Where Eternity Begins (SOW #4)

09.

"Hello po, Mr. And Mrs. Anderson, diretso na po kayo doon sa pwesto ng Section ni Kim at malapit na pong mag-start ang program," Kim's homeroom teacher politely stated. Mabilis kaming tumugon at dumiretso na roon.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang pag-iling nang mapansin ang iilang babaeng nakatingin kay Raijin. Ang iilan ay nakaawang pa ang labi at halos maglaway kahit katabi ang asawa.

I took a deep breath and just cling on my husband's arm.

Wala namang dapat ika-selos, Ericianna. Raijin is all yours. Walang dapat pagselosan. Normal 'yan. Gwapo ang asawa mo kaya hindi maiiwasan ang mga matang tumitingin. Hanggang tingin lang sila, okay? Ikaw ang niyayakap, hinahalikan, ipinagluluto, ang katabi matulog at ikaw ang mahal. Okay, Ericianna?

I once again took a deep breath and now, I'm calm. Ayoko rin namang sirain ang araw na ito para kay Kim. Hindi ako masamang ina para gawin 'yon.

Dumiretso na lang kami sa nasabing pwesto at saktong nagsalita na ang emcee ng programa. Lahat kami ay nakatuon sa kaniya. Kitang kita ko ang mga ganadong bata kaya tuwang tuwa ako. Even my daughter is excited and I secretly captured the moment.

Moments like this should be captured.

Napangiti ako at ibinalik na ang cellphone ko sa bulsa bago itinuon ang atensyon sa unahan. Sinimulan na nila ang unang palaro at marami agad ang sumali.

"Hindi ka sasali, princess?" Tanong ko nang mapansing hindi tumatayo si Kim.

She pouted and look at me. "Mama, sumali po si Ivy. Look, oh!" She pointed at the middle kaya nadako ang tingin ko roon. Oo nga, naroon nga ang kaibigan niyang napatingin pa at kumaway sa amin.

"Hmm, what's with Ivy? Ayaw mong sumali kasi kasali si Ivy? Why?" Raijin softly asked while caressing his daughter's hair. Iniayos niya ito ng upo sa kaniyang kandungan.

"Papa, I don't wanna compete with Ivy po. Friends po kami so, dapat magkakampi kami. Kapag po sumali po tayo, edi magiging enemy natin sila Ivy. Ayaw ko po noon." Tumungo ako at humalik sa pisngi niya. Nanggigigil pa akong kurutin ang pisngi ng anak ko pero mabilis akong napigilan ni Raijin at tinawanan lang ako.

"Princess, I'm sure naman na Ivy wouldn't be your enemy. It's just a game. A game to have fun, okay? I'm sure Ivy wouldn't want to be your enemy too." Natahimik si Kim. "So? You wanna join?" Tanong muli ni Jin pero umiling si Kim at sinabing sa next game na lang raw sasali. Hinayaan na lang rin namin dahil nagsimula na rin ang laro.

The competitive kids are so adorable. Naalala ko tuloy si Louie na kapatid ni Leisheen. The last time I saw him, sobrang liit pa niya. Balita ko ngayon ay may girlfriend na. Time flies fast, huh?

Ivy and her Dad won the first game kaya nagtatatalon din si Kim nang makitang manalo ang kaibigan niya. She even shouted and cheered for them.

"Okay, our next game will be called..." the drum roll audio boomed. "Simon Says!" The emcee exclaimed.

"So, kailangan po natin ng five kids to play the game. Who wants to join?! The prize is exciting!"

Mabilis kong nilingon si Kim. "Baby, you wanna join?" Napatingin siya sa akin at mabilis na tungo bago tumakbo patungo sa gitna. Raijin chuckled and encircled his arm on my shoulder.

"Okay, now we are complete! Listen, kids... here's the mechanics of the game. Listen carefully, okay?" The kids shouted their 'yes' before the emcee proceeded.

"I will say 'Simon Says' and kung anong action ang sasabihin ko after that word, you need to do it. If you didn't do it in 5 seconds, out na kayo. Also, gagawin niyo lang 'yung action if I say 'Simon Says'. If wala akong sinabing 'Simon Says' but I said an action and may gumawa sa inyo, out pa rin. Okay po ba?" I watch the kids shouted. Napangiti ako nang makita si Kim na nakangiti pa at mukhang naintindihan ang mahabang paliwanag ng emcee. Mukhang lahat naman ng bata ay naintindihan.

"For example, I say, Simon Says... clap! You need to clap your hands, understood?"

My mouth formed an O. The game seems interesting. I read from somewhere that the game can help children improve their focus and concentration.

"Okay, start na tayo!" The emcee said. Pumwesto sa kaniya kaniyang lugar ang mga bata habang naghihintay ng command.

"Simon Says..." the emcee squints his eyes and playfully glance at each player. "Wave hello!" The emcee suddenly waves and the kids quickly follows.

"Wow, you are all fast! Hmm, next. Simon Says..." I was watching Kim who's attentive before I felt Jin's head on my shoulder.

"I'm hungry," he whispered kaya hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi matawa at nilingon siya.

"Kulang pa sa 'yo 'yung lunch at breakfast natin?" Tanong ko at hinaplos ang kamay niyang nakapatong sa hita ko.

"No, hindi pa. Anyway, I'll just eat later. Let's watch and cheer Kim first," sambit niya bago muling itinuon ang atensyon sa harapan.

We watch as the kids in game slowly decreases. Napuno ako ng excitement nang makitang matibay ang anak ko. Naroon pa rin at hindi pa natatanggal.

"I don't wanna boast but I feel like Kim would win." Natawa ako at bahagyang hinampas si Jin.

"Manahimik ka nga, marinig ka ng magulang nung batang kasama sa laro!" Saway ko at muli nang ibinalik ang atensyon sa laro.

Inilabas kong muli ang cellphone ko at sinimulang kuhanan ng litrato at video si Kim. I'll print all of this photos then I'll develop into an album. Ang mga videos naman, pwedeng isalin into DVD para mapanood at maitago namin.

Raijin's prediction is right. Kim really won the game at pinanood namin siya na kinuha ang premyo niyang school bag na may school supplies na kasama. May pink na tumbler pa.

"Wow, my princess did a great job!" Salubong ni Raijin bago niyakap ang anak na tuwang tuwa at humahagikhik.

"Galing naman ng baby namin!" Sabi ko at humalik sa pisngi niya. I lift up my phone to capture them. "Smile Papa, smile baby!" Their cheeks squished against each other and they both smile.

"Come here, Mama. Sama ka sa picture," Raijin pulled me and puts his arm around my shoulder while Kim is on his other arm. Itinaas ko ang cellphone at sumandal sa balikat ni Raijin.

"Smile!" I cheered and captured another memory.

I just hope the smile on our faces wouldn't fade.