Sixteen
1320 Words
Sixteen
Naglalambing na humiga si Joshua sa tabi niya at ginawang unan ang mga hita niya. Since that day in the park, palagi na ito sa bahay nila.
Wala din siyang project kaya halos pang apat na araw na itong pabalik balik sa kanila.
Ang mama naman niya ay nasa bakasyon kasama ang asawa nito. Nagka kilala na ang mama niya at si joshua kaya panatag daw itong nasa maayos silang lagay kahit wala silang nag asawa.
"pap pap!" matinis na sambit ng anak niyang patakbong lumapit sa kanila.
"hey kiddo.. Miss me?" sambit ni Joshua.
"yep" mabilis na sagot ng anak niya. Popping the 'p' in it.
Mabilis na natutong nagsalita ang anak niya—Sa tulong ni Joshua. Hindi niya lubos maisip kung anong hiwaga meron dito at ito ang dahilan ng pagsasalita ng anak niya. Well of course, Joshua never gets tired of answering all the questions asked by her son. Joshua made sure that he taught Kali the right words and right answers to the questions that given by Kali.
And to her support, Kali is now very talkative and start showing his talents and abilities. —a very big thanks to Joshua who never say 'no' to his son, most especially when Kali calling him Papa.
Pilit itong umaakyat sa tiyan ni Joshua kaya lang hindi nito magawa.
"you're big!" nakapamaywang na sambit nito habang nakasimangot.
Nangingiti lang siya habang tumatawa naman si joshua. "come on kid, try harder! Kaya mo yan!" itinaas pa nito ang kamao nito showing his support for Kali. Ngumisi naman ang huli at sinubukan ulit.
"pap, get me, get meeee!" matinis na hiyaw nito. But Joshua keep on teasing him. "what? You're a big boy now, come on, show me some of your great actions!" namaywang ulit si Kali at hinila ang mga kamay ni Joshua para bumangon.
Natatawa itong binuhat ang anak niya habang nakaunan pa din sa mga hita niya. —he's always like that, he never gets tired of Kali's tantrums –while she—the mother, sometimes gat annoyed —most especially when she's very tired. And sometimes when she's in deep s**t. —na pinagsisisihan naman niya agad 'pag gano' ong hindi niya maasikaso ang gusto ng kanyang anak.
"hiyah! Hiyah!" ginawa nitong kabayo ang tiyan ni Joshua na ikinatawa naman ng lalake.
"yes kid, magsawa kang mangabayo ngayon, kasi mamaya, si mommy naman, okay?" napamulagat siya sa tinuran nito.
"hey! What are you talking about? Don't mess up with Kali's mind! He's too young for that!" at ang lolo tumawa lang.
"mama, you're big, don't do like this to pap-pap!" her son said while riding hard on Joshua's stomach. "it's okay kid, you're mama's riding is different, its very nice and —awww!" piningot niya ito sa tainga.
"mama! Don't hurt pap-pap!" sigaw ng anak niya na ikinatanga niya. "kiddo, don't shout at mama, she's just want some loving loving" Joshua said while grinning. Tumingala ito sa kanya. He pout his lips "can i have one kiss baby?" he winked.
"me.. Me..!" gumapang ang anak niya saka hinalikan si joshua sa magkabilang pisngi nito "i am the baby" sabi nito and laugh.
Nag wrestling ang mga ito. Bumangon na si Joshua at umupo na ang mga ito sa sahig habang nag re-wrestling pa din.
Tawa lang ng tawa ang mga ito.
Honestly, she is dreaming of a family for her son. But at the same time, she is afraid that someday, Joshua will leave them and back into darkness again. —mostly to Kali. She's afraid of being left alone with her child being in pain.
Enough of thinking. She should just enjoy it and cross the bridge when it gets there.
Pumasok siya sa kusina at nagluto ng pancakes. It's just eight in the morning. Nagsangag din siya saka nagprito ng itlog at hotdogs.
Pagkatapos nag gayat siya ng kamatis saka nagprito ng tuyo. Nagulat pa siya ng naghabulan ang dalawa papasok sa kusina. She's picturing father and son happy moments in her mind.
"hummm ang bango!" nakapikit pang sambit ni Joshua pagkapasok—Na kaagad namang ginaya ng anak niya. Straight na itong magsalita at paminsan minsan madaming lumalabas na English words sa bunganga nito. –that makes her happy most of the time.
"did you wash your hands?" sita niya sa mga ito habang abala sa pag lalagay ng sinangag sa pinggan ni Joshua na nakatitig lang sa kanya "what?" nagtataka niyang tanong.
"w-wala" sagot nito saka tumayo at binuhat ang anak niya papuntang lababo para maghugas ng kamay. Habang naghuhugas ay nagkukulitan ang mga ito kung sino ang nauna. "yes! I am the first!" sigaw ni Kali. Na kaagad namang binara ng mas matanda.
"nope, i am the first kid!" hanggang sa nagsagutan ng nagsagutan ang mga ito na nauwi sa kilitian.
Naiiling siyang kumuha ng tubig sa refrigerator at nagsalin sa dalawang baso. Habang tinimpla naman niya ang tubig para kay Kali.
"come on boys, lets dig in!" masaya niyang tawag sa mga ito na nagkukulitan pa din.
"what do you want to do after you eat kiddo?" tanong ni Joshua. Ito ang nagtutusok sa hiniwa niyang hotdog sa pinggan ng anak niya.
Big boy na daw ito kaya siya na daw ang kumaing mag isa. –na hinayaan na lng niya kahit pa madami itong natatapon na pagkain..
" swimming tayo pap, tapos maglaro tayo ng ball doon sa pool, tapos gusto kong manood ng tom and jerry tapos mag bike tayo sa park mamaya tapo—" tumikhim siya.
"ang dami mo namang gusto nak, baka my pupuntahan si pap-pap mo mamaya, ask him first if he's not busy" Kali sighed automatically like he's a big guy who lost a million dollars deal.
Joshua chuckled. She lets out a deep breath.
"okay, eat good, so we can swim later, because if you don't, mama will not let us go to the pool, okay little man?" nag thumbs up lang ang anak niya kay Joshua habang nakatawa naman ang lalake.
"what?" he mouthed at her.
"thank you" she mouthed back. Kumindat lang ito saka naglagay ng pagkain sa plato niya.
The simple things that Joshua making can make her heart in rapid beating. Just like this.
Joshua is very happy with Kali. Being with Kaliyah 's son is more than heaven to him. He even thinks of them being one family. —that is mostly a wish not just by thinking.
He once wish for a family, with his ex girlfriend. But not all wish is being granted. There are some circumstances that doesn't allow you to be granted. Or rather, God's plan not to be given that wish for you.
After they finish eating, they went to the pool at the back pf Kaliyah 's house. A small pool with man made rocks and artificial falls from the middle of the rocks and with some small trees around it. With some flowers and at the other side of it is two pool chairs with center table.
Binuhat niya si Kali at bumaba sa pool. Tawa ng tawa ang bata na pumupuno naman ng saya sa puso niya. Ever since he saw Kali, he always made sure to put some time to this kid.
"okay kid, lets play!" masigla niyang sambit saka tinuruang lumangoy ang bata. Hanggang sa tiyang lang niya ang lalim ng pool, sa karugtong nitong pool ang para sa matatanda. Halatang pinasadya iyong idugtong para kay Kali. "yes pap-pap!" aigaw nito.
Whoever the father of this kid is a jerk, an idiot who left this adorable kid. —tha makes him very thankful, call him anything you want but it's his heart saying that 'he is blessed' to have Kaliyah and Kali to his life.
Isinakay niya sa unicorn floater nito saka siya tumayo sa gilid, hinayaan niyang maglaro ng maglaro ang bata.
Napalingon siya sa gawi ni Kaliyah na nakaupo sa isang pool chair at nakamasid sa kanila. Kumindat siya dito na agad naman nitong sinagot ng malapad ant matamis na ngiti.
Who will not love this kind of woman? A loving mother. A good daughter. A very caring and loving person. –for him. He can't call her girlfriend or whatsoever —but in his heart and in his book—Kaliyah is his woman.
No man will ever have Kaliyah. Just him and only him.
- Writer
