"Where did you go?" he worriedly asked the kid.
I just stood there meters away from them, just watching them. I'm so confused.. pero ano naman kung mag-ama nga sila? Congratulations? Damn.. i didn't expect this to happen.
I sighed about my own thoughts. I turned around, was about to just go home kahit hindi pa ako tapos mamalengke. When the kid spoke, "I bumped into her.. but I already said I'm sorry." Her soft voice is like a melody in my ear.
I really love kids, since now and then. Siguro dahil wala akong nakasamang ibang bata kahit noong maliit pa ako kaya sabik ako sa mga bata ngayon. I also go to some home shelter to visit some kids. I love their smiles when they sees me coming.. they love my gifts for them also. It's so heart-warming for me to see that they're enjoying.
"Sy?" nangangati na akong umuwi pero ang bastos naman kung hindi ko siya papansinin 'di ba?
So I turned around again to face them and gave them a smile. "Hi?"
"I'm sorry for what happened.."
"What? No," I chuckled. "It's fine. I'm also worried if the kid is fine?"
They walked closer to me, she held the kid's shoulder to catch his steps. "Yeah.. she is. You?" ano bang tinutukoy niya? 'yung pagbungo ba? Or yung araw ko? Joke, baka lang gusto niya tanungin kung kamusta araw ko. I almost laughed about my stupid thoughts.
"I'm fine, hindi naman yata masyadong malakas 'yung pagbangga." I nodded a bit.
I looked down at the kid who's just watching us talking. I waved my hand at her and smiled widely, trying to be friendly as much as I could.
"Hello po.." she's shy. She even held Kylo's t-shirt's hem.
I move closer to her and bent down to reach her height. "What's your name, baby?"
Lumiwanag ang mukha niya pagkabanggit ko no'n, hindi na siya mukhang nahihiya. "I'm Klayre po! I am six years old." She genuinely answered, smiling so wide. Halos nawawala na 'yung mata niya dahil sa malawak niyang ngiti na ikinatuwa ko rin talaga.
"You got a nice name, huh. You're so pretty." I admired her, and touched her chin softly using my index finger.
She giggled and said, "And so you are po! And I think I saw you na po," she looked up trying to remember where she saw me. I was a bit shock, saan niya ako nakita? "Hmm.. ah!" she figured it out. "Sa laptop ni Kuya! I saw your Instagra-" Kylo suddenly covered her mouth to spill more. "Hm!" reklamo pa nu'ng bata.
Ni hindi ko na nga rin pinansin ang pagtawag ni Klayre na "kuya" kay Kylo. Turns out they're siblings.
I got worried so I slapped Kylo's arm, with my creased brows. "Baka hindi siya maka-hinga."
He blinked twice, maybe shocked that I just slapped his arm. He immediately removed his huge hand on Klayre's mouth. The kid was grumpy after that kaya mas nag alala pa ako.
"See?" I whispered to Kylo.
"Don't mind her, Sy. Nag-jo-joke lang siya." He awkwardly chuckled. I looked at him with grimaced face. Confused. Anong sinasabi nito?
"She's my sister, joker siya paminsan. Hayaan mo na." He chuckled.
Crazy. I ignored him and just looked at Klayre again and bent my knees a bit, ipinatong ko pa ang palad ko sa magkabilang tuhod para bumalanse. "I'll go ahead now, Klayre. Take care, okay? And be careful next time."
"Noted po, Ate." She smiled again, not grumpy anymore.
"Good girl." I patted the top of her head and stand up.
I looked at Kylo who's just watching my almost every movements. "Una na 'ko." Paalam ko pa.
"Sy," he called. I was silently hoping that he will invite me for whatever it is he might think we could go- don't get me wrong, I wanted to get some bond with the cutie kid named Klayre. At wala ng iba pa.
"Yes?" I raised my brows to acknowledge his call.
"May.. may pupuntahan ka pa ba after nito?"
"Wala." Mabilis kong sagot. My lips parted when I realized that it was a quick answer. Kylo and I didn't expect that coming. Ni hindi man lang ako nagdalawang isip sumagot?!
Tumikhim ako bago magsalita, "wala na." I softly said trying to save my embarrassed ass.
He chuckled and scratch the back of his neck, awkwardly. "Could you join us then?"
* * *
"Do you watch Sofia The First po ba, Ate Sy?" Klayre asked me while trying to swirl her fork to the plate of pasta she ordered.
"Of course, I used to watch it when I was a kid. Why? Is that your favorite cartoon... is Sofia the First a cartoon series? Yes, right?" I wiped the side of her mouth when I saw a bit of pasta sauce scattered on it.
We're now currently and obviously eating in a pasta restaurant, I think this is an Italian restaurant too. This is Klayre's favourite restaurant according to Kylo. On the other hand, Kylo was seating on the other side of the table, in front of Klayre and I. He, usually just watching us.
She successfully got a mouthful pasta before she answered my question. "Yes po."
"Would you go to our house po ba to watch Sofia The First with me, Ate Sy?" Klayre suddenly asked, innocently.
I was surprised! I don't even know what to answer. So I looked at Kylo to ask for some help, kahit kaonti lang.. baka naman. But the asshole just shrugged his shoulders and fucking had the guts to grin at me like he knows that coming! Stop this, Kylo. Kung close lang tayo ng sobra matagal na kitang kinaltukan.
I fakely cough and look at Klayre with a smile, not minding this annoying guy in front of me. "Of course, baby. Maybe, uh.. next time?"
Klayre looked so hapoy after I said those. I'm not even sure about it. I mean, nando'n naman siguro si Ninang Shiela.. 'tsaka kung pupunta ako ron para naman sa bata, hindi para kahit kanino.. lalong hindi para kay Kylo!
"Yay! I'll look forward for that next time Ate Sy."
* * *
"See? It's pretty right?"
Klayre looked at her own reflection on the mirror in front of us. We're now currently at a hair accessories shop and found a pretty hair clip for Klayre. It suits her very well.
"You wear this too, Ate Sy." She showed me a clip that looks the same as what I found for her, 'yung suot niya ngayon.
I smiled and bent down for her to reach my head. She slowly put the clip of the side of my hair, and clipped it. We both looked at the mirror again to watch our faces together with the hair clip.
"Pretty." We both said then laughed.
I suddenly met Kylo's gazes. My laugh fell that turned into a small smile while looking at him. I repeatedly sees him staring at me the whole time we're together. Hindi rin siya talaga palaging nagsasalita, paminsan nakikitawa siya kapag may nakakatawang k'wento ang kapatid niya.
"Kuya can we get matching caps?" Klayre went to his Kuya and held his shirt's hem.
"Yes, sure. Caps are there." Kylo pointed the caps area inside the store.
Klayre just exclaimed "Yes" and then ran to the area that Kylo pointed where the caps are. I looked at Kylo once more before walking towards Klayre. I stopped an inch away from her as I watch her looking for a perfect matching cap, she said.
I felt Kylo on my side, watching his adorable sister too. Until he spoke.
"We had Klayre when Mom's at her age of 47," I surprisingly looked at him. I mean, yes, I shouldn't be suprise because Ninang Shiela's age is not far away from my Mom's. And Klayre's age is surprisingly young.
Kylo glanced at me then smiled, his eyes are so admirable. "She's a miracle to our family."
"Wow.. that must be so hard for your family, most especially to Ninang Shiela who's carrying Klayre." I turned my gaze to Klayre.
"It was, really. But Mom was so strong, and Dad and her really planned Klayre. They really wanted her, WE really wanted her. Gusto nila ng bunso na malayo ang edad sa aming tatlo na nauna." Pagk'wento pa ng lalaki.
I looked in front of us, i just see a plain wall. "You have a great and happy family. No wonder why Klayre, you and your other siblings grew up having that fulfilling hearts you have." I envy them.. i envy those other kids who has a happy family, like before that was my inner thoughts.
Why I don't have a father? A sibling? Bakit mag-isa lang ako? I grew up lonely. I grew up with a Mom but she was always busy with works and such things a responsible mother usually do. I understood, that time. I always do. Nakakatamo, but eventually, I get used to it. Used to being alone.
So since now and then, I isolated myself. I don't find friends.. a boyfriend. And a father. As I grew up, step-by-step; I had never look for a father. Maybe I did, but it was fine to me if Mom would answer me indirectly... I know she has something that I shouldn't know. She has a secret that I... shouldn't know; because maybe if ever I will, that might blew my mind up. And I don't know how to cope... alone... again.
* * *
"Did you enjoy, baby?"
"Super yes, Ate Sy! I enjoyed shopping with you.. and.." she looked at her Kuya Kylo on the driver's seat. We're on the back seat of Kylo's car, heading back to my condo. "and Kuya!" she even raised her arms, looked so happy.
I guessed the kid really enjoyed it.
We stopped in front of the condo building where I live. Kylo went out of the car to get the groceries I bought earlier, while I am fixing Klayre's hair and her clip. I'm still wearing the one she found for me, but ended up Kylo's paying.
"Be a good girl, huh?" I once said, cupping her chubby and cute cheeks with both of my hands.
"Yes po, Ate Sy." She smiled the usual one she always use; the genuine one. "Ate Sy.." the kid called.
"Yes, Klayre baby?" I tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Kuya Kylo needs a girlfriend, could you apply?" she whispered. My eyes widen in shock.
Uhm... what?!
I scoffed. "Uh.. Klayre, I should go now." I awkwardly chuckled, didn't know what to do and what to answer. What was the question, really? From a kid?
She giggled, "You blushed." She pointed out my hot cheeks. I feel it!
"No, I-I think it's hot here, don't you think?" I reasoned out.
Really, Klayre!?
"Nope, Ate."
I was about to say another reason when Kylo opened the door on my side, "Let's go, Sy."
I almost hug him to thank him for being a hero without a cape. God I just escaped a kid's unreasonable question.
"Bye Klayre. Ate Sy will miss you." I poked her cheek before opening my arm into a huge hug. She immediately pushed her body into mine, giving me a huge and tight lovely hug.
This kid is really adorable, but please Lord, stop saying things I don't have control on.
"Thank you, Ate Sy for amazing day today. See you again po." She suddenly kissed my cheeks after pulling away from the hug.
"See you again, baby." I once pinched her cheek before going out of the car.
I was relieve after that. I couldn't move on from what Klayre asked! Buti wala ro'n ang Kuya niya, that must be so embarrassing!
"Thank you, Kylo." I tried to get the paper bags from him but he move it away from me. My brows creased as confusion spread through my face, "Why?"
"Did you enjoy?" he asked. My brows relaxed a bit after that.
"Super. Ikaw? Sobrang tahimik mo the whole time. I was wondering if you enjoyed too."
"I enjoyed watching you.. with my sister."
I gulped, and just nod. "She's so admirable and nice kid. I hope we could have some other time again together." I smiled at him.
"Kasama ulit ako?"
"Huh? Of course, if you want."
He chuckled. "Alright, maybe next time."
A second of silence passed by. "Good night, Ky."
"Good night, Sy. I enjoyed, I really do."
"That's good." I nodded my head.
"And.. you are so much appreciated. You are lucky.. and you have us that you can be with. You're not lonely, Sy. You have us."
_______________________________________________
♡