𝐴𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠

17

I came home from work kind of late since I worked mostly on the grounds today. Inspections, ribbon cuttings, meetings and etc. Although I still manage to find some time to update Kris from time to time. But of course, the usual Kris, who would always tell me to just focus on my work instead of making her kulit hahaha. She really is very understanding actually. Perhaps one factor is that she also have a busy work that's why she understand so easily.

She told me a while ago that their day in abroad will be busy today since she, together with her daughter Luna and her siblings will be going to many places. So I respected that and told her to just enjoy her day there. Anyway she deserves it after being so busy with her work.

So I just got inside of the house and found Manang cleaning some dishes. "Manang, good evening. Kakatapos nyo lang kumain? Si Papa ba, kumain?"

She nodded with a smile. "Sir, andyan na po pala kayo. Ah opo kakakain lang po. Bale kakapasok lang rin nya sa kwarto. Ay teka, paghain ko na po kayo" She was about to go to the kitchen but I stopped her.

"Thank you na lang, Manang. Kumain na kasi ako sa meeting" I refused politely. "Sige na, tapusin nyo na lang yang ginagawa nyo tas pahinga na rin kayo. Ako naman, pupuntahan ko lang si Papa" We nodded and smiled at each other before I head to Papa's room.

I knocked on the door. "Hmm, pasok!"

I opened the door only to be greeted by my father with a wide smile on his face. "Pa!" I said as I kissed his hair.

"Buti naman at nakauwi ka na. Ikaw ba eh kumain na?"

"Yes, Pa. Kumain naman na ako sa meeting. Ang tagal eh nagutom na rin ako" I chuckled as I sat on his bed. But then, I accidentally saw something under his bed so I grabbed it. It's some bags with something on it. 5 paperbags to be exact. "Ano to, Pa? Kanino galing?" I asked as I inspected it.

"Huh? Ah yan ba? Hehe. Wala may nag bigay lang. Alam mo naman ang Papa nyo maraming kaibigan" He chuckled but he sounded kind of weird to me for some unknown reason. But then, I shrugged it off.

"Ah ganon? May bisita pala dito kanina?"

"Hindi, 'nak. Umalis ako kanina. O don't worry, may kasama ako. Ayun nga, may kinita lang naman ako"

"Bakit hindi mo nasabi sa 'kin?"

"Biglaan eh. Tsaka ano ka ba, paminsan-minsan lang naman ako lumabas. Para naman akong may strict parents nito grabe" He laughed which made me laugh with him as well.

"Aba ang gara naman ng kaibigan mo. Hulaan ko, balikbayan? May pa-souvenir pa ah"

"Hindi ko pa nga nabubuksan yang bag na hawak mo. Ano bang meron dyan?" Papa asked.

"Seryoso ba?" I bursted out of laughter as I saw one item. Although it's cute, the thought inside my head was kind of funny.

"Bakit?" Papa said curiously.

"Seryoso ba na binigyan ka ng Winnie the Pooh ears na headband? Ang cute naman!" I continued to laugh. Then something pop up inside my head. I remembered something before that made me smile. "May naalala tuloy ako" I said chuckling.

"O eh ano ngayon? Cute nga eh. Teka maisuot nga" He got the headband that I'm holding and wore it. Now we're both chuckling. "Ay ano yan? Ano yang naaalala mo?" Papa told me obviously teasing.

"Ano ba yan, Pa. Pero oo cute naman nga. Ah baka kaya ka binigyan ng mga ganyan kasi alam nyang may mga apo ka nga. Mostly ng nasa bag na 'to pang bata eh. Para ngang bata pumili" Then I smiled at him when he teased me. "Naaalala? Wala. Wala"