Faded Memories (Complete)

Chapter 34

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I was cleaning the things that we used to bathe Hash here in our bathroom. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin mawala ang guilt ko sa nangyari kay Hash last month. Every cry of pain was giving me heartache. Although the wound on the center of her chin was completely healed now, it still left a scar. Gab and I consulted a dermatologist and gave us a scar remover pero hindi pa rin nawala ng husto iyong scar ni Hash.

Narinig ko naman na nagkukulitan ang mag-ama ko sa labas. Bitbit ko ang mga pinagbihisang damit ni Hash nang lumabas ako at nakita kong nakaupo si Hash sa ibabaw ng kama namin at nakasandal sa unan sa likod niya para hindi masaktan at mauntog sa headboard.

Nakadapa naman si Gab sa kama paharap sa kanya habang hawak ang phone na may tumutugtog. Napangiti ako kaya sumandal muna ako sa hamba ng pinto para panoorin sila. I took my phone out of my shorts' pocket para i-video sila. Nakakatuwa dahil ang bilis lumaki ni Hash. I couldn't believe that she's already 7 months old.

Pigil ko ang tawa ko nang magsimula nang kumanta si Gab kasabay ng tugtog while doing head and hand gestures. But I suppressed my laughter even more when Hash started to giggle while watching her father.

"Five little monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. Mama called the doctor and the doctor said. No more monkeys jumping on the bed♪"

"Four little monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. Mama called the doctor and the doctor said. No more monkeys jumping on the bed♪"

Tawa na nang tawa si Hash kay Gab, I was worried na baka kabagan na ang anak namin. After three and two little monkeys, they're now down to one but Gab changed the lyrics of the song.

"One little Hash Leigh jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped her head. Mama called the doctor and the doctor said. No more Hash Leigh jumping on the bed!♪"

Lalo pang tumawa si Hash kaya pati si Gab ay tawa na rin nang tawa sa sobrang pagkaaliw sa anak namin. Lumapit ako sa kanila, still recording them on video. Umupo ako sa kama at itinutok ang video kay Hash.

"Papa is soooo makulit, isn't that right, Hash?" I asked her.

Hash Leigh giggled again. "Ba-ba..." she said while looking at me.

Natigilan kami ni Gab at nanlalaki ang mga matang nagkatinginan. Bigla siyang napabangon at napaupo sa kama.

"Geeez! Nakuhanan mo iyon, honey? She talked! Oh gracious! She finally talked and she called me!" he said excitedly and amazed. He turned to Hash again. "Say that again, Hash. Say Pa-pa."

Hash giggled at him. "Ba-ba..."

He levelled his face on his daughter. "No, baby girl, it's pa-pa. Say papa!"

Hash touched his face, smiling widely. "Baba!"

"It's papa. Pa-pa," Gab still pushed.

"Ba-ba."

Biglang natawa si Gab habang napapailing. Kahit ako, di ko alam kung nasisiraan na ba ako habang umiiyak at tumatawa at the same time. I was so happy that Hash finally said her first word. It was so amazing that even Gab was now teary-eyed.

Pinugpog niya ng halik si Hash kaya tawa naman nang tawa itong bulilit namin dahil nakikiliti sa kakahalik ng papa niya.

"It's papa, Hash, not baba."

"Baba!" sabay na sabi namin ni Hash saka tumawa.

"Sige, pagtulungan n'yo ako. Lagi naman akong talo sa inyong dalawa eh."