"Mama, pupunta po ba tayo ng Toy store?" Calyx excitedly looked up at me as we walked hand in hand.
"Yes, may naisip ka na ba na gustong bilhin?" I excitedly asked too.
"Yes, I want a toy car and another Buzz Lightyear. Is it fine, Mama?"
Kaagad akong tumango na siyang lalong nagpangiti sa kanya. I looked at Gaston beside him and he seemed moved on to what happened earlier.
Auntie went in a different direction to buy some things for the house and for Uncle. Kaya tatlo kaming magkakasama ngayon.
Ganon pa rin ang suot ko, except that I wear a white t-shirt this time. Si Gaston naman ay naka pantalon ng itim, at leather jacket rin na itim, and as usual, he attracts audience. While Calyx is on his grey jacket with cartoon design on it.
Kanina pa kami nag uusap at ramdam ko ang kagustuhan niyang huwag isama sa usapan namin si Gaston.
We walked inside the toy store at kaagad niya akong hinila sa gusto niyang laruan. Sumunod lang kami pareho ni Gaston sa kanya hanggang sa huminto nga siya sa section ng mga laruang sasakyan.
"Mama, I want that one!" Tinuro niya sa akin ang nasa pinaka mataas na karton na may lamang katamtamang laki.
Kayo ko naman bilhin ang mga bagay na ito sa kanya. At minsan lang siya magpabili, madalas ay nakikita niya lang ito sa mga pinapanuod niya.
I tried grabbing it but I was too short. Kaagad naman akong may maramdaman na presensya sa likod. Gaston grabbed the box of toys and squatted in front of Calyx to give it to him.
"Here." Gaston sported his friendly smile.
Calyx looked at him unsurely. He furrowed his brows and shook his head. "Not that one, Boss. That other one!"
Tinuro niya ang gusto niya at muli itong inabot ni Gaston. Muli niya iyong binigay kay Calyx pagkatapos.
"No...I don't like it. I wanna see that one." Binalik niya ang karton nito kay Gaston at muli nitong kinuha ang gusto niya.
"How about this one?"
Calyx looked at the toy carefully then shook his head again. "No…"
Napataas ang kilay ko sa mga inaakto niya. He wasn't like this when we bought his toys. Hindi siya mapili at madalas ay nakaplano na siya kung ano ang gusto niyang itsura ng laruan niya.
He ran to the end of the aisle then pointed again to the top of the shelves. "Boss! I want to see that one!"
Naglakad ako palapit sa kanya habang tumakbo naman si Gaston para mapuntahan ito kaagad.
"That one!" He pointed it again and Gaston quickly grabbed it easily. It was much higher this time but Gaston is tall and he could just do it easily.
Nakita kung paano siya sumimangot ng nakuha ni Gaston ito kaagad at walang kahirap-hirap. Gaston gave it to him again while smiling.
Napahinga ako ng malalim. I know what he is doing.
I squatted in front of Calux as he looked at the toy car. "Do you like this one? Or you want to see more?" Maamo kong tanong.
Tumingin siya sa akin at kaagad na umiwas ng tingin. "I-I like this one, Mama." Mahina nitong sambit.
There, I got him. I smiled at him and ruffled his hair. Now, he needs to do one more thing. "Okay, do you want to say something, Boss?"
He looked at me shocked but I just raised my brows at him. "Say, 'thank you', baby." Maamo ko pa ring utos.
Nagbaba siya ng tingin at unti-unti ay inangat nito ang kanyang mata kay Gaston. Gaston smiled at him.
"Thank you, Boss." Mahina nitong sambit.
Mas lalo lumawak ang pagkakangiti niya. He then ruffled his hair. "You're welcome."
Sumunod naming kinuha ang isa pa niyang gustong laruan. Pagkatapos ay nagpunta na kami sa cashier. May kaunting pila kaya medyo nagtagal kami.
I was paying for his toys when I heard him gasp.
"Sukli niyo po, Ma'am." Kinuha ko ito at tumingin sa tinitingnan ni Calyx.
At the back of the cashier was a glass cabinet full of toys. Probably the exclusives and expenses ones. Pero kaagad kong nakita ang gusto niya. It was the full collection of Toy stories, sa baba nito ay may nakapaskil na limited set of items.
I looked at Calyx again ng lumapit si Gaston sa kanya. Kinuha ko ang bag ng laruan niya at lumapit sa kanila.
"Do you want it?" Rinig kong tanong ni Gaston.
Saglit na napatulala si Calyx sa kanya. But he shook his head and then looked at me. Lumapit siya sa akin at kinuha ang bag ng laruan niya.
"Let's meet, Lola now, Mama." Tumaas naman ang kilay ko.
I looked at Gaston again but he just shrugged his shoulders off.
Of course, Calyx wanted those toys. He loves toy stories.
We had our dinner in one of the restaurants of the mall.
"Boss, I want more chicken."
I looked at Gaston as he put another piece of chicken on Calyx's plate.
"And I want a watermelon shake too."
Gaston then filled his glass again with his watermelon shake.
I looked at Gaston but he just smiled at me. Maging si Auntie ay panay ang kunot noo sa mga utos ni Calyx.
Few minutes had passed and he called Gaston again. "Boss, I wanna pee, samahan mo ako."
Gaston quickly abandoned his food. But then Calyx raised both of his hands towards his direction.
"I don't wanna walk." Nakasimangot nitong sambit.
Doon na tumaas ang kilay ko.
"Calyx, kaya mong---"
"Nah, it's fine. Let's go, buddy." Gaston then lifted him up.
Ngiting-ngiti si Calyx na paalis ng table habang karga-karga siya ni Gaston.
I looked at Auntie pleadingly. Maging si Auntie ay mukhang hindi alam ang gagawin. Kapwa na lamang kami napabuntong hininga.
Pagkatapos namin kumain ay nagpasya na kaming umuwi. Lalakarin na lang namin papuntang hotel total ay malapit lang naman.
Muli ay nagpakarga si Calyx sa kanya. And Gaston didn't mind all the work given to him.
Kaming dalawa ni Auntie ang magkahawak kamay habang sila ang nauna sa amin. Calyx was telling something to Gaston, maya-maya pa ay lumiko sila sa isang side vendor. And they sell roses.
I saw Calyx grab a one piece yellow rose, and Gaston paid for it. What is this gimmick, again?
Nang naabutan na namin sila ay kaagad na binigay sa akin ni Calyx ang bulaklak habang karga-karga ulit siya ni Gaston.
"This is for you, Mama. Ako po pumili niyan." May pagmamalaki sa boses nito. He then giggled.
Ngumiti naman ako ng marahan. "Thank you, baby."
Pagkatapos ay sabay-sabay na kaming naglakad .
"Did you know that Mama loves roses? And she has a huge plant of yellow roses at her apartment." Calyx mentioned it to Gaston like he was giving him trivia. May pagmamayabang sa tono nito. He even motioned his hands imitating a huge plant.
Kitang-kita ko ang ngisi ni Gaston. "Uh huh…I gave that yellow rose to her when we were in college." Gaston talked back immediately.
"Huh?!" Kitang-kita ko naman ang gulat sa mukha ni Calyx sa sagot nito. His brows were furrowed as he looked at Gaston.
"I was courting her and I gave her that." Dagdag pa ni Gaston at muling ngumisi ng mas malawak.
Mas lalong sumimangot si Calyx. Gaston looked at me then winked.
Kaagad naman na hinawakan ni Calyx ang mukha nito at muling hinarap sa kanya. Hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti sa kanilang dalawa.
Nakarating kami sa hotel at nanatiling nakasimangot si Calyx. Saka lang siya bumitaw kay Gaston ng sumakay na kami ng elevator.
Kay Auntie naman siya nagpakarga ngayon. They entered first the room habang nahuli ako. Patulog na si Calyx at kailangan niya pang maligo bago mahiga.
"Salamat ulit, Iho." Auntie bid her goodbye then entered our room.
"Wala pong anuman." Gaston smiled at her warmly.
Naiwan kaming dalawa sa may pintuan namin. Nang tuluyang makapasok si Auntie sa loob ay kaagad niya akong hinapit sa baywang.
He gave me light kisses on my cheeks and near my lips. Humawak naman ang kamay ko sa bisig niya.
"Did you enjoy your day?" Malambing nitong bulong sa akin.
I nodded at him and rubbed his arms. He looked at it and his eyes shifted again. Bigla ulit siyang sumeryoso.
"Bukas na lang ulit." Hindi ko ring mapigilan na bigyan ng lambing ang boses ko.
He looked at me again and gave my lips little light kisses. Kaagad kong binaling ang ulo ko sa kabila. He groaned and I couldn't help but smile.
"Hindi pa tayo nag to-toothbrush, Gaston." Paalala ko sa kanya.
Tumaas ang kilay niya sa akin. "You still tasted sweet though." Ngumisi siya sa akin ng nakakaloko.
"You should sleep in my room tonight." He teased me.
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa kanya. "Hindi pwede." I said straight up. "Para sa mag asawa lang iyon, Gaston." Mariin kong pangaral sa kanya.
But he just smirked again. Mas lalo niyang linapit ang mukha sa akin. And with his sensual voice. "But we just made it in my bed this noon, baby. And you were very willing."
My cheeks heated up so bad with his claim. Na totoo naman. Dahil kung hindi ako pinuntahan ni Calyx ay baka...napalunok ako ng malalim sa sariling iniisip. I need to stay guarded. At hindi iyon magugustuhan ni Uncle at Auntie
"Can't you control yourself?" Hindi ko alam kung para sa kanya ba ang tanong o para sa sarili ko lang din.
"You are very physical…" Dagdag ko pa.
He just chuckled at my remarks. Mas lalo pa niya akong at muling pinatakan ulit ng mumunting halik ang aking pisngi. He then held my jaw and caressed my cheeks with his one hand.
"I am...but I am only like this when it comes to you...sayo lang ako magiging ganito." Malambing nitong saad.
Ang marahas na tibok ng puso ko ay mas lalo pang naging marahas. But I felt at peace and calm. He always makes me feel at peace. The power he has on me is so overwhelming.
And his love for me is overwhelming, I almost can't contain it.
Ngumiti ako sa kanya ng marahan, naglakbay ang mata ko sa kanyang mukha hanggang sa tumigil rin ito sa nakaawang niyang labi.
I bravely tiptoed and reached for his lips. I closed my eyes as I tried imitating the way he kissed me. Humigpit ang isang kamay niya sa baywang ko habang nanatili ang isa sa may pisngi ko.
I felt him respond. Mas lalong nag alab ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya.
"Mella, anak."
Kaagad ko siyang naitulak ng marinig ko ang boses ni Auntie na paparating. His eyes were again drunkenly looking at me kaya mas lalo ko siyang tinulak palayo sa akin.
He slowly chuckled again kaya pinanlakihan ko ulit siya ng mata.
Auntie then reached us. "Hinahanap ka na ulit ni Calyx, nak."
"Kung ganun po, mauna na po ako." Paalam ni Gaston.
"Salamat ulit, Iho, at pasensya ka na kay Calyx. Mabait at masunurin naman na bata iyon."
Gaston only smiled at her. "Wala pong problema."
Nagpaalam na siya sa amin pero nandoon pa rin ang init at kislap sa kanyang mga mata. Kaya naman ng pumasok na kami sa kwarto namin ay ramdam ko pa ang simpleng panginginig ng mga binti ko.
I heaved a heavy sigh as I entered my room. Calyx was already on the bed and was ready to sleep. Umupo siya ng makita ako kaya kaagad ko siyang dinaluhan.
"Maliligo muna si Mama, okay?"
Tumango siya sa akin sa malamyang paraan. Muli akong napahinga ng malalim.
"What's the problem, baby?" I asked as I hugged him. He settled himself in my chest as he hugged me too.
"Mama…" Mahinang sambit nito. He looked up to me.
"Ummm…what is it?" I tapped his back.
"Do you like the yellow rose that I just gave to you? O mas gusto niyo po ang bigay ni Boss?" Marahan nitong bulong.
Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti sa tanong niya. What is it this time? A competition?
"Maybe I should buy you a live rose too…" Ugot nito.
Hinaplos ko ang buhok niya at bumulong. "I love what you gave me...but what Boss has given to me is very special." I honestly said.
Mas lalo siyang sumimangot sa sagot ko. "What makes it special, Mama?"
Huminga ako ng malalim at mas humigpit ang yakap ko sa kanya. Hindi ko man maamin sa sarili ko, the rose that he gave me made me hope that someday...I could stand up on my own. Whenever I looked at it, he's the only one that I could remember, and with that I felt like he is still with me. That he is still supporting me, guiding me and cheering me up.
It gave me hope to recover faster, it healed me. That is why it is very special for me.
"Ummm...because it gave me hope...to start a new life with you and Lola and Lolo. It gave me courage to do my best, not only for me but for you too. So that I could love you more...and to love myself too." I lovingly whispered at him.
Narinig ko ang munting pagsinghap nito sa sinabi ko. "Then...it is indeed very special, Mama." May pagkamangha na sa boses nito ngayon.