Resting in Blowing Gale (Element #1)

xxviii

"Harper, please tell the Castillianno's that I already picked a design. Can you meet them for me?"

I handed him the folders. It's been two days at ngayon lang ako nakapag desisyon. I will let Harper do the job.

"Notes and requests are inside the envelope." I said.

"Yes, Ma'am. Take care."

Kinuha ko ang nakasabit na coat at sinuot sa 'kin, kinuha ko ang bag ko at ang cellphone ko. I called Yvo, he said they are in the mall. He's with my son, sinundo niya kila Rai kanina. Sinama kasi ni Rai ang anak ko sa site kanina. He even sent me a picture of my son wearing a hard hat na halos matakpan ang mata niya. That place is dangerous for kids pero alam ko na hindi pababayaan ni Rai ang bata.

"Mommy!" he waved his small arms at me. Ang dilim na sa labas pero ang anak ko ay naka shades pa, jusko. "Here, mommy."

Dumiretso ako sa isang restaurant na nasa mall dahil iyon daw ang tinuro ng anak ko sabi ni Yvo. I went to him and kissed his forehead. Katabi niya si Yvo dahil malamang iyan ang mag aasikaso sa kanya.

"How's your day, my love?" I ask him, his hands are clasped on the table.

"It was good, mom. I wanna be like Pops, he's like holding a big paper and he's gonna talk with those people who also wore hard hats and he's like, nyanana, lalala." I laughed when he fixed his posture and acted like Rai, he's pointing at the sides.

"Oh, Pops employees did something wrong?" I asked.

"More like the engineer, mommy, he's talking to Tita Jaja. I bet Tita Jaja is getting frustrated at him though." tumaas taas ang kilay niya si Yvo ay pinapanood lang siya.

"Really? What happened then?" tanong ko, ang aking kamay ay nilagay ko sa baba ko.

"Mommy, they're so adorable to watch. When Tita Jaja got frustrated, Pops suddenly became like a good puppy."

"Gracious, why are they fighting in front of a child?" tanong ni Yvo.

Napatingin sa kanya ang bata. "No, Dada! They were just fighting for a tiny bit of measurement." he said and showed his small finger. "Dada, mommy... both of them are fighting for 0.2 centimetres."

I laughed and so did Yvo. "It's harmless, Dada. No need to scold them." the kid said and put his hand on his chin. Mimicking my move. Tinatapik tapik niya rin ang pisngi niya tulad ng ginagawa ko.

"Tell me more." I excitedly said.

Kwinento niya ang nangyari sa araw niya kasama ang dalawa. Siya raw ang unang pinakain ni Rai, at ang anak ko ay nagpabili rin ng mga pagkain para sa trabahante ni Rai. Babayaran niya raw after 15 years. Gosh.

"And Dada said that he will buy me some Spongebob pillow later, mommy. So eat fast, mommy, okay?" he said and giggled.

Napatingin ako kay Yvo at umayos ng upo. He just smiled at me.

The food was served after, just like my kid requested, I ate fast. Buhat buhat siya ngayon ni Yvo habang nilalakad namin ang daan patungong toy store.

"I need to buy some groceries." I suddenly blurted. Tumingin sa 'kin ang anak ko,

"Can I join mommy?"

Sumingkit ang mata ko sa kanya. Puro chocolates na naman ang ilalagay niya sa cart. Minsan puro tig iisang box ang nasisingit niya sa cart. Kapag nagpupunta ang mga tito niya sa bahay namin binibigyan niya isa isa.

"Okay,"

May binulong si Yvo sa kanya at nag oo naman ang anak ko. Nakurot ko tuloy.

"What?" tanong niya at bahagyang tumawa. "It's boys talk, mommy. You're not kasali."