The Bridge Between You & Me

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"Mommyyyyyyy!"

Agad akong tumayo upang salubingin ang maligalig kong anak na tumatakbo palapit sa'kin. 

"Be careful, you might trip and fall!" nakangiting paalala ko.

She spread her arms in the air and excitedly jumped at me.

"Anak naman, nag-uumapaw na naman ang energy mo. Kumalma ka lang," natatawa kong bulong bago ko siya ini-angat para buhatin.

I noticed that she was holding something in her arms. "Who gave you that, dear?" Turo ko sa teddy bear na kipkip niya.

"Kiss-kiss muna, Mommy," malambing na sabi niya saka ngumuso.

Nangingiting binigay ko ang kiss-kiss niya. "You should grow a little slower, sweetie. I don't want this sweetness of you to fade," I said, being a bit sentimental.

"But I'm still a small human, Mommy. If you want I can stay like this forever," she said as if she was some sort of a sorceress that can really make her this little forever.

Nakalabing tumango ako. "Yes, please. Do that for Mommy, I will be very sad If I can't carry you like this anymore."

"Then A3 will carry you!" sigaw niya at flinex ang imaginary muscles sa braso niya.

Nanggigigil na hinalikan ko ang pisnge niya. "Will you? Then I'll look forward to that day," nakangiting sagot ko habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sakaniya.

"Oh! About this bear, Mommy." Ihinarap niya sa'kin ang stuff toy at huminga pa nang malalim bago magpatuloy sa pagsasalita, "Miss Yvette gave it to me. She said the bear was adorable and she was reminded of me. Well, that's true that I'm quite adorable, but do I look like this bear?" nakakunot ang noo na dire-diretsong tanong niya, hindi magkamayaw kung anong unang salita ang sasabihin. 

Napa-angat ako ng tingin nang may tumawa mula sa gilid ko. The smiling Yvette was standing by the wall, looking at us with that unexplainable glint in her eyes. 

Tinanguan niya ako nang magtama ang mata namin.

"It must be tough looking after my A3, I'm sorry," hingi ko ng paumanhin. 

I know very well how energetic my daughter could get. Ikaw ang mapapagod sa kakulitan niya.

"No worries, she's such a sweet little girl. Gusto ko na nga po siyang iuwi e," pabirong sabi niya at bahagya pang kinawayan si A3.

Those playful smiles and silly jokes can't cover the fact that those eyes are revealing. She's probably missing her family... 

"My offer is still standing, Yvette. Just tell me if you changed your mind," marahan ang tonong paalala ko.

Nakangiting tumango lang siya, para bang hindi na magbabago ang isip niya.

"We should get going, she's probably waiting for us." Inayos ko nang pagkakabuhat si A3 bago ako nagsimulang maglakad palapit kay Yvette.

"Where are we going po?" takang tanong ni A3.

"RV cafe, honey. Tita-Mama is back," maiksing sagot ko habang sa daan nakatuon ang atensyon ng mga mata ko.

"Really?!" tili niya. "Is Elliea with her po?" puno ng excitement sa tanong niya.

"I'm not sure about that, we'll find out when we get there."

"Yvette, are you sure you won't come with us?" tanong ko kay Yvette na nakasunod sa'min.

"Yes, madame. I still have some stuff to do, I'll just escort you to the parking area."

"Instead of escorting us out, could you please check the black envelope on my table? It might be something important so report back about the content as soon as you can."