Work Text:
“O, tapos anong nangyari sa meeting niyo?” Tanong ni Paulo sa asawa niya na inis na namn habang nagkukwento tungkol sa trabaho.
They’re having breakfast prepared by Paulo. During weekends like this he likes to get up early and take care of his husband and tak about how his week went. Sa ganong bagay sila nabibigyan ng pagkakataon ng langit na mapagusapan ang mga bagay sa nagdaang linggo. Madalas kasing salungat and schedule nila kaya madalas hindi na sila nagpapangabot para sabay kumain.
Except for weekends.
Weekends are for them both, starting with their breakfast, kung sino mang maunang maghanda sa kanilang dalawa at sa paggising ng isa para sabay na kumain. Hanggang sa panunuod sa Netflix ng kung anong palabas ang maibigan nila. They liked doing things together most of the time. It doesn’t really matter what show or movie’s on.
Ang mahalaga ay ang pagkakataon na sabay nilang panoorin ‘yon.
“Ayon. Pumasok na naman yung ka-team kong hindi ko kasundo. Siyempre nagpepresent ako ng report ko, tapos sabat nang sabat. Ang daming tinatanong!” Josh complained at he finished the food on his plate.
Josh sighed and stared back at Paulo.
Nothing could ever match weekends with Paulo.
Sa lahat ng mga alis niya, gala, aya ng mga barkada, nothing beats the home-cooked meals of his husband. He cherished weekends like this. ‘Yon bang wala silang planong mag-asawa, dalawang araw lang na sila ang magkausap at nariyan para sa isa’t-isa.
They are both working and during weekdays, it has been very hard to catch ear other and talk for hours like this. Nagpapasalamat na lang siya at hindi nagsasawa ang asawa niya sa mga biglaang meeting o ang mga napapahabang presentation. It’s hard being a team lead. Maraming expectations ang lahat.
But not with Paulo.
With him, Josh always felt like he doesn’t have to try. Para bang tanggap nito ang kabuuan ng kung sino siya, his flaws, his best assests, Paulo’s always vocal about them. Palagi niyang pinapaalala kng anong mga gusto niya kay Josh. He always felt loved.
“Pinatulan mo ba, bub? Dapat hinayaan mo na.” Natatawang sagot ni Paulo sa kanya.
“Paanong di ko papatulan eh ang yabang-“ Napatigil na lang si Josh ng bigla siyang sinukin. He covered his mouth with the back of his right hands.
Hassle naman! Josh thought, he was so immersed in telling the story.
Napatawa naman si Paulo nang malakas, na agad sinimangutan ni Josh. “Aba, tinawanan pa ako! Kuha mo nga akong tubig, bu-“ And even before he could finish, another hiccup came and cut him off.
“Paanong di kita tatawanan? Eh ang cute mo sinukin!” Sagot naman ni Paulo na tumatawa pa rin, at akmang ginagaya pa si Josh.
“Tangina, tawa naman ‘to nang tawa. Bub, kuha mo na akong tubig!” Inis na sabi ni Josh bago ulit atakihin ng isa pang sinok.
Tawa man nang tawa si Paulo ay kumuha pa rin ito ng tubig galing kusina. He walked towards his husband, and even before giving the glass of water, another hiccup emerged from him.
“Hala, sinisinok ka pa rin! Dapat yata gulatin n akita para mawala yung sinok. Yun kasi yung sabi ng matatanda kapag-“ At isang sinok rin ang nagpatigil kay Paulo.
Agad namang natawa si Josh kahit na paminsan-minsan ay sinisinok din. “Ayan, bub. Patas na tayo ah? Tawa ka nang tawa nahawa ka tuloy.” Josh said while laughing at Paulo’s occasional hiccups.
Kumunot agad ang noo ni Paulo at ininom and tubig na nasa baso. Saglit na tinigil ang tubig sa bibig, bago ito linunok. Iyon kasi sab isa kanya para mawala ang sinok.
“Hoy, bakit nauna kang uninom? Kanina pa ako sinisinok dito, bub! Pahingi!” Tampong tanong ni Josh habang inaabot ang baso.”
“Bahala ka sa buhay mo kumuha kang sarili mong baso!” Inis na sagot ni Paulo at inubos ang natitirang tubig sa baso at nang-iinis pang lumingon sa asawa niya.
“Ganyan ka ha? Ikaw kaya gulatin ko mamaya kapag nasa kwarto na ulit tayo? Gusto mo? Para mawala yung sinok ko, Paulo.” Josh teased his husband.
Paulo’s eyes widened and hurriedly went to the kitchen to refill the glass with water before returning to the dining room to give it to Josh. “Di ganon ‘yon. Dapat ikaw ang gulatin ko no. Ito na tubig mo o.” Nahihiyang alok ni Paulo.
He didn’t think Josh would get an idea from getting hiccups so before he could even think of other ways to remove his hiccups.
Josh grinned playfully and started pulling Paulo toward their bedroom. “There are plenty of ways for you to surprise me, bub.” He said.
“Inumin mo na yang tubig mo! Di mo ko maloloko. Kanina ka pa walang sinok!”
Before he could even protest, Josh pulled him inside their room and locked their door.
And oh boy, it’s going to be a long, long day.