Visual of Elysian (Abstract Series #2)

Chapter 26

"Tatiana Denise!"

My daughter giggled and ran around the kitchen with the cookie I had prepared earlier. Natawa na lang ako sa kakulitan niya at nang maabutan, mabilis na kinarga.

"Mommy!" she exclaimed, pouting.

I pinched her cheeks gently. "Stop being stubborn. Come on. Give me the cookie."

She concentrated her attention on the cookie as if her life depended on it. I suppressed the urge to laugh because I intended for her to realise I was serious.

"Tati," I said calmly as she continued to peek at it. Tumingin siya sa akin.

"Can't I have a small bite?" she murmured, her allure pulling against me.

Agad akong umiling. "Hindi ka pa kumakain ng dinner kaya walang cookie for now. I swear you'll be able to eat this as a late night snack."

She nodded and handed me the cookie. Ngumiti ako ng matamis sa kanya at marahan siyang binaba. Binalik ko naman sa lalagyan ang kinuha niyang cookie.

"Mommy," she called me while I was preparing our food.

I glanced at her. "Yes, baby?"

"When are we coming to the Philippines? I want to visit Lola and Tito," she whimpered, her shoulder slumping in sorrow.

Medyo nalungkot din ako. Kahit last week pa ang huli nilang pagkikita dahil birthday niya, sobrang bilis niyang mamiss sila mommy at Kuya. I think it's perfectly reasonable for her to miss our extended family now that she's six years old.

I walked over to her after turning off the burner. I crouched down in front of her and rubbed her cheeks. She glanced at me right away, and I can't ignore the fact that practically all of her features are from his father.

“Don’t be sad na, ha? I promise you we will go there within this month. May inaasikaso pa kasi ako. Naiintindihan mo naman, ‘di ba?’ malambing kong tanong sa kanya.

“Okay.” She smiled immediately and planted a soft kiss on my right cheek.

Dati, akala ko hindi ako magiging mabuting ina sa kanya pero ngayon parang gusto ko na lang siya alagaan kahit sa pagtanda niya. I want to provide her everything I can except for a happy family, and that was the hardest part for me. Gusto ko iyong ibigay sa kanya pero parang imposible. Wala na akong balita kay Aid, kaya wala akong maipapangako sa anak namin.

“Is there anyone in the mood for a slice of cake?”

Sabay kaming napatingin ni Tati sa papasok na si Zeke. He was still clothed in his black business suit, so the rainbow-colored cake box in his hand was amusing.

“Tito!” hyper na salubong ng anak ko at niyakap pa ang binti niya.

“Gusto mo kumain ng cake?” nakangiting tanong niya kay Tati.

Agad naman na tumango ang bata. Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Zeke. Hindi ko nga binigyan si Tati ng cookie kanina tapos ibubugaw niya pa sa cake.

“Who’s your favourite muna? Your mommy or me?” He taunted Tati by placing the box out of reach.

“Tama na nga ‘yan.” Mabilis kong kinuha ang box at nilagay sa ibabaw ng ref.

Natawa si Zeke habang sumimangot naman ang anak ko. He sat down in the empty chair, which I promptly chastised.

"Bakit dito ka na naman kakain? Wala ka bang bahay?"

He was appointed as the CEO of their American business branch three years ago. He would come to see me and my daughter on a regular basis, which was quite helpful.