Shifting

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw my name reflected in Kenji's birth certificate. I was sitting in the dining table while contemplating the unexpected event that's happening in my life right now. What Christie said in the letter appears to be true. How was she able to name it under me? How did she come with this idea? I stood up and headed to Christie's room thinking that she might have left something behind or anything but to my dismay the room is clean and plain with nothing inside like waiting for its next owner. I closed the door with sadness on my face and approached the crib where Kenji is still sleeping.

While my hand was clutched onto the crib, I looked at the peacefully sleeping baby. "What are we going to do now Kenji?" I reached for its head and caressed it. "I don't know what's ahead of us. I don't know if I will be a good mother for you but I will try my hardest to be one..." a tear escaped on my eye and I felt a pinch in my heart as I looked into this baby.

***

It's almost time for work so I prepared everything for Reeve when it regards to Kenji's needs. I also prepared Christie's former room so he will have a place to rest. I looked at my watch and in just a few minutes I'm good to go.

I heard a soft knock on my door. As I opened it, I was greeted by a sleepy Reeve dressed in a white v-neck shirt and shorts. He came from a graveyard shift. He is working in a BPO company and already assumes a high position which I don't even bother to ask.

"Good morning! Sorry for the inconvenience..." I greeted him. He smiled and replied a simple good morning too me then he went directly to Kenji and played with him. He took the baby and swayed him for a bit which seems like his sleepiness has worn of already.

"Reeve I'm going. I already prepared the milk and water just pour it and shake onto the feeding bottle. By the way, the other room is open in case you want to sleep..." I headed for the door and gave them one last look. Reeve took Kenji's hand and waved me goodbye while mimicking a child's voice "Bye mommy! See you later!" I smiled and went back in to give Kenji a kiss on the forehead. "Bye baby... See you later..." I tapped Reeve's arms and went to work.

***

"Drink a lot of milk Kenji so will grow faster" I uttered while this baby was sucking it very fast. The baby has a blue eyes just like mine and it looked very familiar. Sachie's right about the both of looking the same but it's very impossible for me to have a baby since I'm always immersed with work and just sleep during my free days.

I took a look at the room that Sachie mentioned and everything is prepared well. It only had a bed with a new sheet, a bedside table and a two-door wardrobe. I moved the crib inside the room while burping Kenji and waited till he went asleep before laying him back at his crib. I laid on the bed until I was engulfed in total darkness.

I woke up upon hearing Kenji's cry together with some noise coming from the kitchen. I looked at the unfamiliar ceiling and around the room and realized that I'm not in my own room. I grabbed my phone to check for the time and it's almost seven in the evening. I stretched for a bit and then took Kenji to make him stop from crying. I went outside the room and saw Sachie's back while cooking. She transferred the soup onto the bowl and placed in the dining table. Upon noticing that I was there she smiled and motioned me to come and have dinner.

"Thank you for taking care of Kenji. Get some dinner first before leaving." She took Kenji from me and sat opposite to me. "How was your day being the daddy?" she teased while passing me the rice and my bowl of soup. She looked at the baby and asked, "How was your day? Were you a good boy?" I couldn't help but smile. Yesterday she was worried about the whole thing but now it seems like Kenji has been a part of his life.

'It feels like a newlyweds that just started building our own family.' I was shocked by my thoughts and tried to erase it on my mind. What am I thinking? Yes, Sachie's a beautiful Japanese lady. She doesn't have any boyfriend. She's very independent and too focused on her career. I can still remember the first time I saw her. She was lifelessly walking and just passed me by. I really wanted to greet her but she looks very intimidating and too snobby that I hesitated. I really don't know how we got clicked and how we were able to went out with Christie but for the pas few months, I got too busy that I wasn't able to talk to them.

That's the reason why I was so shocked seeing her with a baby because I wasn't able to notice if she got pregnant along the way. I was busy for the last 2 months and she was still the same. I felt relieved upon know that it was Christie's not hers.

"Reeve? Reeve? Does it taste bad?" she asked. I was lost in my thoughts that her voice brought me back to reality. "It's good" I answered. It really felt good when someone cooks for you. After the dinner, I volunteered to wash the dishes and bid farewell. Sachie took Kanji's hands and waved me goodbye and said, "Bye Daddy! Work well! See you later!"

If this would be my family's routine wherein we'll have different work schedule and leave them behind it would be very sad because I can't be with them. Well, it's the reality of a family were both parents are working to provide everything needed for living. Having your own family is not an easy task. Oh well, that's too much reflection for being a daddy for a day.

'If Sachie and Kenji were my own family... I couldn't ask for more...'

4-29-18