Where Universe Was Found (SOW #2)

09.

"Menu for today, sinigang na baboy with buko juice for you and Patrisha," sabi niya pagkaabot sa akin ng paper bag.

"Saan galing ito?" Tanong ko. He smiled and looked away.

"May ka-deal ako sa malapit at ayan ang in-order. Busog pa ako tapos naisip ko nga kayo ni Patrisha kaya pina-take out ko at hinatid dito," sabi niya na parang kabisado niya ang kung anong isasagot. Scripted ba 'yang sagot niya?

"Bakit lagi kang may ka-deal malapit dito?" Tanong ko. Namulsa siya at sumandal sa kotse niya.

"Well, ganon talaga. Parker James yata 'to," he said and cocked his head to the side. Napairap na lang ako at natanaw ang anak kong papalapit sa pwesto ko.

"Tito Parker!" Patrisha exclaimed and run towards Parker. The latter smiled and bent down to her level.

"Hello, cutie angel!" Parker greeted.

"Are you here po para sumabay sa amin ni Mama mag-lunch?" I got stunned when I heard what Patrisha had said.

"Pardon?" Parker asked at muntik kong masapo ang noo ko.

Pina-pardon niya 'yung bata, as if namang alam na ni Patrisha 'yon. But all of that thought fades when my daughter spoke.

"Tito, please po! Sabay po kayo sa amin ni Mama mag-lunch!" Patrisha started to make a cute face at dahil doon ay hindi na nakatanggi si Parker.

Sabay sabay kaming naglakad patungo sa classroom ko. Ramdam ko ang atensyon ng tao na nasa amin. I can even see some Moms taking a glance at Parker. Ang iba ay hindi lang basta sulyap, titig talaga.

I saw Rowena smirking at me. Tumaas baba pa ang kilay niya then she mouthed.

"Future Daddy." Natawa na lang ako at napairap.

Pagkarating sa classroom ay inayos ko ang mesa ko dahil bigla akong nahiya sa gulo ng gamit ko. Parker sat on a monoblock chair beside me. Patrisha sat on my swivel chair while I sat on a monoblock.

"Wow, sinigang!" My daughter exclaimed seeing the dish. Paborito niya kasi ang sinigang.

"You like that, little angel? I bought that for you," Parker spoke softly and smile at her.

"Thank you, Tito Parker!"

Pinanood ko ang maganang pagkain ni Patrisha at ang pag-alalay ni Parker. Natatapunan kasi ito ng sabaw dahil sa sobrang excited sa pagkain. Parker keeps on wiping her chin and lips.

"Baby, 'wag kang magmadali sa pagkain at baka mabulunan ka," sabi ko. Patrisha slowed down and nodded.

I glanced at Parker and saw his eyes on my daughter's wrist where a watch is placed.

"Someone gave that to her," sabi ko bigla kaya napalingon sa akin si Parker. Tumango siya at ngumiti.

"Alam ko... ako kasi ang nagbigay."

My lips parted. Umangat ang labi niya at ngumisi bago ngumuya habang ako ay tulala. So, siya? Siya ang nagbigay kay Patrisha ng relo na suot nito? But why?

"Bakit? I mean, bakit mo ibinigay?" Tanong ko at uminom ng tubig.

"Pia ordered online pero ayan ang dumating sa kaniya kaya ayon, binigay na lang sa akin. I was planning to throw it out but this cutie little angel here..." he slightly piched my daughter's cheeks. "She took the watch that I threw and gave it back to me. Akala niya siguro ay nahulog ko and that's when I decided to just give it to her."

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. It's Parker who gave Patrisha that watch! What a small world, huh?

"Tito, do you like Stick-O?" I glanced at my daughter and saw her hugging the jar of Stick-O. Tapos na din siyang kumain kaya paniguradong Stick-O naman ang kakainin niya.

"Hmm, yes. I love Stick-O, baby," Parker said while smiling. Patrisha's eyes widened then she hurriedly open the jar.

"Kain po tayo nito!" She lent the jar to Parker at agad din namang kumuha ang lalaki ng isa. They both eat the Stick-O happily kaya napailing na lang ako.

"Mama, do you want po?" Napatingin akong muli sa anak ko na inilalahad sa akin ang Stick-O at dahil hindi ko naman siya matatanggihan, kumuha na lang din ako.

"Thank you, baby," I said and kissed her forehead.

Exactly 12:30 when the bell rings, nandito na rin ang mga estudyante at si Patrisha ay sinundo ng isang kaklase. Parker is now getting ready to go. Nalibang kasi siya at hindi na namalayan ang oras.

"Hintayin na lang kita mamaya sa labas," he said, reminding me. Tumango ako at hanggang pintuan na lang siya inihatid. Kumaway pa siya bago nakalabas ng gate. I even saw him gave a salute to the guard before he entered his car and drove away.

The afternoon classes started smoothly. Ang mga bata ay maganang nakiki-cooperate sa klase. Some even went near me while I gave them a task to do. Nakakatuwa lang dahil nakikita kong ganito kasipag ang mga batang ito.

"Ma'am Selene, excuse muna." Napalingon ako at nakita ang head teacher namin na nasa may pintuan. I stood up and glanced at my students and they immediately greeted the head teacher with their cute voices.

"Hello, kids!" Ma'am Salvacion greeted back.

"Behave muna kayo, okay? I just need to talk to Ma'am,", sabi ko. They all answered 'opo' kaya napangiti ako at lumapit na kay Ma'am.

"Ma'am," sabi ko pagkalapit.

"I'm just here to ask you. Ilang tao ba ang maiimbitahan mo sa christmas party?" She asked. Napaisip naman ako kaagad.

I will surely invite Mama and Papa so, two tickets. Then... Parker, of course. I'll invite him. Three tickets, it is.

Ngumiti ako at tumingin kay Ma'am Salvacion. "Just three tickets, Ma'am," sabi ko. She nodded and gave me three tickets.

"Paniguradong sa magulang mo ang dalawa, kanino ang isa?" She asked and when I look at her, she has a teasing smile. Kung hindi lang head teacher ang kaharap ko, baka nairapan ko na din.

"Hm, a friend of mine po," sabi ko. Her eyes turned slit and she nodded.

"A friend, okay. 'Yan lang ba? Wala nang dagdag?" I shook my head and smile at her.

"This is enough po. Thank you, Ma'am." Tumango siya at tumalikod na.

"Sige, I'm looking forward seeing your parents and... your friend," she said and gave me a teasing smile.

Omy please, not again. Bakit ba ini-issue nila ako kay Parker?