Someday Soon, With You

Chapter 57

MIRA

“Tita Aya” Mira called Archi’s mother.

“Hmm, yes?” Aya answered.

“Oh, uhm” she said trying to collect her words. “I don’t know how to ask this, but is there something bothering you Tita?” she asked.

“What? Why do you ask?” Aya asked back.

“It just” she paused. “Are you mad at me?”

Aya didn’t answer for a while. She just stared at Mira looking at her. “I don’t know. I guess I am” she answered, finally. Mira didn’t respond. “I thought I told you to keep in touch, and that I want to still be closer to you. But I guess Dolores will always be the first person you’ll think about” she said and despite not looking at her anymore, Mira knew that Aya’s wiping her eyes.

“Tita, it’s not like that” she tried to explain.

“No, it’s okay. I understand. Even Archi spend more time next doors” she continued.

“Tita” she said hugging her from behind. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I was just scared you’d make me stay” she confessed.

Aya looked at her. “Why? Is it such a bad idea to stay?” she asked.

“I don’t want to feel like Archi chose me just because he got me pregnant” she answered. “I don’t want to feel like a second choice” she sobbed. “I’m sorry, Tita”

Aya hugged her. “I’m sorry, sweetie” she said. “I understand, I’m sorry” she consoled Mira.

“Nanay” Archi called as he walks in the kitchen. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing” Mira laughed awkwardly.

“Hey, is everything okay?” he asked. “Mom?” he continued asking.

“Everything’s okay now. Don’t worry” Mira told Archi and took Astoria from him. “Hi” she told her who just looked at her. “You let Papa Arthur go now?” she asked her since she doesn’t want to let go of her grandfather just a while ago.

“Papa!” she shouted even she get startled. Astoria looks like she’s about to throw fit, shouting papa again and again.

“That’s Papa, oh” Mira said pointing to Archi.

“Papapa” she said shaking her head as she looks to Archi.

“She’s looking for Papa” Archi said smiling.

“Why?” Arthur then suddenly came from upstairs. He just woke up from his nap. Astoria looked at her and cried. “Oh, you want Papa to hold you again? This little baby” he said and took her from Mira.

“She likes you” Mira said smiling to Archi’s father.

They stayed until dinner and then went to their house again. Before they could even park, Mira saw a red car parked in the garage. Archi helped her down the truck, almost carrying her down since she’s holding Astoria. The child woke up as they walked out of the truck and looked around. “Tatay?” she asked Mira.

“Yes, baby. Tatay’s here” she answered. Archi walked her to the living room carrying her bag.

“Hi” TJ greeted them as they walked inside.

“Tatay” Astoria called raising her arms to make him carry her. TJ took her from Mira and carried her.

“Hello, baby” he smiled at Astoria. “Miss Tatay?” he asked. Astoria hugged him and started to hum making him smile.

“You had dinner yet?” Mira asked TJ. TJ just nodded and looked at Archi.

“I’ll also be going ahead Mira. Bye baby girl” Archi said patting Astoria’s head. He nodded to TJ before walking out the door.

“Have you been waiting here long?” she asked him.

“A little bit” he answered. “It’s fine” he added.

“Can you hold her first? I’ll just take a quick bath” she asked TJ. TJ nodded and sat at the sofa still talking to her daughter. Just as she said, Mira took a half bath and went back out. She looked at the two of them talking as if they could understand each other. “TJ, can you just bring her here? I don’t want to walk down and up again the stairs” she told him. TJ nodded and walked up the stairs. She does hate stairs. “We need to clean you up” she told Astoria. She tried to take her from TJ but she clung tighter to him and started to wiggle. “Baby” she said.

“It’s okay, Mira. I’ll help clean her up” TJ said smiling at her. They both walked inside her room and TJ walked straight to bed.

“Don’t put her down yet” she said and laid out the baby mat first before they put Astoria down. She started taking off her shirt and wiping her neck, arms and hands. TJ on the other hand sat down next to them and started taking picture of Astoria’s arms. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“Come on” TJ said. “She’s so cute. Fourteen years from now, when she’s having a crush or some dumb boys follow her around, I will show her that she used to have sausage arms” TJ continued taking picture of her arms while making ‘hehehe’ sounds making Mira also silently laugh.

“And you’re planning to use that to blackmail her?” she asked him shaking her head.

“There’s no harm in having a plan B” TJ said who also started to take picture of her legs. “Look at this, like a turkey leg” he said laughing.

“And what’s plan A supposed to be?” she asked again.

“Well, if it happens that murder became legal in the near future, it won’t be so bad” he shrugged.

“Stop it” she told him.

“You didn’t think of Tatay the whole day today, did you?” he asked Astoria who just made bubbles out of her mouth. “You monster child” he continued. “You really are a dark spawn crawled out of the dark world” he added kissing Astoria’s cheek. Mira just watched them. TJ suddenly look at Mira, this made her so startled she quickly look at her side. “Mira, can you go to Mom’s birthday next week?” he said staring at her.

“Really?” Mira asked. “I don’t know. Would that be okay?”

“Why not?” TJ asked.

“Astoria might throw a fit there, she might cry like how she did yesterday” she said.

“She cried because I wasn’t there” TJ said. Mira sighed, thinking how she’s going to say no. “Please” TJ pleaded. She looked at him and saw how he really wanted her to say yes.

“Okay” she finally agreed.

“Yes” he suddenly stood up from crouching on the floor and hugged her. She’s about to hug him back but he cut the embrace and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry” he quickly apologized.

Mira smiled a bit. She doesn’t really care, since it’s TJ. She knows deep in her heart that she holds him dear. “It’s okay. Are you going to sleep here?” she asked.

“No. Mom will get mad at me if I don’t sleep at home again” he answered.

“But you’re here” she said.

“Yeah, I’m not really sleepy yet. I slept the whole day” he replied and continued taking picture of Astoria.

“Okay” she said. “Can you watch her then? I’ll just get a few minutes of sleep. I feel tired” she asked him.

“Okay, nanay” he answered baby talking Astoria.

“Just wake me up if you’re going home” Mira said as she lay down on bed. She’s watching TJ and Astoria talk again, but just more like TJ guilt tripping Astoria telling her how she completely forgot about him the whole day. The last thing she heard TJ said was how someday he’ll tell Astoria the story of how Nezuko became human again, and then she drifted off.

Mira woke up and saw from the window that it’s already morning. She glanced at her side and saw TJ sleeping next to her, and Astoria sleeping on her stomach on TJ’s chest. She sighed again. Didn’t he tell her his mom will get mad at him? She slowly sat before getting up. She went straight to the bathroom and brushed her teeth. After washing her face, she stared at her reflection. She looks so plain. Is TJ only treating her exceptionally well out of their friendship? Well, there’s also Andrei. She’s with Kathlyn and he’s also doting on her and her daughter. Maybe it is just friendship. She walked downstairs and went to the kitchen.

“Do you want us to prepare your breakfast Ms. Mira? Or you’re going to wait for Sir TJ?” one of the staffs asked her.

“I’ll just wait for TJ. For the meantime, I’ll have tea” she said. The staff quickly started preparing her tea. She was about to stop her, since she can make hew own tea, but the staff moves quickly she just let her make it. She took her cup to the garden and just sat there as she sips her tea. She’s sitting there for almost an hour when she heard TJ and Astoria.

“Good morning, nanay” TJ baby talks as Astoria cries.

“Hi, baby” she quickly went inside. “What’s wrong?” she asked. As soon as she held Astoria, she tugged her shirt down and kept touching her chest. She must be hungry. “I’m sorry. You’re hungry and nanay wasn’t there?” she told her and took one of her breasts to feed her completely forgetting TJ. TJ quickly glanced the other way and went to the kitchen. She heard him ask the staff for breakfast, Mira on the other hand sat on the sofa and lulled Astoria. They sat there for a few minutes until Astoria looked full herself.

“Mira, breakfast’s ready” TJ told her.

“Okay” she said and stood up. “Did you also invited Andrei and the others?” she asked about his mother’s birthday.

“I did” he answered and took Astoria from her. “Andrei can’t make it, and Yuan’s going because Ate Audrey will be there” he added.

“Audrey?” she exclaimed.

“Yeah, why?” he asked.

“I want to see her” she said and started eating.

“I should have started with that when I invited you” he said and tried to feed Astoria with egg yolk.

“Yeah” she agreed smiling.

“I think she’s dating my brother” he added.

“Anthony?” she beamed again.

“Wow” TJ shook his head and looked at her like he’s judging her. “Your energy gets boosted when we talk about gossips” he said.

“It’s not gossips if it’s true” she defensively said.

“Wow” he said again. “Don’t copy nanay, okay?” he told Astoria. Astoria looked at him and nodded. “You’ll be the cool kid at school. Smart and beautiful” he continued. “Of course, with sausage arms but who cares, right monster?” he snorted and stopped himself from laughing.

Mira furrowed her eyebrows. He really does enjoy doing that to her daughter. It looks funny, though.