"Is this your son?" Wala sa sarili akong napatayo habang nakatitig sa kanya habang karga ang anak ko. "Daze..." His cold eyes look at me, as if assessing my being and scanning me through. "May anak ka." Napakurap-kurap ako at dumapo ang paningin ko sa anak kong kalmado ang mukha. Lumukob sa buong sistema ko ang kaba sa samo't-saring konklusiyong pumapasok sa utak ko. Did Jarren told him? Did he knew he's our son?"Yes, Daze." It was my mother who replied. I motioned Jarren to come over and he obeyed. Naglikot ito sa pagkakakarga ni Daze dahilan para ibaba siya nito sa lapag. The kid immediately ran unto me and asked me to carry him. "Bakit ka pa umuwi?" His cold voice like is piercing through my bones that I even took a step back. His intense cold blank eyes aren't showing any emotions. "Daze!" sita ni mama. "Kakauwi pa lang ng kapatid mo, 'yan na kaagad ang pag-uugali mo. Change your behavoir because you're already getting married!" Daze just scoffed and walked towards the
Naalimputangan ako dahil sa halik na pumupupog sa mukha ko. Kinusot ko ang aking mga mata at dinilat ito. Bumungad naman sa mukha ko si Jarren na nakangiti at may bahid ng chocolate ang mukha.Inabot ko ito at pinahiran ang kayang pisngi. "Where did you get this?""Good morning, mommy! Get up now!" Hinila ako nito pabangon. "Your breakfast is ready!"Bahagya akong natawa sa inaakto nito. "Where did you get the nutella smudge, Jarren? Did you play with grandmommy?""Nope," he replied. "It was me and daddy.""Granddaddy?" paglilinaw ko ngunit umiling muli ang bata."It was daddy Daze." Umupo ito sa kama at ngumiti. "He said sorry to me this morning and asked if how will he make it up to me. I told him he'll make me pancakes, but he don't know how."The happiness lingering on his eyes gave me relief. I ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead. "Susunod si mommy. Maliligo lang ako."Tumango lang ito at nagmamadaling bumaba ng kama. Walang lingon na itong lumabas ng silid at hindi pa nag-a
Humikab ako habang papalabas ng kotse. Today is Sam's wedding day, the most awaited day of her life. Nauna na kami ni Keith dito sa Montenegro Resorts para makapaghanda na samantalang naiwan ang bride sa hotel na tinutuluyan niya. According to her, their honeymoon would be in Maldives. Such a good place to spend with your love ones. "Look at these beautiful ladies," saad ng isang boses na ikinalingon namin ni Keith. "I'm Isia Imperial, the mother of the groom." I blinked and extended my hands. "I'm Vielle Martinez, Sam's friend." "Kapatid mo ba si Daze Martinez?" she asked. I bit my lip and nodded. "Opo." She smiled. "You're beautiful." Ngumiti rin ako dito. She let go of my hand and faced Keith. Misses Imperial is wearing a peach colored dress and its length touches the ground. It was simple, yet attractive. Bumeso si Keith kay Misses Imperial. She tolds us to ready ourselves because the bride is already on her way. Nagtungo kami sa dulo ng red carpet na nagsisilbing aisle na
Maaga akong lumisan sa resthouse ni Daze para mahabol ko ang flight ko sa alas sais. I need to go home. Ayokong mag-stay sa lugar na maraming alaala ang nakaukit. "... we have just landed at—"Hindi ko na pinakinggan pa ang cabin crew na nagsasalita. Isinukbit ko ang dala kog bag sa aking balikat tumayo na para sa paglabas. Nagsitayuan din naman ang mga kapwa ko pasahero. Nang makababa ako ng eroplano ay hinugot ko ang aking cellphone sa bulsa at ini-unlock ito habang naglalakad. I immediately dialed my mother's number and waited for them to pick the phone up. "Hello, Vielle?" si papa ang sumagot. I took a deep breath and continue walking. "Hey, pa. Gising na po ba si Jarren?" "Ah, tulog pa ang bata. Naglaro kami ng xbox kagabi kaya inabot kami ng alas dose." I can sense father is grinning. Napagkawala ako ng mahinang tawa, sakto namang nakalabas na ako ng paliparan kaya agad akong tumawag ng taxi. "Sige, po. Pauwi na po ako, pa. Call you back later." I heard him hummed on the
"What are you doing here?" Lumabas ito galing kusina bitbit ang isang bote ng alak at ang mapupungay nitong mata ay nakatingin sa akin ng diretso at blako. Nangapa naman agad ako ng dapat iresponde sa tanong niya. My hand gripped the handle of my hand bag tightly as I answered, "I-I just came by. If you want, aalis na ako." Puhimit agad ako patikod sa kanya at humakbang patungong pinto. Nakaisang hakbang pa ako nang magsalita siya, "Sit down and let's talk." I feel like my heart almost stopped pumping. Wala sa sarili akong napabuntong-hininga. Gusto ko rin naman siyang makausap. Magmula nang makauwi kami, hindi kami masyadong nagkausap, ni wala nga kaming matinong usapan. Muli akong humarap sa kanya at naglakad patungo sa pangdalawahang sofa habang siya ay umupo sa pang-isahan. Binaba ko ang handbag sa center table bago umupo. I saw him rested his back at the backrest of his couch while I'm busy wandering my eyes around. I can feel the awkwardness. It's suffocating. Parang hindi
Nagising ako dahil sa pagtunog ng alarm clock. Pikit-mata ko itong kinapa sa nightstand at ini-off. I covered my mouth to yawn and slowly opened my eyes. I blinked several times to adjust from the brightness of the surroundings. Ramdam ko rin ang mabigat na bagay na nakapatong sa tiyan ko. The moment I opened my eyes and my vision cleared, I spotted someone's arms wrapped around my waist. Ngayon ko lang din na napansin na hindi pala unan ang inuunan ko kundi ang braso ni Daze. Nakatanday ang binti nito sa hita ko dahilan para hindi ako makagalaw.I lifted my hands and slightly tapped his cheeks. "Daze..." He groaned and tightened his hug on me. "What?" "It's already six. May trabaho ka pa sa opisina. I still need to go home," I replied. He groaned once again before he slowly opened his eyes. His eyes landed on me and a genuine smile formed on his lips. "You're here," he murmured."Of course I'm here." Napapantastikuhan ko itong tinignan. He chuckled and pulled me more closer. "I
“Vielle, magdahan-dahan ka!” rinig kong sigaw ni papa.Patuloy lang ako sa paglalakad papasok ng ospital. Dumiretso ako sa front desk at nagtanong kung nasaan ang emergency room. Nang ituro ng nurse ay agad akong tumakbo sa direksiyon nito.Balak ko pa sanang itulak papasok ang pinto nang pigilan ako ng isang lalaking nars.“Any patient inside, ma'am?” tanong nito.Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin. “Daze Martinez is inside, right?”Tumango siya. Akmang magsasalita pa ako nang may humawak sa braso ko at nilayo ako sa nars. Nilingon ko dito at nakita si papa ito na humahangos. Hindi na siya nakasunod pa kay mama sa opisina dahil agad ko siyang kinuyog dahil natataranta na ako. I even left my son on my parent's maid to rush here in the hospital.“Vielle, kumalma ka,” father said.Umiling ako at binalingan siya. “What if something bad happens to him, dad?”Tinapik ni papa ang balikat ko at pinaupo sa waiting area dito sa labas ng emergency room. He ruffled my hair and smile at me to ease my nerv
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight 3B9 with service from New York to Philippines. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes time. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments. We also ask that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off. Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is prohibited for the duration of the flight. Thank you for choosing Emirates Airlines. Enjoy your flight," anunsiyo ko. Matapos ay agad akong nagtungo sa Economy class dahil doon ako naka-assigned. Pasimple kong tinapunan ng mga tingin ang mga pasahero kung nakasuot na ba sila ng kani-kanilang seat belts. I saw kids happily and cheerfully talking to their parents. Bigla ko tuloy naalala ang anak kong si Jarren, at kapag naaalala ko siya ay hindi ko maiwasang mapabuntong-