Someday Soon, With You

Chapter 58

Mira looked at herself at the mirror. She sighed. She hopes she can ask Dolores for advice. And then it felt like something snapped at her. Of course, she can ask her. She took her phone and dialed Aro. After a few rings, he answered the call so she quickly changed the call to video call. “Hi Ar—” and then a different face popped on her screen. “Archi, ha-ha. Hi” she greeted.

“Why are you calling Aro?” Archi asked.

“You know what Archi, I’m beginning to think those times you were jealous of Aro, might have been you being jealous of me” she said in an accusing tone. She doesn’t care, though.

“What?” Archi defensively asked. “What are you—”

“Alpha what are you doing?” Mira heard Aro on the background. She then saw the video gets muddled up and then she saw Aro’s face on the screen. “Hi, Mira. What’s up?” he asked as he dry his hair. He looks like he’s just taken a bath. He looks so perfect. “Mira? Hi. Are you still there?” he asked.

Mira didn’t notice she’s staring at Aro just wipe his hair. “Uhm, yeah. Hi, sorry I drifted—”

“What? Are you okay?” Aro asked again focusing more on the camera, probably trying to look if she’s okay.

“Yeah, I’m sorry I’m just—wow!” she whispered. “You’re just so perfect. Are you sure you really like Archi? Can’t you just choose me, instead?” she asked him. Aro laughed at her question, revealing his perfect set of white teeth. His eyes squinted a bit, even the sound of his laughter sounds so handsome.

“I love you, too” he told her over the screen. Mira squealed like a teenage girl and swooned on the bed making Aro laugh louder.

“What are you two—” she heard Archi on the background. “Can’t you hear how weird you two sound?” he asked them. Aro looks away from the camera, probably in Archi’s direction just smiling. She thought it’s just the hormones that made her swoon over Aro but he really does look delicious.

“Hi Tita!” Ara suddenly appearing on the screen. “Where’s my sister? Where’s my sister? Where’s my sister?” she asked repeatedly jumping up and down in front of Aro.

“Hi baby” she greeted Ara. “Astoria’s outside, with tatay” she told her.

“So, uhm, why did you call?” Aro asked her while Ara sat on his lap still looking at the screen.

“I was just thinking of asking Tita Dolly’s opinion” she answered.

“About?” Aro continued asking.

“Uhm, about the clothes I’ll wear later” she replied.

Aro nodded. “Party?” he asked.

“Kind of” she whispered. “It’s TJ’s mom’s birthday. They invited me” she said.

“Oh, yeah? Let’s see” Aro told her. Mira put her phone on the table and walked a few steps back so he can see her whole body. He’s wearing a brown blouse, square pants and black doll shoes. She heard Aro made an ‘hmm’ sound while looking at the screen. “Do you have a white blouse, instead?” he asked.

“I do. But is this not good?” she asked referring to her brown blouse.

“Tops are better lighter than your pants. Also pick a fitted blouse, if you don’t want to wear a crop top, tuck your blouse in. Otherwise, your upper half body will look longer. We don’t want that. It will also be nice if you’ll use flat sandals, anything you’re comfortable to wear. If the shoes hurt your feet, you really won’t enjoy wherever you’re going” he instructed her.

“Okay, don’t hang up. Just wait there” she said. She took a white ribbed knit blouse, loose turtle neck with sleeves. She wore it and went back to the camera. “What about this?” she asked.

“Tuck it in” Aro said. Mira quickly obliged and raised her arms. “Better” he finally said. “Now let me see your slippers” he instructed her. Mira walked out of the camera again and went to take her available slippers. She went back and show it to Aro. “The black one” Aro said. “Remember, light make up. Wear your hair up and bring a cardigan just in case” he said.

“Copied!” she told Aro and faced the screen again. “Thank you Aro! I love you!” she said making Aro chuckle.

“Who are you talking to?” TJ asked entering her room with Astoria asleep in his arms. He stared at the screen and saw Aro’s face. “You two are weird. Do you know that?” he told Mira while frowning.

“I know!” Archi replied on the background.

“Bye, Aro! Thank you again. And if you ever felt like dumping Archi, you can always choose me” she said smiling sweetly.

“Okay, bye Aro” TJ said cutting the call. Aro didn’t even had the chance to say goodbye. “Why are you talking to him?” he asked Mira.

“I was just asking his opinion about what I’ll wear tonight” she answered him.

“Really?” his face turned a bit brighter. “Why? Is it about my mom? You want to impress her or something?”

“Oh, uhm, I didn’t think your mom will mind whatever I’ll wear” she answered. “Would she?” she asked again.

“No” TJ whispered.

“Audrey will be there. I want to look descent, at least” she said and smiled at him.

TJ furrowed his eyebrows again and sat beside her. “Why?” he asked.

“She’s very beautiful” she answered.

“You are an enigma” he told her and started to wipe Astoria’s head. “Can I have a towel, she’s sweaty” he told her.

“Sure” she answered, took a towel and gave it to him. “Let’s put her down here” she started to take her from TJ.

“No” he stopped her. “I want to carry her” he told her. Mira stared at TJ staring at Astoria. “Look at her. I can just stare at you all day. My sweet, beautiful, baby monster” he said as if Astoria can hear her. “I will teach you how to ruin anyone that will hurt you” he added. Mira laughed at him. She sat next to him and joined him in staring at Astoria.

“Mom, this is Mira. Mira this is my mother, Flora” TJ introduced.

“Hello, Tita Flora. Happy birthday” she greeted.

“Thank you, Mira” Flora greeted back. “And this is your daughter?” she said touching Astoria’s hand.

“Yes, Tita. She’s Astoria. TJ named her” she added.

“He did?” Flora nodded with just a bit of smile.

“Tatay” Astoria squealed as she tugged TJ’s shirt. TJ took Astoria and lulled her.

“Hello! Is that our baby girl? Can I see? Can Tito Anthony look at that beautiful baby?” Anthony walked to them and started to play with Astoria’s hand.

“That’s Tito Anthony” TJ told Astoria who just clung on his neck and stared at Anthony. “She gets agitated when she’s surrounded by a lot of people” TJ told Anthony.

“Ah, it must be the TJ rubbed on her” Anthony teased him. “Hi Mira” Anthony said tapping her shoulder.

“Nice to see you again, Anthony” she replied.

“What does she call you?” Anthony asked TJ.

“Tatay” he replied with pride oozing out of his body.

“Wow. Very traditional, I like it” Anthony said nodding. “Oh, mom, there’s someone I want you to meet” he said taking their mother’s hand. “Make sure to teach her to call me Papa. See you around, Mira” he said and dragged their mother somewhere. TJ continued carrying Astoria around, he doesn’t even let the chance to boast slide every time he tells everyone he named her. And although Astoria didn’t as much as smile or talk, at least she doesn’t cry. TJ might be right. Astoria just cried on their first day back because he wasn’t there. TJ’s mom looks so pleased meeting Audrey. Who wouldn’t? She’s so perfect. She even brought a gift for her. Why did she forgot to bring one? It’s a birthday for crying out loud.

“Mom?” Yuan suddenly came from behind her.

“Yuan! Hi, you made it” she smiled at her.

“Yeah, hi. Where’s my beautiful sister?” he asked.

Mira laughed silently. “She’s with TJ” she answered.

“Ugh! He’s hogging all the attention” he complained.

“What?” she amusedly asked.

“When you’re good with the babies, chicks dig you” he explained making Mira laugh. “Oh, there’s Audrey. Later, mom” he said and went quickly to Audrey.

“Hi” TJ said sitting down next to her. “Did you eat already?” he asked.

“Yeah” she answered. “How’s my baby girl? So quiet and behaved” she said talking to Astoria. Astoria just looked at her, head resting on TJ’s chest.

“Do you think we can go home now, TJ? I feel a bit sleepy now” she told him.

“Okay, grandma” TJ replied and went to his mom. They talked a while, Flora looked at her from time to time and she nodded. TJ walked and sat back near her. “Kuya’s just going to drive Ate Audrey home and then we can also go home” he said.

We can also go home. TJ’s words seemed to echo in her mind. She nodded. They ate some more and after less than an hour, Anthony came back and gave TJ his car key.

“Let’s go?” TJ asked her. Mira nodded and followed him outside the street where Anthony parked the car. “Is everything okay?” TJ asked Mira.

“Yeah, why?” she asked back.

“You’ve been quiet since we’ve been in our house” he said while driving. Mira’s now holding Astoria, who fell asleep on their way.

“My energy just tends to drain when I attend parties” she answered.

“It’s not even that much of a party” he laughed. Mira just smiled and watched the road. She felt soft nudges on her shoulder and opened her eyes. She fell asleep. Astoria’s even looking at her, eyes large and round.

“I fell asleep” she said.

TJ get off the car and opened the door for Mira. “Let me carry her” he said and took Astoria.

“Are you sleeping here tonight?” she asked.

“Can I?” he asked back.

“You should’ve brought clothes with you, so you can take a shower before we sleep” she said.

TJ looked at her with a smile. She crunched her eyebrows. Did she say anything wrong, or right? “I do have clothes in the car” he replied.

“Oh, okay. Let me take her first” she said and started to take Astoria but as always, she just wiggled and squealed. “Where did you put it? I’ll get it for you” she said.

“In the trunk” he answered, still smiling. Mira opened a trunk and saw a small, purple travelling bag. That must be it. She took it and showed it to TJ, he nodded when he saw it. “Is it heavy?” he asked.

“Not really” she answered. “I’ll take a shower first, and then you can go next” she told him. She felt sticky and sweaty so she decided to take a full bath. When she got out of the bathroom, she saw TJ starting to prepare Astoria’s clothes and mat. He knows she’ll clean her after taking a bath. “Your turn” she told him. TJ nodded and gave her Astoria. He laid out the baby mat before opening his bag and taking clothes. “Do you have towel there?” she asked.

“No” he answered. It seems like he’s also getting tired.

“You can take one from that drawer” she said and pointed the first-row drawer of her cabinet. TJ took a while before taking one towel and went straight to the bathroom.

TRISTAN JAMES

What wrong with her? She told him to take a towel from the drawer with her undies. He shook his head and turned the shower on. He thought about having a warm shower, but after that, he changed it to a very cold shower. He started shampooing when he saw the water flood the floor. He looked for the floor drainage and saw it clogged. He swiped his slipper on it and saw a clump of hair. Lots of hair. It made him stop. It doesn’t look like a normal amount of hair fall. He picked it and threw in the garbage bag at the corner of the room. He walked out from the bathroom and saw Mira, eyes both closed, lulling Astoria back and forth, like she’s trying to put her to sleep. Astoria on the other hand just watches her mother, eyes round and open and looking like she won’t be asleep anytime soon. “Hey” he called Mira. “I’ll let watch her, you go to sleep first” he told her.

“No, you watched her last night. You can go to sleep first” she refused.

“I slept the whole day, Mira. It’s okay. And also, she won’t fell asleep anytime soon. Can’t you see her eyes? Larger than an owl’s” he insisted.

“Okay” she conceded. “Just wake me up if you ever feel sleepy” she told him. TJ nodded and took Astoria from her.

“Do you have a blower?” he asked her.

“Yes, why?” she asked.

“Dry your hair first before you go to bed” he told her. Mira looked at her hair and realized it’s still wet. She nodded and took the blower and sat to the farthest part of the room with an outlet. “Do you really have to sit there?” he asked.

“Astoria doesn’t like the sound” she replied and turned the blower on. She put it to the lowest level so the sound isn’t as loud as he expected. Astoria, though, still got startled and was about to throw a tantrum again. Mira quickly turned it off. “See?” she told TJ.

“It’s just a blower, baby. You can’t show people what a country bumpkin you are” he told Astoria who just looked at him, listening to him talk. He knows she doesn’t really understand him, but it seems the little girl feels like you are talking to her. He sighed. “Okay, since we have to sleep now” he started to lie down, with lots of pillows on his back and Astoria still clinging on him. “Let me tell you a story about a little girl who fell in love to a river” he said.

Mira chuckled and turned the blower on again. “A river?” she asked.

“Her name’s Chihiro and the river’s name is Haku” he continued.

Mira continued laughing and drying her hair. “He’s not a river, he’s a river spirit” she corrected him referring to a very beautiful Ghibli movie called Spirited Away.

“Hmm, point taken. Fine, a river spirit” he said. He sighed. “I don’t think that story is suitable for you baby girl” he continued telling Astoria who continues to stare at him.

“What about the fish who went to the surface to find her true love?” Mira asked him.

“The Little Mermaid?” he asked. “You’re still so young for it” he told Astoria. The little girl then giggled as if she understood him.

“No, I’m talking about Ponyo. They were just little kids” she taunted him. “And it’s a happy ending too” she added.

TJ looked at her, eyes just as wide as Astoria. “No” he quickly dismissed her. “She went up the surface, and ran away from her Tatay” he continued telling Astoria who’s now laughing loudly. “You can’t do that to me, can you hear me?” he told her. Seeing him distraught made Mira laughed with Astoria. “You enjoy that, don’t you?” he asked Mira with an accusing tone. “That’s also what the mother of Ponyo did, she tolerated them. You will not do that to me, do you understand young lady?” he told the little girl. “You will not go God knows where and chase a boy” he continued.

Mira finished drying her hair so she went back to bed and laid next to TJ and Astoria. “Come on, tell us about that little girl who fell in love with a river” she said smiling as she closes her eyes. Mira looks like she’s really tired and will take just a few seconds to sleep.

“Well, baby, the story goes like this. The river spirit saved the little girl when she was drowning, and later when she found herself in a very difficult situation again, he saved her many times over the course of her journey. And when it was time to let her go, he selflessly let her go” TJ sighed sadly and looked at Mira who’s peacefully sleeping already. “You have to find someone who will love you selflessly like that, okay?” he continued talking to Astoria. “It’s too late for Nanay since Tatay will not let her go now” he added laughing silently. Astoria also giggled at him. “I love you” he told Mira who continued sleeping beside him.