Against all odds

                                    

                                          
"Ang kulit-kulit eh... Brielle, sit still please..." I begged. Brielle is my 8-month old daughter. She was born on August 24.
                          
I was trying to put her clothes on. She just took a bath, and while I was struggling to fix her dress, I saw her father laughing at a corner, so I glared at him.
                          
"Why are you laughing?" I asked him.
                          
"I ain't laughing. I'm just smiling at this photo I've took." He showed me his phone, It was a picture of me, in a messy bun, trying to hold Brielle whom was smiling at the camera. Every morning might be the most exhausting part of the day, but every sweat is worth it. Everything with her is worth it.
                          
"Bei?" He called.
                          
"Are you alright?" He asked.
                          
"Yes. Brielle, be good ah." I told my daughter.
                          
"She'll be good. We'll call you everyday." He walked towards us and carried his daughter.
                          
"Are you sure you don't want to come?" He asked.
                          
"Hon, alam mo namang ayaw sakin ng parents mo. Wag na natin pilitin." I sighed.
                          
"Bea..."
                          
"Just take care of Brielle. That's all I ask." 
                          
"Okay." He kissed me in the forehead and then he took Brielle's luggage. They're going on a cruise with his family.
                          
"You sure you don't want to stay with your parents?" He asked worriedly.
                          
"I'm stay here. I'm sure I can invite some teammates over. Just be safe." I said.
                          
He took his backpack and phone, and then he asked Brielle to give me a kiss.
                          
"I love you, Hon." 
                          
"I love you too."
                          
"Rielle, mama loves you."
                          
"Ma- Ma!" That made me smile. She's starting to speak a few words like 'Da-da' and 'Ma-ma'.
                          
"Tara." I took Brielle from his arms and joined them until the lobby of the condominium. He gave me a one last kiss, and they walked away. But before he could open the door, I called him.
                          
"Thirds." He looked back.
                          
"I love you."
                          
"I love you more, Hon. We'll be back in a week." He gave me a assuring smile.
                          
•••
                          
"Jho, thanks for letting me stay."
                          
"No problem, Bei. I'm sure namiss ka din ni Nathan."
                          
"TITA BEA!" I heard a little boy shout. That's Nathan, my godson whose already 4-years old.
                          
"Where's Riri?" He asked. Riri is Brielle, he calls her that.
                          
"He's with Tito Thirdy. They went on a family trip." I told the kid.
                          
"Why are you not with them?" 
                          
"Nathan... enough questions. Pagod si Tita Bei sa biyahe." Jho said.
                          
"Yes, mommy..." He sadly said.