Dwayne's Point of View
"So, what now? Ayaw mong iwan si Edrian sa isang yaya, bro, you can't bring a kid to a business trip." Angelo advised while looking at my son who was eating his favorite meal.
"I can't just trust someone. My kid doesn't want to interact with others, even you. I must find a person who can help me with it." I said casually and watched Edrian wipe those chocolates on his cheeks. What a grown up baby.
"Maybe a kind mother! But you can't just pay someone for Edrian. Maybe you should marry one? For sure, may taong makakalapit kay Edrian. 'Yung mabait at mabuti ang kalooban.'Yung gustong gusto sa mga bata." I raised a brow on him.
"So you're telling me that I should be married? What a way, Angelo Rhenz. If you're saying that because you don't want me to grow old alone, nah, I won't marry anyone." he tsked and tapped my shoulder before sipping on his wine.
"I'm not saying that but you're right. It was meant for you to find a wife and a mother for your son already. I know you are a rock hearted person but you can do it for Edrian. You don't need to love the person you're gonna marry, you can pay her if you want to or if she wants to." he suggested. There's a part of me that's agreeing on his opinion but I also have the part that I wasn't.
"You think a kid like him can like some person beside Maica? No, I'm not coming to the trip if I need to leave my son." I sighed.
"I know that Maica is his mother but bro, that person is dead. Not all kid like Edrian will not like someone out there. Mayroon pang mga tao diyan na makakalapit niya. You lack of trust to others. Com'on." I stared at him darkly which made him raise his hands, sign of surrendering.
"Trust mustn't be easily given to others. They can break it and you cannot build it again that easy. Just go and tell the others that I'm not coming with them on the trip. I have my son to take care of." he slowly nodded before taking his leave.
I looked at my five year old son and told him to pack his things because we're gonna go to his doctor.
"Don't worry, buddy. Only dad will touch you. The doctors will never lay their hands on you. Don't be afraid okay?" he innocently nodded before holding my thumb.
I drove from my office to the hospital. I payed for this hospital so I claim it mine. I claimed it because I want it to be less crowded. My son is frightened to the crowds.
"Dr. Baltazar, we're here again. I want to take a look on my son's health." I shake the doctor's hand before leaning inside Edrian's room.
"Okay, Sir Dwayne. Papatulugin muna namin si Edrian, you can stay outside or inside his room like what you always do." she smiled before taking her leave in front of me.
I stayed inside my son's room and watch them. Since Edrian doesn't want to touched by other people, they have to let him sleep first with the sleeping pills before checking his health.
"Nothing's new, sir Dwayne. He's totally fine. My assistant already called me for another patient so I must take my leave now. You can bring your son home once he's awake."
An hour later and Edrian has awaken. An emergency call came up so I have to leave him on the waiting area for a while. I know that he will never leave his seat because he's a good boy but once I get back, he wasn't on there anymore!
A Woman's Point of View
"Ay! Oh, h-hi cutie, sorry, nasaktan ka ba? Sorry, tatanga tanga kasi ako, e. Natamaan ba kita?" nag alala agad ako sa cute na bata nang masagi ko ito dahil natapilok ako. Antanga ko naman kasi!
Nagtaka ako dahil hindi man lang siya umimik at prenteng nakatingin lang sa akin. Teka, nasaan ba ang ama nito?
Hinawakan ko siya sa pisngi at pinisil iyon. Ang cute niya! Ang cu-cute talaga ng mga bata! Parang gusto kong gumawa ng akin!
"Ang cute cute mo! Naliligaw ka ba? Nasaan ang parents mo? Magsalita ka naman, baka mamaya, nasaktan pala kita." nanatili lamang na nakatingin sa akin ang bilog at kulay lupa nitong mga mata.
"Gusto mo ba ng chocolates? May nagtitinda doon, oh! Libre ka ni tita Haylee kung gusto mo. Baka kasi napano kita tsaka mukha kang naliligaw. Tara?" inilahad ko ang aking kamay habang nakaturo ang kamay kay manong Betong na nagtitinda ng candies sa gilid ng hallway.
Humawak siya sa kamay ko at sumama sa akin habang hindi pa rin nagsasalita. Baka pipi ito?
"Hello po manong Betong, bili po ako ng dalawang chocolate candy roll." wika ko sa matanda at nakangiting binalikan ng tingin ang cute na bata.
"Nasumpong na naman ba ng lagnat si Ariana Kate, Haylee?" tanong ni manong na tinanguan ko lamang. Isang buwan na kasi kaming napupunta dito sa ospital na ito dahil palaging nilalagnat ang bunso kong kapatid. Matagal na dito si manong Betong dahil may anak siyang naka confine sa private hospital na ito. Dahil sa walang maiiwang magbabantay sa kaniyang anak ay dito na siya nagtinda. Sa maikling panahon ay nagkamabutihan kami.
"Opo, e. Kamusta naman po ang anak niyo, manong?"
"Ganu'n pa din naman. Oh, sino naman ang batang kasama mo?" turo niya sa batang akay akay ko habang inaabot ang chocolate roll. Kinuha ko iyon at iniabot sa bata.
"Nakita ko lang po diyan. Parang nawawala po, e. Anong pangalan mo, baby?" niluhod ko ang isang tuhod at pinantayan ang bata.
"Edrian." pati ang boses, cute!! Isang salita lang iyong sinabi niya saka sinubo ang candy.
"Ang cut—"
"Edrian?! Holy! What are you doing here? You should have stayed there. I got worried!" tumingin ako sa gilid ko at napanganga sa kagwapuhan ng isang lalaking papalapit.
Kinuha niya si Edrian at binuhat habang kumakain pa rin ito ng candy, tumayo na rin ako at sinubukang magsalita. Nakakautal kasi ang kagwapuhan nito, e!
"U-Uh, ikaw ba ang tatay?" tumingin siya sa akin gamit ang seryoso nitong tingin.
"Yes. What did you do to my son?" humawak ako sa dibdib ko at taka siyang tinignan.
"Hoy, wala ah! A-Akala ko kasi, nawawala siya. At nasagi ko kasi siya kaya binilhan ko siya ng chocolate. Sorry sa kapangahasan ko! By the way, ang cute niyong pareho este ang cute niya." natutuwang ani ko at hinaplos ang ilong ng bata gamit ang hintuturo ko.
"H-Hey!" pigil ng lalaki sa akin.
"H-Huh? B-Bakit?" nanlalaki ang mga mata nito habang nagpapalitan ng tingin sa anak at sa akin.
"D-Did you just touched him?!" Hala, lagot, baka ipakulong ako nito dahil bawal hawakan ang anak niya! Naku, oo nga pala, mayaman pala ang isang 'to.
"A-Ah, s-sorry! P-Pero bakit? Ipapakulong mo ba ako? Please, 'wag naman. Nahawakan ko na ilang beses 'yang bata pero sana 'wag mo naman akong idemanda!" kabadong sunod sunod na usal ko kaya napataas ang perfect na mga kilay niya. Naks, hindi siya drawing, ah.
"What the freak are you talking about? I'm only asking if you just touched my son. Don't talk nonsense." ay, sungit. Sayang, gwapo sana kaso may asawa at anak na, tapos masungit pa. Naku naman.
"Ay, sorry, hehe. Oo, hinawakan ko ang anak mo. May mali ba sa ginawa ko?" sinuri niya ako ng tingin.
"None. Next time, don't just snatch a kid. Some people can sue you, luckily I didn't did it to you." sabi niya at umalis na. Ano daw? Englishero, buti na lang at nakakaintindi at na makapagsalita din ako ng english. Hindi ko lang siya binanatan, e.
"Ang cute at ang gwapo. Kaso parehas na hindi ko ka label. Hays. Sana all." sabay subo sa chocolate at dumiretso sa kwarto ng kapatid ko.
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Astrid Manunulat
