Daddy Shua

42

THIRD PERSON

Dahil sa nangyaring insidenteng kinasangkutan ng kaniyang mga tropa, napagdesisyunan ni Joshua na isama nalang muna si Sandy sa trabaho.

Matapos ng meeting ay nakita niya sa loob ng kaniyang opisina ang kaniyang anak na nakanguso sa hawak nitong phone. Tumabi si Joshua sa anak niya, "What's the matter?"

"I want to play with mama too, I saw my friends with their moms, they looked happy," napanganga si Joshua sa sinabi ng kaniyang anak.

"Aren't you happy with me?" he asked.

"I'm happy with you, daddy,"

"'Yon naman pala eh, I can be your mom," he nagged at her.

"But--" kinuha ni Joshua ang phone niya. He saw Rara's contact number on the screen, napatingin siya sa anak niya sa gulat.

"Was that my mother's number? I kept on calling her but it's just ringing," she's about to cry.

A three year old kid, still learning to speak properly, was longing for her mother's care. That thought made his heart feel broken into pieces. She really wants to see her mother.

"My daughter," he looked at him in pity.

"Where is she? Does she like me?"

She began realizing things now, she's a smart toddler. And Joshua can't stand to see his daughter on this state. He hugged her tight.

"She's just there, okay? She loves you. But I do love you more," he patted her head.

As they let go, she nodded and give her father a genuine smile. "Can we play now?"

He smiled, "Sure! But let's go home first, it's not good to play inside daddy's workplace," she nodded excitedly.

As they walked outside the office, she's holding her father's hands while running away. He just chuckled at nagpadala na rin sa hila ng kaniyang anak. Nang makarating sila sa parking lot ay napatigil si Joshua sa paglalakad.

"Papa?" she called her father.

"Shua hyung magtatanong lang sana ako kung may bilihan ba ng tempered glass malapit dito--" napatigil sa pagsasalita si Jun nang ibigay ni Joshua ang susi ng kotse sa kaniya.

"Pakihatid sa bahay si Sandy," he told him nonchalantly.

"Huh? Bakit saan ka ba?" he asked, still confused kasi magtatanong lang naman talaga siya sana.

"I just need to talk to someone. Sandy, we'll play later okay? I am sorry. Jun please drive safely," after a tap on Jun's shoulder, he ran away.

"Magpapalit lang ako ng tempered glass nautusan pa ako?"

Hinila ni Sandy ang laylayan ng damit ng natulala pa ring si Jun. "Tito Jun,"

Agad na ibinaling ni Jun ang atensyon niya sa batang pinaiwan sa kaniya ni Joshua. "Bakit po? Mukhang malungkot ka ah, gusto mong magstay muna tayo sa playground bago umuwi?" she immediately smiled on his idea.

"Tara sa loob," he carried her and went inside the car.

"Tito Jun, does my papa loves me?" napalingon sa likuran si Jun dahil sa tinanong ni Sandy.

"My mama don't like me--"

"She likes everyone," pagdugtong ni Junhui Bieber.

Naguluhan man sa sinabi ni Jun, tinuloy niya ang kaniyang sinasabi, "My mama don't like me, and papa, I don't think he likes me too," she looked down as she pouted her lips.

"Paano mo naman nasabi 'yan? Mahal na mahal ka ng papa mo," he pouted too, immitating the little girl.

"He's always busy. He can't play with me,"

Jun swallowed a lump on his throat. He can't defend his hyung on that, he have tons of work to finish, kadalasang mga ninong niya lang ang naabutan niya kapag gising siya. Hindi pa marerealize ni Sandy 'yon, tuwing gabi lang nakakasama ni Joshua ang anak niya.

She's not just longing for mother's love and care, she also needs her father.

"Bakit ang talino mo? Noong three years old ako hindi ko pa pinagdududahang hindi ako mahal ng magulang ko, puro laro lang ako no'n," he mumbled.

"Hindi mo dapat kwinekwestyon si papa mo, Sandy. Marami na siyang sinakripisyo para sa pagmamahal niya sa'yo. Hindi nasusukat ang pagmamahal sa laro. Akala mo naman hindi ka pinapasalubungan ang arte mo ah," panenermon ni Jun sa kaniya, she just giggled.

Sa kabilang banda naman ay nakatawid na sa kabilang kanto si Joshua. He saw Chimera, "Ang tagal naman no'n, nas bag niya ang mga gamit ko, ang init na rito gusto ko nang umuwi!" bulyaw niya.

He's about to go near her but he stopped when someone approached her first. Galing sa loob ng campus ang lalaki, sobrang tamis ng ngiti nito habang lumalapit kay Chimera.

"Kumusta?"

"Tanggap na rin ako!" they both screamed in high pitch before they hugged each other.

Nag-apply sa trabaho bilang teacher si Chimera kasama si Yanan. Sa kasamaang palad pa'y katapat lamang ng pinagtatrabahuan ni Joshua ang paaralang ito.

He waited until they stopped jumping and celebrating in a public place. He really wanted to talk with Chimera, he wanted to introduce her to their daughter as soon as possible.

He doesn't want to see his daughter in pain again. He hoped that her mother will be the answer for her invisible heart break.

Pero naglaho ang kagustuhan niyang kausapin si Chimera nang biglang humalik sa kaniya ang kasama niyang lalaki.

"Gago ka! Nagtoothbrush ka ba!?" bulyaw niya pero hindi nito maalis ang tawa, as if normal lang sa kanilang maghalikan sa public place.

"Sorry! Sobrang saya ko lang na magkasama tayo sa trabaho sisterhood!" he screamed again, tinawanan lang siya ni Chimera at hinampas ang braso nito.

Joshua aborted his mission. He laughed sarcastically before walking away.

He changed his mind, he will never let Sandy see her mother again.

"Shua," he shut his eyes frustratedly as he heard the irritating voice of her calling his name.

He ignored her, he doesn't want to see another selfish act from her.

He's used to it, but he's not immuned to be hurt.