𝐴𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠

21

"Mommy! Mommy!" We were all kind of startled when somebody yelled coming from the door.

I already knew who it was because that voice is very much familiar.

"Luna, I'm here" I heard Kris said coming down from upstairs.

I don't know but from the moment I saw her, everything seems to be in slow motion. I couldn't explain this feeling that's been dominating my whole body. I felt frozen for a while for some reason that even I don't know. Just standing where I was even before she came, admiring her and her mother who's in front of me from quite afar.

"Mommy!" She dropped everything that she's carrying and hugged Kris.

"Yes, sweetheart? Please lower down your voice. I'm in front of you already. Para namang there's an emergency grabe" Kris said chuckling, then kissed Luna's forehead after.

"Oops! Sorry" Luna said then showed her Mom a peace sign while giggling. "But Mommy, you won't believe it. I have a chika!" What I just heard made me chuckle instantly. "No doubt she's her daughter" I thought inside my head.

"Chika? What chika?" Kris asked.

"Mommy, si coach! He has a girlfriend already. Can you believe it?" What I'm witnessing right now really amuses me to be honest.

"Really, he has na? Wow now that's a chika" Kris said laughing. "What does her girlfriend looks like naman? You saw her na?"

"Yes, Mommy. He has na. And yes, I saw na his girlfriend. Kaso only sa picture eh" Luna continues to tell her Mom. It makes her cuter that she can't even talk in straight Tagalog. How conyo just like her mother haha. "Hmm she's beautiful. I think she's around coach's age though. But you're prettier, Mommy. Don't worry" She winked at Kris.

"Really ah? Nako, you're so bolera"

"Hala I'm not making you bola. You're prettier talaga. Like super. Kaya I'm not surprised Tito Herbert lik-" All of a sudden Kris covered her mouth and shushed her. And I thought maybe this is my cue to butt in. Anyway I also wanted to hear what she's trying to say.

"Tito Herbert what, Luna?" I asked as I came out of nowhere, butting in their conversation. "Hi! I'm Tito Herbert" I flashed her a sweet smile.

She hid behind Kris, looking so shy all of a sudden. "Hello po" She waved and smiled back at me, showing her cute deep dimples.

"Luna, don't hide behind Mommy's back" Kris said giggling. "Uhm anyway, Herbert this is Luna. My daughter. And Luna, this is Tito Herbert. You've been asking about him, diba?" Kris introduced us to each other. Kris and I looked at each other for a moment, giving one another a genuine smile.

From hiding behind Kris' back, Luna decided to come closer to me this time. "Hi po. I'm Luna. Nice to meet you po" She flashed me again her cute smile that shows her adorable dimples.

She raised her hand, gesturing me to give her a high five. But instead for some unknown reason I pulled her for a hug. "Nice to meet you too, Luna. Finally" And from that moment I felt this unexplainable feeling again. Mixed emotions. But what stands out most is that it felt right and good at the same time.

Third Person's POV

Herbert's still not letting go from the hug which actually shocked not just Luna, but most especially, Kris. She felt quite uneasy about what Herbert just acted towards her daughter.

Meanwhile Luna on the other side reciprocated the hug for a moment despite being startled. "Mommy, help" She mouthed to Kris, obviously still confused of what to do since Herbert is still not letting go.

"Uhm, Herbert. Natuwa ka naman ata hugging my daughter. I think she can't breath na" Kris said chuckling nervously. Just trying to joke the awkward situation out.

Herbert finally realized and let go from their hug. "Ay! Sorry sorry. Okay ka lang? Sorry, Luna" He even checked Luna if she's okay or not, caressing her face gently.

"Yes po. I'm okay po, don't worry" Luna chuckled. "You po, are you okay po?" She asked.

"Pasensya ka na kay Tito. Just got carried away. Perhaps I got excited meeting you lang. I mean, finally. Hehe" Herbert said while regaining his composure. "Yeah, I'm fine"

Luna gave him a thumbs up. "Oh excited and carried away? Wow I felt like an artista there for a second. Like I'm popular" Luna said which made them laugh. "But it's okay po. I'm excited and pleased to meet you too po finally. But nonetheless, Mom here is more excited to see you po. Not just now, but everyday. Right, Mommy?" She wiggled her eyebrows at Kris, obviously teasing her mother.

Herbert laughed, glanced at Kris, then smirked for a moment. "Really? You think of that? Well I'm not surprised. Crush na crush kasi ako ng Mommy mo eh" Herbert said as he high fived with Luna. Still with a smirk on his face, he now looked at Kris but from his peripheral view this time.

Kris then slapped Herbert's arm. "Your face, grabe so kapal! Infront of my daughter pa talaga ah? Also, nagkampihan pa kayo ah. Sige" She rolled her eyes at them, causing the other two to laugh at her reaction.

"Aww I think my Mommy's mad. It's okay, Mommy. Anyway you still look beautiful. Right, Tito?" Luna asked with a slight hint of teasing as she hugged Kris from the side.

Herbert chuckled. "Ay galit agad? Joke lang yun. Ako talaga may crush sa Mommy mo. Oh dali umamin na nga ako na ako talaga may crush sayo. Bati na tayo" He poked Kris' side and gave her a peck on her shoulder, but he made sure Luna's not looking when he did. "Of course. Your Mom's beautiful no doubt. Nevertheless if crush nya ako or not, she's still and really is beautiful" Herbert said looking straight at Kris' eyes with a sweet smile on his face.

Kris slowly couldn't control the smile that she's hiding anymore because of these two person beside her, plus the fact that she's gushing over their cuteness inside her head. "Haay nako. Okay okay, we're all bati na. Pinagtulungan ba naman ako?" She giggled. "Anyway, before nyo pa ako pag-tulungan again, let's go na to the table already. Dinner's ready na daw. Let's eat"

"Yes, Kumander!" Herbert and Luna unexpectedly said in chorus. They both looked at each other, then laughed right away.

Kris just shooked her head while lowkey giggling. "Ewan ko sa inyong dalawa" She got Luna's hand, then walked pass Herbert, leaving Herbert behind them.

"Ay ako, hindi mo ako iho-holding hands din?" Herbert asked jokingly as he followed the two infront of him.

"Ang laki mo na. Kaya mo na yan" Kris retaliate to what Herbert said, making them all laugh together again.