Occupation Series #5: The Architect

CHAPTER 33

Chapter 33

Nakahiga pa ako sa kama ko at walang balak tumayo. Tumagilid ako at tumingin sa paligid. Bakit ba ako tinamaan ng katamaran ngayon? Napatingin ako sa side table ko nang marinig kong tumunog ang cell phone ko.

Napakunot ang noo ko nang makita kong si Permion  ang tumatawag. Noong nag kasakit si Liv ay binigay ko sakanya ang number ko para ma contact nya ako kapag emergency.

"Hello... " sagot ko sa tawag.

"Hi!  It's Permion. " his baritone voice filled my ears. I cleared my throat before answering him.

"Yes?  Why did you call? " takang tanong ko.

"I'm sorry to call you at this hour but can you do me a favor?" napakunot and noo ko dahil sa sinabi nito.

"Liv, wear your socks properly. " narinig kong sabi nito sa kabilang linya.

"Is that mommy? " narinig ko ang matinis na boses ni Liv nang itanong nya iyon sa Dada nya sa kabilang linya. I heard Permion answered him yes.

"Mom,  can you go with me at my play house?" tanong nito. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi nito.

"Play house? " takang tanong ko.

"It's a school but like trial for children. They teach children some basic learnings. Liv is to young to enroll in day care. " sagot nito. Napatango nalang ako sa sinabi ni Permion.

"Sure. " sagot ko bago ibaba and tawag. Hindi ko alam na may ganoon palang program dito. Tumayo na ako sa kama ko at dumiretso sa banyo. Pag katapos kong maligo ay tanging trouser lang at tank top ang suot ko.

Mainit na kasi kapag lumabas mamaya. Pag baba ko ay bumungad saakin  si Sarah nag lilinis ng sofa. Ngumiti ako sakanya bago dumiretso sa kusina para uminom ng tubig.

Maybe this will be the way to be productive today. Nang marinig ko ang busina sa labas ay agad akong lumabas ng bahay. Pag bukas ko ng gate ay bumungad saakin  si Permion, he's wearing a button up black shirt and slacks while wearing a sunglasses, nakasandal ito sa pintuan ng kotse nya. I can say that he really looks good in black clothes.

Nasa tabi nito si Liv na nakaupo sa hood ng sasakyan habang nakasuot ng jumper at sa ilalim noon ay isang pink na shirt. She's wearing a head band while her hair is in a pig tails.

Lumapit ako dito at humalik sa pisngi nito. I heard her giggled that made me smile. Pumasok na kami sa loob ng sasakyan. Nasa backseat si Liv habang nasa passenger seat naman ako.

"Mom,  I'm excited today because you're here and Dada too. " nakangiting sabi ni Liv habang nakaupo lang sa upuan nito. I looked at her and smiled.

"Do you also have teacher and classmates, Liv? " takang tanong ko. I want to know some things about this play house.

Liv nodded eagerly. "Yes, ate Zvezda is also my classmate. " sagot nito.

Nang dumating kami sa play house ni Liv ay agad kaming bumaba. It's like a play ground but inside an infrastruacture. Sa labas palang ay kita mo na ang nasa loob dahil gawa sa glass ang bintana at pintuan nito. Hawak kamay kaming pumasok sa loob.

May mga ibang bata na din ang anduon. "Mom,  I will introduce you to my teacher. " sabi ni Liv sabay hula saakin  papunta sa babaeng nakaupo habang may kausap na batang babae.

"Good morning, teacher Stacey. " magalang na bati ni Liv dito. The woman looked at Liv.

"Good morning, Liv. " sagot nito.

"Teacher, this is my mommy. " pag papakilala saakin  nito. I smiled at Stacey.

"Good morning...." nakangiting sabi ko.

"Good morning, Mrs. Salvador. " nang-init ang mukha ko dahil sa tinawag nito saakin.

Dumating na din si Zvezda kasama ang mommy nito. Hinatid lang sila ni Permian at agad ding umalis dahil may meeting. Mamayang tanghali pa ang uwian nila kaya naisipan naming pumunta muna sa coffee shop malapit sa play house.

"Liv really looks active on her studies. " nakangiting sabi ko.

"She's not. " napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi nito. The way Liv introduce me to her teacher and classmate looks like she's very jolly and active person in her class.

"She's very silent and just sit on the corner. Her teacher called me many time because she's not participating properly. That's when Eri and Permian enrolled Zvezda at ply house, so that Liv would not feel left out. " nakaramdam ako ng lungkot dahil sa sinabi ni Permion.

"When I picked her up after her classes, she would always stay silent at the back seat and when I asked her how was her day she would answer me, It's fine, even though I know that it's always the usual. She would always looked at her classmates when they were picked up by their mother and I can't do anything but to feel sorry for Liv because her mother is not here anymore. " hindi ko alam kung ano ang sumapi saakin at bigla ko nalang hinawakan ang kamay ni Permion na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa. 

Maybe this is my way to comfort her. "You're very strong, Permion, you raised Liv alone." nakangiting sabi ko sakanya. He smiled at me and I felt like it's been a long time since he smiled like that to me. Nang dumating na ang order namin ay nag simula na kaming kumain. Mabuti nalang at nag yaya si Permion na pumunta sa coffee shop kung hindi ay baka kanina pa ako gutom dahil hindi ako ang almusal bago umalis.

Time flies so fast, bumalik na kami sa play house dahil uwian na nina Liv. I am looking at her between the glass window. She looks happy while saying good bye to her teacher. Nang lumabas na ito ay agad itong tumakbo papunta saakin at agad akong sinalubong ng yakap.

"How's your day?" takang tanong ko.

I hold her hand while walking towards Permion's car, pinasakay ko ito sa back seat. She smiled at me and answered my questione earlier. "Its was fun and I learned so many things today. Ate Zvezda and her friends play with me." marami pa itong kinuwento at hindi ko mapigilang hindi malibang sa mga kwento nito sa nangyari sa paly house nila. I looked at Permion and he's eyes are on the road but he's smiling widely while hearing her daughter talk about her day.

"Where do you want to eat, Liv?" 

"Anywhere as long as I'm with you."