Runaway

"Gab, wake up," I whispered softly to wake up my child. I chuckled a bit when he frowned, looking annoyed at my disturbance of his sleep. "My baby, wake up now," I smiled as I saw him open his eyes. "I'm not a baby anymore," he said softly and slowly, making me almost want to pinch his cheeks. My Gabrielle Lexx, the angel sent to me from above. "Okay, you're not a baby, but you need to prepare for school now," I said while fixing his hair. "Hug, please," he said with a smile, and I hugged him and lifted him out of bed. Gab is naturally affectionate. He was used to hugging and being affectionate every time he woke up. Everything he needed for school was ready, so we finished quickly. He was going to the daycare center near our apartment, and I was heading to work. "Will you pick me up later, papa?" he asked while I was putting a towel on his back. "Yes, I promised you we'd bond later because my baby is getting another award, right?" He pouted upon hearing the word baby. He disliked being called that because he said he was a big boy now. "Are we going to the mall?" he asked excitedly. "Yes, and we'll bring Toto Jasper," Jasper is my cousin who sometimes takes care of Gab when I'm busy with work. "Toto Jasper and Toto Seth?" Seth is Jasper's boyfriend. "Yes. You're all set, let's go." I grabbed his bag and held his hand. We quickly arrived at the center because it was within walking distance from our house. "See you later. Behave, okay? Kiss papa now," he kissed my cheek and hugged me before entering his classroom. I waited for a jeepney to get to work. --------- After finishing my work, I started organizing my things because Gab's dismissal time was approaching. It was better for me to wait for him than for him to wait for me. When I arrived in front of the school, I saw other parents also waiting to pick up their kids. I smiled when I saw Gab running towards me. “Papa!” he called out with a smile, and I greeted him with a hug. “Papa, look! I got so many stars!” he excitedly shared, showing his hand. “Wow! My baby is really good. Shall we go now?” He pouted a bit but then smiled immediately. We arrived at the mall, and I called Jasper to tell him where we would meet. “Do you want something from there?” I asked him because he stopped walking when we passed by the teddy bear store. I saw his hesitation to answer me because he kept glancing back and forth between the store and me. “Can I?” “Of course.” I smiled at him, and he quickly pulled me inside. “Papa, I want that one,” he said, pointing to a brown teddy bear holding a heart. I took it and handed it to him. “Do you want anything else?” I asked because he was pulling me towards the counter to pay. “No more, Papa. Maybe next time?” I felt a bit sad hearing that. Perhaps he was used to me buying him only one toy before when my salary wasn’t that good. “Are you sure?” I asked again. “Next time, Papa. Let's pay for this now.” He pulled me to the counter. We left the store because Jasper had texted. “Let's go, baby. Uncle Jasper and Uncle Seth are waiting for us.” “Uncle! Let's go, Papa!” His excitement was evident, making me laugh. People were also looking at him because he was so cute. I held Gab’s hand as we walked towards the restaurant where Jasper and Seth were. While walking, Gab was telling stories about what happened at school earlier, sometimes making me laugh because he was so animated in his storytelling. “Papa, do you think I’m weird?” I stopped walking because of his question. “Weird? Why?” “They said I’m weird because I only have one Papa. Am I weird, Papa?” Oh God. I faced him and held his face. “Listen to Papa, okay? You’re not weird just because you only have me. You have many papas. Uncle Jasper and Uncle Seth are your papas as well.” He looked confused by my explanation but smiled and nodded. “I will talk to your teacher tomorrow, okay? Please tell Papa if your classmates say anything else, okay?” He hugged me, so I carried him, worried that Jasper and Seth might get bored waiting. “f**k off, Kendrix! I told you to drop it!” I turned to the direction of the voice. He was facing away from me but I still remember that back. I immediately look away before he can face me and walk fast to get away from there. "Papa?" Gab called for my attention, he's puzzled as to why I was walking fast. I just smiled at him and brought his head closer to my neck. Now is not the right time! I was panting when I reached the restaurant where my cousin was. Luckily, it was on the other side of the mall, and I hoped I hadn't been noticed earlier. ------ "What happened to you?" "N-nothing, Gab's heavy that's why" I forced myself to smile so they would believe my excuse. "That baby of ours is really big now," Seth said as he pinched Gab's cheek, making him frown. "Toto!" Gab said, somewhat annoyed, causing the three of us to laugh. One of his cheeks turned red from Seth's pinch. Because my child is very fair-skinned, even a gentle pinch from Seth made it turn red quickly. "Did you order already?" I asked "Yeah, we figured you guys might be hungry that's why we ordered" Jasper answered "Papa, do they have mango shake?" Gab whispered to me "You want mango shake?" He nodded "We already ordered Gab's mango shake. We know it's his favorite" Jasper said. "Thank you, Toto!" Gab gave them a flying kiss. When the food arrived, I put some into Gab's plate. He can already eat by himself, but still need guide sometimes "Their food's delicious, Papa!" Gab exclaimed and does a little happy dance to show that he's enjoying the food "Very good! Finish what you can okay? Don't push yourself to eat if you're full already" I said and wipe the spilled sauce on his face "Thank you, Toto!" Gab thanked Jasper and Seth after he finished eating. The two immediately kissed his cheeks and ruffled his hair We went to the arcade after eating, Gab and Seth have fun at the claw machines that's why Jasper and I's hand are full of stuffed toys that they've won. "I think Gab's tired" Jasper whispered and I look at Seth and Gab. I chuckled when Gab's eyes keeps on closing but he fights it. I called for them two "Let's go home, Gab's sleepy already" I said when they went back to us. They all nodded and I excused to change Gab's clothes in the bathroom. I carried Gab after changing and he immediately fall asleep on my shoulder Seth and Jasper brought us home and watched us get inside before they went on their way home. I place Gab on our room and make sure that he's sleeping well. I then checked the locks and tidy up a little before I went back to our room and lay down beside Gab. I was closing my eyes when I heard my phone beeped, a sign that someone texted me. Maybe it's Jasper checking on us again From: Unknown Number Found you, Shiloah