A/N:
Pwede na po ito sa mga minor diyan. haha charot!
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"Vanessa--hoy! Batang makulit, lapit ka dito dali at sasabunan ko na 'yang katawan mo. Huwag mo nang hintayin na mas lumamig ang tubig," tawag ko sa batang kanina pa abala sa paglalaro ng shower.
Nilingon ako ni Vanessa habang nakanguso, ang kaniyang maliit na katawan ay basang-basa na. Mahina akong natawa at senenyasan siyang lumapit sa akin. She has this stubborn streak that reminds me so much of Veronica.
"No, Mama Lincoln! Big girl na kaya ako, I can handle this. Dapat ako na ang magpapaligo sa sarili ko," sagot niya habang nakapamewang, tila ba isa siyang maliit na bersyon ng isang CEO na nagbibigay ng utos.
Napailing na lang ako at lihim na natawa. This kid's independence is both amusing and a bit frustrating.
"Oh, sige. Sabi mo, eh. Kung kaya mo namang abutin 'yang likod mo, go ahead. Huwag kang iiyak-iyak mamaya kapag makati pa rin ang likod mo dahil hindi nabanlawan nang maayos," pang-aasar ko habang nginusuan siya.
Vanessa’s expression shifted instantly. Inis na napakamot siya ng ulo. Alam niyang talo siya. Nagtatampo siyang lumapit sa akin dahil alam niyang sa dulo, kailangan niya pa rin ng tulong ko para sa mga bahaging hindi niya maabot. Vanessa can be a bit of a perfectionist, may isang beses pa ngang nabasag niya ang maliit na salamin dito sa bathroom dahil sa sobrang frustration niya sa sarili.
Grabe, manang-mana talaga sa Mommy niya. The Saavedra temper is real.
"Mama Lincoln?" tawag niya sa akin habang dahan-dahan ko siyang sinasabunan.
"Hmm? What is it, princess?"
"I have a question po." I saw her smiling through our reflection in the large bathroom mirror.
"Yeah? Go on, ask away." I smiled back, enjoying this quiet bonding moment.
"Why po... why is your chest so small compared to Mommy's?"
Ang matamis na ngiti ko ay mabilis na naglaho. My jaw literally dropped. Gulat at hindi makapaniwalang napatingin ako sa kaniya. Vanessa looked so innocent, but I could see that familiar mischievous glint in her eyes.
What. The. Hell.
Calm down, Lincoln. Breathe. She's just a child. A very observant, blunt child.
I took a deep breath and forced a smile, shrugging my shoulders. "Well, people are built differently, baby. Quality over quantity, right?"
Narinig ko ang mahina niyang tawa, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Lakas makasira ng mood ng batang ito, ha.
"Joke lang po, Mama Lincoln! But I really have a serious question po talaga," she said, giggling at my irritated face.
"Okay, what is it?" I asked, focusing back on scrubbing her arms.
"What if... what if my Daddy didn't die? What if he's still here? If Mommy still chose him over you, what would you do? Ipaglalaban niyo pa rin ba si Mommy kahit alam niyo na may pamilya na siya?"
Natigilan ako. The playful atmosphere suddenly felt heavy with the weight of her question. Bahagya akong napangiti at malambing na hinaplos ang basa niyang buhok. I didn't expect a child her age to think about such complex what ifs.
"No," I answered simply, my voice calm and steady.
"What?!" gulat na bulalas niya. Hinarap niya ako nang tuluyan, her eyes wide with disbelief. "But you love her! Why would you stop fighting for her?"
