The Genteel Flower (Yutang Bulahan Series #5)

TGF - 16

THE DADDY.

"My sleepyhead is still a sleepyhead," bulong ko habang hinahalikan sa noo niya si Colly.

I just came from Bacolod and I took the first ride early in the morning. Pagdating ko, ito ang naabutan ko, ang tulog na tulog pa rin na si Colly. Palagi raw kasing tulog. Parang nahihilig na sa pagtulog. Sabi ng yaya ni Colly kanina pagdating ko, palagi raw tulog no'ng wala ako.

Last night was fine. They settled with everything that is needed for the wedding nang walang sagabal. Mukhang na rin namang hindi na kailangan ang presensiya at tulong ko kaya umuwi na ako. After all, miss na miss ko na ang anak ko.

I can't wake up my son kasi ang himbing ng tulog niya and baka mag-tantrums pa kapag pinutol ko ito kaya hahayaan ko na muna siya. I have the whole day to be with him naman since I'm already home. At saka, it's the line between dawn and sunrise kaya reasonable enough.

Ang hindi reasonable ay bakit ang agang gumising ni Mama kanina. Pagdating ko, gising na raw siya, nandoon lang sa greenhouse niya. She has all the time in the world, yet she wakes up this early, too early for an elegant woman like her. Samantalang si Papa raw ay hindi pa nagigising. He usually wakes up later than Mama.

Inayos ko na lang ang iilan sa mga gamit ko na galing pang Palawan. Einny and the other Osmeñas who were left in the island are bound to go home today. 'Yon ang last update na natanggap ko from Einny kagabi pero hindi na ako nakapagtanong pa kung anong oras exactly. Maybe I was tired last night kaya hindi na ako nakapag-usyoso pa.

But it's useless to arrange my things now kasi ipapa-arrange ko rin naman ito sa maids mamaya kaya hindi ko na lang tinapos at naisipan na lang na lumabas ulit ng kuwarto para puntahan si Mama. Nang may nakasalubong akong isang maid kanina, I asked her of Mama's current location. Ang sabi niya nandoon pa rin naman daw sa greenhouse niya. I said thanks to her and proceeded to the back lawn kung saan naka-stand abruptly ang may kalakihang greenhouse ni Mama where she stores her different kinds of plants and flowers, especially her collection of different variants of cacti and succulents. She's into herbal plants din. Basta, hindi ko na maisa-isa ang mga pananim na mayroon siya. But all I know is that she's surely a certified plantita. And this is the only thing Einny got from his mother.

She's checking something on one of her mayana plants when I entered the greenhouse. Siguro dahil sa ingay na maririnig mo everytime you open the greenhouse's door ay napansin agad ni Mama ang pagdating ko. Agad siyang ngumiti sa akin at lumapit na rin, I meet her halfway.

Nakipag-beso ako kay Mama Felicity.

"So, how was it?" tanong niya nang matapos ang besohan.

Kasalukuyan niyang tinatanggal ang gardening gloves na suot niya at ako naman ay nakatingin lang sa ginagawa niya. I slightly smile when I heard her question. I think she's pertaining about the pamamanhikan na nangyari kahapon.

I pouted when I face her. "I guess you're the only mother I'm left with," I answered.

Agad na nangunot ang noo ni Mama sa naging sagot ko. Siguro naguluhan o na-weird-uhan sa naging sagutan ko. Oo nga naman, tinatanong niya kung kumusta ang nangyari kahapon pero ganoon ang naging sagot ko.

"And why is that? Was it that bad?"

I sighed. "No, I mean, it was good. Like how mommy wanted it to be."

"Like how your mommy wanted it to be? Care to make kuwento?"

I sighed again and tinulungan na si Mama sa pag-spray ng little water sa small plants niya habang nagku-kuwento sa kung anong nangyari kagabi. I also give her a little hint about mommy and I's conversation that afternoon.