a #jangkku au wherein single parent santi (psh) experiences the struggles of raising yago ( not really alone ) . . . . and crossing paths with a lady from his past .
Kakabalik lang ni Santi at ng mga magulang niya galing sa paaralan. As usual, dismayado na naman sila sa binata. Pinatawag sila dahil sa inasal ng binata noong isang araw. Kakasimula pa lang ng sem, may remalaso agad siya sa paaralan.
Dumiretso na lang sya sa kanyang kwarto kung saan naabutan nya ang yaya nya na binabantayan ang isang taong gulang na anak na naglalaro sa kanyang playpen.
Sinabihan nya naman ito ng pasasalamat at ipinaalam na sya na ang magbabantay sa bata.
Napabuntong hininga si Santi kasabay ng pag-upo nya sa dulo ng kama. Nakapako lang ang tingin niya sa lapag habang hinuhubad ang sapatos.
Napatigil sya at tinignan ang sapatos na ngayon ay nasa kamay na nya.
He was in a daze earlier that he only just realized he was wearing his Converse Chucks.
The very same chucks he wore that time when a complete stranger persuaded him to keep Yago — it was the very first time he admitted to himself that he cares for the baby.
And now, he will remember it as the shoes he wore when he stood up for his own flesh and blood — the very first time he acknowledged Yago as his own. The very first time he accepted the fact that he was indeed Yago's father.
And nobody can ever talk shit about his son like that so he needed to justify himself in front of the 'respectable' faculty of the school today.
After he rested his feet for a few moments, he approached the playpen to pick Yago up. The latter dropped his toy thanks to the flimsy grip he had since he was still a baby.
"Hi, bud. How's your day so far?" tanong niya dito as if naman makakasagot sa kanya ang bata.
Wala sa kanya ang atensyon nito kundi sa laruang nabitawan kanina. Yago was looking down and reaching out in the hopes of getting his tiny little hands on the toy again.
Santi was just looking at his baby.
Tama nga ang mga sinasabi ng mga tao noon because upon looking at his boy's face, he realized Yago looked so good as a baby.
It was not because the clueless boy wore a blue onesie, a bit of his diaper sticking out. It was because he looked exactly like him.
How could he deny his paternity to the child all this time when Yago did not only have his name but he was also an accurate replica of him?
Santiago Luis has his name, his face, and now — his heart. Well, he had his dad's heart even before but now, his dad just had the heart to admit it.
"I'm sorry anak kung ngayon lang ako naging handa na magpakatatay sa'yo. Kinailangan pa na pagsalitaan ka ng masama para lang ma-realize ng Daddy kung gaano kahalaga ang existence mo sa kanya. I'm sorry if I was ever ashamed that I already have you."
One of Santi's hands held the back of Yago's head. The younger's glassy pair of orbs just found his dad's.
And as if it was the best thing to look at in this world, he smiled upon seeing his dad's face. He smiled so sweetly that his two pairs of front teeth were showing.
"Mmmpa....ap...papa. Mpapa...cho...ji,"
No one could ever decipher what the child said but Santi just bursted into tears right then and there, also cracking a smile.
His son's blabber warmed his heart so much. He never knew being called 'papa' would be this emotional — he feels so warm just for a word that he could hear anywhere.
Maybe it's because it was the first time he called him 'Papa' when the younger has called him 'Pre' ever since his tiny mouth learned to talk (thanks to his friends na walang ibang magawa sa buhay kundi ang pagtripan silang mag-ama).
Maybe it's because he's just been through too much as of late that his tear ducts have been dying to explode but one thing's for sure to him right now, it was mainly because it came from his Santi Liit that made those two repetitive syllables meaningful.
"Oh, you wanna call me Papa instead? Ayaw mo ba sa Daddy para mas sosyal?" nakuha pa nitong magbiro sa kalagitnaan ng pag-iyak.
"Just kidding, anak. You can call me anything na magustuhan mo, okay? This Santi of yours would love you either way. I love you, bud. It's just us always. Not just you. Not just me. But us. You would alway have me," Santi has sealed his promise to his child with a kiss on his hair.
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