko.

And then I realized that I've been really a good husband to Valerie... I mean, doesn't a good husband goes home on time for dinner? Play with the kids during days off from work and brings my family out para ipasyal din sila. And who doesn't cheat on his wife. And don't I do all that?

Ngumisi na lang ako sa sarili ko. I've been a good boy all this time, huh. Since I've met Valerie and the three boys...

And I think the difference now that we're married is that I can call myself Valerie's husband, and I can call her my wife. And the mother of my children...

Kahit hindi naman talaga totoo itong pamilya namin...

Napaisip ako. Siguro because I've been also really busy with work since. Kaya nawalan na rin ako ng panahon sa ibang mga bagay...

Iba siguro talaga kapag working na.

"Well, sama ka pa rin ba sa 'min mamaya?" Bray grinned.

"Where?"

Ngumisi pa siya lalo. "Booze and girls." Gumalaw pa ang mga kilay niya habang nakatingin sa akin at hinintay ang reaksyon ko at sagot.

"What?" I got a little confused for a while there.

"Come on, man. Wala ka namang work bukas. At kami rin ni Ben. We deserve this after everything that happened to our family. At hindi ka naman bawal mambabae, right? I mean, hindi naman totoo ang sa inyo ni Valerie. And she knows it. And she also does her own thing now. So you should as well." My cousin said.

And I remember that Valerie had been out lately for work she said. Although hindi na ang pagiging rental girlfriend niya. She's starting a career for herself.

Kaya rin nagiging busy na rin siya at nababawasan na ang oras niya sa amin ng mga bata...

I looked at Bray for my answer.