"Come here, kiss Daddy Brent."
Shan ignores him and focused his eyes on his iPad with his eyebrows together, and a pout on his lips. Sabay kaming napatingin ni Brent sa isa't-isa bago mahinang napatawa."Daddy will come home naman kaagad," I said, shifting my eyes back down to him before putting my hand on the top of his head. "Say ba-bye na—""No!" Shan exclaimed, whining. I lean closer to him to see his eyes beginning to water. I held up a frown and softly held onto his cheeks, turning his head to me.Hindi siya nagmatigas ngunit ang mga mata ay hindi pa rin nilalayo sa iPad. "Sige na. Daddy's airplane is almost leaving, oh.""If you don't kiss me goodbye I won't bring any toys," Brent said, leaning his head closer inside through the open window, but Shan still ignores him. "Ah, sige, Mommy na lang—"Shan whined, kicking his feet to the corners of the chair, dahilan para mapatawa muli kaming dalawa."Ano? You kiss me"Mommy."Kaagad akong nagising nang bigla akong makaramdam ng bigat sa bewang ko, ngunit hindi muna ako napadilat dahil sa bigat ng mga mata."Mommy," Shan's voice called once again, in a whisper. I lifted my hands, gathering all of my power, and found him. He sits on my waist as I lay down to the side, I tap his legs with my hand to know I am awake. "Someones knocking…"I turned to my right and rested my back to the bed, biglang nawala ang bigat sa aking katawan ngunit dalawang maliliit na kamay naman ang napunta sa tiyan ko."I think it's Tita Ciara," he whispered, a bit much closer to me. I let out a soft groan before turning my body once again, and there I started to hear other noises. It's my phone. Dinilat ko ang mga mata at kaagad napa-stretch sa higaan, a yawn escapes before I stretch once more and sigh. I rested my loose body for a second before sitting up, at nakita kaagad si Shan na hawak-hawak ang phone ko. "Who is it?"
"Sa'n ka na naman?" Hindi ko na nilingon si Ciara at bumalik na kaagad sa sasakyan. Nasabi ko na sa kaniya ang lahat na pwede niyang malaman: may aasikasuhin ako para sa kasal ko. Nang makasakay na ako ay muli kong nilingon ang bahay, sa mga Veridiano's. Iiwan ko muna si Shan dito para may makasama siya, since wala ngayon si Niana at nagpaalam na umuwi ng Tagaytay. At sa pagkakaalam ko ay ngayon uuwi sina Kuya kaya't mas mabuti 'yon para may makakalaro siya, si Carlos.I didn't manage to wake up early, in fact, I am already running late as I drive out of the subdivision. Ang usapan namin ay 8PM, at nagising naman ako ng sakto, 8PM. Kinailangan ko pa ring mag ayos at ayusin si Shan at ang kaniyang mga gamit, and things weren't that cooperative. The drive went smooth from the subdivision back downtown, until I reached the centre of downtown, traffic was bad. Palingon-lingon ako sa bag ko na nasa upuan sa tabi ko, gusto kong m
"Magandang araw po, Madame, may reservations po kayo?"I smiled at him and nodded. "Opo. Angeline Calzado po."Lumawak pa ang kaniyang ngiti bago tumango, at ilang sandali lang ay umangat na ang harang sa driveway. "Pasok na lang po kayo at diretso sa Lobby, may naghihintay nang staff para gabayan kayo."Tumango na lamang ako at inangat na muli ang bintana bago nagpatuloy sa driveway. Malaki ang lugar, at maganda itong tignan. The building is huge and it's in a very light dirty pink which suites the details.Elegant and modern.There are greens everywhere, plants and perfectly short grass. The driveway is made out of medium sized stones. Nagpark na ako sa n
I rested my back on the side of the couch, and wandered my eyes around the canvas before I turned my head to my right, where my paint is at.Since I don't have any commissions yet, I decided to make a wedding gift for Ciara and Niko. It's a candid photo of them together, being sweet and all. I stole it from the photographer they hired for Tita Amara and Tito Caius' wedding anniversary in Baguio. I saw him taking a shot of the moment and so I asked him not to show the picture and send it to me instead, and he didn't give me a hard time. I reached my hand to my right, for the cup of paint brushes and took out the biggest one I have. Inasahan ko na na magtatagal kami dito, and so I came prepared in case may commission na biglang dumating. Maaga rin ako kaninang umalis, habang si Niana ay nakabalik na galing Tagaytay, kaya iniwan ko silang dalawa sa Bnb at pumunta ng mall para bumili ng canvas. I'm still starting with the base, the b
"Ciara, ang tagal!""Teka nga lang!" she exclaimed, rushing to the gate, pausing from time to time as she seemed to be locking her flats. "Excited ka masyado, e!"Mahina lamang akong napatawa at hinigpitan ang hawak sa steering wheel bago ko siya nakitang lumabas na ng gate. "Ang bagal mo kasi gumalaw, late na tayo, oh.""Hindi kaya. Sabi ni Hannah, two-forty daw pwede tayong pumunta—""Tapos ano? Two forty ka naligo, malapit na kayang mag alas kwatro," sabi ko at nakita nang palakad na siya patungo sa 'kin. Sinamaan pa niya ako ng tingin bago binuksan ang pinto, at kaagad nang pumasok sa loob. "I won't be surprised if you're going to be late for your own wedding.""Hey! I wasn't sure about my outfit, okay? Sabi ni Mommy dapat daw 'yong madali lang mahubad para 'di ako mahirapan mag change, kaya ito, jumpsuit na lang.""Tumawag si Tita?" I asked. Kami lang nina Kuya ang tao roon, at nasa trabaho sina Tita and Tito kaya ako na lan
"Angeline, buksan mo 'to!"Panicking, I look around the place, securing the place has been cleaned before I reach to the small pillows onnthe couch and threw one to the other side."Laure—""Wait lang!" I shouted, turning back to Shan to meet his smiling face. Tumango na ako bago siya mahagyang tumalon at tumakbo patungo sa pinto.Kaagad ko siyang sinundan, at nang makalapit ako ay nakabukas na ang pinto. Ciara peaks through the door with her attention focused on Shan. She enters the place and squatted down before hugging him tightly, while I believe women are outside, behind her."Ba't nandito kayo?" I asked, standing from a distance in front of her, causing her to look up. Her eyebrows rose before she stood herself up, holding onto Shan's head, and stretched out a smile."We're going out," she said, lifting her shoulders up, and my forehead crea
"Anong ginagawa mo dito? Bawal ka dito, ah!"My forehead creased before I opened my eyes. Kaagad akong napaayos ng upo bago napunta ang mga mata ko kay Niko na may ngiti sa labi. "And bawal din kayo mag drive. Where's Keira? Steia?"I blinked, and my eyes shifted to the empty spot beside me. A yawn escapes my lips before I lean my back on the rest, loosing up the built up tense in my body."I don't know… what time is it na ba, Love?" Ciara asked, groaning, as she stand up from the seat. Kaagad lumapit pa si Niko sa kaniya at inalayan hanggang makalabas ng table.I immediately looked away to the table, and saw a messy one. May ilan-ilang shot glasses na nakakalat, may beer bottle sa harap ko na parang walang laman at may kung ano-anong dumi malapit sa isang plato.Wala akong naalala pero hindi ko na lang 'yon pinansin at hinayaan ang sarili na iprosesso ang lahat-lahat, habang blankong nakatutok sa lamesa. Inaantok pa ako, ngunit
Nanatili ako doon hanggang maramdaman ko na ang init ng araw, pero hindi pa rin ako gumalaw. I wanted to figure things out, I wanted to fix the mess I have done. Yet my chest fluttered when I heard them continuing the rehearsal. I wanted them to do that, but I didn't get a chance to tell them.I continued focusing on my breathing exercise, slowly succeeding in calming myself down when my phone rang a notification. I didn't even know I had it in my pocket, yet I quickly checked who it was.From: Ciaracan i go there naim sorry:(i can call anyone to drive u home if u want toit's ok reallyi understandI'm really sorry:( A sigh escapes my lips. To: Ciaraim sorryim ok i was just overreacting HAHAHHSKaagad naman siyang sumagot.From: Ciarano you weren'tik it's hard and i understand okkkdo u want me to call brent or someone?To: Ciarano
Kaagad niyang ginawa ang hiling ko. Nakaharap sa sa gilid ng sasakyan na nasa tabi ng akin, nakahawak sa kaniyang cellphone malapit sa kaniyang tenga. Ngunit hindi siya nagsasalita.He pulls his phone away and faces the screen, he types in and puts it back close to his ear. But nothing changed.He took a quick glance at me and looked down to his phone. Tion let out a sigh and turned to me, walking towards me, holding the same pitiful expression on his face."He won't answer," he said. "Do you want to go inside the car na? Pa-aircon ka muna, I'll try to call him again."I sighed, and shook my head. "I'll go na lang." I stretched my hand to him, and his eyes immediately dropped down to it as his eyebrows rose. "Phone ko—"He looks up to me. "You're definitely not going alone. Can anyone else go with you?"Another soft sigh escapes my lips. "Ciara needs me now, please."He nodded, and placed my phone in my hand. "Can I atleast call Inez—"I shake my head. "She's probably busy, I don't wa
"Aimee, paki kuha kay Dad para kakain na tayo."Kaagad tumango si Aimee at nilagpasan ako patungo sa itaas habang kakarating ko lang sa ibaba. Inayos ni Tita ang mga unan sa couch habang nandoon si Shan, nakahiga at parang natutulog habang hawak-hawak ang remote na nasa ibabaw ng t'yan. May kalakasan ang volume mula sa TV na parang nanonood na naman ng cartoons.As Tita Amara turns around, our eyes immediately met. Her smile widens bago siya muling humarap sa bata at inayos ang paghiga nito. "Alam mo bang napaka-aga nito lumabas ng kwarto niyo? Nagising ako 6AM at ganoon din siya." She placed a pillow on his head before turning back to me. "Kaya ayon, he helped me water the plants, and at nagwalis pa nga siya ng mga leaves sa labas."My eyebrows rose and a chuckle escapes my lips. "No wonder tulog."She nodded, walking towards the kitchen. "Napagod siguro. May lakad ka ngayon?"Tumango ako at sumunod sa kaniya patungo sa kusina. "Pupunta lang ako ng banko at konting grocery na rin,
"Shan! Your toys dito, oh!" I shouted, picking up the charger cables on the floor beside a small pile of legos spread at the corner. I neatly rolled the cables before opening the bedside drawer to find it filled with papers and other sorts of things.A sigh escaped my lips as I sit down the corner of the bed. Isa-isa kong kinuha ang mga gamit sa loob ng drawer na halatang hindi maayos ang paglagay. Napatigil ako saglit nang makakita ako ng isang notebook na itim.It has a leather cover and the pages seems to be thick. Umusog pa ako ng konti para may malagyan sa ibang gamit habang nilagay ang notebook sa ibabaw ng drawer at nagpatuloy sa pagkuha ng gamit mula sa loob.Maayos ko itong binalik hanggang matapos ako na may marami pang space na natira. I put the cables inside as well before standing up from the bed, and my eyes immediately caught the notebook once more.Kwarto namin 'to noon pa lang, paminsan-minsan kaming natutulog dito ni Ate kapag may nga events na nagagabihan na kami.
"But, Mommy!"I turned to the gear before shfiting it to park. I take a quick glance at Shan, and he looked at ne with his teary puppy eyes. I kept a serious expression on my face, looking at him directly in the eyes.He stopped for a moment and turned his head to the wind sheild as he began whining again, kicking his feet in the air. "Lowbat!""I'm not gonna repeat myself, again. We will charge your iPad when we get home—" I paused as he groaned, slouching on the seat. "Shan.""I want my iPad—""Why? iPad lang 'yon, it's not like that iPad is your whole world. Don't you want to go to the mall? Nandito na tayo," I said, trying my best to stay calm. "Do you want us to go home na?"He whined again, causing me to swallow."Do you want us to go home na?" I asked, repeating myself and he shook his head. My eyebrows rose. "Sige, you choose: uuwi tayo so that you could play on your iPad or gagala tayo with your Tito?"Hindi siya sumagot. He placed his arms on top of his chest as he drew circ
"What do you want, Love?"Shan looks up to me before shifting his eyes to the counter. "Chicken and friend and ice cream."My eyebrows rose as I nodded my head, I looked back at the cashier, meeting her eyes. "Chicken na lang po with medium fries, and sundae."She nodded her head and shifted her eyes to the computer. "Is that all, Ma'am?" she asked, and I nodded. "So basically, two chicken meals, two iced teas, one sundae, and two medium fries?"I press my lips together and nodded. Hindi kami nagtagal sa counter at kaagad na kaming umalis at naghanap ng mauupuan habang dala-dala ko ang tray namin.We stopped right in front of an available four seater table and placed the tray on the table as Shan immediately sat down. Nilapag niya ang kaniyang iPad sa lamesa bago kinuha ang kaniyang plato mula sa tray sabay ng ice cream cup.Umupo ako sa harap niya at kinuha na ang iPad niya para ilagay sa bag. Kinuha ko lahat ng order namin at nilagay sa gilid ang tray bago kami nag simulang kumain.
"Wow! Who is this?"A woman asked with a huge smile on her face. I look up to Tion to see his smile widen. "Ah, this E— Angel."She looks like she's in her 40's, yet looks very glamorous. She wears a simple casual dress, which suits her very well. Her brunette hair is softly curled, while her make up is only light. Her eyebrows and her eyes shifted to me. "Nice to meet you, Angel. I'm Evelyn," she said, "Well, I have to meet the others pa so enjoy kayo, ah?"Kaagad tumango si Christion at umalis na si Evelyn, I felt Christion's hands softly dig through my back, giving me a hint that we should go on. We walk around the bar, searching for seats, and suddenly, he leans closer to me as we reached the counter. "Birthday ng kaibigan namin ni Ethan, kakauwi lang galing Dubai."My lips parted as I nodded my head. "Required ba talaga may partner?" I asked as we sat on the tall chair together, he let out a chuckle, causing my stomach to flutter."For me? Yes," he said and called a bartender.
Paggising ko ay nakita kong gising na si Shan, nakadilat ang mga mata habang diretso sa 'kin ang tingin. He lays down on his side with Brent behind him, still asleep.I turned around and reached for a my phone, at nang pagbukas ko no'n ay 8AM na. Ilang saglit pa akong nanatili sa kama bago tumayo na, at sumunod naman sa 'kin si Shan. Pagbaba namin ay dumeretso siya sa couch at doon humiga habang nasa kabilang couch si Niana, tulog pa rin.Nagpatuloy ako patungo sa kusina at naginit kaagad ng tubig, at nang marinig ako ni Shan ay tinawag niya ako. "Milo!"Hindi ko na siya sinagot at binuksan ang cupboard para kumuha ng Milo. Hindi naman nagtagal at nagising na rin si Niana nang nagsimula na akong magluto ng ulam, maybe because of the sizzling sound of the egg when it landed on the hot oil. "Shan, toothbrush na," Niana said, standing in front of Shan, yawning. The kid groaned, not wanting to move, causing Niana to have to bribe him until they began walking to the bathroom as I began
"It would be better if you stare at me, looking less angry, you know?"I narrow my eyebrows and rolled my eyes. I wander my gaze around the room before looking down to my phone. Masyadong maaga kami ngayon, dapat pa namin maghintay ng iba pa.He sighed. "Tell me what you want."Hindi ko siya pinansin at pumunta sa isang social media platform bago nagsimulang mag scroll."I know that you won't go and look at me like that without having something in mind. I know you, Ella," dagdag pa niya, at kaagad akong nangilabot.Kanina nang nagkita kami sa loob ng building, nakatayo siya sa entrance habang diretsong nasa akin ang kaniyang mga mata. Nang makalapit ako ay hindi siya kumibo, tumayo lang siya doon hanggang nilagpasan ko siya at doon naramdaman na sinusundan niya ako. Sabay kaming pumasok sa elevator pero hindi pa rin kami nagsalita. The elevator was packed at magkatabi kami, nakadikit ang mga damit namin. My heart was racing."If this is about Shan—"Inangat ko ang ulo ko, dahilan par
"Kukuha rin po kayo ng eco-bag, Ma'am?"Inangat ko ang ulo sa cashier at umiling. "Ah, ito po." I turned to my cart, to my bag at kinuha 'yong mga tote bag na dinala namin. I place the bags on the counter at kaagad naman kinuha ng nagba-baggage. "Eight thousand seven hundred po lang lahat, may perks card po kayo?" the cashier asked, and I nodded. Binigay ko na ang card kasabay ng pera bago nagpatuloy palabas ng cashier at nagsimula na ang lalaki sa paglalagay ng mga pinamili namin.Pagkatapos kong mag check out ay kaagad kong hinarap si Brent na nakatayo sa waiting area. He immediately understood my gaze and walked towards me to take the cart before we started walking out."Sa'n tayo next?" I asked, keeping up with his pace. Brent looked down to me and shrugged his shoulders."Anong oras na ba?" he asked, and lifted his wrist, facing his watch to him. "Gagi, ten pa? Gusto mong kumain?"I nodded. "Sige. Drive thru tayo?" "May nakita akong post no'ng nakaraan, bagong restaurant daw di