Missing Chances

Kabanata 14

Kabanata 14

"PAANO ka natuto mag-braid, baby boy? Ikaw, ah?" I asked curiously.

He chuckled, still braiding my hair.

"Did you forget? I got two younger sisters, doll. Bata pa lang ako, I was trained to do their hair if Mama and Papa aren't there."

"Oh?" It made me smile. "You mean, Tito Greg knows how to braid hairs, too?"

"Well, a bit?" he chuckled. "He's a surgeon, he knows how to tie small tissues of the human body."

"Loko ka," tawa ko.

Inangat ni Cho-choo ang kanyang paw sa hita ko kaya nakangiting kinuha ko siya at binuhat paupo sa hita ko.

"Your father is a surgeon, he's a doctor. Si Eirene rin, right? Pero ikaw? Why didn't you choose the medical field?"

"I don't know, maybe because I was fascinated with painting since I was a kid?" he said and placed my hair on my shoulder. Nakangiting hinawakan ko iyon at nakitang maganda ang pagkaka-braid niya sa buhok ko.

Praktisadong-praktisado, ah?

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin nang umalis siya sa likod ko't pumunta sa tabi ko. He held my arm.

"Come on, sit on my lap," he requested and tapped his leg.

I chuckled and nodded, binuhat ko si Cho-choo at naupo ako sa kandungan ni Chance habang nasa kandungan ko rin ang baby ko.

Tumagilid ako ng upo sa hita niya at nakita ko ang pagsandal niya bago hawakan ang baywang ko para umalalay.

"My Mom saw me painting once and she asked me what I wanted to do when I grow up, I said, gusto kong magpinta ang she told me okay, she'll support me in everything I wanna do." Kita ko ang lambing at saya sa mga mata niya habang sinasabi iyon, his tone was brimming with love and admiration for his mom.

His dimples are showing so as usual, inabot ko iyon para sundutin.

"I was just curious, Chance," I started.

"About?" he asked, slowly lifting his head to kiss me.

"Si Cho-choo..." I glanced at my dog, bumaling din si Chance kay Pocholo na tahimik na nakahiga lang sa hita ko at nagpapahinga.

"What about him?" ani Chance at hinaplos ang balahibo nito.

"When I told you I have a son, si Cho-choo dati, why didn't you get mad? Sabi mo noon you don't care if I have a son and just mad at the asshole father?" I asked, natatawa pa nang maalala ang sinabi niya noon. "I mean, kung ibang tao siguro 'yon ay magagalit na dahil hindi ko sinabi but you..."

"Hindi ko pa ata nakwento sa 'yo," aniya kaya nagtataka ako.

"Ang ano?" I asked. He then held my hand first before answering.

"Mama was a single mother, he raised me alone, baby doll." Panimula niya.

"Really?" I muttered, surprised. "Then, if that's the case, hindi mo tunay na Papa si Tito Greg?"

"He's my father, doll," aniya kaya mas nangunot ang noo ko roon. "It's a long story but fate must've let him cross paths with my mother again. I was an accidental child, you see, hindi alam ni Papa na may anak siya kay Mama and..."

"Oh, I see..." I slowly nodded and cupped his cheek. "It must be tough for you, wala kang nakalakihang Papa."

"It is but Mama became both my father and mother at the same time that's why I love her so much. Kahit wala ang Papa dati, she made sure she can tend to my needs, na napaparamdam niya sa akin ang pagmamahal ng isang buong pamilya." He smiled and then touched my cheek. "I always looked up to my mother and I admired her for being strong kahit siya lang ang nagpalaking mag-isa sa akin."