30 - Family Picture

Charm's POV

I don't know what has got into me to share with RJ a piece of my past, maybe I am beginning to trust him. Come to think of it, there is nothing wrong with accepting the friendship he has been offering. We both agreed to this arrangement, therefore we have to work together.

Our day went smoothly and among us three, Celestine is the happiest when we went to the grocery store. Palibhasa naglaro lang naman sila ni RJ sa cart, kung noon isa lang ang sinasaway ko, ngayon dalawa na sila.

"Daddy do you know that Mommy makes very good pasta dishes?" Celestine said.

"Really baby? I don't believe you unless I try them myself." RJ replied.

"Mommy, please cook the white spaghetti for Daddy." Celestine said.

"That's carbonara pasta, Baby." I corrected her.

"The white spaghetti in my favorite Daddy, while Lolo Teddy loves the manana." Celestine said.

"Manana? What's manana, baby?" RJ asked.

"The one with shrimp, squid and .... I don't know how to call them daddy, that's why I don't like it, I don't know what's in it." Celestine said.

"She is referring to Marinara pasta." I told RJ.

"Ohhh, I like Marinara pasta, too. But I think I would go with the white spaghetti first because Celestine does not like the Manana pasta." RJ said and they both giggle.

"It's Marinara, I can't cook now may ginawa nang menu si manang for the whole week." I corrected them.

"We are the boss, we can always change that." RJ said.

"What did I tell you abour spoiling Celestine?" I whispered to him.

"I am not spoiling her, the request comes from me. She just suggested it. Sige na patikim naman ng white spaghetti mo Mendoza Girl." RJ said.

"Carbonara nga kasi yun." I said.

"Whatever you call it, I still want that pasta dish for dinner, Mrs. Faulkerson, Jr. Tara na saan bang section nabibili dito sa grocery ang ingredients nyan?" RJ asked while pushing the cart.

So ako na naman ang walang choice dahil 2 against 1, kaya nanalo na naman sila.

When we get home, I busied myself preparing the dinner with Manang's help, while RJ helps Celestine with her assignment.

"We have a problem." I heard RJ said upon entering the kitchen.

"Bakit? What happen? Anong nangyari kay Celestine?" I worriedly asked.

"Celestine is fine, but she needs to bring a family picture tomorrow in school. She will be introducing us to her classmates through the family picture." RJ said and I laughed at his concern.

"Grabe ka naman, akala ko kung ano na ang nangyari. May picture tayo kay Dean nung wedding, i-text ko na lang sya para i-send nya sa akin." I said.

"Hindi pwede yun." RJ said.

"Bakit hindi pwede? Family picture di ba? Remember kinunan tayo ni Dean sa reception using his phone?" I asked.

"Baka mabully si Celestine kasi, we just got married now. Dapat hindi yung wedding picture natin. I actually have one in my phone kaya lang ang dungis ni Celestine dun eh." RJ said.

"Wait tawagan ko si Nanay, baka meron sya sa phone nya." I said.

"I have a better idea, come with me." He said and swiftly pulls me going out of the kitchen.

"Can't you see? Nagluluto ako Faulkerson, Jr. Hindi ba pwedeng mamaya na yan?" I said but he just ignored me and tightly held my hand and lead me to Celestine's room.

"This can't wait Mendoza Girl, we need to take our family picture hangga't hindi pa inaantok si Celestine. We have to take advance of her vibrant mood tonight." RJ said.

"Afternoon pa lang Faulkerson, Jr. Wala pang alas sais ng gabi, impossibleng antukin na yang si Celestine. Pwede ba, wag mo nga akong hilahin. Atsaka pwede ba mamaya na lang yan, baka masunog yung carbonara sauce ko." I said.

"Manang will take care of that. This can't wait. Anything about Celestine should be prioritized." RJ said.

As soon as we reached Celestine's room, RJ asked Yaya to take our family picture using his phone. Yaya took several shots and I am actually enjoying this impromptu family picture taking.

After some shots, RJ scrolls at the picture. "Nice shots, Yaya. Hindi mukhang hinila lang si Meng galing sa kusina." RJ commented laughing while showing me the shots.

"Infairness nga." I agreed. Magaling ngang kumuha ng litrato si Yaya, she were able to capture yung tamang anggulo naming tatlo. I could not help but smile, because Celestine's happiness is very evident in those photos.

"Let's go to the library baby. Let's print this photos. Thank you Mommy, you may continue cooking our dinner." RJ said then held Celestine's hand and lead her to the library while they left me alone in the room.

Second day pa lang pero parang ang dami-dami nang nangyayari, paano kakayanin ni Celestine kapag nawala na ang lahat ng ito? I need to talk to RJ about this. Hindi pwede ang sobrang attachment nila ni Celestine, baka pati sya mahirapang makabitaw.

Wala akong balak itali si RJ sa aming mag-ina, katulad pa rin ng dati, our story starts in Calatagan and ends up in Calatagan, too, when he left me alone in that cottage. I was able to survive without him.

Malinaw naman sa amin pareho na temporary lang ang lahat ng ito. I understand he has a life of his own, too. His bachelor's life was just put on hold because of this senseless arrangement.

Eventually, he will meet someone who could give him the real family that he wished to have at ayokong makagulo sa pamilya nya in the future. Isang taon lang na bahay-bahayan, hindi dapat maging mahirap sa amin ang paghihiwalay.

RJ's POV

As I scroll on the pictures in my phone to choose the best picture to print for Celestine's requirement for school, I could not help but promise myself to protect this family at all cost. It maybe temporary but my commitment to protect these girls is something that I will keep in my heart for the rest of my life.

"Can we print all pictures Daddy?" Celestine asked.

"But you said that you only need one for school." I told her.

"Yes, I will bring only one and the rest will be hanged on the wall, in my room and in your room." Celestine said.

"Of course baby, we will print all these photos and we will hang it on the wall. We will put some on your beside table, too." I said.

"Yehey, I'm so excited for those photos, Daddy. Let's put one on your bedside table, too." Celestine said.

"Yes baby, there will be one on our bedside table. We will put some in the family room. I promise to fill the entire house with many pictures of you and Mommy and I." I said. Maybe because of excitement, Celestine pulls me for a hug.

"Thank you Daddy, let's have more and more pictures together." She said.

Yes, we will certainly have more pictures like this. Different settings, different time but the same people, each picture will be wrapped with a beautiful story in it.

I have a year to build memories such as this. I only have a year to make them feel how important they are to me now. I'll make sure it is a year of blissful moments and memories they will never forget whenever and wherever they are, memories they will choose not to let go.