Captivating Flower

36

"Isagani, come here. I'll change your clothes." I called Isagani to change his clothes because I'll bring her to my resto.

"Okay, Mami!" He runs towards me. He's really cute. I pinched his cheeks and he giggled.

Matapos ko siyang palitan ng damit ay pumunta na kami sa sasakyan ko para maka-alis na.

"Mami, I have a joke."

"Okay, what is it?"

"What is the english of santol?"

"Hmm, what?"

"Where bro," he laughed.

Natawa na din ako pero hindi dahil sa joke niya, kung hindi dahil sa tawa niya.

"May pinagmanahan ka talaga, eh 'no?"

Isagani continued his jokes. Sinabayan ko nalang siya dahil baka umiyak pa. Manang mana talaga sa tatay. Sobrang corny.

Kinalas ko na ang seatbelt na nakasuot kay Isagani nang marating namin ang resto. Medyo madami ang tao ngayon dahil sunday.

I held Isagani's hand when we were already out. "Wag makulit sa loob, okay? Makikinig kay Mami palagi." Paalala ko bago pumasok sa loob.

Makulit din kasi 'tong bata na 'to minsan.

"Opo, Mami!"

My employees greeted me when we were already inside. I smiled at them. Isagani greeted them too.

Isagani is a bubbly child. Syempre, pogi din. He's kinda tall at his age. He's turning 7 years old.

"Mami, I want to eat po. I can smell the foods!" Sabi niya nang madaan kami sa kusina.

"What do you want? Your favorite carbonara?"

"Yes, Mami!" I smiled and nodded to him.

Sa office kami duniretso. I called Clarisse so she can bring here a carbonara. Busog pa naman ako kaya mamaya na ako kakain.

"What do you want to be when you grow up, Isagani?" I asked him while waiting for his food.

"I want to be an engineer, Mami. I want to build a house!" He jolly said.

He wants to be an engineer like his father.

"Gagawan mo ba si Mami ng bahay?"

"Yes, big big big house!" I laughed when he described how big the house that he will make for me.

When the food arrived, he immediately ate. Kahit ata linggo linggo 'tong kumain ng carbonara dito sa resto ko ay hindi magsasawa.

Habang kumakain si Isagani sa coffee table ko ay nagbabasa naman ako ng mga emails. Natupad naman ang wish ko na magkaroon ng 8 hours straight na tulog.

"Ma'am," Clarisse knocked on the door before going inside.

"Yes?"

"Ma'am, we have another reservation for next week, saturday. It's an anniversary of their company po."

"Oh, okay. Aasikasuhin ko mamaya. Just give me the details."

"Okay po, Ma'am."

Wow, we have another reservation? Mukhang sunod-sunod ata ha.

While I was working, someone come inside my office. Eto talagang babae na 'to hindi marunong kumatok kahit kailan.

"Mommy!" Isagani runs to his mom.

"Uso kumatok, Isabella." I sarcastically said.

"True ka dyan, sis. Pero hindi kasi siya uso sa 'kin." I rolled my eyes at her and continue what I'm doing.

"Kamusta?" I asked her when she sat on the sofa.

"Super pagod. Grabe, ayoko na mag manage doon, Thea."

She's the one who's managing our another restaurant. Hati kami doong dalawa pero siya na ang pinaasikaso ko dahil hindi ko naman maiwanan 'to.

"Kinaya mo nga manganak, eh. Kaya mo yan." I laughed when she rolled her eyes.

"Mommy, I'll massage you. You're tired po." Isagani goes to her mom and massages Isabella's foot.

"Baby, wag na. Tayo na ikaw diyan, dali. Mommy is okay." Binuhat ni Isabella si Isagani.

"I missed my baby ha."

"I missed you too, Mommy!"

I smiled looking at them together. Uh, huh, Isagani is Isabella's son from Ryle. But Ryle doesn't have any idea na may naiwan pala siyang souvenir kay Isabella noong umalis siya.

I laughed in my head.

"Grabe, inggit na inggit na ako." Parinig ko nang hindi tumitingin sa kanila.

"Hindi ka kasi nagpaiwan ng souvenir sa ex mo, eh." Isabella laughed so hard when I glared at her. Ang babae talaga na 'to hindi nagbabago kahit kailan.

Hindi ko na natapos ang ginagawa ko dahil nagyaya si Isabella na pumunta kami ng mall. Kakapunta ko lang doon nung nakaraan pero hindi ko naman matitiis 'tong dalawa na 'to. 

Hiwalay na kami ng sasakyan. Sa kaniya si Isagani nakasakay. 

When we arrived at the mall, Isagani held my hand and his mom's hand. I smiled. 

"Naiihi na ako, Thea. Hawakan mo muna si Isagani ha?" I nodded to her. 

Papunta kami sa toyrus para bilhan ng laruan si Isagani. Di pa kasi umihi kanina bago kami umalis. Stress na stress talaga ako palagi kay Isabella. Para akong may anak na pasaway dahil sa kaniya. 

Isagani is picking what toy he wants. Favorite niya ang cars and airplanes. Ang kwarto niya sa condo unit nila ni Isabella ay punong-puno ng laruan dahil sa 'kin. I love spoiling him with toys that he likes. 

"Mami, I want this po but I can't pick a color." Pinakita niya sa 'kin ang napili niyang toy car. The other one is color blue and the other one is color red. He can't pick. 

"Why don't we buy them both? Mami will pay for it naman." 

"I just need one, Mami. Sabi sa 'kin ni Mommy na kung ano lang ang need mo, ayon lang ang bilhin mo." I feel like a proud mother hearing what he said. 

"Okay, baby. Just pick the color red. Para din match sa theme ng room mo." He nodded and smiled at me. 

Kuhang-kuha ni Isagani ang features ni Ryle. Simula sa kilay, mata, at ilong. Maliban nalang sa labi niya makapal at mapula na naman niya kay Isabella. Mabuti nga at may nakuha pa siya kay Isabella. 

Tapos na naming bayaran ang binili naming laruan ay hindi pa din dumadating si Isabella. Asan na ba ang babae na 'yon? Isang dam ba ang inihi niya at inabot siya ng ganito katagal? 

"Tagal naman ng mommy mo, baby." 

He didn't hear me because he was busy playing with his toy car. I was looking for Isabella when someone caught my attention. It was Jake with Ryle. 

Bigla akong nataranta nang gumawi ang tingin ni Jake sa 'kin. I swallowed nervously. Hinila ko agad si Isagani para maka-alis na kami sa pwesto namin. 

Yari na kapag nakita ni Ryle si Isagani. Baka din magalit sa 'kin si Bella kapag nalaman niyang hinayaan kong malapitan kami ni Ryle. 

Hindi ko pa nababanggit sa kaniya ang nangyari kahapon. Hindi ko pa nasasabi na tinanong siya ni Ryle sa 'kin. Ayoko naman maging insensitive dahil alam kong hindi pa niya limot si Ryle. 

Sino ba namang makakalimot sa ex mo na iniwanan ka ng isang souvenir diba? At ang souvenir na iniwan  sayo ay anak.