how life has been for bujoy and ned as parents

— an special drabble of this guy has a child with you, pare! au

Bujoy and Ned's family life is quite simple. Ned works to sustain their needs and wants, and Bujoy takes care of the baby. They both believed kasi in nurturing the bond by actually taking care of their child, so Bujoy willingfully compromised and became a houseparent, though nag-offer naman si Ned before na siya na lang mag-aalaga if gusto magtrabaho ni Bujoy. Nagdecline naman si Bujoy kasi he wants to directly take care of the kid, and besides, kumikita rin naman siya by working online sometimes, so in a sense, he still gets his own money.

As a routine, they eat out every Sunday, sa mall o sa malapit na fast food chain, after magsimba. Pagkatapos ay bibili ng mga gamit ng bata o sa bahay, at uuwi na para magpahinga.

Ned has also completely abandoned his place since kay Bujoy na siya umuuwi ngayon. They started building up their place for a family. Bumili sila ng mas malaking sofa para kasya silang tatlo habang nanonood ng TV.

Ganyan lang sila, simple lang ang pamumuhay.

Although despite how stress-free those sound like, may times lang talaga na malala magtantrums ang anak nila. Halos lukot na naman ang damit ni Bujoy kakabuhat niya sa bata at kakapatahan dito.

"Shh, tama na, Clare."

Malakas ang iyak, sobrang ingay. Normally, maiinis siya sa ganoon, pero it's different. Anak niya na 'to. He has to be patient.

Halos dalawang oras niyang pinapatahan ang bata sa gitna ng hating-gabi. Naramdaman na rin niya ang hapdi ng mata siya sa pagkakulang sa tulog, pero okay lang. Kasi anak naman nila 'yan. Mahal niya naman.

"Buj? Tulog na, ako na diyan."

Napalingon si Bujoy kay Ned na nagkukusot ng mata, halatang kakagising lang. Umiling siya rito at sinenyasan na bumalik na sa kwarto.

Pero hindi nakinig si Ned. "Sige na, Buj. Wala ka pang tulog, oh."

"Baka ikaw pa ang 'di makatulog. May work ka pa bukas, e."

Kinuha na ni Ned si Clare nang tuluyan kay Bujoy. He showed him a small smile. "Okay lang, kaya ko 'to. Ikaw na ang matulog, baka mapano ka pa."

Bujoy stared at him, hesitating still from giving Clare up. "Sure ka?"

Tumango si Ned. "Oo. Tulog na, love, sige na."

Tumingkayad si Bujoy para abutin ang labi ni Ned. Binigyan niya siya ng mabilis na halik bago nginitian.

"Tabi ka na lang sa'kin if matutulog ka na ulit." And Ned merely hummed in response.

Bujoy then peacefully went to sleep after exhausting hours of taking care of the baby. Amidst dozing off, naramdaman niya ang braso ni Ned na pumalupot sa bewang niya, pero hindi na niya pinansin sa sobrang antok. Naramdaman niya rin na hinalikan pa nito ang ulo niya.

And it has always been like that. So many compromising and so many looking after each other.

They not only try to be present for their child, but also for each other. Kasi mahal nila ang isa't isa. At kung gaano kadali ang pinaparamdam nila sa bawat isa ay ganoon na lamang nilang kagusto na madali lang din ang pagdaanan ng isa.

Gaya na lang nu’ng isang araw na nalipasan na ng oras sa pag-kain si Bujoy.

“‘Di ka pa rin kumakain?”

There’s a tone of authority in Ned's voice, but Bujoy knew better than to get intimidated. Tinignan niya lang si Ned at saka umiling, patuloy na pinapatulog ang anak nila na buhat niya.

Ned expected that, but still sighed as he walked towards him. “Ako na diyan, kain ka na.”

“Okay,” sabi ni Bujoy sabay abot ng bata sa kanya. “Bilisan ko na lang kumain.”

And it was finally the cue for Ned to frown. “Tatay din naman ako ng bata.”

“Alam ko.”

“Then pass the burden to me ‘pag nahihirapan ka na.”

Tumitig lang ulit si Bujoy, gustong kontrahin pero hindi niya masabi. Nakatingin lang siya kay Ned habang hinihimay sa isip niya kung paano niya sasabihin na he feels like he has to hold Clare close to him all the time. Almost like an instinct, but never an obligation.

But Ned always understands him. Hindi na niya kailangan magtanong. Kahit tignan niya lang ang mga mata ni Bujoy.

“You can take care of her after, okay? Pero take care of yourself muna. Ako na bahala,” Ned softly said.

Tumango si Bujoy. “Sorry.”

Ned let out a chuckle. “It’s okay. Sige na, love, kain na.”

And so the next day, habang kumakain si Ned at habang binabantayan ni Bujoy ang anak nila, tinawag siya nito sa hapagkainan. Bujoy went to him without any questions, but his mind was filled with tons. Tinabihan niya si Ned, nakataas ang kilay na para bang nagtatanong.

“Ah,” Ned said, prompting Bujoy to open his mouth.

Bujoy immediately followed and he was taken aback when Ned inserted a spoonful of food in his mouth.

“Susubuan na lang kita, para ‘di ka na nalilipasan.”

Ngumuso si Bujoy. “Kaya ko namang kumain mag-isa.”

“Wala akong sinabing ‘di mo kaya. ‘Di ka na kasi nakakakain sa oras.” Magsasalita na sana si Bujoy, pero pinutol siya ni Ned. “At naiintindihan ko naman, love. Kaya nga susubuan na lang kita. Okay, ah na ulit.”

Imbes na mainis dahil parang binebaby siya ni Ned, napatawa na lang si Bujoy at sinubo ang mga pinapakain nito sa kanya. And it’s quite effective dahil nababantayan nga naman niya ang bata habang kumakain siya sa tamang oras.

“Sunday bukas,” Bujoy slowly mentioned, gauging Ned’s reaction.

Ned hummed. “And?”

“Ikaw muna mag-alaga kay Clare.”

Ngumiti si Ned at kung sobrang OA niya ay tumalon na siguro siya sa tuwa kasi, yes, finally, makakapagpahinga na si Bujoy, at mahahagkan na niya rin ang anak nila for the whole day. But don’t get them wrong, hindi naman pinagkakakait ni Bujoy si Clare kay Ned. He just had tendencies na maging attached sa anak niya, and Ned just let him do that because it contrasts a lot with Bujoy’s fears of being an awful parent. Bujoy has been doing so well, and Ned is already so proud of him.

And even then, they still find time for themselves. Only the two of them.

Ned has been sitting comfortably on their large sofa, watching his favorite film for the nth time. Pagkatapos ilapag ni Bujoy si Clare sa crib ay agad niyang tinabihan si Ned, but the latter has different plans because he pulled him in and made him sit on his lap. Bujoy hit him lightly after getting surprised over that sudden action.

“I miss you,” bulong ni Ned habang pinapatakan ng halik ang leeg ni Bujoy.

Bujoy tilted his head, getting tickles from the feathery kisses, but it only gave Ned easier access to drop some more. Bujoy let out deep sighs of pleasure and tugged Ned closer for support.

Ned’s lips moved upwards to catch Bujoy’s and he easily slotted his mouth with the other, moving against aggressively. It’s been so long since they actually had time to be physically affectionate because they always spare their time for Clare. And it’s not that they’re complaining kasi they will do everything for Clare. Pero syempre, miss na rin naman nila ang ganito. Miss na nila ang isa’t isa.

Dahan-dahang ibinaba ni Ned si Bujoy sa sofa at saka pumaibabaw sa kanya. He briefly cut their kiss just to make their positions are comfortable before resuming the abruption.

“I love you. You’ve been doing so well as a parent,” Ned whispered in between.

Natawa si Bujoy. “So reward pala ‘to?”

Ned smirked in return, but only responded back with intensifying their kiss. His hand smoothly made its way to the hem of the other’s shirt and slowly crawled inside to touch the bareness of his skin.

He was about to reach his buds, play with it like he would always do, but a loud cry nearby erupted across the room.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Ned at napahalakhak nang malakas si Bujoy sa reaksyon nito. Nevertheless, Bujoy still comforted Ned by giving him one last soft kiss before pushing him lightly para makaupo mula sa pagkahiga niya. Tatayo na rin sana siya para puntahan ang anak nila, pero pinigilan siya ni Ned.

“Ako na, higa ka na diyan.”

Natatawa pa rin si Bujoy habang pinapanood niyang kunin ni Ned si Clare nang may nguso sa labi nito. Ned rocked the baby with his huge arms, being more emphasized with Clare’s small frame. Agad niya ring tinabihan si Bujoy habang pinapatulog ulit ang anak nila.

“Clare, lapit ko na sana, oh.”

Bujoy chuckled as he hit Ned’s arm. “Ano ba, Ned!”

Nakanguso pa rin si Ned na para bang nagsusumbong. “Gusto lang naman kita makabonding.”

“Gusto mo pabantay ko muna siya ng isang araw kila Cenon?” offer ni Bujoy dahil parang seryoso na ang pagkalungkot ni Ned.

Lalong lumalim ang nguso ni Ned. “Okay lang? Ayoko rin naman iwan lang si Clare, pero miss na miss na kasi kita. Bujoy, anong gagawin ko?”

Bujoy let out another hearty laugh. He wrapped his arms around Ned’s waist and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek.

“It doesn’t make you less of a father to want to spend some time with me. You’re actually already a good one kay Clare. Always love watching you comfort her kasi you know how to. You’re always doing it with ease.”

“Talaga?”

Bujoy hummed in response. “Kaya to spend more time with me, tiyempuhan mo na lang na mahimbing ‘yung tulog ni Clare,” Bujoy said, planting another kiss on Ned’s cheek to tease him.

As a certified OA, Ned grunted at him. “Bujoy naman, e!” But he could only pout because kahit siya mismo, naguguilty na iwan ang anak niya para lang makasama si Bujoy.

“Si late bloomer kasi, e. Gusto nabubuntis bago magkafeelings, e,” asar ni Bujoy, but even he himself only started liking Ned amidst his pregnancy.

Ngumiti si Ned nang medyo nakakaloko. “Dapat pala umamin na ako nu’n, ‘no?”

Kumunot ang noo ni Bujoy. “Huh?!”

Pero tumawa lang si Ned at saka umiling. Bujoy frowned and urged Ned to speak more about it, pero tumawa lang si Ned at sinabing joke lang ‘yun. Irap lang ang nakuha niya kay Bujoy kaya lalo siyang natawa.

For now, he’d settle with quick kisses and cuddles amidst sleeping. He has spent almost his whole life being with Bujoy, but it’s not forever that Clare would be as small as fitting in between his bulging arms. It’s not forever that he’d be a father to a months old baby.

Pero one of these days talaga… makakaisa rin siya kay Bujoy.

What’s there to rush, anyway? He has a long run of forever with Bujoy after all.