Fragments - KathNiel One Shots

Can't Let Go

3-15-16

Don't you know, you were my life.

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"Daddy," His five year old daughter enters the vicinity that was his room, all ready for the day, "Do my hair please."

And she uses those pair of eyes, ruling him over. "Okay, okay." Her smile was captivating.

Ayaw niya sanang magayos ng buhok ngayon -- in his defense, he had a lot of paper work yesterday. Plus, mas maganda kasi ito ng nakababa ang buhok. She looks just like her mother.

Umihip siya ng hangin, sinusubukang alisin ang pananakit ng dibdib.

"What would my favorite girl want today?" Tanong niya, having masayang nakangiti. "Could you do that dutch braid headband thing again daddy?"

Tumango siya. It took him quite a while to learn that, halos apat o anim na oras niyang tinyaga, but he finally got it.

Lalaki siya. Cut him some slack.

Daniel parts her hair, pulling unneeded strands out of the way into a loose ponytail. At sinimulan na nga niya ang pagyari sa buhok ni Chandrina.

"Under the middle," Pag-alala niya sa sarili, "Add section of hair."

He lets out a big puff of breath. Pinakisuyuan niya ito na iabot ang maliit na ipit. "Yay. Thank you daddy!" Her figure stands on the chair she was sitting on, her little arms raised, offering a huge hug. At paano siya makakatanggi?

"Where's my congratulatory kiss?" Humagikgik ito sa tanong niya.

"Here!" Lumapat ang labi nito sa pisngi niya, gumawa pa nga ito ng ingay na animo'y tunog halik. "I love you, princess." Nangingilid any luha, siya naman ang humalik sa noo ng unica ija . "I love you too po, daddy."

And his heart melts. Just like how it does, every single time.

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"Really?" Her eyes showed excitement. "Yaaaay! That means we could watch Star Wars and Stuff all day!"

Maaga siyang umuwi ng araw na iyon. May dala dala pa siyang good news.

But what's even better?

His daughter's excitement.

He's been a bit busy the last passing months, only because he had to always be there on the firm. At ngayon, patapos na ang proyekto nila, inirekumenda ng boss niya na magbakasyon sila, lalo pa't wala pa yatang proyekto na susunod matapos nitong isa.

Dapat ay magbabakasyon sila as a team -- as in the team he worked with. Libre ang lahat ultimo pagtitigilan nila at pagkain. But he declined the invitation.

Magkakaron na siya, sa wakas, ng extra time para maigugol kasama ang anak niya, and he's not willing to pass that up.

"Yes, and we can learn new braids!" Tumango ito habang pumapalakpak.

"I'm so excited!"

But then, there was a doorbell.

He goes to get it. May bisita ba sila? No. They seldom have visitors come over. Kadalasan ay sinasabihan siya bago pa man pumakanila.His mom would just barge in most of the time. Baka nakalimutan lang nito ang susi.

The front door creaks, only to behold a figure he wanted to forget.

Naramdaman niya ang takot na bumalot na naman sa kanya.. "Daddy? Who's--"