The Man in Strings

XI. Superman

Maine looked bored. "Anong gusto mo? Magpadeliver tayo ng yaya for day?"

"Can we?" I asked hopefully. 'Yun na lang talaga pag-asa ko, eh. "Magse-search ako sa internet -"

"Hindi rin ako magaling mag-alaga ng bata, Rj, but I have a deadline until twelve." She glanced at the wall clock. "Two hours na lang naman, eh. Tiisin mo na, please?"

And as usual, I get weak the moment Maine says please.

"Sabi ng ate ko, there are only three rules in babysitting," sabi ni Maine bago sya umakyat. "Keep him full, keep him smiling, and keep him clean. If all three things are done well, then wala kang problema." Hinalikan pa nga nya ako sa pisngi bago kumaripas ng akyat. "Thank you ng sobra, Rj! I love you talaga tapos ang pogi mo pa sobra, 'di ba? Alam mo 'yan!"

Grabe. Why are you putting my weaknesses to good use, Maine?

"Okay," iniupo ko 'yung baby sa couch (buti naman nakakaupo na 'tong batang 'to) at tumayo ako sa harap nya. "I don't know how to deal with you, but I'd treat you well today. Let's start formally. I'm Rj."

Tinitigan lang ako nu'ng bata. Oo naman, Rj. Ano sa tingin mo gagawin nyan? Mag-aalok ng kamay para sa isang handshake?

"Okay, since pinakilala ka naman ng mga tita mo, alam ko na Matti ang pangalan mo, and there, Matti," I pointed at the fishbowl. "Is your Ate Celestine. There's your Kuya Siegfried, too." I might be imagining things, but the fishes actually moved to acknowledge the youngest. I shook my head. Masyado na 'kong nagpapaka-Tatay.

I turned back to Matti. "They said hi to you. You should say hi as well."

Matti just stared at me. Again. I sighed.

Nahirapan talaga akong intindihin 'tong batang 'to. 

"Anong gusto mo, eto?" In-offer-an ko sya ng dalawang laruan na pang-display lang talaga dito sa bahay, tapos pinili nya 'yung kulay pink.

"Pink?" I patted his head lightly. "Good, good. Now that's a manly color."

Hindi ko na lang sinabi na masyadong judgmental naman kung sasabihing blue is for boys and pink is for girls, tsaka bata pa 'to para sa mga ganu'ng bagay. Saka ko na lang sasabihin na gender isn't defined by colors and one shouldn't set stereotypes for kids.

But Matti reached out for the other toy, too. "Gusto mo rin 'to?"

And he started reaching for other things around him, 'too. "Gusto mo rin lahat ng 'to?"

Nakaka-stress. "Ano, lahat na lang gusto mo? You can't have all the things in the world, kiddo."

But when he started to cry, that's when I started handing him all the things he pointed at.

It's gonna be a long, long day. Bakit nga ba ako nag-leave ngayon ulit?

--

Two hours later, the living room was a mess. The only safe thing was my kids' fishbowl.

Lahat, magulo.

Pati utak ko. Pati mukha ko. Hindi ko alam kung paano papatawanin 'to at lalong wala naman kaming laruan ng bata dito. Gusto ko sanang katukin si Maine para hiramin 'yung mga minions nya pero baka biglang mawalan ng Tatay 'tong mga isdang 'to kapag nasira ni Matti 'yung collections nya. Mahirap na.

Buti na lang, may mga laruan sya sa bag. Maraming maliliit na stuffed toy na tama lang para kay Matti, pero unfortunately, meron ding color pens.

And that's how I became a human sketchbook.

Sana naman nagpasabi sila ng maaga. Hindi 'yung nasasayang 'yung ligo ko. Nu'ng una, 'yung mga braso ko lang ang sinusulatan nya. Eh ang gwapo ko raw, sabi ni Matti, kaya dapat bawasan. Pati mukha ko pinuntirya. Ang galing naman nitong batang 'to.