Two thousand five hundred fifty-five days...
"Mama!" I smiled at Odrea as she was running towards me.
She hugged me when she reached the distance between us. I bent down to kiss her forehead. She was smiling too at mas napangiti ako nang makita ko ang mga ngipin niyang hindi kumpleto dahil bungi bungi ito.
"Hi baby! How was your first day of school?" I asked her.
"It was great! I made friends, mommy!" Masayang wika niya.
I smiled at her. "Your dad's gonna pick us up, baby... " Sabi ko at nakitang malaki ang ngisi niya sa akin habang hawak ang aking kamay.
"Really, mama?" Masaya niyang tanong.
"Yes, baby. He's about to arrive." I said as I looked around.
Ilang sandali pa ay narinig ko ang ang pagbusina ng isang sasakyan. Luminga linga ako hanggat sa mahagip ng mga mata ko ang isang SUV. Binaba niya ang bintana ng driver's seat at pagkatapos ay kumindat. Napangisi ako at binalingan si Odry.
"Baby, your dad is here." Sabi ko at itinuro ang kanyang daddy'ng nakangiti sa amin.
"Daddy!" Ani Odry at winagayway ang kamay sa ere.
Bumukas ang driver's seat at bumaba siya mula doon. He walked towards us as Odrea was running to him. Sumaklang si Odrea sa kanyang daddy at pagkatapos ay pinuyog ito ng halik. Nakangisi pa din siya. Lumapit siya sa akin ng buhat buhat si Odrea at hinalikan ako sa sa pisngi.
"Hi..." I greeted him.
"Baby, how's your first day?" He asked Odrea.
"I made friends, Dad! But I suddenly missed mom..." She even said as she looked at me.
Paanong hindi? Eh palaging kami ang magkasama sa bahay noong bakasyon. She's in her grade school now.
Lumitaw ang dimples niya sa kanyang pag ngisi. "Let's go home?" He said as he put his arm around my waist.
I just nodded. Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa sasakyan niya. Pinatunog niya iyon at isinakay niya si Ordrea doon sa backseat at nilagyan ng seatbelt pagkatapos ay pinagbuksan ako sa front seat.
"Thanks..." Wika ko at umikot siya papuntang driver's seat.
He got in the car and cleared his throat as he looked at me. "You wanna eat out for lunch?" He asked.
I looked at Odrea, she was smiling widely at pumalakpak pa. "Yes! Daddy! And then we're gonna go to fun world! Can we, mama?" She asked politely.
I looked at her "If your daddy says yes, then we'll go..." I said as I looked at him.
Tumango naman siya. "Okay, then. But promise me that you're not going anywhere without us okay?" He said.
"Okay, daddy!" Sabi niya at tumingin sa akin pagkatapos ay nag thumbs up sa akin. Kinindatan ko naman siya.
Pinaandar niya ang kotse at tuloy naman sa pagdaldal si Odrea. Nagkekwento tungkol sa ginawa niya sa school ngayon. Aniya'y madami na daw siyang kaibigan sa school. Napapangiti na lang ako at napapatango. She's so talkative. I looked at his daddy, Reige as I bit my lower lip.
I remember the first time I saw him, three years ago...
I was in the supermarket when I heard someone calling me 'mommy' at hinila hila ang dulo ng aking damit. I looked back at nakita ko ang isang batang babae na parang anghel. She was smiling at me and I couldn't help but smile back. I bent down.
"Hey, baby, I am not your mommy." I said as I cupped her face.
Doon ay nag simula siyang umiyak. "Daddy! Daddy!" She said as tears fell down from her eyes.
