The Model's Hidden Son

27

***

I'm currently doing my lesson plan for tomorrow when Rios suddenly talked. We just ate dinner that's why he's bothering me. He's been talking for almost an hour now. That's what I think. In that hour, he would always ask me when will his father come in our condo.

I'm not answering his question because even me, I don't know the answer to his question. The day after yesterday, when we're about to talk about Rios, someone called him. Nagmamadali siyang umalis saka sinabing we should talk next time and he'll come back. But I don't know when.

And that's the question that Rios were always asking me all day. Maski kaninang paalis kami para pumasok sa paaralan, iyon ang tanong niya. Kaunti na lang ipupulupot ko na 'tong anak ko sa baywang ng ama niya. Kakakilala pa lang nila ngunit sobra na siyang papa's boy! I thought he was Mama's boy!That's what he said to me.

"Anak, can you just sleep? I'm working oh," sabi ko't itinuro ang ginagawa kong lesson plan.

Rios pouted cutely. "But, Moma, I already miss Dada! Kailan ba siya babalik?"

Napahilamos ako sa mukha. "I don't know, okay? Let's just wait for him."

With his pouting face, he sat down to our bed, hugging his robot toy. He just sat down there until the doorbell rang. Tatayo na sana ako para buksan 'yon ngunit inunahan niya pa akong lumabas ng kwarto!

Nang makalabas sa kwarto ay nadatnan ko ang mukhang nakasimangot ni Rios sa sala. Tumingin ako sa pintuan only to see Mhaxine, fixing her sandals in our shoe rack. Nang humarap ito ay binigyan ako nito ng makahulugang ngiti.

"Finally! The long wait is over!" sigaw nito sa loob ng condo, nakataas pa ang dalawang kamay. Umupo siya sa tabi ni Rios na nakahalukipkip. "Bakit nakasimangot ang bebe boy ko?" She asked Rios.

"I thought Dada came home already," nakasimangot nitong sagot.

Natawa si Mhaxine saka pinisil ang pisngi ng anak ko. "Hayst, happy family na ba tayo? Ha?" She looked at me with teasing smile.

"Ewan ko sa'yo," sambit ko lang saka naupo sa pang-isahang sofa.

"Kwento ka naman, uy! Paano mo sinabi? 'Yung exact word na sinabi mo, ah!" She demanded.

"I'm not the one who told him about it. It was Fabio. Napakadaldal kasi," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Omg?! Akalain mo 'yon?! Hanep talaga ang powers ni Fabio!" She said. She even clapped her hands.

We were busy talking to the point that I already forgot the lesson plan that I'm doing when again, the doorbell rang. Of course, the excited Rios ran towards the door to see if it was his father already.

"Dada! You're here!"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngunit bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Maybe because he was gone for almost one and a half day? I don't know!

I unconsciously touched my hair, checking if it is in good condition. Like you know, magulo.

"Huwag kang masyadong ma-tense, si Duke lang 'yan." Mhaxine's not helping.

Sabay kaming napatayo ni Mhaxine nang nakalapit na si Eliot sa pwesto namin, karga si Rios. Ang anak ko kung makahawak sa tatay niya parang tatakasan siya nito! Nakasabit ang paa niya sa bewang ni Eliot, habang ang kamay niya, nakasabit sa leeg! Para tuloy siyang tarsier!

"You're here." Puna ni Eliot kay Mhaxine. Mhaxine just gave him a teasing smile. "You and Caleb still owe me an explanation."

"Sus, 'to naman! O sige na, aalis na ako! Family time na! Enjoy fam!" nanunuksong sambit nito habang nakatingin sa akin. Kadarating niya lang, ah!