36 - She's just the girl I'm lookin' for
"Quit staring at me."
"I'm not."
Maddie sighed as she turned her head back and saw Connor Andres looking at her. Nasa kama na kasi silang apat ng mga anak nila habang natutulog, in which the two boys are sleeping at the middle.
It has been hours since the kids and him came back home. And until how, she was still too overwhelmed with feelings, especially about Connor Andres' confession. She even doesn't know what to answer or say to him after what he just said and thank God, before she could even say something to it, their son, Collin interrupted them that he's sleepy. Kahit naiiyak ay natawa na lang siya at niyakap muli ang mga anak. Then she took care of them immediately dahil alam niyang jetlagged pa ang mga ito at kailangan na talaga nitong matulog.
Connor didn't say anything after as well and just helped her in tending their sons. Maya maya'y nagrequest pa ang dalawa na magkakatabi silang apat na matulog sa gabing iyon. And she happily obliged.
She was just really happy so much on that night. Even though everything that happened to them two months ago was messy and painful, she doesn't care anymore because her twins are back now. Her family is home again.
Only her family can make her life brighter and happier.
"You should sleep," She just said to Connor whom she knew had been staring at her for an hour already, "Jetlagged pa kayo sa biyahe niyo." She could even noticed the dark circles around his eyes, probably looked like he hadn't been in a proper sleep for days.
"You didn't say anything after what I said."
Hindi naman kaagad nakapagsalita si Maddison sa sinabi nito. Well, she doesn't know what to say! His confession was sudden and shocking. It wasn't even totally sinking her in yet. She wasn't expecting her twins would be back on that night nor Connor declaring his undying love for her. It was just too much emotions and she couldn't still think straight yet.
"I have a boyfriend." She answered instead. Yes, David is still her boyfriend.
Kinunutan naman siya nito ng noo, "So? Break up with him."
Maddie rolled her eyes as if everything he said was easy. As if his issues with Rachel already went down - and speaking of her, she remembered what Connor said earlier... that he ditched his wedding just to choose his family... Just to choose the mean, selfish and complicated Maddison Grace, "Idiot. It's not that easy." She turned her back at him sideways, closing her eyes.
"Fine," He suddenly replied after a few seconds of silence, "If you're not going to break up with him then I'm going to live with you guys forever for the rest of your lives. Titira ako sa bahay niyo kasama ang kambal. I'll be a leech to your relationship. The nerd needs to accept that if he wants to marry you or whatever, he needs to accept your baggage, the twins and your idiot baby daddy."
Nilingon naman itong muli ni Maddie at napansing seryoso ang mukha nito habang nakatingin pa rin sa kanya. She can't help but to giggle.
Connor also laughed because of her reaction, "Don't you laugh, Maddison Grace. I'm serious. If you're going to marry him then he should marry me too."
Maddie laughed even more.
"Kapag nagsesex din kayo, dapat kasali ako."
Her eyes got widened but she just laughed again, "Connor Andres! Ang mga bata!"
"It's unfair, Maddison. You're having a very good sex life with the nerd but here I am, still no sex since that night you left me on the bed, naked, with a small note on the side."
It was now her time to stop laughing. She rolled her eyes at him, "As if you didn't really have sex with Rachel. You've dated her for a year."
Connor shrugged, "I didn't. I mean, even my teammates in NBA thought I'm fucking gay or something dahil hindi ako nakikipag-one night stand or do casual sex. I just can't because every time I would think about it, I always start to imagine that I'm kissing you or having sex with you instead, even though we're over."
"Rachel has big boobs, she's your type."
"The only breasts I wanted to hold and suck are yours. They're not even that big."
"Connor!" Pinandilatan naman niya ito ng mata. Kung anu-ano na lang kabastusan ang lumalabas sa bibig nito. Hindi pa rin nagbabago.
"What? Totoo naman. Unless you're going to prove it to me that it got bigger now or just have sex with me, I'm willing."
"I won't have sex with you."
"I'm having blue balls since forever, Maddison Grace. I'm desperate. If you can't give me love, I can accept the lust."
"I have a boyfriend."
"Well, he can't have the two. If he gets the love then I'll get the sex."
"You're an idiot."
"You're a mean witch."
Maddie giggled again. She suddenly remembered their childish bantering when both of them were still teenagers.
"Matulog ka na. Bukas na lang tayo mag-usap." She just said and turned her back again. She closed her eyes.
"Maddie?"
"Sleep."
"I will but I have to say something."
"Fine."
"I love you. So bad."
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"Bye Mom!" The two boys immediately hugged and kissed Maddie then immediately ran towards Connor's car after. Papasok na kasi ang dalawa ulit sa school nito and she was supposed to be accompanying them instead to talk with the principal and the school's faculty for their twins' makeup classes. But Connor Andres insisted na siya na lang bahala kumausap sa school admin.
Earlier this morning was really a bliss. She woke up happy and prepared for the breakfast early. For the last two months, she was just alone with herself but now, the boys are here with her again, eating breakfast together, as a family. Kahit na siguro sobrang sakit ang mga nangyari dati sa kanila, she couldn't think about it anymore - she is just really so happy and ecstatic that her children are with her again. Wala na siyang pakialam kahit nagkagulo sila noon ng Papa nito.
"What time ka uuwi mamaya?" Connor asked her casually. He will be the one taking the kids to school - at siya naman ay nakapagbihis na rin para pumunta na sa trabaho niya.
"I might be a bit late. Marami kasi kaming mga articles na dapat tapusin. And... I'm curious," She eyed him suspiciously, "Paano kayo nagkabati ni Lio?"
She noticed now that Lio is carefree and doesn't seem to have a problem with his father anymore. Unlike before that the boy was so vocal of disliking Connor.
Nagkibit-balikat naman ito, "I bribed him."
"What?"
"Well, it wasn't easy. Both of them were so mad nang kinuha ko sila sayo. I tried explaining to Cole and he somehow kind of understood me. Lio on the other hand, he wasn't talking to me for a week. Then I remembered na may kaibigan akong isang crew ng NASA and I know he's a Science geek so I told him I got him a free pass at NASA museum. And oh, he talked to me immediately." Connor grinned like he just won a game.
"While Cole was just happy when I introduced him with various NBA star players, Lio, on the other hand, I bribed him usually with Science stuff. Mas advanced kasi ang US pagdating sa ganung mga bagay. I brought him to several Science places in which he enjoyed it so much. He even got to meet several famous scientists. He's a good negotiator. Pinapansin na niya ako dahil doon - and even now that I brought them back to you."
"Connor, that's not good parenting. You shouldn't bribe your children--"
He interrupted and frowned, "Kung hindi nagmana sayo si Lio, I won't even probably bribe him."
Bigla namang nagvibrate ang phone ni Maddie. She looked it up and saw David's message. Oo nga pala. Wala pa rin itong alam sa nangyari sa kanila kagabi. She'll just have to tell him soon enough.
"He's fucking clingy." Connor commented. Maddie looked back and saw him reading her message as well.
"Mind your own business."
"I told you I'm going to be a leech in your relationship with him."
"Don't be an idiot."
"Do I really need to be smart so I can be your type, Maddison Grace?" He folded his arms, still frowning.
Napailing na lang si Maddie at hindi ito pinansin, "See you later." She said instead as she started to walk away. Si Connor naman ay nagsimula na ring maglakad papunta sa kotse nito kung saan nakasakay na ang mga bata.
Maddie couldn't help but to look back and smile at her family. She is really so happy now.
●●●
It was already nine in the evening when she got home from work. Maddison was smiling as she made way inside the house slowly and quietly. Alam niya kasing tulog na sa mga oras na iyon ang mga bata. She even had to cancel her plans with David for dinner dahil sa kagustuhan niyang masolo lang ang pamilya niya.
Connor also kept updating her on that day. The school administration accepted and was considerate to the boys. They allowed them some makeup and tutorial classes so they won't be behind with their class. In short, their day went out normal and fine.
Dahan-dahan namang binuksan ni Maddie ang pinto ng kwarto ng mga bata. Then she saw the three of them sleeping together in one bed. Both of the boys were sleeping on each side of their father, though Connor and Lio were holding a Science book in their hands. Napangiti naman siya sa nakita niya sa mag-aama. It was really an adorable and touching sight.
Lio suddenly stirred and opened his eyes, "Mom?"
"Hey." Maddison walked slowly, avoiding the other two to wake up.
Naupo naman si Lio at kinusot ang mga mata nito. Tumayo naman ito at kaagad nilapitan siya. Lio hugged her immediately.
"Anak, sana doon na lang kayo sa kwarto ko natulog. Mas malaki kasi ang bed doon." She told him as she hugged him back as well. Halata kasing nahihirapan si Connor Andres sa posisyon nito sa kama. He and Cole were still really sleeping heavily.
"Sabi kasi ni Papa i-tutor ko raw siya ng Science, Mama... Iyong Marine Biology na work ni Uncle Daddy." Lio answered as they both freed themselves from the hug.
"Really?"
"Yes. He's stupid, Mom. He doesn't even know why the ocean's color is blue. He's just like Cole whose brain is only about basketball."
Maddie giggled with her son's remark, "Anak, he's your still Dad. Don't call him like that."
Lio shrugged, "Even though he's an idiot, he's hardworking. That's what I like about him. He was determine to learn from our tutorial lessons. He says he want to be smarter than David though it's impossible."
"He says he wants to be your type."
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