Harper Bry
"Mommy, why isn't mommy pretty here yet?" That's the 7th? No, 8th? No.. argh! I don't know anymore. I lost count dahil kanina pa siya nagtatatanong niyan.
It's sunday now and it's already 12:30 in the afternoon.
That Mackenzie promised Brielle she'll go here today but I guess she forgot. I also tried calling her but she's can not be reached.
Damn her.
"Mommy! I want to see mommy pretty na po." I mentally facepalm when I see her crying already.
I went near her and hugged her. "Hey, baby. Stop crying na. Maybe she got busy today."
She shook her head. "No, mommy. She promised me po e." Arghhh! That Mackenzie!
I don't know what she fed to my daughter para magustuhan siya nito. Even Honey and Yuna ay nagsasawa na dahil sa twing nag kukwento si Brielle, kalahati sa kinukwento niya ay si Mackenzie.
I admit that Mackenzie is very nice and pretty. Wala kang hindi magugustohan sa kanya. I mean... Nung una. Because as time goes by, she's becoming talkative.
Seriously, I felt guilty on the first time we met on the restaurant since inakusahan ko siya, but honestly, as my eyes landed on her, she already tattooed on my mind. I was mesmerized by her beauty and I just don't know what to say that is why I suddenly asked Brielle such stupid question which made her pissed, I think.
The second time we met on the school, hindi ko alam kung magpapasalamat ba ako o maiinis because she doesn't seem to remember me until Brielle appeared. Well, even Brielle pala ay hindi niya maalala.
I got curious to why she's afraid of people but I respect her that is why I never ask her any questions that is related to her condition. I just stayed and see what can I do to make her calm.
I don't know also to why of all people, she was the one I called when Brielle got lost and ended up in the hospital because that silly lady did not tell me she has asthma and she ran almost the whole campus.
On our tour, I really blamed myself to why I left her on the restaurant. I totally forgot her conditions. Well, who wouldn't? You're student just confessed to you.
The moment I realized it, I went back immediately to the restaurant but she's not there anymore. I came back to our room thinking she's already there but none. She's not there yet.
I called Cortez for help and luckily, she found her.
The next day, I really never left her side anymore. I don't even know to why I got mad to her when she complimented those girls. Really? In front of me? She just confessed yet there she was, complimenting others in front of me.
Good thing Brielle was there.
I don't know what got into her mind para magustohan niya ako.
First, I already have a daughter. Second, I am her teacher, third, I'm a woman and so as she.
But I admit it, her presence is enough for me to calm and I totally got pissed when she ignored me! And soon enough, I just knew she's jealous. Even though she wouldn't say it directly, I know she was jealous and it makes me happy.
Am I weird?
"Mommy?" My daughter called me as she was wiping her tears. Aww, so cute.
"Yes, baby?"
"Do you know mommy pretty's house po?" Pahikbi hikbi pa siya.
"Huh? Why?" I asked her.
"Let's go po to their house. I really want to see mommy pretty po."
"But baby, what if she's not there? Maybe I can message her and tell her tomorrow nalang." I should really punish that Mackenzie for making my daughter cry and wait.
"Please mommy?" She started crying again. Damn.
"Fine. Let's change our clothes first." I said to her.
"Yeheyyyy! Thank you, mommy. I love you." Masigla niyang sabi sabay kiss sa akin.
She ran towards her room and started to find her clothes.
We don't need to take a bath because we already did that earlier since we thought, Mackenzie will be here ng maaga.
Pagkatapos naming magbihis, agad na nagyaya si Brielle na umalis na since she's very excited. Is she like this to me too kapag nasa parents ko siya?
She seems to love Mackenzie than me na.
After a few minutes, we already arrived in Mackenzie's house and nag-aalangan pa ako kung tutuloy kami or not.
What if her parents are there and asked me why we're here? What will I say? Na gusto siyang makita ng anak ko? Wait - oh jesus! Brielle is calling Mackenzie a mommy!
Humarap ako kay Brielle. "Baby, how about, you call Mackenzie, ate pretty muna? Maybe her parents will get confuse if you call her mommy."
Honestly, nagulat pa ako ng tawagin niya si Mackenzie ng mommy and later on, she said to me that she likes Mackenzie for me and not anyone.
Umiling lang ito. "Mommy pretty said her parents wants to meet me po and they knew me already." What?
"What do you mean, baby?"
She just shrugged her shoulder. "Mommy, let's go na po." Masayang sabi nito habang tumitingin sa labas.
I sighed bago lumabas at binaba na din si Brielle.
Mabilis itong tumapat sa may gate so sinundan ko na siya agad. I pressed the doorbell and soon enough ay pinagbuksan kami Luis. London's brother.
Nanlaki pa ang mata nito.
"Kuya Handsome!" Masayang bati ni Brielle dito na ikinangiti ng isa.
"Hello, baby. What are you doing here?" Binuhat niya ito.
"Come in." Nakangiting saad niya sa akin at nauna ng naglakad.
"Mommy, Daddy! Yung apo niyo. Nandito na!"
What the? My eyes literally went wide as Luis shouted that phrase. What the hell is he doing!
Pasimple ko itong pinalo sa braso at kinurot. "Ouch!" Reklamo niya pero tumatawa pa rin.
"Oh my gosh! Siya ba si Brielle? Hello, baby! You're so pretty naman, like me." Masayang saad ni Mrs. Mackenzie.
I don't know what to react and say.
"Hihi, thank you po." My daughter giggled as she was tickled by Mrs. Mackenzie.
"Oo nga pala. Buti at nandito kayo? Halikayo at umupo muna sa sofa." Yaya ni Mrs. Mackenzie sa amin. I nodded my head at sumunod sa kanila.
"Hola! Man! Yan na ba yung apo ko?" Sabay sabay kaming napalingon kay Mr. Mackenzie na galing ata sa taas.
"Yes yes, come here. Look. She's so pretty like her mommy and me." Masayang hayag ni Mrs. Mackenzie. Gosh! Akala ba nila ay boyfriend ko si Luis?
"Wahh! You're pretty nga. Hello!" Kumaway pa si Mr. Mackenzie kay Brielle.
"Anyways, buti at naparito kayo? Ang tagal ko ng sinasabi sa anak ko na papuntahin kayo dito." Mrs. Mackenzie said.
"About that, Mrs. Mackenz--"
"Just call me tita.. or mommy na rin if you want, tutal magiging manugang na rin naman kita soon." Pagputol nito sa sasabihin ko. Ano raw?
"Yes yes! Tapos tito na rin sa akin, or daddy." Pag sang-ayon ni Mr. Mackenzie.
"W-what? I'm sorry, Mrs. Macken- I mean... Tita... But I am not Luis' girlfriend." Payak pa akong tumawa at napakamot sa pisngi.
Maybe they just misunderstood. Nagtaka naman ako ng sabay sabay ang tatlo na tumawa.
"Oh, silly. Of course I know that. Anyways... London is still in her room, sleeping. Nagkayayaan kasi sila kagabi ng mga pinsan niya na mag-online games and kaninang 7am na ata sila natapos kaya ayon, hangga ngayon ay tulog pa rin."
Okay? I don't know what to say. Did they just call me manugang and call my daughter apo knowing that I'm a woman and their daughter like me?
"Can I call you Harper nalang? That's your name right?" Nakangiting tanong ni Mrs. Mack-- tita sa akin.
Kahit naglo-loading pa ay tumango ako.
"Anyways! It's really nice to finally meet you and your daughter. I've been asking London na ipakita na sa amin yung anak mo, but she's afraid you'll get mad. I know my daughter like you very much because wala siyang ibang kinukwento kundi ikaw at itong cute na batang ito, and I'm hoping na sumang-ayon sa inyo ang lahat though, hindi naman maiiwasan ang makasakit. I respect my daughter kaya kahit anong desisyon niya sa buhay ay susuportahan ko siya as long as I know na hindi siya mang-aapak ng ibang tao." Nakangiti pero seryoso ang pagkasabi ni tita.
Tumango lang ako because honestly? I don't know what to say.
"Sadly, kailangan naming umalis dahil may date kami nitong asawa ko. Is it okay if dito na kayo mag dinner mamaya? Para naman maabutan namin kayo."
"H-ha? O-okay po, tita." Ngumiti ako sa kanila.
Parang naging slow ako sa pagkabigla.
"Okay! Sige na. Ba-bye, baby. See you later." Hinalikan pa ni tita si Brielle at ganoon din si tito.
"Ashton, samahan mo nga sina Harper sa room ng kapatid mo at sila na ang manggigising sa kanya. For sure, hindi yon babangon kung ikaw ang papasok sa kwarto." Tumawa lang si Luis and nodded before he kissed his parents' cheeks.
Pag-alis nila tita and tito ay humarap sa akin si Luis. "I'm sorry kung nabigla ka sa nangyari. Huwag ka sanang magagalit kay London. It's just... She's like an open book sa aming pamilya niya kaya wala kahit ni isang sikreto siyang tinatago sa amin, lalo na sa parents ko." Saad nito as he leads the way paakyat. Tumango lang ako dahil honestly? Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nangyari.
I don't know what to say. Should I be happy? Mahihiya? Magagalak? Because damn! This is the first time na may tumanggap sa akin. I mean... This is the first time na pinakilala ako. Well, not totally pinakilala dahil wala nga pala kanina si Mackenzie and since unexpected ang pagpunta ko rito at unexpected din na kilala na pala ako though nagpunta na ako dito before but that's as Mackenzie's teacher not as someone na gusto ng anak nila.
Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko. Magpapasalamat ba ako o kakabahan... But like what they've said, tanggap daw nila ako... Kami.. but wait... Why are they like that? Jesus! Kahit hindi pa sila sigurado kung magugustuhan ko ba ang anak nila, boto na sila sa akin, idagdag mo pa na teacher ako ng anak nila.🤦
Ganoon na ba sila ka-supportive na parents?
"Ito yung room ng kapatid ko." Tinuro niya yung pintong katapat namin. "Huwag ka ng kumatok at hindi naman babangon yon. Pasok nalang kayo. Don't worry, hindi naman maarte yon sa room. Kahit sino ay nakakapasok diyan. I mean, kami kami lang namang pamilya niya ang pumapasok sa room niya and I know for sure she won't mind kung papasok kayo." Tumango ako sa kanya.
"That's my room. I know hindi mo naman ako kakatukin, pero just in case lang na gawan ka ng masama ng kapatid -- ouch! Joke lang!" He laughed though I pinched him.
"Sige na, sa kwarto na ako." Paalam nito at ginulo pa ang buhok ni Brielle.
Pagkaalis niya ay pumasok na kami ni Brielle sa room ni Mackenzie.
It was dark so I turned on the light.
I giggled - no, I mean... Me and Brielle giggled as we saw the position of Mackenzie.
Nasa may paanan na kasi ito nakapwesto, nakadapa. Hindi siya nakaunan pero nakakumot. One of her legs was hanging and only her blanket ang sumusuporta dito para hindi tuluyang mahulog.
Natatakpan ng magulong buhok niya ang mukha niya.
"Wow!!" Napatingin ako kay Brielle ng magbanda ito sa mga collection ni Mackenzie.
So, she's really a fan of Harry Potter. Well, she have complete sets of books. She have the uniforms of each houses. Mayroon ding mga wands at broomsticks and different merch pa. Pati nga ang bedsheet, blanket and pillow cases niya ay Harry Potter din.
On the other side, mayroong mga libro na sa tingin ko ay hindi niya binabasa since almost all of the books ay may plastik pa. Tsk tsk tsk.
Sa isang gilid naman, nandoon ang computer gaming set niya.
Gigisingin ko na sana siya ng madako ang tingin ko sa isa sa mga frame sa bedside table niya.
Lumapit ako dito at kinuha. It was the three of us. Me, Brielle and Mackenzie. It was taken in the Baguio when we we're on the bench in front of the church.
We were all eating ice cream and both of them were laughing while I'm just looking at them. I can't help but to smile. I should say thank you to whoever captured this photo.
Wait- what? Oh jesus! Don't tell me I like this?
Didn't I?
I put the frame back to its place and hindi ko napansin ang phone ni Mackenzie kaya natamaan ko ito at nahulog. Ng kunin ko ito ay hindi sumindi. Baka deadbat, kaya cannot be reached siya.
This girl, ang tamad talaga magcharge. Even before na nasa tour, kung hindi lang ako tinawagan ni tita ay hindi niya raw makakamusta ang anak niya, and when I looked at her phone, deadbat, kaya nicharge ko na.
Lumapit ako sa kanya. "Mackenzie!" Tawag ko dito.
"Mackenzie! Wake up."
"Hmm." Daing lang nito at nagpalit ng pwesto.
Umakyat si Brielle sa kama at naglundag-lundag. "Mommy pretty, mommy pretty! Wake up!" She said while jumping.
"Gosh! Kahit sa panaginip nagpapakita pa rin ang mag-ina ko." Bulong nito but we still heard it.
Mag-ina ko, huh? Inangkin kami?
"Mommy pretty, you're not dreaming." Saad muli no Brielle. This time ay nagmulat na si Mackenzie and as she saw Brielle ay mabilis itong bumangon pero napaupo din at sinalo ang ulo.
"Ouch!"
"Mommy pretty, are you okay?" Nilapitan niya ito at kumandong sa kanya.
"Ah! Yes, baby. What are you doing her-- Mommy Miss? Oh gosh!" Tinakpan nito ang mukha niya at tinanggal si Brielle sa pagkakakandong.
"Wait lang baby, hilamos muna ako." Saad nito at mabilis na nagtungo sa CR.
I mentally smiled.
She's still pretty though she just woke up.
~~~~~