"Ma, ayaw ko dito."
Isang bata ang pilit na hinahatak ang damit ng kanyang ina. His mother bowed and blankly stared at him.
Ang mga ilaw na nagmumula sa parke ang nagpaliwanag sa mukha niya. Even with all the flashing colors and loud crowds, Kaizer still felt...unhappy.
"Kai, it's your birthday. We should celebrate!" sabi ng kanyang ina, habang pilit na ngumiti.
"But I prefer celebrating at ho—" Kaizer was interrupted when his dad's phone rang. His mom looked at her husband.
Kinapa ng tatay niya ang bulsa bago magsalita, "Celene, you two can go ahead. I'll just answer this call."
Celene nodded in response.
Kaizer looked down with disappointment written all over his face. Butil-butil ng luha ang namuo sa mga mata niya. Nothing went according to what he wanted.
He heard her mother sigh.
"Celene, this is for your mama's company."
Kaizer's mother said something, but it was not enough for him to hear.
"Let's go?" sabi ng ina habang suot-suot pa rin ang hilaw na ngiti.
Kahit na ayaw niya, walang nagawa si Kaizer kung 'di sumama na lang.
Sumasalubong sa kanila ang iba't ibang mga rides at mga nakakaakit na palamuti, ngunit nakita lamang ito ng bata bilang isang nakasisilaw na liwanag. Wala rito ang gusto ni Kaizer.
"How about sa carousel?" sabi ni Celene. Mabilis siyang tumakbo papalapit doon, that she even let go her son's hand.
"Ma!"
Mabilis na tumakbo ang bata para makasunod.
"Masyadong maraming ta—aray!"
Hindi nakatuon sa dinadaanan, nadapa si Kaizer sa isang bato.
He stroked his nose out of pain, napapikit din siya dahil sa nangyari.
And the time he opened his eyes...he couldn't find his mom anymore.
"Mom? Dad?"
Ilan pang minuto ay naglakad-lakad siya, ngunit hindi niya nahanap ang mama niya.
His voice began to shake and his eyes started to water. Hindi na niya alam ang gagawin.
"MOOM!" isang malakas na iyak ng batang babae ang umalingawngaw matapos makita ang mama niyang umiiyak.
Hindi niya maintindihan ang paulit-ulit na sinasambit ng ina niya na ngayo'y hawak-hawak ang phone nito.
"Bakit ma?" maluha-luhang sambit ng babae. Kahit na hindi man niya alam ang dahilan, to see her mom crying like that is too much for a little child.
She then wiped her mom's tears.
Umiling-iling ang nanay niya sa kanya. "It's nothing, sweetheart. Tara, enjoy-in natin," her mom said as she tried to hide her heart breaking to pieces.
The daughter-without knowing anything-nodded innocently with a smile.
"Do you wanna ride a rollercoaster, Trinny?" her mom weakly asked, with knees shaking.
Tracy nodded happily.
"Eh 'di, tara na!" pagyaya ng nanay niya habang may hilaw na ngiti.
Tracy was excited, this was her first time riding a huge rollercoaster.
Kaagad siyang tumakbo papalapit doon, habang hatak-hatak ang damit ng mama niya.
"Ma, let's go!" pangungulit ng bata. Rinig sa tono ng boses niya ang tunay na pagkasabik.
