CHAPTER FOUR

I yelped when someone hugged me from behind, his warm breath in between my neck and shoulders made me giggle as he showered me with kisses. "Philos!" I squealed as his hug tightened and his kisses continued. After a month of being away from me, I can finally feel his warm arms around me, caressing me softly, raining me kisses, and pulling me closer to his arms.

"I miss you," he said, still his lips touching the base of my nape making me let out a soft moan. I giggled like a high school girl when his hand touched the small of my waist. I tried to free myself from his embrace but to no avail I only let myself succumb to his warm kisses.

"We miss you too," I said as I give him more avenue to my neck letting him trail down kisses to that sensitive spot on my neck. He stopped and slowly turned me to face him. His eyebrows shot up as he looked at me in confusion.

Pinilig niya ang kaniyang ulo. "We? May kasama ba tayong 'di ko nakikita?" He jokingly said. My grin widened, I shrugged and let him wonder what I meant. "Maybe?" I led his hands to nestle on top of my tummy. His grin turned into bewilderment which became evident in his eyes."Leigh, you know I don't play charades. What are you playing now?"

"Nothing," I said as I free myself and I tried to run away from him, but he just chased me and hugged me again. He started to tickle me and I cannot help but struggle and free myself from his hug. We started to chase each other inside the unit we are living in.

"Come back here, cariño," he said as he chased after me. I ran to the bathroom leading him in there, and when we're inside, he caught me in his arms again. "Are you gonna run away?" I shook my head. "No... No more running away." I said panting, I became tired easily these days and these simple games we used to play are now tiring for me.

He showered my nape with kisses once again, his eyes boring on me as he stares at our reflection on the mirror in front of us, I tilt my head to give him more access to my neck. I lead his hand on my tummy. "You need to learn how to cook for more than two now, darling." His kisses stopped when I said those words. I looked at his reflection in the mirror, the eyes that had pure passion earlier are now bewildered. I couldn't help but snicker at his reaction.

"What?" Kumunot ang noo niya sa sinabi ko. My smile widened when I saw his puzzled look. Inabot ko ang stick na nasa lababo at ibinigay iyon sa kaniya. It's a pregnancy test, showing two lines. Nang iangat niya ito upang matingnan nang maayos ay hindi na maawat ang kaniyang ngiti. Hinalikan niya ang aking pisngi at iniharap ako sa kaniya. "Totoo ba ito, cariño?" Tinitigan pa niyang muli ang pregnancy test. Agad niyang dinala ang kaniyang kamay sa tiyan ko. "There's a little life growing inside you right now?"

I smiled further and nodded at him. "We'll be a family of three now, love." Napatili ako nang buhatin niya ako at iikot sa maliit naming banyo. His excitement evident and his smiles couldn't be erased in his handsome face.

"You don't know how happy I am, Leigh," wika niya nang maibaba ako.

"Me too, Phil, me too." He kissed me passionately. I can feel how happy he was right now. His hand tightened on my waist as we swayed to our bedroom. We continued the passion we shared through our kisses and touches but this time Philos is extra gentle as he came to know that there's a new part of us that's growing inside me.

"How's your business trip, love?" I asked him, trailing my fingers to his chest and as we snuggle on our bed. "It's not the same without you," he said as he kissed my forehead, hugging each other's naked body. "How have you been when I was gone? When did you know you're pregnant? What do you feel? Have you had your prenatal check?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

I laughed at him. "Isa-isa lang. Hindi ko naman kayang sagutin lahat ng tanong mo." Napailing ako. "When you're away, I've been doing well. I also realized that I was pregnant the morning you left for your business trip. I experienced my first-morning sickness. As for the prenatal check, I'm waiting for you. I want us to be together when I have my first check."

He hugged me tighter. "I'm sorry I was away when you realized you're carrying my child. But also, thank you, cariño, you made me extremely happy." His warm chest is as cozy as ever, I missed snuggling beside him, and now that he is home we can finally come back to our usual routine.

I smiled. As long as he's happy, I'm happy, too. In this relationship, the happiness of the other is our first priority. I love when I can see him smiling brightly and when I can see his eyes twinkling like stars in the dark night. I guess that's why I still love him, he is still the same Philos I fell in love with.

Philos and I have been in a relationship since college. I was a freshman in the Arts and Design Department while he was a sophomore in Business Administration Department. I actually have a crush on him when I first saw him at the dean's office of our department. I often hang out with Tanya because Tanya was a freshman in Business Administration so I could see Philos more often. Si Tanya rin ang dahilan bakit nalaman ni Philos na may gusto ako sa kaniya. She shouted at the hallway that I like him when he was walking in front of us. Halos hilingin ko na lamunin ako ng lupa dahil sa kahihiyan na ginawa niya. I wanted to jump out the fourth floor just to escape the humiliation I've felt that day. But when Philos heard that I like him that time, he didn't turn away. His ears turned red while his friends teased him. After that day Philos came into our department building and waited for me to come out of class, he asked me for lunch, and the rest was history.

Napaisip tuloy ako, paano kaya kung hindi ako ibinuking ni Tanya noong mga panahon na iyon? Will I be able to talk to Philos? Will I and Philos be in a relationship? I think I should give Tanya the credit for why Philos and I are now planning to get married and starting our family.

"Nezha, I want a dog." I looked up at Philos who in return kissed my forehead. "Why not a cat, Philos?" I asked him. I really like cats but I'm also fine with dogs, it's just that since I was a kid I love playing with cats. Umiling si Philos. "Cats are hazards for children, baka kalmutin niya ang baby natin."

"Then why a dog?" I asked him. He looked at my eyes and smiled at me. "Para may bantay sa bahay pag wala ako, at para na rin may makakalaro ang baby natin," Tumingala ako sa kaniya. "Do we really need one?"

Tumango siya. "Yes. I'll feel safer if you have a dog by your side. Let's get a golden retriever. They are easy to train and also a good nanny dog for kids." I snuggled on his chest and placed my ear near it. I want to hear his heartbeat. Once I heard the comfortable sound of his heartbeat, I gave in. If he believes it will be the best for us then I trust him. "It's up to you, love. If you think it'll be for the better, then let's adopt one. But I don't want to buy a puppy. Let's get a senior dog," I said. I felt him kiss my hair. "Then let's go to the shelter tomorrow." I placed my hand on his chest and snuggled in his arms, I can feel his arms tightening around my body. "Okay," I said. He kissed my hair again and we both drifted to sleep, our bodies intertwined.

"Look, cariño!" Philos looked like he just went to the amusement park for the first time. Running around visiting and checking each kennel. He's so excited to look for a dog here in the shelter. I let him play with dogs as I walked around to look at different dogs. Some of them are in one corner, shivering in fear, some are malnourished, and some are still dirty. But they all have one in common. They are neglected by their owners, if not surrendered because their owners didn't want them or they can't take care of them anymore. This is why I want to adopt a pet instead of buying one. Some needed more love and care; no price can satisfy the needs of those neglected. All they wanted was love and care, and they deserve it.

I was looking at some of the dogs when one dog suddenly jumped in front of me. He was standing with his hind legs while wagging his tail, looking at me. "Oh, hi boy," I greeted and pet him. He is a golden retriever. His fur was so gold you will already know that he is the best pick at their pack.

Lumapit sa amin ang isa sa nag-aalaga sa shelter. Nakangiti ito nang malaki. "Siya po si Adien. Iniwan po siya rito ng amo niya na foreigner dahil hindi po madadala sa ibang bansa. Nang iwan siya ng amo niya rito ay hindi pa siya nagpapahawak sa iba. Sa iyo pa lang, ma'am. Mukhang gusto ka niya. He serves as an alert dog for his former owner, trained din siya kaya kung aampunin niyo siya ay hindi kayo mahihirapan."

Naramdaman ko agad ang pag-akbay sa akin ni Philos. "Looks like we didn't need to choose one because he's the one who chose us. We want to adopt him, how can we proceed with the adoption papers?" I looked at him and he only gave me a wide grin, I smiled back and looked at the golden retriever wagging its tail on us. Philos petted him and he seemed to like it.

Philos went to process the adoption papers while I get to play with Adien. While we are playing, Adien seemed to like to put his nose on my tummy. Hindi na siya muling tumalon-talon pa sa akin. "Looks like you chose me because you know you have a playmate inside, huh? Are you excited to see him, too?" I asked him. Adien barked and I smiled. When Philos was done processing the adoption papers and Adien was ready to go, we deliberately thought of a new name for him.

"How about Calix?" He suggested. While holding Adien's leash and walking him out of the shelter.

I shook my head. "Enzo?" He suggested again. "No." I giggled. He really knows some good names but I don't think these names are fitting for a dog. "Magiano?"

"No!" I scrunch my nose as Philos kept on suggesting names that I don't know when he picked out, the dog didn't even react with it. We need a name for him that can easily be remembered so he can react. "How about Adi?" I asked. When Adien heard the name Adi, he immediately looked at me, wagging his tail. "I guess he likes the name Adi more, Phil."

Philos groaned and sighed in defeat. "I want a dog to be my playmate and our child's, but it turns out that he was your dog," reklamo niya. "Well, the dog chose me, what can I do about it?"

When we came home, we registered him as a household pet, and played with Adi for a few more hours, letting him adapt to his new home. After that, we decided to rest, snuggling in each other's arms. I'm so excited to see our child and to have him in between us, to snuggle and shower him with love the way we showered each other with love.

"I love you, Leigh."

"I love you more, Philos."