TAHANAN: Jian Kipper Cardejas & Gavin Client Villareal

xxviii- family time

Chapter 28

Hindi kami hinayaan na umuwi ng magulang ni Kipper. Dahil sa malaki ang k'warto ng bahay nila rito ay nasa iisang k'warto kaming apat. Habang sinusuklayan ko ng buhok si Tistianna ay naliligo naman si Kipper. Si Maisei naman ay pumipili ng papanoorin namin. Tapos na maghalfbath sina Maisei at Tistianna maging ako ay tapos na rin maligo.

"Frozen na lang panoorin natin, Tistianna. Gusto mo?" Maisei asked.

"Sure. It's my favorite, ate."

Hindi pa rin ako sanay. Sobrang saya lang pakinggan na tinatawag niyang ate si Maisei. Si Maisei ang bata sa bahay ni hindi niya pa nararanasan maging ate at sa nakikita ko ngayon okay naman siya. Mukhang magkasundo talaga sila.

Pagkalabas ni Kipper ay naupo siya sa egde ng kama habang nagpupunas ng buhok. Magkatabi na ngayon sina Maisei na nasa gitna ng kama at tutok na sa malaking tv na nasa harap.

"Nananawa na ako sa frozen dahil kay Tistianna mas grabehan pa pala kapag nagsama sila. Buong buhay ko na ata papanoorin yan," bulong ni Kipper sa tabi ko.

"Wala ka ng magagawa," tanging sagot ko.

Wala akong choice kundi ang manood. Gusto ko man na matulog pinilit kong huwag pumikit. Malalagot ako sa mga batang ito kapag nakatulog ako. Pero mas malalagot ata ako kina Mommy at Daddy. Hindi ko pa rin kasi nasasabi na nagkabalikan na kami ni Kipp at dalawa na ang apo nila sa akin.

Nang mapagod ako ay isinandal ko ang likod ko sa headrest ng kama. Ganoon din si Kipper habang nakaakbay sa akin. Napangiti ako nang sandaling lumingon si Maisei sa amin saka ngumiti. Kinalabit niya pa si Tistianna bago lumapit sa amin.

Naupo si Tistianna sa tabi ko habang si Maisei naman ay nasa tabi ni Kipper. Napapagitnaan namin silang dalawa. I am brushing Tistianna's hair while we are still watching their favourite. Nang matatapos na ay nagpaalam saglit si Kipper pagbalik niya ay may dala na siyang apat na baso ng gatas.

"Drink it na. Patapos na ang palabas. We're going to sleep after that movie."

Tumango naman ang dalawa. Inabutan niya ako maging ang dalawang bata bago siya naupo ay umiinom na rin ng gatas niya.

"I know what you're thinking, Gav. Tistianna doesn't want to drink his milk without me drinking mine. Healthy living ang mga ferson for today's video." Napa-iling na lang ako sa sinabi niya.

Natulog na nga kaming matapos ang movie. Napapagitnaan namin ang dalawang bata. Si Maisei na ngayon ang nasa tabi ko habang nasa tabi naman ni Kipper si Tistianna. 

Nagising ako na halos maliwanag na. Nakaupo na rin ang dalawa at halatang antok pa. Nang sandaling bumukas ang pinto ay pumasok si Kipper at may dalang tray. May mga maids din na nakasunod sa kaniya. Lutang pa ako dahil sa antok pa ako.

"Breakfast in bed, babies."

Habang inihahanda nila ay sabay-sabay kaming naghilamos ng mga bata. We also do our morning routines. After that nadatnan na namin si Kipper na sumusimsim ng kape. We shared our breakfast in bed and he planned to take us for a picnic because tomorrow is our flight to go back to Italy. 

I am wearing a black long sleeve jacket and trousers, grey shorts and a pair of sneakers. Kipper is wearing a black hoodie jacket and a black denim shorts and also a pair of sneakers. Maisei and Tistianna are wearing striped crop tops and high waisted skirts and a pair of sandals. Tistianna is wearing green while Maisei is wearing a blue one. 

"Take care. I'm sorry we can't come with you. We need to get back to the Philippines for a business matter," Dad explained. 

"Just enjoy your stay here. I heard your flight is tomorrow. I think it's better for Kipper and Tistianna to come with you, Gav. Discuss it with your parents. We are really sorry if we can't come but I promised I will try my best so we can also meet your parents."

"Actually that's my plan, mom. Don't worry ako muna po bahala. Take care on your flight," Kipper said before he kissed his mom's cheeks. 

Lumapit din sina Maisei at Tistianna para makapag-paalam ganoon din ako. Bitbit ni Kipper papunta sa sasakyan ang mga kakailangan namin. Ako naman ang umalalay sa dalawa para makaupo na sa loob ng sasakyan. I also fixed their seatbelts first before helping Kipper.

Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto sa passenger seat bago siya umikot sa kabila at pumasok. 

"You can connect your phone to play music, Ga. Feel free," he said before smirking. 

"Ang pangit mo, Daddy. What's with that smirk?" Tistianna asked while I almost burst into laughter. 

"He's just trying to impress, Dad, that's why he smirked," Maisei explained to Tistianna. 

"Huwag niyo na pansinin ang Dad niyo. Kulang sa aruga ito."

Hindi na ako nagtaka na sa isang private area kami magpipicnic. Inilatag ni Kipper ang sapin bago niya inilabas ang baskets na may laman na pagkain. Kaagad naman na naupo si Maisei at Tistianna at tuwang-tuwa. First time ni Maisei na magpicnic dahil hindi pa namin ito nagagawa.

Habang inabas ko ang pagkain ay panay naman ang pose ni Maisei. Kinukuhanan siya ng litrato ni Kipper. Noong una ay ayaw ni Tistianna pero napilit siya ni Maisei. Watching them makes my heart flutter. I found my peace again, my home, my everything. 

"Ga, pose ka nga diyan. I'll take a picture of you too." I just act normal while still arranging the foods. There's sliced fruits, veggie salad, yakults, burger, fries, nuggets, cake, water, anf barbeque. He's indeed prepared. "G'wapo talaga." 

"I'll take a picture of you too, Dad." Tumayo si Tistianna para kunin kay Kipper ang phone niya. "I know how to take a beautiful angle na po.  If ate Maisei knows how to be a subject model then I am her supportive photographer right po, Daddy?" she asked me while her eyes were full of admiration. 

"Whatever my baby Tistianna wants," I answered.

We spent our time giggling, hugging each other, taking pictures, eating our foods, while listening to the music through Kipper's phone. Panay ang kulitan nilang tatlo. Ang saya nila panoorin habang nagkukulitan.

"So what do my princesses want? I mean dreams?" Kipper asked. "Tell Dad... if meron na so I can prepare."

Maisei raised her hands while giggling. "I want to be a model po. And I want to make dresses po for you Dad, also for you Daddy and I want Tistianna to be my model po."

I know what Maisei wants. I'll support her no matter what happens. I will also protect and guide her. If it's what she wants then I'll be happy. Seeing her happy while posing in front of the camera, and dressing like a kikay girl. I know she's happy on her own while doing it.

"Ikaw, baby?" I asked Tristianna. 

Tahimik lang siya at tila nag-iisip. I smiled and she also did the same to me.

"I don't know pa po. Is it okay po?" she innocently asked.

"Yes. Mahaba pa ang oras. Bawat araw we can always discover little by little what we really want. We are a bit forcing you, we just want to know if there's already an idea on your mind. No pressure. I'll be always proud of you from the smallest thing you'll achieve. Let's grow together as a family."

I know na walang perpektong pamilya. I know it is not the family that society wants to see. But I promise that whatever it takes I'll fight. I'll fight for this home, peace, and family. Home is not about the house, it is the feeling that we found peace, love, and acceptance. Home is the people itself around every corner of our heart. This is why I know my place because it is my home.

"Ano tara na?" tanong ni Kipper.

"Uuwi na tayo po, Dad?" Tistianna asked.

"Road trip tayo, Dad. I miss it po. Now apat na po tayo. Pwede po?" tanong ni Maisei.

"Syempre. Okay na okay. Ano let's go?" Tumayo ang dalawa at dala ang kanilang bags. "Cutie."

Tinulugan ko si Kipper na ibalik sa sasakyan ang mga gamit namin. Bahagya niya pang kinurot ang tagiliran ko kaya pinandilatan ko siya ng mata. Nasa loob na ng sasakyan sina Maisei dahil pinauna ko na sila.

"Masosolo rin kita," he whispered. His hand is on my waist while the other one is fixing my hairs. "Let's go?" I nodded.

Magkahawak kami ng kamay hanggang sa pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto. Umikot siya sa kabila bago tuluyang umalis kami sa lugar na may ngiti sa aming mga labi.