"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.
"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
"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.
"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,
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
"Miss, bawal dito."Napakunot ako ng noo bago ko inangat ang aking ulo, nagtagpo kaagad ang aming tingin. Matangkad siya, at walang emosyon ipinakita sa mukha."Anong bawal? Ay! Ito po, oh," I look down to my bag and searched for my entrance pass. Hinalukot ko na ito pero kahit saan parte ng bag ko ay hindi ko makita. Wala. "Kuya, promise kasali po ako sa event--""Miss, sinabi ko na po sa inyo. Bawal dito.""Pero, Kuya! Ask mo pa 'yong manager, kilala n'ya ako!" I said, looking up to him and the guard's eyebrows narrowed. Nanginginig na ang kamay ko, kanina ko pa nararamdaman ang tumutulong pawis habang hindi mapakali ang paa ko. Late na late na ako!"Kung kasali po kayo dito, kanina ka pa dapat nandito. Plus, miss, no ID no entry nga," diretsong sabi ng guard. "Paki usog na lang po, kung gusto ninyo tawagan ang sinasabi mong manager edi tawagan mo. Nasa pila po kayo."&n
Ano ba 'tong ginagawa ko?I step out of the car, I can feel my heart pounding. I took a step forward and the huge doors opened, revealing thick smoke at the entrance to where I can see Lolo Donny standing.He holds a calm smile, holding both of his hands to his stomach. I take another step and this time I lift up the bottom part of the white gown. I walk closer to him, holding a small bouquet of flowers as I can hear a quiet cheering from inside."I know this is something you always hear from me but, hija, you look so much like your mother. Naalala ko tuloy no'ng kinasal sila ng papa mo. I mean of course, you're the daughter of one of the most stunning ladies I have met!" he said, spreading his arms as gestures, causing me to laugh. "But seryoso, ipagmayabang ko talaga 'to sa kanila pag nagkita na kami.""Ay walang gan'yanan!" I exclaimed, joking a frown as he laughed before nodding his h
"We'll be having dinner later--" Our eyes immediately met as he slowly opened the door wider, I pressed my lips together, forming a small smile before two paper bags suddenly appeared hanging on his right hand. "We'll be having dinner, seven thirty. Inez won't answer any of my calls so I came by to deliver these myself," he said before placing the bags on the floor. I remain on my bed with my legs crossed as my laptop is in front of me. "Mom picked these herself earlier." My forehead creased. "You were together?" I asked and he shook his head. "No. She just told someone to deliver these. They'll arrive later pa," he said and I slowly nodded my head before turning back to my laptop screen. "May I know where my assistant is?" What if you may not? "She's grabbing drinks at a bar," I said before turning to him once again. He nodded his head before tur