*Pete's POV*

"What?!"
I blurted out.

"You already promised Bronx that he will stay with you for two weeks, and besides I also have important things to do."
Ashlee told me. I rubbed my forehead.

"But can't you see? We're on tour? We're going to Philly tonight."
I said, her eyebrows raised.

"And so? This is only a small favor Pete. You already said no last time. Bronx wants to spend time with you?! Can't you just say yes? Just for your son"
I can see that she's loosing her temper. I heard Bronx laughing, she's with Ayesha and the boys.

"Okay, okay. Let me just talk to the boys."
I told her. She nodded. I went back in the bus.

"Dad!"
Bronx saw me and gave me a big hug. I carry him.

"You're so heavy kiddo."
He just giggled.

"Dad, Ayesha and I made pancakes, Curly cakes is so funny. It was uncle Joe. He ate his face."
Bronx told me.

"Oh really? Do I have one?"
I asked him.

"Oh! I forgot daddy. Ayesha, can you also make dad? Please please."
He told Ayi. She just nodded and smiled.

"Yeah sure handsome."
She said.

"Trust me man. You will regret it."
Patrick told me.

"Uhm, guys can I talk to you? I have something to tell you."
I told the boys. They just nodded.

"Hey kiddo, can you stay with Ayesha for a sec. I will just talk to your uncles."
I told Bronx. He nodded.

"Okay daddy. I will make you a pancake."
He said. I sat him down besides Ayi.
I can see that he's comfortable with Ayi. The boys followed me outside.

"So? What will you gonna tell us?"
Patrick said. I looked into Ashlee, she just give me a meaningful stare. I took a deep breath before I told them everything. I just listened and nodded.

"So guys, is it okay with you that Bronx will stay here with us for a couple of weeks?"
I told them again. They looked into each other.

"I don't want to be harsh or something. But you know that we're on tour? How are you gonna take care of him while we're on stage? Performing?"
Patrick said.

"Yeah, Patrick's right. We can say yes, but we're also thinking about Bronx."
Joe said.

"Bronx is a smart kid, he can watched you in the stage, he will not interrupt you."
Ashlee said. They looked in to her.

"AHA! I GOT AN IDEA!"
Andy suddenly said.

"What idea? Be sure that is worth our time."
I told him.

"Ayi can look after him while we're on stage. At least, he's safe with her? We don't have to worry about him. And besides, she like Bronx a lot."
Andy said. Joe agreed with Andy's idea.

"Yeah! I can see that she's great with kids."
He said.

"But the question is, is it okay with her?"
Patrick told us. I sigh. Looks like I don't have any choice.

=====
*Ayesha's POV*

Pagtapos nilang mag-usap ay ako naman ang tinawag ni Pete. Kakausapin daw nila ako ni Ashlee. Sinamahan muna nila Patrick si Bronx. Lumabas kami ng bus para doon makapag-usap.

"Uhm, Ayesha, I know this is too much to ask, I hope you'll understand us."
Sabi sa akin ni Ashlee.

"Go on."
Sabi ko naman. Si Ashlee na ang nagsabi sa akin ng mangyayari. Mag-iistay daw ng dalawang linggo si Bronx kay Pete. Kaso ang problema, on going nga ang tour ng Fall Out Boy, walang magbabantay kay Bronx kapag magpeperform na sila, if ever.

"Is it okay with you that you will look after Bronx while they were on stage?"
Tanong ni Ashlee sa akin. Tumingin ako kay Pete na mukhang hinihintay ang sagot ko. Ngumiti naman ako.

"Yeah sure. I love too."
Sabi ko. Todo pasasalamat naman si Ashlee sa akin.

"Thank you Ayesha. This means a lot."
Sabi nya.

"It's okay."
Sabi ko naman. Binilin na sa amin ni Ashlee si Bronx. Karga karga naman ito ni Pete.

"Bronx, be good okay? You will be staying with dad for two weeks."
Sabi ni Ashlee sa anak.

"Okay mom. I will."
Sabi ng bata. Yumakap na ito sa ina.
"Bye guys! Pete, take care of Bronx."
Sabi nito sa lalaki. Tumango naman si Pete.

"I will. Say bye to your mom Bronx."
Sabi ni Pete.

"Bye mom! I love you!"
Sabi ng bata. Kumaway na palayo si Ashlee sa amin at sumakay ng kotse nito.

"So? What are we gonna do now kiddo?"
Tanong ni Pete sa anak.

"Let's play!"
Masayang sabi ng bata. Mukhang magiging masaya ang roadtrip na ito.

***
Nang gabi ding iyon ay umalis na amg tour bus papuntang Philadelphia. Wala namang ginawa ang lima kundi maglaro ng xbox at kung ano ano pa, buong araw. At kung tatanungin nyo kung ano ang ginagawa ko? Ako lang naman ang tagaligpit ng kalat nila. Nang maggagabi na ay tinanong ko kung ano ang gusto nilang dinner. Pero lahat sila pizza ang sinagot, kaya dumaan muna kami sa tapat ng isang restaurant. Tuwang tuwa naman si Bronx na nakapasan kay Joe. Umupo na kami sa bakanteng pwesto na nandoon. May lumapit sa aking waiter. Biglang sumagi sa isip ko iyong nangyari noong nakaraang gabi. Wag mo na ngang isipin iyon Ayesha. Wag kang oa.

"Okay guys, what you want to eat?"
Tanong ni Patrick.

"PIZZA!"
Sabi ni Bronx. Not to mention, napapagitnaan namin sya ni Pete, at kapat namin sila Patrick, Joe at Andy. Pinagtutulungan na naman nila ako. Para happy family daw.

"What's yours Ayi?"
Tanong ni Patrick.

"Caesar salad would be fine."
Sabi ko. Nagbigay na din sila ng kanya-kanya nilang order. Habang naghihintay kami ng pagkain ay kung ano-ano naman ang kwinento ni Bronx about sa school nya. Kinder na kasi sya. Nacucute-an talaga ako sa kanya, lalo na kapag nagsasalita. Nakuha kasi nya ang labi ni Pete. Oh shucks! Naalala ko na naman. >_<
Dumating na ang order namin, nagsimula naman na kaming kumain.

"Uhm, Ayesha?"
Sabi sa akin ni Bronx. Tumingin ako sa kanya.

"What is it handsome."
Sabi ko. Namula naman ang pisngi nya nang sabihin ko ang salitang handsome.
Di ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na halikan iyon at kurutin.

"Hay! Grabe ka! Nakakagigil ka na. Parang tatay mo."
Sabi ko. Napatingin naman sila sa akin dahil sa ginawa ko. Buti na lang talaga ay hindi nila ako naiintindihan.

"What did you say Ayesha?"
Tanong ni Bronx.

"Nothing. So, what do you want to say."
Sabi ko. Pang nag-isip muna sya.

"Uhm, do you have a boyfriend?"
Tanong nya. Napatingin naman si Pete sa anak, maging sila Patrick, Joe at Andy ay ganoon din.

"Bronx? Who told you that?"
Tanong ni Pete.

"No one dad, I just heard it from the tv."
Sabi ng bata. Bahagyang natawa sila Patrick. Umiling na lang si Pete.
Sasagutin ko ba ang tanong nitong bata? Pero nakatingin ito sa akin na tila naghihintay ng sagot.

"I don't have Bronx."
Sabi ko. Ngumiti ito sa akin.

"Yehey! Can I be your boyfriend?"
Tanong nito. Nabuga ni Joe ang iniinom na coke ng wala sa oras.

"Yuck! You're so gross uncle Joe!"
Sabi ni Bronx. Natawa ako.

"Bronx, stop asking that questions okay?"
Sabi ni Pete sa anak. Pero sinakyan ko si Bronx sa sinabi nito.

"Sure, I can be your girlfriend, but first, eat you food okay?"
Pang-uuto ko.

"Hay buti pa ang anak ninaalok akong maging jowa, ang tatay hindi."
Umiiling kong sabi.

"Are you saying something Ayi?"
Tanong ni Patrick. Umiling ako.

"Nothing."

Nang matapos kaming kumain nay naglakad lakad muna kami. Dahil gabi na din ay wala na gaanong taong nakakapansin sa apat, kung meron man mangilan-ngilan na lang, pinagbibigyan naman nilang magpapicture kapag may lumalapit sa kanila. Mayroon ngang napagkamalan na anak namin ni Pete si Bronx, paano ba naman kasi hawak ko si Bronx at nakahawak din ang bata sa tatay nya. Maging si Andy at Joe ay tinitingnan ako ng makahulugan, tawa naman ng tawa si Patrick, habang si Pete ay parang naguguluhan sa tawanan at harutan namin.

"Ayesha, give me a piggy back ride, please."
Sabi sa akin ni Bronx.

"Bronx, Ayi can't give you a piggy back ride, you're so heavy."
Sabi ni Pete sa anak.

"But dad! I want too! Besides I'm his boyfriend? Remember? Please Ayesha."
Pagsusumamo ni Bronx. Ngumiti ako at bahagyang nagsquat para makasampa sya sa likod ko.

"C'mere."
Sabi ko. Tuwang tuwang naman si Bronx, binuhat ko naman sya. Ang bigat nga. Huhuhu!

"Good luck to you Ayi."
Sabi ni Andy.

"Ayesha, sing for me please."
Bulong sa akin ni Bronx. Ang sweet naman ng batang ito. Daming request.

"What song?"
Tanong ko.

"Anything."
Sabi nya.

"Making my way downtown walking fast, faces passed and I'm homebound, staring blankly ahead just making my way, making my through the crowd."
Kinantahan ko sya ng Thousand Miles.

"And I need you, and I miss you, and now I wonder. If I could fall into the sky, do you think time would pass me by, cos you know I'd walk a thousand miles if could just see you tonight."
Patuloy ako sa pagkanta nang mapansin kong tulog na pala sa likod ko si Bronx. Lumapit sa akin si Pete.

"Let me have him."
Sabi ni Pete sa akin at kukunin sana si Bronx pero lalong kumapit sa akin Bronx na parang ayaw humiwalay sa akin.

"It's okay."
Sabi ko. Bumalik naman na kami sa bus namin. Pumunta ako sa bunk area, inayos muna ni Pete ang higaan nya bago ko nilapag si Bronx.

"Mom."
Ungol ni Bronx, mukhang hinahanap nito ang mommy nya, yumakap ito sa akin. Mukhang napagkamalan pa akong mommy nya.

"You can stay with him for while. I will just go outside."
Sabi sa akin ni Pete. Tumango ako. Yumakap na lang ako kay Bronx. Pero mas inisip ko na nakahiga ako sa higaan ni Pete. Para kong tangang inamoy-amoy ang unan nya. Napangiti ako.