6 years later...
*third person’s POV*
“DAH!” a little boy called Gabriel.
“Uy, Miggy. Di ba I told you to stay with your Mom? What are you doing here?” asked Gab sabay buhat sa bata.
“Aysh krim...” The little boy said instead of answering his question.
“Ok fine. We will buy ice cream but first, promise me that you will stay with your Mom when I tell you to? Ok?”
“Yes Dah. *o*”
“Hay naku. Yung Mommy mo talaga, ang tigas-tigas ng ulo.”
Nasa airport sila ngayon. Sila ang nagmamay-ari ng isa sa pinakasikat at pinakasuccessful na airline sa buong Asia. Binili nila ito at pinalitan ng pangalan. Si Gab pa mismo ang nagpalit ng pangalan nito. Sya rin ang nagpalago ng negosyong to. Syempre, sa tulong ng mga bago nyang inspirasyon, kagaya nalang ng batang buhat-buhat nya ngayon.
Nasa loob na sila ng kotse nang may napansin syang pamilyar na mukha. Ang laki na ng pinagbago nito. Bababa na sana sya ng kotse para siguraduhin kung tama ba ang hinala nya nang may lumapit na lalake dito sabay halik sa pisngi.
This girl really knows how to crush me into pieces. Sa isip nya.
But what caught his attention the most is the little boy na buhat-buhat nung babae. So may pamilya na rin ito? But then again, wala na syang pakialam. May pamilya na ito, at mas lalong may pamilya na rin sya. Humigpit ang hawak nya sa manubela. Bakit kung kelan masaya na sya, saka pa ulit ito magpapakita? Pero, masaya nga ba sya?
*Ice’s POV*
I’m back. Who would’ve thought that after how many years, makababalik pa rin pala talaga ako dito. I know I can always come back here whenever I want to. But the thing is, ayoko. I am afraid. I am hiding from someone. Hiding from him is a piece of a cake. He never exerted any effort naman para hanapin ako eh. So, technically, I’m not hiding at all.
Napilitan lang talaga akong pumunta dito. Dito kasi ako inassign ni Daddy. May branch na kasi dito ang hospital namin. I think, we will all be staying here for good. Sina Dad at Mom, siguro susunod na rin sila. Inaasikaso pa kasi nila ang rettirement ni Dad eh. Pinilit ko syang magstop kasi gusto kong magpahinga na sya. Besides, even if he won’t work, he will still be earning kasi pinamana na talaga nina Granny ang hospital ke Dad.
“Mommy, I’m hungry.” Reklamo ni Sean.
“What do you want to eat baby?”
“I want you to cook for me.” My little boy smiled. Kamukhang-kamukha nya talaga ang Tatay nya pag ngumingiti sya.
“Nah. I can’t cook here baby. Nasa car tayo. Maybe you should try my favourite food.” I smiled at him.
And dinala ko ang anak ko sa Mang Inasal.
“Really Mommy? This is your favourite food?”
“Yes, baby. When I was still in College, I used to eat this for, like, almost everyday.” I grinned. Natutuwa ako sa reaction nya.
“But that’s chicken.”
“Oh? What’s with the chicken?”
“They’re so kawawa.” He pouted. Balak yatang maging vegetarian nitong anak ko.
“Nakakatuwa naman po yang kapatid nyo Maam.” Sabi nung lalakeng nagse-serve na kararating lang.
“Ay, naku, hindi ko sya kapatid. Anak ko sya.” I proudly said.
“Talaga po? Hindi po halata.”
“Hahahaha. Ikaw talaga. Dahil dyan, ite-take out nalang namin to.”
“Po? Nagbibiro lang naman po ako eh.”
“Hhahahaha. No, it’s not about that. Nakalimutan kong may pupuntahan pa pala kami. Medyo nagmamadali na yung kasama namin eh.” I said while looking at Liam. Paparating na sya. Hindi sya sumabay sa amin kanina kasi may inasikaso muna sya. Pero since nandito na rin sya, sya na ang magmamaneho tas pauuwiin na namin si Manong Driver.
“Mister nyo po?”
I just smiled at him.
“I think we need to bring something for her too.”
“Ay, oo nga pala. May nakita akong flower shop dyan. Daan nalang tayo mamaya.”
In the car...
“Mommy, who’s Manang Dorothy?” Sean asked habang nilalantakan ang manok.
“Sean, manners. Don’t talk when your mouth is full.” Saway ko.
“Yaan mo nalang muna yang bata. He’s hungry.”
“I’m not hungry.” Ngayon, medyo nagsisi na ako kung ba’t ko tinuruan mag-Tagalog tong anak ko. “I’m famished.”
-_- Mana nga sa Tatay.
“Sean...”
“I’m just kidding Mommy.” At tumawa pa. Pilyong bata.
Natawa na rin si Liam. “May pinagmanahan talaga tong batang to.”
“You think so? Tingin ko kasi tinuturuan sya ng iba dyan eh.”
Liam grinned. “Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko. He’s a genius. Madaling turuan eh. OUCH!”
Piningot ko nga. Alam nya namang nakakaintindi ng Tagalog si Sean eh. Baka lumaki pa ang ulo ng anak ko. -_- Pero tama nga tong si Liam. Matalinong bata si Sean. He’s still 6 pero para na syang matanda magsalita. One thing na, fortunately, hindi nya namana sa Tatay nya.
“You haven’t answered my question yet. Who’s Manang Dorothy?”
“You’ll see her soon. She’s like a family. When your Grannies weren’t here, she was the one who acted as my parent.”
“I can’t wait to see her.”
“And by the way son, today’s her birthday.” I smiled as I remembered Manang Dorothy.
“Happy birthday Manang...” I greeted her. Inilagay ko ang bulaklak sa harapan nya. Hindi ko lubos maisip na ang dating lagi kong kasama sa bahay ay grave na ngayon. Manang Dorothy died almost six years ago na rin. Mga ilang buwan pagkatapos naming umalis papuntang Melbourne, saka sya inatake. Nakakaguilty nga eh. Siguro kung hindi kami umalis, siguro hindi rin madi-depress ng ganun si Manang. Siguro hanggang ngayon, buhay pa rin sya.
“Happy birthday po.” Sean said. Si Liam naman, tahimik lang. He knows kung ano ang role ni Manang Dorothy sa life ko pero hindi pa talaga sila nagmeet eh. “I actually do not know you but I know you’re... kind and that you love my Mom so much because Mom looks happy when she talks about you. I also wanted to see you. I mean, not like this. I wanted to ask you questions like how Mom was when she was a kid.” Aww... Nata-touch ako sa anak ko. T^T
“Ice?”
I froze when I heard that voice. Napakapamilyar. Kahit ilang taon na kaming hindi nagkikita, kahit ilang taon ko nang hindi naririnig ang boses nya, alam kong sya pa yun. I turned around at nakita kong sa kanya ng nagmumula ang boses na yun. Hindi na rin naman ako magtataka kung ba’t nandito sya. Naging malapit rin kasi sila ni Manang Dorothy eh.
“Uh, Sean? I think we need to go back to the car.” Sabi ni Liam kay Sean. Naramdaman nya yatang may importante talaga kaming pag-uusapan ng taong nasa harap ko.
“Who’s that guy?” my son asked nung medyo malayu-layo na sila. Pero obviously, rinig na rinig pa rin namin.
“Gab.” I finally said. “It’s been a long time.” But it still feels like yesterday.
“Indeed. So, uh, how are you?”
“I’m good. Ikaw?” Pero parang hindi sya nakikinig. Nakatingin sya sa car kung saan kasalukuyang naghaharutan sina Sean at Liam.
“That little boy...”
“He’s Sean, my son.”
